In the first of our three-part guide to winter fishing Dave ‘Michael Fish’ Woodmansey shows how to maximise your chances by keeping an eye on what’s happening in the sky AT THIS time of year the weather can be the single biggest factor in deciding if you’ll have a good day’s fishing – or suffer a bad one. Weather conditions ...
If the majority of pike you catch are hooked deep within the fish’s gullet, you are doing something wrong. Here’s how to ensure that the pike you catch are either lip-hooked or easy to unhook... The ideal scenario WHEN pike fishing, every fish you catch should be enjoyed during the fight, unhooked quickly and safely, and returned to the ...
A POLE needs elastic to cushion the fight from a battling fish. We’ve teamed up with tackle giants Maver and leading pole angler Jamie Masson to show how to turn the new pole you left the tackle shop with into one you can actually use. Jamie used the brilliant but affordable, entry-level Maver Competition 121 13m pole which sells for ...
With its soft texture, instant attraction and awesome fish-pulling power, paste is one of THE best summer carp baits. G.O.T Baits’ Gary Thorpe shows you how to get the best from it… HAVING predicted a catch of well over 100lb by three o’clock, it looked like Gary Thorpe would achieve this goal in half that time. With his swim almost ...
As winter arrives and prey fish shoal up, pike go on the prowl. Even if you’ve never fished for them Matt Hayes has the advice you’ll need to enjoy a winter of great predator sport. This is the best time of the year for pike, don’t miss it... TALES of monster pike are etched in the annals of angling history. ...
WATER TEMPERATURE A rapid fall in water temperature is the worst scenario for winter fishing. Fish hate rapid temperature change and, when a sudden cold snap kicks in, most species tend to go right off the feed. Improve Your Coarse Fishing’s columnist and top fishery scientist Dr Mark Burdass says: “When water temperature falls below 4ºC most of our coarse ...
There is a common myth among non-anglers that fish have very short memories that can be measured in seconds. If you fish, or work with fish, you will know that this is complete fiction and that fish not only have memories but are also quite quick learners. If you have ever kept fish then you’ll know they very quickly suss ...
CASCADING white water and swirling flows can make weir pools intimidating places for anglers. However, one of the all-time golden rules about fishing is that features mean fish. So any fisherman willing to take on the challenge of a raging weir pool can expect success. From barbel to pike, virtually every species has a home here, it’s just a matter ...
As the first storms of autumn and winter roll in Martin Bowler prepares you for the floods... THIS is the time of year when the skies will blacken, Atlantic storms will rush in and the nation’s rivers are likely to come into their first cold weather floods. There is no doubt that, weatherwise, 2007 has already been an unusual year. ...
Are fish attracted to the sweet aroma of strawberries or do they swim a mile? Dr Mark Burdass reveals the facts about what fish can smell and how bait flavourings can help you catch them... THE IMPORTANCE OF SMELL Underwater visibility is very poor in many fisheries so a good sense of smell is vital in allowing fish to find ...
