TACKLE UP FOR catching fish shallow

MIXED BAGS SHALLOW ON THE POLE Catching shallow is one of the best tactics of summer. Here’s some great kit to try...

ELASTIC

A SOFT elastic is one of the most important aspects to get right when fishing shallow. The last thing you want is hooked fish to be splashing on the surface, or to be bumping off large numbers of smaller fish. At the same time, you need something with enough stretch to land any bonus fish, and Daiwa’s Hydrolastic is a winning option. The blue option, rated 5-8, is a fantastic all-rounder. Price: £14.99, www.daiwasports.co.uk

FLOATS

THERE’S a whole host of floats that you can use for shallow fishing, from chunky dibbers to delicate patterns for shy-biting silvers. For a mix of species, you want something in between, and Preston Innovations’ Chianti is a legendary pattern, perfect for baits such as maggot and caster. With a cane tip and a carbon stem, this float is perfect for fishing through the water, and can be shotted delicately.

Price: £2.10, www.prestoninnovations.com

LINE

A DURABLE, reliable line is what you need for catching lots of fish, as you’ll hopefully be doing when fishing shallow. You’ll be in and out all the time, swinging some fish while others thrash around in the landing net. A hooklength of around 0.12mm diameter is fine for most general shallow fishing, and Matrix Power Micron is used by some of the best anglers out there, so it will be more than up to the task. Price: £4.99, www.fishmatrix.co.uk

CONNECTORS

WHEN you’re targeting a mixture of species, you’re going to get a wide range of bites. Carp will rip the elastic out, whereas delicate ide and silverfish will give quick dinks on the float. You wil need a stiff elastic connector that puts you straight in touch with these fast-biting fish, and Guru’s elastic connectors feature a stiff piece of Dacron that does just that. Price: £4.99, www.www.tackleguru.com

HOOKS

SPEED fishing can play a massive part when catching shallow, so you want to use a hook pattern that won’t let you down. Kamasan’s B911 is a great option, and they come in a range of wire gauges to cater for different fish. If your lake is filled with mainly smaller silverfish then the finer F1 version is ideal, whereas if you’re faced with a larger stock the standard B911 is a winner. Price: £1.70, www.matchmansupplies.co.uk