How to approach a day ticket water

Rich Seeds: JRC consultant and owner of Hordle Lakes

“Being unorganised does cost anglers fish because they can’t get their rigs back in the water quick enough. This can be down to things such as not having many spare rigs, bags and Sticks made up. Another reason I think can contribute to this – and is perfectly fine – is excitement. I see loads of people getting a massive buzz from catching a lovely fish and this normally leads to plenty of chatting and tea drinking which can lead to missing out on a few bites, but at the end of the day, we all fish for enjoyment and these moments so this is perfectly normal.”

“There are two main things I would change for many anglers which I think would instantly increase their chances of getting a bite. The first is how long they will keep a rig on without changing it and how blunt it becomes, so regular checks and changing would make a huge difference. The second is location and moving. A percentage of people have their favourite swims and will fish them (a) whatever the conditions and (b) if they are nice and close to the car. Also, anglers don’t look around much, they can be sitting there having a quiet spell and literally yards away can be a group of fish milling around, so therefore good observation will help you catch more fish.”

“When it comes to bait, quite often I notice anglers don’t have enough good quality bait for certain times of year. Our lakes have a decent head of fish and they love their boilies and a baited area can quickly become cleared out and anglers just end up just fishing singles. This also applies to PVA bags, as the bream and roach can soon leave you with just your hookbait in situ. I’d also recommend a particle such as hemp and pellet as this can be a good alternative and keep fish feeding on a spot for long periods.”

“There are five common mistakes I see all the time whilst walking around my fishery and they are: (1) not checking and/or changing rigs regularly. (2) Location and moving: not having a good look round before setting up or if the fish move, then not bothering to move with them. Obviously this can be difficult during busy periods and on busy venues, but when the chance to move arises or the best looking peg which is a long walk away becomes free, it’s well worth the effort. (3) Bait: not putting enough in during the warmer months and over-feeding in the colder months. (4) Being a bit too noisy: banging in pegs and banksticks, throwing stuff down etc. And (5) accuracy: not clipping-up to a spot or feature.”

“Putting all my years of experience in running a fishery into five top tips, they would be: (1) prepare for the lake you are going to fish; choose a venue to suit your ability and find out any info on tactics and baits etc., to try and give yourself a head start. (2) Have a good look round when you get there, talk to other anglers and check out the weather forecast for your session. (3) Keep as quiet as possible, fish accurately and make sure you have enough bait. (4) If you’re not catching and it’s not looking promising, reel in and have another look round checking margins and snags etc. and be prepared to move. (5) Enjoy yourself and your surroundings; none of us catch every time so blanks do happen. The best way to look at it, is that during these sessions it’s still much nicer to be on the banks of a fishing lake and not catching than being at work.”