The Coach Andy May on how to get the best out of worm and casters
THIS WEEK: Use worm and caster on the cheap and boost your catches
IT’S no secret that worm and caster is a winning combination for almost any species at this time of year – but the cost of it often sees anglers looking for alternative, cheaper baits.
When you consider a kilo of worms could cost over £20 and a pint of casters £3, it’s easy to understand why people look elsewhere, but current Fish O’Mania champ Andy May has proved that you can buy all the bait you need for less than a tenner and still bag up.
This week he reveals his top tips for making the approach work.
BAIT BILL
“A handful of worms and a pint of casters is more than enough for a session.
“But because we have reached the time of year when the fish are demanding a lot more bait, this needs bulking out with something else to provide the food content that they crave.
“Micro pellets are perfect for this and a couple of pints will get you through a six-hour session. Each time I feed I will add 75 per cent pellets to my pot and the rest will be worms and casters.
“I am convinced that it is the worms and casters that the fish are really interested in feeding on right now, but the pellets keep them occupied and rooting about in the swim when they’ve mopped up all the natural baits.”
HOOKBAIT
“Making even the smallest of changes to your hookbait can have a drastic effect on your catch rate.
“Single and double caster both work really well, but switching to a worm head can help pick out the better samples, especially if you are fishing for species such as bream, tench and roach.
“If big carp are your target then a whole worm will stand out a mile, and it won’t take long for you to get a bite off a ‘lump’.”
WINNING RIGS
“The hookbait I use will dictate how I set the rig. If I am using casters on the hook I will plumb up so that I’m an inch overdepth.
“If I am using a worm, I will go two or three inches overdepth. This makes sure that all the worm is lying on the deck, and that part of it isn’t suspended off the bottom, looking unnatural.
“When it comes to rigs I find that a rugby ball-shaped float is best. Worms and casters will attract a lot of fish into the swim, and this type of float is buoyant enough to help you decipher liners from genuine bites.
“Terminal tackle depends on the species, but as a simple rule of thumb 0.14mm mainline to a 0.12mm hooklength and a size 16 hook is best for silverfish, stepping up to 0.16mm-0.14mm and a size 14 or 16 hook when the bigger carp move in.”