Summer Gold - After Work Session
After Work session with the Method Feeder
By Jayson Greatorex
Summer time is quickly upon us and for most of us it´s a nice chance to sneak in a cheeky session during the week.
Just a couple of months ago the drive home at 5 O´Clock in the evening was still in dreary dark conditions, but now we have the luxury of those extra daylight hours and for those that don´t fancy mowing the lawn at home then head down to your local! No, not the beer garden, the local pond!
Travel light:
For my quickies, I like to just take the minimal amount of gear. The hefty old seat box is left at home and a camping chair and bivvy table will do for me. A bucket with all the terminal tackle needed for a bit of method feeder fishing, a simple but yet the most effective way to catch a few fish at any time of the year.
If someone said to me, “you have 30 minutes to catch a fish for a million quid” then this is exactly how I would tackle that goal. My rod is all set up and ready to go. Hook length, method feeder, and reel are already attached, and all I have to do is stick my 2 piece rod together, get some ground bait on the feeder and a bait on the hook and I´m all good to go.
Even my ground bait was knocked up before clocking off from work 😉
Again, keeping everything simple and basic, I´ve mixed up a bag of Sweet Magnum from the BBQ Method series and cracked open a tin of sweet corn. It doesn’t get any easier than this.
The lake I´m fishing today contains every fish you can think of, so a session with corn can produce anything from Carp and Tench to Roach and Bream. I´m not targeting any species, I´m more than happy to slip my net under anything with fins, just as long I´m not stuck at home on the sofa tonight.
Using a Method push stop ready-made hook length, I like to push the stopper through the top of the piece of corn with the needle (which is supplied with every packet) in such a way that I can bury the stopper into the soft and open end of the corn, giving me an excellent presentation on the hair.
It´s then just a case of placing the hook into the mould, cover with ground bait, push the cage into the mix, and that´s it.
All the gear I need hardly takes up any space in the car, I´ve still got half a bag of method mix left over so looks like I´ll be doing a bit more overtime in the office this week. (just in case Mrs G asks 😉 )
Advertising bit…
The kit I have ready to go at any time for an after-work session:
Argon 2.0 Method feeder rod 3,3m (also available in 3m. & 3,6m)
Black Magic FD 430 Reel (also available in 420 & 440)
Black Magic Uni Reel line 0,23mm (available from 0,17mm – 0,27mm)
Black Magic Method Feeder Set
Feeder Leader Method Push Stop Hook rigs
Method BBQ Sweet Magnum Mix (for Vegan Fish)
Walterland Masters 2023 - Team Browning Österreich
Walterland Masters 2023
Ein Fixtermin im Frühjahr ist für unser Team das bereits legendäre Walterland Masters in Szeged, Ungarn. Das hochkarätig besetzte Event, organisiert von Tamas Walter, sucht wirklich seines Gleichen. Top organisiert durch den Veranstalter inklusive Köder und Futterservice an der Wettkampfstrecke, dabei kann man sich ganz auf das Angeln konzentrieren. Die freundliche und unkomplizierte Atmosphäre lässt einen Angler auch Urlaubsfeeling empfinden.
Heuer war aber leider das Wetter nicht das Beste. Kalte regnerische Tage mit Sturmböen machten das Angeln mit der Pole nicht einfach. Wir angelten teilweise nur auf 9m. Am 2. Trainingstag angelte bis auf ein hartnäckiges Team sonst keiner an der Strecke, da der Sturm, unserer Meinung nach, eine saubere Köderpräsentation unmöglich machte. So nutzten wir den Tag für einen Besuch in einem Angelladen und für einen Spaziergang in der Innenstadt von Szeged.
Das Format der Veranstaltung besteht aus 3 Trainingstagen und 3 Bewerbstagen von Donnerstag bis Samstag. Somit bleibt der Sonntag für die Heimreise.
Aber nun zum eigentlichen, dem Angeln. An der Strecke ist im Normalfall schon eine exakte Köderpräsentation und präzises Füttern, bei guten Bedingungen, ein absolutes Muss. Wenn aber dann noch „Winterangeln“ dazu kommt, wird’s haarig. So richtig den Stein der Weisen hatten wir im Training dann auch nicht herausfinden können. Ohne konkreten Plan starteten wir dann auch in der ersten Bewerbstag.
Tag 1: Unsere Planlosigkeit spiegelte sich dann auch in unserem Ergebnis wider. Mit Platz 40 von 46 Teams konnten wir uns nicht zufriedengeben. Aber es gab eine Idee im Team die wir am 2. Tag umsetzen wollten.
Tag 2: Ich loste Platz 184. Das ist die untere Ecke der Strecke, also kein allzu schlechter Platz um in den zweiten Bewerbstag zu starten. Mit knapp 14kg konnte ich dann auch den Halb-Sektor für mich entscheiden und das Tageshöchstgewicht der Veranstaltung verbuchen. Die Taktikänderung ist nicht nur am Eckplatz aufgegangen, auch das gesamte Team konnte sich massiv verbessern. Wir schafften eine Platzierung in der Mitte des Teilnehmerfelds.
Tag 3: Voller Motivation und mit dem Selbstvertrauen vom Vortag starteten wir in den letzten Bewerbstag. Mein Los verschlug mich wieder in den D-Sektor, jedoch in den ersten Halbsektor. Der Eckplatz, an dem ich am Vortag Platz nehmen durfte, war somit nicht von belang für mich. Neben mir nahm aber James Dent vom Guru Team aus England Platz, sie führten das Teilnehmerfeld nach 2 Tagen an und damit war mir klar, an wen ich mich halten muss während des Matches. Nach der Startfütterung passierte aber komischerweise eine dreiviertel Stunde lang bei keinem in meinem Sichtfeld irgendetwas. Die Wassertemperatur ist erneut gesunken, das spürten auch wir Angler an der Teilnahmslosigkeit der Fische. Dann nach einer weiteren halben Stunde, bekam ich einen zaghaften Biss, den ich anschlagen konnte, der erste Karpfen mit 600gr. war gelandet. Das machte Mut auf mehr. Als dann auch gleich nach 5 Minuten die Pose erneut untertauchte, war der Gummizug aber auch schon lang. Ein Großer Fisch kämpfte heftig am feinen Gerät. Ich dachte mir nur, wenn du den bekommst, bist du vorne dabei. Nach heftigen Fluchten konnte ich einen Silberkarpfen von ca. 5kg landen. Was mich aber absolut nicht glücklich stimmte, den dieser Fisch zählt im Bewerb nicht. Somit setzte ich ihn zurück, schnaufte kurz durch und startete erneut. Glücklicherweise bekam ich wieder einen Biss, den ich dann in einen Karpfen von 3kg verwandeln konnte. Im Hinterkopf noch der Gedanke, einen noch, dann passts. Leider passierte dann aber bis 5 Minuten vor Schluss absolut nichts mehr. Bis ich dann neben dem Futterplatz einen Biss provozieren konnte. Erneut schoss der Gummi aus der Rute und die Uhr zeigte nur mehr 3 Minuten an. Zur Info, der Fisch muss mit dem Schlusssignal gelandet sein. Ich stellte also die Rute auf und gab alles. Ich schaffte es auch den Fisch bis vor die Füße zu bekommen, aber als ich den Fisch sah, viel mir das Herz in die Hose, wieder ein Silberkarpfen. Darum war es auch nicht tragisch, dass ich den Fisch erst nach dem Schlusssignal landen konnte. Shit happens. Am Ende reichten meine 2 Fische mit 3600gr. zu Platz 3 im Sektor. Was aber auch Top ist für mich, bei diesem Teilnehmerfeld.
In der Gesamtwertung erreichte ich Rang 20. Mit dem Team waren wir im vorderen viertel gelandet. Alles in Allem, eine gelungene Veranstaltung für unser Team Browning Österreich, bestehend aus Mario Litschl, Heinz Kerschbaumer, Günther Gatterbauer, mir und unserem Coach Stefan Ploberger.
Nächstes Jahr kommen wir sicher wieder, hoffe nur das das Wetter diesmal etwas wärmer wird.
Abschließend noch ein paar Worte zum verwendeten Gerät. Meine neue Xitan Z18L Pole machte einen hervorragenden Job. Schnell, leicht und Power voll. Eine Rute die dich nicht im Stich lässt. Elastic Wahl viel für mich auf unsere Hybrid Elastics in Größe 10 und 12. Mit diesem Elastic hast du eigentlich nie das Gefühl einen Fisch zu verlieren, darum schenke ich ihm mein Vertrauen. Montagen von 0,5gr bis 2gr waren für mich perfekt, schon seit Jahren binde ich diese auf die Hybrid Power Mono in 0,14mm und 0,16mm. Vorfachmaterial ist bei mir zu 80% das Fluoro Carbon in 0,11mm und 0,13mm. Sphere Match Haken in den Größen 14-18 sind immer eine gute Wahl für diese Angelei bei der man von 3 Mücken bis zu 4 Maden oder ein Stück Wurm angelt.
Das wars dann eigentlich, genaues Füttern und Angeln war zum Schluss dann wieder der Schlüssel zum Erfolg. Mit dem verwendeten Gerät, absolut kein Problem.
Nächstes Jahr sehen wir uns in Szeged wieder.
Jürgen Fröschl
Team Browning Austria
Ein Rig für (fast) alles….
Ein Rig für (fast) alles….
Wer kennt es nicht beim Methodfeedern? Man hat unzählige verschiedene Köder und im Prinzip braucht man meist ein anderes Rig, um den Köder anzubieten. Mal braucht man einen Spike, mal ein Pelletband, mal nur den Haken, etc.
Es gibt da aber eine Lösung, die ich tatsächlich immer benutze. Und zwar ist der Lösungsansatz, ein ausgemustertes Hohlgummi, von der Pole.
Prinzipiell hat die Sache einen „Haken“: man muss jeden festen Köder (Boilie, Pellet, etc.) bohren. Aber diese Zeit, ca. 20 Sekunden, hat man beim Methodfeedern.
Mais, Wurm oder Made kann man einfach mit der Ködernadel aufziehen.
Was man benötigt:
- Vorfachschnur
- Haken mit Öhr
- scharfe Schere
- Boiliebohrer
- Ködernadel
- Hohlgummi
Man schneidet sich ein ca. 1,5mm langes Hohlgummi ab. Dies zieht man auf die Vorfachschnur und bindet es in eine kleinstmögliche Schlaufe.
Dann bindet man in gewohnter Manier den Öhrhaken und längt das Vorfach auf die gewünschte Länge ab.
Jetzt, wo das Vorfach fertig gebunden ist, bereitet bzw. bohrt man sich mit dem Boiliebohrer seine Köder vor.
Anfänglich präpariere ich immer verschiedene Sorten von Köder, bis ich einen fängigen Köder ausgemacht habe.
Um den Köder jetzt aufs Haar zu schieben, gehe ich einfach mit dem Haken der Ködernadel ins Hohlgummi und ziehe das Hohlgummi lang.
Nun schiebe ich den Köder über das Gummi. Beim Ausfädeln der Ködernadel, entspannt sich das Gummi und dient nun als Stopper.
Wer möchte, kann den Köder wieder so weit zurückziehen, dass der Hohlgummi (Stopper)im Köder verschwindet. Ist aber kein „Muss“. Ich habe noch keinen Nachteil bei einem sichtbaren Stopper können ausmachen.
Viel Spass beim Ausprobieren, euer Sascha Schneider vom Team Browning
About Us
Perfect angling equipment and accessories for champion anglers of the present and future. Place your trust in the experience of a global brand whose equipment is synonymous with quality and winning championships.
NEWSLETTER
Hybrid Elastic – Einbau eines Gummizuges in ein Kit
Hybrid Elastic – Einbau eines Gummizuges in ein Kit
Besonderer Dank geht an Sascha Kiefer vom Team Browning Saarland für seine Bilder und Beschreibung, wie man ein Gummi in ein Pole-Kit einbaut…
Schritt 1
Hier sehen wir das benötigte Tackle.
– Hybrid Elastic
– Winder Bung
– Connector
– Zentrierhülse
– Einfädeldraht
– Optional ein Stück Posengummi (1 Nr. kleiner wie das Elastic), geflochtene Schnur
Schritt 2 – Bild 1 + Bild 2
Hier schiebe ich ein Stück Posengummi über den Einfädeldraht, anschließend wird dieser über den Elastic gezogen.
Schritt 3
Foto vom Knoten, bevor ich ihn anfeuchte und zuziehe
Schritt 4
Jetzt ziehe ich den Posengummi über den Knoten und schneide ihn circa 5mm hinter dem Knoten ab.
Der Posengummi ist zum Schutz des Elastic eingebaut, da an dieser Stelle der meiste Druck auf den Gummi entsteht.
Schritt 5 – Bild 1 – Bild 3
Befestigung des Connectors.
Schritt 6
Jetzt wird der Elastic mit dem Einfädeldraht von der Spitze den Kits von oben nach unten eingefädelt
Schritt 7
Bevor ich den Elastic in das 2. Teil einziehe, stecke ich noch eine Zentrierhülse in die Spitze des 2. Teils. Diese verhindert das der Gummi an der Innenwand des Kits hängen bleibt.
Schritt 8
Wenn der Elastic in das Kit eingezogen ist, verwende in einen Winder Bung.
Zum befestigen des Winder Bung benutze ich einen normalen Doppelknoten.
Der Bung muss bei den meisten Browning Kits nicht mehr angepasst werden, da dieser in den meisten Grüßen zu kaufen ist.
Schritt 9
Hier noch ein Tip von mir:
am unteren Ende des Bungs befestige ich eine circa 25cm große Schlaufe aus geflochtener Schnur, mit der ich den Bung besser zum Nachspannen des Elastic herausziehen kann, oder bei einem Drill so etwas mehr Druck auf den Fisch ausüben kann (Pullern).
Viel Spass beim Ausprobieren, euer Sascha Kiefer vom Team Saarland
About Us
Perfect angling equipment and accessories for champion anglers of the present and future. Place your trust in the experience of a global brand whose equipment is synonymous with quality and winning championships.
NEWSLETTER
My pole choice for a World Championships
by Ethan Etherington
Browning sponsored angler Ethan Etherington has recently taken delivery of 2 Sphere Power Perfection Poles. Here is why he chose them and what he thinks.
Browning Sphere Power Perfection
Being a member of the England disabled team means I fish the disabled world championships which is a Fips competition so that comes with a strict pole limit which happens to be 11.5m.
I was looking for a top end pole that was strong enough to take the demand of fishing big heavy floats on the continent and cupping heavy balls of leams and ground bait.
With that being said, the pole still needs to be light and responsive, so the Sphere power perfection was the obvious choice, ticking all of those boxes and being a true 11.5m pole
It’s a pole packed full of features and truly is a joy to use.
Things I like about it is, the thought browning have put in to this pole, like all sphere poles it has tactile precision points which help with accuracy of feeding in the same place every time using the various tactile points the pole has.
It’s a pole packed full of features and truly is a joy to use.
Every section is marked up with what the section is and even has the part number should you unfortunately have an accident with the pole.
You could give the part number to your browning stockist and they can order it for you with ease.
Another great feature is the top kits, the top kits that come as standard are 2.75m 3.9/4.5mm duo bush multi kits .
The design of the multi kit is you have a reinforced wrap on both parts of the kit for you to fit a side puller if required.
But the bonus of the multi kit is you could elasticate the short section of the top kit and still use the long kit so you don’t lose the length of your pole, but you have the benefits of a shorter kit if that suits your angling needs.
Also a nice touch are the Browning Eva pole caps which come as standard on any pole, they are easy to get on and off even on a cold winters day.
Other great features is the package it comes with :
1 sphere power perfection pole 11.5m
1 6/7 pole protector which once putt in the butt section of the pole makes it a true 11.5m pole,
1 2.75m Multi Cupping kit
2 2.75m 3.9/4.5mm duo bush multi kits
1 Power perfection 1/3 duo bush kit
Sphere Uni C Section
2 pole cups
You also get a Sphere multi pocket pole holdall and everything comes in high quality tubes as well as a separate lightweight pole bag to fit your pole.
A pole protector and the pole itself comes with a nice cloth bag so you don’t scratch your pole!
So as you can see it’s a great package, and just because it’s called a power perfection don’t let it fool you. It is equally as good fishing for shy biting silver fish, the pole is so responsive you won’t miss a bite.
I have recently used the pole to catch 27lb of silverfish and I can’t wait to use it this year in the disabled World Championships in France,
So if your in the market for a 11.5m pole definitely check this out!
Ethan Etherington
Canal Perch on the Worm
Canal Perch on the Worm
It’s all down to location
The most important part in catching a big bag of perch from any venue is simply down to location and a couple of winters back, during a match, I drew one off the flyer, an end peg on one of my club stretches on the Kennet and Avon Canal near Hungerford. Ever since watching the lucky angler that drew this peg who proceeded to take over 30lb of big perch I’ve been meaning to return, well today is the day!
The early bird…
If you want to get the best swim then you have to arrive early, set the alarm well before dawn, park up in darkness and start setting up as the sun rises. Fortunately today I’ve been blessed with a respite in the recent wet weather but looking at that sky, I’m on limited time before the rains arrive, the only downside is most of the swim is covered with leaves.
Canal craft
First job is to get the box set up nice and stable in the marginal vegetation, mix a little groundbait, plumb up a few areas and get some bait in to activate each line. I’ve settled on three lines, one at 8m where I’ve cupped in a couple of balls of groundbait made from a 50/50 mix of Champion’s Method Black Roach and Quick Skimmer which I pushed through a fine riddle a couple of times. My second line, slightly to my left at 11m, just on the downside of the far bank shelf and close to a line of rushes is prepped with a couple of cupfuls of chopped worm and casters and my final line at 13m is right across on top of the shelf just under the cover of the far bank overhanging bushes.
You need to be comfortable and have everything to hand to fish well.
The clarity of fluoro makes it almost invisible in water.
It’s not rocket science
As for tackle I’m using my trusted Sphere Zero-G F1+ Pole and although each line is slightly different regarding elastication and end rig, the one that is producing after rotating each line is the chopped worm and caster one. The rig for this is relatively simple and consists of Stretch 7 Blue 1.90mm Hollow Elastic, 0.12mm Cenex Hybrid Power line containing a 4×14 pole float, with a four inch Cenex 0.13mm Fluoro Carbon Hook Line and a Sphere size 16 Match Hook. Nothing fancy regarding shotting, just a bulk of no8 12’from the hook and a couple of tiny droppers spaced equally to the hook with the whole rig fished an inch over depth.
Rigs and things
A couple of things worth pointing out is although I’m using a hook length that is of a higher diameter than the mainline, its breaking point is slightly less, the reason for the thicker hooklink is its created from Fluoro Carbon, a material that fish find almost impossible to see, something that when fishing for sight feeders such as perch is very important. I’ve also set up my pole roller down the edge so I can side ship my pole in and out without upsetting other canal tow path users and the Black Magic Double Width 60 Roller with its extendable legs allow just that!
Little reason to switch
A quick look at the 8m line from the off and its only producing small roach, which is a great sign as where there’s small fish there will be big perch and after fifteen minutes its time to lower half a Dendrobaena in on the 11m line and straight away the float sinks and I’m onto a reasonable perch. The action continues throughout the morning with perch to 2lb 6oz gracing my net and apart from one bite on the lobworm line I see very little reason to switch. It’s a good idea to keep pulting a few casters over the top to keep the small fish interested and every time bites dry up I simply introduce another cupful of chopped worm and casters which livens things up. After three hours and with the first spots of rain in the air I’ve had my fill and have ended up with at least 15lb of quality perch including a couple more around the two pound mark. Canal fishing, I love it.
Colin Sheppard
The nerve-jangling moment a big perch hits the surface.
Colin’s Tackle
Sphere Zero-G F1+ Pole
Stretch 7 1.90mm Blue Elastic
4×14 pole float
0.12mm Cenex Hybrid Power Mono
0.13mm Cenex Fluoro Carbon Hook Line
Sphere Size 16 Match Hook
Colin’s Bait
Dendrobaena Worms
Lobworms
Casters
Squat
Maggot
Champion’s Feeder Black Roach & Quick Skimmer Groundbait.
Head to Head - Pole Versus Running Line
Head to Head - Pole Versus Running Line
In this great new video we pit Mick Fordham and Colin Sheppard head-to-head in a pole versus running line challenge. How will they fair and who will win?
Watch by hitting the play button below or find the video (and hundreds more) on our YouTube channel.
The 'Method' for F1's
The ‘Method’ feeder or otherwise known as the Flatbed Feeder has revolutionised feeder fishing on commercials over the past few years. Hook lengths seem to be getting shorter and shorter with some anglers dropping this down to just an inch or so in order to get a quick bite and capitalize on the aggressive feeding nature of the fish found in many of these heavily stocked venues.
Orchard Place Farm Fishery in Kent has twelve lakes in total, three of which are classified as general/match lakes and today I’ve come to the biggest, Lake 6 which is heavily stocked with a mix of species, yet my target today are F1’s. F1’s are great fun, feeding all year round and can be very obliging on far from ideal conditions like today when other species simply refuse to feed.
Activate the swim
My preferred method here is the feeder and I’ve picked a swim which features an island, as I’m sure the fish will be doing their best to avoid this bright sunshine and heading for some cover. Regular casting to activate the swim, especially at the start of a session, is essential, as is accuracy so after a few practice cast so that the feeder lands just inches from the bank, it’s time to clip up and get fishing.
Sucking up the entire contents
Bait today is simple, a single red maggot on the hook and a 50/50 mix of Champion’s Method Mussel Green and Formula Fish groundbait. This was mixed on arrival with lake water and allowed to draw in the moisture for a few minutes, before dampening down again, waiting a few more minutes before mixing using a groundbait whisk. An addition to this is a good scattering of dampened down micros and when the mix can be compressed in the palm of my hand and on releasing expand without breaking up, I know I have the right consistency that will cling to the feeder. I have also bought along some 6mm hard pellets, just in case I need a switch but I’m guessing these won’t come into play as F1’s love maggots. It might sound strange using a groundbait mix with pellets in and then maggot on the hook but I think that the feeder delivers just enough bait for a fish to suck up the whole contents including the maggot. Speed is of the essence here and maggots offer just that without being detrimental to the time it takes to get a bite. No bait bands or fiddling around re-baiting and quite often the maggot is good for more than one fish.
Creating a safe bolt rig
The tackle I’m using today consists of a rod that I just cannot fault, the Sphere Bomb +10% and I’ve teamed this up with a Sphere MgTi 930 loaded with Black Magic Gold 0.21mm (8lb) mono. This style of fishing punishes a mainline repeatedly but this multi-purpose reliable line is really abrasion resistant and simply deals with everything thrown at it. On the business end I’m using a 20g Black Magic Method feeder but instead of tying the mainline direct to the swivel I’ve threaded the feeder onto my mainline, through the swivel and then back through the feeder before tying a figure of eight overhand knot to secure. This doubling over of line simply gives me the security that the line won’t weaken near to the feeder and although the feeder can pass easily over the knot above, it does produce some resistance and in turn, a safe bolt rig. My hooklink which attaches to the feeder swivel is short, around two-inches, contains a barbless size 16 Sphere CPF LS Hook and is made from 0.16mm (6.6lb) Cenex Hybrid Power Mono. All in all a robust set up that’s easily capable of withstanding and dealing with the big weights of fish we get from here.
Struggling to hit bottom
Having no other anglers targeting the island I wasn’t surprised that on the first cast, and moments after the feeder landing, a few liners revealed that a fish, or a few fish are active. After waiting a further sixty seconds it’s time to wind in and repeat. Four casts in and after a couple of indications, probably caused by a fish sucking in the contents of the feeder, the tip pulls round and the first F1’s comes to the net. More follow and after just thirty minutes the feeder is struggling to hit bottom before the tip pulls round and another F1’s gets hooked. This continues in the same manor for the next four hours before its time to call it a day and with upwards of 150lb of fish netted, it proves the point that the ‘Method’ is a tactic you simply can’t ignore.
Dean Tennant
Catch More Carp this Winter on Maggots
Catch More Carp this Winter on Maggots
At this time of year, when the nights get longer and colder and the water temperature starts to plummet you really do need to think about switching over from pellets to more natural baits such as maggots.
Steady trickle
Pellets although fantastic in the summer become less effective in cold water and difficult for the fish to digest and pass so introducing too many can be detrimental as they will simply lay in your swim and spook the fish. Maggots however, fed on a little-and-often basis will attract all fish, not just carp into your swim and if any do find themselves wriggling around on the bottom will soon bury within the lake bed, so by keeping a steady trickle falling through the water column will soon activate your swim and produce lots of bites.
Feeding tactics
I prefer fresh red maggots in the winter, as opposed to whites in summer and for a five hour match/session would take at least three pints. Feeding these really does depend on the weather conditions and how many fish you have in the swim as on some days feeding a few through a pot and concentrating the feeding zone to a tight area can be best, yet on others catapulting a wider spread will work. A good winter tactic is to start a session on the feeder, hopefully pick up a couple of early carp whilst feeding maggots accurately on the pole line. I usually start by catapulting maggots, which will drag a few fish in from further afield before concentrating my feed more accurately with a small feed pot as the session progresses.
Working it out
For today’s practice session I’ve come to Tyler’s Common in Essex which is a typical carp dominated commercial where matches are held on a regular basis, and have chosen to fish Willow Lake which is stuffed full of carp in the 2-5lb bracket. As it’s a practice session I’m not going to cast a feeder rod out as I need to work out just how quick I can get the 13m pole line working as this will give me a good idea when best to switch in the next match.
Keeping it steady
The rig I’m using is simply a 4×10 float shotted with a bulk of three No10’s around eighteen inches from the hook along with two No11 droppers. Mainline is Cenex 0.16mm Hybrid Power Mono connected to a short 0.12mm Hybrid Power hook length which has a Sphere size 18 hook finishing the rig off. As it’s really windy I have chosen to add two tiny back shot above the float, spread out and not too close to the tip of the float as this will allow me to hold the float in position and up in the water in the gusty wind. As for elastic I’ve scaled this back to balance up with the delicate rig and have chosen Stretch 7 yellow. This works perfectly with my Sphere Zero-G PT+ pole and by adding a Flat Butt Pole Protector helps even more in keeping the pole steady in the high wind.
Laying it in
The wind is really gusty, cold and strong today so I have chosen a swim, one that I have never fished before with the wind off my back. It’s really shallow, just two and a half feet at 13m so I’m guessing that the fish will be reluctant to come really close in, in fact I might have to venture even further out. It’s important to keep lifting and laying the rig out so that the bait slowly falls through the water mimicking the freebies that I’m catapulting in every thirty seconds or so. It’s taken around fifteen minutes to start getting bites, albeit from silver fish and a further fifteen to connect with the first carp but the constant firing of half a dozen maggots is working its magic. Ninety minutes in and it’s a carp a cast proving that when the water cools down feeding little and often is the key in unlocking a swim.
Get on the maggot
There are lots of other anglers around the lake, most are using two rods, alarms and probably boilies or pellets and in the whole of my four hour session I haven’t seen another fish caught! Time to get on the maggots I think!
Loss of concentration
One thing I did notice and wasn’t surprised at was the owner bought me down a cup of coffee around two hours in and having had a brief chat and not fed during this period the fish had drifted off taking a good fifteen minutes to get them back and feeding confidently.
Positive routine
Although today hasn’t been under match conditions I’m guessing that I could have put together a really big weight if it was a match, proof that by getting into a routine, feeding small amounts of bait on a regular basis and having faith that the fish will turn up is so important if you want to get the best from every session.
Alex Reynolds
Alex’s Tackle
Sphere Zero-G PT+
Sphere Flat Butt Pole Protector
Stretch 7 Yellow Elastic
Cenex 0.12mm/0.16mm Hybrid Power Mono
4×10 Float
No10/11 Shot
Size 18 Sphere Barbless Hook
Alex’s Bait
Red maggots
New Video - Catch More with Maggots
Alex Reynolds looks at how to catch more winter carp on the humble red maggots in this new video over on the Browning official YouTube channel.
Check it out this, and hundreds more videos here.