We are now well into the new river fishing season and much like the last one, I have chosen to stay with a more specimen fishing approach. This had been very fruitful before, with some quality fish banked. I saw no reason to change my angling around other than to tweak a few things from previous adventures.
The first half of the season sees me target bream, rudd, and tench using the method feeder. My rod of choice for this type of fishing is the awesome Cadence Specimen Rod, the 1.25lb test curve version covers all of my fishing from delicate rudd bites to savage hit and hold tench battles. The Specimen Rod is so versatile and with the option of using an Avon top as an alternative to the quiver section, it is perfect when having a sleeper rod out.
Mono wise, it’s my go-to Edge Specimen Mono in either the 8lb or 10lb variety, depending on my situation. This line is fantastic, to say the least. I have tried plenty of specimen lines over the past two seasons and I have eventually settled on the Edge line. I haven’t looked back.
Over the last few sessions, I have been using the “Bomb and Bag” method. Put simply, this is an inline lead and a small PVA mesh bag, with a small boilie or a piece of bread on the hook.
This is a different approach, but one which I have already experienced to be deadly, especially in weedy swims. Who’d have thought a hardened match angler of yesteryear would still be learning new tricks, eh?
The method I use is, like all my fishing now, so simple. I like to use either a 30 or 45g method feeder, with an elasticated stem. I modify the stem by using a simple connector and anti tangle sleeve. The top-end attaches to the mainline via a snap swivel, covered by an anti tangle sleeve with a foot length of rig tubing. The business end is either a 4 or 6 inch length of 8 to 10lb gravel braid. To this, I attach a size 10 barbless hook with a bayonet on a hair.
Talking of tweaking and learning. I started with a micro barb hook when fishing with this method two seasons ago and was experiencing hook pulls. I decided to switch to using a barbless circle hook and noticed a big difference straight away. The hook hold now is perfect with almost every fish I hook. The hook is usually lodged in either the middle of the bottom lip, and hook pulls are but a distant memory!
In terms of the fishing, the season has been very kind to me, with some cracking bream and tench falling to my chosen tactics. The rudd have been very elusive again so far this season, but I have no doubt that eventually I will get my river 3lber!
By keeping things simple, I’ve noticed how much more I am enjoying my fishing. The more relaxed approach is a winner for me and allows me to spend more time on the bank targeting my target species of choice.
