Ide

Seasonal behaviour

Spring through autumn. They slow in hard frost.

Where to look for the fish

Open water and the upper layers of commercials and park lakes. They show on the surface more than bream do.

Best venue types

• Venue type

  Commercial fishery

  Where they're stocked

Recommended methods

Ranked from the species–technique graph.

1. 01Traditional wagglerOn the drop and just under
2. 02Pole fishingA carbon pole to 11–16m with elastic, a light rig, and the bait put exactly where you fed. The most accurate tool on a commercial and a canal.
3. 03Shallow poleOn pellet, shallow
4. 04Fishing on the dropA bait falling through the water, shot strung out so it looks natural. Roach, rudd, F1s and anyone intercepting feed as it sinks.
5. 05Maggot on the poleThe universal pole bait. Single or double maggot, a pinch of feed, and a line you plumbed. Silvers, F1s in the cold, canals, and anyone who is not sure.

Recommended baits

• Bait

  Maggots

  The universal bait. If you could only have one thing in the bag for a mixed UK stillwater or canal, maggots would still be the answer.

Recommended rigs

• Rig

  Waggler setup

  Locked float, bulk around the base, droppers down the line, fine hooklength. The same skeleton covers traditional waggler and, with a dumpy body, pellet waggler.

Feeding approach

Maggots or pellets little and often into the swirls. Bread if you want to pick a better fish.

Where in the swim

Visible. Swirls, boils, and takes on the drop. A feeding shoal will give you several fish if you don't crash the net in.

Common mistakes

Fishing a method feeder on the deck while they boil on the top. Too much feed.

What to change if it isn’t working

They're showing: come up. Nothing: they may not be in this lake — check the board.