Smashing it on top

NASH KNOWHOW

Smashing it on the top

SMASHING IT ON TOP Fresh from setting a lake record on the top and bagging another venue’s biggest common on a floater Nash Development Manager Mike Wilson shares his ultimate surface edges to catch bonus carp off the surface in the summer sun.

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NASH KNOWHOW

Smashing it on the top

Flat Refusal When you are floater fishing the wind can often become a problem. The fish are still there just below the surface but they are not so interested in feeding with any enthusiasm unless the surface is flat. I think they just find it harder to take a floating bait from anything other than light ripple. A large slick is what you need, so in advance of a floater session I always drizzle my floating pellets in Atlantic Salmon Oil to lightly glaze them. The result is a load of carp attraction that will help flatten off the surface making it easier for the fish to feed and easier for you to spot your hook bait.

On the Pull I see a lot of people casting straight at carp when surface fishing. Landing a controller virtually on their heads when fish are feeding cautiously is just daft, and you need to keep disturbance to a minimum. Cast well past the fish and draw the rig back slowly into position. If you do it right, it can often result in a really quick take. One thing that has worked for me is casting past the fish and leaving the Bolt Machine sat out in the lake for a minute or two floating at the back of the baited area, letting the fish get their confidence up with a line in the swim. When you think the time is right and they are feeding hard, just draw the hook bait slowly into the feeding activity. By being patient you can also alter the angle with the rod and pull your hookbait perfectly into position but still reduce how likely the carp are to see the line or tackle as you do it.

Travel Light Floater fishing is one of the most mobile forms of carp angling, you will often cover large amounts of ground to find the fish, moving swims to get a better angle, moving again if the carp drift elsewhere or the wind changes, it’s not a one swim approach.

You don’t want to be carrying lots of gear, especially when it’s really warm.

I use the Scope Sling Mat, and thanks to its clips on the side and large strap I can attach my spod rod and net to the outside. This leaves me with a baiting pouch full of mixers and a little bits bag of tackle items and my floater rod to carry. I can pack up and move in seconds.

Be a Bird Feeder Often the birdlife is the biggest thing that puts people off surface fishing on a lake. Water birds have young at this time of year and they need to make the most of the free food around the lake.

It’s no good taking a kilo of floaters with you, you will just get hammered by birds and the carp will drift away in the absence of food or because the bird feeding activity unsettles them.

birds and let them gorge themselves.

Dry baits swell up in their stomachs making them full quickly. This means they should leave you alone for the duration of the day. When the birds are full and snoozing you can be hauling.

Instead, get rid of the birds by feeding them off. I try and feed the birds in a separate area to where I want to fish. Cast out several Spombs of cheap, dry dog biscuits near the

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NASH KNOWHOW

Smashing it on the top

All Done In Advance When you are fishing on the bottom you tie plenty of rigs to ready yourself for if you have a few bites, so you can cast straight back out. The same applies with surface fishing. I tie up lots of hooklinks each with a loop in the end.

I just add a hook bait and loop it onto the quick change swivel in the nose of a Bolt Machine. When I’ve netted a carp I replace the hooklink and flick it out while the fish are still feeding. This is definitely a way of getting a second quick take. The beauty of a Bolt Machine is that allows you to loosen the clutch, and often another fish will hook itself while you deal with the first. Make the most of the chances!

Sharpen Up I rarely see an angler sharpening a floater hook, but it is a huge edge.

Bites are at their most finicky on the surface so you need to put the odds in your favour as much as possible. I like to touch my hooks up with a hook sharpener to make sure a point is always sticky sharp when the controller is cast out - it undoubtedly helps me nick the odd extra fish compared to taking the lazy option and picking a hook straight from the packet.

Be Patient Often floater fishing can be the most frustrating forms of carp angling of all. You can see it all unfold in front of you, and if you don’t catch fish whilst they are obviously feeding hard it can lead you to make irrational decisions and sometimes mess up the chances completely. Slow down, watch what is happening and assess the situation before making a decision. Think about your choice of times to bait up. Think about the amount of casting you are doing. Don’t chase the fish around. Remember the golden rules of minimal disturbance and getting the fish feeding confidently before you even cast out.

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