QUICK TIPS

SHOULD I keep my pole rig still or give it a little movement from time to time? I fish a lake for roach and skimmers.

Grant Collingridge, Ware

SKIMMERS like a still bait, but from time to time it would be good to move the rig as this can spur a fish into taking the bait.

All that’s needed is a slight 6ins drag of the rig to one side, then hold the float still, allowing the rig to settle. If a fish is around, it will follow the bait and grab it when it stops.

This works brilliantly on lakes with a lot of natural movement caused by the wind, fishing with relatively large 1g-1.5g pole floats. It catches a lot of fish on slow-flowing rivers too. MY local lake has a very silty bottom but is full of skimmers. What would be a good bait?

Ryan Crawford, Guildford

NOTHING too heavy that sinks or wriggles into the bottom!

Top baits without a doubt are casters, small pieces of meat or expander pellets. All are light and will sit on top of the silt.

On the subject of feeding, try to avoid groundbait balls or large pellets that will sink – micros, casters or groundbait fed loose without being squeezed into a ball are perfect. I’VE seen some devices called Rocket feeders in my tackle shop. What are they for?

Harry Gaunt, Lincoln

THESE are cage feeders with all their loading at one end, as opposed to along the length of the body.

They can be cast a lot further than a standard open-end feeder as the weighted end flies like a rocket, as the name suggests, cutting through side winds with ease.

They are commonly used on big bream lakes where you need to cast up to 80 yards.