VENUE INSIDER

Local expert Lloyd Holmes Tackle: “My rig includes a 0.5g wire-stemmed pole float for both the short and long pole line in 5ft of water. For shallow fishing I use a 0.4g dibber float.

“All rigs are made up using 0.15mm mainline to a 0.13mm Optex Power hooklength.

“My chosen hook patterns are all B911 Xstrong in a size 16, and these are tied with a small band on a hair loop.

“Size 13 hollow elastic is my preference for this style of fishing.”

Bait: “My bait for the carp on the Main Lake couldn’t be simpler – fishery pellets in 6mm and 8mm sizes. On tricky days, or in winter, soft expanders over damp micros can be deadly.

“If you’re fishing for the greedy ide, at least five pints of maggot will be required.

“Maggots and soft pellets are the key baits for the Canal Lake.”

Tactics: “I have had great results fishing pellet on the pole, but Fairfield’s is all about fishing to your strengths. Amazing bags of ide consistently fall to the pole fished with natural baits.

“Pellet waggler and bomb tactics with an 8mm banded pellet cast to the middle of the lake also proves very effective – particularly for the carp.

“In windy conditions corn on the short pole is very good on the Main Lake. On the Canal Lake, it’s all about targeting the far bank where bites are guaranteed all day.”