Improve Your Coarse Fishing Magazine - Issue 380 (PREVIEW)

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Aug 24 – Sept 21, 2021 £4.20

Nowhere for carp to hide!

ISSUE 380

Combine two great tactics to ensure you cover every inch of your swim

PLUS NEVER TANGLE ON THE FEEDER – NICK SPEED REVEALS ALL

TACTICS: SCORE ON RIVERS THIS MONTH Learn how Des Shipp's Fool chub & to tie a stick guide to nets barbel with of silverfish rolling meat float rig

QUICK FIX BOOST YOUR ACCURACY WITH A CATAPULT

This month...

Issue 380 August 24 – September 21, 2021

Fishery Focus

24

8

Norfolk Broads

14

Southend Farm Lakes

Norfolk Essex

Tactics 24

30 34

40

Tony Curd

Change your groundbait colour for margin carp

Robbie Griffiths

Tiny wagglers to the rescue

Chris Ponsford

Simplicity is key to catching chub and barbel

Chris Cameron

Time your bites to choose the right feeder 44

46

50

52

4 IYCF | Issue 380

34

Quick fix

How to accurately feed with a catapult

Alfie Naylor

Turn to lures for summer chub sport

56 58 62

Watercraft

Learn how to fish a typical canal swim

66

Expert tips

Catch F1s shallow

Graham West

Cover every inch of your swim with just two rigs

Fish Better with Des Shipp

Pole fishing on rivers

Nick Speed

Tangle-proof feeder set-up will catch you more fish

Rig School

Stick float trotting rig

70

Q&A

Your questions answered

Tackle 76

80 82 86

76

Live test

Daiwa Matchwinner MW5 pole

New gear

The latest tackle releases

Buyers’ guide...

Margin poles

Spotted Fin

Method Ready range

Your IYCF 20

80

88

Carp tactics 98

102 104

90

Tom Scarr

108

Subscribe...

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Support your local Tackle shop guide

Your letters Have your say

Get on the reliable and simple KD rig

92

Rig of the month

96

Extended D-rig

Hook types

Different patterns explained

98

Daiwa Mission Your catch shots

Puzzle break

Win a Korum Roving Bag

Bob Roberts’ Diary

108 Find out what our top all-rounder has been up to

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Recieve a Dynamite Baits goodies bundle 62

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Variety rules down at the farm Southend Farm Lakes, Essex

Will Reynolds visits a top class commercial where pole anglers bag up alongside those who fool their quarry with big leads and bite alarms Words & Photography Tony Grigorjevs

M

OST fishery owners appear to have a certain type of angler in mind when designing their own lakes.

Venues dominated by snakes and intimate stillwaters that are decorated with islands are geared towards those that launch their pole attack from a seatbox.

Bigger lakes that are home to giant carp will soon entice the bivvy and bite alarm brigade, while lily-strewn pools where tench and crucians can be found will appeal to the more traditional angler.

In truth, it’s rare to find a water where each peg would contain a different type of angler. Rare, but not nonexistent as Essex’s Southend Farm Lakes is proving.

The four-lake complex prides itself on welcoming anglers from all branches of the sport.

14 IYCF | Issue 380

You’re just as likely to be seated next to someone that is waiting for a screaming run from a 20lb-plus carp as you are to a visitor that is lining up a shoal of bream.

The opportunity to dabble with whatever tactic you fancy on the day and be in with a shot of royal results was what first drew Will Reynolds to the complex.

“Whether you fancy a float, feeder or a more specimenorientated approach, you can head to Southend Farm and feel confident that you are going to have a memorable day on the bank,” explained the commercial fishery expert.

“I’ve seen carp to over 20lb landed on one peg and then just a few paces down the bank there is someone who has caught more than 100lb of silverfish. There aren’t many venues where that happens, and this is what makes it special in my eyes.”

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

www.greatmagazines.co.uk | IYCF 15

GROUNDBAIT COLOUR

Why it pays to change your mix for carp in the margin Tony Curd explains why a finely tuned groundbait mix will help your catches stand out from those around you Words Tony Curd Photography Tony Grigorjevs

GREEN

Best in water with a green tinge caused by algae

BROWN

A real winner in clear water or on gravel / clay lakebeds TACTICS: POLE SPECIES: CARP DIFFICULTY:

24 IYCF | Issue 380

TACTICS

I

T DOESN’T get much more exciting in the summer when fishing on commercial venues than bagging up in the margins, does it? Your float sits in the turbulence created by several bulky carp digging around over your feed inches from the bank with their tails up. This is followed by a lightning-fast bite, a firm strike and its game on! But are you getting the most from it?

The approach was revolutionised with the use of feeding groundbait. It offers mass attraction and a real focus on the hookbait as one of just a few, or even the only, target bait fished over the top a fine feed.

When it was first being used I would think nothing of mixing up a bucket of virtually

anything, safe in the knowledge that if I fed at the right time, the fish would be turning up pretty soon after.

As with any heavily used method, the fish soon begin to wise up and what was once producing huge weights suddenly yields some very average results. This is usually followed with comments such as ‘groundbait doesn’t work here anymore.’

In my experience, however, that’s a long way from the truth. By refining my approach to suit different water colours, and matching my feed to the lakebed I’m fishing over, great results can still be had and the quick fish to bite ratio can still be achieved with a little thought.

RED

Great on venues dug from red clay or sand

www.greatmagazines.co.uk | IYCF 25

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TACTICS: FLOAT SPECIES: CARP DIFFICULTY:

30 IYCF | Issue 380

TACTICS

Tiny wagglers to the rescue Robbie Griffiths shows why thinking small when it comes to float choice will result in more big carp in your net Words & Photography Tony Grigorjevs

C

OMMERCIALS were once seen as an easy option to catch a few big carp, with little skill required to achieve the goal. But things have changed drastically over the years as the fish have wised up after witnessing every trick in the book and being caught numerous times.

The high stocking volumes of these venues mean that bites are still well within reach but a rethink of how you attack them is essential to keep you on top of your game.

Attention to detail is more important than

ever. Even if you hear that a certain tactic is working wonders, there’s still plenty of homework to do.

When it comes to the pellet waggler, float choice is more critical than it’s ever been.

Picking up the first version that you set your eyes on won’t suffice, with a certain style proving head and shoulders above the rest.

Top commercial expert Robbie Griffiths has bagged stacks of big carp using the approach during the scorching summer.

This year he’s been relying on a float that

can be used in two different ways.

“I always feed a zone where I try and attract feeding fish, regularly casting into it aiming to get a response,” he said.

“But there are plenty of occasions where you’ll notice carp cruising along and, if you can cast close to them, they’ll often snatch at the bait and it’s game on.

“You need a tiny float that hits the water with minimal disturbance and doesn’t interfere with what is going on beneath the surface to score in both scenarios.”

www.greatmagazines.co.uk | IYCF 31

Simplicity is key to catching chub and barbel

Top all-rounder Chris Ponsford proves that you need little more than a big hook and a piece of meat for a fish-filled day on the river Words Chris Ponsford Photography Mark Parker

34 IYCF | Issue 380

TACTICS

C

ALL me old school, and yes I am old, but I am not a fan of the modern ways of targeting chub and barbel.

I don’t doubt their effectiveness, but camping on the bank, multiple rods, bite alarms, bivvies and boilies just aren’t my cup of tea for the species. Besides, I have caught loads of barbel and chub using my much-preferred traditional approaches to fishing.

I have no problem with anyone who favours the newer tactics, but, for me, they are too time consuming and frankly, to this old angler, boring!

The majority of fish that I see plastered daily on

social media are night captures, often caught when the angler is woken from his slumbers by a shrieking bite alarm, a mad scramble from the sleeping bag, and hoping the bolt rig is still connected to a fish now making a desperate bid for its freedom.

Of course, freedom is unlikely due to the fact it’s probably linked to a carp rod and big freespool reel loaded with 15lb line and culminating in a size six hook. Sound familiar?

Well let me tell you about an alternative approach that doesn’t cost much, requires little time and will probably give you a quicker result.

TACTICS: ROLLING MEAT SPECIES: CHUB / BARBEL DIFFICULTY:

www.greatmagazines.co.uk | IYCF 35

QUICK

L

FIX

EA

EA SI

AN

SKILLS I

LI N G S ANG KI L SY

frequent top-ups of loosefeed.

With that in mind, it is essential you can reach for the catapult and accurately ping your freebies while still holding and controlling your pole.

A lot of anglers have told us they struggle to achieve this but, by putting several small steps together, you can get to grips with it very quickly.

Start practising at a comfortable range and add sections to make it slightly trickier as you improve.

LS I EASY

ING

T

HERE are lots of skills that need to be worked on if you are to truly master the art of pole fishing.

Rig presentation, playing fish and shipping in and out are all crucial elements, but perhaps top of the list is being able to feed while still holding a pole.

At this time of year, a regular rain of bait is required to maintain the attention of a shoal. This applies on pretty much any type of water with stillwaters, rivers and canals all responding favourably to

G

IL SK

GL

IYCF shows you the simple skills required to ping out bait to the spot while still holding and maintaining control of your pole

SY ANGL IN

HOW TO: ACCURATLEY FEED WITH A CATAPULT

TOP TIP It is important to find a balance when feeding.

Firing in around 10 pellets every couple of minutes often works when fishing on the bottom, switching to five every 30 seconds when fishing shallow

44 IYCF | Issue 380

1. GET COMFORTABLE

2. KEEP THE BAIT CLOSE

By using your knees and elbow correctly, you can put the pole in ‘hands free’ mode. Place your feet together, flat on the footplate/ground and turn them to 45 degrees. Rest the final section on them, using your elbow as support. Your hands are now free and, should you get a bite, pushing your elbow down and a very slight lift of the knees will do the striking for you.

It is important to make sure the tub you are taking the bait from is easy to reach. Place it as near as possible on the sidetray so you can pick up the catapult and scoop the pouch within the tub without having to take your eyes off the float.

This makes sure you never miss any bites while preparing the catapult to deliver the next consignment.

3. LINE IT UP

4. DROP IT SHORT

Accuracy is pivotal when pole fishing and your loosefeed needs to land within the vicinity of your target zone. The best way to achieve this is by lining up the catapult with your pole.

Stretch the elastic back over the top of the pole and this will make sure that all your loosefeed flies directly over the top of it and lands exactly where it will work its magic.

Make your loosefeed land just short of the float. If it goes beyond, you’ll need another section to reach the fish. Practise feeding two pellets at a time until you master it. Remember how much you stretch the elastic on each attempt and once you get the loosefeed where you want it, repeat that amount of stretch each time from then on. www.greatmagazines.co.uk | IYCF 45

Turn to lures for summer chub sport The stick float or feeder may seem the obvious choice for this popular species, but Alfie Naylor shows why mobilising a completely different tactic will soon pay dividends Words Alfie Naylor Photography Ryan Hayden

TACTICS: LURES SPECIES: CHUB DIFFICULTY:

46 IYCF | Issue 380

P

TACTICS

IKE, perch and zander are often the only species that come to mind when it comes to lure fishing. There is, however, another coarse fish species that loves to chase its prey as much as that famous predatory trio – chub.

Work a lure close to them and their instincts will instantly kick in as they pounce on what they believe is another meal.

Head to your local tackle shop and you’ll see hundreds of lures for sale, which is where the confusion could soon kick in.

Just like floats or feeders, they all do slightly different jobs. At this time of year, a pattern that can be manipulated to sit inches beneath the surface is going to put you in with a chance of some very impressive fish.

Chub will sit slightly lower in the water, catch a glimpse of the silhouette on the move above their heads and hit it. Fish on!

If you can make your lure act in an enticing manner, there’s every chance this approach will prove more deadly for the species than a float or feeder ever has.

Weapon of choice

Everyone is after the magic lure that will outscore every other pattern but, in truth, it doesn’t exist. What the fish find appealing will change by the day, especially in terms of shapes and colours. But one thing I always look for is how it moves on the retrieve.

I want something that will vibrate as I draw it back along the surface because this helps imitate the movements of a real small fish.

The Daiwa Micro Minnows do just that and I’ve lost count of the number of chub that I have nailed on them.

When it comes to retrieving the lure, it isn’t a case of launching it out and simply winding it back with no plan in mind.

You need to vary the retrieve rates. Do it slowly on some casts and speed it up on others. If fish are nearby and notice the same pattern, they’ll soon smell a rat and drift off elsewhere.

It is important to keep the rod high and the mainline off the water, with the lure just dragging along the surface. This prevents it from sinking and makes it scuttle along the surface.

One moment you’re slowly winding in, the next all hell breaks loose and it’s game on!

Rotate between different colours of lure to provoke a reaction from chub

www.greatmagazines.co.uk | IYCF 47

SILICO NE A smal piece o l silicon f pole e out the ‘kicks’ boom

HOOKLENG A 3ft hook TH len is attached gth to the bottom of the twizzled bo om R FEEDE is e g The ca to the ed attach ader via e shockl er link a feed

52 IYCF | Issue 380

TACTICS

The rig that NEVER tangles Fishing the feeder in deep water throws up a series of challenges, but Nick Speed has an approach that never fails to deliver Words Nick Speed Photography Tony Grigorjevs

W

E ALL have a special venue that is close to our hearts for many reasons and Dam Flask is the place that hits all the high notes for me.

Situated on the outskirts of Sheffield, and a stone’s throw from where I live, it holds more memories for me than any other venue that I can think of. It was the place I started fishing and where I spent more time learning different techniques than anywhere else.

Not only does it hold a massive head of fish, but it is also surrounded in beautiful scenery, and holds a lot of heritage. During the 70s and 80s it was a hugely popular match venue, with it often hosting matches of more than 200 anglers in the annual Pennine Championship, which is still running today.

Arguably the most eye-catching thing about this 115-acre gem is its depth and when it reaches its peak, you can be faced with 100ft of water at the dam end! Even when the levels are lower, you’ll be lucky to find less than 25ft and that means you need to think a little before targeting

the vast shoals of skimmers and roach.

The most important thing is to construct a rig that won’t tangle as it sinks in such deep water.

Get it wrong and you’ll face regular birds nests, get it right and it’ll soon seem easy.

Spot every bite

To display just how good this venue is and the simple set-up that always scores, I met up with IYCF on the ‘match length’ stretch, situated on the boathouse side of the reservoir.

A conventional feeder is the way forward but it needs to be set up in a certain manner. The resident silvers can produce very finicky bites and braided mainline helps you spot every single one of these. Unlike monofilament, it has zero stretch which means the tip shows even the slightest of enquiries.

I load 0.13mm Kariki braid on to the reel and attach a 20ft shockleader of 0.25mm fluorocarbon to the end. This acts as a shock absorber and aids playing fish, preventing hookpulls if fish shake their heads.

TOP TIP TACTICS: FEEDER SPECIES: SILVERFISH DIFFICULTY:

Once you hook a fish in deep water, never stop winding on the way in. This keeps the feeder above the fish which is important. If you stop retrieving, the feeder will try to sink and that could lead to the hook being pulled from the fish’s mouth www.greatmagazines.co.uk | IYCF 53

Fish better with...

DES SHIPP

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

THIS MONTH: POLE FISHING ON RIVERS

I

’VE recently spent a lot of time on one of my favourite stretches of the Dorset Stour and I have absolutely loved every minute of it.

It’s been a bite-a-chuck almost every session, with the roach shoals dominant. It’s got me in the mood to try out other rivers for different species and that has meant plenty of time in my tackle room getting prepared.

Getting into this mindset has helped me remember numerous tricks that have always served me well on running waters and this month I reveal my top five tips that will make sure you also enjoy prolific action on rivers.

PICK THE RIGHT MIX Groundbait is key to my river approach. If I am fishing a slow-moving venue for a mixed bag, I will rely on an even blend of Sonubaits So Natural Black Roach and Lake. If there are lots of roach, I’ll also include some Crushed Hemp. When faced with a pacier stretch, I’ll use So Natural Black Roach combined with River because this is a little stickier. I always add soil to my mix because this helps the balls break up quicker once they get to the bottom, giving the shoal something to get their heads down on straight away. My ratio is usually 70 percent groundbait and 30 percent soil.

HOW TO:

TACKLEG RUNNINR WATE 66 IYCF | Issue 380

1

2

3

TURN TO HEMP AND CASTERS Many anglers believe that quality fish will only show later in the day, but I’ve found that there is also a window of opportunity right at the start. Quality roach, chub and perch haven’t put up their guard at this stage and will feed for a short period when you get going. In order to capitalise, you need to use the correct baits. Go with pinkies and maggots and small fish are likely to get in on the act and you’ll miss out, but rely on hemp and casters for the first half hour and you could catch some absolutely stunners in no time at all.

AVOID TINY FISH The upper layers of many rivers are alive with tiny silverfish that will peck your hookbait as it sinks at this time of year. If this happens, use a bigger rig than is required. For example, if a 1g float provides the presentation you need, switch to a 2g.

This will enable you to use a bigger olivette or more shot on the bulk to quickly bomb it past the tiddlers and down to the bottom where your target fish are waiting

4

5

FEED DOWNSTREAM

START OFF THE DECK

I see a lot of anglers feed upstream, but this is an error. They believe it’ll settle further down their peg and while this may be true, it tempts fish to sit upstream. Once a shoal does this, it is much harder to present a rig and catch them. Imagine your swim as a clockface and if directly in front of you is 12 o’clock, you want to feed at 1’o clock. You want to get your bites downstream but if the shoal come in front of you, feed even further downstream to draw them back down there.

I always introduce groundbait at the start to create a carpet for the fish to feed over and the initial bombardment always draws a shoal off the deck. They are intrigued by the cloud and any loose particles that break free from the balls. With this in mind, I start a session for roach, dace or chub with my rig 6in off the deck. It is likely to lead to a flurry of early bites and once they dry off it is time to go a fraction deeper as the fish will have gone down to settle on the bed of groundbait.

www.greatmagazines.co.uk | IYCF 67

LIVE TEST: DAIWA MATCHWINNER MW5 POLE

76 IYCF | Issue 380

TACKLE

An upgrade worth having LIVE TEST

IYCF’s Tony Grigorjevs compares Daiwa’s latest offering to the pole he currently uses and finds himself with a decision to make…

DAIWA MATCHWINNER MW5 POLE RRP: £1,899

A

ROUND five years ago I hit the point where I desperately needed a new pole. My old Shimano Ultegra had finally given up the ghost, with splintered sections and crumbled top kits left, right and centre after a long period of intense usage.

With two newborn twins at home and saving for a house deposit, a top of the range number was well out of the question, but I still wanted something that enabled me to concentrate on my fishing and not worry about the pole’s flaws.

I scoured the Internet for hours on end and picked the brains of Angling Times’ resident tackle expert Mark Sawyer on more occasions that he’d have liked before finally settling on the Daiwa Matchwinner C5.

On sale for around £1,500, it had a price that suggested this would be a good, solid pole that would serve me well. I parted with my cash and it’s fair to say I’ve never looked back.

Still to this day it is working its magic, hauling big fish out down the margins, working wonders while shallow fishing and even a dab hand when I have a rare bash on the silverfish scene.

In my eyes – and I am of course biased – you can’t make a better pole for that sort of money. But it seems Daiwa disagrees.

Its expert team of designers haves been busy at the drawing board and the brand new Matchwinner poles are now on the shelves.

There’s five within the set to provide for a wide range of budgets and it was the MW5 that I was keen to run the rule over.

It’s effectively the upgrade of my C5 so I wanted to see if this was a replacement for the sake of it or whether the new kid on the block had something fresh to offer.

A quick text to Roy Marlow secured me access to the fish-packed The Glebe Fishery in Leicester and I was on my way.

www.greatmagazines.co.uk | IYCF 77

BUYERS’ GUIDE TO...

MARGIN POLES 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 margin poles

H

OOKING a carp at close quarters really is heart-pumping stuff, but if you want to get the best out of often productive warm weather swims, a dedicated margin pole is a worthwhile investment.

These are shorter poles and are all about power. They are designed to help you catch heavyweight commercial

fishery carp close to the bank while having the backbone to handle the heaviest of elastics.

Advances in carbon materials and build technologies have seen the latest margin poles not only grow in length, with 10m-plus not uncommon, but they now have super-strong section wall strengths that can cope with the

heaviest of elastics and retain a sensible degree of stiffness. They’re also ideal for newcomers to the sport because they are much easier to handle and control than a long pole, and their strength means they can withstand a bit of heavy-handedness.

This month we’re taking a look at some of the best margin poles currently out there on the market.

Key points to look for Tips Margin poles feature large bore tips for use with heavy elastics Joints Reinforced male and female joints are required due to the added stress when pulling Length Most margin poles are between 7m and 9m, but you can get longer models up to 11.5m Finish The finish on margin poles has improved over the years and they are now easy to ship through your hands, regardless of weather conditions

82 IYCF | Issue 380

TACKLE TACKLE MATRIX TORQUE CARP RRP: £190

Measuring 8.5m with the included Strike mini section fitted, the Torque is long enough for most margin situations. It’s rated to 20-plus elastic and gets its power from the ultradurable cross-layered carbon sections used in its construction. This locks in strength, resulting in sections that won’t creak when you put your shoulder into the fight.

Its Power top kit has an enlarged ceramic side puller slot that’ll take thick hollow elastics with ease. A large tip bore means no cutting back is needed, and the Torque

MATRIX MTX MARGIN RRP: £299.99

Built using the same mandrel and advanced carbon technologies as its illustrious MTX stablemates, Matrix’s six-sectioned powerhouse of a margin pole is strong enough

DAIWA MATCHWINNER MW1 POWER MARGIN POLE 9m RRP: £549.99

Ideal for close-up short-range tactics on commercial venues, the new 9m Matchwinner MW1 Power margin is manufactured using a super-tough yet flexible multi-strand carbon, making it tough enough to handle the heaviest of elastics. The pole can also boast Daiwa’s unique taping system over its top

weighs just 490g at 8m, making it perfectly manageable when fished for several hours.

It’s very stiff with no bounce when shipping out, so there are no spillages if using a small pot on the tip for feeding. It bends nicely (unlike some powerful poles where a lack of flex can cause them to break), enabling the elastic to do the work while absorbing each run and lunge.

Length: 8.5m Sections: 5 + Strike section Weight: 490g (690g with strike section) www.fishmatrix.co.uk

for any commercial fishery. Designed with lots of detail, including reinforced section joints, exclusive glide anti-friction taped sections which reassuringly lock together, and section alignment arrows. Top kits have pre-bushed PTFE tips and Revolve side pullers.

The MTX is well balanced and exceptionally

lightweight at just 680g at its full length.

It comes with two spare Power kits and a carry sleeve.

Length: 8.7m Sections: 6 Weight: 680g www.fishmatrix.co.uk

sections that makes it easy to ship, as well as keeping its weight down. The strong-as-you-like Interlastic top kits come fully fitted with PTFE tips and nose cone bushes that have size 20 elastic ratings. Their kit package includes two Interlastic Power kits and one standard Match kit inside the pole.

Length: 9m Sections: 7 Weight: 460g www.daiwasports.co.uk

DAIWA TOURNAMENT PRO X MARGIN POLE RRP: £790

Daiwa’s Tournament Pro X Margin was designed as a compatible section ‘power partner’ for all the firm’s UK-built poles.

With a higher wall strength built into its lower sections to ensure a stronger level of handling toughness, it is also supplied with two spare 5.8mm Interlastic Cloud

kits that can be used in conjunction with elastics as heavy as Red Hydro.

One of the longer margin models on the market, it has the capacity to reach along to the next platform.

Plus, as you might expect from a flagship model, it has superb ‘feel’ and balance, and good rigidity.

Length: 9m Sections: 7 Weight: 490g www.daiwasports.co.uk

www.greatmagazines.co.uk | IYCF 83

TIPS, TACTICS & RIGS TO CATCH MORE

SIMP LE STRO AND NG There ’s not hing comp abou licated t this rig

UT IT O xit K C KI rly e a e e Th hair d e h t of icke k a es creat ut hook o

FLEXIBIL IT Y This rig works wi th whole ran a g of hookb e ait options

98 IYCF | Issue 380

ATION SEPAR rig The KD reat gives g ion t separa hook n betwee okbait and ho

CARP

THE KD RIG

SIMPLE, STRONG AND RELIABLE Tom Scarr explains why, despite its simplicity, this forgotten set-up is far more than a beginner’s rig Words & Photography Tom Scarr

I

N TODAY’S carp fishing scene, it’s easy to get bogged down and confused with the numerous rigs and wide range of components available.

With so much choice out there, knowing which rig to use in which situation on any given day can seem an almost impossible task.

However, I have recently been using a rig that I first used when I began carp fishing – the KD. I was shown this rig by an experienced carp

angler when I was starting out and, sure enough, it caught me plenty of fish.

Fast forward 10 years and countless new rigs and components later – tried, tested (and failed) -– I saw an opportunity to use the KD rig again.

There’s no doubting that popular set-ups like hinge, chod and Ronnie rigs are excellent fishcatchers, but the KD has a few key elements which have helped me bank some big carp this spring and summer.

A rig for stalking and fishing on a spot. This carp was caught just a rodlength out on a clear gravel patch

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