The pole line you MUST fish Winning tricks to help you bag up from this secret feeding zone YOUR BESTEVERSESSION STARTSHERE! DAIWA MISSION OVERNIGHTER PLUS GEAR£1,080WORTH ISSUE 393 202227,Sept–30Aug £4.50 6Brollies tobe won AMAZING SUMMER RIGS TO TIE! Catch more with maggots Bumper mixed nets guaranteed PLUS From the new championO'ManiaFishTOP TIPS Des Shipp reveals... Red-hot river tactics to try Stalking barbel Bag chub on the float The perfect shelter to enjoy many nights on the bank
Issue 393 August 30 – September 27, 2022 This month... 8 River Anker Warwickshire 14 Pitsford Reservoir Northamptonshire Fishery Focus 24 Float fishing for chub Hadrian Whittle on the waggler in clear rivers 30 Match winning tips... ...when fishing the margins 34 Shallow canals Your session hour by hour when mixed nets are the goal Tactics 40 Two rigs for one swim Adam Bowen keeps it simple by fishing one spot all day 44 How to make a PVA bag Get the best results from this loosefeed tactic 46 Roving for barbel Nick Marsh’s meat quest on an unfamiliar small river 53 Trim your swim Andy May with a cutter! 58 Rig School Catfish pellet rig 60 Dupe doubles close in How to bank big carp from inches of margin water 64 Fish better with Des Mr Shipp does the business on margin slopes 68 Q&A Our experts answer your questions 58 64 60 44
98 Amazing bait tips 20 to get big carp going 102 Rig of the month Solid PVA bag set-up 104 Carp Q&A Sticky’s experts on call 106 WIN! A Daiwa Overnighter bivvy Carp tactics 20 Subscribe... From just £2.70 86 Family Fishing The Cooper’s month 90 Your letters Have your say 92 Daiwa Mission Your catch shots 96 Puzzle break Win a Korum Lure Bag Your IYCF 72 Live test: Shakespeare Xertion poles 76 New gear The latest kit in the shops 78 Live test: Daiwa Black Widow rods 82 Buyers’ guide Top hi-tec angling gadgets Tackle VISIT: www.greatmagazines.co.uk/IYCF CALL: 01858 438 884 QUOTE: ‘DIAA’ CLOSING DATE: 31/12/2022 *When you choose the Digital option and pay by monthly direct debit. www.greatmagazines.co.uk | IYCF 5 SUBSCRIBE & SAVE! From just £2.70 a month* 86 76 14 104 30 78
8 IYCF | Issue 393 River Anker, Warwickshire In safe hands for decades to come Up and coming star Lottie Wootton heads to her local river to show why she believes the prolific action is going to get even better Words & Photography Tony Grigorjevs FISHERYFOCUS 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 9
M
OST anglers concentrate on the here and now. Worrying about what you’ll catch today as opposed to next year is a perfectly understandable mentality, with an eagerly awaited session often a release from the various stresses of daily life. Unfortunately, on the current trajectory, there are some rivers where a decent head of big fish and very few smaller samples are a worrying sign for the future. The giant chub and barbel that create memories for life right now are likely to be years, if not decades, old already and when they finally pass away, other fish need to be waiting in the wings to take their place. If that cycle doesn’t fall into place, the fishing will steeply decline and venues that anglers once waxed lyrical over will become Thankfully,forgotten.thereare still plenty of running waterways that are in pole position to remain prolific fisheries for generations to come, with stocks reproducing at an impressive rate. The River Anker near Tamworth is often forgotten but it is certainly alive and kicking underneath the radar. Barbel to double figures and large chub are present in places but they make up just part of the story, with the waterway also stuffed with silverfish.
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24 IYCF | Issue 393 Conquer clear rivers with the waggler Hadrian Whittle shows why this popular style of fishing the float is unbeatable for chub at arguably the trickiest stage of the season Words Tony Grigorjevs Photography Ryan Hayden TACTICS: WAGGLER SPECIES: CHUB DIFFICULTY:
It’s also important to focus on a species that are less fussy about the conditions and are more reliable“Wagglerfeeders.fishing for chub is one of the best ways to get plenty of bites from quality fish at the back end of summer,” explained Hadrian. “It’s an approach that helps you search your swim, giving you plenty of opportunities to place a baited rig in front of a fish.
TACTICS
T
The feeder tackle stays in the garage, with the waggler coming into its own at this time of year.
“Stagnant spots that are poorly oxygenated simply won’t appeal to the fish, so it is all about finding a swim that has several features.”
Swim selection
“Dense streamer weed sat mid-river is also a good hiding place for chub.
HERE’S no hiding from the fact that the rivers can be at their moodiest during summer months. Low levels, crystal clear water and agonisingly slow flows leave the fish on edge, with their feeding habits somewhat different to what you’d witness in autumn or late winter. That’s not to say running waters should be put on the back burner right now, and Hadrian Whittle’s approach is one that is a proven winner when the going gets tough.
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Far bank cover that can be reached with a waggler float is worth exploring
“If you spot somewhere with overhanging cover on the far bank that can be easily reached with a waggler then it’s probably got a chance of producing the goods.
“Although the features are important, a decent pace in the flow of the river is also key.
It’s often a case of going with your gut, heading to areas that look the part at first glance.
Not every swim will be home to good numbers of chub right now, with their cagey nature seeing them head for cover.
“Present that rig correctly and there’s every chance you’ll force a reaction, with the chub hammering the bait the moment it drifts into their sight.”
champion reveals his top tips for bagging up at close quarters Words Tony Grigorjevs Photography Tony Grigorjevs / Lloyds Rogers margin fishing tips 10 MATCH WINNING Kristian Jones’
“Attracting lots of fish into the margins may seem like the dream scenario but it is actually a recipe for disaster!“Toomany carp competing for the bait will lead to liners and foulhooking, reducing the number of clean bites that you get. “Moderating the quantity of bait that you feed will help to control the numbers of fish while making sure that your float is still being pulled under“Placeregularly.alargeGuru pole pot on the end of your top kit and fill it with loose groundbait each time you ship out.“This is enough to draw in one or two fish. They will be less competitive but will still eat everything there in no time at all.”
new Fish
The O’Mania
1 TARGET ONE AT A TIME 30 IYCF | Issue 393
“Finding a depth that the fish will confidently feed in while remaining on the deck is key to successful margin action.
“If it is too shallow, they’ll fail to settle and if it is too deep the fish will come off the deck and prove tricky to catch. Between 18in and 2ft is ideal in summer. Set your rig to that depth, ship out with a plummet on and look for a spot that fits the bill. That could be tight up against the bank or a few feet away. Wherever you find it, the fish will feed confidently.”“Carp
don’t always give bites that are easy to see, with the tiniest of dips often representing a real lump is showing an interest at the business end. Dotting your float down so that you can spot every single one of these indications is important when the fish are cagey.”
TACTICS
MATCH angler or not, there’s a very good chance that you have heard all about the drama that unfolded in this year’s Fish O’Mania final.
GO BIG TO STAND OUT32 FIND THE PERFECT DEPTH 4 TURN TO GREASE
“Shot the float so that it is on the verge of sinking and then dip the top of the bristle into a small tub of grease.
“This can be bought from most tackle shops, and it makes sure the float stays visible until it is pulled www.greatmagazines.co.uk
| IYCF 31
Lincolnshire’s Westwood Lakes held the prestigious contest for the first time, with the Falcon Lake well and truly rising to the occasion. Countless twists and turns occurred on a drama-packed afternoon, with Kristian Jones eventually coming out on top with a 125lb haul of carp and F1s. The rising star had been out of the running for most of the event, but a late surge of action saw him drive up the leaderboard before being bagging the trophy and the £50,000 pay-out on the last weigh in. Having hit the pinnacle of angling with a margin masterclass, IYCF caught up with the man of the moment to find out his top 10 tips for making the most of big fish turning up down the edge.
narrowShallow,canals
AREAS OF ATTACK 1. Pole at 8m to the left for perch and eels 2. Pole at 11m in front for silverfish and bonus bream 3. Long pole to cover for bigger roach BAITS REQUIRED 1. 1kg of groundbait 2. Half a tin of hemp 3. Half a pint of pinkies 4. Half a pint of red maggots 5. Quarter kilo of worms VENUE VISITED Leeds & Liverpool Canal, Appley Bridge, Lancashire
Words & Photography Tony Grigorjevs T HE fishing on most major canals has gone through the roof in recent years, with stocks now booming. Once a type of venue that would muster up a few tiddlers, and bonus fish if you were lucky, they’ve now become much more diverse, with roach, perch, bream, eels, chub and even carp readily available. High levels of activity can make such fish difficult to catch though, with towpath footfall and heavy boat traffic making them act in a cagey manner. The fish are constantly on the move, bouncing all over your swim as they try to get a moment of peace and quiet.
Two big balls of groundbait go on the 11m line
Danny Martin spends time on the canal system almost every week and has built up a formidable reputation of success.
“It’s all about keeping busy and chasing the fish around your peg if you want to put a big net together on a canal,” explained Danny.
“There’s nothing complicated about the rigs and tactics that come into play, with very small quantities of each bait required to prime your swim effectively.”
Danny Martin reveals how a three-rig approach will keep fish of all shapes and sizes taking your bait
“All of the lines are baited from the word go as this helps to get feeding fish on to them quicker.
“My worm line is pencilled in down the track to my left, with perch and eels the main species here. They love to sit in the deepest water and I’ve got around 5ft here today.
“Half a pot of worms that are mashed to a pulp with the scissors and 20 casters go in here.
“I’ll start fishing on my groundbait line with maggot directly in front of me and I’d expect an early bream or two to show up. “Once that dries up, I’ll switch to a pinkie hookbait, giving the small roach and perch more chance to get in on the action to keep me busy for the rest of the hour. “Fire a few pinkies over this area from time to time and also ping a dozen grains of hemp over your big roach spot every 10 minutes.”
“The scent leaks out and acts as an attractant, with the casters giving just enough food to hold fish once they arrive.
Perch and eels are attracted by a loosefeed of mashed worms and whole casters
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“My 11m line in front is in shallower water as it slopes up to the far bank. I’ve got 2ft 6in here and feed two big balls of groundbait laced with dead pinkies. “A 40/40/20 ratio of Sensas Canal Fine 3000, Lake and Match Blend make my mix and I believe this is ideal for holding small fish while drawing in bonus bream. My hemp line is fished on an angle towards any cover I can find. Bigger roach are incredibly skittish, and you’ll struggle if you don’t target them close to overhanging bushes or similar. A small handful of hemp goes in on this line at the start via a cup.”
For this style of fishing, it pays to keep your kit to an absolute minimum. You’ll potentially be covering a fair amount of river, and any unnecessary baggage will make the sessions arduous. This is the typical kit which I take with me: ROD & REEL
Words & Photography Nick Marsh
Nick Marsh reveals how travelling light and switching things up resulted in a series of memorable catches from a waterway he’d never fished before
A 10ft rod is the perfect length when moving around. Rods longer than this make the task at hand more difficult in confined spaces on small rivers. I use a 2.2lb, 10ft Korum Opportunist rod. A 4000 size reel is nicely balanced with the rod, and the Axis 4000 is a lightweight option when roaming around. NET I’m fishing for specimen-sized barbel, and a 30in net is the perfect size to safely land fish of this size. I like a retractable handle, as once again, it makes it much easier to move around and duck in and out of tight swims than with a traditional long net handle.
for checklist...barbel
I would turn around and drive home to get these if I’d forgotten them. It can be a complete waste of time searching for fish without them! A good set of polarised glasses will help to cut through any glare on the surface and enable you to clearly see what’s going on.
POUCH
Having your bait in a pouch makes life much more manageable than consistently bending down and rummaging around in a bucket to grab a handful of bait to feed. With a pouch you can keep an eye on where the fish are and simply reach down for a bit of bait.
The Mat Bag is a clever piece of luggage that also turns into a cradle. This means I don’t have to carry a separate unhooking mat and tackle bag. In addition, a cradle provides extra assurance when handling specimen-sized fish on the bank.
MAT BAG
POLARISED GLASSES
LAY IN THE RIG
64 IYCF | Issue 393
A NGLERS are conditioned to analyse what is going on above the surface when making followingcantojustbankimportant,slopecommercialfishdictateiswhat’ssignsastreesreedbedsFeaturesdecisions.suchasandoverhangingwilldrawyourattention,willwinddirectionandanyoffishshowingthemselves.They’reallimportantfactors,buthappeningbeneaththesurfacearguablyevenmoreimportant.Howthelakehasbeendugwillthefeedingbehaviouroftheand,moreoftenthannot,alakewillhaveamarginalgoingdowntothedeepestarea.Thismeansthataccuracyiswiththedepthtighttotheverydifferenttowhatitwillbeacoupleoffeetaway.Considerationalsoneedstobegivenhowyoufeedontopofaslope.Itallseemalittleconfusingbutbyafewbasicprinciples,it DES SHIPP Fish better with... Brush up on key angling skills with England International Des, to put more fish on the bank PLUMBEXACTFINDDEPTHSIT! 1 THIS MONTH: FISHING ON MARGINAL SLOPES
Not enough attention is paid to how the rig enters the water. It is often seen as a means to an end, with the way that it is done largely irrelevant. That couldn’t be further from the truth though, especially on slopes. Lay it in so that the hookbait is closest to the bank and you’ll be fishing further up the slope that you planned, with the hookbait hitting the deck further up it. Lay the rig in so that the float is closest to the bank with the hookbait further out and it’ll settle as you had planned. Always use a marker down your margin such as a platform leg, laying the float in line with it every time
54 32
KEEP TOPPING UP
Potting in large quantities of bait used to be all the rage when fishing the margins but it is often better to go down the little and often route. Lots of bait going in will attract a big shoal of fish, increasing competition and the chances of foul-hooking. It is much better to try and attract one fish at a time, adding a small cup of freebies each time you ship out to set the trap
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Groundbait and micro pellets are brilliant summer baits because they encourage fish to grub around and remain in the swim. I’ll always feed them loose when fishing on a slope as this gives me confidence that they will settle where I dropped them. Introduce them in a ball and they’re almost certain to roll down the slope into deeper water, leaving your rig sat over an unbaited spot THE GRADIENT
A gentle slope makes life easier, but things can become tricky when fishing on a much steeper gradient. The lake becomes deep a lot quicker, giving fish the confidence to come off the deck. In this scenario, fishing with just a top kit works a treat. The fish feel your presence and the commotion, but they are still hungry and will feed close to where you are sat. Their awareness will keep them on the deck though, making them much easier to catch
FIND IDEALTHEDEPTH Most anglers plumb up close to a feature that takes their fancy when attacking the margins, but it is much better to look for a set depth. There is a fine line between it being too shallow and the fish won’t settle and too deep where they come off the deck and leave you plagued with liners. Set your rig to 14in and find that depth on days when fish are happy to graze in shallow water. It doesn’t matter whether this is tight to the bank or a few feet away
FEED IT LOOSE
ANALYSE
If you regularly fish on your own and don’t want to lug around a heap of heavy camera equipment, the Saber Catch M8 system could be exactly what you’re after. The kit comprises a lightweight and fully adjustable tripod with smartphone attachment, a mini wireless Bluetooth remote shutter release and an LED flash unit. The whole thing packs down to a length of 36cm, so it’s easy to fit in a carryall or medium rucksack. Plus, it won’t cost you much more than a couple of bags of boilies! www.sabertackle.com
£23.75
www.nashtackle.co.uk
From bug zappers to heated sleeping bags, there’s a whole host of gadgets available for modern anglers
TECHNOLOGY has impacted on all aspects of our lives. Even a traditional pastime such as fishing hasn’t escaped its rampant march. Purists may turn up their noses and scoff at the idea of using sonar technology to map out their swim or an underwater camera to stream what’s happening on the lakebed directly to their smartphone. But many anglers have embraced these new products and accepted them as another tool to help them put more fish on the bank. Improvements in technology mean that they are more affordable than ever and the information they impart is incredibly accurate and reliable.
NASH PINPOINT HOOK DOCTOR
This month we look at some of the best gadgets designed for anglers...
Get the most out of your gas canisters with this handy cover from RidgeMonkey. The USBpowered heater coil gently warms your canister, enabling efficient use of every last drop of fuel. It also features a weather-resistant wipe-clean neoprene outer with elasticated spoon strap and zipped lower section. www.ridgemonkey.co.uk
www.fortiseyewear.co.uk
RRP: £24.99
The XSR binoculars are designed to provide the angler with pin-sharp vision for even the furthest of casts. Vital for all anglers looking to locate their quarry, whether it’s fish showing at extreme range or evaluating bubblers at 50 yards, the XSR are designed with clarity, durability and weight at the forefront of their development. Each pair is tank tested and submerged to ensure they are fully waterproof, and are nitrogen-filled to prevent internal fogging.
RRP: £87.99 Marking the end of time and labour-intensive hook sharpening, the electric Hook Doctor makes professional grade sharpening to the ultimate point the work of just a few seconds. Using a battery powered carborundum 180 grade polishing stone, the Hook Doctor clinically sharpens and remodels hookpoints –just apply gentle pressure on the hook to contact the stone as it rotates until the correct point profile is achieved. USB rechargeable and able to sharpen thousands of hooks from one charge, the Hook Doctor operates both clockwise and counter clockwise, so whatever your technique or dominant hand, sharpening hooks could not be easier.
ECOPOWERRIDGEMONKEYUSBHEATEDGASCANISTERCOVER
FISHING TECH
SABER CATCH M8
DEEPER FISHFINDER START
FOX HALO 27K WIRELESS POWER PACK
SENSORDAIWALINELOADER
The Deeper Start is the perfect item for anyone just dipping their toes into the world of castable fish finders. By simply pairing it with the Deeper smartphone app you can easily locate fish, determine the contours of the lakebed, discover areas of weed and get instant depth readings. The builtin Wi-Fi connection provides solid connectivity up to distances of 50m. www.deepersonar.com
If you’re one of those people who have blood that mosquitos seem intent on draining, then this handy product from Wolf could well be the best item you purchase this summer! The blue light with special wavelength to attract insects to the high voltage grid leads to the death of the insect by an 8OOV electric shock. The insect bodies will fall down through the inner space of the lamp and the dead insects can be brushed away. It also works as a bivvy lamp with an LED light which can be recharged, making it suitable for the longest of sessions or even away from the bank on family camping trips or barbecues. Supplied with a user manual, USB cable for charging and a brush for cleaning, the Mozzi Zappa’s 1200mAh lithium 18650 battery can be fully charged in just 3.5 hours and has a working time of 10 hours for emitting just light, an impressive 14 hours when switched to killing mode, or 4.5 hours when using both the light and killing function simultaneously. www.wolfint.co.uk
RRP: £19.99
RRP: £99.99
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RRP: £100 With so many devices to keep charged these days, a decent power pack has become a must for many anglers, especially those who fish longer sessions. The Halo 27K from Fox will charge an iPhone 12 or similar up to six times from flat, so you WOLF MOZZI ZAPPER RRP: £19.99
This handy little gadget makes the chore of spooling up your reels with lines much easier. The spring-loaded shaft lets you lock the spool of line into place, enabling it to rotate under your choice of tension. The suction pad feet and stabiliser ensure it stays securely in place on any horizontal www.greatmagazines.co.uk
