WIN!
MITCHELL AVOCAST CARP REELS
5
PAIRS TO BE WON
YOUR DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO CATCHING MORE
May 8 – June 5, 2018 £3.80
Catch bigger
TENCH! The simple Method feeder tactics to use now
LEARN TO TIE 5 GREAT RIGS TO USE WITH YOUR GIFT
ISSUE 337
REVEALED
Amazing new pellet feeder trick
BIG ROACH HOW TO FISH MAGGOT FEEDERS
REVIEWED DRENNAN COMBO ROD & MORE
CONTENTS Issue 337 May 8 – June 5, 2018
24
James Furness explains Method tactics for big tench
GREAT BRITISH FISHING 8
14
Where silvers outrank carp – Mark Pollard Get in the Grove for roach – Barry Fisher
TACTICS
24 Method tactics for big tench – James Furness 30 Meat... It isn’t just for carp! – Pete Upperton 35 Quick Change fix – Tom Downing 40 Feeder on the pole 4 • IYCF Issue 337
44 Great rigs for fake baits 46 Attack with bomb & pellet 51 Silver fish from the margins – Adam Bowen 54 Bait tricks of big waters – Chris Rust 58 Helicopter feeders for roach – Paul Garner 63 Braid beats shy-biters – Mick Vials 68 Fish better with Des Shipp: plumbing to perfection 72 Rig school: running Method feeder
CARP TACTICS
108 Make noise and catch – Mike Salisbury 112 Correct way to play fish 116 Fish off the top 120 Carp Q&A
TACKLE
84 Guru Team seatbox 86 New Gear 88 Live test: Drennan Red Range combination rods 92 Greys apparel 94 Buyers’ guide to
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58
With a packet of fake baits FREE with this issue, here’s four great rigs to try them on
Big-fish expert Paul Garner gets on the helicopter feeder to tempt specimen roach
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Flavoured and coloured baits are your biggest asset when tackling huge expanses of water
Tackle editor Mark Sawyer gets to grip with Drennan’s Red Range combination reds
108
80
landing nets 100 Live test: Middy ArcoTech K-800 Whip
YOUR IYCF
20 Subscribe and get a free EVA luggage set 102 Your letters 104 Mission: your catch shots 106 Reader offer: Stillwater Matchstix pole for £149 123 Five pairs of Mitchell Avocast reels to be won 124 Crossword 126 Bob Roberts’ diary
Well-stocked waters respond positively when you make some noise, says Mike Salisbury
Carl & Alex find some unexpected carp and manage to catch a huge ghostie!
IYCF May 8 – June 5, 2018 • 5
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14• IYCF Issue 337
Get in the Grove for big roach Local expert, Barry Fisher, discovers a day-ticket lake where a personal best redfin is almost a certainty... Words & Photography Tony Grigorjevs
IYCF May 8 – June 5, 2018 • 15
Launch a bomb & pellet attack It’s the tactic that goes from boring to ballistic in no time at all as spring warmth fires fish to go on the munch. Richard Chapman reveals his tips Words & Photography Tony Grigorjevs
T
HE bomb is the only tactic that magically flips from leisurely inactivity to frantic fish-catching action in a matter of weeks. When the water temperatures dip it is an approach where you launch the rig into a random spot, cross your fingers and hope it lands close to a fish.
TACTICS: BOMB SPECIES: CARP DIFFICULTY:
46 • IYCF Issue 337
But now that spring is in full flow the tactic will have you working up a sweat. Regular casting and feeding is essential, and simply chucking it out before sticking the rod on the rests is unlikely to bring you a bite. It’s no longer a realistic option. Like almost every angler, MAP-backed Richard Chapman was growing sick and
tired of the recent never-ending winter, but he’s now making the most of the turnaround in conditions with a warm-weather bomb and pellet attack. “It’s a really exciting way of fishing at this time of year but you need to stay constantly active if you want to keep the rod tip hammering round,” explained Richard.
IYCF May 8 – June 5, 2018 • 47
TACTICS: METHOD SPECIES: CARP DIFFICULTY:
54 • IYCF Issue 337
TACTICS
Bait tricks to conquer big waters
There’s no need to be daunted by large venues, says Hinders’ Chris Rust. You just have to attract fish using flavoured loosefeed and coloured hookbaits Words & Photography Tony Grigorjevs
T
HERE is no doubt that fishing large reservoirs can be daunting. With work and family commitments often limiting the amount of time we can spend on the bank, there’s no wonder many of us choose to head to a venue where you’ll never be too far from the fish regardless of where you sit. But what if we told you that you can have the same level of success enjoyed on a small commercial pool at somewhere much bigger? According to Hinders-backed angler, Chris Rust, this is easy to achieve – the secret lies in the bait flavours and colours you use. “I regularly fish reservoirs such as Boddington, Clattercote and Drayton which look enormous. Even though everyone knows they are full of fish
many anglers don’t feel confident of catching when faced with such a vast expanse of water,” explained Chris. “It is understandable to feel a little intimidated but by using a really powerful flavour on your loosefeed and a bright hookbait you can draw fish in, even if the peg is empty to start with.”
Flavour will pull them in Although fish will venture into the margins late on, they will generally be well out of pole range on big reservoirs and Chris reckons that the Method feeder is by far the most effective tool at this time of year. “Fish want food right now and a Method feeder loaded with micro pellets is ideal.
IYCF May 8 – June 5, 2018 • 55
Helicopter feeders for roach Head to a carp water if you want big roach, says respected big-fish angler Paul Garner, who reveals his maggot feeder tactics for specimen redfins
58 • IYCF Issue 337
TACTICS: FEEDER SPECIES: ROACH DIFFICULTY:
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TACTICS
FTEN living almost unnoticed in dayticket stillwaters, roach have staged a remarkable revival alongside carp, with sparkling specimens there to be caught by the pioneering angler. Roach will often pack on the weight and grow to a serious size in both match and specimen lakes dominated by their larger cousins. In specimen carp waters, in particular, roach are often ignored until a netting or a chance capture reveals some super fish. This was the case at Hordle Lakes Fishery, near New Milton in Hampshire. A winter netting of Bob’s Lake on the popular day-ticket complex revealed a head of stunning roach to more than 2lb alongside carp and other species. Since then word has spread and local anglers have been making the most of the great roach sport in the idyllic fishery. One angler who needs little persuasion to fish for roach is Paul Garner. With a personal best of 3lb 8oz, coincidently caught from a carp lake, Paul has experienced this phenomenon many times before and is quick to take advantage. “I like to keep my ear to the ground and follow up any stories of quality roach being caught from carp venues, because nine times out of 10 they are true,” he said. “Most of the specimen roach I have caught have come from carp fisheries. I think this is because the conditions are often suitable for roach. With little competition for food, coloured water that reduces cormorant predation and the regular removal of small fish, the remaining roach are left to grow big. If you want to catch big roach then these are the venues to look for, especially at this time of the year.” Paul landed a number of big roach, the best at 1lb 12oz
IYCF May 8 – June 5, 2018 • 59
YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED BY EXPERTS
74 • IYCF Issue 337
ASK US A QUESTION... Email: IYCF@bauermedia.co.uk Write to: IYCF Magazine, Bauer Media, Media House, Lynchwood, Peterborough, PE2 6EA www.facebook.com/iycfmag @iycfmagazine
Q
What elastic should I use when pole fishing for stillwater barbel? LEE COOK, VIA EMAIL
A
How long a length of line should I have between my pole tip and float? ASHLEY DAVIS, VIA EMAIL
A
There are several factors that influence this. How windy is it? Are you fishing against an island? Is there any tangle-causing vegetation? How deep is the water? What elastic are you using? Once you’ve plumbed up you’ll need to trim down the length of line between pole tip and float, and this needs to be done accurately. You need enough of a gap to enable you to control the rig under the prevailing conditions, but it also needs to be short enough so that is encourages you to lift into bites to hook fish, not strike wildly. If you strike and miss a bite there is every chance you will lose your hookbait and have to ship back, which will waste time. A gentle lift will mean you still have the hookbait if you miss the indication, but this movement is also more than enough to set the hook. As a general rule in good conditions have 6in of line between tip and float, 9in in breezy conditions and 12in when it is windy.
Barbel never know that they’re beaten when hooked and they can power off and try and dive beneath the platform you are fishing from even as they near the net. Your tackle needs to be strong enough to get the upper hand. On the pole, the most important aspect is your elastic. If it is too light then the fish will lead you a merry dance and it will take ages to net them. Gear up with a hollow grade 14-16 elastic. That sounds strong but is very stretchy and forgiving, while having plenty of power. Use it with a puller kit and you will soon be in charge of the battle.
Q
Does catmeat have any advantages over luncheon meat?
PHIL LANDER, VIA EMAIL
A
Catmeat is a very effective bait for carp in the warmer months on commercial waters. One advantage of catmeat over luncheon meat is that it is very, very soft and more to the liking of a feeding fish. It’s also supplied in its own gravy that releases an oily slick when fed. The chunks can also be big making them a decent meal for a feeding carp. Because of its size, catmeat is an out-and-out big-fish bait and, due to the softness, it cannot really be fished on rod and line tactics. The best approach for catmeat is to fish it in the margins or at short range on
the pole in conjunction with pellet and corn loosefeed. Sometimes, rolling the meat in dry groundbait, known as dusting, can make a real difference especially on hardfished waters. IYCF May 8 – June 5, 2018 • 75
B TA IGG N CK ER E LE & W SE BE CT TT IO ER N
Avai l or o able in rang blac e c olou k sche r mes
legs m m 6 The 3 25mm have opic telesc ts inser
Patented high stability footplate
84 • IYCF Issue 337
TACKLE NEW GEAR REVEALED, ON THE BANK TESTS & EXPERT ADVICE
OBJECT OF DESIRE
GURU TEAM SEATBOX RRP: From £599
The top quality cushion on the Guru Team seatbox is handcrafted in France
The box is supplied with a spare underbox cassette and carry lid
A black Team Guru cover is supplied to keep your box safe during transit
All the drawers have colour-coded stainless steel fascias and ribbed handles
THERE were hundreds of great products on show at The Big One last month, but one which really caught our eye was the new Guru Team Seatbox. The brand’s marketing and media manager, Matt Godfrey, was on hand to explain the key features. Made for Guru by world renowned seatbox manufacturer, Rive, it has been designed to be similar to the Guru/Rive ST Special Edition flagship seatbox, but at a wallet- friendly price. There’s a choice of two colour schemes – the stealthy black and black, or the more standout orange and black. The 36mm legs have 25mm telescopic inserts for easy adjustments and levelling and there is a colour-coded stainless steel fascia on all drawers. The box frame itself features a new hard-wearing matt paint finish so it can withstand the rigours of being transported without getting scratched and scuffed and the top quality cushion is handcrafted in France. Other key features include a non-slip footplate cover, strengthened drawer fronts, a spare under-box cassette and lid, and patented HSP (high stability footplate) and footplate clips.
EXPERT OPINION: LEADING THE WAY IN TACKLE TESTS & REVIEWS
MARK SAWYER Tackle Editor
RICHARD GRANGE Match Editor
THOM AIRS
Carpfeed Editor
JAMES FURNESS IYCF Editor
TONY GRIGORJEVS Features Editor
IYCF May 8 – June 5, 2018 • 85
REVIEWS Y
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CAN TRUS OU
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IYCF’s tackle wyer editor Mark Sa g in ew vi re en be has ore m r fo fishing gear s to re ca he an years th r remembe
There’s lots of cushioning in the tip section to prevent hookpulls at the crucial moment
88 • IYCF Issue 337
TACKLE
LIVE TEST
Combo rods with culture
Multi-purpose rods were once hopeless at everything but this latest pair from Drennan will help you fish many tactics with style and success DRENNAN RED RANGE CARP FEEDER/CARP WAGGLER & METHOD FEEDER/PELLET WAGGLER RODS RRP: Both models £89.95
D
RENNAN’S introductory Red Range rods are comfortably affordable, wellappointed and perfectly designed for the job in hand. That said, I was somewhat perplexed when the two latest family members – the Combo Method Feeder/Pellet Waggler and Combo Carp Feeder/Carp Waggler rods – arrived on my desk. At first glance the pair, finished in Drennan’s striking trademark burgundy, looked just like Tweedledum and Tweedledee – identical twins.
What’s more, it wasn’t that many years ago that combination rods graced only the sports pages of your mum’s Kays or Grattan catalogues. Such ‘one rod does it all’ tools were hideously heavy, multi-sectioned and multi-handled affairs, claiming to be suitable for everything from fly-fishing for trout to boat fishing for pike. In reality they were useless right across the board. Thankfully, such horrors are well behind us. Modern-day combo outfits are mainly well thought-out, intelligently designed and
fully usable for all their stated applications. Most importantly, they are affordably anglerfriendly, and all these praises can indeed be heaped on the Red Range Combo pairing. As you’d expect from Drennan, both rods are very nicely furnished with lined guides throughout, secure screw-down reel seats, hook keeper rings, and a single push-in glass quivertip – 3oz for the Carp Feeder and 4oz for the Carp Method. These rods are clearly targeting novice and junior anglers with limited tackle knowledge,
IYCF February IYCF May 16 –8March – June15, 5, 2016 2018 • 89
GUIDE TO...
TOP TACKLE ADVICE TO ENSURE YOU BUY THE RIGHT GEAR
Each month our team of experts at IYCF HQ take a look at some of the best tackle items on the market. This month we focus on nets
LANDING NETS (MATCH/COARSE) U
NLESS you are catching small silver fish that can simply be swung to hand, a landing net is an essential item of tackle to safely lift any fish you’ve hooked out of the water and on to the bank. Landing nets for general coarse fishing tend to have a diameter of no more than 20 inches, and many are notably smaller. If you’re fishing for smaller fish such as roach and skimmers a 14-inch net will suffice. If you’re targeting carp or think there’s the chance of the odd bigger bonus fish being caught then one of the
larger diameter sizes will be required. Landing nets designed with pleasure and commercial match anglers in mind are much shallower than the really deep nets you see specimen carp anglers using. When a landing net mesh gets wet it becomes heavier so the less mesh that there is, the easier it is to push through and control in the water. You’ll also notice that the majority of the nets in this guide are a rounded or oval spoon shape. The reason for this is that it makes it easier to scoop fish out of the water.
KNOW YOUR MESH STANDARD
A wider mesh enables water to pass through easily. This makes the net easier to control and position when preparing to net a fish.
MICRO
An increasing number of nets now feature a finer mesh section in the base and some net types have a fine mesh all over. The smaller holes avoid hair rigs and bait bands getting caught up and are also less likely to snag on the fins of fish.
RUBBER
Some nets are made from a rubberised mesh. These are not only fishfriendly and easy to remove hooks from, but they can be dried with just a few shakes. They are also popular with predator anglers using lures with trebles that are likely to get snagged in a standard mesh.
94 • IYCF Issue 337
TACKLE
PRESTON INNOVATIONS MATCH LANDING NET RRP: From £12.99
Suitable for everything from small silver fish to match-sized carp. The fine mesh at the bottom enables you to use bait bands and quick stops while the larger upper mesh helps the net glide through the water with ease when speed fishing for F1s. SIZES: 16in, 18in & 20in www.prestoninnovations.com
SHAKESPEARE AGILITY LANDING NET RRP: From £11.99
Built around an aluminium frame, these lightweight nets boast a fish-friendly rubberised mesh which dries incredibly quickly. The Medium net is perfect for silvers and F1s whereas the Large will easily handle carp to double figures. SIZES: Medium & Large www.shakespeare-fishing.co.uk
GURU COMPETITION LANDING NET RRP: £12.99
The Competition landing nets have a fine 2mm mesh that prevents hair-rigged baits getting caught and ruining your rigs. The 400 is deeper than most small nets on the market which will allow for the netting of bonus bigger carp. SIZES: 400 & 500 www.tackleguru.com IYCF May 8 – June 5, 2018• 95
TIPS, TACTICS & RIGS TO CATCH MORE
108 • IYCF Issue 337
MAKE SOME NOISE!
A bit of commotion will attract carp on well-stocked waters, not spook them, says Mike Salisbury
CARP
HOW TO MAKE A ZIG BAIT MIX
Pour groundbait into a bucket and add water until a soup-like consistency is achieved
Words Tony Grigorjevs Photography Steve Haywood
A
20lb carp from a commercial may look similar to one of the same size from a low-stock syndicate water but they are very different creatures. Fish residing in waters facing less pressure still hang on to many of their natural instincts while specimens that have made a home in venues that see considerable more footfall have had to adapt to their surroundings. As a result, different tactics are required to catch fish from each type of water. Kodex’s Mike Salisbury believes there is one major aspect you need to change when tackling a commercial. “If a stone was dropped into a lake where the fish don’t face much angling pressure they would spook in an instant. Your chances of catching a fish from that area would most likely be ruined for the day,” explained the 43-year-old. “But in a commercial it is the exact opposite. The fish associate any disturbance with food being introduced. Rather than spooking the carp, the noise will actually draw them towards your swim. “With this in mind, I always try to make a bit of a racket when fishing for carp on day-ticket waters because I know they will eventually become curious and come into my peg.”
Catch more up in the water
Now that the warm weather has finally graced our shores carp will spend an increasing amount of time in the upper layers. When the sun basks down on them they will come close to the surface to soak up the rays and this is why it makes sense to target them with bait suspended above the lakebed. “Most day-ticket waters permit the use of least two rods so I fish one with a multi-rig and a 15mm pop-up hookbait and cast this a few rodlengths out. “I’d expect this to produce a few fish later in the day when they move into the margins. During the day when most are struggling I am confident of getting bites using zig rigs.” Mike will generally start the session by setting his zig rig so that the bait is suspended at half the depth of water. If he fails to get any action he will either shorten the rig to go deeper or lengthen it to go shallower until he starts getting bites. Speak to fishery regulars and bailiffs to help you gauge what depth of water you have in front of you. This will help you make better decisions on what depth to fish and ultimately lead to you getting a bend in the rod quicker.
Add a generous helping of hemp. The small grains will fall slowly through the water
A glug of Hemp Oil will create a slick of attraction that lingers and draws in fish
Finally, add some oily micro pellets. These will attract fish but won’t fill them up
IYCF May 8 – June 5, 2018 • 109
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