PELLET WAGGLER

FEED PELLETS

161As the day goes on carp may push further out into the lake. You may be able to cast to them, but firing pellets out with a catapult this far is not easy. So it pays to have a few bags of 8mm pellets with you in this instance. You can then switch from firing in 6mm pellets (your starting feed pellet size) to using these bigger 8mm baits, and you’ll hit the mark every time.

CHANGE THE DEPTH

162You’ll rarely catch carp all day at the same depth. Regular changes are needed to keep in touch. These changes may be as small as 4ins-5ins, but the difference it makes will be massive, whether you go deeper or shallower. If you are getting indications on the waggler but not hooking fish the cause may be fish hitting the line, which tells you that they are feeding shallower than where you are fishing. If nothing is happening, try going deeper to find the fish.

USE NO SHOT

163Back in the day, the pellet waggler was fished with big SSG shot locking it, but now a loaded float offers far more accurate casting and no tangles, nor does it weaken the line as big shot can. Go for around an 8g loaded float for medium-distance chucks but have bigger floats ready for those times when the carp are sat a fair distance out in the lake.

GIVE THEM A SQUIRT

164Plain pellets are all well and good for feed but on heavily-fished waters offering the fish something different can give you an edge. A good trick is to give the pellets a dousing of fish oil. Once they hit the water, they will give off a slick that can only help to draw carp into the area.

CAST TO THE SAME SPOT

165It’s tempting to cast to a fish that you see topping, but the key to fishing the pellet waggler is continual casting and tight feeding, building up an area where fish know that the feed is landing. This keeps them in the vicinity and leads to quicker bites than casting randomly all over the place would. Use a far-bank marker as a guide.