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ISSUE 339
July 3 – July 31, 2018 £3.80
YOUR DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO CATCHING MORE
Method v bomb... which is best? Pole tactics to conquer snake lakes Rig secrets for catching shallow 8 NEW MAPS INSIDE
VENUE GUIDES CUT OUT & KEEP
FANTASTIC RIVER RIGS FOR YOUR GREATEST SEASON
TESTED: SONIK'S FIRST PELLET WAGGLER ROD
CONTENTS Issue 339 July 3 – July 31, 2018
24
Method or bomb? – what tactic to use and when
GREAT BRITISH FISHING 8
14
Fairway to Heaven – Graham West Mini-river marvels – Peter Bolt
TACTICS
24 Method feeder v the bomb – Mark Griffiths 30 Want 100lb of bream? Then get baiting – Andy Grimes 35 Shallow secrets for carp & F1s – Jon Whincup 4 • IYCF Issue 339
40 Combine rod & pole tactics for crucian success – Jake Benson 44 Fish deep commercials – Kristian Jones 51 Rip up the groundbait rule book – Matt Powell 54 Bag up short on snake lakes – Colin Bartlett 58 Six great river rigs 62 Jamie Hughes’ summer edges 68 Fish better with Des Shipp: Spooling up 73 Q&A
76 Rig school: Baggin’ waggler for commercials
CARP TACTICS
108 Get active & keep catching – Brian Skoyles 114 Rig of the month 116 Quick-session tactics 120 Carp Q&A
TACKLE
84 Mitchell Avocet reels 86 New Gear 90 Live test: Sonik SKSC Pellet Waggler rod
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Carp and F1s need to be targeted in slighty different ways, demonstrates Jon Whincup
You need to bait heavy when you’re after a ton of bream, insists Andy Grimes who fills in his swim
Des Shipp offers champion advice when it comes to treating your spools to fresh mainline
Carl & Alex celebrate a fantastic second trip to the USA where the carp fishing is outstanding
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94 JRC Defender range 96 Buyers’ guide to sub£100 barbel rods 98 Live test: Middy Muscle Tech pole
YOUR IYCF
20 Get free digital scales when you subscribe 100 Your letters 102 Mission: your catch shots 105 Reader offer: Line for £1 106 Bargain centrepin reels 107 Middy MX luggage comp 124 Crossword
Sonik’s SKSC pellet waggler rod delivers performance without price – it’s one of the best
Our monthly columnist Bob Roberts enjoys a successful Opening Day session
IYCF July 3 – July 31, 2018 • 5
Fairway to Heaven The proliďŹ c Biggin Lake sits on a golf course, but this is no handicap to Graham West who bags up carp on the pellet feeder Words & Photography Tony Grigorjevs
8• IYCF Issue 339
FISHING ● H S Ac
EAT BRIT I GR
EAT BRIT I GR
elebr of the be ation st lake and river, ca fishing t nal h the UK h at as to offer
FISHING ● SH
IYCF July 3 – July 31, 2018 • 9
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Method v the bomb
Both are deadly at this time of year but you need to know when to swap between the two to maximise catches. Mark Griffiths has the answers Words & Photography Tony Grigorjevs
W
ALK around any commercial fishery and you will see feeder rods bent double as big fish do their best to shed the hook. Even if the rig remains out of your sight as the big carp makes a final lunge for freedom, you can watch on and pretty much guarantee that either a Method feeder or bomb will eventually break the surface. There’s no doubting that both are prolific tactics, but there are several factors that need to be taken into account before choosing which
24 • IYCF Issue 339
will work best on any given day. Guru’s Mark Griffiths knows a thing or two about the deadly duo and he hasn’t become a master of them by simply taking a lucky guess about which to use. “The bomb and Method feeder have caught me so many fish over the years but there is a time and a place for each,” explained Mark. “How the fish are feeding and behaving will dictate which one is going to get me the most bites at that moment in time.”
TACTICS
TACTICS: METHOD/ BOMB SPECIES: CARP DIFFICULTY:
IYCF July 3 – July 31, 2018 • 25
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Want 100lb of bream? Then get baiting! Keep the bait going in and you could have your best ever bream session, as Andy Grimes proves with an incredible haul of slabs Words & Photography Tony Grigorjevs
30 • IYCF Issue 339
TACTICS
B
IG bream are without doubt the hungriest of fish. Marauding their home waters in giant shoals, they can mop up a bed of bait in no time at all. Feed a small handful of bait and the bream will clear the lot and move on before you’ve had chance to capitalise on what could have been a stunning day of filling your net. Put simply, if you want to hold the slabs in your swim you have to ‘fill it in’ with bait and give them a meal that will satisfy their enormous appetites. Andy Grimes loves fishing for big bream and spends a long time priming a spot before he even thinks about casting a baited hook
into the water. “I don’t believe you can fill up a shoal at this time of year,” stated Andy. “If you don’t put in enough bait in you might catch one fish when they turn up and by the time you cast back out they will have moved on and that’s your day finished,” he cautioned.
Spomb it out The traditional way of baiting a swim is to use a large cage feeder and cast it upwards of a dozen times to build a carpet of feed. However, this tactic is time consuming so Andy uses a device that acheives the same result in half the time.
TACTICS: FEEDER SPECIES: BREAM DIFFICULTY:
IYCF July 3 – July 31, 2018 • 31
COMBINE ROD & POLE TACTICS FOR
CRUCIAN SUCCESS Want the benefits of fishing the pole but the enjoyment of using a rod? Jake Benson reveals how he mixes it up to keep catching Words Jake Benson Photography Lloyd Rogers
TACTICS: ROD/POLE SPECIES: CRUCIANS DIFFICULTY:
40 • IYCF Issue 339
TACTICS
L
IKE many anglers, I have never really enjoyed fishing with a pole – it’s simply not my style. However, I’m not daft, and I am aware of how deadly the approach is. This got me thinking about ways I could retain the benefits of the pole, without losing other advantages and enjoyment of using a rod. The first idea that sprung to mind was to employ a pole to feed accurately, but still use a rod to actually fish with. I try to be meticulous in all of my angling pursuits, whether it be for a 30lb carp or 4oz roach. The more precise you can be, the more positive your results. Baiting up accurately is crucial in all fishing. If I cast out perfectly but bait up incorrectly it can totally destroy my confidence. With this approach, I would prevent that happening. Another aspect I’ve learned from pole anglers is the delicacy with which they fish. If you compare a pole rig to a standard waggler rig, you’ll soon notice how much more sensitive a pole float set-up is. For this reason when targeting shy biting species such as crucians, I use a pole float on my waggler rod where I can get away with it. Now, it’s safe to say that I am a complete pole fishing novice. But as I’m only using the pole for baiting purposes there’s thankfully no need to be an expert. I was given a 10m Daiwa Yank ‘n’ Bank by a good mate of mine, and I then purchased a Drennan Polemaster pole set which comprises 100ml, 150ml and 250ml cups. I attached it to one of the top kits and, as easy as that, I was ready for action.
BAG UP SHORT ON SNAKE LAKES Fishery boss Colin Bartlett has a more productive way of fishing snake lakes than simply relying on far-bank swims Words & Photography Tony Grigorjevs
TACTICS: POLE SPECIES: MIXED DIFFICULTY:
54 • IYCF Issue 339
TACTICS
I
F YOU are a fan of snake lakes then there is one area of your swim that will occupy much of your attention. The far bank always looks like the obvious place to start, with the reeds and overhanging bushes constantly twitching as fish manoeuvre their way through the cover. Once all your tackle and bait is prepared you’ll excitedly ship out at least 13m of pole to get among the action and it’s likely you will get a few bites. Sadly though, fishing at distance all day often comes at a cost. There’s the frustration of losing your hookbait when you miss a bite. The annoyance of bait bouncing out of your cup as you ship out. And then there’s the
aches and pains days later from holding out many metres of carbon all day long. But that is what you’ve got to put up with if you want to bag up on snake lakes. Or is it? Colin Bartlett, the main man at Essex’s Lake John believes you can succeed on these waters using only a top kit and three sections. “There’s no denying that the far bank of any snake lake is always home to fish, but there will be just as many – if not more – lingering out of sight down the track and margins,” explained Colin. “I’ve lost count of the number of fish I have caught at short range. I’m convinced that on each day I’d have put fewer in the net had I made the far bank my main focus.”
A real mixed bag One of the most fun elements of fishing down the middle on snake lakes is that you’ll be kept wondering as to exactly what will take the bait next. Carp and F1s are often ravenous in shallow water tight to the far bank but down the middle the water is much deeper and that enables all species to settle. “You need to use an approach that will give you a chance of getting bites off everything that swims as opposed to being selective and only drawing the attentions of big fish. “There’s every chance that there will be carp, tench, bream and crucians to name but a few species and you need to use rigs and
FAR BANK
Ignore the fish here as you’ll find more down the track
START
There’s a wide range of species to be caught here
FINISH
Big carp come down the edge late. Fish for the last hour
IYCF July 3 – July 31, 2018 • 55
6
GREAT RIVER RIGS...
Tie these rigs and get ready for a
ROACH: STICK FLOAT Simply attach the float with a rubber at the top and bottom, add the correct shot and you’re ready to go. If the flow is harder or you are unable to hold the float back or control it as you run it through the swim then you need to increase the size of your float.
W
ITH the country’s rivers now open for the new season, many anglers e again turning their onc be will attentions to targeting running water species. Whether it’s trotting a stick float for roach and small chub, or legering a large feeder filled with pellets for barbel, we’ve got a rig to suit. This month we give you the lowdown on six fantastic presentations that will cover all your river fishing needs throughout the season.
fish-filled season...
TOP TIP
Up the size of your float in a strong flow or if you’re struggling to control it
Run the fl oat through a different s t to see wha peeds tw best on th orks e day
Items you’ll need
✔ Stick floats ✔ 3lb – 4lb line ✔ Size 20 hook
A strung out shirt button style shotting pattern helps the bait move naturally As a general rule, use one No. 4 shot per foot of depth. For example, in a 6ft deep swim use a float which takes six No. 4 shot
Fish one or two maggots on the hook and feed a pinch of hemp and maggots on a little and often basis
58 • IYCF Issue 339
ROACH: RUNNING MAGGOT FEEDER RIG Float fishing for river roach is one of the finest ways to target the species, but conditions often dictate that the feeder will be more effective. Roach won’t tolerate crude tackle so keep everything as fine as possible.
Items you’ll need ✔ Size 16 hook ✔ Kamasan 20g feeder ✔ 3lb line ✔ Micro swivel, rubber beads
The hooklength should be a minimum of 18in to prevent fish spooking off the feeder
Use a feeder that is just heavy enough to hold bottom in the flow
Two or three maggots on a size 16 hook will help to pick out a bigger stamp of roach
SILVERS: POLE RIVER RIG Swing the olivette upstream of the groundbaited area
Allow the rig to continue at normal pace downstream, until it starts to pull off line
The hookbait drops quickly before the float reaches the groundbait
The hookbait then passes over the crumb perfectly
Holding back hard makes the hookbait flutter up, often tempting a bite
Items you’ll need ✔ Size 18 hook ✔ 1.5g float ✔ 3lb line ✔ 6 - 8 hollow elastic
IYCF July 3 – July 31, 2018 • 59
! S E I R E S W E N
Fish better with...
DES SHIPP
Brush up on key angling skills with England International Des, to put more fish on the bank
THIS MONTH: HOW TO FILL YOUR REEL CORRECTLY
H
AVE you ever been fishing either the waggler or feeder only to see your line suffer damage and become curly within just a few sessions? There could be several reasons why this has happened, but one of the most common is that you didn’t put your line on to the reel spool correctly. As with anything in angling, there is a technique to doing it properly and if you fail to follow the basic principles you could pay for it dearly, with tangles or breakages when big fish are running you ragged. Poor line lay will also affect your casting performance. This month I reveal my top tips for properly spooling up a reel.
HOW TO:
SPOOL UP A REEL
DURABLE MAINLINE Tie your mainline to the spool, place the line into a bucket of water and start reeling it on
TOP TIP
Don’t spend a fortune on good quality mainline. Buy one 150m spool and then fill the rest of the spool with cheaper backing line 68 • IYCF Issue 339
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2
3
ADD BACKING Take a cheap spool of line, connect it to the mainline and reel it on. This is called ‘backing’ and helps fill the spool to aid casting
SPOOL SWITCH Remove the filled spool and attach your spare to the reel. Tie the end of your backing to the empty spool and start reeling
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5
FULLY SPOOLED Once you have transferred the line from one spool to the other, the backing will be on the bottom and the mainline will be on the top
READY TO ROLL Your reel is now fully spooled and ready for use
IYCF July 3 – July 31, 2018 • 69
In association with
Baggin’ waggler for commercials One of the simplest ways of fishing a float guarantees plenty of warm-water action when fish are feeding well off the bottom
I
F YOU fish well-stocked commercial carp venues then one of the best tactics to use the warmer months has to be the baggin’ waggler. With the carp up in the water a bait fished from a few inches to several feet below the surface will often bring loads of action on hot days when a bait on the bottom is ignored. The baggin’ waggler is a very simple rig to set up and can easily be adjusted to fish the bait at different depths by moving the position of the float stops to lengthen or shorten the hooklength. Remember to not use lines that are
too fine a diameter with this rig. The float creates a lot of resistance when you get a bite and a fine line may well break as the fish bolts off after feeling the resistance of the float. Load the base of the float with Method groundbait and be prepared to keep re-casting every couple of minutes to keep a cloud of particles falling through the water around the slow-sinking hookbait. By keeping the rig as simple as possible tangles are avoided so that you to get into a routine of regular recasting while you wait for the carp to bite.
YOU WILL NEED...
z Baggin’ waggler z Link swivel z Float stops z 10lb mainline z 8lb hooklength line z Size 14 Guru WMG hook
HOW TO TIE A BAGGIN’ WAGGLER RIG
Thread a float stop on to the mainline and slide it up about a metre. Thread the link swivel, and two more float stops on to the mainline
Tie a figure-of-eight loop in the end of the mainline. This will be used to connect your hooklink to the mainline
Tie a size 14 hook to a metre length of hooklength line using a knotless knot, forming a short hair below the hook
Make a small figure-of-eight loop in the end of the hooklength
Attach the hooklength to the mainline using the two loops
Adjust the depth being fished by moving the float stops
76 • IYCF Issue 339
TACTICS
Fish a 6mm pellet in a bait band that will slowly fall through the column of feed
Cast regularly to keep a cloud of particles falling through the water
Move the float stops to lengthen or shorten the hooklength and adjust the depth at which the hookbait is fished
IYCF July 3 – July 31, 2018 • 77
B TA IGG N CK ER E LE & W SE BE CT TT IO ER N
TACKLE NEW GEAR REVEALED, ON THE BANK TESTS & EXPERT ADVICE
The handle knob is made from a soft-touch material
The rear hts section lig a l up to signa e th take when em yst freespool s d is engage
OBJECT OF DESIRE
MITCHELL AVOCET 6500 FS RTE REEL RRP: £49.99
THESE unique freespool Avocet 6500 FS RTE reels feature a built-in, rear-mounted bite-indication system. The reels can be purchased individually in a choice of blue, green, orange and red or as a trafficlight sequence set of three (£139.99). Once the freespool system is engaged, the rear section lights and
an alarm sounds when the spool spins. Now before you start worrying that it all sounds a bit gimmicky, fear not. It actually is a decent quality reel. Seven bearings deliver a smooth performance and the black anodised aluminium spool can hold up to 320m of 0.30mm line. Other key features include a Halo rotor, multi-disc drag system with greased felt and a soft-touch handle knob. The total black design and understated subtle branding also ensure they are visually appealing.
EXPERT OPINION: LEADING THE WAY IN TACKLE TESTS & REVIEWS
MARK SAWYER Tackle Editor
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RICHARD GRANGE Match Editor
THOM AIRS
Carpfeed Editor
JAMES FURNESS IYCF Editor
TONY GRIGORJEVS Features Editor
Total black design and subtle branding make the reels visually appealing
The deep spool can hold 320m of 0.30mm line
KEY FEATURES Black carpy design and subtle branding Freespool reel system Intergrated bite alarm system in four colours Halo rotor 6 + 1 bearings Black anodized aluminium spool Multi-disc drag system with greased felt Soft-touch handle knob IYCF July 3 – July 31, 2018 • 85
IE REV WS Y
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CAN TRUST U O ckle
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IE REV WS Y
IYCF’s ta awyer ark S editor M eviewing r n e e b has re ar for mo e g g in h to fis s e r a c n he years tba mber reme
CAN TRUST OU
LIVE TEST
Earth-moving Middy pole Power aplenty and more agility than you’re entitled to expect from a pole that’s designed to shift the biggest of commercial lumps MIDDY MUSCLE-TECH 1150 PRECISION CARP RRP: £499.99
B
EING a tackle editor has taught me that when Middy calls to tell you about its latest tasty bit of kit – in this case the new Muscle-Tech 1150 Precision Carp pole – it pays to sit up and take notice. So, when the new postie threw the aforementioned item on to my desk with a resounding thud, I never feared for one moment that I’d open the tube to find shattered shards of carbon. If anything, my desk would be the injured party (and maybe claim compensation from one of those nice companies on TV who say they really care….). Sure enough, no damage whatsoever, and no surprises considering the pole employs the
98 • IYCF Issue 339
new T-Core anti-shatter technology. It’s as tough as boots, yet surprisingly lightweight for a power pole weighing in at just 675g at 10.3m and rated to a pec-popping size 20 elastic. Reinforced section joints, and top kits with reinforced carbon side puller wraps on the second and third sections, further add to the pole’s impressive credentials. You get a Power 2 kit in the pole and another supplied as standard, with a bonus cupping kit. A Precision F1 2 kit is available separately to fish at a precise 10m length if required – all top kits fitting on to the third section of the pole. Middy claims the Muscle-Tech has a
T-Core anti-shatter technology make the pole incredibly sturdy
TACKLE
Mark’s verdict IF YOU’RE in the market for a super dependable commercial carp pole, then definitely have a close look at Middy’s latest Muscle-Tech 1150 Precision Carp pole. It’s easy and comfortable to handle, and much lighter and stiffer than you might expect for an out-and-out power pole. An adequate, though not extensive, spares package gives you a couple of tactical options. balance ratio of 17.6 Newtons, which I have no reason at all to doubt. The only Newton I know anything about is Sir Isaac, who had an apple fall on his head, no doubt while the tree was being whacked for windfalls by some 17th Century Sawyer with a pole… Seriously, though, I know Middy has invested a lot of research and development in this pole and is rightly proud of it. So where to live-test the new Muscle-Tech? Few commercials can boast fish as weighty and numerous as Decoy’s Oak strip lake. These big fish have an attitude to match, and have developed tackle-smashing tendencies. One of their favourite tricks is to launch themselves up the lake at the speed of a Guy Fawkes cat with a banger up its backside, often resulting in broken line, elastic, pole and dreams. I had, though, kitted the pole with Middy’s latest Reactacore Hollow elastic, the yellow Saturn size 14-18. I really liked the look and feel of this – it’s hellishly strong, but not overly aggressive
This power pole is surprisingly light – 675g at 10.3m
even under full stress. It’s soft at the hook-up stage, but gradually tightens up the more it’s stretched. In other words, it’s utterly brilliant. Suitably tooled-up, then, the new MuscleTech pole soon accounted for a net of huge fish (see right) that had often been written off as irresistible forces or immovable objects. IYCF February 16 – March 15, 2016 • 99
TIPS, TACTICS & RIGS TO CATCH MORE
108 • IYCF Issue 339
CARP
GET ACTIVE & KEEP CATCHING Brian Skoyles and Colin Cutts prove that reducing your kit and staying mobile will produce more summer carp Words & Photography Brian Skoyles
IYCF July 3 – July 31, 2018 • 109
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