Fat Controller

I bought a Drennan surface controller float recently(still in the packet).

Ifancy bit of action up top!

Any thoughts on techniques?

Any suggestions for bait?

Standard crusts and dog biscuits?

Goldfish Pete

The trick is to get the fish feeding of the top before casting anything out at then. bait wise use different size baits to try and confuse the carp. Dog biscuits and cat biscuits are very cheap but you can also use dynamite expander pellets.

pellets will easily absorb flavors oils and clours so you dont have to stick to the stock flavour or colour.

Hook bait wise I like using 15mm dynamite brown pop ups wittled down to simulate dog biscuits.

Use small hooks size 8 dremen super specialist are very good lite line if the water is not to weedy. 8Lb drennen double stretch isgood. Coat the hook lenght with Mucsalin to make it float use a 4-6' tail to keep the bait away from thesurface controller.

As I said before start to feed the carp and get them competeing for the bait wait until they are confidentlytaking the bait then cast your rig past the feeding shoal and wind back to them really slowly.

Tight Lines

click on the rigs tag at the top of this page .....theres a few in there for fishing on top

I agree with most of the above.

As for 'technique' I use a lovely old Browning IM7 13 feet 2?lb t/c rod which has a soft(ish) action as typically you are fishing at (relatively) close range. I team this to a Shimano 5010 as I think it has the one of the best clutch systems on the market, again, at close range I don't want too 'harsh' a clutch.

Some of the floating pellets you can now buy are very good, but expensive, so I usually use Chum Mixers for 'feed' but with the odd floating pellet thrown in for good measure.

Personally I prefer those fox inline bubble floats to the drennan controller. Having used both for a number of years I find the fox controller tends to spook the fish less.

I also like to use a piece of cork cut to resemble a mixer which I drill and place a shot in opposite the hook as a counterbalance, that way the hook is always out of the water. I have used this method for about 12 to 15 years and find it superb. The fish can mouth the bait as much as it likes and never feel the hook. The other advantage of cork is the fact that it accepts flavouring very well and doesn't tend to sink as mixers can when they have absorbed water.

been experimenting a little with controllers, made one out of a stick then drill hole in bottom as like a float , lays flat on surface but adds weight to get bait out there with a long hooklink worked last week on a lake i could never get a take on off the top as i thought very clean water but with wind plenty of sticks floating aroud, caught 5 carp biggest 19 4

thanks for the tips.

Will possibly try them out tomorrow (Friday)

Should have a fun packed day as Taswood lakes.

Cheers

Goldfish Pete

Hey Goldfish Pete

I live in Stratton so would be interested to knowhow you get on at Taswood. I've never been but have heard that surface fishing is hard there.I do my surface fishing at Harleston and District's Pits at Weybread. The Middle Pit in particular is relatively easy. My mate caught32up to about 8lbin a five-hour session there one day last summer using an ESP controller, Drennan 10lb double strength mainline, Drennan 5lb double strength for hooklink, size12 hooks and Chum mixers on bait-bands.