The Quest; Winter Wonderland
Julian Chidgey3 Feb 12, 09:07 PM
Catch up with Jules multi species winter adventure.
Cracking commercial perch
At this time of year I find it pays to target true cold-weather species instead of wasting too much time fishing for species that are at there best at other times of the year.
Perch- I have had quite a few sessions on both commercial waters and estate lakes over the last month. And my simple approach has been paying off. Chopped worm, maggot and caster liberally coated with Aquastim. This liquid is highly attractive to perch and comes well recomended. With many commercial waters now producing large perch there has never been a better time to try this approach.
2012 and beyond
Ken Beech24 Jan 12, 10:45 AM
2011 ended and 2012 started with several new items in my armoury, Firstly the new freezer baits from Richworth: Super tutti and NV along with a pot of the super tutti pop ups. I thought I had my hands full in 2011 trying to work out what colour/flavour hookbait to use with my favoured XLR8 freezer baits. I now had a new food bait along with a winter winner in a duller colour to factor into the equation.
Fluro's at range seem to be the order of the day for the time being
Steve Lilly (17)
Steve Lilly8 Dec 11, 05:36 PM
November Maggots were starting to be introduced in mass quantises as the first couple of anglers using them in the middle of October had caught some of the bigger fish. For the amount of fish being caught on maggots to the amount going in was only small. On the other hand though the guys on boilies might as well been fishing on the A14! I was still confidant of getting one of the bigger fish on bait as the weather was warm and the fish had to get on bait at some time this year. My first trip in November I was in The Rota a peg noted for producing bigger fish at this time of the year. I washed out some Multiplex and soaked them in Corn Steep Liquor to add extra pulling power and to give the bait a safer look. I thought this might be something different and get me one. I hardly saw a fish and did not even get a liner a change of tactic was called for.
Multiplex washed out with CSL Liquid
Knowing that I should now be on maggots but being sponsored by a bait company I kept on boilies. I made up some 10mm pop ups and cooked some hemp I thought this would be a good middle ground. I kept mobile this week following showing fish and introducing a couple of small spods of hemp on a regular bases knowing that I could move back to these areas, if the fish started to show again.
My final night of this session I finished up in Chatroom the shallowest swim on the lake. I had seen a few fish showing tight to the reeds and the water was coloured so this was going to be the night it was all going to come together! NO I had fish showing over my baits in a few foot of water but still no takes. I thought it was finally time to bite the bullet.
Steve Lilly (16)
Steve Lilly10 Nov 11, 09:36 AM
Monday 24th October With one vacant peg on the Road Bank where I wanted to be. The guys fishing on that bank for some reason have been introducing maggots over the last couple of weeks. I decided that I wanted to stay well away from that area so the Rocky Bank again in the wind. Perry had taken up recediancy as normal in the Christmas Tree so I decided to fish next door in The Rota. The Rota is a peg which does not normally produce many fish but has a habit of producing the bigger fish. The Big Simmo still has not been caught this year so who dares wins, hopefully! A strong Southerly wind was blowing so there was no chance of introducing any freebies so singles it would be. The bottom in front of Rota is clear of weed so I marked all 3 rods up at 65 yards. My rigs were the same as normal 2 with Pineapple Hawaiian pop ups and 1 with a White Chocolate pop up. Lately I have been playing around with microwaving my pop up`s as I like to over shot them. Monks being so deep and having such a strong undertow I like my pop ups to sit still in the water. I feel the extra weight of an AAA shot helps the hook drop down in to the fishes bottom lip as well. The idea behind the microwaving is that it takes the moisture out of the hook bait and makes them harder which in turn makes them more buoyant I like to use a Nash Fanx X size 6. I microwave them for 30 seconds and then put them straight into a pot with some KG1 pellet which keeps out the moisture and adds a lovely smell. Putting the pop up into an Impact Dip would do the same. I had no sightings of fish in my swim during the day and no action during the night.
Pop ups microwaved and in pellet, ready to go!
Tuesday 25th October
I stuck to the singles for the morning as the deeper water normally produces fish till 9am. No sightings of fish or lines I decided to introduce a bit of bait as it was still mild and conditions seemed good for a fish. I introduced a kilo of mixed size Multiplex in 14mm and 18mm with the spod the hook baits stayed the same. There had been the odd fish show in front of Double Point next door so I was confidant of a bite but again no action! Another blank in the book!
Tweeking your Hookbaits
Ken Beech31 Oct 11, 09:15 AM
Whilst manning the Richworth stand at the northern fishing show, I spoke to lots of carp anglers many of which asked me whether or not I make my own hookbaits or use them straight out of the bag, I have put together a few quick tips on how I tweek my hookbaits in order to make them as attractive as possible.
Lead Shed Mucky coated lead with XLR8 spray added
I am either too impatient or just don't seem to have the time to spend rolling hookbaits and pop ups, The times I have tried the results have either been too dry a mix which then cracked or egg shaped baits and lots of washing up to be done.
I use the shelf life baits as hookbaits which you can buy in small packs to match your chosen freezer bait, just add a small amount of the matching boilie dip to a selection of shelf life hookbaits and keep giving the tub a shake, similarly with the pop ups it gives them an extra kick of attraction.
The shelf life's tend to be a little firmer with a tougher outer skin which gives me the confidence to leave my hookbaits in for long periods of time especially if there are other species of fish in your chosen venue which maybe whittling your hookbait down over a period of time.