UK Sea Fishing - Flounder Fishing River Dee

[@Robert-gr9hb]

I copied your tip using paper clip. I had 9 bites with 4 whiting, 4 dogfish, and an eel. All hooked in the corner of the mouth and an easy hook removal, no bleeding. Thank you very much.

[@holfsseafishing]

Hi there, so pleased you have tried it out and with such great success too! 🎣🎣🎣 Sounds like it worked out absolutely brilliantly! 😁 Well done for giving it a try! 👍🏻 No going back now! Very tight lines! 🎣🎣

[@FreeSpeech1959]

This has got to be one of the most useful fishing videos I've ever watched. I've shared with fishing friends and will use this myself. Terrific idea.

[@holfsseafishing]

Hi there, that's great, really glad you enjoyed the video and got some useful information from it too. 👍🏻 Thank you for sharing it also, it is a great and simple little method that everybody should know about. 😊 Tight lines. 🎣

[@julianlees1730]

Reminds me of floundering at Arnside many years ago. Brilliant idea. Much respect. Happy NY 👍

[@holfsseafishing]

Hi there, yes it really is a great idea and so easy to do as well. 👍🏻 All the very best to you too! 😊 Tight lines 🎣🎣

[@noelduggan72]

Good Stuff....Tight Lines!!! 👍

[@holfsseafishing]

Thank you. 👍🏻 Tight lines 🎣🎣

[@user-yg6ye2ho3g]

Good video, great tips, and I like the paperclip. Going to give it a go, Thanks for sharing, cheers! William

[@holfsseafishing]

Thanks William and no problem at all. Tight lines. 👍🏻🎣

[@markford1646]

Hi Holf, Excellent video! I haven’t been sea fishing for many years but I wanted to give it another go but having watched so many KZbin videos of deep hooked flatfish recently I was having second thoughts. This video has come at just the right time for me so I just want to thank you for sharing this idea. Tight lines!

[@holfsseafishing]

Hi there Mark, thank you, and welcome back to the fishing fold! 😊🎣 I am really pleased people have seen this video as it is such a simple thing to do and so beneficial for both fish and angler. 👍🏻 Please do tell other anglers you meet about this method. All the best and very tight lines for 2025! 🎣🎣

[@Tim_Bucktu]

Interesting vid, keep up the good work 👍

[@holfsseafishing]

Many thanks. 👍🏻

[@karlruditis5615]

You would make a great match angler in the course world holf! Thinking angler, great channel mate keep up the great work tight lines 👍

[@holfsseafishing]

Hey Karl, thanks for that, although I think perhaps not a match angler... Too intense for a chilled out fishing sloth like me! 🙈😂 Tight lines buddy 🎣🎣

[@daveturner7925]

Well thought out bud 👍👍

[@holfsseafishing]

Hi there, thank you very much. Thank you for watching and Tight lines. 🎣

[@SteveHarrison-q2b]

Great idea and a brilliant vid..👍👍

[@holfsseafishing]

Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it. Tight lines. 🎣

[@josephkelly6404]

Thats a fantastic idea brilliant m8ty Keep them coming can't wait to see you blanching lug .

[@holfsseafishing]

Thanks bud, not my idea but certainly worth sharing. 👍🏻 Just waiting for the weather to warm back up a bit to get out to pump some lug, and then will look to pop a video on.

[@david892006]

Just found your channel. Very interesting and some great tips. Subscribed and looking forward to more 👍

[@holfsseafishing]

Hey there, glad you enjoyed and found this useful. Tight lines.

[@neilyorks]

This video needs to be seen by everyone who ever fishes for Flounders and indeed all flatties, I'll be the first to admit that ive previously deeply hooked them even though ive tied my best not to, paper clips are on the shopping list 👍

[@holfsseafishing]

I absolutely couldn't agree with you more. 👍🏻. If there is only one video that all sea anglers see that I ever do I hope it is this one. It is so effective and so simple I would argue it is virtually a no brainier to adopt this method. Other than that, the other video I would really recommend is the most recent addition "The best way to preserve your Lug Worm" as this addresses an age old problem of effectively preserving you prized lug worms for a later date/winter. . Thank you for your comment and tight lines. 🎣

[@davelar3868]

I have never seen you down there 😊 nice to see you are using decent gear

[@holfsseafishing]

Hi there, I don't fish it a great deal there tbh. Tend to fish in varied places. As for the gear, it does the job. My slosh reels are both easily over 10 years old and the Sonik rods are a few years old also {one of them actually needs a new eye} For me anyway, cheap and cheerful fishing, can be quite rewarding in itself sometimes. Tight lines. 🎣

[@davelar3868]

@holfsseafishing I have a rod well over thirty yrs old conoflex north used it twice then had other things to do .. kids! Used to match fish with the welsh league and north West league I thought you where using ziplex rods .. great video and nice fish top tip there must have a go using it

[@g4okt]

A great tip, will try it this year😁Keith (living in Mancot)

[@holfsseafishing]

Hi there, just down the road from me. Some brilliant fishing to be had on the dee. Yes, do give it a try, you won't be sorry. 👍🏻 Tight lines Keith 🎣

[@blueal58]

Brilliant idea regarding the paper clip, so simple yet so effective

[@holfsseafishing]

Isn't it just, doesn't get much easier than this. 👍🏻

[@barryellis8376]

Well done with your anti swallow super we here in portsmouth used to catch flounders everywhere sadly now a Flounder is a rarity great video

[@holfsseafishing]

Thank you. 👍🏻 That is a shame, really enjoy a some flounder fishing now and then. 😊

[@anotherangleUK]

Nice idea. Interesting rig as well. Thanks for sharing .

[@holfsseafishing]

No problem 👍

[@paulcollis7651]

Superb video with nice fat flounders. I fish for sport and hate it when they take the hook down and can't do much to prevent harm. This is a great method to stop deep hooking fish. Nice one

[@holfsseafishing]

Hi there, thank you, yes it really is such an effective little method and so easy to use. Deep hooking flat fish for me and I hope many others.... Is a thing of the past! 👍🏻 Tight lines. 🎣

[@ogstopper]

I've just returned to sea fishing after a break of 50 years. We used to use flounder spoons, but I'm told that they're 'old hat'. I'll give your paper-clip rig a try!! Great video. Thank you!

[@holfsseafishing]

Hi there, I've never used flounder spoons, but I believe they are very effective at attracting feeding flounders especially in nice clear water. 👍🏻 A 50 year break! 👀 That is some break indeed! Wecome back to the fishing fold! 😊🎣🎣👍🏻

[@ogstopper]

@@holfsseafishing Thank you! I live about 100 feet from the north bank of the Thames Estuary. The beach caster that I use was made by me from a blank 50 years ago. I still use the Penn 100 reel (and an Abu 7000) from then as well. I love the simplicity of your fishing - it matches mine to a t! Some luck with flounders, school bass and a late evening session which saw 27 whiting landed. I'm 71 - my wife thinks I've lost the plot. 🤣

[@holfsseafishing]

Hi again, that is absolutely brilliant to read! 😁 Sounds as if your are doing very well, on as you say a nice simple set up. 👌🏻 As for your wife... Very understandable. 😂😂👍🏻. My wife considers herself a fishing widow at certain times of the year! 🤣🙈. Very best to you and many tight lines! 🎣

[@scotlandforagingandfishing]

Lovely video, this is taking flounder fishing to the next level. Thank you for sharing this technique. I also love fishing with boom rigs, they normaly outfish other rigs.

[@holfsseafishing]

Hi there, you are most welcome, I hope it helps. And yes, I couldn't agree more about a simple boomed rig. Tight lines 🎣

[@stanwilson8089]

Great vid,and informative.I've fished the dock higher up a few times.Had a few myself on black lug and squid strips.

[@holfsseafishing]

Ah yes, the dock. Fished it a lot as a teenager. Very comfortable, but can be a strong current. Used to watch them net massive salmon on the sand bank opposite that dock... Massive bars of silver they used to get too!

[@chrispower8099]

Hi great video again m8 and fantastic idea with the paperclip were you nr saltney or the otherside thanks m8

[@holfsseafishing]

Hi there, thank you. Yes it is great idea and very effective indeed. 👍🏻 A bit further down river near to Connahs Quay. Tight Lines 🎣

[@justso1823]

Good old Conner's. Some of my best fish have come 3 hours after high. Is the pay and display in force yet in the carpark 👍👍👍👍

[@holfsseafishing]

That's great, I'll have to keep that in mind, may have to try that stage of the tide there when tide times and heights suit. 👍🏻 No pay and display signs that I noticed.... Yet anyway. Tight lines. 🎣

[@user-yg6ye2ho3g]

Great idea, but I tied 3 rigs, 3 hook flappers with paper clips, came to use them, and got in a right tangle trying to get them out of the rig wallet. I did manage to use one rig; it worked brilliantly. Have you any suggestions for storing these rigs? My suggestion is if we make the body of the rig separate from the hook lenths, keep in a separate bag and tie them up at the beach,this seems to work for me, Mind you, doing it at night is a pain, but I am blind as a bat

[@holfsseafishing]

Hi there, that's great to read that the rig worked so well for you. 😊👍🏻. As for getting them out of the rig wallet, I find a minute or two untangling when setting up of small consequence compared to the hassles of multiple deep hooked catches through my fishing trip. 👍🏻. But certainly something to keep in mind, perhaps a small clip or even just a loop could be tied onto the end of the hook lengths, then simply clip or loop them onto the rig body if it helps. 🤔👍🏻 Thank you for the comment and very tight lines! 🎣🎣

[@steventyreman3642]

Was catching flounder on the humber with size 1 circle hooks with no issues until one was swallowed and proved a real problem,,,gone back to aberdeens and take them carefully out of yhe gill if they have swallowed the hook,,, 😊 great vid thanks ,

[@holfsseafishing]

Yes, I did try circle hooks previously but had the exact same problem you mentioned, was a nightmare removing the circle hook. Then I came across this paper clip idea. No going back now, paperclips all the way for my flounder fishing. 😊 Tight lines 🎣

[@steventyreman3642]

Yep I will give you're idea a go ,,,better for the fish,,,they really shoot off when they go back 😊

[@holfsseafishing]

Oh yes, they really do shoot off on the release... Brilliant to see! 😊👍🏻. As mentioned in the video, not my idea persay, as I picked the idea up a year or so ago, but one I realised definitely needed to be shown and shared with like minded anglers. 👍🏻

[@Gerald-m8w8v]

Im a new subscriber,very interested in your blog,fished the dee many many times but not so high up the estuary, thanks for that

[@holfsseafishing]

Hi there, no problem at all. You might well be surprised just how high up the river you can actually fish. Tight lines 🎣

[@baldieman64]

Basically a T-Bar Eel Rig. Circle hooks are also worth a try.

[@holfsseafishing]

Don't think I've heard of a T Bar eel rig before. Anything that works though is great. 👍🏻. As for circle hooks, have experimented with these but unfortunately they proved to be inconsistent as the flounders still managed to get them down.

[@jonathandilk5722]

What a good idea I’ll give it a go

[@holfsseafishing]

That's great. Good luck! 👍🏻

[@scotlandforagingandfishing]

Thank you, and I'm looking forward to it.

[@robbrownfield7677]

I use a variation of Frank Warwick’s “Anchor Rig” which relies on a stiff mono cross piece rather than the paper clip. I prefer the thick mono (80lb) clipped to be an inch either side. I run red electrical shrink tubing up the line for about 3-4” and pass the mono through at 90 degrees before steaming it all. The tubing also helps protect the line from eels.

[@holfsseafishing]

Hi there, that sounds like another great idea! As long as it helps avoid deep hooking it's got to be a winner! 👌🏻 And ultimately if it works for you... If it ain't broken don't fix it! 👍🏻👍🏻 Tight lines 🎣

[@TonyBarr]

Try adding some beads on the paper clip wires will turn em into mini plaice bars bet fish love em

[@holfsseafishing]

That could be worth a try. 🤔

[@GaryMcNamara-xg7hj]

Hy mate?you will have to reveal your first name?🤔anyway great idea with the paper clip will defo use it 👍although I have been using the Billyfishing hair rig method for a while with good success ,,nothing worse than deep hooked fish,,Most of my flounder fishing is done on Hoyle Bank with a killer of a walk🤬that venue on the River Dee looks a lot more user friendly cheers and tightlines Gary,,👍🎣🔥

[@holfsseafishing]

Hi Gary, yes I imagine that is a killer walk... Not for the faint hearted I'm guessing. 🙈. Yes the paperclip is well worth using as for me anyway seems to be the most simple to both set up and use with almost perfect results. 👍🏻. The name is Holf btw, tight lines for 2025!🎣🎣

[@stuart8836]

Great idea, Thanks for sharing and tight lines.. Plaice or flounder in the starting pic ? the tell tale bumps on head are not clear.

[@holfsseafishing]

Hey there, yes it is a great idea. 👍🏻. Glad to show and share. If you are referring to the title photo, that is a brace of spring plaice... If you look closely they are much overall much more pale than the flounder and most importantly the spots are a very vibrant orange also.

[@stuartcrane9409]

Multiple flounders was before commercial fishermen started using them as pot bait, flounders are scare now

[@holfsseafishing]

Hi there, yes it's a real shame and a waste that they have done exactly that. 😔 Not so much these days though I believe. Numbers in certain areas do seem to of made a little recovery. Fingers crossed they continue to do so. 🤞🏻 Tight lines. 🎣

[@brianfalconer9499]

Great idea, Im going to modify some of my rigs like that. BTW how do you prepare your lug, do you salt dry them?

[@holfsseafishing]

Yes it is a great idea, would be brilliant if more anglers adopt it for sure. 🤞🏻 No, I don't salt them. As soon as I can get out to pump some fresh lug on decent tides I will make a video to detail exactly how I preserve them. All I can say is "once you've done them this way you will never look at frozen lug in the same way ever again. 👍🏻🎣🎣

[@brianfalconer9499]

@@holfsseafishing Look forward to it. Cheers

[@TerryDowell59]

thankyou so much i will try this i fish in the same place what a good idea

[@holfsseafishing]

You are most welcome. Tight lines 🎣

[@scotlandforagingandfishing]

Please do make a video on how to make your blanched lug worms. Thanks.

[@holfsseafishing]

Hi there yes I will be. Had a few people ask now, think I should probably patent the method. 😂 Hoping to pump some lug this weekend, so hopefully a video shall be forthcoming soon enough. One thing I will guarantee, you will never look at frozen lug in the same way ever again. 👍🏻

[@nattydreadrowley8654]

😮that explains why I catch so many one eyed fish 😂

[@holfsseafishing]

Lol! 😂😂 Now that made me chuckle! Tight lines for 2025! 🎣

[@markmaloney5146]

So much easier to use a fine wire hook. Heat it up a bit with a lighter, anneal, and you can pull them out straight.

[@holfsseafishing]

Hi there, each to their own on that one I'm afraid. I personally wouldn't encourage anyone to just pull hooks out of fish.... Heated up or not. Other thing for me, occasionally bigger species can often show up, bass, rays, congers to name but a few and I imagine the finer wire hooks would then bend out much easier on them too on the retrieve. 🙈 I would certainly recommend you give the paperclip method a little try, very easy to set up and use. 👍🏻 Tight lines. 🎣

[@euanarchbold1477]

Where is this venue

[@holfsseafishing]

Hi there, this is Connahs Quay on the River Dee.

[@euanarchbold1477]

@ thank you

[@jonesyacdc]

Great until they collect all the weed, just use size 1 circle hooks.👍

[@holfsseafishing]

That is a great comment, thank you so much. You have reminded me that I completely neglected to mention in the video that these paperclips can be cut down to atleast half their size and still function perfectly. I know this as the first time I experimented with them I tried varying sizes and all but one flounder were perfectly lip hooked as in this video irrelevant of how small the paperclip was, up to about half the orginal size. 👍🏻 Personally the height of tides and venues I fish doesn't usually present too much weed as a problem {as seen in this video} and tbh a flimsy paper clip compared to say a big bulky breakaway weight really shouldn't be too much of an issue in most circumstances. As for circle hooks, as I have mentioned in a previous comment, I have tried various circle hooks but unfortunately found them to be inconsistent by comparison. And worse still, when swallowed the circle hooks were made even more difficult to remove because of the shape of the circle hook itself. Tight lines 🎣

[@jonesyacdc]

@holfsseafishing I use okuma straight eye, 99% of the time there lip hooked.but you must do what you must do.