The most common fishing questions – answered!

FROM the many questions that we get sent in by readers, there are always some that are more popular than others.

To answer readers’ questions fully we draw upon the vast knowledge of our extensive team of experts but there are some questions, mainly due their popularity, that are, it’s fair to say, looked at in greater detail, often requiring six pages of text and illustrative photographs to be able to give a full explanation.

If you’d like any of our experts to answer your fishing-related question and stand a chance of winning a prize by sponsors NGT, then email me at [email protected]

It is not always possible to answer every question, but we do our very best to do so.
In no particular order, here are some of the more popular questions that we received in 2014.

Which swim and why?
Whether you are fishing a commercial, large lake, reservoir, canal or river, which swim to fish and why is a question that we get asked a lot. Swim selection is critical and can make all the difference between blanking and having a bumper day on the bank. Setting up in the wrong swim and not catching can really knock the confidence, so it is important that, mainly through watercraft, anglers understand the key fish-holding areas.

How do I create a wormery?
Even with all the accessible, manufactured baits on tackle shop shelves, we still get lots of questions about natural baits. The best ways to hook maggots, how to make maggots more attractive, how to keep them for longer and how to use bloodworm are all common questions, but perhaps the most popular question of all is how to create a wormery? Bill Rushmer answered this in detail a while back with a step-by-step on setting up your own wormery. Such is the demand, we’ve put the sequence on the Angler’s Mail website, right here.

How to unhook and care for fish?
More so than ever before, we get lots of questions on how to handle, unhook and return fish safely so that they go back unharmed. With all the fish care products, unhooking mats and tools now available, there’s no real excuse for anyone mishandling fish on the bank. Gone are the days of fish being sprawled out on hard surfaces.

How much and what to feed?
Kick-starting a swim by getting fish to feed in and around your hook bait needs careful consideration. Feed too much and you could easily fill the fish up before they’ve had a chance to take your hook bait, feed too little and you may not attract them in the first place. There are also times when it’s wise not to feed at all! Another consideration is selecting the right feed that has maximum attraction. How much and what to feed is right up there as being one of the most popular questions.

Identifying fish
We get lots of queries on how to identify fish. In particular, how to tell species apart including chub and dace, roach and rudd or crucians and brown goldish. We also get lots of questions regarding hybrids and which species can hybridise. We’ve got the most comprehensive guide to identifying fish in the 2-week bumper issue of Angler’s Mail, on sale December 16/23.

What rig to use?
The best rigs to fish for particular waters, species or seasons are, as you’d expect, are popular questions. We’ve worked on our underwater rig diagrams in the magazine this year to make them more life-like to help you understand how they work. We’ve also gone into more detail with how to construct them. Continue to send in your rig questions and we’ll continue to do our best to illustrate them as comprehensively as is possible.

What can you tell me about this old piece of tackle and is it worth much?
From old minnow traps to threadline reels and vintage split can rods, we get many inquiries about old tackle. Our resident tackle historian Matt Sparkes is on hand to answer your questions and even those that don’t make the mag, he tells me he tries his best to reply to readers personally. Matt is currently working on a couple of really interesting features on old tackle that we’ll be publishing early next year. If you are interested in vintage tackle, don’t miss them!

Catch bigger fish
Lots of anglers want to up their PBs and this is reflected in the questions that readers send in. We’ve got a great team of specimen anglers that are only too happy to divulge their top tactics to help you can bigger fish and they’ll be on hand to help you to do so throughout 2015.

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