Back Ground:
I started fishing when I was 12, Just Locally on the River Lea, and at Willowside carp Lakes fishing for the masses of Roach to be had on waggler and maggot. I then fished my first ever match, which was a Junior match held at Willowside Carplakes, with 50 pegs over 2 lakes, Which I won with 23lb 12oz of Roach. After another two years of fishing all over the place with my Dad and Brother, my uncle George got me into an Adult match when I was 14, at Tylers Common in Essex. I came 7th in this match and the week after I drew a flier and came 3rd. Then my luck ran out and I was soon back down the bottom of the list getting battered. I was learning very fast and when I was 15 got my First sponsor with BCUK. I then moved over to using GOT baits, and finally plucked up the courage to ask our Trev for a deal, which has put me in good stead for the future. I know fish for the successful Mosella Farnborough Juniors, I've only fished for them twice so far, but both times had a section win, which helped us win the Peatmoor Millennium Trophy, and the 2007 Willow Parks UK Champs. I've also fished an u18s England Trial but sadly never got in the team. I'm now fishing opens once of twice a week, and am currently practicing for the Intermediate National coming up on the GUC at Milton Keynes.
Here's a rundown of my favourite method,
Long Pole with Chopped worm and caster at Lake John:
I would look to be catching around 50-60lb or skimmers with a possibility of a much bigger weight.
I would plum up at around 13-14.5m of pole.
I'd start by feeding 12 balls of groundbait, the mix would be 2 bags of VDE superlake and 3 bags of Dynamite Swimstim natural. I'd spread these over a large area too. I'd also include about 300ml of caster and 250ml of chopped worm into this, with maybe 1pint of micro pellets.
I'd start on a closer line fed with caster and worm. Looking for perch and roach with the odd skimmer, Trying to catch around 5lb in about 30 minutes.
On the long line I'd use an inch long piece of Dendrobaena on the hook or double caster.
The fish are bream and skimmers from 8oz to 5lb and some tench to 4lb and some carp to 30lb, which can be a real pain in the you know what.
Then I'd set up usually 5 or 6 rigs.
I'd have a 1 gram rig, which would be either a KC Raisor or a MW XT, With 0.14mm mainline and 0.12 hooklength, the hook would be a 16 gamkatsu Pellets to a 6 latex Elastic. I'd have two of these rigs set up as It could be my main rig.
I'd then have a 1.5 gram rig made up on 0.16mm mainline to 0.14mm hooklength with a size 14 Pellet hook and a 8 elastic. This is my baggin rig, and although the water is only about 7-8 feet deep, This rig keeps the bait dead still.
I'd then set up 2 rigs for the closer 6m line, One for on the deck with a 0.5g dibber type float and the other a 0.2gram dibber style float for fishing shallow. Both would be on 0.12mm mainline to a 0.10mm hooklength and a size 18 Gamakatsue All round hook and 4 elastic. Fishing with caster.
I'd try to catch 5 or so big skimmers before maybe having to top up with a ball or two of heavily packed feed groundbait.
Pellets are most likely the number one bait, but I like to fish to international rules wherever possible as Its my goal to fish for england one day.
Lake John is a cracking venue where many tactics and baits can work.
Hope to see you all on the bank soon.
Gary Manoli
