Q I know that groundbait works well down the margins for carp, but is it ever worth feeding it on open water pole lines?

AYes definitely! The chocolatey colour of many commercials is slowly going to disappear in the coming weeks as the fish begin to feed with less intensity.

This means the bottom doesn’t get churned up as much and there won’t be as much sediment lingering in the water.

Fish act in a cagier manner in clear water because they can sense what is going on above the surface, so adding a tinge of colour can give them more confidence.

Pick a dark groundbait and feed softlysqueezed balls that include a sprinkling of pellets. They will start to disintegrate as they sink, leaving a cloud in the water and deliver food that will soon draw interest.