QUICK TIPS

SHOULD I always use a dark-coloured caster, or are there times when the lighter ones will work better?

Alan Mountford, Smethwick

AS A rule yes, a dark caster is preferable because it will sink through the water more naturally, but there are occasions when a light, almost white caster will catch too.

Perch, in particular, love a light caster and in coloured water, a lighter bait should be easier for the fish to see.

Begin by fishing a dark bait but regularly change to try and gauge the reaction of the fish. DO COLOURED lines make much difference to how many fish you catch?

Eddie Maudsley, Sale

AS A mainline, no, colour is not important because this is a part of the rig that fish won’t see, although the fashion these days tends to be for dark brown or clear lines.

Reds, blues and even yellows are available too, so the choice is yours – but for hooklengths it is vital to stick to a clear line as this is closest to the hook and so most likely to be seen by feeding fish. Diameter of the line is, however, more important in the long run than its colour. CAN I expect to catch much on the pole from the margins of a river?

Tony Klein, Nuneaton

MUCH depends on just how shallow the water is, of course, but provided there is a good depth (3ft upwards) and the river is carrying a reasonable amount of colour, it is possible to catch fish all day from the margins.

Expect small fish – especially perch with perhaps a bonus later in the day in the form of a tench or an eel.

You won’t need to fish long down the edge as you might have to on a commercial fishery, with perhaps 4m of pole more than enough.

Feed heavily with groundbait at the start and then drip in loosefeed over the top.