Improve Your Coarse Fishing (UK)
HOW TO MAKE A ‘ SNOWBALL’ HOOKBAIT
The move into shallower water brings a carp every put- in fishing in a foot of water. I don’t even have to feed anything.
On some days, you can catch an awful lot of fish by feeding nothing, just letting the big, visible nature of the hookbait and its attractants do the work. On other days, it is best to feed a little via a pole pot. As a general rule, you should gauge the size of the particles that you feed to suit the gradient of the slope. For example, a heavy, round bait like Fjuka 2in1 might roll down a steep slope, but a finer offering like dampened groundbait would simply sit on the slope. A word of caution though – feeding too many fine particles can create problems as they waft off the bottom leading to foul- hooked fish.
Shallow success
Another key area where the weight of hookbait is vital is shallow fishing. One of my favourite ways of fishing is with a Jigga float. Of course, the great thing about this method on venues that have uneven bottoms is that it doesn’t matter because you are fishing up in the water!
The effectiveness of the Jigga hinges around the fish hooking themselves against the weight of the pole tip. We go to great lengths to ensure our line, hookbait and shotting help to keep everything tight, but all too often we neglect to think about the hookbait itself.
Now let me be clear. There are definitely days when light, wafty baits such as maggots and casters outscore heavy baits like Fjuka. Generally, this is when the fishing is harder, and I think the fish like to watch the bait fall a little more.
However, on the best days I have definitely found that a heavy hookbait like Fjuka 2in1 not only helps to get bites quickly, but also sorts out the better fish. Often, when the fish are feeding really well, I feel that the bigger fish and smaller fish segregate. Sometimes it might be that the bigger fish want to feed up in the water and push out the little fish which end up further down.
On other days, the bigger fish hang deeper, and smaller fish are forced into shallow water to feed. In both situations, by setting your rig to start working at the correct depth and fishing a heavy hookbait, you can get your bait where it needs to be to catch the best stamp of fish.
Today, this has been absolutely deadly, with some cracking roach, rudd and other fish falling to the red Fjuka 2in1 bait.
Adapt and change
There you have it. Two ways in which the heavy properties of Fjuka 2in1 have boosted catches. Improving your fishing is all about finding an edge, something that makes your bait or presentation stand out from the rest. Because you can make this bait into almost any shape and size, and the colour permutations are so striking, I really believe that the possibilities are endless.