Tom Pickering - The Snag Tamer!

This simple, but deadly technique has won me thousands over the years. I first mastered it at Messingham Sands on the Island pond. There was a peg there that anglers dreaded drawing, most of the regulars used to take carp rods and try and heave anything they hooked out of the snag. One day, I drew it, and using this technique I lost only a couple of fish, landing over 20, and winning the match outright. 

The thinking behind it is all about turning the fish and getting them coming towards you. Think pole fishing for a minute. If a fish runs into stick ups, to get them to swim out the key is to hold your pole directly above your rig, and apply gentle pressure. This way, not only are you making the fish turn, but you are giving the fish minimum opportunity to run you around anything, as the angle of your line will means it will follow the fish around obstacles rather than getting caught in them, as it might do if you held your pole low.

All species of fish love the cover and sanctuary reeds provide.

Same theory here. I’m over 6ft tall, and with an an 11ft rod, I dare say I can get 20ft of elevation or more from the surface of the water, depending on the height of my peg off the water. I am trying to turn the fish, while giving them minimum chance of snagging me up. 

Crucially, the soft action of the rod means the hook has very little chance of pulling out, and as soon as the fishes head is turned, you have him coming towards you.

One final point on this, I angle my rod away from the snag, rather than pointing it towards the danger zone when its on the rest. This means I am able to get the rod high when I get a bite without everything locking up, as it might do if I pointed the rod at the fish. Oh, and I use both a butt rest and a secure lower rod rest to make sure that the rod can’t be pulled in if I should get momentarily distracted.

I have talked through how I load a Method feeder dozens of times, it really is simple. I soak some standard micro pellets until they are soft on the outside, but still have a hard inner core. I then add in a generous helping of the Fjuka 2in1 Micros. This not only adds colour to my feed pellets, but more importantly introduces the smell of Sensate TM attractant, which permeates the feed pellets. Don’t ask me why but this stuff really does seem to draw in bigger fish of all species, but especially carp and F1s.

A surprise tench from the open water swim.

Hook bait is one of the new Fjuka Wafters in a 6mm. Again, these ooze Sensate™ attractant, so maximise the pulling power of my bait.

This is particularly important with regards to this style of fishing, as I want to feed as little as possible in the ‘danger zone’ next to the snag. I want as much competition here as I can, so bites come quickly, and importantly, I hook fish in the mouth and run less risk of foul hooking.

One thing that any sort of snag fishing requires is concentration. As soon as there is a fish on I want to assume that high position with the rod. Every second really does count in getting the fish coming your way. 

Fortunately, I am not waiting too long today, and I am in business. The rod is high, and a powerful fish makes its bid for freedom. My plan works, and though it gives the tackle a bit of a workout, I am soon able to turn its head and. Get it coming towards me. I waste no time in getting some turns on the reel, and before long a 4lb carp graces the net. Lovely!

Two more fish soon follow, including a good bream of about 4lb. Not what I expected, but proof that all species of fish love the cover and sanctuary that reeds like this provide.

I fully expect action on this line to slow after a while, so I also prime an open water line. Here, I simply fire 2in1 bait via catapult. The beauty of using this soft gear is I dont even have to swap rods when I go on this - I can cast my Method feeder over this line and nick a fish or two while my other line is resting. 

Sure enough, after my fourth fish, I find myself waiting, so its time for a rest. I think this is really important with any kind of commercial fishing. Always rest a line if you feel it waining and give the fish chance to regroup, otherwise you might find they back off elsewhere. Much better to work a line for five hours and maximise your return, than blow it by hammering it for the first hour.

My open water line proves good too to be honest, skimmers, bream and even a welcome tench grace my net from here. Interestingly though, I never hook a single carp here, proof if any was needed of just how much fish love cover, especially on bright, clear days like this.

Sure enough, after a 20 minute rest, my snag line yields once more. This time its a big, golden fantail, a gorgeous fish that didn’t put up too much resistance. Next put in its another angry carp though, which I regret to admit finds its way into the snag. Still with five fish in the pan from this line, one lost is an acceptable ratio of success.

With all the commotion, I let this swim settle down before recasting, and drop on my loosefeed line. This really is the beauty of a two line approach - you can work your peg to maximise your return.

Back on the snag swim, and another angry carp soon graces the net. Again, its two or three bites before I find myself waiting and its time to switch. 

I continue in this fashion, rotating the two lines for the duration of the session. I end with ten carp and F1s, plus a similar amount of bream and skimmers for about 60lb. A lovely days fishing in anyone’s book, from a peg that could quite easily have proved a nightmare -  if it wasn’t for my tried and tested snag fishing approach.

You can’t win them all when it comes to snag fishing, and its inevitable that occasionally you will find yourself stuck. The key is to keep calm. More tackle is broken in frustration in situations like this than through necessity. If the fish is still on, keep your rod high and try waiting for a minute or so, it might well swim out.

If everything is solid, it is worth gently pulling at a few different anglers to try and free yourself, but never apply too much pressure with the rod high if you are stuck. This is when breakages happen, or worse, your feeder comes flying back through the air and maims you. 

If your feeder cannot be freed and you need to pull for a break, do so with the rod low, so that if the Hooklengths snaps and your feeder comes free, it hits the water or the bank, not you. The beauty of a free running rig is that if a breakage happens, the fish can pull free of the feeder and isn’t trailing it around.

It could have been a nightmare, but Tommy's experience won the day.