Improve Your Coarse Fishing Issue 372 (PREVIEW)

20-PAGE

BUMPER SECTION

UP YOUR FEEDER FISHING GAME WITH OUR 10 EASY STEPS feeder fishing special

PERCH SKILLS:

R I E H T R E G G I TR SENSES AND CATCH BIG! secrets Mat Woods reveals the of form behind his amazing run

£3.99

ISSUE 372

Jan 12 – Feb 9, 2021

JAMIE HUGHES

WILL RAISON

KAYLEIGH SMITH

The rig tweak that will help you spot more bites

Deadly maggot feeder tips for cold-water F1s

10 ways to catch mixed bags with worms

ON YOUR HEAD! THE BEST WINTER HEADWEAR

This month...

Issue 372 January 12 – February 9, 2021

Fishery Focus

8

8

River Bain

14

Lawn Farm Fishery

Lincolnshire

Cambridgeshire

30

Tactics 24

Mat Woods

Make sense of big perch

30

Jamie Hughes

34

Will Raison

38

Put a curve in your pole rig

Maggot feeder edges for F1s

Kayleigh Smith

10 top worm tips for silverfish 24

4 IYCF | Issue 372

NOVICET...

ER P X E O T

84

57

92

FEEDER

FISHING SPECIAL

Tackle 78 80

1

ESSENTIALS FOR FEEDER FISHING

2

HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR FEEDER ROD FEEDERS FOR COMMERCIALS

3 4 5 6 7

RIGS TO USE ON MAN-MADE LAKES FEEDERS FOR NATURAL WATERS RIGS TO USE ON NATURAL VENUES CHOOSING WHAT BAITS TO USE

9

HOW TO PICK A WINNING SWIM LEARN TO CAST ACCURATELY

10

HOW TO PLAY A HOOKED FISH

8

84 42

Gary Clarke

46

Fish Better with Des Shipp

The latest tackle releases

Live test:

Middy 5G Mini Feeder

Buyers’ guide...

Winter headwear

80

Keep bream guessing

Two ways with bread

50 52

Rig school

Quick change bomb rig

Q&A

Your questions answered

Carp tactics 92

38

New gear

98

100

Jim Wilson

Your IYCF

Why solid PVA bags should be your go to winter tactic

56

Carp Q&A

86

Sticky’s experts solve your problems

What’s a helicopter rig Silt beating lead arrangement explained

88 90

Crossword

Win a Korum Lure Bag

Your letters Have your say

Daiwa Mission Your catch shots

Mission spotlight

Tips for your roach badge

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www.greatmagazines.co.uk | IYCF 5

River Bain, Lincolnshire

Free fishing at its finest

Top quality fishing doesn’t always have to cost a fortune to experience, as Phil Taylor shows on a neglected stretch of river offering big roach, perch and chub Words & Photography Tony Grigorjevs

Covid-19

8 IYCF | Issue 372

At the time of going to press, parts of the country had been placed into Tier 4 restrictions. While fishing is still permitted in these areas with one other person outside of your household, please abide by any restrictions regarding travel and larger gatherings.

For the latest updates on the rules for angling depending on which tier you are in visit: www.anglingtrust.net/covid-19/

FISHERY FOCUS An in-depth guide to the best stillwaters, rivers, and canals that you can fish for the price of a day ticket

I

T DOESN’T necessarily come as much of a surprise when you see a big fish slide over the net at a heavily pressured fishery.

After all, the sheer volume of anglers means that large quantities of bait are thrown in and the resident stocks pack on the pounds as a result.

With that in mind, you’d expect the complete opposite to be the case on sparsely-fished waters, with the fish susceptible to poor growth resulting from the miserly amount of grub on offer. But there are venues where stocks are thriving in every way possible in spite of angling neglect.

The River Bain in the Lincolnshire town of Horncastle is one such gem, with only a few anglers in the know fully aware of its potential.

Narrow enough to jump across in places, it is featureless over large swathes of the stretch. A few fallen trees and a couple of weirs are the only spots that catch the eye.

At first glance, it hardly oozes big-fish potential. Speak to local expert Phil Taylor, however, and he’ll soon change your opinion.

“I’ve fished down here for a number of years and despite the good head of big fish, I rarely see another angler fishing,” Phil told us.

“It’s a free fishing section on the edge of the town centre which is instantly dismissed by many people. But I’ve had some very special catches over the years.

“If a personal best roach or perch takes your fancy, your dreams could quite easily come true here.”

www.greatmagazines.co.uk | IYCF 9

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HOW TO

MAKE SENSE OF BIG PERCH Mat Woods reveals how sight, sound, smell and sensation are the key to his incredible big perch form

Words & Photography Mat Woods

S

OMEONE once told me perch are ‘the fish with the most middle fingers’. Like any other fish their mood changes not only day-by-day, but moment-by-moment. Experience will teach you how to adapt and overcome these challenges, but first you need to understand what triggers these awesome predators.

In this article I’m going to split those triggers into four separate categories. I call them the Four Esses and it’s a great way to think about choosing your approach for perch.

TACTICS: LURE SPECIES: PERCH DIFFICULTY:

24 IYCF | Issue 372

TACTICS

DID YOU KNOW? So far this winte r,

caught a new p Mat has b perch 1oz and numero of 4lb u 3lb-plus specim s ens

Slim lures match the fry which perch like to feed on

1) SIGHT

there too. Bleak, roach and dace shoals are important, not forgetting the classic minnow, but be mindful that perch in winter won’t be Those two eyes on the end of a perch’s head hunting them like they do in summer. are designed to work well in very coloured Their feeding is more opportunistic, which water and it’s something to be mindful of. is why a lure that resembles injured or dying I have caught perch in water the colour of prey is often taken more readily than one that concrete on completely inert lures truly matches the hatch. such as Korum Squirmz where Once again, think about the the only way they could have size of that prey. How long is found the bait was by sight. the average prey fish in the Typically, a Ned rig bait area? Are they healthy and doesn’t vibrate, doesn’t deep-bellied, or skinny from make a noise and doesn’t overpopulation? I know really smell of anything. on many canals I fish that What it does have is a lures with a tapered body profile that imitates lots and more width across the of things, which is why it shoulders are a great choice can still be effective in very because of the gudgeon shoals, Translucent coloured water. while on others you need a creature lures look a bit different every I’m going to stick with bait profile bait to match the crayfish. cast for a while before we start talking Whatever the prey, consider their about colours, because I actually profile, because often a lure that is think it’s more important than a good representation in shape colour choice. is better than one that only I often find that matching matches in colour. the profile of the bait fish Regarding colours, I like available to the perch in to keep it natural and will a certain venue is a key switch between dark, shiny factor to catching more and translucent. I favour fish. It’s why I use the drop lures that the light can pass shot technique so much through, as they will never because our warm summers quite look the same on each tend to give us more fry than retrieve. Painted lures look lovely Different profiles match ever, and our wet winters give us in the packet and work well in clear the prey on bigger worm casts than ever too. water where the fish can actually various venues For that reason, slim, undulating see the colouration but, for the most lures are increasingly effective in part, I like simple lures the light can my angling, because the venues I fish have pass through. Brighter colours have their day lots of smaller prey. and can often work well in very clear water Rivers especially, have banks loaded with too. blackhead and whitehead worms that the Be mindful of what those perch are used to perch definitely like snacking on so any time feeding on, and try to match it. For instance, we have high water, you’ll find the fish right if the water is always very clear, then the at your feet. baitfish will be dark and in prime condition all Equally, there are some stretches I fish the time. If the water is usually murky, then where perch inhabit because the baitfish are prey will have a different look altogether.

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Curve it like Jamie Hughes The three times Fish O’ champ lifts the lid on one of his biggest edges. Give it a go and it will definitely get you more bites Words & Photography Tony Grigorjevs

W

E ALL pay plenty of attention to what we can see on the surface.

The weather conditions are analysed, with adjustments made for the strength and direction of any wind. Careful consideration is paid to how the float sits, with fine tuning of the shotting pattern undertaken to get it in the ideal position.

While there is no doubt these elements are important, there is another factor that is even more crucial that many totally neglect.

30 IYCF | Issue 372

Jamie Hughes is one of the best match anglers in the business and is the only man in history to win the coveted annual Fish O’Mania title on three occasions.

The lengths that the Matrix and Spotted Fin-backed star goes to ensure everything is perfect are incredible, and it’s his attention to detail that has made him the star that he is.

He is adamant that while people are aware of what a good presentation should look on the surface, few pay attention to what should be

happening beneath it.

“Anglers will get everything in order, lay in their rig and then expect the bites to follow,” established Jamie.

“But how your rig sits underwater is absolutely key to how many fish you put in the net during a session.

“It is all about making it ultra-sensitive because whether you are fishing for carp, F1s or silverfish, the tiniest of bites will be missed unless rig presentation is spot on.”

TACTICS

TACTICS: POLE SPECIES: SILVERS DIFFICULTY:

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10

TOP WORM TIPS FOR SILVERFISH

England international Kayleigh Smith dishes out her hottest advice for catching mixed bags on stillwaters with this classic wriggly bait when temperatures plummet Words & Photography Tony Grigorjevs

I

F THERE is one thing I have learned during my career it is that the fine margins are what separate a good angler from a great one.

Anglers of both standards will have a very similar set-up but nine times out of 10, the same one will fare best.

38 IYCF | Issue 372

Tiny tweaks are the game changers and often the difference between scraping a few bites together and bagging a bulging net.

England international and Preston Innovations-backed Kayleigh Smith is among the elite and at this time of year she loves fishing for commercial silvers.

If there was one bait she wouldn’t be without in that scenario it is worms. Over the years she has fine-tuned her approach to make it even more deadly.

This month she reveals 10 cracking edges that will make a massive difference to your catches when using worms.

TACTICS

RELY ON POSITIVE RIGS FROM THE OFF “Worms are quite a heavy bait and sink quickly. With that in mind, they are best fished on the deck using a shotting pattern that gets the hookbait down quickly.

There’s no point making the hookbait fall as slow as possible when your target fish are on the deck.

“I use a bulk of shot 18in from the hook with two smaller shot spread 6in apart just below.

“My favourite float is a Preston Innovations F1 Pellet as it has a reasonably thick tip that makes sure the rig remains anchored, no matter how much the worm is dancing around on the deck.

“When after a mixed bag of silvers on commercials, I use grade 7 Dura Slip elastic and 0.13mm mainline to a 0.10mm hooklength and a size 16 or 18 hook.”

1

2

WORKING THE WORM “Big perch love worms. They are a predatory species and instinctively strike at things that move. A bed of chopped worm will attract them and while they’ll eat some of it, they often sit over the top, almost guarding it. It often takes a sudden movement of the hookbait to tempt them into snapping it up so I agitate it every 30 seconds. This could be a slight lift of the float, dragging it one way briefly or laying in the rig again. Vary how you manoeuvre it to prevent the fish wising up to what is going on.”

3

GIVE THE SCISSORS A WORKOUT “I never feed whole worms for two reasons. Firstly, it fills up the fish really quickly and secondly, it would cost a fortune!

“Chopping them up creates a bait with less food content and makes your supply last longer.

“I always vary the degree that I chop them. If I am targeting quality fish that will have a bigger appetite, I give them a brief hack to make sure plenty of small pieces remain. When after roach or smaller fish, I chop them more vigorously, creating what isn’t far off a soup that is mainly scent and attraction.”

www.greatmagazines.co.uk | IYCF 39

Fish better with...

DES SHIPP

Brush up on key angling skills with England International Des, to put more fish on the bank

THIS MONTH: TWO WAYS TO CATCH WITH BREAD

I

F I had to pick a bait that would guarantee a few bites HOW TO: on a commercial during the depths of winter, it would have to be bread.

Its light and fluffy properties make it easy for big carp and F1s to suck up and it is often the only thing they will consider eating when it’s cold.

Unlike most other tactics, bomb and bread action doesn’t involve a single morsel of loosefeed. The hookbait is extremely buoyant, leading to it popping up off the bottom and if you land it close to a fish, it won’t be able to resist tucking in.

Chucking out a couple of hair-rigged discs of bread may sound incredibly easy, but there is plenty to consider to make it effective.

BAG UP ON THE BOMB

THE PERFECT HOOKBAIT The amount and size of bread discs used can have a big impact on results. I fish with 6mm discs on mixed waters, 8mm for carp and 10mm when really big carp are on the cards at venues such as Boddington Reservoir. I start with two discs but will step up to three to make the hookbait stand out even more on tougher days

46 IYCF | Issue 371

1

2 USE A SMALL BOMB

3 POP IT UP

Noise attracts fish in summer because they associate it with food coming in, but it has the opposite effect in winter. Use the smallest bomb you can to reach your target zone to minimise the disturbance. On commercials, a 3/4oz version usually does the job

Carp often sit well off the bottom in winter as the coldest water sinks to the deck. In a bid to keep my bait away from the bottom, I use a reasonably long 15in hooklength. The bread hookbait will then be popped this high off the deck. When fishing for carp, I use 0.15mm line to a size 14 Preston Innovations KKM-B hook

15in

4

5

SEARCH YOUR SWIM Carp and F1s are likely to be holed up in a few tight spots. It is up to you to find them by casting to different spots. Chuck towards islands, aerators and open water zones, looking for signs of fish on the rod tip. If you get tiny knocks, it means fish are brushing against the mainline and that you aren’t far away from a few.

Recast every 10 to 15 minutes

HAIR RIG LENGTH Bread discs swell once they have been in the water for a period. If the hair is tied too short, the bait could push against the hook and cover the point. This can cause you to fail to set the hook when you get a bite. To prevent it, use a hair-rig that is 1cm-1.5cm long. It may look like your bait is set well away from the hook before you cast out, but once in the water the gap will soon close

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RHIG OOL SC

QUICK CHANGE BOMB RIG Rigs don’t get much simpler than this, yet it accounts for huge numbers of winter carp and F1s

F

ISH eat much less during winter months and introducing too much food can be the kiss of death, filling up the fish before you have a chance to catch them. Using tiny amounts of concentrated feed, or even no feed at all, can be the answer to keeping the bites coming.

A bomb rig is a simple way of catching carp and F1s at this time of year. Coupled with a bright wafter hookbait, it is easy for lethargic fish to find and even easier for them to pick up.

Combine a bright hookbait with a tiny PVA stick

MAINLINE

When targeting carp and F1s use a mainline with a 6lb breaking strain and around 0.20mm diameter

QUICK CHANGE

The central peg can be pulled out of the quick change bead so you can easily loop on a fresh hooklength when required

50 IYCF | Issue 372

of micro pellets or groundbait and you have enhanced attraction, with the bare minimum of feed going spare.

The rig can be kept very simple. A bomb rig incorporating a connector bead, so that the hooklength can be changed instantly, is all that is needed. Adding two small rubber beads acts as a mini-boom helping to avoid tangles. Have several hooklengths made up with different coloured and flavoured wafters, so you can ring the changes and discover the fish’s preference on the day.

BOMB

A 15g bomb will enable you to cast as far as you’ll need to on most commercials. The flat sides prevent it rolling out of position

YOU WILL NEED

HOW TO TIE A QUICK CHANGE BOMB RIG

✔ Size 12 Sphere Beast eyed hook ✔ 0.16mm Browning Hybrid line ✔ Medium bait band ✔ Medium connector bead ✔ 5mm rubber beads ✔ 15-gram leger weight

Thread the 15-gram leger Next, thread t wo 5mm weight on to your 0.20mm rubber beads on to the 1 2 mainline mainline

Tie the connector bead on to the end of the mainline 3 using a figure-of-eight knot

Cut off a 45cm length of Tie on a bait band using a 0.16mm mono to make the loop knot, then tie on the 4 5 hooklength hook using a knotless knot

Tie a small figure-of-eight Finish by attaching the knot in the other end of the 7 hooklength loop to the 6 hooklength connector bead

HOOK

HOOKLINK

When bites are at a premium you want to land everything you hook. A size 12 hook will help with this

A hooklink of 30cm is the ideal length for this style of fishing.

Tie it from 0.16mm diameter mono

HOOKBAIT Bright wafters quickly grab the attention of lethargic carp

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1 FEEDER FISHING

STEP

MAINLINE

A durable mainline is essential because the rigours of casting loaded feeders and retrieving them will test it to the limit. A 6lb mono is ideal on most waters, stepping up to 8lb if you are fishing for barbel on rivers or carp in snaggy commercial swims.

FEEDER ARM

Once your feeder has plopped into the desired spot, the rod is best placed on a rest so that you don’t accidentally dislodge it. An extendable feeder arm enables you to position the rod where you wish. On stillwaters it is best kept low and slightly to the left of centre, while it pays to have it higher on rivers to keep the mainline out of the flow.

BEADS

A quick change bead is attached to the end of your mainline and enables you to rapidly change your hooklength. It is a simple case of taking off the covering, sliding a hooklength loop over the groove and then sliding the covering back over the top. They also act as a buffer for the feeder on the mainline

FEEDERS

There are dozens of different styles of feeder on the market.

Each one serves a different purpose.

Consider what style of fishing you will adopt and make a decision on the feeders to add to your armoury. Free-running feeders are best when starting out as it is a simple case of threading them on to your mainline to get going.

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ESSENTIALS

From bigger items of tackle to handy terminal kit, here’s what you’ll need for a feeder session

REEL

As with rods, reels are created at a wide range of price points. The simple rule of thumb states that the further you want to cast, the bigger your reel needs to be. This is because line peels off a bigger spool easier, enabling you to reach the required distance. A small 3000 size is suited to chucks up to 30m, a medium 4000 up to 50m and a large 5000 for anything beyond that.

ROD

Enter any sizeable tackle shop and it’ll be home to a plethora of rods. From budget versions right through to flag ship models, there is bound to be something that will cater for your needs. It is important to consider what you will primarily use the rod for before making a purchase as different rods are suited to different tasks. We have a full briefing on page 60 to help you make the correct choice.

BACK REST

This supports the back end of your rod handle while it is resting on the feeder arm. This keeps your hands free, enabling you to feed with a catapult or sort terminal tackle as you wait. A back rest also reduces the chances of the rod being dragged in if you are caught unawares!

HOOKLINKS

The style of fishing you have a crack at will dictate the type of hooklength you want. Most commercial work is done with a 4in version and a fairly strong hook at the business end. Natural waters are best approached with longer versions that can range from 1ft to 3ft.

There are plenty of pre-tied hooklinks on offer that are produced to an excellent quality that won’t let you down.

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7 CHOOSING YOUR

STEP

MAGGOTS

These are the obvious bait for loading a maggot feeder when fishing both commercials and natural waters. They attract fish of all sizes and species. If you want to use them on the hook, they are often better dead. This prevents them from wriggling into the silt or covering the hookpoint, increasing the number of fish that end up firmly hooked.

WORMS

A finely chopped handful of worms is a deadly addition to your groundbait. This style of feeding is particularly effective on reservoirs and rivers when bream and roach are the main target. A whole worm tipped off with a caster to stop it wriggling off can be a brilliant hookbait for silverfish.

MICRO PELLETS

Pellets at 2mm are up there with the best bait for moulding around a Method or Hybrid feeder. Dampening them results in a consistency that enables them to stick to the frame of the feeder. They are a proven winner for carp, F1s and big silverfish on commercials, but they are also becoming increasingly effective on big reservoirs for bream and skimmers.

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BAIT TYPE MINI BOILIES/ WAFTERS

On some waters it pays to make your hookbait stand out and a mini boilie or wafter will do that alongside micro pellets or groundbait. An 8mm version is often as good on commercials for carp and F1s as it is for bream and tench on reservoirs. Their hard composition means small fish are unable to get a look in, so a quality fish will be the culprit every time you are called into action.

Get this right and your tip will keep going round whether you’re fishing a commercial, river or natural stillwater

CORN

If you are fishing in coloured water then a bright hookbait is going to improve your chances of fish finding it. Use a baiting needle to run a kernel on to a hair rig, with a quick stop in place to prevent it from falling off. Hooking it directly isn’t advisable as the force of the cast could lead to it falling off the hook. It can be effective on both commercials for carp and F1s, and reservoirs or rivers for bream.

HARD PELLETS

Many commercials are dominated by pellets. It therefore makes sense to put a pellet hookbait among the loosefeed on your feeder.

A 6mm or 8mm banded pellet pushed in a handful of 2mm freebies on the Method, pellet or hybrid feeder will stand out and may well be the first thing that carp or F1s suck up.

GROUNDBAIT

An extremely versatile bait that can be used on a wide range of feeders.

Whether it is moulded around a Method, crammed inside a cage or plugging off the entrance to a window feeder, it can trigger a response. A dark mix is often best in winter and when it comes to ingredients, fishmeal is a winner for carp, F1s and bream.

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10 HOW TO PLAY A STEP

1 Resist the temptation to strike wildly when the tip goes round. In the vast majority of cases, the fish will have picked up the bait, felt the weight of the feeder and as it tries to bolt, set the hook.

Simply picking up the rod and starting to wind is all that you need to do to get the battle underway.

3 With turns on the spool, click the anti-reverse switch on your reel. You can now backwind and let the fish take line, preventing a breakage when they exert pressure. When the fish plods, keep the rod low and gain on it by reeling in more line. Use the backwind any time the fish runs off.

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2 Keep the rod low and get a few turns of line on the reel as quickly as possible.

The fish – no matter how big – is likely to be a little confused and in those few seconds when they are reasonably unresponsive. Use this time to take advantage and get a few turns on the reel. If you don’t succeed, you’ll need lady luck as the line clip will prevent any more line from peeling off the spool.

4 Once the fish is close to the net, raise the rod upwards to exert a little more pressure and force it to the surface. If it surges off, lower the rod again.

Keep switching between both stances until you fully tire the fish and are able to net it.

FISH

The tip has gone around and it is fish on! The pressure is now on to play it correctly and make sure it ends up in the net. Providing you remain calm, it’s a fairly straightforward process to master

THINGS TO REMEMBER ❱❱ USE TOUGH TACKLE Use strong 4in hooklengths between 0.18mm and 0.22mm when fishing commercials. ❱❱ SIT ON YOUR HANDS Don’t strike at tiny taps when fishing the Method, pellet or Hybrid feeder. A genuine bite is unmissable. ❱❱ ENJOY IT! Switch feeders, vary how much you cast or the baits you use and success will eventually follow

Most fish are already hooked when the tip goes round

5 With your prize in the net, it is job done! Place your rod on the rests to free up both hands. This will enable you to unhook your prize and make sure it is secure and safe in the net. All being well, it will be a fish of note and worthy of a quick photograph before slipping it back to fight another day.

“Feeder fishing involves minimal preparation, is easy to get to grips with and is guaranteed to help you bag some special fish”

TOP TIP ❱❱ If you struggle to quickly flick on the anti-reverse switch during the chaos of the early stages of a fight, try setting the drag (otherwise known as clutch) slightly slacker. Simply turn the dial on the front (or rear) of your reel to slacken it.

This will enable fish to pull a little line off in the early stages of the fight, so that you don’t lose your prize

LIVE TEST

Never lose another fish

Every bite matters in the depths of winter and Tony Grigorjevs tests a rod that promises to put you in the driving seat every time the tip goes round 9ft MIDDY 5G LIQUID CARBON MINI FEEDER RRP £114.99

N

O MATTER what rig you are using, how prolific the peg or which winning bait concoction you’ve gone for, the cold conditions are likely to seriously limit the number of bites you get.

In the heat of summer, losing the odd fish can be brushed off because you can rightly expect another to take the bait in short order.

But in winter, you need to capitalise on

80 IYCF | Issue 372

every bite, doing everything in your power to make sure that any fish which inhales your hookbait ends up in the net.

There are lots of things you can do to stack the odds in your favour and picking the right rod is certainly one of them.

If commercials are your forte, then the new 9ft Middy 5G Liquid Carbon Mini Feeder could be what you’re looking for this term.

TACKLE

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: T S E B E H T OF your head. While lf of your body heat through ha e los you t tha th my a ’S r body heat HERE en proven that 7%-10% of you be s ha it e, tru be t no t gh A decent hat this mi is still a significant amount. ich wh , ad he r you gh ou thr bank escapes y to stay comfortable on the wa sy ea d an p ea ch y vel ati is therefore a rel ality thermal suit. en combined with a good qu during winter, especially wh bble hats… our favourite beanies and bo Here’s our pick of some of

T E-S-P Camo Head Case Woolly Hat RRP: £11.95

Made with a warm, heavy knit, this thick and stretchy hat has a lovely soft fleece lining. And if it’s good enough to grace the head of the legendary Terry Hearn, it’s good enough for us. www.esp-carpgear.com

Maver Beanie Hat RRP: £9.99

nie.

A stylish one size fits all bea the h wit ign des Grey and black t. green Maver logo on the fron k o.u h.c www.mavermatc

Sticky Maroon Knitted Beanie RRP: £9.99

With its modern ‘slouchy’ design, this stylish beanie is made using a classic fisherman’s ribbed stitch designed to trap heat and keep your head warm. www.stickybaits.com

84 IYCF | Issue 372

S T A H E L B B O B D B E A N I ES A N Preston Innovations Waterproof Bobble Hat RRP: £14.99

e, this hat has a Both warm and comfortabl n the outer wee bet e ran mb waterproof me suitable for it shell and internal layer making ther. wea ter win e the most extrem com www.prestoninnovations.

Kodex Beanie Hat RRP: £9.99

htly loose Stylish and durable with a slig fit elsewhere. g snu a and top fashionable fit at the en colour. gre Discreet branding and ‘carpy’ om e.c ckl xta www.kode

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www.greatmagazines.co.uk | IYCF 85

CARP Q&A

IN ASSOCIATION WITH STICKY

HOW CAN MAGGOTS BE STORED FOR A FUTURE SESSION?

Q

I want to use maggots more this winter. Is it possibly to store them in between sessions if I don’t use them all?

ASK US A QUESTION...

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Maggots are a great bait for winter carp

Stephen Elliot, email LANCE BARTON: Maggots are a common bait when winter arrives and, as you’ve pointed out, you often don’t use them all in one session.

The best way of storing them is transferring any remaining ones into a bag, sucking all the air out and sealing the bag.

They’re fine for a few days in colder temperatures. Just make sure you put them in a bucket which they can’t escape from if the inevitable happens!

If you leave them in maggot boxes, they tend to sweat. Once you open the bag for your next session, they’ll be as good as new.

A little sprinkle of Manilla Active Mix and you’re ready to go!

Any unused maggots can be saved for later sessions

Stored maggots are easily pepped up with groundbait

Soaking boilies in a matching liquid will draw fish upstream

Q

Are river carp more likely to feed in winter? If so, should I fish rivers, not lakes, for the next few months?

Angie Wallace, email NICK HELLEUR: With the flow of a river, there’s always a chance of a bite. That said, a river doesn’t always guarantee action. Travelling light and fishing a variety of spots on a stretch is a key part to river angling in general, but especially during winter. If you’re on your toes, you’ll track them down. Then it’s a simple case of giving them a mouthful of something they’ll not refuse. I use little PVA mesh bags of Bloodworm pellet, or sometimes a few boilies with a simple, uncomplicated rig. I’d usually soak boilies in a liquid to attract whatever maybe further downstream.

Locating carp is a vital aspect of winner fishing

YOUR CARP QUESTIONS ANSWERED

BY STICKY’S EXPERT ANGLERS

Q

I worry about the knots on my PVA bags fully melting in cold water. Are carp likely to spook off it or am I worrying for no reason?

Dom Beeton, email STEVE RENYARD: I think you’re overthinking far too

Q

What’s the best type of rig to use that incorporates a fluorocarbon hooklength?

Daniel Wood, email

much. If carp are going to spook over a near seethrough ball on a tail rubber, we’re all doomed!

Joking aside, there’s nothing you can do to combat it.

I’ve had takes on bags which haven’t even fully melted, let alone the knot on the leader or stem!

They’ll be way too distracted with what’s inside the bag rather than worrying about a little bit of PVA which is clinging on for dear life!

Steve uses his favou red mix of Manilla Active Mix an d small Bloodworm pellets in the bags

HOW TO CREATE A PVA BAG

OZ HOLNESS: There are a variety of rigs which

are very efficient and work well with a stiff hooklink such as fluorocarbon. A rig I love for fishing with boilies and over cleaner lakebeds such as gravel is a D-rig, incorporating a material called ThinkLink.

The reason for using it is that it sits perfectly over clean bottoms, which is what the spot will inevitably be after it has seen a bit of bait.

ThinkLink is a fairly stiff material, which prevents the rig from tangling in flight. It also enables the rig to reset should it be brushed around. Its main advantage is that it has enough suppleness to be nice and flexible when a fish sucks in the bait.

Fishing a balanced bait aids this too and I also like a wafter hookbait, as it sits well with the rig. A slow sinking bait enables the hook to lie flat on the bottom as the bait hovers just above it.

Q

Do carp head to the same areas of a lake each winter? I caught well from a certain spot last year but so far this winter I haven’t seen any signs of carp in the area. Should I continue or try elsewhere?

Place the hookbait in the solid bag

Add the powder and pellet mix

Once a third full, add the lead

Top up the bag to this approximate level

Lick, twist and stick the bag

You should be left with this package

Fold in and stick the corners with saliva

The bag is complete and ready to cast

Proof of the pudding that solid bags are winners for winter

Robert Milner, Facebook TOM MAKER: Carp are creatures of habit,

and they’ll probably like to hold in a certain area at this time of the year, but don’t just presume so. The conditions may be different to the last time you fished it, and they might be in another area for other reasons. The main thing is to find them first.

The smallest of signs may give them away, so focus on that. If you literally have nothing to go on, just use previous knowledge.

www.greatmagazines.co.uk | IYCF 99