WATERCRAFT Target marinas in a flood
Day-ticket expert Steve Coe explains why these perfect PVA packages are ideal for nicking bites from big carp
AS WINTER slowly gives way to spring, the carp in many lakes begin to wake from their winter slumber and go on the hunt for food.
To get quick bites from these early-season fish, using a small, subtle solid PVA bag is a far better approach than putting out a big bed of spod mix which the fish simply haven’t got the appetite for just yet.
A lot of anglers steer clear of using solid PVA bags because they believe they take too much effort to tie up properly.
The reality is, however, that they take no time at all to master, and once you’ve done so, you’ll have in your armoury the perfect tactic for use at this time of the year.
A cast-anywhere rig
Unlike a lot of presentations, a solid PVA bag can be cast over pretty much any lakebed type. The only areas I’d avoid are really deep silt or thick weed.
With your rig encased inside the bag there’s absolutely no way the hooklink or hair can tangle on the cast, so you can be 100 per cent confident that you’re fishing effectively once the bag melts.
Over the years I’ve caught some of the most pressured fish in the land using solid bags.
As long as you prepare well, and load and tie them correctly, you are able to fish whatever loosefeed and hookbait you want, wherever you want. What’s not to like?
Bag edges
My approach to bag fishing has evolved to make the whole process quick and easy, and to this end I have plenty of bags tied up in advance, ready to go.
My basic mix comprises a whole bag of Green Swim Stim
groundbait, plus the same of 1mm pellets. I also add two bags of 2mm pellets and a couple of handfuls of 4mm or 6mm ones. Store this mix in an air-tight bucket and it will last for weeks.
Using a mixture of sizes, colours and tastes keeps the carp guessing, and using feed no bigger than 6mm also means that I can tie the bag really tight. This improves casting distance, as you can compress all the air out of the bag and make it more aerodynamic.
One of my key edges is to add a few maggots to the bag. Their movement on the bottom helps to attract the carp’s attention and kicks up the oil I inject into my bags.
Injecting the oil is really simple and is done once the bag is tied. I carefully pierce it with the nozzle of the bottle, and squeeze in the desired amount. You can use whatever liquid you like, as long as it’s PVA-friendly.
If a carp starts nosing among the bag contents on the bottom, a slick will rise to the surface, providing a great indicator that fish are in the area.
How to fish them
When it comes to the actual fishing of solid PVA bags, there are no hard and fast rules. You can use them to cast to showing fish or use them over a lightly baited spot.
I like to recast about every hour or so, either to a new spot that I fancy or to just freshen up the presentation.
Solid bags are particularly good for covering the water to search for fish, whether on day sessions or when fishing for longer periods.
And, what’s more, because they are so rarely used on many waters, the fish have little fear of them.
So, if you haven’t already done so, give solid bags a go this week. That new personal best could well be just a cast away!