VENUE INSIDER

Local expert Russell Shipton: Tackle: “The pole is the ultimate tactic for a mixed bag. To give me a chance of landing anything from small roach to big bonus barbel, I will use 0.14mm Middy Lo-Viz mainline to a 0.12mm hooklength and a size 16 or 18 Middy 63-13 hook.” Bait: “Maggots and casters appeal to all species. I will cup in a couple of balls of groundbait at the start and then loosefeed over the top by hand every minute or so.” Tactics: “When fishing the Match Lake you can catch a roach every chuck, so fish around 7m out so you can get in and out quickly.

“A strung-out shotting pattern will catch at all depths but if you want to try and get the hookbait to the deck quickly, bulk the shot together.

“This gets the hookbait past the small roach and down to the deck in an instant where the bream, barbel, tench and crucians will be waiting.”