Paste

Choice of paste float My preferred choice of paste float is the Garbolino DC8 series. It is an extremely robust float which has been designed to fish paste for carp. The long flexible fibre stem and long hollow highly visible antenna makes it easy to see even the smallest of bites. Because the float is so sensitive, you can even tell the difference from a `liner` and a proper bite. The wire antenna eye provides good strength and will not pull off even under extreme pressure The length of the float gives it great stability in the water even in the windiest conditions. TOP TIP Buy 0.3gramme and 0.5 gramme floats with a variety of different coloured antenna to give you several options in different conditions

Paste
Shotting the float I do not put any shot on this rig ! As you can see from the picture (right), these paste floats are virtually self cocking without any weight added. You use the weight of the paste bait to take your float down.

Plumbing the depth I cannot emphasise this enough, but always spend 5 minutes exploring your swim. Once you get to your peg, try and locate flat, even areas, or the bottom of the first or second shelf of the lake as this is where the carp will be feeding. When plumbing up, I like to get my floats antenna set so that it is about half way down as shown on the left. When you start fishing, the weight of the paste will take the floats antenna down even more so that you are left with only a small amount of float antenna showing (picture right).

Paste
Marking the depth Once I have explored the swim and plumbed up accurately, I mark the position of my float on my top kit. This is particuarly useful if your rig gets broken, or if the float moves when playing and landing a big fish. By using a small dab of Tippex, I can maintain that I am always fishing the correct depth for that swim. If you are fishing 2 or more paste lines, use the Tippex to mark your top kit eg: "L" would be for your left swim.

I also mark where the hook is in case you have to change your hook length. Many anglers will attach their hooks to the bottom of their top kits, but I prefer to use `hook-ups`.

TOP TIP Remove any dried on Tippex using a match stick

Paste
Choice of elastic With a vast array of elastics on the market, this is a personal preference. If you decide to use a `hydro`, these will set you back 13 - 15 per top kit, whilst a cheaper `solid` elastic will only cost 2 - 5 per top kit. If I am fishing where there are lots of smaller carp, crucians and tench, I will use a Middy 6-10 hollow elastic. For bigger fish I would use the Preston hollow range and have my kits elasticated with 9, 11, 13, and a 15 hollow. TOP TIP - Just before I start fishing I always lubricate my top kits with a proprietory pole elastic lubricant, as this will stop the elastic`sticking` and give a smooth operation of the elastic when playing a fish. Hook My choice of hook is a size 12 Tubertini series 175 Line The majority of modern lines are fine for paste fishing. When fishing venues that have predominantly larger carp I would opt for a 5lb or 6lb straight through to the hook. When targetting smaller carp, crucians etc, scale your line size down to a 4lb straight through to the hook.

Paste
Which paste ? Again, as with pole elastic, this is a personal choice, as there are probably a hundred or more pastes on the market. Some come ready made in small tubs, or you can buy 900gramme bags to make yourself. During 2007 I had a great deal of success at a lot of venues using Dynamite Baits SWIM STIM Betaine groundbait. Available from many good tackle shops for around 3.50 per bag, it will last for approximately 3 - 4 sessions.

TOP TIP -Once you have opened the bag, use a small freezer clip to keep it fresh, and also to stop it tipping over in your bag!

Paste
Mixing paste Put a little lake water into your mixing bowl. TOP TIP Using a large round mixing bowl to make your paste in Add about a quarter of your packet of SWIM STIM into your bowl and mix thoroughly. Keep adding water a little at a time and mix together until you have a soft pliable paste. TOP TIP - leave the paste at this stage as the water will be absorbed slowly, then return in 15 minutes to add a little more water. There are many theories and arguments about the texture and consistency of the paste. I prefer to fish the paste as soft as I can, which means that if you dont get a bite after 3-4 minutes the paste will break down quickly leaving a bed of feed in your swim. I have also found that bites are easier to spot when fishing the softer pastes, as the carp tend to `suck` the bait in rather than `pecking` at it.

Paste
Feed Pellets Every venue that you fish at will respond to different feeds and feeding patterns. My `rule of thumb` when fishing a new venue is to fish `little and often` as you can always increase your feed, but you cannot take it out if you have overfed. My choice of feed pellets is from the Dynamite Bait range. The pellets I use for paste fishing are the 3mm or 4mm SWIM STIM pellets. A bag of these pellets would last a couple of sessions, depending on how well the fish are feeding. To prepare the pellets I three quarter fill a pint bait tub with pellets then cover with water and leave for an hour. Then stir the pellets with a large disgorger to ensure they are all soaked. Kick start your swim At the start of my session or match, I will pot in 1-2 pots of pellets using a cupping kit into each swim that I intend to fish. Different venues will react differently, and you may have to wait for the fish to come onto your initial feed. TOP TIP - Always check the fisheries rules on what feed pellets you are allowed to use, and how much you can use during a match

Paste
Hooking the paste When I have been paste fishing, other anglers have often walked over to see what `magic` bait I am using. They often ask "isnt that too soft" or "how does it stay on the hook". I always fish the paste as soft as I can, meaning that after 3-4 minutes the paste will have broken down and come off the hook leaving a small amount of feed each time. To `hook` the paste, take a piece of paste the size of a 50p piece, push the hook into the paste, and then mould the paste into a plummet shape.

TOP TIP - Keep a small bait tub near you filled with water so you can clean your hands, and add water to the paste to keep it from drying out

Paste
Shipping out the paste Because the paste is very soft, you will not be able to ship the paste out like a normal hard bait. On the market there are many kinder pots, toss pots, paste wings and pellet pots.

Fox toss pot

Vespe aero pot

TOP TIP - Use a good old fashioned Kinder Egg (and you get to eat the chocolate as well !)

TOP TIP - Carefully make two holes in the base of the kinder egg pot with a small soldering iron !

Paste
Simply mould your paste around the hook then place into your kinder pot. Ship out to your swim and holding the kinder pot about 6" above the water, turn your pole through 180 degrees. The paste will now fall into your pre-baited swim.

Bite indication There are two indications of a bite when paste fishing. A- Your float will simply disappear under water B- The float will rise out of the water (lift bite) You do not need to strike at these bites, but just gently `lift` into the bite. Because paste bites are generally softer bites (because the carp is sucking the paste) striking too hard will pull the hook. If your float rises, you strike and there is no fish on, this means that your paste has broken down and come off the hook!

Paste
Topping up your swim You can also use your kinder pot to introduce a few feed pellets every time you drop your paste into the water. Trial and error will give you an idea on how often to feed. Paste fishing at my favourite venue Canon Bridge is simple: At the start of the match introduce a large pot of pellets into each swim Have a cup of tea. Ship out your paste Bites will not be forthcoming straight away, but keep putting fresh paste in every 3-5 minutes. The bites will come after around 20 minutes ! After each bite, put your paste in the kinder pot and top up with 15-20 feed pellets. TOP TIP - Experience has shown that I need to `top up` with a large pot of feed pellets every hour. Missed bites TOP TIP - To avoid missing bites, just remember to gently lift into the bite and not strike. TOP TIP - You can also try reducing the tension of your elastic, or by using a softer grade to avoid missing bites