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Reap the rewards on reservoirs with match ace Frankie Gianoncelli
Expert river tips from the stars End the season in the style
Expand your feeder horizons for carp
PLUS SIX OF THE BEST: LANDING NETS FOR BIG FISH
ISSUE 373 February 9 – March 9, 2021 £3.99
Conquer big water roach
Why soft pellets are your next big edge
Catch perch on the float
The simple rig and two baits you need
IYCF CHATS TO... JAMIE COOK - ANGLING'S LOCKDOWN SAVIOUR
This month... Issue 373 February 9 – March 9, 2021
Fishery Focus 8
Albans Lakes
14
River Don
34
Hertfordshire
South Yorkshire 24
Tactics 24
30 34
40
Neil McKinnon
Expand your horizons on the feeder
10 top river tips... ... from 10 top anglers
Frankie Gianoncelli
Master the art of roach fishing on reservoirs
Ellis Brazier
River perch on the float 58
44 46
Quick fix
58
Sean Williamson
64
Pick the right reel
Work the commercials slopes for bigger F1s
50
Shannon Swallow
52
Hadrian Whittle
56
What pellet size to choose
Avoid big-fish blanks
Rig school
Adjustable link leger
Lee Payne
Catch at six inches deep!
Fish Better with Des Shipp
Prep your rod and pole
68
Q&A
Your questions answered 50
Tackle
72
72 74 76
New gear
The latest tackle releases
The kit we use
Short session perch tackle 90
Buyers’ Guide
River specimen landing nets 100
Carp tactics 90 94
96 98
Dan Shipp
Big carp on maggots
Carp Q&A
Sticky’s experts solve your problems
Rig of the month Solid PVA bag rig
What is a bolt effect? Rig mechanics explained
Your IYCF 20 78 82 84 88 100
40
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IYCF chats to...
Angling Trust’s Jamie Cook
Your letters Have your say
Daiwa Mission Your catch shots
Puzzle break
Win a Korum Roving Pouch
Bob Roberts’ diary
78
Find out what our top all-rounder has been up to
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www.greatmagazines.co.uk | IYCF 5
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Expand your horizons on the feeder Soft pellets rarely get a look in when fishing the feeder, but Neil McKinnon reckons most are missing a trick for winter sport on commercials Words & Photography Tony Grigorjevs
TACTICS: FEEDER SPECIES: F1s/CARP DIFFICULTY:
24 IYCF | Issue 373
TACTICS
T
ALK to any competent commercial feeder angler and they’ll highlight the importance of bait rotation. Simply switching from one hookbait to another can spark a flurry of action in a swim that was seemingly devoid of life just moments before. Dead maggots, boilies and hard pellets are just a few of the options that are commonplace on bait trays, but there are some offerings that rarely get a look in. Expander pellets fall into that category. They are often seen as too soft and fiddly to hook in any form when you are launching a feeder with considerable aggression. There are always a few anglers that go against the grain though, and Neil McKinnon is firmly in the camp that believes in the effectiveness of soft baits when using the tip. “Carp and F1s won’t have a huge appetite at this time of year so you need to do everything in your power to force them to have a mouthful or two,” says Neil. “Pellets are their number one food source and if you place a small dollop them in the right place, there’s every chance they’ll respond and have a munch. “Expanders have several benefits compared to hard pellets when it’s cold. There’s no doubt in my mind that they lead to more bites.”
www.greatmagazines.co.uk | IYCF 25
Dave Roberts
Darren Cox
Rob Thompson Tommy Pickering Dave Harrell
10 TOP RIVER TIPS Get ahead of the game by acting on nuggets of invaluable advice from some of our most accomplished anglers. Their wisdom and experience will help you to net more fish this winter
PERFECT ROVING BAIT Dave Roberts
“There will be days when you simply fancy going fishing with not a care in the world regarding what species is most likely to put a bend in the rod. “If you are roving, that can create a conundrum on the bait front as there is a misconception that you need lots of different offerings to give you a shot at a mixed bag. “But I’ve found a loosefeed recipe that will keep you guessing what will come next. Take a single bag of groundbait and a tin each of corn, hemp and meat (chopped). “Introduce all of the contents of the tins to a bucket and mix them thoroughly. Tip the dry groundbait over the top and use the liquids from the tins to dampen it. “This will enable you to bind the whole blend together and small balls can be fed in any spot you fancy to attract anything from a chunky bream to a hard-fighting barbel. “I carry it in a bait apron or pouch so that it’s always easy to access. “Hookbaits can also be taken from the mix so there’s no need to carry any more bait in your bag.”
30 IYCF | Issue 373
1 IENT 1 D E R G IN in of One t ed chopp meat eon lunch
INGREDI ENT 4 Bait-Te Pro Nat ch u ground ral bait
INGRED IENT 2 One t in sweetc of orn
T3 N E I ED INGR tin of One emp h
TACTICS
Mark Pollard Mark Perkins
Bob Nudd
Dai Gribble
Tony Curd
FROM 10 TOP ANGLERS! W
E ARE approaching the final weeks of the river season yet there are plenty of opportunities to end it on a high. You can stack the odds in your favour of creating a memorable moment by making sure
TURN TO HEMP AND CASTER Darren Cox
“If you have a few runs close to a snag on the stick float but fail to get a bite from a chub, you may think they aren’t present. “That assumption is probably wrong, however, and it is often simply a case of
SEARCH THE WEIR POOL Rob Thompson
“The water circulating around in a weir pool will be well-oxygenated and, as a result, fish are likely to be sat nearby.
everything is perfect, including rig, bait and swim choice. Whether you fancy freelining a hookbait for a big chub, fishing the float for a bulging net of silverfish or taking to the feeder for your first
ever barbel, we’ve picked the brains of 10 river experts and got them to reveal a deadly tip that works for them every time. Take them on board to make these last few weeks of the river season truly memorable.
feeding correctly to persuade them to have a munch. The fish could be tucked right at the back of the snag and by feeding a small quantity of hemp and caster each time you trot the float through, you increase the chances of frustrating them into having a go. It could take half an hour or more of repetitive casting and feeding to achieve this, but once you’ve gained their confidence your rod could be bent double more than once.”
“But at this time of year, the stocks are going to be somewhat lethargic and unwilling to fight against the harshest current. “Look around the weir pool and try to find slacks off the main flow. These could be home to a range of species including chub, bream and barbel.”
2
DON’T HOUND THE BARBEL HOTSPOTS Tommy Pickering
“If you have a particular peg in mind before you set off and find it to be taken upon arrival, don’t just sit in the next swim. Big fish don’t respond well to pressure and too many anglers in one spot is guaranteed to send them packing. “Take a stroll down the river and look for swims that have similar attributes and there is a good chance that big barbel will be sat there waiting.”
4
3 www.greatmagazines.co.uk | IYCF 31
Master the art of reservoir roaching These giant stillwaters may appear daunting. Frankie Gianoncelli’s simple tactics will help you get the better of them in no time at all though Words Tony Grigorjevs Photography Matt Godfrey
TACTICS: FEEDER SPECIES: ROACH DIFFICULTY:
34 IYCF | Issue 373
TACTICS
T
HERE are certain styles of fishing that can’t help but get your angling juices flowing, no matter what your favourite branch of the sport. And an enormous reservoir in the middle of some of the finest countryside in the UK with giant shoals of silverfish that are rarely targeted just has to be one of them. Yet as much as the thought quickly ignites a spark, only a small proportion actually follow up on that initial impulse continuing to stick to what they know. Most of that is down to feeling undergunned for the challenge, convinced they aren’t equipped in either tackle and knowledge to have any chance of bagging up on such a vast expanse of water.
Guru’s Frankie Gianoncelli is a true allrounder, turning his hand from bagging F1s on commercials one week to winkling out small silverfish on notoriously difficult canals the next. He also finds time to wet a line on tranquil reservoirs and reckons anyone can crack these sprawling venues. “Most reservoirs are full of roach but the sheer size of such venues puts off a lot of people from ever trying them,” said Frankie. “But, like any kind of fishing, get your tactics right and be aware of the little tweaks you need to make as the session goes on and there’s no reason why you won’t soon master these fantastic waters.”
www.greatmagazines.co.uk | IYCF 35
TACTICS: FEEDER SPECIES: CHUB / BARBEL DIFFICULTY:
52 IYCF | Issue 373
TACTICS
Say no to big-fish blanks Hadrian Whittle reveals his top tactics for maximising catches each time the tip wraps round when chasing big barbel and chub Words Tony Grigorjevs Photography Ryan Hayden
T
HERE are some styles of fishing that require more patience than others. For example, if you are sitting behind a set of alarms for a big carp or deadbaiting for a potential personal best pike, you do so in the knowledge that prolonged periods of inaction are expected. The same often applies when fishing a feeder for powerful barbel and chub. Visit a stretch with pedigree and there will undoubtedly be chances to put a bend in the rod. You just need to make sure you get everything right for it to happen. That means perfecting your approach to a tee, analysing every little detail to make sure that your tactics are geared up to getting the handful
of precious big-fish bites on offer. If anyone can help you do that, it’s Daiwa’s Hadrian Whittle. Regarded as one of the country’s finest river anglers, he has spent years mastering various running water techniques. “When big chub and barbel are the target, you could easily end up blanking if you get things wrong. There are plenty of things you can do, however, to stack the odds well and truly in your favour,” explained Hadrian. “A maggot feeder set-up succeeds more often than not. If you combine it with some shrewd session management decisions along with solid bait and swim choice, you’ll bag more than your fair share of specimens.”
www.greatmagazines.co.uk | IYCF 53
ADJUSTABLE LINK LEGER T
The link leger is an excellent rig in its own right but making it adjustable extends the range of baits you can use
HE link leger is a simple, yet effective rig for chub fishing. The weight can be easily adjusted by simply adding or subtracting swan shot to the link to match the flow. Doing so ensures that the bait settles on the edge of the current, along the crease, where chub are most likely to be holding. The
version detailed here enables the hooklength and lead link to be adjusted, so that a wider variety of baits can be used. It also combats timid bites. With sinking baits, such as cheesepaste, move the rig stops to around 30cm from the hook and use a 10cm lead link. For buoyant baits, such as bread crust,
position the rig stops just 10cm from the hook and shorten the lead link as much as possible to pin the bait close to the deck. Lengthening the hooklength can often be the answer to missed bites, so use this rig to its full potential and experiment with adjusting the position of the link to turn more indications into hooked fish.
HOOKBAIT
By altering the position of the rig stops, this set-up works with both sinking baits such as cheesepaste and buoyant baits such as bread crust
G I R OL SC H
O
HOOKLINK
The hooklink is joined to the mainline with a double grinner knot. Aim for a hooklength around 10cm long
HOW TO TIE THE ADJUSTABLE LEGER RIG
YOU WILL NEED
Tie a size 12 wide gape hook Hold a 15cm length of line Tie a granny knot in the top to a 20cm length of 0.16mm 2 next to the mainline and of the link line to stop it 1 3 clear hooklength line attach t wo rig stops to both lines from pulling through rig stops
✔ Size 12 Sphere Beast eyed hook ✔ 0.16mm Cenex Hybrid mono hooklength ✔ 0.20mm mainline ✔ Drennan rig stops ✔ Swan shot
Tie the hooklength to the Squeeze the required amount Adjust the position of the rig Pull the link of line through mainline creating a hooklength 5 of swan shot on to the stops to lengthen or shorten 7 the rig stops to adjust the 4 6 of around 10cm in length bottom of the link the hooklength length of the link
RIG STOPS
LINK LEGER
Add or remove the number of swan shot on the link leger so that the rig can hold position in the flow while creating minimal disturbance as it hits the water
Easily alter the length of the hooklink by moving the rubber rig stops and link leger up and down the mainline
www.greatmagazines.co.uk | IYCF 57
CATCH AT SIX INCHES DEEP RIGHT NOW! Fishing extremely shallow in winter may sound like a recipe for disaster, but Lee Payne shows how a hookbait just below the surface can work wonders Words Tony Grigorjevs Photography Lloyd Rogers
TACTICS It is often thought that this layer is just off the deck and, while this can be the case, it certainly isn’t a hard and fast rule. Speak to Mosella’s Lee Payne about how shallow he sets his rig when dobbing in winter and you might just have to do a double take at his answer! “A lot of anglers plumb up and then set their rig to roughly 6in off the deck, but I’ve had plenty of sessions where I’ve caught 6in below the surface,” Lee told IYCF. “It may sound too shallow to catch at such a cold time of year but the fish look for the warmest layer and on some days that’s exactly where it is.”
6in
D
OBBING is a tactic that has taken commercials by storm in recent winters. If you’ve never heard of it before, the approach relies on lifting and dropping a baited rig in areas where you suspect fish will be holed up while not loosefeeding a single morsel. The idea is designed to frustrate fish into taking your hookbait on days when they have no real interest in feeding. It has proven particularly lethal on snake lakes. More often than not, the tactic suspends your hookbait off the bottom. This is because carp and F1s rarely sit on the deck when they are off the boil, preferring to sit in a layer of water that is a fraction warmer.
DEPTH ed ill fe Fish w mely extre even w, shallo oldest c in the itions cond
TACTICS: POLE SPECIES: CARP DIFFICULTY:
www.greatmagazines.co.uk | IYCF 59
GO WITH THE FLOW... ON YOUR SESSION!
You’ve found the optimum casting time
E
VERY angler has had a session where the early signs point towards a tough day on the bank. You’ve concocted a plan and despite your early optimism, the opening stages don’t go how you’d envisaged. It’d be easy to concede and allow your enthusiasm levels drain, but there are many tweaks you could make to transform it into a day to remember. Give IYCF’s flowchart a browse and put these ideas into practice next time you’re struggling.
START HERE
Try casting elsewhere
NO
No matter whether you are on an open water lake, snake lake, river or canal, there’s likely to be spots in your peg you are yet to explore. Look for areas with cover such as overhanging trees or, on flowing water, a change in pace of the flow.
YES
Are you getting bites?
It’s amazing how much difference leaving a feeder in for six minutes instead of five can make. Use a stopwatch to look for these patterns and act upon what you notice.
There may be periods during the session where the action dries up, but the early flurry shows that you are in the right zone and a few simple rig and bait tweaks should quickly get you back on track.
62 IYCF | Issue 373
WORKED
Carry on as you are
You’ve found the shoal
Now that you’ve located their whereabouts, it is likely this area will provide the mainstay of the action. If bites dry up, move just a few feet away from where you were catching – a shoal can seemingly disappear but have actually just nudged away.
IT DID
Try another area There are some days when you just have to accept your peg isn’t home to many fish. Take a quick walk of the venue and look for other likely spots with features that you could try.
IT DIDN’T WORK
IT DIDN’T WORK
Leave the rig in longer When a hookbait and the loosefeed around a feeder has been left in the water for a certain period, it will begin to break down. There are often points during this breakdown where it looks most attractive to fish. Leave the feeder out for a longer period to see whether your micros, which will become mushier on the Method, or bread hookbait on the bomb, which will swell up more, become more appealing.
Vary your feeding
DN’T WORK
The fish are likely to only want the odd mouthful in winter and a hookbait oozing flavour is likely to be the first thing that appeals to them when they come over your baited spot.
Boost your hookbait The fish may be in your peg but when they take the occasional mouthful, it could be loosefeed as opposed to what’s on the hook. Dip your hookbait in a liquid flavouring or dye it a bright colour to make it stand out from the free offerings.
IT DIDN’T WORK
Scale down your tackle There is a decent possibility that the fish can detect your rig in clear water. Shoals are more wary in winter and can often sense a crude rig. Use a slightly lighter hooklength and smaller hook to give you the upper hand.
WORKED
IT DIDN’T WORK
If you are fishing for carp and F1s, try cutting back on the loosefeed. A dozen micro pellets is often enough to trigger a response each time you ship out. If you are on a big reservoir or river, put in a few bigger balls of groundbait to try and draw roach, perch and bream from elsewhere in the vast expanse.
WORKED
WORKED
WORKED
Flavours entice a reaction
Start to experiment
Lighter tackle is less visible
If your initial change worked, it will keep the bites coming for a period. If they stop, tweak your feeding. A tiny change such as feeding 20 pellets instead of 10 each time can make a huge difference.
Scaling down from say a 0.14mm hooklength to a 0.12mm version when fishing for F1s and carp can transform your fortunes in an instant. Balance your elastic, mainline, rig and hook and you won’t suffer breakages, even on light kit.
www.greatmagazines.co.uk | IYCF 63
C H AT S T O . . .
Jamie Cook
fo ore in ow m r o h F ils on ber a t e d em and eam g m o c e to b Anglin of the it: www. vis Trust trust.net g anglin
J
UST over 12 months ago, Jamie Cook took up the position of CEO for the Angling Trust and Fish Legal. Any plans that he might have initially had in mind were put on hold when large parts of the country were hit by severe flooding at the start of the year, followed by the global Covid-19 pandemic. Through the tireless work of Jamie and others at the Angling Trust, angling was one of the first activities to be given the green light to resume last May. Since then our sport has continued to show the benefits that it can offer. Indeed, it was pretty much the only sport allowed to continue in the second lockdown last November and, even though it was initially banned, it was soon permitted with certain restrictions in the current (third) lockdown. This month we spoke to Jamie to find out more about the Angling Trust and how he sees the future of fishing...
Q
You became the Chief Executive of Angling Trust just over a year ago. What did you do prior to this and what made you go for the position?
A I was working within a large media organisation in the business sector, working with corporate organisations and government agencies while running a multi-disciplinary team. I have always been a fanatical angler and when I was alerted to the opportunity I felt that this was a role I could add something to and give something back to the pastime which has provided me with so much enjoyment.
Q
I imagine you didn’t quite envisage your first year in the role involving catastrophic flooding followed by a
78 IYCF | Issue 373
A stunning barbel for Jamie who loves catching big fish of all species
global pandemic. How has this affected any plans you initially had? A It has certainly diverted some of my initial focus. I still have staff members and key stakeholders I have not been able to meet face to face. I intended to review what the Angling Trust did well and the areas where I felt we had further opportunity. 2020 has presented unique challenges and I’ve been impressed with how agile many parts of the organisation have been. I always had the sense that we had a significant opportunity in improving and expanding our communications – I firmly believed that there were many, many anglers who simply didn’t understand what the Angling Trust and Fish Legal did. The past year has gone some way to addressing that but there is a lot more to do and there are still so many anglers who don’t understand what we do. I need to change that.
Q
What does an average day of being the Angling Trust’s CEO involve?
A I’m not sure there is an average day to be honest. The Angling Trust and Fish Legal are such diverse organisations and do so much work in so many different focus areas that no two days are the same. Some days are spent on calls with Government ministers, others are spent working with match organisers to plan competitions. Yesterday I recorded the Thinking Tackle Podcast and spoke to Sport England and Matchroom Multisport regarding Fish O’Mania. Today I had a meeting with Alan Blair and Martin Salter then another via Zoom with Bristol Water. Tomorrow I have calls with the Association of IFCA’s, Feargal Sharkey and the Environment Agency. The hours are long so I’m lucky to have a very understanding wife.
Q
For people who are new to the sport, could you explain exactly what the Trust does?
A We are a not-for-profit organisation, representing anglers, fighting for fish, fishing and the environment. We are recognised by the Government as the national governing body for angling in England and partner with Visit Wales and NRW to promote Fishing in Wales. We are a member-based organisation made up of anglers of all disciplines providing a united front to represent, grow and protect our sport. We work to get more people fishing more often and to promote the benefits of the sport. We lobby and protect fish and fishing in both freshwater and the sea and we organise and run more competitions across coarse, game and sea than any other body.
Q
The events of 2020 have affected everyone and almost every industry in one way or another. Angling appears to have fared well in terms of newcomers and returners to the sport and has clearly demonstrated that it can be part of the solution. During lockdowns fishing has been one of only a few sporting activities allowed thanks to the excellent work of the Angling Trust. You must be incredibly proud of what has been achieved. How much work went on behind the scenes to ensure fishing was allowed?
“We are facing a mental health crisis and I will present fishing as means of addressing this”
Q
In the past, the Trust has been accused of being out of touch with the average angler. Is this something you think is fair and, if so, how have do plan to change this perception? With so many different types of anglers with different interests it must be tough to reach out and appeal to everyone?
Jamie with angling legend Chris Yates
A Fishing is incredibly diverse and I have seen how divisive different strands can be. If the Angling Trust achieves something positive for one branch of angling it is not to the detriment of another branch. However, I’ve seen firsthand responses from anglers which accuse us of having a bias towards one discipline or another. Fundamentally we represent our members so the more members we have in individual disciplines the more work we can do in each. I hope that I am helping rank and file anglers of all disciplines to understand what the Angling Trust does and how that impacts upon their fishing. The When We Fish Again campaign is a good example of this and I think many anglers’ heads are starting to turn as they see the impacts of our work.
A I’m delighted that the success we have achieved has had a direct impact on the fortunes of the trade, from small independent retailers to international manufacturers, businesses are posting record results as a result. We put a tremendous amount into ensuring that fishing was one of the first tranche of permitted activities back in May and then that fishing was the first sport in England where competition was permitted to return. I pitched the Head of Sports Participation at the Government to achieve this based upon a huge amount of tactical work and preparation from both staff and volunteers. We worked to ensure that fishing at night was not indirectly rolled up in the camping ban and had to convince government lawyers to amend their wording to avoid this, then lobbied for support for and credible positions on charter boat angling. I got wind of the second lockdown on the Friday beforehand from the CEOs of other sports – we went into overdrive to ensure that when the Cabinet met at 2pm that Sunday we had briefed as many members as possible to ensure that fishing remained permitted during that lockdown. Had we not done this work and waited, as other sports did, until the Monday, I’m absolutely convinced that we would have been
www.greatmagazines.co.uk | IYCF 79
: T S E B E H T OF in your sights before ub ch d an el rb ba g bi t go ve If you’
eration to the tackle fish we give careful consid HEN focusing on specimen rk? Is the mainline rful enough? Will the rig wo we’re using – is the rod powe things right only to hook s no point getting all these strong enough? But there’ when it’s coming towards er that you’re undergunned cov dis d an s am dre r you rk could quickly be undone the fish of t to net it. All your hard wo ou ab ’re you d an e fac sur that’s too small! you on the ile trying to fit it into a net wh l rbe ba or ub ch ge lar a if you bump off t are perfect for at six landing net heads tha This month, we take a look … , running-water specimen scooping up an end of season
W
Fox Specialist Landing Net Mk2 RRP: 24in £17.99, 30in £19.99
of Fox’s This new and improved version is Net g original Specialist Landin h hig , tion sec ‘D’ a constructed from spoon the and e, fram ium min alu grade both still shape is ideal for ease use in strong er sup The . ers wat g and runnin high a from de spreader block is ma al teri ma lled ss-fi gla , impact h. The free reinforced for extra strengt d to be hea the s ble flow mesh ena e and eas h wit er wat h oug thr guided ed forc y rall lite be the rigid frame can a is re the en wh d wee vy hea through s. rgin ma lot of growth in the www.foxint.com
Drennan Specialist Net RRP: 24in £23.95, 26in £24.95
se The hollow alloy frame of the d, rigi and t igh twe ligh h nets is bot and they have been sealed to h water ensure that it doesn’t fill wit and become heavier when immersed. The addition of a er block crossbar to the alloy spread also and h provides extra strengt for dle han t ien ven con a makes for water. lifting bigger fish out of the the The net has larger mesh on nce ista res er wat uce red to s side n in itio pos to ier and making it eas the on sh me r fine The er. the wat and base gently cradles the fish kle tac of s nce cha the reduces becoming entangled. www.drennantackle.com
76 IYCF | Issue 373
Guru Duel 600 Specimen Net RRP: £18.99
-fish Designed for all types of big e larg a d nee you en work wh vy landing net that isn’t too hea net The e. som and cumber es incorporates two different typ sh me er wid a of mesh, with making up the majority of the lity net sides to aid manoeuvrabi er. wat ing flow in g dra and reduce mesh The base comprises a finer rto prevent tackle such as hai rigs getting snagged. At 28 to inches, it is also deep enough and fish ger big op sco safely rgins leave them to rest in the ma r. ove rec y the ile wh www.tackleguru.com
S D A E H T E N G N I D N SPECIMEN LA ’s up to the task… at th t ne g in nd la a ed ne ll the end of the season, you’
Kodex DBX Wide Frame Specimen Net RRP: £24.99
Korum Speci Square Net
The wide design of this net (in between a spoon and a pan shape) is ideal for landing a range of big fish, including specimen chub and barbel. The 28indiameter, Hex-shaped frame offers superb rigidity alongside the alloy spreader block with brass thread for durability. The deep, soft polyester mesh is a subtle green colour to prevent spooking fish as you bring them towards the net. xtackle.co.uk ode www.k
RRP: £16.99 - £19.99
round or spoonWhile many landing nets are trend with this the ked buc shaped, Korum has square shape the t tha d ieve bel It’s . ign square des rt term sho e, saf vide and bevelled edges pro your ting sor ’re you ile wh fish of retention ent. The ipm equ hy rap unhooking mat and photog d dise ano ng, stro er sup of frame is made fitted ck blo er ead spr aluminium with a reinforced The h. ngt stre its to ing add with a crossbar further al teri ma y ndl -frie mesh is made from a soft, fish kes ma ich wh e bas the at and there’s a retainer tag le in 22in, 26in and transporting it easier. Availab s. 30in version www.korum.co.uk
oon Net Korum Full Metal Latex Sp 9 RRP: 26in £27.99, 30in £29.9d spreader
with a CNC-machine This super tough net is made en e for maximum strength wh block and a chunky 15mm fram is sh me x late TEX lightweight SOF targeting big fish. The special in fish a in reta ely saf to ugh p eno fish friendly, and the net is dee g tag . There’s also a handy retainin the margins for a short period ily eas ms swi ve mo can t you at the base of the mesh so tha ght on vegetation. without the net getting cau sions. Available in 26in and 30in ver k o.u m.c www.koru
www.greatmagazines.co.uk | IYCF 77
TIPS, TACTICS & RIGS TO CATCH MORE
90 IYCF | Issue 373
CARP
SMASH AND GRAB WITH MAGGOTS Dan Shipp shows how these small baits can lead to the downfall of big carp on short sessions Words James Furness Photography Jack Wheeler
M
AGGOTS will have been the first bait many of us ever used, most likely float fishing for species such as small roach or perch. One of the great things about maggots, is that all species love them. A specimen carp will be just as happy to gorge itself on a bed of grubs as any silverfish. Unfortunately, the universal appeal of maggots is also one of the bait’s biggest downsides, especially where carp anglers are concerned. As effective as they can be, many avoid using them so as to stop being pestered by
other species such as bream and tench. At this time of year though, activity from all species, not just carp, will be greatly reduced. You are far less likely to be plagued by other species so there’s a much better chance of a carp picking up a maggot hookbait. And such is their effectiveness for winter carp that, rules permitting, Dan Shipp wouldn’t be without them. Whether just tipping a hookbait with them or fishing over a larger bed of freebies, they form a key part of his coldwater carping.
www.greatmagazines.co.uk | IYCF 91