Catch 22 Catch F1s on the pole
TWENTY years ago, most of Britain’s anglers had no idea what an F1 was. Now they are the mainstay of a lot of commercial fisheries.
Officially a hybrid between a crucian and a goldfish, F1s are hardy fish that feed all year round, not just in the summer or when the water is warm. This means that they can be caught in winter, when the water is at its coldest.
They grow to a good size, too – certainly larger than the biggest crucian ever caught in the UK! Most F1s in commercials weigh between 1lb and 3lb, but many venues now hold fish of 5lb or even more.
They offer great sport in terms of fighting ability, never giving up until they are in the landing net. They are also shoal fish, so when you catch one, more will follow.
However, don’t for one minute think that F1s are easy to catch. Sure, they can be at times, especially in the summer when they will feed just under the surface, competing with others for food, but as winter bites they become a lot more lethargic. Top anglers then find that light rigs are the order of the day.
Pole fishing rules for F1s, and at this time of year, with the water in commercials becoming increasingly clear, a highly visual bait such sweetcorn is often successful. However, pellets, luncheon meat and maggots are also useful stand-bys.
This week’s Catch22 target is simple... 10lb-plus of F1s. And don’t forget to let us know how you get on. Good luck!
POLE TACKLE FOR F1S
F1s are fish that respond to relatively fine tackle as the water temperature falls, but with their
potential to weigh several pounds you still need to use gear that will allow you to land them.
For pole fishing, this means mainline of around 0.15mm, with a hooklength of 0.13mm and a light float rated from 4x12 to 4x16. Good presentation is essential, and three No8 shot fixed halfway along 3ft of line between float and pole-tip will work on windy days. Use a float with a wire stem, a thin antenna, and a rugby ball-shaped body.
As for elastic, something marked No10-No12 is about right.
WHERE TO FISH
F1s, and especially the biggest ones, love a bit of cover at this time of year, whether it’s reeds, branches or even just the far bank of a snake lake.
As long as you have 3ft or more of water against a feature that you can comfortably reach with a pole, they are worth targeting here.
Finding F1s on open-water swims can be more challenging, and you may need to try several different areas before you start to catch – they will sometimes be reluctant to move very far and slow to respond to feed.
What’s more, you may find that the fish disappear after you have caught a few.
If this happens, don’t worry – they may just have moved a metre or two away, so try dropping your rig into a different part of your swim until you find them again.