Match Fishing - October 2020

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MARK POLLARD EXPLAINS
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THE BLOCKEND
IS BACK

DARREN COX’S TOP
TACTICS FOR LOW AND

CLEAR RIVERS

THREE IN ONE

ANDY KINDER USES THREE
TACTICS ON ONE LINE

IN AT THE
DEEP END

KRISTIAN JONES
TACKLES THE CLAY PIT

AT WESTON POOLS

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::: Editorial editorial

Editor Dave Wesson [email protected] OCTOBER 2020
Sub Editor David Haynes
Art Editor Paul Evans W hen I visited the River Trent this you fancy a pint (if you’re not driving
Designer Nikki Coffey month with Rob Perkins (and obviously!). A lot more effort is required,
last month with Rob Wootton), and then there’s no guarantee of catching
::: Advertisement Sales I was pleased to see plenty of once you do get to your peg!
other anglers on the bank. I’ve got nothing
Magazine Manager against commercials, without them match But, after witnessing the quality of fishing
Justin Fox [email protected] fishing, and fishing in general, would have on offer, I’d encourage those of you who
Tel 07813 327966 really suffered over the last 15 years or don’t normally venture on to the rivers
so, but I can’t help but feel a lot of match or other natural venues, to make the
::: DHP Ltd anglers are missing out on some fantastic effort and give them a go. No, it’s not as
fishing on natural venues like the Trent. convenient and weights and cash prizes
Address DHP Ltd, First Floor, Nene House, Sopwith won’t be as big, but it’s very rewarding and
Way, Daventry, Northants NN11 8EA Commercial fisheries now provide anglers as excellent as the fishing on commercial
with not only great fishing, but also a venues is, there’s nothing quite like hearing
::: Subscriptions And Back Issues comfortable and convenient experience that ‘clunk’ when you strike into a fish on
from being able to get your bait and tackle the stick float and moments later slide the
Subscriptions Manager Kate Hall on-site, on-site breakfasts, parking behind pan under a pristine 1lb roach that has
Queries And Orders your peg and even a pint afterwards and never seen a hook before. Maybe I’m just
Tel 0345 120 6085 of course it’s great to have everything you getting old and sentimental, but it makes
International +44 1604 828 730 need in one place. Then there’s the added me feel a bit sad to think there are anglers
E-mail [email protected] lure of fishing for some massive cash prizes. out there now who have never experienced
Online www.matchfishingmagazine.com/subscribe what that’s like.
To fish somewhere like the Trent, you’d
Back Issues have to make a journey to a tackle shop for Wherever you go, enjoy your fishing.
E-mail: [email protected] bait, visit a café for breakfast on the way,
Website: www.mags-uk.com walk to your peg (sometimes a long way!) davewesson
Phone: 01795 662976 (Mon - Fri 9.30am-1.30pm) and then find a pub on the way home if
Only the previous 12 months’ issues are stocked.

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ISSN 0958-9023

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FOLLOWERS LIKES www.matchfishingmagazine.com | 03

Contents

october contents

6 Three In One COVER 80 It’s All About Depth COVER 102 Matt’s Month
STORY STORY
We missed him last month but Matt
Dynamite Baits’ Andy Kinder reveals We join Tri-Cast-backed Kristian Jones Godfrey is back and he’s been mostly
river fishing since his last instalment.
how he tackles Hayfield Lakes by to see how he approaches the mega-
106 Browning Hotrods
fishing three different methods on one deep Clay Pit at Weston Pools.
Kye Jerrom reports back on a match
line. where his Hotrods team got it wrong,
but they also got the chance to put it
12 Andy Power’s Diary 88 As Easy As 1-2-3 right.

It’s been a busy month for columnist Stu Redman has a three-step plan for 112 Makin’s Memories
Andy Power as he racks up the miles in catching ide to help you keep in contact
search of match wins and glory. with this tricky shoal-feeding species. More humour and tales as Billy Makin
recalls a few days way back when that
16 Staying In Control COVER 94 Lee Kerry – It’s In The Detail made him stop match fishing.
STORY
This month Lee talks us through his
Fishing a running line with a float thoughts on barbed hook patterns. It
will make you think carefully about
attached top and bottom is a bit of a your hook choice from now on!

dying art but it’s a key skill for any river

angler, as Rob Perkins demonstrates.

78 Dynamite Bait Clinic 98 Garbolino Club Angler Of The Year

Dynamite’s panel of top match anglers We report back on the Northern
answer your bait-related questions. qualifier fished at Lindholme Lakes, and
the Southern qualifier at Todber Manor.

04 | Match Fishing

24 TO SUBSCRIBE TO

24 The Long And Short Of It! 30 PA8LN6EDAFSMOEROTNGUERRYEN-ASTTAOVBIAPNAIGTGE
38 OFFERS!
Big-weight bream specialist Ian Smith
reckons he wins more matches by 74
fishing away from his feed.
64 Up Close: Preston Innovations
30 Precision Bagging COVER
STORY With cold weather around the corner,
we check out the new clothing range
The precision of pellet feeder fishing
46 from Preston Innovations.
offers a vast amount of advantages over 66 New Gear

the Method feeder, as Mark Pollard Here you’ll find the latest gear to make
its way into tackle shops.
reveals.
72 Gadgets & Gizmos
36 Feeder Essentials
This month we’re checking out some
We take a look at some essential tackle aluminium leg clamp upgrades for your
for your feeder fishing. seatbox, plus some handy cutters.

COVER 52 74 Up Close: Colmic

38 Blocked Out Of Our Memories! STORY We check out a new range of Bolognese
rods from Italian tackle giant Colmic.
Garbolino’s Darren Cox is fishing the
blockend feeder with chopped worm on 76 Browning Competition
a low and clear Warwickshire Avon.
We’ve got some Browning
POLE feeder fishing goodies to
give away in our latest comp.
FISHING
58
46 Venue Detective
AUGUST ISSUE (MAP DUAL LUGGAGE)
Andy May visits a little-known but WINNERS
awesome venue called Green Farm
Fishery in Northamptonshire. Stuart Perkins, Walsall
Richard Head, Canterbury
52 A Matter Of Size… Or Is It?
RUNNERS-UP
Craig Edmunds reveals that scaling Allan Evans, Abingdon; Janet Banister, Preston;
down on bait size can bring rich rewards Kenneth Kendall, Stevenage; Pete Tapp, Towcester;
but as he explains, there’s actually more
to it than that. Lee Clarke, Somerset

58 Fishing On The Edge COVER www.matchfishingmagazine.com | 05
STORY

Bagging machine Des Shipp shows you a

great tactic for catching more carp down

the edge when feeding groundbait.

One Line, Three Tactics

Three In One Photos:MarkParker

Dynamite Baits’ Andy Kinder reckons that as a match angler you always need to fish a
few tactics, but that doesn’t always mean fishing them on different lines.

We match anglers spend a lot of time looking they want feeding. By work out what the fish
always have at to feed on or around the using a combination of the want regarding the bites I
least two if not 25m mark. This is where the bomb, the Method and the get, the speed they come at
three lines running majority of 8mm pellets – pellet waggler, I can chase and the liners I’m seeing.
through the course of a fished a lot on these venues the fish up and down in Even though the bomb
match, and it generally – are catapulted. The fish the water, giving them the carries with it quite negative
makes sense not to put all have therefore realised presentation they want. This opinions as to how you fish
your eggs in one basket. Well, this is where all the easy tactic is even more effective and feed – probably because
today I’m going to throw all pickings are. in deeper swims because it is used a lot in the winter
of that out the window and when there’s a lot of water – in the early spring and
show you how I fish a single That said, even though in front of you in terms of through the summer and
line for the entire duration they expect to see a lot of depth, it can be harder to early to mid-autumn it can
of a match. That said, I’m bait here, that doesn’t mean locate where in the water be devasting. At this time
not actually fishing just one that they are necessarily column the fish are. of year the fish are looking
tactic though! easy to catch and this is why to feed up and they do
I like to fish a combination Bombs Away! this when they are actively
On the bigger commercial of three different tactics all eating 8mm pellets, and
fisheries, like here at down the same hole. When starting the day or then the bomb becomes
Hayfield Lakes, or places match, I will nearly always one of my favourite go-to
like Barston, Larford or Just because the fish are start with the bomb. This tactics.
Boddington, the fish tend to in front of you, you can’t allows me to very quickly
always tell what and how

06 | Match Fishing

THREE METHODS ON ONE LINE

Inline bomb. Method feeder. Pellet waggler.

Feeder fishing might look so they have to follow the For my bomb setup, I’m it goes in with more of a
more aggressive but when feed to the lake bed. Also, using a 10ft MVR Feeder plop rather than a crash.
fished correctly, the bomb even though I’m feeding rod, combined with 0.24mm As long as I can reach the
can be just as hard-hitting. regularly, I’m only putting main line. This may sound distance I want to fish at
As well as feeding double four to five pellets into the very heavy, almost carp with accuracy, that’s all I’m
and treble pouches of pouch at any one time, angling strengths, but looking for. You have the
pellets every cast, I am also so there isn’t a great deal there are a lot of big fish in rod to act as the bolt effect,
casting every two to three of bait on the lake bed, Hayfield and also, I have so you don’t need a big
minutes, to really attack meaning the fish are more never been one for using bomb in my eyes. The better
the swim. In the winter, likely to pick up the hook light lines! I’ll be making the presentation the more
this will possibly be every bait in their frenzy to eat plenty of casts and catching you’ll catch.
15 minutes, depending on every last pellet. a lot of big fish (hopefully!)
how quickly the bites are so I don’t want my main The hook link is 12 inches
coming. Fishing in this way allows line letting me down. of 0.20mm MVR Rig Mono
me to quickly see what the to a size 14 hook and a
By casting regularly and fish want as I gauge their The bomb is the opposite pellet band. There is no
feeding loads, the fish are reaction to my bomb tactics. in that I like to use a very point using a smaller hook
forced to follow the bait If they start to swirl or come light weight. I think carp with an 8mm pellet as the
down as they are actively up, I’ll move over to the are very wary of bombs rig mechanics will be all
looking to feed, and as I’m pellet waggler. If they get a hitting the water, so by wrong and you’ll end up
catapulting 8mm pellets bit finicky, I try to pin them using a lighter one – today losing more fish than you
these sink quite quickly down by using the Method. I’m using a 10g version – land.

Catapulting 8mm pellets at Another early fish
maximum range – the only line on the bomb.
you need on some venues.

www.matchfishingmagazine.com | 07

One Line, Three Tactics

The important thing
is to keep those
pellets going in.

You need some robust
gear for these... they
fight like mad!

Swapping To to a pint of pellets, I then let Amino Original are brilliant Sticky Pellet Syrup that job
The Method them soak for two to three too, it’s up to you what you is now idiot-proof. Coming
minutes, prior to pouring personally like. There are in all the great Swim Stim
As the day continues, I will off any excess liquid. The no rules in fishing. flavours, these liquids are
go either on to the pellet Pellet Soak really gets into very sticky but also water
waggler or the Method, the heart of the pellet, both Once the pellets are soluble, meaning that the
depending if the fish want colouring and flavouring moistened, flavoured and Method payload still breaks
to be up in the water or on them in one easy step and coloured, then comes the down very quickly once in
the deck. When it comes quickly turning fishery- next stage. This is adding the water. I again use the
to the Method, I follow only pellets into Swim Stim the Sticky Pellet Syrup and F1 Sweet to carry the sweet
the pellet line, using 2mm pellets! these are products that I and fish continuity theme
micros as the payload. had a lot of input with. I throughout my approach.
For me flavours are all get so many questions from But, there’s nothing to stop
I prepare these by about confidence and that anglers on how to make you mixing things up on
moistening them with is why I like the F1 Sweet. pellets stick to the Method the day.
Dynamite Baits’ Swim Stim I love that combination of feeder, well with a little
Pellet Soak. My personal fish and sweet, whereas
favourite is the F1 Sweet, Speedy likes an all-out
although my good mate, fishmeal approach. It’s
Nick Speed, is a Betaine horses for courses and it
Green man. The beauty of pays to experiment and see
this product is that it makes what works best for you.
pellet prep child’s play. Things like Red Krill or

After adding half a bottle

Be careful not to Only one way to go I’m having great
feed too many. and that’s heavy. success using
Wowsers on the hook.

08 | Match Fishing

STICKSTEP-BY-STEP YOUR PELLETS

1 All you need to ‘stick’ 2 After soaking the 3 … you can then easily 4 The pellets stick to the
your pellets. pellets in Pellet Soak… mould them into a ball. feeder easily and break down
quickly on the bottom

As soon as the fish start swirling,
reach for the pellet waggler.

A Method-caught On the hook, I could use Going Up Top
carp comes to the a pellet but I prefer to use
one of Dynamite’s new If the weather is hot and
net. Wowsers. In hi-viz white, steamy, no matter how
orange, pink and purple, much you catapult over
my go-to here is either their heads, the fish will be
white or orange, but at reluctant to go down. This
places like Barston I have is when the pellet waggler
found that it’s the pink comes into play. An 11ft rod
ones that work best. Again, with 0.19mm main line is
you’ll have to experiment the setup, with a Maver X8
to find out what works best 4g pellet waggler.
on your waters. Unlike the
bomb, I tend to leave the When it comes to pellet
Method out for up to five waggler fishing, it is a
minutes at a time to give simple case of the busier
the fish time to find the you are the more you tend
hook bait. to catch. If the fish are up
in the water feeding, then
feed them! I’ll fire a pouch

www.matchfishingmagazine.com | 09

One Line, Three Tactics This method works...
keep it simple folks!
Last fish of the day
on the wag.

Catching on a pellet
waggler is great fun.

of pellets every cast, which This method
is around two minutes, to works... keep it
keep them in the area. simple folks!

As for where to start,
I find a good place is
one-third depth. As with
today’s swim, I have
around 10 feet of water in
front of me, so I’d look to
kick off at between three
to four feet deep on the
pellet waggler. This will
of course change as the
day goes on, but one-third
of the depth of the swim
you are fishing is a great
starting point.

The hook link is 12
inches of 0.18mm – a heavy
line for big fish – and a
size 14 hook to again form
a perfect match with the
8mm pellet hook bait.

As the day/match
continues, it is then just a
case of swapping between
the three tactics to keep
the bites coming. But, by
fishing on a single line,
rather than having two
at the classic ‘10 and two’
positions, you are better
able to work things out
as the match continues.
For me, fishing is as
complicated as you want
to make it, but I reckon
simple is always better in
the long run.

10 | Match Fishing



Andy Power

ANGLER FILE • Age: 31 • Lives: Wells • Sponsors: Preston Innovations, Sonubaits • MF says: Always in the big matches

It’s been a very busy month of match fishing for Andy, with plenty of miles
on the clock and thankfully a few fish caught along the way!

Peg 88 on Pool 6 at The Glebe.
I didn’t think it would be to
compete with the end p?e?g?s?.??????????
?????????????

UK Angling the previous year when a I started off really well I didn’t waste any time
Championships fellow Preston-backed angler in the first hour, but as the and went straight over it
came last from there, which match progressed there were with a big double worm
After a section win on worried me. The peg is fewer and fewer signs of fish. on the hook. I caught
the first round of the UK halfway down a 25m wide Meanwhile, venue regular straightaway, but then I
Champs held at Hallcroft, strip away from the main Chris Barley on the end to started missing the odd bite.
this month I was looking for part of the lake. Luckily, my right was still catching, The carp in this lake have
similar results in the next when I got to my peg I could and three hours into the noticeably small mouths, so
two rounds, at Decoy and see a few cruising carp, so I match he was definitely with that in mind I changed
The Glebe fisheries. First up wasn’t too disappointed. beating me. With that in to a smaller corn hook bait,
was Decoy; the long drive mind I decided to feed my and started to hit most bites.
to Peterborough was in well The match itself was really margins a little earlier than My rig was on 15 Hollo
over 30ºC heat and high simple. With the weather I had planned, two hours elastic, 0.19mm Power main
pressure. That meant the being so hot, the fish didn’t from the end. You’re not line, a 4x12 Carp Shallow, a
fish would almost definitely want to come to loose feed. allowed groundbait or meat 0.15mm Power hooklength
be shallow, and probably Therefore, it was a case of at this venue, so I decided and a size 14 GPM-B hook. I
cruising around high up in waiting for one to come to feed F1 Corn and Natural was simply potting half a big
the water. I always seem to within range, and hoping it Hemp with a big pot in two pot of hemp and corn after
do well in these conditions, was in the mood to take my feet of water. I didn’t really every fish.
so I was looking forward to hook bait when I flicked a rig expect to catch on it as my
it – the fishing that is, not so in front of it. I found a 6mm next platform was only five These margin fish seemed
much the heat! Fin Feed Pellet was the best metres away, and I was not to be a bigger size than
hook bait; the fish seemed to allowed to go past it. But to the others I had caught,
At the draw I was given come to the noise more than my surprise I noticed a big meanwhile in the last hour I
Peg 12 on Beastie, not an with something like a lighter tail not long after I had fed. heard less splashing coming
area I had drawn before. But maggot offering. from Chris’s swim. At the
I immediately remembered

12 | Match Fishing

A belter from The
Glebe.

A mix based on what Might as well add
I had in my van. some of these as well!

end I weighed 196lb to looking good for a feeder on the hook. My groundbait Very pleased with that weight.
Chris’s 163lb, which won me line. The rules here state was an interesting mix!
the section. I was relieved the use of a 20in minimum I had actually forgotten from Pool 5. Interestingly,
with that result if I’m honest, hooklength, so I set up a 25g to pack any, but I had looking at the weights across
as I was told it was one of Preston Wire Cage on a 10ft some of the new Banoffee the venue, most of them had
the worst pegs in the section. Supera rod with 8lb Sinking groundbait and some new come from sheltered pegs,
Thankfully that put me in Feeder Mono on the reel. I Sonubaits Fluoro rocks in out of the wind. This was
the lead in the league, being also set up short and long my van, which I chose to worth noting for my next
the only angler on two points. pole lines to fish hard pellets, mix together. The smell was match.
The match itself was won by as well as margin rigs for unreal and the carp certainly
Jon Arthur with a ridiculous later in the match. didn’t mind it! I caught a So, after three of the four
477lb from Yew 22! further 75lb of carp on the rounds, I am still leading
I planned to start the feeder, before feeding the the UK Champs, by just one
Round Three, The Glebe match short, feeding 6mm same groundbait mix in the point! Fellow Southwest
Fin Feed pellets, then work margin in the last hour and angler Mark Wynne is hot
The following match was my way out depending on a half. on my heels, so anything
held at The Glebe, in very what happened. I started off could happen on the last
different conditions. It was really well, fishing six metres Before now Dave Lloyd round at Barston. Barston is
much cooler, windy and with throwing and Cad potting, and Dan White either side well known for being a little
low pressure, which told depending on what the wind of me were well behind me, unpredictable, and many
me the fish were likely to be was doing. My rig was on but they certainly seemed people have slipped up on
feeding on the bottom. It’s 13 Hollo elastic, 0.17mm to be catching better than this round. Hopefully with a
always worth thinking about Power main line, a 4x12 F1 me down their margins. I nice draw I can go on to win
the weather and pressure, as Maggot float with strung out was still catching well, but my third UK Champs title!
I know some anglers went shot, and a 6in hooklength looking back I don’t think
into this match expecting to of 0.15mm Power with a size I got it quite right. I think I Fish ‘O’ Mania Final
catch shallow like they had 16 GPM-B with a band on a needed to be more positive
in previous weeks, but that hair. I stayed on this for the with the feed and I could A few days later I had a
turned out not to be the case! hour, putting around 60lb in have got away with a big small knock-up at Hayfield
my net before bites started pot after every fish rather for £50k, the Fish ’O’ Mania
At the draw I was handed to slow down. When this than the smaller amounts I Final! Things were obviously
Peg 88 on Pool 6, which happened, I went out to 14 was feeding. Those fish were a little different this year,
meant nothing to me, but I metres where I was pinging hungry!
was told it was a decent area. pellets via a catapult. This
Those that know The Glebe line seemed to be even better, At the end of the match
will know end pegs can be and I must have caught I had eight keepnets in the
hard to beat and 88 wasn’t another 90lb to 100lb on the water, and I had clicked
one of them, and I would long pole, before my catch 330lb. As it turned out
have been happy to come in rate started to slow down I wasn’t far wrong and
the top three in the section. again. weighed 325lb 9oz, which
was enough to win the
The wind however, A change to the feeder line match – what a result! Dan
was blowing down to the kept me catching and I was White next to me managed
opposite end of the lake, so now on for a nice weight. to come second after giving
it depended how the fish Through the feeder I fed me a lesson in margin
reacted to it. Like most pegs groundbait and maggots, fishing, weighing in 182lb.
it was around 30 metres with three or four maggots Paul Homewood was third
wide, with the far bank

www.matchfishingmagazine.com | 13

Andy Power

and the draw was actually Not the best of pegs for the Fisho final.
done via video call on the
Tuesday before the match, you an idea, the contract we Trying to keep it together This is the
which was actually the day have to sign says “frogs” are on the Fisho final. norm now!
before the UK Champs. I not allowed!? We happened
still have no idea why it to be dressed a little like pro the first hour, more than looking good for the £2.5k
was done so early! I initially bass anglers this year too, most around me! I caught for section prize, or possibly the
thought it was so they could so maybe someone has been most of the early 30-minute match if it carried on. But
print numbers on the shirts watching the Americans! weigh-ins, then halfway then Sky’s big noisy drone
and have time to leave them After years of being involved through I caught three carp decided to hover over my
so they were Covid safe, in this final, I have come in one weigh-in and was bomb line! I even had to wait
but we had no numbers to accept that very strange
this year! If you told me last decisions from an angler’s
year we would be getting point of view will always be
temperature tested, with made, and you just have to
bank runners in full PPE get on with it. It’s run to be
I would not believe it, but put on TV, so therefore they
I guess it all seems fairly want to be able to use the
normal now! same cameras for everyone,
rather than make it harder
The forecast for the big work for themselves.
day was not ideal, with very Without the cameras this
strong cold winds, which particular competition
would make the tactics on probably would not exist!
the wood side of the island
lake very limited. Meanwhile Anyway, back to the
the other grass bank was match! It was an incredibly
more sheltered. I had been difficult match as I was
asked where I wanted to limited by the wind to just a
draw, I said the grass bank short pole line with pellets,
for obvious reasons, and I and a bomb line, with no
wanted to avoid the area island on these pegs to
I drew in the last Fisho I cast to. The margins were
fished, permanent pegs unlikely to produce since
54/55. These are very tight there was a cameraman
due to the shape of the platform between every peg,
lake, and the angle of the but it was set up anyway.
platforms actually cross over
each other. Not what you I caught just two fish in
want when you have worked
so hard all year to get there!

So, you can probably guess
that I only went and drew
there yet again! It may seem
crazy having pegs so tight
together in a match like this
when half the lake is actually
left empty, but at the end
of the day this match is not
really run by anglers. To give

Cameras everywhere.

14 | Match Fishing

Massive well done again to Andy Bennett.

My initial feed on for it to move to cast
the Bristol Avon. out once, but you can
probably guess what
I really wanted to do! to come second to Daiwa colour so I set up 1.5g and
Anyway, I didn’t get Gordon League, so well done 2g rigs for running through
another bite in the last to them. My results were and holding back. I mixed
hour. a little up and down due some Sonubaits River and
to some dodgy draws, but Black Roach groundbait, and
Meanwhile Lee the final round was a real mixed some Terre De Riviere
Farmer on 51 started to highlight match for me! leam with it for some extra
get his eye in, making weight. I threw in 18 balls
some nice casts to It was on the Bristol Avon of the mix at 13 metres, with
the island with the at Newbridge. I drew a nice plenty of worms, casters
crosswind, and he won area on the well-known and hemp mixed in. I fished
the section and came Norfolk reeds. The river with an N-20 size 18 hook,
third with 32kg; well was slow but had a tinge of 0.09mm Power, and either
done ‘Mushy’. I ended casters or a piece of worm
up with 25kg, which a couple inches overdepth.
was seventh in the Then I topped up with the
match, and probably a same mix when bites slowed
standout weight from down.
where I was.
And of course the awesome I caught nice bream and
Andy Bennett won yet some lovely big roach and
again, making no mistakes, weighed 37lb, which won
weighing in with just 40kg the match. What an awesome
beating Luke Sears into day! I love having days like
second from the next peg on that on the Bristol Avon.
the grass bank. Well done
Andy! He also got the news Elsewhere this month,
that he gets another free I also managed to come
pass to next year’s final, second in the Larford
so I’m sure he will be one summer festival to the
of the favourites yet again! awesome Steve Forster, but
Hopefully I can get back I have run out of words for
again to join him! that one. All I’ll say is the
carp in the Speci Lake are
South West Super League feeding well after the floods,
as my 338lb on the final day
Last month I wrote how I proved!
decided to fish the Super
League with a Preston/
Sonubaits Thatchers team.
Well that league is now
finished and we managed

Great catching fish like
these on river venues.

www.matchfishingmagazine.com | 15

River Fishing

COSTANYITNGRINOL
BuaIttt’tswaRachhiavbeetitdrdofiotfosypahoidanunygdidneogbxipofaetyrttroottumhR’eroeissbefaaPdckeaeeyrdykswsibnkiutsihltl hfifaoasrdshaoitnnhwgyenwrsaitvinrtehesrwaaamenflrgsow.laeintr.d?

Words & Photos: Dave Wesson

Way back in 1992 in traditional pole floats to the slider), and before you to a fish, was pretty tricky.
Northern Ireland, us. With 20g or 30g of knew it tackle catalogues Before you knew it there
on a stretch of weight down the line, the in the UK had a new were a lot of second-hand
the River Erne Continentals were able to category filled with 6 and ‘only-used-once’ bolo rods
at Belleek in County cast their rigs 30 metres 7m telescopic rods. They on the market.
Fermanagh, a new style and then hold all the line never really took off in
of float fishing was being between the float and rod this country like they had Not to be defeated,
unveiled to anglers in tip off the water and gently done in mainland Europe the answer was a more
the UK. It was the World ease their floats down the though, and the reason for traditional design of rod
Championship and it was swim thanks to a favourable that became clear to anyone that was take-apart rather
held on a deep, fast flowing upstream wind. Anglers who fished with a very long than telescopic, allowing
stretch of river and CIPS from the home nations were bolo rod in the rain. The UK rod designers to place those
rules meant feeder fishing fishing sliders attached is often wet and fishing a all-important guides along
was banned. waggler style, which didn’t 6m rod that only has six or the blank to prevent the reel
offer anywhere near the seven rings meant the line line from sticking. Problem
All the anglers from the same levels of control. could sometimes stick to the solved. Combine these long
Continent were fishing a wet blank so getting your rods with Bolognese style
method called the Bolognese The results were float, and more importantly rigs (identical to heavy
or bolo, which involved dominated by teams fishing your hook bait, to travel pole rigs) and anglers in
the use of long, telescopic the Bolognese (except for down the swim in a way that the UK now have a great
rods and big, heavy floats some Aussie bloke who was even semi-presentable way of fishing further out
that looked more like giant won the individual title on with more control, or still

16 | Match Fishing

ThSepROoaannMpdsdtcRFioolSOrinsfsAhfLBa:eCigiymvDePoOseya:v:Esnnne5R:aroT4KemrerINinteSt

www.matchfishingmagazine.com | 17

River Fishing

maintain control in strong Casting well downstream is the key
downstream winds by to control in downstream winds.
fishing closer in.
fish too far out. With a long Another nuisance
And that brings me to Rob rod you can still achieve dace on the maggot.
Perkins, who is no stranger good presentation and that’s
to this style of fishing, and exactly what Rob was doing. One of many small
I caught up with him on The secret is to cast well dace.
the Caythorpe stretch of downstream and I couldn’t
the River Trent, where he believe how far down his
was presented with exactly swim his rig was landing. In
that, a nasty downstreamer. a match with every peg in
“This is as good as it gets at (which doesn’t happen any
Caythorpe unfortunately,” longer, anglers always have
commented Rob. “If the a spare peg either side these
wind blows on this stretch days), Rob couldn’t fish like
it’s always a downstreamer! this because I reckon his rig
I was going to fish further was landing almost in front
upstream at Gunthorpe of the swim downstream,
today but there’s only one maybe a couple of metres
small layby where you can short of it. But with a spare
park and it was full. The peg downstream he still had
wind would have been more plenty of water he could
favourable there but not to run the float down before
worry, I’m still getting bites he would be encroaching on
here on the bolo setup. It’s the angler two pegs down
mainly small dace at the (hypothetically). So with
moment but I did put a tare a long rod and plenty of
on the hook a few minutes room, you can cast down
ago and had a nice roach on the swim and the result of
it straightaway, but I haven’t that is you can keep the line
had a bite on it since! It’s behind the float and stay in
early days though, so I control.
might be able to catch a few
more on it later on. By feeding a good pouch
of bait every run through,
“They’ve just started either hemp or maggots,
running matches again Rob was managing to get
along this stretch but bites and a fish pretty much
unfortunately for me, I every cast. “There’s a lot of
haven’t been able to get on small dace in the swim at
one yet because of team the moment,” commented
fishing commitments with Rob. “In fact, I’ve never seen
Hotrods. I think most of so many dace in the river as
them are won with bream there are this year. They’re
but when you’re not on even having a tare when I
them, or in a team event, put one on the hook. The
you’ve got to catch these better quality fish aren’t
small dace and roach to do
any good and there’s no
better way than the long
rod/bolo approach. There’s
always the chance of some
real quality roach too, as
well as maybe a bonus chub
but you don’t tend to see
many of those here during
the summer.”

Obviously the biggest
hurdle to overcome when
float fishing on a river
in a downstream wind,
is control. You can fish a
waggler and get the line
buried under the surface
and out of the wind, but
with good flow and depth
close in there’s no need to

18 | Match Fishing

Rob likes this A 3.5g olivette is held A small quick-change swivel is
pattern for his bolo in place with rubber used for attaching the hooklength
fishing. float stops. and to prevent spin-ups.

Rob also feeds well feeding at the moment but
downstream. I have noticed the river has
come up an inch since I
His choice of A generous pouch of hemp is A big pouch of maggots is fed in started fishing, and on this
rod. fed every other cast. between pouches of hemp. stretch the fish don’t like a
rising river. It’s a bit odd
really because on the other
bank at East Bridgford, they
love it when there’s extra
water coming in. I can’t
explain that one!

“I love these sort of days
though, because I’ve got to
work at it. I’ll get a couple
of dumpy roach after I’ve
changed something and
then I’m back to catching
dace. If I change something
again I manage to get
another couple of roach
before the dace come back.
Switching hook baits from
double maggot to tare,
and then to triple maggot,
double red, double bronze
– every change seems to
result in a roach or two
straightaway.”

The rod Rob is using
is interesting because it’s
actually a model that has
been designed for fishing
a running line down the
edge on commercials! It’s a
Middy Animal Tamer and
he was using it at its 17ft
length. This rod can also
be fished at lengths of 15
and 20 feet with the right

ROB’S HOOK BAITS

Double maggot. Triple maggot. Tare.
www.matchfishingmagazine.com | 19

????????
Net roach were few and far between.

Clunk! For rigs lighter than 3g, Rob
prefers to use big stick floats.

extension piece in place. to use a big stick float on the equal in weight to a No10. more and more bait to try
“It’s not designed for river long rod rather than a bolo This not only prevented the and feed the dace off and
fishing, but it’s got a lovely float. I’ve got 12xNo4 stick hooklength from spinning give him a fair chance
tippy action, which is floats in my box, which is up on the retrieve, it also of getting through to the
perfect for smaller fish and equivalent to about 2.5g, as allowed him to change it roach, which were definitely
it picks line up quickly on well as smaller sizes too. I quickly if the need arose. in the swim. But, even with
the strike.” prefer to fish the stick if I His hooklength was 0.12mm a selective tare on the hook,
can, but it all depends on to a size 16 Drennan Carbon dace were a problem, as was
With around seven feet depth, flow and of course, Match, which is a micro- a pike that showed itself a
of water on the line he’s the wind.” barb pattern. couple of times when Rob
fishing, which we reckoned hooked a better roach. As
was equivalent to fishing Rob’s 4g rig consisted of a As the session progressed I walked along the bank to
13 metres on the pole, Rob Maver Finesse float, which Rob was having to feed
had opted for a 4g float. “I is an inline pattern with
do fish these floats as light the reel line (4lb) running The Carbon Match is a great
as 3g,” said Rob. “I’ve got through the body, and then hook for silver fish.
the Maver Signature Finesse he had a 3.5g olivette just
floats in 3g and 4g, and the below half depth and this
Signature In-Line pattern was anchored in place with
in 5g and 6g sizes. They’re a rubber float stop at either
all stored on winders and I end and a couple of No10
don’t think I need any floats shot below that. He had
larger than that for the type four No10 droppers but
of fishing I do. The 4g float instead of a final dropper
is perfect today with this shot on the hooklength
depth and flow and if I fish knot, he had a small quick-
any lighter than 3g, I prefer change swivel that was

20 | Match Fishing

A great net on the bolo for Rob.

take some pictures, I could roach now I’ve increased of fish by casting further rod/bolo approach? I don’t
see him refilling his maggot the feed,” said Rob. “I downstream away from think it would because at 13
and hemp tubs with more even tried feeding balls of where the feed is going in, metres it would have been
bait as he began to pile it groundbait earlier but that which is where most of the difficult to fish in the strong
in. Eventually you could didn’t really do anything, dace seem to be.” wind, and with a long line
see the dace boiling on the so I stopped doing that and required so he could cover
surface every time he fed upped the feed instead. I One thing was very clear more of the swim I think
a pouch of bait and with had a good run of roach on though, without the extra Rob would have missed
them congregating up in the tare but then it died, so control provided by the long a lot of bites, because he
the water, it gave him more I changed back to maggot rod, good bait presentation would have been trying to
of a chance to get his bait and had a couple of small would have been very strike against the wind. If
through them and down to dace followed by a better difficult. In Rob’s capable you’ve got matches coming
the roach underneath. roach! Just when you think hands it looked easy, but it up on flowing water like
you’ve got it sorted, it dies does take a bit of practice to here on the River Trent, you
“I’ve moved my olivette and I have to do something get used to this style fishing. might regret it if you don’t
down a few inches so the rig else to try and catch roach have a long 17 to 20ft rod in
is a bit more positive, and again. I’ve even had a run Would the pole have your holdall.
I’m definitely catching more worked on the day and
been better than the long

www.matchfishingmagazine.com | 21

ISSUES 13-18
NOW ON DVD

Steve’s a former feeder fishing World Champion, a regular in the England
feeder team and he also won this year’s coveted Golden Rod Final… and we’ve
teamed up with him to bring you Feeder Fishing, with the sole aim of helping
you take your feeder fishing to the next level. Visiting a variety of venues,
Steve works out and explains the best approach on the day, and now you can
follow his every move and tune in to his tactical thinking.

• All DVD sets now in stock

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www.feeder-fishing.co.uk

24 THE LONG AND SHORT 30 PRECISION BAGGING 36 FEEDER ESSENTIALS 38 BLOCKED OUT
OF IT! THE EXACTNESS OF PELLET WE TAKE A LOOK AT OF OUR MEMORIES!
BIG-WEIGHT SPECIALIST IAN FEEDER FISHING OFFERS SOME ESSENTIAL TACKLE GARBOLINO’S DARREN
SMITH RECKONS HE WINS A VAST AMOUNT OF FOR YOUR FEEDER COX IS FISHING THE
MORE MATCHES BY FISHING ADVANTAGES OVER THE FISHING. BLOCKEND FEEDER
AWAY FROM HIS FEED. METHOD FEEDER AND MARK ON LOW AND CLEAR
POLLARD REVEALS ALL. WARWICKSHIRE AVON.

www.feeder-fishing.co.uk | 23

THE MSpFDosnLyasniyvoaIseArmA:ssNMg::iteBMeSr:eMBaB5dvra4fIeeToitarrHsdman! d
LONG &
SHORT
OF IT!

wBShigma-twitihfa’wsteebfrriotgbomgrledeahsymtioswWufifoeitsnrhedhsasdinht?&gamYpvohioseousta’aotdlsllol:bafcDebobatonmitgeuW-ertwerhbferebeoaiagmdvhyotfinsfse…pheeidnciginagalis,wbtaIuaytn

24 | Match Fishing

Ian is a big fan of strong
flavours and vibrant colours
when it comes to bait.

Ian Smith might not be carpet means that not only can Although Ian’s
a household name, but a whole shoal physically fit over approach works
he certainly has a feared the baited area, but they need to with natural baits,
reputation around the spend more time exploring and Furzton has been
Midlands area when it comes hunting out the smaller particles, responding well to
to big-water bream fishing. which keeps them in the peg for pellets, boilies and
Although feeding very little longer. Method feeders.
can he highly effective on
commercial type venues As with many revolutionary Stone River low
where there are likely to be and successful methods, stretch main
a few bream in most pegs, spodding is now banned on just line to a super
large naturally stocked waters about every match going, so durable Maxima
are a different ball game and although the same result cannot shockleader is
heavy feeding rules supreme, be replicated with a feeder, there Ian’s choice.
as anglers try to draw in a are a few things that can be done.
ravenous hungry shoal from Striking the bait out halfway
several pegs away. It is these down is a common tactic when
kinds of waters Ian dominated baiting up, but Ian has his own
around 15 years ago as a thoughts on this. Whereas all
pioneer of spodding in a match the commotion happens on the
situation. Using specialist spod surface with a spod, he is very
rods with powerful reels and wary of causing sharp aggressive
heavy braided lines, he was able movements in the depths of the
to deliver huge quantities of bait water. If bream are already in the
a long way out from the bank. area, the last thing he wants to
The advantages of the spod do is spook them by hitting one
were not just in terms of volume with a speeding feeder. Instead,
of bait, but also the spread of it. he tries to do everything he can
It has often been said that you to get the feeder to empty either
cannot catch a ton of bream on the way down or very quickly
on a sixpence, so whereas a on the bottom.
feeder delivers a neat little pile
of bait on the bottom, a spod Nisa Rocket Feeders have
empties on the surface, giving quite a unique design in that
the loose offerings six to 12 feet they have a ‘cross’ of plastic across
of water on many venues to sink the bottom to hold the weight in
down and spread out. This wide place. This extra extrusion, along
with the bulk of the lead itself,
means that loose offerings can

www.feeder-fishing.co.uk | 25

HOW TO… just be placed into the feeder catch a passing shoal’s attention
and capped at the top, rather and cause them to move down
TIE IAN’S QUICK-CHANGE FEEDER RIG than capped at both ends like over the bait. For this reason,
most feeders. It only takes this he will always use trout pellets
1 Using the applicator, thread 2 Thread a Quick-Change small cap of groundbait to as an initial feed when fishery
a Grip Stop on to the line. Feeder Link Swivel, followed by disintegrate and fall out as the rules allow, especially on waters
another Grip Stop on to the line. feeder sinks for it to also empty over eight feet deep, which
on the way down. many big bream waters are. Ian
3 Create 4 … and complete with a believes so much in the drawing
four inches figure of eight knot to make Once the feeder has hit power of trout pellets, that he
of twizzled a twizzled loop. the deck, he then leaves it will also grind them up and use
line… for around 10 seconds before the powder as his groundbait to
reeling in, which also helps cap the feeder when baiting up.
5 The complete rig. 6 Attach a Method feeder to spread the bait more than
to the loop if needed… striking. There is no doubt that Two pints of mixed 2mm
some bait will still be in the and 4mm trout pellets along
7 …or a hooklength to the feeder at this stage and will with half a pint of casters is
Quick-Change Feeder Link Swivel fall out over several metres as Ian’s standard initial feed. Even
the feeder bounces along the with the biggest Nisa Rocket
and a conventional feeder to the bottom. feeder, it takes 15 or so casts
loop for a helicopter feeder setup. to empty his bowl! This might
Feed For Trout sound like an awful lot of bait,
especially on what could be a
With all this talking of baiting low-weight day! This is where
up and causing a spread, just the lack of digestibility of
where does the fishing away trout pellets also becomes an
from the feed come in? Well, advantage, as Ian is sure that
before you can fish away bream will still be drawn in by
from the feed, you need to the pellets but will only actually
understand what is happening eat them when they are really
around your baited area first. hungry. This makes his banquet
Ian firmly believes that heavy a double-edged sword: a lot of
feeding will always draw fish bait to hold a hungry shoal, but
in; however, bream being a a tricky yet attractive meal that
strange and fickle species peckish bream will be drawn to
means that they might not but won’t want to dine on.
necessary actually eat the bait
straightaway or even at all! It’s at this point that a feeder
This is where his choice of feed loaded with maggots, casters,
becomes important. worms or Dynamite Swim Stim
pellets cast out will be an easy
Trout pellets were the first meal that bream will quickly
form of pellets used by match pick out. The cherry on the
anglers but were soon replaced cake, if you like!
by specially developed coarse
fish pellets. While very potent The Feed To Fish With
and high oil pellets are great
for trout, they are not ideal Now we have spoken about
for bream and carp as they the feed that the fish rarely
find them difficult to digest. touch, we better talk about
This has led to trout pellets what the fish actually eat! Ian’s
being banned on commercial choice of groundbait is a mix
fisheries where their extensive of Dynamite Green Swim
use on smaller waters can cause Stim and F1, which he further
harm. A vast, naturally stocked ‘badboys’ up by adding F1 Pellet
water is a different ball game Soak to his mixing water.
though, as there is more than
enough water to ‘lose’ a few Groundbait for fishing
pellets compared to smaller with is the same whether
commercials. Ian is fishing a method or a
conventional feeder. It is worth
One advantage trout pellets mentioning at this point that
do have though, is their effect although he fished a Method
in very deep water. Bream are feeder on our day at Furzton,
a species that many believe his tactics also work with a
spend a lot of their time at conventional feeder. In fact,
mid-depth. The oils released because Ian often won’t know
from the potent pellets rise up what type of feeder will be best
through the water column over on the day, all his rods are made
time, which Ian believes will up with his own design quick-

26 | Match Fishing

A specialist baiting
-up rod makes the
job easier.

Trout pellets might not be a bream’s A Nisa Rocket feeder can be loaded

favoured meal but it certainly draws them in. with almost pure particles.

When clipping up short always

caleuagvhettohne orignienaarl pthoeinfteceldip,ptehden
thsaotymouusctamn eansiltyhraettuthrneytodtohne’t
wbaanitetdoafreeead. at all and the only
place to find them is well away
from the bank and a long way
past everyone’s landing feeders.

Even on waters usually
dominated by conventional

Judging time is difficult when
concentrating on a tip. Like
most top anglers Ian now uses
a stopwatch.

change rig, which allows him to Search Them Out still too nervous to move over it. When fishing well beyond
easily swap between a Method After these four casts, Ian the feed a Method is Ian’s
feeder and a cage or window If it is going to be a red-letter number-one choice.
feeder setup. day, then you will almost will then revert to his original
certainly catch right over your rod, which is clipped up over his
He also prepares some coarse feed and it doesn’t matter initial feed. If at this point he
pellets that he can use straight whether you have a fed in Ian’s starts catching well, he knows
on to his Method feeder or way or you have adopted a it is going to be a good day! If
mixed with his groundbait to more orthodox approach, you after a few fish or worse still, no
be used on a Method or in a will only win on a good day by bites at all, he will revert back to
conventional feeder. What he doing this. On most waters, 50 fishing past his feed.
does depends on the water he to 60 metres is the range that
is fishing and on what the fish most people fish, but he will Halfway through the match
want on the day. Pellets are a normally start his match by is decision time. Hopefully by
mix of 2mm and 3mm Green fishing around 10 metres past now Ian will have worked out
Swim Stim pellets prepared in this initial feed with a second if he is best off fishing over
Green Betaine pellet soak. Once rod. Four casts in this area of his feed, past his feed or doing
these are spongy and ready after the peg is long enough to catch both, but if neither are working,
around 15 minutes, Ian then any fish that have backed off there is a final roll of the
sprinkles in some dry F1 pellets. the feed. After years of trial and dice. He then has the option
Not only do these really stand error, 10 metres is the distance of unclipping and simply
out against the green pellets, but Ian has settled on, as it just whacking the feeder as far as he
the fact they are dry helps them seems to be the area where fish can well past both his lines and
spring off a Method feeder once naturally sit that have been into no-man’s land. The aim of
in the water. drawn into by the feed but are this exercise is simply to find
an odd fish. If few have been

www.feeder-fishing.co.uk | 27

type feeders, if Ian feels the five turns and clip up again. If skimmer 10 metres past the feed Ian removed his line clip and
need to do this, the minute this new spot also produces a was a pleasing start. After 40 started casting to different spots
table-like bed of bait offered liner, he will then come even minutes, he was already fishing past his feed, with the feeder
by a Method feeder is usually closer. At times, he has won over his consignment of bait, landing anywhere between 10
the number one choice. Casting matches by fishing a staggering but action wasn’t exactly hectic to 20 metres past his feed but
into oblivion where no feed 10 metres short of his feed! with a few more small skimmers crucially, not to the same spot
has gone at all does take some and just one bream gracing twice. This then proved to be
bottle, but a large Method Although fishing past the the net. Liners were very hard the best period of the day when
feeder with Ian’s extra potent feed is quite common, very few to spot in the conditions, but better bream up to the 4lb mark
fishing groundbait mix does anglers think to try short of it. one obvious indication led to started to put in an appearance,
give him some confidence that Ian believes that feeding bream Ian trying around six reel turns ending with around 40lb of fish
an odd fish could find it. regularly circle around the short of his feed. Within 30 in the net.
feed and could just as likely be seconds, a decent bream was
Watch That Tip! hiding short of the feed as past hooked but despite returning to Verdict
it! Food for thought? the same spot several times, no
You might already have a good more bites followed. To the casual eye, big-water
idea of what Ian is trying to Furzton Fun bream fishing appears to be a
achieve but fishing short of Ian then tried back over his ‘fill it in and cross your fingers’
his feed is also a tactic that To demonstrate his methods, feed again where he caught kind of affair, but as you’ve read,
works well for him. In fact, he we headed off to Milton just a few more small skimmers Ian Smith has developed it into
believes that fishing well short Keynes’ Furzton Lake on what before the peg seemed to just a sophisticated game of cat
of his feed has won him more has to have been the windiest fizzle out. Suspecting they may and mouse that simply leaves
matches than fishing over or and wettest day of the year! have settled beyond the feed, he bream nowhere to hide! It
past his feed has! Knowing The conditions might not be picked up his second rod and doesn’t matter if there is 100lb
when to do this is all about pleasant for the angler, but Ian went back to 10 metres past his to be caught or just 10lb, Ian’s
liners. Ian watches his tip like was sure the bream would have feed where he gradually picked well thought out approach of
a hawk all of the time and just a munch! off more skimmers plus an odd feeding and searching is likely
one liner when he is fishing bream. to come up trumps and has led
over his feed yet not catching With Furzton responding him to be become so feared on
is enough for him to wind back well to the Method feeder At the point when it looked these big waters.
recently, this was going to be like no more bites would come,
Ian’s starting gambit and a small

Around 40lb, mostly caught 10
metres beyond the feed.

28 | Match Fishing

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Photos: Mark Parker

30 | Match Fishing

The Matrix feeder system Polly’s feeder
is interchangeable. setup is simple.

Sadly, in my opinion, the not encounter the hook bait. in the hopper, meaning that the
pellet feeder is an almost But, with a pellet feeder, to feed only escapes once the feeder
forgotten tactic these has hit the deck and the water
days. Being very similar get to the goodies inside, the fish has been allowed to penetrate.
to the Method in what and how has to encounter the hook bait as There is therefore no bait ‘spill’ as
you feed and fish with it, I think the feeder is front-loaded. This the feeder is descending, which
it is so much easier to use and, is why I think the pellet feeder can bring fish up in the water,
at times, it is a tactic that will is more of a precise rifle shot as well as the bait spreading
outfish the Method. Being the in comparison to the Method around the swim slightly. This
shape of what I call an old-style feeder. means that feeding fish can only
coal scuttle, if the fish want to approach the free feed in one
feed on the feeder’s contents, Although in high summer direction, so they encounter the
they have to, by design, come both should still be cast every hook bait face on. The result is
into contact with the hook bait. three to five minutes, the very positive bites.
Method is used to build up a
Comparatively, the Method bed of bait, while the precision A further advantage of this
is more of a shotgun, as the gained from using a pellet feeder forgotten tactic is, as like a
payload breaks down in a small allows you to drip feed the swim, Method feeder, you use a very
area. This means that the fish controlling the numbers of fish short 4in hook link, which is
can approach the loose feed you attract at any one time. This buried in the feeder so you are
from 360 degrees. As a Method helps prevent drawing too many able to cast very close to island
feeder payload breaks down, the fish into the swim, leading to margins or reeds and sedges, the
hook bait will inevitably fall to frenzied fish and the inevitable very places that carp love to back
one side. This means that if the foul-hookers. into. Plus, as the name suggests,
hook bait is at the two o’clock the pellet feeder was originally
position, and a fish comes at Also, with a Method feeder, designed to fish with pellets. But,
the pile of bait from the seven pellets and/or groundbait can having an enclosed hopper, you
o’clock position, it can feed and break off the frame of the feeder can just as easily fish sweetcorn,
when it hits the water. With a
pellet feeder, the feed is encased

Cast on the button.
www.feeder-fishing.co.uk | 31

PREPARING THE FEEDER MIX

1 23

Pour the Method mix into a bucket. Now add the C-Food groundbait. Mix the two together and riddle well.

4 5 6

The finished mix ready to combine with the pellets. Add the groundbait to the pellets. The final mix ready to go.

dead maggots, casters or chopped Pellet feeders are easily Polly’s
worm through it, as long as packed with your thumb. groundbait
you cap it off with a smear of
groundbait. Loaded and ready to go. choices.

As well as these plus points, no need to use a heavier tip as a lighter main line, it means small feeder as I find it easier
the Matrix pellet feeder has a you are not really tightening I have to use a lighter hook to regulate the amount of loose
couple of distinct advantages up to the feeder. Plus, when link otherwise the setup isn’t feed you introduce. If you want
itself. The first is that the entire it comes to carp bites, it is balanced. The hook link is more loose feed in the swim,
Matrix legering system is generally more of a 5ft twitch four inches long with a size 18 cast more often! I think that
modular and interchangeable. than a gentle pull round! MXC 4 X-Strong Eyed hook with a large feeder you can very
Using this system means that I tied with a hair-rigged bait easily overfeed the swim from
can fish a pellet feeder, Method Main line is 0.20mm (8lb), band. the off. This can cause too many
feeder or even a bomb on the which means I can use a hook fish to come in at once, causing
same rod,taking just seconds to link up to 0.20mm if I want. The feeder is an 18g small swim management problems,
swap from one tactic to another Today’s is 0.18mm. If I used pellet feeder. I prefer to use a
in the time it takes to replace
the hook bait. This also negates
the need for several rod setups.
But, the biggest advantage is that
fishing the one rod means I’m
fishing to the same clipped-up
distance.

Also, when in a match, you’re
not allowed to cast a feeder prior
to the start, but with this system,
I can sort out my distance and
clip up with a bomb, prior to
effortlessly swapping it to a
feeder, all ready to go once the
all-in is announced.

Pellet Feeder Tackle

Today, I am on Magpie Lake at
Rookery Waters. With only a
20-yard cast to the far bank, I am
using a Matrix 10ft Horizon Pro
feeder rod with a 1oz tip. There’s

32 | Match Fishing

Trou
favo

The pellet feeder is
deadly in the right hands.

A cracking common Wafters work well
on a wafter. with the pellet feeder.

or you end up overfeeding the pellets as the main loose feed Polly’s rod choice.
swim. Either way, it is not a and mine are Hinders 2.3mm
situation I want to deal with. Carp Pellets. These are poured
But, even with a small pellet into a bait tub, just covered
feeder, it is surprising how with water and left to soak
much payload you can pack in. for two minutes, exactly how
you would prepare them for
Bait Options the Method feeder. I tend to
use them straight out of the
As it’s a pellet feeder, bag, but you could add a liquid
unsurprisingly I’ve opted for

www.feeder-fishing.co.uk | 33

The carp keep on coming.

Boosted pellets are another
favoured hook bait.

flavour at this point, something eat them all and leave the swim A superb mirror this time. That said, I also always bring
that is often worth doing if you with little or no attraction to a few tubs of Hinders’ Wafters.
have to use fishery-only pellets, pull other fish in. By adding the special blend of attractors and These neutrally buoyant hi-viz
just to make yours stand out. groundbait, small particles waft feed stimulants that will drive baits are a great alternative
into suspension, driving the fish all fish crazy. Fishing the two hook bait and are particularly
To go with the pellets, I like mad as they can smell food but mixed gives you so much more, effective on tough days. Available
a 50:50 mix of groundbait. there is nothing to eat besides I think. in white, yellow and red/pink,
The reason being that it adds what’s in the feeder. it is the first two that I prefer,
a bit of cloud, smell and extra With regards to hook baits, possibly because as a match
attraction into the swim. It My groundbait mix is a 50:50 I tend to stick to ‘matching the angler I have an affinity towards
is this smell and taste in the blend of Hinders’ Supercharged hatch’. This is either a natural corn and bread. But, different
water that pulls and holds the Method Mix and the new or a Hinders’ Boosted 6mm colours do work differently on
fish. With a straight particle C-Food Expander Mix. The Pellet. The latter again have a different venues.
approach, the fish could easily C-Food is packed with a range of special flavour boosters
added to help pull fish to the The fish in Barston are well
hook bait. known for their love of pink
baits. It is one of those things
that you need to try on the day
to see what difference the various
colours make. If they catch
better or bigger fish, great; if not,
change to another one. If they’re
not on the bank with you, you
can’t try them is what I say!

34 | Match Fishing

The fish kept coming until Fishing The Pellet Feeder
the end of the session.
Like I said, it isn’t a Method
Ignore the pellet feeder, but the two are fished
feeder at your peril. pretty much the same way. I’m
looking to make two to three-
minute casts; bait up the same;
use the same hook baits, and 4in
hook links. The big difference is
you load pellet feeders with your
thumb, forcing the payload into
the hopper. This makes them
much easier to load and fish with
than a Method feeder I think, as
your loose feed doesn’t have to be
prepared as precisely as it does
with a Method feeder.

The only thing you do need to
be vigilant with is not to make
the groundbait too dry or too
stodgy as the feeder won’t work
as it should. Too stodgy and the
payload won’t come out as well,
while if it’s too dry, it will float,
again causing problems with the
swim.

Apart from this, just the fish tell
you how they want it on the day.

As the session continues, if the
fish go into a frenzy, giving line
bites and funny bites, I will swap
over to a lead and fish a single
hook bait for a few casts until the
frenzy has subsided. Or, if they
want more food, I can go on to a
Method feeder. This is the main
advantage of using the Matrix
system. After all, if I wasn’t using
a pellet feeder today, I’d be using
the exact same mix on my Method
feeder!

www.feeder-fishing.co.uk | 35

CAGE FIGHTERS

Give yourself an advantage with Daiwa’s N’Zon Cage Feeders.

No all-encompassing feeder to the cage, ensures that these feeders
range would be complete retrieve and empty exceptionally
without one thing – feeders! well. Available in four sizes from
Designed to be super-strong small to extra-large and weights from
and mega-high quality, both N’Zon commercial sized 15g to a whopping
designs of cage feeder come with a 80g for rivers.
discreet rubberised coating designed
to reduce visibility and fish-scaring The Distance Cage version has a
clattering when fishing on hard weight forward bullet type design to
bottoms. The hard wire is incredibly allow greater ranges to be reached
strong and almost impossible to or increased accuracy in windy
squeeze out of shape in normal use. A conditions than with the standard
strong crimped nylon link ensures the Cage. The unique stepped wire
feeders hang centrally and fly true. mounting of the lead allows enough
The standard Cage has both a space for a finger to be inserted so
bottom ring and a side weight, the bait can be compressed from both
giving the ultimate compromise in ends. Available in small, medium and
casting distance and accuracy against large with weights from 20g to 60g,
presentation, as they still lay flat on these are already proving a hit with
the lake or river bed. A slight taper the distance angler.
and weight positioning partly external RRP: CAGE £2.50,

DISTANCE CAGE £2.50

36 | Match Fishing

A CERTAIN The Synergy range of rods from
SYNERGY Garbolino are great fish-catching
tools to have with you on the
Garbolino’s five three-piece Synergy Feeder 3S rods combine bank, without breaking the bank.
to form a range that’s greater than the sum of its parts. These all-round quality feeder rods are
ideal for rivers and lakes in all scenarios,
from lightweight feeder fishing for
silvers, commercial carping for big fish or
distance fishing for bream and carp. Just
ask Darren Cox, who is as happy to use
one of the Synergy range for his feeder
fishing as he is a top of the shop model.

Offering fantastic quality and
exceptional value for money this new
range of all-round quality feeder rods
feature slimline IM carbon blanks in three
sections and have a mixed cork/EVA
handle, and are fitted with quality lined
guides throughout.

The soft, but progressive actions offer
great fish-playing capabilities whether
you’re fishing for silvers or hard-fighting
carp – this range will cover you for
everything.

Available in several lengths and casting
weights to suit your feeder fishing needs,
the Synergy range will span all your
feeder requirements; from Medium and
Medium/Heavy versions for fishing
a light feeder or bomb for typical
commercial fishery needs, to Power for
long range and big-fish work on natural
lakes and big rivers.

Being three-piece models makes these
rods easier to carry in your car or van,
keeping the overall length of the unmade-
up rods nice and compact – no driving
with a long rod section coming through
the back and sticking in your ear!

Each of the five rods is supplied with
three interchangeable tips, which vary
according to the model.

SYNERGY FEEDER 3S RANGE:
11FT MEDIUM, CASTING WEIGHT 20 TO 75G
(GLASS ½OZ, CARBON ¾OZ AND 1OZ TIPS)
RRP: £89.99

12FT MEDIUM, 15 TO 60G
(GLASS ½OZ, CARBON ¾OZ AND 1OZ TIPS)
RRP: £99.99

12FT MEDIUM/HEAVY, 20 TO 75G
(GLASS ½OZ, CARBON ¾OZ AND 1OZ TIPS)
RRP: £109.99

13FT MEDIUM, 30 TO 100G
(CARBON 1OZ, 2OZ AND 3OZ TIPS)
RRP: £114.99

13FT POWER, 50 TO 150G
(CARBON 2OZ, 3OZ AND 4OZ TIPS)
RRP: £129.99

www.matchfishingmagazine.com | 37

BOMLUEOTMCOKOFERDTYH! E
Bftohloregcrokete’tsnenndotfhebeeedmtteerarsn…wdaoyrnetmoa teleWoSimstAmrwoaRptbfWeponaerIdCtanrKAnaSdndtHgbhlIfioRnceoogEklwsesAAseVaasrOoe?firNcais,aWvDLtahiUoilaDnaa.boDrrMlIernwNeefGmroTintbmcOoeNrktCsatscohoknhllexeyi,srbhhheuotpaomsAsoienvmkntohb.eeenrasv,rheiepa.r

38 | Match Fishing

My mix of worms, casters and Fill the feeder like you would Don’t pack it tight or the bait
maggots is full of amino acids. with any other loose particles. will take too long to come out
of the feeder.

For a number of years, I Black Caps after having lots to myself was: “If you can catch
have been having some of success using the pole, so many fish close in on your
great successes on rivers baitdropper and chopped own bank on the pole with neat
up and down the country worms. Everyone uses this baits like worms, how can I
with blockend feeders. This method on the rivers because is replicate this method in areas
design of feeder is probably the so accurate, and you can catch of my swim that are beyond the
most under-used of all feeders so many fish with it. And not reach of the pole?”
these days with Methods, just numbers of fish, on those
Hybrids and cage feeders days when you’re not sure what’s The most obvious tactic is
all stealing the headlines. going to feed or when you to use a small open-ended
Hopefully after reading this, expect it to be hard, this method groundbait feeder, which can be
you may feel it is worth setting will catch whatever’s feeding. deadly. However, we all know
one up a bit more often because that groundbait is never at the
believe me, on their day they Perch are the number-one top of a perch’s menu of things
are unbeatable, especially now target on it though, but it they like to eat. Yes, most other
as we’re heading into the colder throws up lots of wonderful species like it, but why do we
months. surprises up and down the have to add something to a
I first started playing ‘again’ country in the form of bream, method that our main target
with my old faithful Kamasan barbel, eels, chub, tench and fish doesn’t really like? Even a
even odd carp. So, my question dark mix without much food

HOOK BAITS

12

Single dendrabaena. Two sections of dendrabaena.

3 4

Two whole dendrabaenas. A hefty chunk of lobworm.
www.feeder-fishing.co.uk | 39

Always start the session
on heavy gear.

content could never be classed wanted to be rather than try What could this be early
as a perch attractor. to draw them to my pole line, on in the session?
which doesn’t always work.
Another negative with the Feeder fishing is easy to be What a superb fish!
groundbait feeder is that it accurate nowadays with the use
can attract too many small of the right rods and reels, as
fish, so when you’re targeting well as the trusty line clip. If
quality fish on natural baits you want to be sure, then use
the last thing you want to do measuring sticks. Once you
is feed something that’s going have found the distance, you
to attract small fish. Also, in can then have multiple swims
clear water it is not always the on the go with one rod.
most effective way of catching
fish. I have tried replacing the Simple Setups Are
groundbait with just molehill, Best
which was better, but not quite
good enough. I remember The setup is very
Klaus Fix and I qualified for uncomplicated. I have an
the Embassy Pairs final in American snap link swivel
Denmark years ago by fishing running on the main line,
like this on the River Cam. which is stopped above the
So, a few years ago I started hook link with a bead. This
experimenting with blockends bead is trapped in a twizzled
again, and the difference was line boom that I make myself
incredible! on the main line. This is
extremely free-running and
By fishing a blockend and means a fish feels very little
feeding what is effective on resistance when it takes the
my baitdropper lines short, I bait. Too much pressure on the
found that I could open up lots line and it will drop the bait,
of new swims that I could not and when fishing with worm
fish effectively before. Targeting on the hook you have to give
areas across the river to features the fish time to take the bait
like overhanging trees, snags, in properly before striking. I
weeds, reeds, etc or even down prefer to start on a Mini Black
the middle, meant that I could Cap feeder and will vary the
reach the fish in the areas they

Dendrabaenas form the Lobworms are great for big fish.
base of the feed and are
great on the hook.

40 | Match Fishing

My rig is simplicity itself. Another big fish on…

weight according to the flow. tied to a minimum of 0.16mm … and another superb tench.
Today, 20g is more than enough (and often 0.20mm) Garbolino www.feeder-fishing.co.uk | 41
to hold bottom on a low and Fluoro Power. This setup
clear river. gives me a very good chance
of getting most early bonus
I am a big believer in fishing fish out, and proved I needed
bigger hooks and heavier lines it today – the two big tench I
to kick the session off. If there caught while doing this feature
is a big fish on your feed early pushed my gear to the limit!
you need to be sure to get it out,
and the perch and chub won’t However, later in the
be line and hook shy initially. session I started to get plucks
The last thing you want to do rather than good bites and by
is lose a good fish early on changing to a size 16 hook and
because that could spell disaster 0.14mm line, I upped my catch
on that line for the rest of the rate and kept the perch coming
match. Today (and most days) right to the end of the session.
I will kick off with a size 12 I doubt I would have carried
Garbolino Power Match Wide on catching with the bigger
Gape, which is a lovely strong hook, so always be prepared to
and sharp hook. This will be scale down if you need to, but

Silver fish are partial These can turn up at any time.
to a worm approach.
definitely don’t do it the other a chance of another, a window
Bread and butter way round by starting light and feeder capped with the tiniest
fish on the chopped then scaling up. amount of fishmeal really works
worm feeder. to get some bait in quickly.
Get The Feeding Right Other times a bit of cloud
A switch to groundbait coming off the feeder will get
can pay dividends I have experimented with you other bonus fish.
when you’ve caught different baits and always tend
all the perch. to come back to a mixture It is incredible how much bait
of chopped lobworms and you can get through when you
42 | Match Fishing dendrabaenas. I usually chop are catching. Today I have used
dead or live maggots up with 30 lobbies, a third of a kilo of
these to as this gives a massive dendras, half a pint of casters and
release of amino acids, which maggots. But the fish responded
most fish love. I also add casters to it and even after I had caught
and a few live red maggots to the tench, the better perch
this mix if I feel it needs it. For moved in when I upped the feed.
a slow release I will pack the
feeder tight, but I often find Hook baits are also really
a half or three-quarter filled important and depend on what
feeder gets a much quicker species you feel you can catch.
response as it releases the Perch will take most sizes of
contents very quickly. You just worm baits, but they won’t
need to be mindful that in always take them properly. A
deep water or faster flows you wriggling worm is much more
can spread your feed too far by effective, and I catch a lot on a
doing this, so packing it tight ‘top and tailed’ dendra as I get
can work well in deeper swims. better bites. The longer the hook
bait the longer it takes the fish
There are occasions where to swallow it! Lobworms can
I feel a change to a different be fantastic for chub, bream
feeder definitely works. and barbel, and those really big
Sometimes you can catch most specimen sized perch have a
of the perch in your swim so liking for them too. In coloured
need to target a new species. water their pulling power is
This is where a bit of dark immense. If you are after a big
fishmeal groundbait comes in fish, then a lobby tail is brilliant.
handy, and can extend your By varying the size of baits
catch period, and even catch you use it will give you a better
you an odd bonus bream, chub indication of what fish are in
or even barbel. If I do catch your swim. Then you can use the
a bonus and feel I may have right size to catch more of them.

A selection of feeders will Today has been a perfect
cover all your options. example of how effective this
method can be on a scorching hot
and still mid-September day when
I would expect to struggle. I have
fed two lines, one a third out from
my bank, and the other across to
a willow tree but still in the main
depth. By swapping between the
two I have managed to keep fish
coming throughout the session. By
only feeding these lines with the
blockend I have kept the feeding
tight, not spreading bait all over
the river and confusing the fish. I
caught two huge bonus tench in
the first couple of hours among
some lovely perch, then made a
few changes to keep the perch
coming for just short of 20lb,
which on a low and clear river
that’s in desperate need of some
rain was more than I realistically
expected to catch.

Like I said, I have fed a lot over
the session but never too much.
I have fed to the response I was
getting, and despite the millions
of bleak in the river, they have not
bothered me at all today. If you are
on the rivers soon, it’s definitely
worth giving this method a go, you
may get a nice shock!

What a superb day on the river!
www.feeder-fishing.co.uk | 43

HIDDEN JEWEL

OF EAST ANGLIA

This 18-year-old complex consists of five fishing lakes, all exceptionally well stocked with
carp, F1s, tench, roach, rudd, perch, barbel and the odd ornamental, with all lakes offering

exceptional sport to both the match and pleasure angler alike.
There is a lake at Rookery Waters to offer sport for anglers of all abilities and ages, with staff

on hand to make sure you pick the right lake for your personal fishing requirements.

• New open-plan and self-catering holiday lodges • Exclusive fishing peg in front of lodge included in price
• Fish weigh up to 28lb, including carp, tench, silvers • Two twin/double bedrooms
• Three other match lakes on site • On-site tackle shop • On-site cafe 

As well as the excellent fishing, we also have the Rookery Cafe, We are delighted to announce For all
which offers a full cooked breakfast consisting of all locally that our CL Caravan park is information
sourced products, including our own free-range eggs, which are now completed and we are about the cafe
very popular with visiting anglers. The cafe also offers a good now taking bookings for and caravan
selection of hot and cold food and beverages, to keep you going 2020. Each of our five pitches pitches, please
whilst at the fishery. The cafe can also be hired out for functions has mains electric and water contact Clair on
and matches with full meal and event packages available, for supply, with idyllic rural views 07765 400697
those who wish to have a meal and presentation after the as far as the eye can see.
match.

Unlike many tackle shops located on commercial As well as offering a huge our casters are produced daily in store by
fisheries, Tackle & Bates offers the visiting angler the selection of tackle, we also our experienced bait team.
complete package. Not only do we carry a large stock have in store a comprehensive
all major brands, including rods, reels, nets, seatboxes selection of groundbait, hook baits As well as over the counter sales, Tackle
and accessories, plus all terminal accessories that and liquids from all major brands & Bates now has a very busy eBay store;
you’ll need for your next session, we also have a huge including Sonubaits, Sensas, Ringers, Van to find us, please look up our selling page –
selection of brands for the more select match anglers, Den Eynde, Spotted Fin, Dynamite Baits, Mainline, tackleandbates1989 – for reliable and fast service.
including Hayabusa, Colmic, Tubertini and Cresta to Match, Hinders and more. We also supply fresh baits If you are looking for an item and don’t use eBay, you
name just a few. including maggots, pinkies, squatts and worms, while can order over the phone and we accept all major
credit and debit cards.

PLEASE CALL 07824 878492 TO SPEAK TO OUR EXPERIENCED STAFF FOR ALL ENQUIRIES OR TO PLACE AN ORDER.
ROOKERY WATERS, ROOKERY FARMS, FEN ROAD, PIDLEY, CAMBRIDGESHIRE, PE28 3DF www.rookerywaters.co.uk

POLE

FISHING

46 Venue Detective 52 A Matter Of Size… 58 Fishing On The Edge 64 Up Close
Andy May visits the little- Or Is It? Bagging machine Des Shipp Check out the new clothing
known but awesome Craig Edmunds reveals that shows you a great tactic for range for this winter from
Green Farm Fishery in scaling down on bait size catching more carp down Preston Innovations.
Northamptonshire. can bring rich rewards, but the edge when feeding
there’s actually more to it groundbait.
than that.

Green Farm Fishery

This month Andy May is at Green Farm Fishery in the heart of
Northamptonshire. If you want peace and tranquillity as well as
some outstanding pole fishing, this venue has got to be worth a visit.

Where To Visit

GREEN
FARM
FISHERY

Green Farm Fishery is almost unknown outside the What an absolute stunning little Dave Wesson) met Phil (father) on arrival
immediate area but with four ponds and a match lake fishery I am at today, you and immediately were welcomed, what a
(with maybe even more to come), it’s only going to lovely lot! It’s taken me three lovely bloke he is. Over a coffee he talked us
grow in popularity.There’s also a very comfortable days to get here like, ha ha, not through the history of the place and took us
lodge onsite where you can buy bait and food and really but I did miss out on at least two hours for a tour round. The fishery has five lakes and
the fishery is set in the heart of the beautiful, rural of my beauty sleep as I set off at 5am this instantly you could sense the passion, time
Northamptonshire countryside. For match anglers, the morning! You join me at Green Farm Fishery and effort that has been put into making these
Kingfisher Match Lake has some stunning fish and carp in a beautiful little village called Weedon Lois, lakes fishable. All of the lakes are next to each
need to be targeted for a winning weight. near Towcester in Northampton, and literally other in a line going up a hill so that they can
for miles around there are just open fields and naturally run into each other. One lake is 30 feet
Green Farm, High Street,Weedon Lois, countryside. This place really is lovely and one deep, say whaaatt, no plummets needed for
Towcester NN12 8PL of the reasons I absolutely adore doing these that lake today!
Dean Jones – 07587 536244 Venue Detectives as it brings me to venues
Philip Jones – 07562 364663 like this. The match lake is the one I will be fishing
www.greenfarmfishery.com today and it is the last of the five lakes.
The fishery itself has been going for six years However, Phil says there are plans in the
46 | Match Fishing thanks to father and son duo Phil and Dean pipeline for yet more, so watch this space.
Jones. We (myself and professional skyliner Unfortunately, Dean could not make it today

Andy May is a hugely respected, all-
round match angler, a silver medallist
for England at youth level and three-
time Matchman Of The Year! He is now
arguably the top angling coach in the
country and can be booked online at
www.fishingcoaching.co.uk.

• 2016 Fish ‘O’ Mania champion
• Three-time Kamasan Matchman
Of The Year
• Youngest ever Matchman
Of The Year
• World youth individual
silver medallist
• Full-time angling coach
• All-round nice guy!

due to work commitments and he is the But I am here to fish the Kingfisher Match Bait
reason why we are here. Dean got in touch Lake, which looks absolutely superb. It’s just
with me a few months ago and when he was after 9am on one of the hottest September I had two bags of fishery-own pellets in 4mm
talking about the venue it sounded absolutely days I can remember. The peg I’ve chosen to and 6mm and a tub of my favourite Robin Red
perfect for a feature; I’m so glad we came fish is on a point in the middle of the lake and pellets in the same 4mm and 6mm sizes just
because I don’t think I’ve ever been to a more on arrival the water is fairly clear, and due to for the band. I did add some lovely Dynamite
scenic fishery! the sun piercing through the water I wasn’t Baits F1 Sweet Pellet Soak to the pellets just
sure how the fish would react, hmmm! I put to give them a little edge and help them sink
There is a café with toilets on site and a a few fishery 4mm pellets in down the edge better. So absolutely nothing complicated in
proper big car park. A syndicate is set up on in literally 12 inches of water and within five terms of bait and all you need on this type
some of the lakes so members can pay and minutes I had tails waving at me, wohoooo! of venue to get in among them is a couple of
come and fish at their own leisure and get bags of pellets… what could be easier?
snarled up into carp well into 20lb, some This match lake has lots of carp up to 6lb
nearly 30lb! There are also angry barbel to in it along with roach, rudd, skimmers and Rigs
target and one of the lakes right at the top bream but, the way things are looking today
is a proper Mr Crabtree style lake which just with fish rising everywhere, I’m not sure I will As I mentioned before the conditions are
screams out crucians – I honestly wish I could be fishing anything other than up in the water, like Gran Canaria, I am so glad I am wearing a
have fished every one of them. completely not like me that! black T-shirt and black trousers, errrrrrrr, not!
With Ambre Solaire applied I get out three top

www.matchfishingmagazine.com | 47

GREEN FARM FISHERY Choosing the ideal hook for
my Robin Red hook pellet.
ANDY’S PELLET PREP
Superb conditioned
fish in here.

4mm and 6mm fishery pellets. A carp hooked down
the edge and it’s going
straight for deep water.

Pour in some Dynamite Pellet Soak.

Don’t skimp... add plenty! kits to fish shallow, shallower and an edge rig! at two feet and fished around a metres away
My first rig is for down the edge; normally from the bank to start with.
The boosted pellets ready to go.
on these open waters I would start on a top Next, I set up my through-the-water
48 | Match Fishing kit and two or three sections in front of me shallow rig using a 0.1g float and shotted with
but, as Phil explained this lake runs to 15 feet three No11 shot spaced evenly down the line.
in places and I would have around eight feet Main line is 0.18mm and I have a 3in 0.15mm
of water at just five metres from the bank. hooklength to a size 16 Gama Power Carp
Realistically that would be too deep to fish on hook. I set up a similar rig but with a longer
the bottom for numbers of fish today, and the two feet of line from pole tip to float in case
fact I had fish swirling in 12 inches of water I the fish were spooky. This rig has all the shot
decided on fishing the edge first while priming directly under the float so the bait can fall
my shallow line. more naturally, but it would also double as a
mugging rig should I see some cruisers! I’ve
I set up a 0.4g RW Muddy float with 0.18mm got white 6 to 10 Twin Core on these two top
main line and a 3in 0.13mm hooklength to a size kits as it’s so deep. I don’t want to be fishing
16 Gama Power Carp hook. This was shotted a heavy elastic due to possibly pulling out of
with five No8s just above the hooklength and the fish as they charge off into the deeps once
my elastic was MAP Twin Core in grade 10 to 14. hooked.
Although I could see fish swirling, I set the rig

A softer elastic prevented hook-
pulls in the deep water.

Never been Nothing complicated My favourite Robin
hooked on my tiny bait tray. Red hook pellets.

before... until I Three slaps and fish will follow.
came along!

What superb fish!

the session I hook into… a roach! It was a lovely looking out at 13 metres… it was time, wohooo! This
roach though, but not what I expected with was probably going to be the last shallow
So, starting off I catapult a few 6mm pellets the water so coloured and carpy looking! I fishing day I was going to have this year, so I
out for shallow; I always find 6mms best introduced a few more pellets this time and wasted no time getting straight on it. It was on
for carp when fishing shallow and 4mms waited a little longer before I whacked into with my favourite 6mm red pellet and what
better for F1s. Then, with the fish still swirling a carp and immediately it shot off down was important was to ping a few out first and
down the edge I picked up the shallow rig I’d the shelf into deeper water. Ninety seconds then ship out nice and quick, give it three slaps
plumbed up at two feet and bring it down later an immaculate looking 3lb common and usually I can get a bite immediately… and
to 12 inches in the hope of snaring one was in the net, and I don’t think this fish had that’s exactly what happened.
straightaway as the water is so coloured. ever been caught before. Next go in I caught
But, five minutes in and I’ve already learnt another roach and then again a carp straight Another immaculate looking 4lb common
that these fish aren’t daft, so back to being after at around 1lb in size. was straight on the bait. Fish were rising
sensible! everywhere and considering how the
The roach were straight on the bait then a conditions were, the fish were feeding really
I put the float back to my original depth of carp would come and waddle in to see what confidently. I think the longest I waited for a
two feet and put a small Toss Pot on and it all the fuss was about, awesome! After four bite was three minutes and within an hour
was already time to go out with a 6mm Robin carp in as many drops within 15 minutes I’d got enough fish for a catch shot! I didn’t
Red pellet on the band. I introduced around of going down the edge, I couldn’t help but want to stop fishing though, as I really haven’t
20 pellets and sneaked the rig in over the notice the swirls on my loose fed 6mm pellets been to a more picturesque fishery than this
top. The float settled for five seconds before

www.matchfishingmagazine.com | 49

GREEN FARM FISHERY

ANDY’S FLOATS

Margin float.

Through-the-water shallow float.

Superb fishing at Green Farm Fishery.

Long-line shallow float. and also, I don’t think I’ve ever caught fish in
as stunning condition as these! Literally every
I was enjoying it just a little bit! fish was like brand new and really healthy and
50 | Match Fishing incredibly angry.

I am glad I used a lighter elastic as I am sure
I would have pulled out of some by fishing
heavier. The carp averaged around 2lb and in
match conditions a very good weight would
have been on the cards as I’ve managed around
50lb in just over an hour’s fishing. I cannot wait
to come back here, possibly with the Winning
Ways crew, or I might just keep it to myself as
this fishery is just going to go from strength to
strength.

Phil and Dean – thanks so much for having us
and you have probably one of the best-looking
fisheries I have ever been to.

PS. I am bringing my caravan and storing it
here and long-term living in it!