Tips

A common mistake is to use a float that is too light, which makes casting difficult and is very likely to be dragged out of position by the wind or undertow.

Select a float that allows you to easily cast past the spot you are fishing and wind it back into position, sinking the line as you do so by pushing the rod-tip underwater.

A straight peacock or crystal waggler is my float of choice, but I will switch to an insert waggler with a finer tip if bites are finicky.

In terms of size, a float carrying 4AAA is a good starting point in water 6ft-8ft deep and I lock it in place with two movable float stops. I’ll then have an AAA shot at half depth and a BB and several No4s spaced between the AAA and the hook.

I like to present my hookbait slightly overdepth with about 4ins of line laid on the bottom. If there’s a lot of undertow, place a No6 shot just on the bottom. With this set-up the bites are usually very positive, with the float often rising slightly before disappearing under the surface.

More bites, less hassle

Crucians are finicky feeders, and can hammer a hookbait without you even knowing it – so many of the country’s top specimen anglers swear by fake rubber baits instead of the real thing. The two most popular are fake maggots and casters – these will withstand the attentions of small fish so you can use them in confidence, knowing you’ve always got a bait on your hook. Hair-rig them lengthways for the best hook-ups.

Bread bombs

Bread is a very attractive feed for crucians but this can be difficult to get out into your swim if you’re fishing at distance for the species. Try making up small, £2 coin-sized PVA mesh bags of liquidised bread for fishing in conjunction with a bomb rig. If you pack them tightly, the bags will explode on the bottom and give you a nice cloud of feed around your hookbait.

Try a long rod and centrepin

As crucians are regarded as a traditional species, have you ever tried ‘traditional’ methods for them? A long, 13ft or 14ft rod and a centrepin is a great combo for fishing close to home in the margins, as it enables you to sit back from the bank and drop your bait with pinpoint accuracy near to fish-holding features. In any case, all fish are fun to play on a centrepin.

Make a corn cloud

Crucians love a bit of cloudy feed so what’s better than one made from one of their favourite baits – sweetcorn? Get a couple of big tins of corn, or a pack of frozen from the supermarket, and give it a blast in a liquidiser. This not only puts an attractive cloud in the water but also gives off a strong smell to bring the fish into the swim. As there are only very small particles in the mix you won’t fill them up, and the only decent meal they’ll be able to find will be your corn hookbait

Finer floats

Crucians are experts at spitting out baits if they feel any resistance, so if you’re fishing a float it can pay to use one with a fine, insert tip. Some anglers will even use a pole float on their running line rigs, as these offer ultimate sensitivity for spotting the tiniest bites while offering less resistance into the bargain.

Stealthy rig

Clear plastic wagglers are a good choice for fishing in the clear water of shallow margins as they reduce the chances of the float spooking the fish. If you pick one that is already loaded with weights you won’t need to add loads of shot around the float. Fix the float on your line at the correct depth using a couple of float stops either side of it.

Don’t feed too heavily

It’s true that crucians like a fair bit of grub, but feeding too much bait can lead to other species such as tench and bream invading your swim. Start with a golf ball-sized nuggets of groundbait with several hookbait samples mixed in, and if you feel the swim has a lot of crucians in it and you’re catching plenty of fish you can them up the feed rate to keep them interested.

Specimen Fishing Tips | The best crucian float rig - Dai Gribble

Top crucian fishing tips to try right now!