GET OR R E A DY F
2022 WIN
ZEROFIT W ! CLOTHININGTER R RP: £575
BIGGER PERCH!
R TIMEd O T A D E n PR e skills a Master th tch loads of you’ll ca like this perch
ISSUE 384 Dec 14, 2021 – Jan 11, 2022 £4.20
THE SEARCH FOR...
Mat Woods on his top three ways to trigger more bites with lures
Pack a flavour punch for barbel Conquer weir pools with pungent paste
PLUS
Make worms go further
Enjoy mixed bag action on stillwaters
Work the depths for carp The trio of tactics to cover your swim
FISH BETTER WITH DES SHIPP!
Discover the secrets to success on winter snake lakes
This month... Issue 384 December 14 – January 11, 2022
Fishery Focus 8
River Colne
14
River Parrett
Huddersfield Somerset
8
Tactics 24 30
34
Mat Woods
The search for perch
Nathan Leney
Pack a flavour punch for weir pool barbel
Alex Dockerty
Work the depths with three rod and line tactics
30
24 40
Lottie Wootton
44
Quick fix
Make your worms go further How to make cheesepaste with a twist 47
Darren Cox
Tame wild waters with a waggler
52
56 58
A handful of micros is all you need
Rig School
Float leger deadbait rig
Fish Better with Des Shipp Winter snake lakes
62 4 IYCF | Issue 384
Will Reynolds
Q&A
Your questions answered
GET OR R E A DY F
2020
84
Tackle 84
88
Live test
Korum Snapper So Solid lure rod
New gear
The latest tackle releases
Carp tactics
PAGE 66 Angling personalities and their predictions for the year to come
92 Tom Scarr River carping
96
Rig of the month
98
Carp Q&A
Wafter maggot rig
Sticky’s experts solve your problems
Your IYCF 20
Support your local
78
Your letters
82
102
34
For just £3.90
76
80
PAGE 70 Must-do events for 2022 – essential dates for your angling diary
Subscribe... Tackle shop guide
Have your say
Daiwa Mission Your catch shots
Puzzle break
Win a Korum Groundbait bowl and riddle set
Bob Roberts’ diary
Find out what our top all-rounder has been up to
PAGE 72 We profile up-andcoming match star Jordan Holloway
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A running water winter wonderland River Parrett, Somerset
Russell Hilton takes us to a prolific river that goes against the grain and produces it’s best form when winter hits Words & Photography Tony Grigorjevs
W
E’VE all entered full on winter mode and lowering your catch expectations is often part of that. Freezing cold temperatures leave us convinced that we’ll only get a fraction of the bites that we did during the dizzy heights of summer. In many instances that theory is bang on, with carp and F1s in commercials, bream inhabiting vast reservoirs and barbel lurking beneath the surface of rivers in no mood for a major feast. But, as with everything in life, there is an exception to the rule.
14 IYCF | Issue 384
Silverfish are spread far and wide on rivers throughout the summer, with most stretches alive with roach, perch and hybrids. As the chill hits home, the fish head to areas where they can bunker down for the challenging months ahead. Town centres are often their final destination. The surrounding infrastructure helps shield the water from the harshest of the elements and regular footfall on the banks keeps the predators away, making it the ideal base camp.
FISHERY FOCUS An in-depth guide to the best stillwaters, rivers, and canals that you can fish for the price of a day ticket
www.greatmagazines.co.uk | IYCF 15
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TACTICS: LURE SPECIES: PERCH DIFFICULTY:
24 IYCF | Issue 384
TACTICS
THE SEARCH FOR...
BIGGER PERCH! Light lure supremo Mat Woods details the different ways you can work your bait to trigger more bites Words Mat Woods Photography Rob Hall
O
VER the last few years I have spent a good six months of each year hunting down perch. Autumn into winter is by far the most enjoyable time and the rewards have been extraordinary. I guess if you scrolled down my Instagram timeline you’d think there’s a magic honey hole filled with big sergeants. That couldn’t be further from the truth. They take a lot of finding and once located, require a lot of encouragement to get on the end of the line! While I could write about location for hours, something that doesn’t
really change is what to do when you start targeting a new area. It doesn’t matter whether you’re fishing a lake, river, canal or drain, how you retrieve your lure is going to make a huge difference. To keep things simple, I tend to stick to a few styles and rotate them based on the conditions and how the fish are responding. Let’s look at my favourites and why you need to add them to your armoury this winter…
www.greatmagazines.co.uk | IYCF 25
TACTICS: LEGER SPECIES: BARBEL DIFFICULTY:
30 IYCF | Issue 384
TACTICS
Pack a flavour punch for barbel Nathan Leney takes the IYCF cameras to a renowned venue and demonstrates the effectiveness of his flavoured lead tactics Words & Photography Tony Grigorjevs
I
F YOU are looking for a banker swim that’s almost certain to hold barbel then you won’t go far wrong with a weir pool. The fast, well oxygenated water provides the ideal environment for these hard-fighting specimens to thrive throughout the year. Of course, setting your stall out on a swim that is home to your target species is one thing. Getting them to take your hookbait is another. Roaring currents above and below the surface will give you plenty to think about, with rigs and
feeding just two aspects that cause problems. Top all-rounder Nathan Leney has plenty of experience of these challenging venues and his results – which include many double-figure specimens – show he has cracked the code. “Weir pool barbel fishing is as exciting as it gets but the rewards will only come to those that do it properly,” explained Nathan. “As with all styles, good presentation is essential if you want to fool big fish that have seen every trick in the book.”
This 12lb 13oz stunner was the smaller of an incredible Trent barbel brace
www.greatmagazines.co.uk | IYCF 31
ER WAGGtL ool for
A great bites getting h are when fisdeck off the
BOMBe fish
if th Try this the deck are on g away in but backa feeder from
TACTICS: BOMB / FEEDER / WAGGLER SPECIES: CARP / F1s DIFFICULTY:
34 IYCF | Issue 384
TACTICS
Work the depths with rod and line Alex Dockerty reveals why the bomb, waggler and feeder should all come in to play during your next session in search of carp and F1s Words & Photography Tony Grigorjevs
HY Start o BRID n
and loo the feeder kf of line or signs bites
T
HE mentality towards winter fishing has drastically changed on commercials over recent years. Previously, it was all about fishing on the deck, with anglers convinced that pretty much every fish in the lake would be rooted to the bottom. Our understanding of fish behaviour has changed, however, and most anglers now accept that a good proportion of a lake’s stock will be lingering higher up the water column. With that in mind, the aim is often to find the best depth for that day but Alex Dockerty reckons that can change countless times in a session.
Rather than put all his eggs in one basket, the Lindholme Lakes fishery manager works between three different rods to keep bites coming throughout. “It’s rare that the fish sit at the same depth all day. More often than not they could switch where they feel comfortable several times in one hour alone,” explained Alex. “Working between the waggler, bomb and feeder will help you adapt to these sudden changes and make sure you always have a rig in the water that the fish will respond favourably to.”
Tactical rotation is essential if you want to attract big carp like this in winter
www.greatmagazines.co.uk | IYCF 35
HOW TO: MAKE CHEESEPASTE WITH A TWIST Give this simple recipe a whirl to knock up a super effective winter chub bait
N
O MATTER how challenging the conditions this winter, you can always rely on chub to show an interest. Whether you’re faced with bright sunshine on a chilly morning or walking the banks after a harsh frost, you can feel confident that the rod tip will hoop over at some point. Bait choice will often dictate how many fish you entice into
having a go and one of the hottest offerings at this time of year is cheesepaste. It works wonders for big chub in coloured water, with the pungent aromas that leak off the hookbait proving irresistible to nearby fish. The good news is that it’s easy to make too. This month we reveal a recipe which is a little different to the norm that has been responsible for countless personal bests.
1. JUST TWO INGREDIENTS Take a bag of grated cheddar cheese and a packet of readymade shortcrust pastry. Around 200g of each is enough to make a ball of cheesepaste that will be sufficient for a few hours on the bank
TOP TIP A large hook is essential when using cheesepaste. Mould it around the shank while keeping the point on show. Chub have large mouths and can easily suck in offerings mounted on a size 6 or 8
44 IYCF | Issue 384
2. BEST USE A BUCKET
3. COLOUR & FLAVOUR
Place the pastry sheet into the bottom of a container and then sprinkle the cheese on the top. A bucket is better than a bait box because you will need to give the contents a thorough mix later in the sequence
Add a tablespoon of Mainline Baits True Colours Red and then trickle a few drops of your favourite flavouring on top. A common attractor such as Scopex is a very effective scent for chub during the depths of winter
4. MIX THOROUGHLY
5. USE 50p-SIZED BAITS
Now for the messy part! Get your hands into the bucket and thoroughly mash the contents together, making sure the colour starts to spread. The colouring is liable to stain your hands at this point so it may be wise to use thin plastic gloves used by mechanics
With the contents bright red, mould into a ball. Leave it to stand for 10-15 minutes so all of the flavouring has been absorbed and it is then ready to use. The colour will stick to the paste and won’t coat your hands at this point. Tear 50p coin size pieces to use as both hookbait and loosefeed www.greatmagazines.co.uk | IYCF 45
TACTICS: POLE SPECIES: CARP DIFFICULTY: 52 IYCF | Issue 384
TACTICS
A handful of micros is all you need Take less than a pint of bait for a snake lake session and Will Reynolds is adamant you’ll bag up on carp and F1s this winter Words & Photography Tony Grigorjevs
T
HERE are several enjoyable factors about winter fishing and the radically reduced bait bill is right up there with the best. A tiny quantity of loosefeed can produce a big result in no time. But exactly how little do you need to last a full session on a snake lake? A bag of pellets? Or maybe just a pint? Nope. Slash both those quantities and go with just a handful and you’ll still have some spare at the end according to Will Reynolds. The commercial fishery fanatic believes that
although the cold season is here, red hot action can still be experienced if you get your feeding spot on. “Fish stocks in snake lakes can still be stimulated to feed and the key is to keep minuscule quantities of micro pellets going in throughout the day. “If you grab a handful of pellets from a bag at the start of the day and then dampen them, that’ll be the only loosefeed you need from start to finish.”
Quality carp like this have a small appetite in the depths of winter
www.greatmagazines.co.uk | IYCF 53
Fish better with...
DES SHIPP
Brush up on key angling skills with England International Des, to put more fish on the bank
THIS MONTH: TACTICS FOR WINTER SNAKE LAKES
W
HILE snake lakes are heavily packed with a mixture of carp, F1s and silverfish, there’s no doubt these venues can become a much trickier prospect in the depths of winter. The days of being able to pick one approach and make it work throughout the session have gone.
Little tweaks are required at regular intervals to attract a run of bites. It’s important to carefully analyse every element of your attack including rigs and bait choice. The slightest of changes can make a huge difference and this month I reveal five deadly cold water edges...
SHORT LINE BANKER
CKS TRI
EEP K TO HEM G T MIN CO 58 IYCF | Issue 384
The area 5m out is always a shoo-in for a late run of fish. It needs to be fed in a specific way though. I trickle in maggots throughout the day, regularly feeding 20 grubs by hand. I do this for two or three hours without placing a rig anywhere near it. Trying it early might catch an odd fish but invariably leads to the shoal spooking easily and that late flurry is then much more difficult to achieve. Once you finally start fishing the area, switch to cupping in your bait via a small pot. This concentrates the shoal over your rig and reduces the time spent waiting for a bite.
1
2
3
USE SHORTER TOP KITS
START DOBBING
If you are going to lose a fish, there’s every chance it will happen just as it was about to go over the waiting landing net. Using a shorter top kit will mean the fish pops up to the surface closer to the bank once you lift your top kit. This makes it easier to scoop it up. A standard top kit on a Preston Innovations Superium pole is 2.4m while an F1 Short kit is 1.85m. When you are fishing in shallow water with short rigs, it makes sense to use a short top kit every time.
The far bank of a snake lake is likely to have plenty of features which fish will sit close to. Feeding any freebies on a freezing cold day can kill your swim in an instant, with the fish moving elsewhere once food starts to rain down on them. To prevent spooking them, start the day by dobbing. This involves using a lightweight hookbait such as bread discs and regularly lifting and dropping the rig. The aim is to present the hookbait in front of a fish and frustrate them into sucking it up. Start by fishing the hookbait 6in off the deck and come a fraction shallower if you are getting liners.
4
5
SENSIBLE POTTING If you are fishing on a day when you can get away with feeding a little bait, a sprinkle pot should come into play. This is a small pot that goes on to the end of your top kit, with the holes in the lid enabling you to moderate how much you feed. The pot can be half full of small baits such as maggots or micro pellets but the idea is to only tap in a small fraction at once. If you don’t get a bite within a couple of minutes, you can repeat the process without having to ship in and start again.
SWITCH TO SMALLER FLOATS Bites can be extremely finicky at this time of year so I always use the lightest float that I can get away with. If I can present it in the conditions, a 4x10 Preston Innovations F1 Maggot would be my first choice. I string out my shot down the line and this enables the hookbait to sink really slowly, giving fish at all depths the chance to suck in the hookbait. Make sure only a pimple of the float tip is on show and you’ll spot every bite.
www.greatmagazines.co.uk | IYCF 59
GET OR R E A DY F
2022
A
NGLING has witnessed many changes and new trends in recent years. The Covid-19 pandemic has seen an increase in people taking up the sport as they search for activities that can improve mental health and get them outside
66 IYCF | Issue 384
in nature. There have also been shifts towards styles such as feeder fishing with more anglers having a go on large natural waters as opposed to heavily-stocked, man-made venues. There’s been a big increase in female participation and who hasn’t heard of
the Ronnie rig which has dominated the specimen carp scene in recent times. But what will the next 12 months have waiting for us? In a bid to find out, we’ve picked the brains of several industry insiders to discover what they think...
Rob Hughes – BT Sports presenter & Carp Team England manager An easy one for me is that the international competition calendar will be back on track after two years of disruption and England will be in the medals again. Our float, feeder, carp and vets/masters teams in particular are bang on, so expect some silverware finding its way back home. On the domestic front expect to see more big-money competitions as the match scene gets even bigger and better. We’ve seen a 100k match this year and I think there will be more high profile matches coming into the game too as match fishing’s profile continues to rise and coverage increases. There’s also going to be some great TV viewing in 2022 with some superb programmes already being made. On The Bank will be back with more event coverage and
some t c e p x E “ nding fi e r a w r silve ay back its w e” hom
fishing fun, and the likes of Bob and Paul, Robson, Ali/Bobby plus, of course, the Monster Carp Boys will continue highlighting our sport. A prediction I’d love to see will be that the Government, the EA and the water companies take pollution more seriously and stop pumping sewage into our rivers. But I’m not holding my breath too much on that one! It’s criminal. As for the fish themselves, I see a sea fishing revolution beginning with tuna gaining more recognition, sharks increasing in popularity and short-session shore trips proving popular. I’m not too sure about any records being smashed, but the year is likely to be a lot more settled than the craziness of the last couple.
Bob Roberts – All-rounder and IYCF columnist
Richard Chapman – Director, Winning Ways Video content has become king over the past few years, with many brands in the industry now employing staff solely for content creation. With so much content available, everything has to be to a high standard if you want yours to be viewed. The thirst for live match content is still massive and it’s an easy win for content creators. That said, I think it is an area that is going to become saturated and people are going to have to stand out from the crowd if they want to maintain and grow their audiences. We’ve realised the power of ‘daft’ challenges with Winning Ways and I think more people will try to move in that direction. Go on the bank with your mate or fish a match and it is rarely all serious. So why should a video about fishing always be serious? I think we’ll see more people pushing in a direction that provides humour alongside the usual tactical elements. Entertainment is key and 2022 could be the year where that steps up a notch in order to keep more anglers engaged.
In my lifetime, the population of the UK has increased by 20 million. That’s an awful lot of extra waste going through the sewers each day in a system that was never built to treat that amount of – let’s not beat about the bush – poo! The recent consequences of this has been raw sewerage being discharged into our waterways with the Government’s permission. That has proved to be very unpopular and word on the grapevine is the government will reverse a decision to allow this disgusting state of affairs and money will be found to upgrade the sewers and treatment plants. If this happens it will have a massive impact on the cleanliness of our rivers, particularly the smaller ones, and the future of fishing. So, there’s my prediction. Our rivers will be saved from the deliberate devastation that is currently being carried out right under our noses. It will need us to keep piling pressure on the Government and on the water companies and the only way we can really achieve that successfully is by supporting the Angling Trust. So please, please, dip in your pockets and join the Trust. It’s a very small price to pay to defend the future of our sport. Other than that, I will be very surprised if the River Trent doesn’t throw up a genuine 20lb barbel before the season ends. I’m certain there will be a few out there, especially when ‘old Boris’ fattens up over winter as he/she always does.
“Our rivers will be saved from delibera te devastation”
www.greatmagazines.co.uk | IYCF 67
LIVE TEST
This light lure rod does it all A versatile tool that handsomely performs a variety of techniques, whether drop shotting or fishing jigging tactics KORUM SNAPPER SO SOLID 7ft, 3g-15g LURE ROD RRP: £59.99
84 IYCF | Issue 384
TACKLE
F
IFTEEN years ago, shortly after I’d started as a reporter on Angling Times, one of my colleagues at the time came in to work one morning raving about an American bass fishing tactic he’d read about that he thought would be brilliant for perch. Yes, you’ve guessed it – drop shotting. He was so keen to give it a go that he spent a small fortune shipping a specialist drop shotting rod over from the USA. Several years later, the tactic really caught on in the UK leading to a surge in interest in the method and various other light lure tactics for targeting perch. In fact, a lure rod is now almost as common a part of an angler’s rod collection as a waggler or feeder rod. At a time of year when many other species switch off and the prospect of sitting out
in the cold for a prolonged period loses its appeal, a quick-hit session flinging rubber and getting a few bites from the still obliging perch appeals to anglers of all disciplines. If you’re yet to sample the buzz of a light lure perch session then you’re in luck. Getting your hands on a rod for the job is now much easier and there’s no need to fork out to get one imported from America. In fact, you’re almost spoilt for choice now! While some anglers have fully embraced the light lure style of fishing and own multiple set-ups to cover various tactics and venue types, many of us like to have just the one lure rod. A jack-of-all-trades tool, that will handle the most common light lure scenarios. The So Solid 7ft, 3g-15g rod – part of Korum’s dedicated Snapper predator range – fits that bill perfectly.
All of the rods under the So Solid banner feature solid carbon tips which provide an ultra-fast action and impressive sensitivity to register the most gentle of bites, especially when using very light lures. Not only do these solid tips benefit the user in terms of feedback of what’s happening beneath the surface, they are a better design for use with ultra-light techniques such as drop shotting, Carolina rigs and small crankbaits. Plus, they are much more durable than standard hollow tips and can therefore withstand much more abuse. So, plenty of plus points for the solid tip. But what about the rest of the rod? To find out, I’d arranged to meet Tom on the River Nene just outside of Peterborough and we had several spots in mind where we expected a few perch to be residing.
www.greatmagazines.co.uk | IYCF 85
TIPS, TACTICS & RIGS TO CATCH MORE
92 IYCF | Issue 384
CARP
EMBARK ON A
RIVER CARP CHALLENGE IYCF’s Tom Scarr jumps at the chance to target wild specimens that have probably never seen a hook before… Words & Photography Tom Scarr
E
VERY now and again there is a species or a venue that really tempts me out on to the bank. Wild river carp are a prime example. So, when I was invited to fish a particular stretch that held such creatures, I was champing at the bit to give it a try! Thriving on neglect from almost zero angling pressure, living in a snag-filled stretch of water
with few accessible pegs and surrounded by tall trees, carp in this location typified everything that fishing should be to me. The lure of undiscovered and uncaught fish always resonates with any specimen angler, but size wasn’t important in this case. Beautiful surroundings and the chance of catching a bar of river gold... need I say more?