F1s are reliable feeders all year round and can account for some mega match winning weights, particularly in spring. Here are Aiden Mansfield's top tips to getting amongst them.
Start with bread
I start on breadpunch dobbed around the swim to locate the fish. Indications but no bites tells me fish are about and that they need a bit of feed adding.
Use double maggot
For the next few weeks I’ll fish double maggot on the hook but I won’t feed any. I want the fish to find only my hookbait amid the groundbait.
Mix it 50:50 for f1s
My mix is ground-up Dynamite Swim Stim Milled Expanders. I’ll go 50/50 in the dark and plain varieties, adding more of the dark if the water is clear. F1s love fishmeal groundbaits.
Light rigs catch more
In 3ft of water, I use a 0.1g DS Floats XL Carbon which takes four No11 shot spaced 5ins apart so the double maggot hookbait will fall naturally. I fish an inch overdepth.
Eke out the bites
A size 16 MXC-1 hook to a 6ins 0.12mm hooklength is my starting point. If it’s all a bit of a struggle I’ll scale down to a size 18 and 0.10mm line.
Fish light elastics
F1s can sometimes come off if your elastic is too heavy. I put an 8-10 grade Matrix Slik through a short top kit, so I’m in control right from the off.
