Hi Bob,
Is fishing for carp on the method any good in the winter month’s or should a smaller feeder be used and do you know any good stillwaters in Leicestershire.
Thanks,
Rich
Hello Rich,
Yes, you can still catch carp on the method feeder in winter (see my latest feature in Angling Times). If it is very cold then a small maggot feeder can be very effective.
Holly Farm at Ashby Magna is a very good stillwater carp venue, tel. 01455202391 for details.
Good Fishing,
Bob Nudd
Hi Bob,
After a good days fishing at a commercial carp venue I was packing up. I walked backwards and stood on, one of the bottom ends of a pole section and cracked it, the cracks are about 3 inches long, at the bottom. Can you advise me on how I can fix this. I feel lost without my trusty pole!.
P.S Have you ever fished Hayfield? If so, what’s the deal?
Thanks,
Matt. 17. Sheffield
Hello Matt,
I am sorry to here that you have broken your pole. If you take it in to your local tackle shop he may be able to repair it, or at least know a company which might do it. Check on the price as you may be able to get one from the manufacturers, they keep spare sections.
I fished Hayfield a short time ago , a good method is to feed Van Den Eynde brown crumb in balls so it sinks to the bottom and then fish 2 or 3 foot deep with a small piece of worm, loose feed over the top with casters. If you mix the groundbait fairly dry as it breaks up pieces will float to the surface, attracting fish from the bottom upwards, the casters will attract from the top down .
Good Fishing,
Bob Nudd
Hello Bob,
I’ve fished a few matches (third out of 21 on Tuesday), but I can never decide whether to fish fine for bits or go all out for a couple of big uns. I can spend all 3 hours of the match snatching tiddlers and one bream or a couple of tench slaughter me.
How do you decide which to go for?
Thanks,
Stephen
Hello Stephen,
Tactics are always a problem for all match anglers, including the England team, and there are times when we get it wrong. If you go for small fish then make sure you are very efficient and quick at catching them, this will then give you a chance of beating the two big ones.
Good Fishing,
Bob Nudd
Hello Bob,
When fishing a river which contains proper bream 4/5 lbs, chub to 31/2lb and plenty of small roach, perch, etc. What makes your mind up as to which style of fishing to concentrate on?
The bream can only be caught on the bottom and make up the bulk of winning match weights, so the feeder has to come into the equation somewhere. Do you start off on the feeder or put some balls out and fish the rod or pole first to get a few bits together, or do you leave this line until later in the session.
Please help.
Thanks,
Keith
Hello Keith,
If bream are winning, then in an individual match, then they must be your target. Start with the feeder and determine if there are any in the area, look for line bites or any other indications on the tip.
Feed for the roach while you are doing this. If there are no signs of bream then you can feed about ten balls of groundbait, and then fish for roach, checking with the feeder to see if the bream have arrived.
If chub are the target and you have some far bank cover, then use a blockend feeder tight to the far bank as soon as the match starts , if chub are present then your best hour will be the first.
Good Fishing,
Bob Nudd
Hello Bob,
I have just started match fishing after a 25 year gap, and having just purchased my first pole l find it very difficult to plumb up.
Could you please give me some advice?
Thanks,
Richard
Hello Richard,
Sorry to here that your having problems plumbing up, its very easy really. Buy yourself a good plummet about 10 grams in weight. Clip it on your hook , and lower it in very slowly ensuring the line is vertical if the float sinks then you need to move your float up the line so that it is deeper, if it doesn’t sink then you need to shallow up, about 1 float length overdepth is a good place to start and then adjust according to the bites.
Good Fishing,
Bob Nudd
Dear Bob,
I fish a large lake in New Zealand which did hold big shoals of Golden Rudd.
In the last two years the birds of prey and/or the big perch (3.5lb) have all but eliminated the Rudd. As a result the lake bed has recovered and now has numerous species of weed covering it. The only other fish species present is Tench (average 3.5lb) which have improved in condition and seem harder to tempt. Can you suggest any tips re. groundbaiting, loosefeeding, baits, methods to entice the reluctant tench?
The water is only club fished every 3rd weekend or so.
Many thanks,
Darren
Hello Darren,
Its certainly an attractive looking water, and the water plants should help to deter any future predators.
If it is possible try to prebait the evening before you go fishing. Groundbait, sweetcorn and worms are ideal for this purpose. This will help attract the fish into a concentrated area and make them compete for the free goodies.
When you are fishing try feeding with chopped worms (these are very good for attracting tench) and then use a piece of worm on the hook.
Good Fishing,
Bob Nudd
