All The Answers


CANAL AND DRAIN PIKE RIG 1. Stop knot


2. Braid stop 3. Bead


4. Pencil float 5. Fox Egg sinker 1 2 3 4


pencil Q


Daniel McCroft, Chaddesden, Derbyshire.


Mark Barrett says… Often the best rigs are the simplest, as is the case with this particular rig, which has helped me catch plenty of pike on both rivers and drains. All you require is a pencil float, which is


5


stopped by a stop knot and cushioned with a bead. At the business end is a Fox Egg sinker, to anchor the bait to the bottom, and the live or deadbait is presented on a wire trace. If you are using mono line, then spool up with 12 lb line while you’ll need 30 lb breaking strain if using braid.


Draw pike with a


Can you show me a simple and effective livebait rig to use on canals?


Modern carp on antique tackle


that I used a long time ago. I’ve now just taken up fishing again and would dearly love to land a carp. Any tips would be useful. Barry Parkes, Derby, Derbyshire.


Q


Matt Sparkes says… Just because you see anglers surrounded by mountains of the latest kit, it doesn’t mean that they’ll catch any more fish than yourself, armed with just your vintage glass carp rod and centrepin reel. We all know it’s not necessarily down to your gear that catches all the fish, but it’s how you present a bait and how finely tuned your watercraft is that gets the results at the end of the day. If you were a consistent angler all those years


ago, then you’ll certainly fare well on a modern commercial pool. In fact, you will probably find it considerably easier, providing your terminal tackle is finely tuned, using modern high-tech hook link materials and decent hooks. Chatting to a few friendly regulars will give you a


clear picture of winning tactics, but traditional baits still work effectively on modern carp pools, so don’t feel pressured into spending lots on kilos of pellets, as you can still have a fantastic day’s sport armed with just a tub full of sweetcorn! An old glass carp rod with a test curve of 2.5 lb


32 anglersmail.com ON SALE TUESDAY


I have a 46-year-old 2.5 lb fibreglass carp rod and a Grice and Young Avon Royal centrepin


sounds perfectly adequate for taming lively carp, and your vintage Avon Royal centrepin, made in Christchurch, Dorset by Grice and Young, makes it a perfect combo. I would suggest loading it with 4-8 lb mono, depending on the average weight of the carp, and use the ratchet as an audible alarm for bolting runs from hooked carp (far more satisfying than a modern alarm, in my opinion).


Carp clues Q


What is the best part of a lake to fish for carp? Nick Rowe, Bedfont, Greater London.


Colin Davidson says… It changes. Not just from day to day, but also hour to hour, depending upon where the fish are and what they are doing. A fundamental of fishing for any species is that correct location (being in the right place so that fish are in front of you) is the most important factor of all. Get into the habit of using your eyes to look for signs of carp, whether bubbling, knocking lilies, rolling and crashing fish or those cruising in the upper layers. Fish for carp wherever you see them, it’s as simple as that. If you aren’t seeing carp readily, I’d always look


to the windward bank, especially if it is a new or particularly strong wind, or areas of snags or cover, such as no-fishing banks, overhangs, lilies and weedbeds. If you are able to remain stealthy and quiet, the


margins are the most reliable place of all to find carp through much of the year. Remember that


Cheap scales are okay for an estimated weight, but you are better off investing more money for an accurate reading.


SUBSCRIBE AND SAVE ✆ 0844 848 0848


being able to spot signs of carp is a skill many do not develop. If you learn to look, you will almost always find carp, and where you find them is always where you should be fishing.


Q


Weighing up your options


Are cheap pocket scales any good? George Santos, via text.


Dave Coster says… Cheap spring balances and the like are okay if you want a rough guide of what your catch or individual fish weigh. But if you want a more accurate record you’ll be better off investing a bit more money, say between £15 and £30. Some spring balances are very good, while I tend


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74