Q How can I tempt the rudd in my local drain to feed?

ABig rudd tend to travel around in shoals and can be easily spotted as they cruise inches beneath the surface. But seeing them is one thing and catching them is another!

They will still be willing to feed off the top at this time of year but you need to gain their confidence before casting a rig towards them.

Rip up a slice of bread into a dozen pieces and catapult them a metre or so away from the fish. Sit back and watch how the shoal behaves and fire in more when they start to feed.

Once they are confident, gently lob a freelined piece of crust towards them. If you need a little casting weight, use a light waggler with a reasonably long hooklength so that the hookbait lands well away from the float.