Over the last few seasons, anglers fishing venues where carp are the main target seem to have stumbled upon a tactic that has significantly boosted their catch rates. Match anglers in particular have seen their results improve, with many using the method becoming almost unbeatable, often doubling the weight of the next best competitor.
So what is it? Well the tactic, coined the 'teabag', is the name given to a small PVA bag filled with pellets that is being used on the hook. It is particularly useful when big fish are present on siltier venues where foul hooking can be a real issue, or in situations when fish are present in the swim, but they struggle to find your hookbait.
The teabag helps carp zone in on one area and bites can come within seconds of the bait hitting the bottom. When the bags are fed, they get the carp used to hoovering up small piles of bait in one go, so when they come across the hookbait they are caught unaware, resulting in rod-wrenching bites.
We caught up with match fishing ace Mark Wynne, who has been dominating matches in the South West recently, to find out how he incorporates it into his angling.
THE BEST CARP FEEDER RODS ARE PERFECT FOR USING WITH THE TEABAG...
"My match usually starts on the straight lead with a pellet hook bait. Feeding regularly attracts more fish into your peg and seems to work better than the T-bag initially," Mark explained.
"Usually though this brings fish up in the water where they’re hard to catch so I then switch to the T-bag, filled with the Sensas Micros (the best micro out the in my opinion)," he added.
"I’ll usually have a green dumbbell as a hookbait, they used to catch well on peas so it seems they like the green colour at least! Sometimes a worm or maggots on the hook is a good change up."
"The teabag really comes into its own in the later part of the match, where at times, you can't cast in fast enough! I’ll still be priming the edges or the short line with meat priming them for the last 90 mins, just in case it doesn't happen."
"It doesn’t always work but when the big fish feed you can build your weight up in no time! Often doubling your weight during the period they are feeding. The trick is figuring out if they want lots of feed or sometimes just a little, but once you get it right it’s bag up time!"
HEAD TO ONE OF THESE VENUES TO CATCH LOADS OF CARP ON THE TEABAG...
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