On the canal, when faced with an abundance of fish in your swim, it might seem logical to increase your feeding to keep them engaged. However, a more frugal feeding strategy can often yield better results, especially when targeting larger, higher-quality fish.
By providing a limited amount of bait, you force fish to focus on your hookbait rather than being distracted by a constant stream of feed. This can lead to quicker and more consistent bites, especially in cooler conditions when fish are less active.
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Avoiding Smaller Fish
A frugal feeding approach can also help to deter smaller fish, such as rudd, from becoming a nuisance. By limiting the overall amount of bait, you can create a situation where larger, more desirable fish are more likely to be drawn to your hookbait.
Kicking off and topping up the swim
In a swim that is known to hold a large number of fish, a heavy initial bombardment of bait is unnecessary. Two large balls of groundbait, supplemented with finely-chopped worm, should be sufficient to attract fish to the area. To maintain interest and avoid introducing too much bait, top-ups should be minimal. When bites start to fade or smaller fish become a nuisance, introduce a small nugget of groundbait, about the size of a golf ball. Avoid excessive feeding, as it can make larger fish more difficult to catch.
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Avoiding Overfeeding
Using a catapult to introduce additional bait, such as casters, over the top can be counterproductive. The goal is to keep the fish feeding on the bottom and over your groundbait to maintain a tidy and concentrated feeding area. This ensures that your hookbait is in the ideal position for the fish to find and consume.
Groundbait, an effective mix
A simple yet effective groundbait mix can be achieved by combining Mainline Sweet F1 and Sweet F1 Black in a 50/50 ratio. The Sweet F1 contains fishmeal, which, while debated by some anglers, can be beneficial in natural waters where fish are accustomed to pellets.
To ensure skimmers focus on your hookbait, it's essential to limit the amount of loose offerings in your groundbait. A reasonable sprinkling of micro pellets and corn is sufficient, but a more generous pinch of chopped worm is recommended, as skimmers have a particular fondness for them.
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A static approach
It's essential to maintain a precise and controlled approach to your fishing. This includes minimising rig movement and fishing at a specific depth.
By limiting the amount of groundbait, you can create a well-defined feeding area. Using a far bank marker, and a mark on your pole you can pinpoint the exact location of the groundbait on the bottom of the canal. This allows you to lower your rig directly into the feeding area and hold it still.
A static approach can be particularly effective for catching larger, higher-quality fish. Excessive rig movement can disturb the feeding area and attract smaller fish. By maintaining a still presentation, you increase your chances of enticing larger fish to take your hookbait.
To ensure a precise and controlled presentation, a relatively short length of line between your pole and floatis recommended, if wind is a problem, a couple of back shot will assist in maintaining the stability of the rig. Both reduces the amount of slack in the line, making it easier to maintain a still presentation and detect subtle bites.
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Where to fish
When targeting large fish in canals, focusing on the deepest water near the middle is often a productive strategy. However, it's also worth considering areas where the bottom slopes up towards the far bank. These areas can offer advantages such as firmer bottom and features like lilies and weeds.
When targeting a better stamp of fish, it's crucial to choose the right hookbaits. Maggots and pinkies, while effective for smaller fish, are often less appealing to larger species. So double red worm or a dendrobaena worm with the head nipped off to pick out the quality skimmers, bream and tench.
Even though these baits are more selective it sometimes won't completely deter smaller fish, in order to minimise the chances of smaller fish, such as rudd and small roach, taking your bait, it's important to lower your rig directly down onto the feed. This reduces the risk of the bait being intercepted by these smaller fish as it falls through the water.
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The ideal rig
To avoid nuisance fish and present your hookbait effectively in deeper water, a sensitive float is essential. A 0.5g or 4x16 round bodied, wire stem float is well-suited for 8 feet of water. Setting the float 2-3 inches overdepth helps to maintain a still presentation over the feed, reducing the risk of smaller fish intercepting your bait.
A bulk of shot placed about 2 feet from the hook, followed by two No 10 droppers, creates a slow fall for the bait. This allows larger fish, such as skimmers, that may be sitting just off the bottom to have a better chance of intercepting it. If conditions are a little more breezy or the canal is busy consider stepping up to a 1g float to ensure stability.
A balanced rig requires a combination of finesse and reliability. 0.13mm mainline, paired with a 0.10mm fluorocarbon hooklength, offers a good balance. A size 16 hook is suitable for most target species, compliment that with a No 8 solid elastic provides sufficient strength to land larger fish like tench or bream without bumping smaller fish.
Remember, patience, persistence, and a deep understanding of your chosen venue are essential for success, by incorporating these elements into your angling approach, you can significantly improve your chances of catching larger, higher-quality fish.
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