Other than when I’m using zigs, PVA dominates my carp fishing approach - and for 90 per cent of the time I really am a solid bag man.
What’s not to like about solids? They present pretty much anywhere, even over low-lying weed, meaning you always have a chance of a bite. You can cast them at showing fish and fish three on a spot. They catch fish big and small, and you can leave them out for a very long time (as long as 24 hours), knowing they ’ll still be fishing.
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Preparation for quick bites
I try to have loads of solid bags ready to go in advance, sometimes as many as 20 in a bucket on 12ins-18ins leaders (if allowed), ready to be cast out. I can then simply loop-to-loop them on and get a rig out there in no time at all. This is usually the first thing I will do on a session – put three bags out to just nick that first bite or two. If the fish are having it, I will then startbaiting with the Spomb, using primarily a pellet mix, and then deploy the bags over the top.
Next level solid bag edges
There are a few important choices I have arrived at through experience when it comes to making the solid bag set-up. The first is lead size. I use nothing lighter than 3oz. I’ve found that lighter leads can cause the bag to roll over on the bottom, obscuring the rig and lowering your chances of a take. You want your wafter to be the cherry on top of the pellet cake. So, I ensure this happens every time by tying the bag with the lead tight to one side, and then at the end piercing the bag just below the bait, so that area melts first, thus making the wafter shoot up above the pellets on the bottom.
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My rig itself is also quite important. I use a blowback-style rig without the ring, which incorporates a long shank hook. This is tied to supple braid about 4ins long. I want it to be tight in the bag, not flimsy – having it too long can cause all sorts of problems.
The final piece of the solid bag puzzle is bait, and I will use the smallest pellets I can. This will help you get the bag tied nicely tight and compact, so you can accurately launch it a long way. If there are still gaps, adding a little bit of groundbait can help to plug these holes. The only time I would change this is in winter, when I will switch to a very low oil pellet and maybe even a few maggots.
One of the big benefits of solid bags over other methods is you can add oils inside them, which create a devastatingly tantalising and fish-attracting slick over your spot – a real edge on some waters.
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The disadvantages of mesh
Solid bags have almost entirely replaced mesh bags in my carp fishing. The only time I would consider using a mesh bag is if I was fishing a heavily baited gravel area, when I might want to fish a combi rig over the top. That said, a solid bag would work more than adequately in this scenario too.
With a coated braid and a bag loaded with pellets or boilie crumb, they can still work well, but only when the bag is threaded down the hooklink. Nicking them on doesn’t give you any benefits when it comes to presentation.
Mesh bags also don’t disguise your trap to anything like the same level as a solid bag. When a solid bag melts, the contents cover your lead and your rig – not the case with mesh.
The next downside of mesh is when it comes to casting. Other than tiny sticks, a bulky mesh bag is far less aerodynamic than a nicely tied solid bag, so they just don’t cast well. You can give a solid bag one hell of a whack and know it will all be fine.
This question really is a confidence thing, and it does depend on the type of fishing you do. For me, my angling centres a lot around pellets. All fish are fed on them, so I use them as much as possible. If I was a boilie angler, mesh would likely have more of a part to play. But for my angling there’s certainly one solid winner in this contest!
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How to make the perfect solid PVA bag
Start by filling the PVA bag a quarter full with 3mm Marine Halibut pellets.
Insert your lead, making sure it is pushed towards the back of the PVA bag.
Squirt a liberal amount of Marine Halibut oil into the bag to add that extra element of attraction.
Pour in more 3mm pellets and insert your hookbait at the front of the bag, away from the lead.
Compress the bag down to fill any gaps then pinch and twist the top of bag to seal in the bait.
Use a sliver of PVA tape to knot off the bag and trim the excess. A simple granny knot will do.
Using a little saliva, moisten the corners and flatten them down on the bag.
The finished bag – aerodynamic and with the lead at the back and the hookbait to the front.
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