JOHN KNEEBONE

TEXTJohn Kneebone

HOW-TO // BAIT ADVICE //

ONE THAT FELL TO A BOTTOM BAIT RIG WHEN THE SHOWS SUGGESTED THE FISH WERE HIGH IN THE WATER

AT THIS TIME OF YEAR, I feel it’s really important to focus my approach around a food source bait approach—the time for inquisitive carp, waking up and being predominantly up high the water as they do this is reduced, and you can expect them to be feeding on the deck. Carp prior or postspawning around this time will be in search of, and need foods with a high nutritional value, either to build vitality and energy to spawn or recover from the process. The most obvious way of incorporating this element is to use a boilie with this kind of makeup; Freezer Baits such as Activ-8, Cell and The Link being ideal candidates. Now, if you’re not an out-and-out boilie angler or the lake or situafeedtion in which you’re fishing doesn’t suit this direct approach, I’d still get this food source in somehow, either by including 10mm or crushed, crumbed boilies within a spod mix, and/or using one the Smart Liquids in the mix or over the hookbait presentation—i.e. PVA bag, rig, lead etc.