How to catch more fish after prebaiting a lake or river swim

If you have spent lots of time, effort and money prebaiting a lake or a river for masses of bream, barbel, carp or tench, you ought to know how to fish that peg correctly so you get the most out of it.

Here we show you where to cast to make sure that you keep the shoal right where you want them, prevent spooking the fish and help you keep those bites coming thick and fast.

If you have prebaited correctly you will have introduced your bait over a fairly wide area – this is best because you are hoping to attract a mass of fish into your swim, and they will need plenty of room to browse over your feed. It’s no good if the fish have to fight each other for the food.

Also, you should have earmarked your baited area quite accurately by using either a floating marker, a far bank marker or some other means. This is crucial too as you will need to know where to cast or else all your effort will have been for nothing.

So, when you approach your baited swim armed with all your fishing gear, don’t just cast right over the top of your prebaited swim as this could spook the fish that are feeding upon the food you’ve introduced.

Instead aim to pick off the fish from the near outskirts of the baited area. Just because you’re fishing off the baited area doesn’t mean that the fish won’t come to your bait because they will.

Once you hook a fish you can gently steer it away from the prebaited zone so you don’t spook any other fish that are enjoying all the free food.

It’s best to alternate the fishing spots too. Try casting to the left of the baited area, then just short of it, then to the right. Eventually you will find the best place to cast and you’ll soon have a keepnet full!