Improve Your Coarse Fishing (UK)
Q&A
AIf big roach are present you won’t go far wrong with this simple helicopter groundbait feeder rig in conjunction with a short hooklink of about 3in-4in. Using a heavy feeder of 45g will help to improve the bolt effect of the rig. The feeder should be filled with a dark-coloured, sweet groundbait laced with crushed hemp, hempseed and a few crushed boilies. The roach have probably grown big on the boilies intended for the carp so try using a small 8mm boilie on the hair. This will also prevent you from being pestered by small nuisance fish like you would be if you used natural baits such as maggots, casters and worms. Don’t go over the top with the loosefeed because it’s too easy to fill up the roach before they’ve found your hookbait. Depending on how many fish are in the venue, anywhere between six and a dozen tangerine-sized balls of groundbait will be a good starting point.
I’ve heard that there are some big roach in a lake that I’ve been carp fishing and I fancy having a go for them. Could you suggest a simple rig and tactics for me to try?
DAN BARNSHAW, VIA EMAIL
QWhat’s the best type of float to use when adopting pellet waggler tactics for F1s? SIMON WILLIAMS, VIA EMAIL
AWhen F1s are the target, a refined waggler pattern is required. If you use a big, chunky, well-loaded float it will offer too much resistance and an F1 will snatch at the bait and reject it before you can react. A slim, clear waggler of between 4g and 8g will work well. Start fishing a couple of feet deep and change it as the day goes on. If you are missing bites, shallow up a few inches. If you aren’t getting any indications, go deeper. Feed a few pellets before you cast, then chuck your float a few feet beyond to find the biggest F1s hanging back from the feed. Go for a refined insert waggler when finicky F1s are the target. You’ll connect with more bites
QI keep losing fifish on the Method feeder seconds after hooking them. How can I land more fish on this tactic?
ABEN GREEN, HERTS Hook choice is one of the most important elements of Method feeder fishing. A hook with a wide gape is important or else you will struggle to embed the hook in the lip when the carp swallows the bait. There are several patterns on the market that are suitable, although you will struggle to beat a Guru QM1. As the hook is buried among the groundbait or pellets, you are able to get away with using a big hook and a size 12 or 14 is suitable in almost every Method feeder fifififishing scenario.
QCould you explain what a window feeder is, and how do I use one? REECE CHAMBERLAIN, VIA EMAIL
AA window feeder looks like a blockend feeder with a gap – a ‘window’ – cut in the side of it. Four-times World Champion Bob Nudd swears by these when fishing for roach and bream in Ireland, packing the feeder with casters, maggots or chopped worm and then sealing them in with a little groundbait over the window.The advantage of this type of feeder is that you can deposit lots of particles into a tight space in very deep water without them spilling out of the feeder. They also have their weight built into one end, which helps them to fly accurately.
QI’ve heard of lots of top anglers refer to the ‘5m line’ being a great place to fish, but why is fishing at this distance so effective? ALAN DRAPER, VIA EMAIL
AAlmost every commercial has either a slope going down from the margins to the deepest part of the lake or a ledge which suddenly drops down into deeper water. This is usually located around 5m out and this distinct underwater feature provides a natural area for fish to investigate. Leftover bait will pile up here and the fish will get used to coming into this area to feed. The best way to prime the 5m line is by feeding little and often for a couple of hours. Introduce a few cubes of meat or 6mm pellets every few minutes to build up a bed of bait and be prepared to bag up later in the day.
Q AHow do I prevent foul-hooking carp when fishing the margins? JOHN RUSSELL, DERBYSHIRE
Foul-hooking can be caused by a number of factors including how much you feed, how many fish are in the swim and the depth of water. Try to find the optimum depth to fish – at this time of year you ideally want a maximum of 2ft. If the water is too deep, the fish will move off the bottom and this will result in line bites and foul- hooked carp. Alternatively, if the water is too shallow, carp won’t have enough water to move around in and will keep bumping into the line. It’s never a good idea to have a margin swim packed with carp, as the competition this creates will cause foul-hooking. You can control how many fish move into the peg by how much you feed. Pot in just enough bait to draw in and hold one or two carp at a time.
QWhat’s the best way to hook a piece of sweetcorn? PHILLIP STAFFORD, VIA EMAIL
AThe best way to hook a piece of corn will actually vary depending on the method you are fishing. On the pole you can simply nick a grain on to the hook but, if you need to cast using the waggler or feeder, you will be far better off threading the hook through the corn, leaving the point protruding from the rounded end of the grain. This will easily withstand the force of the cast. You should also hook the corn like this if small fish are a problem or if the fishing is hard and there are few bites.
QPaste is the ‘in’ bait on my local commercial fishery, but I can’t keep it on the hook for long. How do I remedy this? DAVE REEVES DEVON
AWhen using paste on the pole, mix it on the soft side and ship it out in a pole pot to keep it intact. Try fishing it a few inches over depth to ensure the bait stays moulded around the hook.
QMy local commercial is home to some huge perch but I keep being pestered by carp when trying to catch them. Livebaits are banned, so is there any way to avoid the carp? TONY BUCHANAN, SUSSEX
APerch will gladly feed all year round but at this time of year they are often beaten to the bait by greedy carp. A good trick is to find out where most of the matches are being won from – and then head to swims with no form! The areas that aren’t throwing up many fish in matches are likely to be home to fewer carp and the perch will probably head to these spots to escape the commotion. Feed fairly lightly with maggots, chopped worms and casters and be prepared to try different areas of your swim to avoid any carp that do turn up.