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England under- 20 International Rob Swan explains how to use this deadly offering

THANKS for purchasing this issue of IYCF.

At the start of the month the Environment Agency announced its decision to retain the current coarse fishing close season between March 15th and June 15th on rivers throughout the UK.

The decision followed an eight- week consultation carried out earlier this year which saw 13,680 individuals and organisations respond – the largest ever response to an EA fisheries consultation.

Findings of the consultation released a couple of months earlier showed that 38.8% of anglers supported the idea of keeping the close season as it is. Just over 9% wanted to change the dates and a majority of 49.8% wanted to see the close season abolished altogether. Only 1.5% of respondents were undecided.

And as you’d expect with a subject that has always been hotly- debated and split opinion among anglers, within minutes of Angling Times breaking the news on Facebook anglers were voicing their views on the subject.

I think a lot of people thought the survey was a waste of time but it’s worth remembering that it wasn’t a vote, rather a means for the EA to gather anglers’ views and evidence. But after studying that evidence, alongside other considerations, it has determined that there is not a case for changing the current close season which was introduced in 1878.

So although it looks like the traditional June 16th start will be here for the foreseeable future I doubt this will be the end of the debate!

I hope you enjoy this month’s issue and please make sure you get in touch to let us know about your success on the bank.

HERE are several baits that come in to their own at certain times of year.

Liquidised bread is unbeatable for winter roach, blasting in casters works a treat for F1s shallow in the heat of summer and lobworms placed enticingly down the margins are bound to fool giant perch once autumn arrives.

So what’s the hottest bait at this time of year? Rob Swan has the answer If you’re a commercial fan. The Dynamite Baits and Guru- backed star is no stranger to taking stillwaters apart and when it gets to the back end of summer there is one bait he wouldn’t be without.

“Meat is absolutely deadly at this time of year and it will outfish anything else,” he revealed to IYCF.

“The fish have been fed pellets day in, day out for months on end and at this time of year they want something different. Meat is the perfect choice.”

Bagging zone

Due to its soft texture meat tends to score best when fished on the pole as this enables you to accurately position the bait and there’s no risk of the hook ripping out on the cast. This means fishing relatively close to the bank. A top kit and a couple of sections of pole are all that Rob usually needs to pinpoint the area he thinks large numbers of fish will be patrolling.

“The nearside shelf from the margins slopes down and lots of fish will sit at the bottom of it.

“The crease where the slope levels out into open water is usually anywhere between 4m and 7m out and a lot of bait that rolls down from the margins collects here. That is why it is such a key zone.”

If you can find a peg at your local complex with plenty of space either side then there’s an excellent chance the carp will come close on this line from the off.