THE KORUM GUIDE TO MODERN PREDATOR FISHING by Fishing UK

TO MODERN PREDATOR FISHING

Cutting edge tackle and tactics for

pike, perch and zander Korum bro.indd 1

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TO THE KORUM GUIDE TO

MODERN PREDATOR FISHING

ELLO and welcome to the Korum Guide To Modern Predator Fishing. In association with your favourite weekly fishing magazine, Angler’s Mail, we’ve put together a superb supplement that is guaranteed to help you catch more pike, perch and zander. By following the tips from our Snapper experts, you’re certain to have a great winter period catching predators. We’ve got the awesome Gary Knowles giving you tips to fish with hard lures like a pro, and perch ace Ed Matthews lifting the lid on dropshotting, and why it doesn’t have to be an over-complicated technique. By simplifying these brilliant methods, we hope you’ll be better equipped to catch more fish. Inside you’ll also find tips on balancing your equipment to suit different approaches, as well as the gear used by our own Korum Snapper team. This handy guide is sure to improve your predator skills. Have a great time fishing this winter and maybe we’ll see you on the bank some time. Right, I’m off dropshotting!

Mat Woods, Korum Brand Manager.

TOP TACTICS AND TACKLE

INSIDE In association with and produced by

Angler’s Mail Korum bro.indd 2

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HOW TO… SAFELY UNHOOK A PIKE It is imperative that you know how to safely unhook a pike before you attempt to catch one. Here we show you how it is done correctly so pike go back unharmed…

Lay your catch on a padded unhooking mat and place the fish between your knees.

Slide your hand up under the fish’s gill cover, taking care of where the hooks are situated.

Using forceps grip the shank of the top hook and remove it from the pike’s mouth.

Slide the forceps under the pike’s gill cover, being extremely careful not to damage the delicate gills.

Grip the shank of the bottom hook, remove it from the fish and pull your lure free from the fish’s mouth.

By taking care of your catch you’ll soon have an album full of pike like this! 00

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07/11/2014 13:08

Dropshotting MADE EASY The craze for dropshotting has gained real momentum in the UK as anglers everywhere turn to the technique to catch bigger perch. But it’s not as complicated as it first appears. Ed ‘The Pred’ Matthews reveals how to master this incredibly effective style of fishing…

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All the kit you need

Search near the snags “It’s a cliché in dropshotting, but sometimes you need to move the lure and not the weight. For my first cast, that’s what I want to achieve, so I’ve got the 10 gr weight on with a goldfish lure. The heavier weight is better fishing close to snags – it keeps the lure active in the strike zone for longer,” says Ed.

Dropshotting. It’s the technique many anglers don’t understand and whilst most would love to try it, the complicated assortment of tackle for the method puts many off before they start. It can cost a small fortune to get kitted out with individual components in a tackle shop… that was until now! “Putting everything in one kit makes so much sense,” smiles Ed Matthews. The Staffordshire predator expert has been using the dropshot method for many years following its popularisation in the USA for bass fishing, but even he agrees the gear on tackle shop shelves has just blown people’s minds. “To buy three different coloured lures, hooks and weights, you’re looking at spending at least £30. That’s no good to the guy who only wants to try it for a few hours here and there.” For that reason, Ed went to the guys at Korum and suggested making ready-to-go kits that removed some of the cost and complications. “You can use a normal hook for dropshotting, but you need to know how to tie a special knot to do so. No matter how many videos you make, most people still won’t understand how that works, so we figured it better to put the equivalent of a swivel through the eye of the

hook so you can just tie a normal knot,” Ed explains. “I prefer this style of hook as I can change the material depending on how clear the water is, or how big the fish are I’m fishing for!” As a rule, Ed uses a 4-6 lb clear monofilament. “Everyone has a spool of light mono,” he laughs. Attached to that spin-style hook, of course, is an imitation fish. And rather than confuse anglers with too many shapes and colours, Ed suggested Korum use a shad pattern that closely imitates the fry in UK venues, in colours all UK anglers recognise. “The roach and perch fry imitations were a no-brainer. There isn’t a perch that swims that won’t eat one of those. The shad tail means it has a big paddle that does a lot of the work for you. You don’t need to work the lure too much dropshotting, so this is great whilst you’re learning. “The final colour had to be that of a goldfish. The Snapper Drones are so good in that colour it just made sense. Some days the attractor baits and bright colours work better than the others, especially in coloured water, so it made sense, really.” The final addition to the kit is two weights, one 5 gr and the other 10 gr. This suits different casts and alters the speed you retrieve the dropshot lure, as Ed demonstrates with his first cast of the day…

2 Instant action

Ed is quickly in business with a sprightly little perch, which is quickly followed by another - both couldn’t resist the Korum Goldfish Dropshot lure! The ‘strike zone’ Ed mentions is slightly away from the snags, so he gives it more attention. “I’ve switched to the larger perch imitation lure now,” adds Ed. “This should single out a bigger fish. Perch eat perch!”

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It’s all in the wrist

Keeping the tip high – crucial in dropshot fishing from the bank – Ed slowly flicks his wrist to work the lure. It’s hard to imagine the lure is even moving, but that shad tail is doing all the critical work. As predicted, Ed’s Korum Dropshot rod hoops over positively with the bait being taken virtually on the drop.

Perch eat perch “This is a bigger fish,” he grins. It’s not quite a 2-pounder but it’s still a lovely perch. He’s only been fishing for half an hour!

Boxing clever

It’s clear that Ed is really organised for this trip. He’s got a small Korum ITM Clamshell box filled with most of his components, and another larger couple of lure boxes that he can swap different fish and rig bits into and out of. “There’s no point carrying loads around with you. This is a mobile style of fishing, after all,” Ed points out.

Winning changes

The swim has gone quiet so Ed heads to his favourite spot - a ‘banker’ area if there ever was one. It’s an end peg with a lot of overhanging trees over deep water. It looks spot on! “This is a big fish peg,” Ed tells us, sliding a 5 cm roach dropshot lure on this time. These are warier fish, so the natural pattern is definitely the one today. A lighter weight on the end means Ed also switches to the lighter glass tip on his Korum Dropshot rod.

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Work it slowly

Ed’s rig flies into the lake quietly, and we watch expectantly. He’s working the lure very slowly, just ticking the reel over so it barely moves. “If you think you’re reeling in too slowly, reel slower. That’s a good tip,” laughs Ed, just as the tip of his rod shudders. A quick strike, and this is a totally different ball game! The fish ploughs for the snags and his line pings from the reel. Ed’s got it under full control though. “Having an 8 ft rod is crucial for bank fishing,” he explains. “From a boat the shorter rods come into their own, but for this work, you need at least 8 ft.” As he passes on this timely advice, a huge bar of stripes hits the surface like a plate. “That’s a good ‘un,” yells Ed, reaching for the net. Without hesitation, the perch is drawn smoothly into the waiting net. It looks a real old dinosaur!

EASY TO USE KORUM DROPSHOT KIT 1

The Korum Dropshot kits have everything you need to tie a Dropshot rig.

What a beauty!

The markings are tremendous and though it’s a short fish, it’s a beautifully marked specimen – a great example of the species. His fins glow red and his stripes darken as he is lifted up for the camera. “That’s a great fish to round off the day. Easily 2 lb-plus and a good perch for the venue. It just goes to show that working those dropshot lures correctly with a simple rig is all it takes.”

Choose your fish and thread it onto the hook. Ed’s chosen the Roach!

Tie a foot or so of line above and below the spin-style hook as shown. At the bottom, simply pinch the mono into the specially designed lead. Done!

TOP TIPS FOR DROPSHOTTING

Keep the rod tip up. Dropshot fishing is about trying to retain a vertical retrieve.

Use the right rod. One with a soft tip, or interchangeable tips is Ed’s preference.

Use a rod without a foam handle. You want to be able to feel every movement. 7

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10/11/2014 15:38

Lure fish like a pro Catching fish on lures isn’t just about casting out and reeling in. Expert lure angler, Gary Knowles explains how to use your lure effectively to boost your catch rate.

■ Simple and successful

■ Lure fishing just has to be the most exciting way to catch fish, just ask Gary Knowles!

Lure fishing is possibly the most exiting method to use in angling - watching a big predator following your lure to the bank can really get the adrenalin pumping. To get the most from this style of fishing you have to appreciate that different types of lures require different styles of retrieve. You can just cast lures out and reel them in and have moderate success, but by following a few of my simple hints and tips you’ll give your catch rate a real boost! I’ve been using lures for a number of years now, having caught pike to over 30 lb, zander over 15 lb and even a 100 lb-plus tarpon when using them, and I always feel confident that a bite is on the cards when I go lure fishing. In many tackle shops the big wall of lures in all different shapes, sizes and weights can be a bit daunting to most anglers wanting to have a go at lure fishing, but it’s actually easier than you think!

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■ Crank crazy

Crankbaits are perfect for anyone wanting to have a go at lure fishing. Most crankbaits float, and to get them down in the water all you have to do is start winding. For lure fishing novices, casting out and reeling in is all that you need to do. The vane on the front of the lure is pulled against the water when you wind, sending your lure down in the water. As the crankbait’s air-filled body naturally wants to come up to the surface the winding of your reel creates a wobbling fish-attracting action. This big vane is what makes the lure so effective. The faster you wind a crankbait, the deeper it will dive, until it reaches its maximum depth. After casting your crankbait out into the lake, wind fast to get it down and working at the depth you need – putting the lure exactly where the fish want it!

■ Rod position?

One of the most common questions I get asked about lure fishing is ‘where should I position my rod?’ My suggestion is to keep the rod pointed towards the lure. You don’t need a 90 degree angle in the rod for your lure to work, especially as a steady wind will keep the line tight. A very slight bend in the rod tip will allow you to feel the lure working as it sends vibrations through the line. To make the lure rise up in the water, simply lift your rod up in the air. Watching the rod tip is essential for effective fishing with lures. While winding you’ll be able to see and feel the vibrations as the lure wobbles and sends out vibrations through the water. If the vibrations stop, you’re either not working the lure fast enough, or there is a bit of debris caught on the treble hooks. This will stop your lure working as effectively as it should. Your rod needs to be stiff to set the hooks on hard-mouthed predators. Match your rod to the size of lure and distance that you want to fish. Check out the What Rod and Why feature in pages 12-13 to make sure you pick the right rod.

■ Trusty titanium traces

■ The Korum Snapper range of crankbaits have clear instructions on the packet to help you get the most from them.

A wire trace is essential for any lure fishing with trebles. Whether you are fishing for big perch or pike it cuts out the risk of being bitten off. Nobody wants to have the fish of their dreams bite through their line because they weren’t using the right kit! Korum Titanium Traces are perfect for the job. These super high quality traces won’t kink after you catch a fish, a problem with lesser quality pre-made traces or wire. They also include strong swivels and snap clips to give you full confidence in your gear.

■ Best to use braid

I always recommend using braid when lure fishing for pike. The properties of braid lend themselves perfectly to the method because of the lack of stretch. When winding, the vibrations from the crankbait are transmitted up through the braid and show up on the rod tip - you can feel everything that is going on with the lure. Should your lure hit the lakebed, or collect some debris, you will feel it too. A proper bite is much different to a tap on the bottom of the lake, believe me you’ll know when something has grabbed your lure! The use of braid isn’t just to feel the bites, the zero stretch, coupled with a stiff rod, will allow you to positively set the hooks on the strike. Just make sure your drag is set correctly before you start fishing.

■ Work a lure correctly and you’ll soon know when a fish has grabbed it!

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10/11/2014 15:37

The different types of crankbaits There are essentially three types of crankbait; shallow, mid-water and deep divers. All three have their own uses and here are the benefits of each type…

■ Shallow

Shallow diving lures generally have a bigger angle on the vane at the front of the lure; this vane is usually short and wide and gives a very erratic action. Usually very buoyant, shallow diving lures, such as the new Korum Snapper Shallow Bug, are perfect for small rivers, weedy lakes or shallow bays. They can prove to be irresistible to chub when teased back along the surface! When fishing on weedy lakes you can crank down hard to make the lure dive, but before your hooks foul on the weed, stop winding to let the lure float up to the top, tease the lure over the weed and then continue to wind and make the lure dive - a great way of fishing for predators when other anglers would go home. To make your bug lure work in more erratic ways reel in fast to make the lure dive hard, then stop winding. This gives you much more control over the lure than twitching the rod tip. Often, a fish will take your lure just as you stop winding after a fast retrieve. ■ The Korum Snapper Shallow Bug is perfect for catching predators from small rivers, weedy lakes or shallow bays.

■ Mid-water

This lure is the all-rounder of the three. If you could only have one lure, it would be the Korum Snapper Mid-Water Shad. This lure can be used on lakes, rivers, canals and drains. The Mid-Water shad’s vane will allow it to dive deeper in the water than the Shallow Bug until it reaches its maximum depth. The faster you wind, the deeper the lure will travel through the water. To retrieve the lure higher in the water, simply wind slower. This type of lure fishes well with a varied retrieve rate. The fast wind and abrupt stop technique can be extremely effective with this shad shape. The pike often grab the lure as it starts to rise up in the water column, thinking that their prey is getting away. Use the pace of winding on your reel to change the action of the lure, not the rod tip. A pike sat low in the water or on the bottom will be looking up for its next meal, not down, so don’t worry too much if you think you are working your lure too high in the water. ■ Used on lakes, rivers, canals and drains, the Korum Snapper Mid-Water Shad is an incredibly effective crankbait.

■ Deep

If your chosen venue is deep, such as a large reservoir or a deep river, then you’ll want a lure that can get down to the depths where the fish may be hiding! Lures with a shallow, but normally large lip, on the front, such as the Korum Snapper Deep Diving Minnow, are designed to send your lure quickly down to the depths. This big vane gives your deep diving crankbait a fast wiggle, sending lots of vibrations out through the water. With any crankbait, it’s essential to get your lure down to the depth you want it to work at quickly. By cranking down hard on the reel with a fast wind, and even pulling the rod tip will make the lure dive quickly into the deep water. You can then gently slow down your wind to give the lure a different action. Some anglers often don’t realise just how deep their lures can dive. When using braid, as mentioned previously, you will be able to feel if the lure is bouncing along the bottom. If you are having problems with the lure bouncing along the bottom, try a slower retrieve, but if the vibrations from the lure stop, try a different lure with a shallower dive.

■ To attract predators that lurk in deeper waters it is important to use a lure that gets down to the depths quickly. The Korum Snapper Deep Diving Minnow is perfect for this job!

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■ Pre-rigged swimbaits

These are possibly the most common type of soft lure available and play a huge part in the predator angler’s armoury. These lures all sink, unlike floating crankbaits, and are good for searching the water column for fish. These lures can weigh a lot, so picking the right rod is essential. Match the size of your lure to the rod. The retrieve of these lures is simple. Just a steady wind will make the soft rubber tail vibrate as the water pushes it, making your lure swim like a fish. Use short sharp twitches of the rod tip occasionally to relay more action down the braid to the lure. After casting out, count the pre-rigged lure down to the bottom in seconds. Each time you cast out after this, start retrieving the lure a second sooner than the last, so you search up through the water – this is a great way to find where the pike are lying in the water.

■ A steady retrieve and short sharp twitches of the rod tip is the ideal way to catch predators when working soft plastic lures.

■ Colour confusion?

So you’ve decided what lure you need for the venue you are fishing. Now you’ve got to decide between the 50 different colour options on the shelf. Don’t panic – it’s easier than you think. As a general rule of thumb, for clear natural venues you should be looking at patterns that closely match the fish in the venue. My number one choice on natural venues is the Korum Snapper Silverfish pattern. I’ll simply pick which of the three types of lure that I need, Shallow Bug, Mid-Water Shad or Deep Diving Minnow, in the silverfish colour. If I’m going to fish a venue that is coloured, and the visibility in the water is not great, then a bright colour will generally work better. A firm favourite of a huge number of predator anglers is the fire tiger pattern. Its bright colours really stand out in the murky water, and the catches show that the fish like it too! I’ll pick the fire tiger colour from the Korum Double Hard Range if I’m fishing murky venues. These two colours are the ones that matter. They catch lots of fish and just sticking with the two stops the need to spend a fortune on a pile of lures that aren’t so effective.

■ These Korum Snapper Silverfish patterns are the first choice for clear water venues.

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07/11/2014 12:56

WHAT ROD

AND WHY?

Dropshotting

Making the most of your fishing time by working your lures effectively is the key to putting more fish on the bank. Here’s a quick guide on what tackle you should use for different styles of lure fishing.

Light lures and jig heads & small crankbaits

Most anglers’ introduction to lure fishing normally involves the use of small spinners or pre-rigged lures. A short 7 ft rod is perfect for most venues such as small canals, lakes and rivers. The Korum 7 ft Lure Rod is the ideal choice, coupled with a small 3000 size reel. The rod has a relatively soft tip, allowing you to read what your lure is doing in the water. After casting out and letting your jighead or pre-rigged lure sink, use short lifts of the rod to bounce it along the bottom, imitating a wounded fish. Remember to stand back from the water’s edge to allow your lure to work right up into the side; you never know what could be following your lure!

Heavy lures and crankbaits Casting bigger lures requires a rod that is up for the job. Crankbaits with a big lip can move a lot of water when retrieved and if your rod is bent double on the retrieve, you won’t be able to read what is happening in the water and you won’t have a very successful day’s fishing! The Korum 8 ft Lure Rod is rated at 20-50 gr, ideal for the larger Korum Drones and Double Hard Lure range. Both of these lures have a lot of action when fished with a steady retrieve. As with all lure fishing, different retrieves can be more effective on different days. Try imparting twitches into the lure by adding short sharp movements of the rod tip.

Any angler can fish the Dropshot method, but the angler using a rod designed for the job will catch more fish. A very delicate method, dropshotting is essentially a small soft lure anchored 12-15 inches off the bottom. This method uses very little horizontal movement of the lure. The action is imparted into the lure using small twitches and vibration through the line. The 8 ft Korum Dropshot Twin Tip Rod was designed to give maximum sensitivity through the tip, but very quickly power up to make setting hooks in the bony mouth of a predator an easy task. Using a soft lure rod, primarily designed for spinners, probably won’t give you the backbone needed to set the hook properly and you’ll find yourself bumping fish off. Dropshot fishing allows you to keep your lure in the ‘kill zone’ for a much longer period of time than normal jigs, spinners or crankbaits.

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Korum 7 ft Lure Rod

Korum 8 ft Lure Rod

8 ft Korum Dropshot 00

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Superb Korum Snapper kit for tackling predators Korum Snapper tackle has been designed to make predator fishing that much more easy and enjoyable. Here are a selection of items you’ll find in this quality and affordable range…

Snapper Spin Rods

Korum Snapper Spin Rods are built for power and ideal for popular lure sizes. They have a fantastic tip, built to enhance the action of your lure whilst offering optimum resistance when winding down into biting fish. There’s also loads of power in the butt for bigger fish. The 9 ft Snapper Spin has a lure weight rating of 50-75 gr, the 8 ft a rating of 40-60 gr and 7 ft 10-25 gr.

RRP from £26.99

Snapper Trace Twin Pack

Each trace features a semi-barbless hook, with just one barb to attach to deadbaits. Designed for use with the Dura-Bung range. Available in twin packs in sizes 4, 6, 8 and 10.

RRP from £3.49

Korum Lure Bag This lightweight bag will suit the roving angler perfectly. With a dedicated single strap design, it can be worn over the shoulder or around the waist. Comes complete with a Korum Snapper Lure Box.

RRP £34.99

Korum Bite Indicator Kit This Bite Indicator Kit is ideal for increasing your bite indication when fishing for a whole host of species. Use it with the hockey stick underneath a bite alarm for carp, tench, bream or roach; or swap to the bank stick clip for the ultimate drop-off indicator when pike, perch or eel fishing. Comes with chain, lightweight cord, 5 gr weight, four bobbin heads, plastic hockey stick and a drop-off bank stick clip for predator fishing.

RRP £7.99

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Snapper Bung Float Kit

The perfect shape for calmer conditions, this particular DuraBung is a small, pear shape design. This float keeps the main buoyancy above the water to provide extra support for roving baits, or trotting in running water. Comes with float, beads, weight and float stops.

RRP £4.99

Snapper Dumpy Float Kit

Snapper Sunken Float Paternoster Kit

This traditional elongated slider is ideal for many different applications. Comes with float, beads, weight and float stops.

The Sunken Float Paternoster rig is designed for tethering either a live or deadbait in a fixed position. The supplied metal boom creates the perfect paternoster rig and eliminates tangles, ensuring the rig operates correctly. Comes with float, boom, lead, 30 inch up-trace, beads and float stops.

RRP £4.99

RRP £5.99

Snapper Pencil Float Kit

This bottom end only float is designed to provide ultra sensitive bite indication for predators when fishing bottom deadbaits. The earliest indication of a bite will come as the float lifts as the fish inspects the bait. Comes with float, beads, weight and float stops.

RRP £4.99

Snapper Dead Bait Kit Deadbait rigs make life so easy. Comes with a Snapper Tackle Trace, 2 oz lead, running rig clip, buffer beads and speed links. Available in sizes 4, 6, 8 and 10.

RRP £4.99

Snapper Spin Trace x 3

The Korum Snapper Spin Trace Multi-Pack offers three ultra-tough wire traces made with 7x7 strand wire and top quality swivels and snap links. Each trace is 30 cm long.

RRP £1.99

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goldfish drone

roach dropshot

ger fire ti d ha s r e mid-wat

00 korumsnapper.co.uk

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TANK K N A B &

D E T S TE 07/11/2014 13:00