POLE OR BOMB?

“A lot of anglers on the day set a bomb up owing to the strong wind, working on the principle that a single static hookbait would catch a few fish.

“I set one up as well, but my main line of attack was to fish the pole with the bait just off bottom, effectively dobbing.

“I could have fished a small pop-up bait on the lead to try to achieve similar bait presentation, but I reckon it’s never as good fishing this way as it is on the pole.

“I’d also had the advantage of finishing second in a big open match the week before, when I caught most of my 180lb on the pole off bottom so, understandably, this was the road I wanted to go down, especially as I had the wind off my back.”