KNOW YOUR STUFF

All your fishing questions answered by our experts

“The challenge lies in finding exactly at what level the carp are in the water”

CARP AND F1s

On fisheries that contain F1s as well as carp, you can expect to catch both up in the water. Chances are that the bigger carp will be sitting beneath the F1s, who may at time be just inches below the surface.

ROD CHOICE

There are dozens of excellent rods designed for this sort of fishing. Go for one 11ft-12ft long, with a softish action that wont result in hook pulls when fish are under the rod tip.

FLOAT SELECTION

Avoid the thick and chunky pellet wagglers you’d use in summer. Instead, go for a thinner float, perhaps even with an insert. Bites may be delicate at this time of year, especially from F1s.

THE RIGHT LINE

Reel line should be determined by how far you are casting, but at this time of year go for something of around 4lb breaking strain, with a hooklength of 0.2mm and banded 6mm or 8mm pellet.