Spring Commercial Match Fishing Live!
Join Filipe Passeria at Orchard Farm for our latest live match video. We follow Fil as he adapts his tactics throughout the match and learn the thinking behind his tactics.
Hit the play button below to watch now, or visit the Browning Europe YouTube channel to find a huge library of videos from out team of anglers.
Stillwater Bream on the Feeder
I love feeder fishing and throughout the colder month’s bream, a reliable winter species, become my main target on stillwaters. Today I’ve come to Northlands Park, a shallow day ticket venue in Basildon, Essex, and will be fishing the Café Lake which is a mixed fishery but more importantly it contains a good head of silvers and regularly produces bumper bags of Stillwater bream on the feeder.
Stillwater bream love the deeps
When it’s really cold I instantly head for the deeper area of the lake, which is around 6ft deep, as this is where the bream will be held up and if there’s a brisk south west wind blowing even better. Ideally I would prefer to have this wind in my face, however today it’s just too cold and strong, so I have decided to fish of the back of it, with the aim of casting into the main body of the lake.
Little bream feeder fishing edges = big advantages
Tackle for today consists of my trusted 11’ Sphere Feeder Rod, a brilliant rod for this and coming in two sections means that I can have it made up and ready to go straight away. I’ve teamed this up with a Black Viper NK FD reel, a big reel some would say for this type of fishing but as I’m only using a small feeder the benefit of its large spool is it allows me to cast a long way effortlessly. This is loaded with Cenex 0.18 (6lb) Feeder Mono, a line that has a really smooth surface, which once again aids casting, is off medium-stretch; sink’s well, is supple and highly abrasion resistant, perfect for feeder fishing and the punishment it will go through from regular casting. The reason for using a small feeder is it make minimal disturbance when entering the water, something I think is really important on shallow lakes and one that gives me a big advantage over other anglers. On the business end I’m using what’s known as a Twizzle Boom set up, two loops one of which has been twisted along with a further smaller standard loop tied to the end of my mainline. Above these two loops is a short boom that comes to rest against an Oval Super Stopper. This short boom contains an Easy Snap Swivel onto which the feeder is attached. Twizzle Booms reduce tangles and can be bought already made, such as Browning Feeder-Rig II, as well as the Feeder Boom Link. Hook lengths, attached to the lower loop, are made from Cenex Fluoro Carbon Hook Line in either a 0.13mm or 0.15mm diameter, are on average eighteen inches in length and have either a size 16 or 18 barbless Sphere CPF hook attached. These hooks are extremely sharp and are perfect for baits such as maggots, casters, pinkies and worms.
Find the right spot and be accurate
Before fishing the first thing I do is to have a lead around to find out what lies in front of me. I use a Sphere Bomb Rod to do this and simply attach a small lead, cast out and feel what the rod transmits back through it. Feeling the lead down will give me an indication of the depth and this light, sensitive rod will tell me what the lake bed is made up off. Ideally I’m looking for an area of relatively firm silt as this will not only hold natural food like bloodworm in the winter but also give me good presentation of rig and hookbait. Once I have found the spot I will be targeting I simply use Marker Sticks to find the same distance on my feeder rod, before clipping the line in the reel seat so I can constantly hit the same area throughout the session.
Light, sharp hooks are essential as the bream are quite timid at this time of the year.
I use Cenex Fluorocarbon for my hooklength, which is normally around 18 inches (45cm) in length.
Easy Swap Swivel for quick feeder change.
A stillwater bream feeder fishing banquet
Bait today consists of a live and dead maggots (hook bait), pinkies (for when the going gets tough), casters (mainly for feed in the feeder), 2mm pellets (which are added to the groundbait) and corn (to pick out bigger fish). Groundbait is the ever reliable Champion’s Feeder Quick Bream with around 25% Black Roach added which darkens the mix down.
"Tackle for today consists of my trusty Sphere feeder rod."
Lay the table for stillwater bream on the feeder
Having found the area to target and clipped my feeder rod to the desired distance, today its around 30m, the next job is to ‘lay-the-table’ and get some feed into the swim in order for the bream to home in on. Using the feeder rod I simply add a larger capacity feeder, plug one end with groundbait before adding some dead/live maggots before plugging the other end. This is cast to the desired spot, left for a few seconds to empty before repeating a further five times. Once done it’s simply a case of attaching a smaller feeder and the hooklink, baiting with a couple of red maggots and casting out. Sometimes you will have to wait for the fish to arrive, on others bites will come straight away and on other occasions a switch of hookbait or altering the hook length will work, it’s simply a case of working out how and what they want as quickly as possible. One thing that is important is regular casting, even if bites aren’t forth coming, probably every three or four minutes, as this keeps the swim topped up. If the bream are really on the bait it’s a good idea, from time to time throughout the session, to switch to a Streamline Window Feeder as this introduces lots of particles and will keep the bream grubbing around, but don’t overdo it, a couple of casts then its back on the cage feeder. Another small tip is if the swim slows up its worth unclipping, pulling a couple of feet of line of the reel before clipping up again. This little trick has worked wonders for me and often keeps the bream coming.
If you have a shallow lake, like Northlands Park near you, why not get the feeder rod out and give my approach a go, I’m sure you will be rewarded.
Keep up to date with all our latest match news here.
Find out more about our team of anglers here.
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Always use the line clip on your reel to maintain the same distance every cast.
Streamlined Window Feeders are great for introducing only a small amount of bait very accurately.
Bream will feed right through the winter and are a great target on many still waters.
Filipe’s Stillwater bream feeder tackle
Sphere 11’ Feeder Rod
Black Viper MK FD Reel
0.18mm Cenex Feeder Mono Mainline
0.13mm or 0.15mm Cenex Fluoro Carbon Hook Length
Sphere CPF LS Barbless size 16 or 18 Hook
Big Pit Mini 15g Feeder
Streamline Window Feeder
Filipe’s Stillwater bream feeder bait
Champion’s Feeder Mix Quick Skimmer
Champion’s Feeder Mix Black Roach
2mm Coarse Pellets
Live/Dead Maggots
Pinkies
Casters
Corn
Streamline Window Feeder
When Browning first bought out their innovative original Window Feeders they were the answer to my question when wanting to top a swim up and keep a shoal of hungry bream grubbing around. The original Classic, UKWF and CWF feeders were all brilliant yet after extensive development these new Streamline Window Feeders are simply outstanding and have to be the most efficient feeder design available.
Tube shaped and with a solid cap these cast and retrieve like nothing before. Greater distances can now be achieved but more importantly, when going the distance, accuracy can be assured even in a side wind. The larger window and new lead fixing without centre bar ensures this feeder lands correctly allowing the contents to empty quicker and cleaner every time, great when I need to top my swim up with particles such as casters, chopped worms and maggots in order to keep the shoal in my swim for longer. I like to give the contents within a slight smearing of groundbait across the window, just to ensure every little morsel hits the spot.
The Streamline Window Feeder is available in three sizes –
Small – 42mm x 20mm, 15g, 20g & 30g
Medium – 47.5mm x 23mm, 20g, 35g & 50g
Large – 55mm x 28mm, 20g, 35g, 50g & 70g
Filipe Passeira
Keep up to date with all our latest match news here.
Find out more about our team of anglers here.
Visit the Browning poles website here.
Window Feeders cast very well, and are ideal when you need to be really accurate.
You can load Window Feeders with a wide range of different baits. I find maggots and chopped worm particularly effective.
When conditions are tough and you need to be really accurate reach for the Window Feeder.
Hyper Carp XTR Extension
Match fishing on commercials today, especially on carp oriented venues, is all about speed. Every few seconds that can be saved during a match simply means more fish in the net. Possibly the difference between winning and coming absolutely nowhere. One very smart and useful addition to my landing net handle is the Hyper Carp XTR Extension.
This simply pushes onto my main Hyper Carp XTR Landing Net Handle. Not only making it that little bit longer but also making it easier to transfer big fish to my keepnets.
Just detach the extension and big fish can be easily lowered into the keep net with the minimum of fuss.
Filipe Passeira
About the Hyper Carp XTR Handle
The Hyper Carp Landing Net Handle is sure to impress many anglers. The landing net handle has been designed for large fish but impresses so much with its incredible lightness, it is also bound to be used when bagging with small fish. In addition to its low weight, the landing net handle sets itself apart with fantastic rigidity. The handle does not bend, even with big heavy carp landing nets, and glides rapidly through the water. The Hyper Carp Landing Net Handle also proved extremely robust during testing. The reinforcing spiral winding allows manoeuvres that would quickly break standard landing net handles. At a length of 4 m, the handle is equally at home on rivers and stillwaters and is suitable for a wide range of uses.
Keep up to date with all our latest match news here.
Find out more about our team of anglers here.
Visit the Browning poles website here.
The Hyper Carp Extension adds around 45cm to the length of my handle.
The Hyper Carp Extension simply goes over the end of my Hyper Carp XTR handle.
The Hyper Carp landing net handles are extremely strong and stiff, well up to handling big carp.
Dacron Connectors
When fishing really shallow with extremely short rigs tangles can be problematic. However, I have a little trick up my sleeve using the Dacron Connectors that will totally eliminate tangles. Saving you loads of time during a match.
Instead of using Dacron Connectors in the way they are meant to be, which does reduce tangles when fishing a longer more conventional line, I completely remove the inner loop.
Left with just the soft rubber tulip shaped sleeve I thread this onto my elastic, thin side first before creating a knot that will pull back into the rounded section, but remember to leave a short elastic tag end.
This tag allows me to pull the knot out, before attaching the loop of the rig around it. Rig securely attached the knot is then pulled back so it’s encapsulated within the sleeve, leaving the thin end of the sleeve butting up nicely against the poles PTFE bush.
Not quite how it’s supposed to be used, but it creates exactly what it is designed to achieve, a tangle free connection between elastic and rig and allows me to completely concentrate on catching fish.
Filipe Passeira
Keep up to date with all our latest match news here.
Find out more about our team of anglers here.
Visit the Browning poles website here.
Dacron Connectors make a great connection between elastic and rig, but can be adapted for different styles of fishing.
I remove the Dacron loop to give a really short connector when shallow fishing.
Hitting more bites ultimately puts more fish in the net.
Shallow Pole Fishing for F1's
Today I am planning on Shallow Pole Fishing for F1’s on a lovely summer day.
Although loads can be learnt from practice sessions on a venue, don’t get caught out and expect the lake to fish exactly the same once it’s crammed with match anglers. One of my regular venues, Falklands in Essex is a typical example of this, a venue full of silvers which the match anglers ignore, being more content on bagging up on the vast shoals of F1’s. This is a recipe for disaster as although the F1’s will kindly oblige all day long when its quiet, come match day they simply disappear after a couple of hours due to the noise and pressure around the lake, yet many still flog the same line in hope they will switch back on.
Keep an eye on others
Witnessing this behaviour became apparent during the first match I fished here, yet I noticed it wasn’t just my swim that died, every other angler was going through the same scenario, however knowing the venue was full of roach, ide, skimmers, barbel and perch I had been constantly feeding another line with maggots, a line that paid off as I won the match with a fifty/fifty net of F1’s and silvers.
I’m going to go through the same routine as I would during a match, one that has seen me win the last six matches here, however with just one other angler on the lake I’m sure those F1’s won’t follow the same pattern as on match days, let’s see?
Don’t get carried away
Getting the best from a swim here really does all come down to feeding, keeping those options open and not getting carried away with one that’s gives you that flying start and lures you into a false sense of security. Every angler that goes long, shallow pole fishing for F1’s and will catch steadily at the start of the match but the first hour is always the best and each that follow will get worse and worse. It’s knowing when to switch and in my experience half way through a five hour match is about right. The downfall of many, even those who start feeding a maggot line is they forget to keep feeding and for those that try and get a second line going cold later on; well the damage has already been done.
Fishing long and shallow makes me really appreciate the quality of my Sphere pole.
Getting your feeding right is essential with all forms of shallow fishing.
I really rate the SkyLine top kits for fishing shallow as they are less obvious to the fish sitting just below the surface.
Don’t stop feeding
My approach from the start is quite simple as it’s based around two positive lines, one at 14m, the other at 5m shallow pole fishing for F1’S. And one down the edge where I might just have to go in search of a barbel or two, yet rarely has this line had to come into play. The 14m line is my F1 line and where I will start with the 5m line being my silver line for the second half of the match. All seems really straight forward but it’s amazing how the F1’s can draw your attention for far too long and even the anglers that do feed a maggot line can soon forget to feed in the hope that the long line will stay good all day. Not feeding, or stopping to feed is the biggest mistake on this lake as the silvers will stop responding and simply move to where there’s a steady trickle of bait falling through the water and in most cases this will be 5m in front of me!
Quick routine
Whistle blows and it’s time to get into a routine and straight away two pouchfulls, containing around ten 4mm pellets are catapulted to the 14m line. I then ship my pellet rig to the 5m line and feed to pinches of mixed red and white maggots by hand to this line, before another ten 4mm pellets a fired to the 14m line. Shipping the pole out and once in position I once again feed a few pellets, plus a pinch of maggots close in and hope that a bite comes quick. Often it takes a few minutes to get the F1’s up in the water and feeding and bites can be small dips of the float that simply need to be lifted into, yet once they get use to those pellets being fired in on a regular basis it won’t be long before swirls can be seem and the elastic to come stretching out of the tip. All the time I’m waiting for that first bite I’m feeding a few maggots by hand yet once a F1 is hooked this is where the routine really starts as once hooked and guided away from the swim I let the elastic do its work before feeding a few more pellets then shipping in and landing. Once unhooked and in the keepnet I fire another ten pellets out, ship the pole to the 5m line, feed two pinches of maggots accurately, fire another ten pellets to the 14m line and ship out into position. Hopefully by the time my rig settles an F1 will be ready and waiting which in more cases happens. All that’s left to do is hopefully repeat the process.
One day, maybe
You really do have to make the most of those first two hours on the F1’s as this line will noticeably start to dry up and during a standard match I would be looking at placing around 30lb in the net. It’s now time to hit that silver line, the one I’ve been priming for over two hours on a little and often basis, yet don’t get lazy, keep those pellets going in on that 14m line because, although I’ve never had too, you never know when you will need it!
The initial softness of Microbore Elastic means that I bump less fish, but can easily land the odd bonus carp.
Cenex Hybrid Power is such a brilliant all-round line. Very clear, yet with great knot strength and high abrasion resistance.
Dibber floats are ideal when fishing really shallow, causing less tangles and spooking less fish.
"In summer shallow fishing is by far the best tactic."
Shallow and short
Rigs and tackle for shallow pole fishing for F1’s are relatively straight forward, but having a light pole such as an EXO Sphere Zero-G F1+ will pay you back big time and make fishing long so much easier. I have a number of SkyLine one piece top kits made up but the standard F1 top kit is elasticised with Xitan Microbore pink rated 7-9 which is ideal when using a really short line and rig. The rig itself is connected to a Dacron Connector, albeit slightly differently than normal to totally eliminate tangles and consists of 0.18mm Cenex Hybrid Power Mono onto which a 4×14 Dibber float is placed before a three-inch Cenex 0.14mm Hybrid hook length is attached. A bulk shot half way down shots the float and a size 16 barbless Sphere Beast hook tied knotless knot style leaving a short hair containing a pellet band finishes the set-up. When I say I’m fishing shallow, I mean shallow, concentrating catching at between 8 and 12 inches so with a total rig length, including hook length, of around 15 inches you start to realise what shallow and short really means!
Red is best
As for bait it’s a 4mm banded pellet but a little trick that works for me is to use a red pellet as hookbait. I’m not sure what it is but these F1’s seem to pick a red one out well before the standard light brown ones that I’m feeding. I dye my hooker pellets red, flavour them with krill powder and do add a few to my loose feed. I also have some 6mm pellets to hand as if a few larger carp come drifting through the swim a quick switch can often tempt one!
The maggot rig is very similar apart from I’m using a top kit with Microbore orange elastic rated 5-7 and slightly thinner Cenex 0.16mm and 0.12mm Hybrid Power Mono and place the maggots directly onto a size 18 hook.
Predicted result
Today’s session is so typical of a non pressured fishery as the F1’s have continued to feed aggressively throughout the five hour session and although they did slow up there was no need to switch to the silvers and with well over 70lb in the net it’s been a productive few hours.
Getting the best from a peg in a match situation here at Falklands isn’t about technical rigs, it’s all about feeding and the angler that keep his work ethics up and then is prepared to switch from what was a productive line, well before others will certainly come out on top.
Effort equals reward; it’s as simple as that!
Filipe Passeira.
Keep up to date with all our latest match news here.
Find out more about our team of anglers here.
Visit the Browning poles website here.
The brilliant Beast hooks keep their sharpness incredibly well.
Red pellets have definitely been the best bait today.
I feed both plain and red fishery pellets.
Fil’s Tackle
EXO Sphere Zero-G F1+
SkyLine Shallow Kit
Xitan Microbore Orange and Pink Pole Elastic
Cenex Hybrid Power Mono
Sphere size 18 Beast barbless hook
4 x 12 Dibber Float
4mm Bait Bands
Fil’s Bait
4mm pellets
Red/white maggots
A lovely days fishing when the F1’s just kept on feeding.
Xitan EVA Pole Caps
The Xitan EVA Pole Caps are a godsend as they replace those irritating hard plastic caps that although are difficult to fit/remove by hand seem to have a habit of irritatingly coming off in transit.
These pole caps are different as they are soft and durable, offering so much more protection to those fragile section joints as they cover the last 10cm of the pole section and are so much easier to fit/remove.
I can now fish at ease, especially when there’s an obstruction or steep bank behind that potentially could damage the section. These caps also keep the joints in tip top condition whilst fishing as they eliminate any dust or grit getting inside or around the pole sections.
Available in a range of sizes to cover 11m to 16m butt sections of most poles.
Filipe Passeira
Keep up to date with all our latest match news here.
Find out more about our team of anglers here.
Visit the Browning poles website here.
These caps replace the hard plastic ones supplied with poles.
The Xitan EVA Pole Caps are available in a range of diameters to fit all pole butts.
The protection you get from these caps means I can concentrate on landing the fish when shipping back.
CK 9’ Micro Waggler
Having used the CK 9′ Micro Waggler rod for around 12 months now I can honestly say that it really does stand out and is an absolute joy to use. This 9’ two-piece rod is feather-light yet it tames big fish far quicker than longer more conventional rods.
It is also ultra slim, made from high quality carbon and weighs a mere 152g. It also has a short handle, specially shaped for comfort and speed, which allows me to cast and catch repeatedly all day.
Ideally suited to short to medium distance fishing. The CK 9′ Micro Waggler rod is exceptionally accurate and brilliant for speed fishing up in the water. Especially when bigger than average carp can be expected.
Another massive advantage is being a two-piece rod means that it can be transported and stored ready made up. The snag-free keeper ring is an additional nice touch.
Incredibly priced a just over £50 the CK 9′ Micro Waggler is a great value float rod just made for fun and speed. These days I just wouldn’t venture onto a carp commercial without it.
This is just one of a whole range of fantastic value CK rods that cover a number of different Commercial Fishery applications. From Method feeder fishing, to winter straight lead fishing. Match them with the brilliant Browning MSF fixed spool reels.
Be sure to check them out and grab yourself a bargain!
Filipe Passeira
Keep up to date with all our latest match news here.
Find out more about our team of anglers here.
Visit the Browning poles website here.
Bob Nudd with a fantastic catch or Tidal River Yare roach.
Tim Bruce with a cracking early spring carp.
Andy Blay with a proper feeder caught bream.
"I wouldn't want to visit a Commercial without this great little rod."
Commercial Fishing Tactics - Catch F1's Shallow
In this new video we join Filipe Passeira looking at his Commercial Fishing Tactics – Catch F1’s Shallow.
Alternating between two lines, one for F1’s on the long pole, and one short for silvers, Fil gets the best from his peg. In the end, the F1’s just keep on feeding, whilst the roach don’t really show. Even so, by alternating lines, Fil keeps putting fish in the net for the whole of his session.
By fishing two lines in front of him Fil can easily feed both lines, even when playing a fish. Hard pellets are the go to bait on the long line. Whilst maggots are fed on the inside to attract the roach.
By fishing the short line at the distance Fil breaks down his pole when shipping in, he can consistently feed accurately whilst catching further out.
If you are interested in catching more carp, F1’s and silvers on the shallow pole then this video is a must watch. Some great tips and tactics from our team Wickford angler.
Hit the play button below to watch the video : Commercial Fishing Tactics – Catch F1’s Shallow
Keep up to date with all our latest match news here.
Find out more about our team of anglers here.
Visit the Browning poles website here.