CONNOR’S TOP 10 F1 TIPS

1

F1s have soft mouths, so a light elastic is important to help you land every fish you hook. A pink Daiwa Hydrolastic is Connor’s choice.

2

Always have a stopwatch on your sidetray to keep track of time. This will help you stick to when the rig needs lifting and dropping back in when using maggots, and when to feed.

3

Dot your float tip down to a pimple. F1s will give the tiniest bites in winter.

4

A 4mm expander pellet is the best size of hookbait for F1s. When it comes to freebies, dampened 2mm pellets are best as they have a low feed content.

5

Always use a 6in hooklength. The hooklength will be lighter than your mainline, adding to the slow fall that is required.

6

If a line goes quiet, put the plummet on and look for another spot with the same depth. This may only be a couple of feet away from your original target zone, but the fish could have moved this short distance.

7

If you can find 3ft of water down your margins, it is well worth feeding a line that can be attacked later in the day.

8

Ready-tied hooks are made to a fantastic standard these days and are almost certain to beat anything you can tie by hand. Connor uses size 18 or 20 Guru pre-tied F1 Pellet hooks.

9

Peg selection is key in winter. Even if you are on fish, they can move quickly if they are disturbed so pick an area with lots of features. Reeds, overhanging trees and a variety of snags will hold them for long periods.

10

When using a strung-out shotting pattern, use small shot. Connor uses either No.10 or No.11 as these are very light and help the rig sink slowly when spread.