THE KNOWLEDGE REVEALED See what the professionals have to write about
Rob's tech tips REVEALED
Specimen-carp tactics are playing more of a part in match fishing as each season goes by.
Rob Wootton explains how PVA bags can help to increase your match winnings in colder conditions.
Terminal essentials
How Rob does it
1. A plastic tube is placed in the PVA stocking and pellets poured into it
2. The PVA is twisted so that the pellets are tightly encased
3. Finally, tie a knot in the bag and trim off the end.
TIPS
It's important to note that I'm using a heavier bomb than usual with this tactic; otherwise the PVA bag will hinder casting distance and accuracy.
You will need a strong but forgiving rod, the 3G X-Flex medium feeder is ideal and will handle the casts of up to 40yds!
Once cast out it's vital that the rig isn't moved, as your feed and hook bait will be spread over too wide an area, defeating the object of using a PVA bag.
The knowledge revealed 19
4. The filled PVA bag hooked up and ready to launch
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THE RIG
The rigs I use are really simple, as all the best ones are. For a running lead I cut the swivels from two snap links and slide one onto the line to take the lead and the other to the end of the line to take a hook link. Using these links mean that the rig is virtually tangle-free as the links kick away from each other on the cast. I can also change lead or hooklength quickly without any fuss. For main line I’m using 8lb Technium, with a 0.18mm Middy Lo-Viz hooklength tied knotless-knot style to a size 16 KM-1. A bait band on the hair fi nishes the rig.
FILLING THE BAG
Feeding patterns are still crucial, so I always make sure I measure out my chosen bait before fi lling the bag. The PVA I use is pretty strong – it’s marketed by 30PLUS and is designed for heavy-handed specimen anglers – but even so I still don’t pack hard pellets mega tightly as, once the bag has melted, they have a tendency to explode away from the hook bait and spread over too wide an area for my liking.
HOOKING THE BAG
There are right ways and wrong ways to hook the bag: the best way is to hook it in the centre, as far away from the knots as possible as these don’t break down as quickly and will hinder fi sh hook-ups. I usually hook the bag once and give it a twist, then slip the hook through the bag again. This double hooking of the bag ensures it won’t fl y off on the cast.
CASTING AND POSITIONING Line up your rod with a mark on
the far bank before casting out and as usual achieving the same distance on each cast is crucial. I usually sit with my rod at an 11 o’clock position – you could be waiting quite a long time for a bite and sitting comfortably is especially important in colder conditions as your concentration mustn’t wander. I will also fi re single 8mm or 11mm pellets out over the bag to try and spark a response if I think the fi sh are being lethargic.
PVA bagging can bring catches like this on colder subdued days, so don't ignore it!
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SECRETS UNCOVERED
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