3 steps to maximising your catch results
Three snippets of advice from Ian Russell (plus one from Mr Hearn) on how to maximise your catch results
Although I generally steer away from ‘smash-it-up’ style fishing for my personal angling these days, I do find myself doing it occasionally while on magazine features or out with tutorial clients.
The key to big hit style fishing is getting the carp competitively feeding on an area of bait in front of you. Once you’ve got the carp going, you can keep catching the pack, as long as you are organised and ready for frequent action. This style of fishing is great fun and very effective, but it doesn’t suit many anglers or every venue. I have lots of respect for the anglers who fish like this week-in, week-out and don’t think they get the credit they deserve.
1. Get prepared
If you want to catch loads of carp, you need to be prepared. Whether it’s rigs, leaders or PVA bags, they all need to be ready and to hand. A couple of each isn’t going to suffice, especially if a shoal of big carp move onto you and you receive a flurry of action. When doing this style of fishing, when I’m not catching, I’m generally getting myself organised.
2. Hit the spot
Tight beds of bait are most effective for this style of angling, so fishing accurately is imperative too. When catching loads and loads of carp, I generally use Yard Sticks to mark my line, because elastic can slip and move when you’re receiving loads of action.
3. Spod, spod, spod
If the fish are on you, don’t stop spodding. The more bait you put in, the longer you will hold them in your swim and the more carp you will catch. Don’t worry about the disturbance made by the spod, it won’t bother the carp at all, especially if you’ve got them in a feeding frenzy.
Terry Hearn advice
“When there’s a feeding spell going on, you have to maximise it, whether you’re fishing a super low stocked lake or a runs water. Once that fish is in the net and safely secured, get that rod back out onto the spot straight away; don’t make a brew and have a smoke – you can do that later! Right now there’s a very good chance of another bite, so get that rig back out there.”
