Follow the progress of any good match angler on social media and you’ll notice that the baits they rely on to win change almost every week.
Their decision-making is unlikely to be pot luck. Some will read the situation that they face coming into the match before they make their choice. It’s important that you get it right on this front, as making the wrong move can have a negative impact on how the day progresses.
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Always consider the depth
While there are lots of bait combinations that can be fed, they generally fall into two categories – a particle approach involving baits such as pellets, corn and dead maggots, or a groundbait approach that does exactly what it says on the tin.
Particles can be fed in the margins of any depth of water. Groundbait, on the other hand, is only effective in shallow edges of 18ins or less.
The problem with groundbait is that, even when mixed heavy and wet, it’s still easily wafted all over the place. This can be a real problem in deep edges because it leads to line bites and foul-hooking.
PLUMBING THE DEPTH IS CRUCIAL, THIS ARTICLE EXPLAINS HOW TO PLUMB THE DEPTH.
Select the right mix
If you’ve got a margin that has a suitable depth for groundbait then you must then get your mix right.
A favourite of mine has always been Dynamite Baits Sweet Fishmeal, a coarse mix that when mixed wet becomes very heavy, and is therefore ideal for edge work. It’s important you don’t use something with too light and fine a consistency.
I normally combine groundbait with dead maggots, feeding two-thirds groundbait to one-third maggots. It’s then a case of fishing six to 10 deads on the hook over the top.
UNDERSTAND AND CHOOSE THE BEST GROUNDABAIT WITH THIS EXPERT GUIDE.
Winning combinations
If you land on a peg without a suitable depth in the margins, or you are simply at a fishery where groundbait doesn’t have the effect you’d want, then a particle route is the way forward.
There are a few different combinations I use, and my favourite is what I call ‘Bombay Mix’. It’s a blend of 2mm wetted-down micros, corn, hemp, casters and dead maggots. It gives the feeding carp lots of different bait choices, which I find makes them easier to catch, as they don’t become preoccupied on just one type.
It’s best fed with a big pot to start with, and I’d normally kick the swim off with five large 250ml pots of bait, before letting it settle for at least 10 minutes.
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Get the timing right
In a match situation I very rarely feed the edges from the off. It’s far better to feed them in the second half, when the carp are looking to grub about in that area.
I’ll feed half a large pot just before I’m about to go over the top of the baited area. Five large pots may sound a lot, but a handful of big carp can hoover that amount up in no time, and I want to be certain that I’m presenting my hookbait over freebies.
From that point on, there’s no set feeding pattern. Sometimes I might need to feed half a big pot after every fish to keep them settled, while on other days I might be able to use a pole-mounted pot. It’s all about working out what’s right on the day.
If you’re foul-hooking carp it is usually best to ‘big pot’, as this gives the bait time to settle once fed before you go over it. So, I will catch a carp, feed half a pot, ship back, pick up my rig, bait the hook and go back in. That small time gap can be all that’s needed to allow the carp to settle.
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Other margin choices
Wetted-down micro pellets with either corn or dead maggots can be great options too. Wet micros form a big carpet on the bottom to help hold the carp in the swim.
However, it’s important that you also feed another bait alongside them. Failing to do so runs the risk of the carp getting totally preoccupied on micros and becoming almost impossible to catch.
THIS GUIDE WILL HELP YOU PICK THE BEST BAITS TO TAKE ON YOUR NEXT SESSION.
Present the rig properly
Always lower your rig over the top of a baited area, as opposed to laying it in. This drastically reduces the chances of you laying the rig on top of a carp’s back, thus preventing you from foul-hooking a fish just as you attempt to set the trap.
TIE THE PERFECT MARGIN RIG WITH THIS HELPFUL GUIDE.
Bulk it up
Place all your shot in a bulk just above the hooklength knot. This creates an anchor, making it more difficult for the hookbait to be wafted off the bottom as the commotion builds when the carp are feeding. This will reduce the number of line bites and foul-hooked fish that you encounter.
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Explore the whole margin
A certain spot in the edge may look enticing, but it is really important to plumb along the whole margin on both sides before picking a spot. Try to find the optimum depth of 18ins to 2ft and a flat, clear bottom where you can easily lay down a carpet of loosefeed for the carp to graze over.
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