The tactics you must try this spring

'Look out for the hatches'

“Zigs always feature massively in my angling in the spring, the simple reason being the water’s warming much quicker up in the upper layers than down on the lakebed and that’s where you’ll find the bulk of the fish. Small bits of black or yellow foam are my first choice, although I have had success on the Zig Bugs from Nash. Try scaling down on the hooklinks and hook size if the situation permits – this will keep the bites coming at all times of the day.”
Iain Macmillan

'One bite at a time'

“Fishing for a bite at a time is my preference. Hi-attract hookbaits, Zigs, solid PVA bags with small amounts of bait is my line of attack. The fish are starting to wake up and although they maybe hungry, my choice in the early spring (March/April) is to try and get a bite at a time and work from there.”
Tim Childs

'Zigs rule the roost'

“The one tactic that increasingly I understand, if utilised properly, will catch 8 out of 10 carp is Zig Rig fishing. This is especially so in early spring when it is so clear to see that its almost a waste of time fishing bottom baits. Last spring, Alan Blair and I did an experiment – a proper controlled test of bottom baits against Zig Rigs. It was one to two carp to the boilies against 10 to Zig Bugs. Put simply, until the carp properly wake up, they are hardly feeding at all on the bottom, but they are swimming around mid-water and they are catchable.”
Kevin Nash

'Start priming'

“Now is the time to start trickling in the bait to a few margin spots as the fish begin to creep into the edge. Make the effort to bait little-and-often with hemp, pellet and particle and you will reap the rewards right through the spring and summer.”
Oli Davies

'Cast to showing fish'

“There is no better time than spring to cast at showing fish! If you see one stick its head out, put a single hookbait on it! Hi-vis pop-ups dispatched in this way often rip within minutes!”
John Kneebone

'Be prepared for anything'

“The carp will be in a state of flux between winter and summer, so having Zigs, floaters and a good amount of boilies and/or particle at your disposal during a session means you can capitalise on any situation.”
Harry Charrington

'Be the first to get the floaters out'

Always keep them in your car because you never know when you might get caught out. The first few days of really warm weather will have the fish ‘Pac-manning’ like you have never seen!”
Harry Charrington