There’s nothing Nick Speed likes more than catching barbel on the River Trent, and with more and more matches being won with these magnificent fish we decided to pick his brains to discover the best way to catch them.
It’s a bit of a dying art these days but fishing with a float attached top and bottom is a key skill for any river angler. But what do you do if you’re faced with a downstream wind? River fishing expert Rob Perkins has the answers.
When faced with a raging flooded river, most match anglers would turn tail and head home, but not Dynamite Baits’ Rob Perkins. Here’s how he takes on a chocolate river…
With the recent influx of silver fish, Dynamite Baits’ Rob Perkins reckons there has never been a better time to pole fish the River Trent.
I have been lucky enough to live within walking distance of the mighty River Trent all my life, and as a result I have witnessed the changes it’s undergone – some for better and some for worse. Currently, and happily, the river is in the best form it has ever been, with lots of roach, perch and dace along with all the bigger species the river holds all being found in abundance.
Regarding this, methods have traditionally revolved around rod-and-line techniques; however, in recent years there has been a shift toward more pole fishing, especially as the roach and dace shoals have increased tenfold.
A huge launch for Dynamite last year was the Swim Stim F1 Sweet range of groundbait, pellets and pellet soaks. However, it was felt necessary to release a new Cool Water version that gives you the same texture and smell of the original with a new darker colour perfect for winter months and clear water conditions.
This is an easy to mix, low feed groundbait that is perfect for F1s and silvers. It has also proven itself as a great feeder mix when targeting skimmers and bream with cage-feeder tactics.
Joe Carass explains why he just keeps going back to the successful Swim Stim range from Dynamite Baits! I have spoken before about being a huge fan of Green Swim Stim. It’s a bait I have used for as long as I can remember and it’s a bait I will continue to keep using. I just wanted to talk about other groundbaits in the range that I also use, and other tweaks that I have since added to my Swim Stim selection. First up is a bream mix that I have used over the past two years that really has served me well, and that is a 50/50 blend of Green and Natural.