Ten brilliant floater tips for big carp!

1 The new Enterprise Tackle Imitation Dog Biscuits are a must. Redesigned for 2014, they are smaller, more lifelike and sit beautifully in the water. Featuring a tapered shape and counter-balance shot, fish them on a hair-rig but nick the hook through the top for the perfect presentation. They also come with a foam insert which can be flavoured for added attraction.

2 When it comes to hooklength, the choice will be determined by the venue and the size of fish. If it¹s snaggy and the carp are big, try a floating braid. But if it¹s clear of snags and the fish aren¹t huge, a mono link of say 6lb will encourage bites. Some modern hooklengths are designed to give strength and a fine diameter.

3 Use the lightest hook you can get away with. Presentation is everything, especially on hard-fished waters, and anything too heavy will make the hookbait behave unnaturally and you¹ll never get a bite. Don¹t use a size 4 or 6 boilie hook -­ surface fishing requires finesse. Try a size 10, 12 0r even a 14.

4 Breadcrust is one of the all-time great surface baits ­ but it¹s all about picking the right bread. Go for a freshly-baked loaf as opposed to one that¹s pre-sliced. When it comes to the size of hookbait, don¹t be shy. With big pieces of bread you can use a bigger hook as it will be disguised in the bait. Use a large square and mount on a size 6 or 4 ­ this way it will stay on the hook.

5 The main negative to using crust are birds. Overcome this by using fake bread instead of the real stuff. Enterprise Tackle make some great-looking fake bread and it has the added bonus of never coming off the hook.

6 Don¹t ignore cat biscuits. They not only come in all types of different sizes, they are often smellier, and more oily, than dog biscuits. It might sound slightly strange, but certain particles can work as surface baits. Sunflower seeds have been known to work brilliantly on hard-fished waters. But prepare them properly by leaving them to soak in water for 12 hours prior to use.

7 When it comes to picking a controller float, it all depends on distance. If you¹re fishing at short to medium range a bubble float will do the job, but if you¹re trying to reach fish further out then a heavier version is better.

8 If you¹re struggling to feed floaters at range, try attaching a PVA bag of biscuits to your hookbait ­ that way you¹ll ensure free offerings in the area. Better still, use a Spomb.

9 One clever trick is to dispense with a shop-bought controller altogether and use a piece of twig or cut-down tree branch. Obviously you won¹t be able to cast it far, but in terms of camouflage, it takes some beating. Simply wrap an elastic band around it and trap your line underneath.

10 If you’re fishing at range, try the Enterprise Tackle Mini Mixers. These come supplied with a sight tip in either flouro yellow or pink. These sit on top of the biscuit and can be seen from long distance.

Don’t forget to check out the new issue, on-sale from Tuesday, for more tips, news, tackle!