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 ...
Commercial stillwater expert Steve Ringer is renowned for his skill with the pellet waggler to catch masses of carp near the surface – but we bet you didn’t know he actually uses FOUR different styles of rigs! Here he reveals all... The Big Pellet Waggler This a set-up that I was first shown around a year ago by matchman Terry ...
When the bites from big specimen carp stop coming there’s only one thing to do – reach for the maggots. Top carp angling specialist Lee Birch explains how he gets that little extra something from these superb baits... Maggots first popped on to my radar when I started fishing Bluebell Lakes and heard the tales of how Martin Locke had really ...
As the cold weather approaches I, like most match and pleasure anglers, will be spending a lot of time using feeder and leger rigs as I target winter carp on the commercials.With the fish shoaled up and sluggish they’re not going to give you fast bites or rip-around rod tops – and, unless you’ve drawn on a shedful, nor will ...
Want to keep catching this autumn? We reveal a host of bait tips to help you put fish of all species on the bank over the next few months WHICH DEADBAIT? I keep a selection of many different baits in my freezer, although there are some that I never leave home without.For static fishing, my favourite baits are large sardines, ...
There are many ways to hair-rig hard pellets, but some of these methods require a drill or a bottle of Superglue. But what happens if you don't have either of those things? What do you do then? It's actually possible to tie a large halibut pellet onto a hook hair, using a neat lasso formed from your hooklink material - and that ...
CARP fry start off very small and incredibly fragile. In the wild, very few make it beyond just a few days. This early period of their lives has the highest mortality rate with less than one in a thousand fish surviving the first few weeks. From an economic fish farming viewpoint this level of mortality is far too high so ...
Ever wanted to out-cast your friends and contemporaries? Damian Clarke shows you just how to do that... DISTANCE casting is a part of carp angling that tends to be overlooked, mainly due to most people finding it a difficult discipline to master. But how can you possibly get the best out of your swim if you’re only fishing at 70-80 ...
Regardless of the water you fish, somewhere there will be a snag. An island, an overhanging or fallen tree, lily beds or tree stumps are always places which carp will be found in and around. Snags offer carp a feeling of safety and sanctuary and this is why they love them. These areas also offer a running buffet of natural ...
The number of flavours and bait enhancers available to the angler is huge. From liquids to sprays and powders, there is an additive for all occasions. There is no argument that these additives give you an edge but how do they work and how do you use them effectively? Flavours work on two levels - instant attraction and long-term appeal. ...
