What to look out for...

GRAVEL: The rod tip will tap on retrieve as you draw the rig towards the bank. You’ll feel tremors through the line and rod as the lead bounces over any bits of stone and flint on the lakebed. Also, check the depth as you may have found a gravel bar or a plateau.

DEPRESSIONS AND

HOLES: These can be very hard to find. The only way is by regularly checking the depth of the swim by letting up the marker float. The appeal of depressions is that they are often silty and harbour natural food such as bloodworm.

SILT: The lead will feel as if it’s being pulled through cotton wool. It will feel hard to pull the lead free at first and then things become smooth on a steady drawback as the lead ‘unplugs’ itself from the sticky, silty bottom.

SAND: On sandy areas, the lead will pull back smoothly as if it’s running over glass.

WEED: The lead will be difficult to move at first and will keep plucking on the retrieve as the weed grips the set-up. Strands of weed may also be caught around the lead and float when you bring in the rig. If the weed is too thick the float will not rise to the surface when you peel off line.