Match fishing tips that you need to know

Fresh from breaking the match record at Tunnel Barn Farm with 385lb, Warwickshire matchman Matt Bingham lifts the lid on a brilliant – and budget – way to catch F1s in the margins with a three-pronged attack of worms, casters and groundbait.

Keep it cheap

“Anglers think you need to pile the bait in when fishing worm and caster but that couldn’t be further from the truth,” he says. 

“I’ve found that by feeding a small quantity after every fish when targeting the margins or close to islands I can get a bite every drop-in.

“The secret is to introduce a tiny nugget of sticky groundbait containing just a few chopped worms and casters that attracts a couple of fish in. When they arrive, there is only a mouthful of bait... and your hookbait.

“Even feeding a swim in this way, on most days you’ll find you feed a maximum of two pints of bait made up of a third of a bag of groundbait, half-a-pint of casters and a handful of chopped worms.”

Where to fish

“It is best to choose a swim that allows you to place your rig right next to the bank. Doing this means that fish are unable to get round the back of your rig, which increases the chances of them brushing up against it and giving false indications on the float.

“Depth is equally important. I’ve found that between 10ins and 16ins is ideal. I use a ruler to set my rig to that exact depth and then plumb tight to the bank to try and find it.

“If you look carefully you will usually find something within that range, and the same theory applies when trying to catch fish tight up to islands.”

The right gear

“In shallow water like this, you need a float with plenty of stability and buoyancy so that you can differentiate between line bites and proper bites. I use one with a diamond-shaped body that takes 0.1g, shotted with one No10 immediately beneath the float and two more just above the 6ins hooklength of 0.11mm mono. Mainline is 0.17mm. This is quite thick but nice and stiff, which helps to maintain a tight line between pole tip and float.”

Make a worm, caster and groundbait feed

1) Pour a third of a bag of Sonubaits Worm Fishmeal into a shallow bowl.

2) Add around one pint of lake water and mix it thoroughly.

3) Add a handful of casters and the same of worms. Chop and mix.

4) Feed a tiny nugget after every fish to keep bites coming.