Improve Your Coarse Fishing Magazine - Issue 383 (PREVIEW)

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Golden rules of pole fishing!

ISSUE 383

England international reveals the essential skills that will make you a better angler HOW N R LEA PLAY P TO CAR Y K !

N CHU KE THIS LI

TOP TACTICS TO TRY NOW...

Try a multiDouble your catches line river with these perch attack two baits

The need for seed for bumper roach nets

RIG SCHOOL TIE AN EXTENDING CHUB FEEDER SET-UP

This month...

Issue 383 November 16 – December 14, 2021

Fishery Focus 8

Rudyard Lake

14

Bainside House

66

Staffordshire Lincolnshire

14

Tactics 24

30 34

Rob Perkins

Try a multi-line approach for river perch

May Potter

Double your catches

Jake Fowles

Feed a pinch to catch a netful 30

40 44

47 50 54 4 IYCF | Issue 383

Gary Knowles

The perfect barbel rig

Quick fix

How to hook maggots without bursting them

Joe Carass

The need for seed

60

62

66

Damian Green Set the carp trap

John Hudson

Ditch the bomb for an olivette

Fish Better with Des Shipp

Sharpen up your pole skills using Des’s golden rules

Worm slop on canals

Tommy Pickering

Rig school

How to tie an extending chub maggot feeder

70

Q&A

Your questions answered

74

34

Tackle 74

76 78 80

Your IYCF

Shakespeare’s latest

We cast an eye over great new kit from the industry giant

20

New gear

The latest tackle releases

82

Fjuka Fat Boys

Pellets with a difference

84

Gift guide

Christmas stocking fillers

47

Carp tactics 92

96 98

86 90

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Tackle shop guide

Your letters Have your say

Daiwa Mission Your catch shots

Puzzle break

Win a Korum Roving Bag

Bob Roberts’ Diary

Jack Wheeler

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

Five-step plan to success on small waters

Rig of the month Shot on the hook rig

Carp Q&A

Sticky’s experts solve your problems 62

92

44

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Bainside House Fishery, Lincolnshire

Get the best of both worlds Dave Eastwood visits a lake that combines a traditional aura with the essential ingredients of a modern commercial venue Words & Photography Tony Grigorjevs

14 IYCF | Issue 383

W

HILE there are many positives to commercial fisheries, there are also several factors that pleasure anglers find less desirable.

Stable pegs, good access and plenty of parking always get the thumbs up. However, there’s nothing more frustrating than turning up for the session you’ve been looking forward to all week, only to discover that your favourite lake is booked for a match!

Luscious vegetation that plays a part in helping you forget about the day-to-day chores of life is also sometimes minimal, with lily pads and reedbeds a rare sight from typically muddy banks.

Such frustrations have led to significant numbers of anglers looking elsewhere to find a venue that will put their interests and desires first.

Thankfully, venues with old-school values do still exist and Bainside House Fishery is a fine example.

Located around 20 miles east of Lincoln, this

picturesque lake is packed with charm and will instantly stimulate memories of your early angling encounters.

Each peg is packed with features ranging from overhanging trees right through to large clumps of lilies that are constantly nudging as fish navigate between them.

It’s not a case of allowing nature to run wild though, with its sensible balance of encouraging greenery to flourish while keeping swims fully fishable.

If you began your angling exploits catching silverfish on a simple float set-up then you’ll be able to rekindle those days in a heartbeat with stacks of roach, perch, skimmers and ide. You’ll even have the rare luxury of being able to place them in a keepnet. Bigger fish also come into the equation with lots of stunningly marked carp to more than 20lb and a sprinkling of F1s, tench, barbel and bream to spice things up a little. If that isn’t enough, then the fact that no matches are staged should seal the deal, with Bainside House reserved purely for pleasure anglers.

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

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POLE LINE 3 POLE LINE 4

TACTICS: POLE/FEEDER SPECIES: PERCH DIFFICULTY:

24 IYCF | Issue 383

TACTICS

FEEDER LINE

POLE LINE 2

POLE LINE 1

Try a multi-line approach for river perch Rob Perkins loves two things – river fishing and perch. Here he explains how he targets this beautiful species on flowing water…

Words: Rob Perkins Photography: Mark Parker

M

Y MATCH fishing takes me to a great many different venues, fishing for all manner of species.

At this time of year, however, one of my favourite species becomes more important to me – the perch.

Once regarded as easy to catch and often referred to as a species fished for by “boys and old men”, their population was sadly decimated by disease in the mid-seventies. Thankfully, perch have not only recovered, but thrived and

they are once again found in large numbers up and down the country. I love perch because they look so striking, with shaded green stripes down their flanks, bright red fins and a spiny dorsal.

The colouration is the camouflage they need to become such efficient predators, hiding in the watery shadows in wait for prey.

In the summer, the bigger perch are likely to be found chasing fry in the margins, but in this cooler weather they are more opportunistic and can be caught on several different baits.

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TACTICS: POLE SPECIES: CARP / SILVERS DIFFICULTY:

TACTICS

Double your catches with

MAGGOTS & CASTERS Natural baits come into their own during autumn and May Potter shows how they can be key to putting together a big mixed net Words & Photography Tony Grigorjevs

I

F YOU visit a commercial fishery at this time of year and experience steady sport from start to finish, there’s every chance you’ll consider that a success.

With temperatures dropping and fish often behaving in an unpredictable manner, it’s perfectly reasonable to think that a dozen or so carp and F1s is a royal result.

But could you be short-changing yourself on a peg that is worth double that number of fish?

May Potter is adamant that you could be.

It won’t take a major shift in tactics to achieve it either, with bait choice the main element that is likely to need switching.

“Pellets and corn still work on commercials at this time of year but there’s no doubt you could get even more bites if you turned to maggots and casters,” explained May. “There are a lot of benefits to them, and they will help you catch from start to finish.”

Catch everything that swims

Carp and F1s are likely to have been the dominant species at your favourite commercial in recent months, but there will almost certainly be others that don’t get a look in. Ide and roach are just two that don’t have a particular love of pellets and corn and are therefore rarely caught.

When it comes to maggots and casters though, they simply can’t get enough!

“Both these species feed in all conditions and when there is nothing else in your swim, they will come in and provide plenty of bites.

“They’re not spooked by the idea of coming close to the bank, either. I usually fish around 6m out and feel confident of catching soon after getting started,” she added.

Don’t be fooled into thinking that silvers will be the only fish that you’ll catch, however. Their presence is likely to help you catch a lot more bigger fish.

Catch the small fish and the bigger specimens will soon follow

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Feed a pinch to catch a netful Jake Fowles shows why striking a balance when feeding pellets and groundbait is essential to keep skimmers coming Words & Photography Tony Grigorjevs

N

O MATTER how low the temperature drops, silverfish always show an interest in feeding.

Unlike carp, skimmers maintain a reasonable appetite throughout all the seasons, and it is down to you to work out exactly how much grub to offer.

Introduce too little and the shoal won’t even recognise your efforts. Conversely, if you go

34 IYCF | Issue 383

over the top, they could quickly get their fill and drift off with full bellies.

At this time of year, it’s all about navigating the fine line between holding their attention for long periods without giving them a meal that sates their appetite. Silverfish expert Jake Fowles believes the type and quantity of bait you put in will have a big say in how your session pans out.

“You need to have just enough bait in the swim to keep the shoal grubbing around while making sure they aren’t actually getting much of a meal from what they’re eating,” explained Jake.

“I rely on a combination of pellets and groundbait but it’s important you use them in the correct manner or you could ruin your chances within minutes of getting started.”

TACTICS

TACTICS: POLE SPECIES: SKIMMERS DIFFICULTY:

www.greatmagazines.co.uk | IYCF 35

It’s time to unleash the ‘sloppy choppy’ Canals hold a wide of range of species and Damian Green has the ideal tactic to put you in with a chance of catching everything that swims in them this winter Words & Photography Tony Grigorjevs

C

ANAL anglers often find themselves with a big decision to make at the start of a session.

Do they put on a big bait and hope for the occasional bite from quality fish such as bream and perch, or work with offerings such as squatts and pinkies for more bites from small samples?

Such a dilemma never need crop up again according to Damian Green who has relied on a strategy that gets the best of both worlds.

The all-rounder has spent plenty of time on the Grand Union Canal this year and caught lots of

TACTICS: POLE SPECIES: SILVERS DIFFICULTY:

50 IYCF | Issue 383

impressive mixed bags using what he refers to as ‘sloppy choppy’.

“It’s a concoction of mushed up worms, groundbait and a few other freebies that create an attraction-filled nugget of loosefeed to get the fish going,” Damian told IYCF. “I’ve found that you can get bites from start to finish using it, and it’s impossible to predict the size or species of fish that will be caught next.

“One drop could produce a small roach while a big perch could spice things up just minutes later.”

TACTICS

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CHUB MAGGOT FEEDER RIG C

This clever set-up combines the benefits of both long and short hooklengths so you can outwit cautious chub on maggots

HUB love maggots. Whether fished on the float or the feeder they are one of the best offerings for the species.

But while regular feeding with maggots can drive chub into a feeding frenzy, they can still prove frustratingly difficult to catch due to their distinctive feeding behaviour.

Despite their large mouths, chub can feed very delicately. They’ll often pick up baits, even small ones such as maggots, in the edge of their lips and move off quickly to consume the bait away from their shoalmates.

This can produce what appear to be unmissable bites, that leave you striking into thin air because the bait was never really inside the chub’s mouth. Or they can simply eject the bait before a bite is registered leaving you none the wiser.

One way to combat this feeding behaviour is to fish with a very short hooklength on the feeder. Chub usually have no fear of approaching a maggot feeder and intercept grubs the second they leave a feeder. A hookbait positioned here is likely to be eaten

FEEDER

Use a maggot feeder that is heavy enough to hold its position in the flow. A 30g version should be adequate in most situations

60 IYCF | Issue 383

with gusto, giving an actual unmissable bite!

To keep the hookbait tight to the feeder, wedge a piece of foam into the hole in the base of the feeder to hold it in place. This enables a longer hooklength to be used, and adjusted to give the perfect position. The longer hooklength also means that the feeder is less likely to bounce the hook out of the chub’s mouth during the fight.

This is a brilliant rig that has accounted for many massive chub right through the year, especially from low, clear rivers.

FOAM

Pulling the hooklength through the foam enables you to benefit from the hooking potential of a short hooklength, but once a fish is hooked the longer length reduces the chances of the feeder bouncing the hook out during the fight

HOW TO TIE A CHUB MAGGOT FEEDER RIG

Start by t ying a 20cm Insert rig foam into the Tie a micro swi vel on to length of 5lb fluorocarbon to 2 base of the feeder. Pull the the end of the hooklength, 1 3 a size 16 Kamasan Animal hook hooklength line through the so that the finished length is to form the hooklength

foam with a baiting needle

about 12cm

YOU WILL NEED

✔ Kamasan Black Cap Feeder 30g ✔ 6lb Maxima mainline ✔ 5lb fluorocarbon hooklength ✔ Kamasan Animal Hooks size 16 ✔ 4mm rubber beads ✔ Micro swivel ✔ Rig foam

Thread the feeder on to the Tie the micro swivel on the Pull the micro swivel into Pull the hooklength through mainline, followed by t wo hooklength to the end of the 6 the hole in the rubber beads 7 the foam so that the hook is 4 5 4mm rubber beads mainline to fix it in place about 9cm below the feeder

HOOKBAIT

A double white maggot hookbait provides an easy visual offering for chub to target

HOOKLINK

Adjusting the hooklength to just 9cm puts the hookbait close to free offerings which chub snatch as they exit the feeder

RIG

SC H O OL

Fish better with...

DES SHIPP

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

THIS MONTH: MY GOLDEN POLE FISHING RULES

T

HERE’S no greater buzz than striking into a fish and seeing the elastic zip out – but that elation can turn to despair if you lose it.

Sometimes a fish can escape through pure luck.

More often than not, however, it’s down to a mistake an angler has made while playing it.

One of the biggest errors is often made while shipping back. This process needs to be effortless, with the pole tip staying the same distance above the water the whole way in. If it is bobbing up and down, the chances of a hook-pull greatly increase.

I try to keep the tip 12in above the water from when the pole goes on to the rollers to when I take off the top kit to play the fish.

There are several factors to consider when setting up to achieve it and this month I reveal what they are.

HOW TO:

UR USE YOR ROLLE S

66 IYCF | Issue 383

2

1 NAIL THE ANGLE

FOUR PACE GAP

I always use two pole rollers and the pole should go up them on a progressive angle. If you are on a flat bank, the one further away should be set a little higher than the one closest to you. On an uneven bank, the gradient could require you to do the opposite and set the nearest roller high! Try shipping the pole back over them and keep an eye on the pole tip to make sure it is always 12in above the surface. If it is constantly changing height as you ship, adjust your rollers accordingly.

Your rollers need to be positioned so that the pole is never under strain and there is no risk of it falling off. If I am fishing 13m or beyond, I walk four paces back from my box and place the first there. I then take another four paces past that and place the second roller. This leaves the ideal distance between the seatbox and both rollers.

3

4

GO TO THE LEFT When fishing for silvers, keep the tension on because roach and skimmers don’t have the power to pull out lots of elastic. If you were to strike and ship backwards you wouldn’t create an angle to put the tension into the elastic. If you’re right-handed, strike upwards and pull the pole to your left before shipping back. This means your rollers should be set just to the right as you look behind you.

12in

THE 12in RULE I’ve found that 12in is ideal because this enables you to retain enough tension to keep a solid hook-hold. If you had a bigger gap between your pole tip and the water’s surface, you may apply too much pressure and could risk losing the fish. It’s also important to use a suitable elastic for the fish that you are targeting to further reduce the chances of the hook pulling out.

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RANGE OVERVIEW

Fresh kit for speci anglers The new SKP range covers everything you need to chase the fish of your dreams whatever the species

M

ORE than two years of development have gone into Shakespeare’s brand new SKP range. Aimed at specialist and pleasure anglers, the extensive collection includes two new rod ranges at differing price

points as well as luggage, chairs, nets and other bankware accessories.

This month we take a look at some of our favourite items from the range that will soon be heading to tackle shops near you. www.shakespeare-fishing.co.uk

SKP LANDING NET HEADS RRP: From £14.99

NETS HAVE EXTRA DEPTH FOR RESTING YOUR CATCH

Designed for the big-fish angler and available in 16in, 20in, 24in and 28in options, these nets are deeper than normal, so you can safely retain your catch while sorting out your kit for that all important trophy shot.

The subtle green latex mesh (except for the 28in net) is quick-drying, and all four models are built with solid, singlepiece spreader blocks and robust and lightweight aluminium frames.

There’s even a finger loop to make carrying them around easier when you are roving the banks in search of your next specimen fish.

SKP FEEDER CHAIR RRP: £149.99

This chair system is perfect for the angler who wants the convenience of a seatbox with everything close to hand, but prefers the comfort of a chair.

The high back offers neck support, which is particularly handy for anglers fishing rivers with their rod tips pointed skyward. The front section of the chair features a sturdy metal cross section that should offer twist-free stability, even on uneven terrain. Well padded and comfy to sit on, features include a secure handwheel back setting, and a plethora of add-on items and accessories.

1 SKP TELESCOPIC FEEDER ARM

2

This 70cm telescopic feeder arm can be used with any length of rod and set at any position to provide you with the perfect angle to spot bites. The double leg brace offers more stability than a single arm, and can also cope with the added stress of using a rod in running water with its tip pointed upwards.

RRP: £21.99

3

5

2 SKP FEEDER REAR REST

A soft-touch EVA rear rest with a ribbed design for quick and easy rod butt placement.

Ideal for making tiny adjustments to the rod, flat rear rests that you drop the rod on to are easier to use than a U-type rest.

RRP: £9.99 3 SKP SIDE TRAY This self-supporting side tray can hold three of four three-pint bait tubs and accessories. The drainage holes provide instant run-off for any excess water.

RRP: £17.99

74 IYCF | Issue 383

4 1

4 SKP FOOTPLATE Faced with steep banks or the need to be seated in shallow water, a good footplate is a must.

This easy-to-use example has two extendable legs with swivelling mudfeet and easily removable leg brackets.

RRP: £79.99

5 SKP SIDE TRAY AND GROUNDBAIT BOWL

GREAT FOR KEEPING ALL YOUR TACKLE CLOSE TO HAND

A side tray and groundbait/pellets bowl that doesn’t require additional legs will be a real benefit to anglers fishing from compact commercial platforms on the Method feeder. This self-supporting side tray comes with a removable groundbait bowl and holds a couple of kilos of groundbait plus bait tubs.

RRP: £34.99

TACKLE

SKP PADDED ROD HOLDALLS RRP: Two rod: £79.99, three rod £99.99

If you want to get fishing as soon as you hit the bank, ready-rod holdalls are a musthave. These no-nonsense versions are well made, well-padded, and should keep your precious rods and reels safe in transit.

Made from a long-lasting rip-stop material, key features include padded shoulder and carrying handles, reinforced webbing straps, pockets for additional items such as banksticks, a reinforced base and looped zip pullers.

SKP DAYPACK

RRP: £59.99

A great bag for day-session anglers who want to be adequately equipped without lugging around a bulky holdall. Its separate top compartment can be used to keep valuables away from the bait and tackle boxes in the base, while outside pockets are easy to access for smaller, commonly-used items.

Made from a rip-stop material, it’s tough as old boots and has carry handles as well as a padded shoulder strap.

SKP SUPERLITE CHAIR RRP: £59.99

This aluminium-framed chair with a durable Teslin mesh-type seating material can be clipped to the SKP Ruckbag, freeing up your hands for other items. The Superlite chair’s 6in ground clearance offers a super low angler profile, and is ideal for avoiding those skylining scenarios when faced with open or high banks.

MADE USING A SUPER QUICK-DRYING MATERIAL SHAKESPEARE SKP CONCEPT RODS

RRP: £59.99 - £74.99 With test curves from 1lb to 2.25lb, the range encompasses three barbel rods along with six float rods – including a 12ft Power model that should prove perfect for tackling large rivers such as the Trent and Wye. Add to these three new feeder rods, the 10ft and 11ft light tip versions of which are designed for silverfish and F1s, and you have an impressive line-up.

SKP SOLITUDE RODS

RRP: £79.99 - £99.99 Built with high-end components including Seaguide rings, these classic olive-green blanks with full cork handles (abbreviated on the barbel rods) use a 20/30T mixed carbon combination.

Whether it’s trotting for chub or feeder fishing at distance for tench and bream, there’s a rod for the job in the Solitude range. The retro colour scheme is sure to appeal to the traditional specialist.

SKP ROLL UNHOOKING MAT RRP: From £15.99

A well-padded unhooking mat is a must for any specimen angler. Available in three sizes – small, medium and large – and light to carry, these are perfect for the roving or day-session angler. The elasticated loops allow for easy storage.

They can also be used on wet banks as a kneeling mat, saving your knees from a soaking.

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CARP Q&A

IN ASSOCIATION WITH STICKY

SHOW ME THE BEST WAY TO WINTER CARP!

Q

I’ve never caught a carp in winter before.

If you had to pick one thing that was key to getting bites in the cold what would it be?

Dean Lee, email STEVE RENYARD: For me, the key to

most winter carp captures over the years has always been attraction over food sustenance.

With water temperature so low, a carp’s digestive system is affected massively, and they cannot eat as much as they would in the summer. As a result, you cannot pile in the bait. A

swim full of 20mm boilies will take an age for the fish to work through before they are likely to find your hookbait.

Less is more in the winter. I almost exclusively use solid PVA bags from December right up until March. They provide heaps of attraction with very little food to fill the fish and ensure you receive a bite.

I tend to use a mixture of finely crumbed Manilla boilies, Bloodworm Pellets and Manilla Active mix. This blend is super fine, almost like baby food, and is easy for the fish to digest.

Over the top, I use either a match-thehatch Manilla wafter or a bright pop-up but, again, I keep these as small as possible so they are more readily accepted by the carp.

traction Prioritise at ent nt co od over fo it for winter ba

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

The lake I fish has a good stock of carp and it’s possible to catch several fish in a day. During summer I’d recast if I hadn’t had a bite.

Should I carry on with this routine during the winter or is it better to leave my rigs out for longer?

Tom Foulkes, email TOM MAKER: Regular recasting on well-stocked venues is something I would always advocate regardless of the time of year. If anything, the colder the weather, the more you need to do it as the fish become so localised you have to practically land on top of them to get a bite.

The only exception to this rule would be if I was fishing all three rods over a single baited spot and bites were coming fairly regularly. In this situation you are lying in wait for the fish to come across your rigs, having already located them, and so moving them could be counterproductive.

In this instance, I would say less is more when recasting but, as a rule, especially if you are fishing three different spots on a short session, recasting will only be a benefit.

PVA SOLID S BAG es reli Steve n these y o heavil winter in Regular casting is generally the way to go in winter

98 IYCF | Issue 383

YOUR CARP QUESTIONS ANSWERED

BY STICKY’S EXPERT ANGLERS

Q

What type of pellets should I be using in the winter? As well as flavour, does size need taking into account?

Jess Marsh, email JIM WILSON: The only thing you need to

Pop-ups on a hinge stiff rig ensure a perfect presentation

Q

Should I be worried about my baits and rigs getting buried under all the leaves that will have blown in the lake at this time of year?

Tim Lewis, email SCOTT LLOYD: In short, yes, you should! As a matter of course, I tend to change over from using balanced bottom baits in the summer months, to using pop-ups once the

leaves have dropped. This serves two purposes; it lifts the hook and bait away from the leaves, and it also means you are presented perfectly on soft substrates such as silt.

I have found that the carp prefer feeding in silt during the colder months, which is probably to do with it holding most of their natural food. For me to have 100% confidence in a silty spot, I have to use a hinge stiff rig, because otherwise I wouldn’t be happy with my presentation.

take into account in the winter in terms of pellets is oil content. Any high oil pellet will still work to some degree in the cold, but they tend to not work as well and they also fill the fish a lot faster as they don’t use up their energy as quickly. Therefore, the likes of halibut and trout pellets are an absolute no go.

For me, the ultimate year-round pellet is the Sticky Bloodworm range. They work in all water temperatures and offer supreme levels of attraction with a low oil content. Once submerged, the red outer coating breaks away and gives off a super attractive red haze for fish to home in on.

In terms of size, I use the smallest in the range at 2.3mm for most of my fishing. They are perfect for all aspects of baiting, be that PVA bags or spod mixes, therefore I rarely change regardless of the time of year.

Q

How do you switch to your winter bait? Should I just stop using fishmeals completely or fish a mixture of both my summer and winter baits to begin with?

John Harfod, email NICK HELLEUR: I have never been a massive believer of the old switcheroo in the winter months. I have caught fish on fishmeals in winter and milk proteins in the summer.

Use liquids to ramp Carp don’t swim around with a menu of the up the attraction day and suddenly decide they can’t eat levels of your bait something. I use Manilla almost exclusively because it just works wherever I take it.

However, there’s the odd occasion it doesn’t and for one reason or another those venues tend to respond better to fishmeal baits. It’s all about working out the type of bait the fish in your lake want to eat.

I always use less bait in winter so I ramp up the attraction with liquids. Using Manilla, the classic combination of Cloudy Manilla Liquid and Baileys is my number one choice, plus it makes a fine Irish coffee on the bank too! Once left to soak, a handful of boilies will pump out enough attraction to draw in fish and you can start to build up a few fish steadily throughout your session, which is the best way to fish in the winter.

Avoid pellets with a high oil content in winter

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