Free Line 109 — October 2026 - Flipbook - Page 156
ALEX
PAUL HANSON
STEVE
BENNETT
BRIGGS
t h rough the year as if they a re a c o u p le , an d a s h o a l o f s m a l l
c o mmons are often nearby th e t wo ko i .
Tactics:
Close range fishing – for s o m e re as o n t h i s i s my favo u r i te .
W hen clos e range fishi ng, I g e n era lly k n ow wh e t h e r t h e c ar p
a re there from a number ac t u al o b s er va ti o n s (s u c h as f i s h
to pping) than if I were fi s hi n g a t di st a n ce wh e re gu es swo rk
would come into it . Landi n g a 3 0 lb r ive r c ar p at c l o s e ra n g e
i s much more likely to b e la n d e d s uc c e s sf u l ly wh e n f i s h e d
f ive yards off of the boat wh en c o m p a re d to l owe r o d d s wh e n
h o oking fish at over 20 ya rd s away d u e to s n a g s . I th i n k ca r p
a l most stick to areas as n a r row a s a fo o t p a t h . W h e n I h ave
fo und an area where carp h o l d u p , I w i ll a i m to p l ac e t wo b a i t s
c l ose to each other to inc re as e my o d d s. I a m a f i rm b e li eve r
t h at the carp stick to route s i n t he r ive r th a t h o l d o r h arve s t
n a tural foods.
Rig wise, I keep it simp l e w i t h h a i r r i gs , 5 o z g ri p p a l e a d s
a n d leadcore. I really do n o t t hi n k t he f i s h a re t h a t ri g g y
c o mpared to pressured lake s. B a ck l ea d s a re u s e d wh e n f i s h i n g
t h e opposite side of the ba n k . Sn ow ma n r i g s are o f te n wh a t I
u s e, sometimes with a bri gh t p o p -u p . B i rd li fe g en e ra l ly i s n’ t
a problem on the Medway fo r p i c ki ng u p b a i t s , a s mos t o f t h e
s p ots are deep, and the wa te r i s u s ua l ly co lo u re d u p .
Bait wise, I believe most th i n g s ca tc h wh et h e r i t is p a rt i c l e ,
b o ilies, pellets etc. T here a re a fe w b ra n d s , c o l o ur s a n d
f l avours that have obvi ous ly ca u gh t me mo re f i s h t ha n o th e rs ,
b u t don’t overthink which b a i t s to u s e . Sh o p b o u gh t c h ea p
s h elf life baits can do as we ll a s th e l e ad i n g b ra nd s f ro ze n
ra nges. Lo cation is everyt h i n g i n c o m p ari s o n !
How to avoid spooking f i s h a nd m a x i m is i ng m u l t ip l e
FREELINE 42
