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GUIDE TO THE METHOD
Aug 28 – Sept 25, 2018 £3.80
ISSUE 341
om the Unmissable edges fr onal top England Internati PLUS
6 HOT TENCH RIGS Learn how to tie the set-ups that will nail more tench!
TACTICS
Launch a two line attack for silvers
REVEALED
The 3 inch rule for catching F1s shallow
TESTED: SUMMER'S HOTTEST KIT
GURU, MIDDY, KODEX, SONIK, KORUM, STICKY, THINKING ANGLERS & MORE
INSIDE
24
Kieron Rich reveals how to catch more on the waggler - by fishing a feeder!
GREAT BRITISH FISHING 8
14
The UK’s most scenic canal – Iain Swanson Too rudd to be true – Tom Scarr
TACTICS
24 Play the waggler waiting game – Kieron Rich 30 A new way to feed margins – Mark Poppleton 34 Rely on maggots for chub – Jake Benson 40 Two line attack on silvers – Adam Rooney 4 • IYCF Issue 341
Issue 341 August 28 – September 25, 2018
44 13 quickfire tench tricks 46 Paste made easy – Marc Rodger 50 Waggler types explained 53 When a bomb beats a pole – Dan White 58 Six great tench rigs to tie 62 Revealed: The 3in rule – Matt Bingham 68 Fish better with Des Shipp: Guide to the Method 78 Rig school: How to tie a slider float set-up
CARP TACTICS
106 Catch on dog biscuits – Alfie Naylor 110 Rig of the month: The Ronnie rig 114 How to fish in weed 118 Carp Q&A
TACKLE
82 Sonik Gravity X rods 84 New Gear 88 Live test: Kodex SXi carp rod 92 New from Guru
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8
30
The country’s most scenic canal is back from the dead and it’s once again full of fish
Feeding sparingly in the margins is the way to go for margin monsters, says Mark Poppleton
53
68
Dan White goes against the grain by opting for the bomb instead of a pole on summer commercials
World class advice on how to fish the Method feeder from England international Des Shipp
88
106
94 Thinking Anglers terminal tackle 96 Middy GFD reels 98 Six of the best Method ready rigs
YOUR IYCF 20 100 102 105
Subscribe and save 52% Your letters Mission: your catch shots Reader offer: Shakespeare feeder combo 124 Crossword 126 Bob Roberts’ diary
Mark Sawyer tests the new Kodex’s SX-i carp rod - perfect for summer stalking and surface work
Alfie Naylor fine tunes his floater tactics to catch big carp on dog biscuits. It’s cheap too!
IYCF August 28 – September 25, 2018 • 5
Too rudd to be true
IYCF Art Director Tom Scarr reveals why big rudd are easier to find than you might think and how they can be caught on simple tactics Words Tom Scarr Photography Lloyd Rogers
14• IYCF Issue 341
FISHING ● H S Ac
EAT BRIT I GR
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IYCF August 28 – September 25, 2018 • 15
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TACTICS: WAGGLER SPECIES: CARP DIFFICULTY:
24 • IYCF Issue 341
TACTICS
Play the waggler waiting game When you’re set for a day on the waggler don’t be in too much of a hurry says Kieron Rich, who reaps the rewards by fishing a feeder first Words Tony Grigorjevs Photography Steve Haywood
H
AVING excitedly unloaded all the tackle on to a peg, your eyes zoom in on an area of the swim that looks like a real banker for red-hot action. The line is threaded through the rod rings and bait is spilled all over the sidetray as you pour it into tubs in a hurried fashion before pulling the rod over your head to make that first cast. Stop right there! The adrenaline may well be pumping as you envisage the waggler dipping on the very first cast of the day, but Kieron Rich is adamant you’ll be better served by not dropping a baited rig on this line for hours on end.
The Middy-backed angler loves chucking a waggler into open water to catch carp, but knows too well that attacking it straight away can lead to a disaster. “If you started fishing the waggler from the off then you’d probably catch a couple of fish instantly but they’d disappear after that and you’d struggle to get them back,” explained Kieron. “If you are willing to be patient and build up the swim while fishing with another tactic in the opening stages the fish will gain confidence and you can then catch big carp every cast when you finally try it.”
IYCF August 28 – September 25, 2018 • 25
TACTICS: POLE SPECIES: CARP DIFFICULTY:
30 • IYCF Issue 341
TACTICS
A new way to feed margins There’s no need to pile in the loosefeed to tempt margin-hugging monsters says Mark Poppleton, who catches big while slashing his bait bill to pennies Words & Photography Tony Grigorjevs
F
ISHING the margins has always been associated with aggressive, ‘positive’ loosefeeding. This isn’t seen as a zone where you simply sprinkle in a few morsels and hope for the best, with most preferring to pile in the groundbait until those fishtail vortices disturb the surface. This gung-ho mentality has caught countless fish over the years, but Mark Poppleton is convinced that times are changing. The Bait-Tech and Colmic-backed angler has experienced more than his fair share of success while targeting the edge, but he’s overhauled his
tactics in order to keep on top of his game. “Cupping in lots of bait and waiting for the fish to find it has always been the way to catch big carp on commercials. However, I’m certain these fish are wising up to it,” explained Mark. “They’ve been caught so many times that they become cagey when they see a big bed of groundbait in the margins. You’ll get a few bites but many of the fish come close briefly and then disappear when they sense something is wrong. “However, these fish can still be caught and I have had some amazing results by drastically reducing the amount of bait I feed.”
IYCF August 28 – September 25, 2018 • 31
“Locate large and fool them
This is arguably the most effective way to trick the wariest chub, says Jake Benson
34 • IYCF Issue 314
TACTICS
chub by sight with maggots” who tells us exactly why maggots are his first-choice bait in clear conditions
Words & photography Jake Benson
I
TACTICS: WAGGLER SPECIES: CHUB DIFFICULTY:
F SOMEONE asked me what my favourite style of angling is, I’d have to choose an approach involving sight fishing. Nothing beats the feeling of watching your quarry – it triggers a primeval desire for hunting, a real sense of me versus prey. Not only will fishing in this manner give you a massive surge of adrenaline, because you can often watch fish devour your offerings, it will also teach you so much about the habits of the species you’re targeting. Luckily, one of my favourite species – chub – is easily targeted in this manner, particularly during periods of sunshine and clear rivers like we’ve experienced across the UK this summer. However, it’s these conditions which can make the fishing tricky, especially under increasing pressure from other anglers. By this point in the year, chub on many rivers will have already made the mistake of taking larger offerings delivered on traditional tactics. Which is why I am armed with something different. Having grown up chasing chub, over the years I’ve learned so much about them. Early on in the never-ending ‘learning curve’ I quickly discovered the effectiveness of small baits such as maggots and casters – even for specimen fish of over 6lb. On their day chub can be easy to catch on almost anything, and on others one of the most difficult and finicky of species you’ll ever meet – this is where my maggot approach really comes into its own. I have yet to encounter a chub which will refuse maggots. The only time they’re no use is during periods of coloured water. I’d definitely say the approach is the most deadly I’ve ever used, and one that I will feel lost without during clear conditions. I can think of multiple cases where it’s resulted in me filling a keepnet, and I even used it to break my personal best in recent weeks – but how do I make it work I hear you ask? Well, it really couldn’t be simpler…
IYCF August 28 – September 25, 2018 • 35
KNOW YOUR The float is angling’s classic bite indicator and one of the most enjoyable ways of fishing. We take a look at some of the most common types to use with rod and line
F
loat fishing is one of the most popular forms of angling and is the first tactic that most newcomers to the sport will try. As well as serving as a visual bite indicator, a float can be used to suspend a hookbait at a predetermined depth. Like most items of tackle, they come in a range of sizes, shapes and materials, each of which serve different purposes. This month we examine some of the most common types and explain when you should use them...
Alloy stem stick float Sticks floats with an alloy stem are ideal for silver fish work and in faster water
FLOAT TIP COLOUR CHOICE Situation
Tip colour
Dark reflection on the water or when fishing against a dark background
Yellow tip
Orange tip Broken reflection on the water Light coloured reflection
Black tip
Straight waggler The most common type of float. With a broad and buoyant tip they should be used if there is any chop on the water. They are also better when using heavier baits such as corn, meat or pellets for bigger fish
50 • IYCF Issue 341
Unloaded waggler
These are cocked with the correct amount of shotting. About 80 per cent of the float’s total loading should be pinched on the line around the base to help the float cast better and prevent tangles
Cane stick float Cane stems are perfect when a delicate presentation is required for on-the-drop fishing
FLOATS...
TACTICS
Pellet waggler
These short, fat-bodied wagglers are designed to support pellet hookbaits shallow. They are made from either good grade balsa or high density foam
Insert waggler
The fine tip offers less resistance and is more sensitive for shy-biting species such as roach, rudd and skimmers
Loaded waggler
A loaded waggler has the bulk of its weight built into the bottom of the stem. This means they don’t require locking shot which can damage the mainline. This also makes them more streamlined, improving casting distance and accuracy
NEXT MONTH: POLE FLOATS EXPLAINED
IYCF August 28 – September 25, 2018 • 51
6
GREAT TENCH RIGS...
T
ENC H can be caught on a variety of methods. So whether you prefer the more romantic and traditional approach of casting a waggler among a patch of bubbles next to some lily pads or a modern specimen-hunter style of two rods on bite alarms with bolt rigs, you stand a great chance of slipping your net under a few fish. This month we’ve picked out six of our favourite rigs for you try.
h tench anywhere!
and you’ll catc Learn to tie these presentations
RIG 1
3
THE LIFT METHOD
If one rig is synonymous with tench fishing, it is the lift method. The main principle of the method is that the float – attached at the base with a float rubber – is cocked with shot twice as heavy as the waggler’s stated shot rating. The shot should be squeezed on to the line four inches from the hook and will sit on the lakebed. When a tench picks up the bait and the shot is lifted, the now unweighted buoyant float will lift up out of the water before laying flat or sliding beneath the surface. Strike!
2 It’s imperative to use a straight waggler to fish the lift method. The float should be attached bottom end only with a float rubber, and not locking shot or rubber float stops
1 4
Essential tackle
✔ 4in-12in straight wagglers ✔ Float rubbers ✔ 5lb mainline ✔ Size 12-16 hooks ✔ Split shot
HOW THE LIFT FLOAT WORKS... 1
The float is cast with a gentle underarm lob and the mainline tightened down to the weight until the float is cocked correctly
2
When a fish takes the bait, the short hooklink ensures the bottom weight is moved, causing the float to lift up in the water
3
Once the fish picks up the hookbait, the shot are lifted off the bottom and the float also lifts up
58 • IYCF Issue 341
At this point the float may rise up sharply, before momentarily laying flat on the surface
4
Normally, this is followed by it diving sharply away under the water. Now is the time to strike!
RIG 2
There’s a reason why the Method feeder is such a popular tactic. Not only is it incredibly easy to set up but it leaves your hookbait sitting over a tight pile of feed and offers excellent hooking properties. Method feeders can be fished on their own or over a bed of groundbait or mixed particles such as hemp and corn. When a tench picks up the hookbait, the short hooklink – which should be no longer than 4in – will transmit the weight of the feeder and help set the hook home.
FLATBED METHOD FEEDER
Essential tackle
✔ 25g-35g flatbed Method feeder ✔ 10lb supple braid or mono ✔ Size 10-14 hooks ✔ Artificial corn
The feeder delivers an enticing pile of bait, with the hookbait sitting proudly on top Use a short mono or supple braid hooklink of no more than 4in
TOP TIP
RIG 3
INLINE LEAD CASTER RIG The self-hooking properties offered by inline leads make this rig extremely effective. It works best fished on a clear area over a bed of particle baits such as hemp, corn and casters. Use leads of 1.5oz-2oz depending on the casting distance required and the supple braid hooklink should be no longer than six inches. Rubber caster hookbaits will resist the attentions of small fish.
Threading on the hookbaits in a T shape will produce more bites
Essential tackle
An inline lead improves the self hooking properties of the rig
✔ 1.5 oz-2oz inline flat pear lead ✔ 10lb supple braid ✔ Size 10 hooks ✔ Rubber casters
A short, supple braid hooklength will settle over any debris
Attach a small PVA bag of casters to prevent tangles and keep the swim topped up with bait
IYCF August 28 – September 25, 2018 • 59
TACTICS: POLE SPECIES: F1s DIFFICULTY:
REVEALED
THE 3 INCH RULE Matt Bingham explains why having four rigs set-up to cover one foot of water is the key to consistenly catching F1s shallow Words & Photography Tony Grigorjevs
62 • IYCF Issue 341
TOP TIP
As soon as you ship out, feed 20 maggots over the top of the float (1). Count to three and then lift the float completely out of the water and drop back in again instantly. This allows the hookbait to blend in with the loosefeed making it hard for F1s to pick out the trap.
A
TACTICS
LL pole anglers have an array of top kits in their holdall and most of them are put to use every time they step on the bank. Determined to cover every inch of their swim in a bid to keep bites coming, it is common for half a dozen different rigs to come into play. Set-ups will be assembled to cover the margins, 5m line, open water, shallow and up against any noticeable features. The problem is, having so many options can actually have an adverse effect, with anglers often failing to capitalise on certain areas of their peg when the fish arrive because they are fishing elsewhere. Spotted Fin’s Matt Bingham has no such problems. He is an advocate of being bold and throwing all his eggs in one basket when targeting F1s. A self-confessed shallow fishing fanatic, he still sets up several top kits but they will all do a very similar job in a single spot. “Lots of anglers set up one rig to fish shallow but I make sure I have four of them by my side and will spend the whole day working a single area of my peg,” explained Matt. “At this time of year you can guarantee that the F1s will be sat off the bottom but they will continuously switch the depth they are feeding at so you need different rigs to capitalise.”
Cover every inch It is easy to understand why you might start catching fish if you switched the depth by a few feet but Matt has proved time and time again that a mere 3in (that’s not an error!) adjustment can make a huge difference. “F1s are extremely fickle and you’ll think they have disappeared but they’ve simply dropped or risen a few inches in the water column. “More often than not you’ll catch a few fish at one depth and then need to reach for a different rig that is set a little deeper or shallower.” Matt has four rigs ready to go covering depths of 6in, 9in, 12in and 15in deep. Although the elastic, line and hook are identical, it is the float choice where things differ. “The deeper you go the more stability your float needs to provide. It must be heavier and/or longer to help give good presentation and not get dragged out of place by any wind or tow.”
Hit more bites with a short line F1s have lightning fast reactions. They can intercept a bait and eject it a split second later. In that moment the float will sink and before you’ve even had a chance to strike the fish has scarpered. But there is an easy way of making sure you hit more bites. “Keeping a short length of line between your pole tip and float is vital. I always set this at 4in when venue rules allow (some fisheries insist on a longer length),” revealed Matt. “More often than not the fish will hook themselves against the pole tip when they hit the bait and the elastic will zip out. Even if that doesn’t happen, that short length of line will help you make contact with the hookbait on the strike a split second quicker than if it was double the length.” IYCF August 28 – September 25, 2018 • 63
U O
T CAN RUST
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U O
IEWS REV Y
IEWS REV Y
T CAN RUST
88 • IYCF Issue 341
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tackle IYCF’s Sawyer ark editor M reviewing n e e b has r more gear fo res to g in h s fi a an he c years tb ember rem
TACKLE
Get on top with the SX-i LIVE TEST
IYCF’s Mark Sawyer enjoys a session with Kodex’s new dedicated surface fishing carp rod KODEX SX-i FLOATER/SPECIMEN ROD 1.75lb –2.25lb TEST CURVE RRP: £69.99
IYCF IYCF August February 28 – September 16 – March 25, 15, 2016 2018 • 89
The Ronnie rig can be fished on both helicopter or lead clip arrangements
Use an antitangle sleeve to push the rig away from the lead
RIG OF THE MONTH
The Ronnie rig It remained a secret for ages, but has quickly become one of the most popular specimen set-ups. If you haven’t tried the Ronnie rig, it’s about time you did
T
HE Ronnie rig was kept secret for many years with those ‘in the know’ using it to catch some of the country’s trickiest carp. But a couple of years ago the lid was lifted and it has quickly become one of the most popular presentations around. So what makes it so effective? It combines the best elements of a number of the greatest rigs of recent times. Firstly, it presents a pop-up close to the lakebed with the superb rotation of a 360 rig but without the problem of an exposed hook eye which can snag in the mesh of the landing net. Secondly, it boasts similar mechanics to the hinged-stiff rig – arguably one of the best-ever big-carp rigs. When tied correctly, hook-pulls on the Ronnie rig are incredibly rare. A good tip is to make up several of the hook sections with the quick link ring swivel and shrink tubing in advance.
110 • IYCF Issue 341
Then all you need to do is tie on a suitable boom section depending on the lakebed or feature you are fishing over once you arrive for a session. For example, this could be a longer soft coated braid material with a lead clip when fishing in silt or a stiffer fluorocarbon on a Tie several hook sections in advance of your session
helicopter arrangement over gravel. Because of the large hook and the additional weight of the quick link swivel it is important to use a highly buoyant pop-up for the hookbait and to test it in the margins to check how it is sitting before you start fishing.
CARP
“It combines the best elements of a number of the greatest rigs of recent times”
Use a buoyant pop-up hookbait and check how it sits in the margins before casting out
When fishing over softer lakebeds use a coated braid boom. On a clean gravel bottom you could use a fluorocarbon boom section A blob of tungsten putty helps to anchor the pop-up hookbait
The shrink tube acts as a continuation of the hook’s curve
HOW TO TIE A RONNIE RIG
Start by cutting a 1cm length of large diameter shrink tube
Thread the shrink tube on to a curved shank hook
Attach the hook to a quick link ring swivel. You may need to squeeze it shut with pliers
Thread a hookbait swivel and hookbead on to the hook
Push the shrink tube down over the hook’s eye and on to the barrel of the quick link swivel
Steam the shrink tubing and tie on a coated braid boom section IYCF August 28 – September 25, 2018 • 111
HOW TO
FISH IN WEED Many anglers steer clear of weed, but the right approach means the green stuff is no threat to Dynamite Baits’ Ben Cooper... Words Ben Cooper Photography Mark Parker
114 • IYCF Issue 341
B
OTANOPHOBIA is an affliction that many carp anglers suffer from. It is the almost crippling and irrational fear of plants, or in carp fishing terms, weed. As part of the Lea Valley task force, as well as looking after the lakes themselves, I come across a whole range of anglers, with varying abilities. And you can often see the horror in their faces if they don’t feel the reassuring donk, donk, donk of clean gravel, after casting a lead or marker float set-up. They make one cast – occasionally two – and if they bring back even a few fronds of weed around the lead, their whole demeanour changes, the shoulders visibly drop, the bottom lip comes out and the eyes well up with tears! You can almost hear their inner monologue screaming at the still rational side of their brain: “Oh my god, weed. What do I do now?” Panic! But, if you want to target big fish on crystalclear gravel pits, weed is something that you are going to have to learn to deal with. It’s just part of big-carp fishing. For me, weed fishing is nothing more than confidence. The confidence to fish, the confidence that your rig is fishing correctly and the confidence to get the fish out, once hooked. Over the years I’ve had massive fish from situations where a lawnmower would have been more appropriate than a lead clip and pop-up!
CARP become disheartened. Remove the marker float and cast around with a bare lead on braided mainline, feeling for a thump as the lead hits the bottom. Once you find a spot where you can feel the lead hit the lakebed, clip-up and concentrate on casting around that area to work out how big the weedbed is. In the past, I have even used a castable weed rake on an old beach caster rod with 60lb braid to clean the bottom, just like a tench angler. Don’t worry about spooking the fish. Carp are curious creatures and I’ve caught them to 30lb within hours of casting over a raked spot. Plus, the raking action stirs up the bottom. As long as you can feel the lead hit the bottom, the spot is generally fishable.
In really weedy swims, remove the marker float and cast a bare lead to feel for clear areas
Approaching weedy waters
Wherever there is weed, there is natural food. And where there is natural food the carp won’t be far away. If you find the clear spots you’ll get bites. Whether this takes one cast or 100, time spent searching for a fishable spot is never wasted. Weed fishing is all about watercraft. If fish are topping when you arrive, location is easy. But, if the lake is busy with limited peg options, just because most of the swims seems solid with green stuff, don’t
Castable weed rakes like this can be used to quickly clear a spot to fish over. Use strong line!
“I’ve caught them to 30lb within hours of casting over a raked spot ”
IYCF August 28 – September 25, 2018 • 115
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