Nick Cork, email

QI want to fish a local river stretch which has a marina on it this coming winter. What sort of rigs should I use, and shall I stick to big boilies to try to avoid the bream?

AThe carp in your local river are not going to be as pressured as those in stillwaters, so there is no need for fancy rigs. Strength and abrasion resistance are the key factors to consider because there are likely to be snags to overcome, especially if you are fishing near marinas where debris tends to collect. I would use a slip-D rig with a size 4 Longshank Twister and a 25lb SkinLink coated braid hooklink.

Bream can be a real problem, and big boilies are a good way of overcoming them. Don’t be afraid to step up to 20mm or even 24mm hookbaits, doubling up the baits and lengthening the hairs to avoid the slimy critters. If they are still a problem, then try hemp and tiger nuts, which work well, even in winter.