Things are hotting up!
The temperature is starting to rise and our scaled friends are waking from their winter slumber. Ponds, lakes and rivers are coming alive, and the fish are hungry.
Carp and tench are just two of the species who are starting to scour their territories in search of food. Those anglers who take to the waterside now may be in for a surprise catch or two.
Sweet corn and small boilies are unbeatable baits. The addition of a little worm to your sweet corn bait can have a positive effect, especially when stalking tench. Ground baits with plenty of sweet corn or live bait (maggots or worm bits) can be used and are highly effective when used for pre-baiting a swim 1-2 days prior to your angling session.
The angling methods and rigs that prove most effective are wide ranged. It's really a matter of taste - legering, angling with a match rod, or using a rig with a fine waggler are all equally successful. We suggest that you set up one rod for legering, fitting it with an electronic bite alarm so that you do not have to pay close attention to it. The second rod should be set up for float fishing and requires your full attention. Watching the water's surface gives you a clear view of where the greatest fish activity is. This, in turn gives you an indication of where to cast to. When fish rise to the surface, it is often a sign that they are feeding.
Light match rods are ideally suited to angling in natural and man-made lakes, as they have little problem casting with heavier wagglers. When feeding to distance, it is recommended that you use a catapult. One of the problems of casting feed to distance, is that the bait balls sometimes break apart. To avoid this, simply dip your bait ball into the water. The additional moisture ensures that the ball remains whole, even when using feed with a high percentage of live bait.
When angling on windy days, your float tends to drift away on the surface. To reduce the amount of drift, put a couple of drops of line degreaser on your line to remove any grease (grease on your line will make it more buoyant and increase the level of drift). A bite indicator is also of great worth. Carp and tench tend to swim in shoals, meaning that once you have one in your net, more may follow. After your first catch, it is suggested that you use a little more ground bait to keep the fish in your swim. Try your luck!
We wish you a lot of success!