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Bream are well known for holding up in swims where the water is moving at a slow pace.

Look for any creases you can find, avoiding pegs where the flow is tanking through.

They also have a preference for deep, open water and rarely linger close to cover like species such as chub and barbel.

Once you have found the fish, you can’t go wrong with plenty of fishmeal groundbait packed with particles. If you are fishing with a pole, make sure your float is heavy enough to keep the float still because bream prefer a motionless offering.

PHIL BARTON, EMAIL

CHRIS WALKER, CHESHIRE

AThe pellet cone is ideal during the cold season because it enables you to deliver a tiny nugget of bait near your hookbait that will all be inhaled in one go.

Although it isn’t widely used once it warms up, there are occasions when it is worth giving it some consideration.

Bomb and pellet fishing can work a treat at many venues, catapulting a pinch of 8mm loosefeed over the top every couple of minutes.

This will help you catch fish fairly quickly but once the fish wise up to the rain of loosefeed going in, they can back off for a time.

When this happens, cutting out the loosefeed via a catapult and trying a pellet cone offers a different presentation that can trick fish into feeding again.

QI want to catch big barbel on the float but what is the best rig to achieve this?

NIGEL FRIMLEY, EMAIL

AThere’s nothing more exhilarating than watching the float tip dip before a big barbel storms off at pace.

It is important to have control of the rig so that you can dictate when the float holds back and when it trips through with the flow.

Your tackle also needs to have plenty of muscle as the species will test your kit to the limit.

QWhat type of feeder is best for introducing lots of particles on reservoirs where silverfish dominate? CRAIG EYRES, EMAIL

AGroundbait is often seen as a key ingredient for attracting roach and skimmers but there are days when loosefeed is more effective.

In this scenario, a window feeder is without doubt the most deadly tool for delivering big beds of dead maggots, casters and hemp.

The loosefeed is kept within the walls of the feeder as it sinks, with a nugget of groundbait covering the entrance hole.

Add a pinch of chopped worms and maggots to your groundbait

Push the contents into the feeder’s thumb- sized window

Next, plug the feeder with a little more groundbait

Release speed will depend on how firmly you press in the groundbait

QI’m looking to fish my first match on a commercial and was wondering what the best approach would be? MARK EVANS, EMAIL

ASuccessful match anglers keep fish coming at frequent intervals and make changes to their approach at the right time of day.

It is important to have several options without over- complicating things. On a commercial with a small island about 25m away, it would pay to have four lines.

QHow long should my hooklength be when fishing for F1s shallow on the pole? JACK ABBOTTS, EMAIL

AFishing shallow is deadly for F1s in summer but bites will be missed if you set your rig incorrectly. The positioning of shot is critical to the number of bites you hit and the closer it is to the hook, the better. The bulk creates a bolt- rig effect, with the fish hooking themselves against the weight of shot as they swallow the hookbait and charge off. The longer the hooklength, the further away that bulk will need to be as all shotting should be on thicker mainline. Use a 3in- 5in hooklength.

A Method feeder to the island is a good starting point as fish will always hog features in the middle at the start.

While you are fishing the tip, start priming two pole lines – one around 5m out and another at 11m- 13m. Keep trickling in a few loose offerings by hand or catapult every few minutes and once the feeder action dries up, give them a go.

Two hours before the match is due to end, feed your margins with a couple of big pots of bait and let it settle for 30 minutes before plundering some lumps late on!

You can’t go wrong with 2mm micro pellets for the Method and 4mm pellets for loosefeed elsewhere. Hook corn, banded hard pellets and meat on all lines.

Q AWhy do I need to riddle groundbait? PAUL DOBBS, EMAIL

Groundbait is packed with attractants and flavourings. But use it incorrectly and it can actually have a negative impact on your results.

If you simply add water and stir it with your hands, lumps will remain.

When fish eat these they get filled up quicker. Running it through a riddle removes any lumps to create a fine mixture that keeps fish grubbing around for an age.

Compare a riddled and unriddled batch of groundbait and you’ll be amazed by the difference.