Tactic of the Week Hard pellet on the short pole
Jon Whincup’s tips for the 5m pole line
APLEASURE fishing session on a commercial carp lake is all about making things easy for yourself, and for the pole angler that means forgetting about wielding 13m of carbon and instead opting to fish at half that length.
Let’s be frank, you’ll catch just as much putting in a line just 5m or 6m out as you will at the full length of your pole, especially when there are only a few other anglers on the lake – and there are several good reasons why keeping things at short range is better.
First, it’s easier to fish, as you’re not going to be battling to keep 13m of pole under control, especially in the wind.
Second, you can now feed here much more easily, often doing away with the need to use a catapult or a pole pot – and third, big fish especially will turn up on this short line.
In fact, the 6m line is a key part of my match fishing armoury in October as carp congregate here before moving into the margins late on. By fishing here from the word go on a pleasure day, you’re giving yourself every chance of big fish and an easy day into the bargain.
PICKING THE DISTANCE
Where I put my short line is dependent upon finding the main depth of the lake. Most pools have a slope running out from the margins before reaching the deepest part, and just past this point is where I want to be fishing... typically 5m or 6m out, or a top kit and three sections of pole. It’s easy to find this spot by plumbing up from a top kit’s distance in front of you and then working your way out until the lakebed levels out.
GO FOR PELLETS
There are lots of baits and feeds that you can use on a mixed fishery but I find hard pellets are the best of the lot. It’s still warm enough for carp and F1s to want to eat them, and I know that every time I get a bite, it will be from a decent fish. Corn, meat, maggots and expander pellets can get battered by small fish.
I use 6mm Bait-Tech Carp & Coarse pellets for both feed and the hook, as a 4mm pellet can run the risk of a skimmer or roach snaffling it. These are also big enough to let me throw them in by hand out to 6m, even in a strong wind. This speeds up the whole fishing process and again, makes life easier!