| Recently
I paid a visit to Preston Innovations Woodland View, where I met up with my
Good friend Ken Giles, to compile this feature on chopped worm fishing. Kens
pedigree speaks for itself and I'm sure I don't have to give you the full
ins and outs because if I did I would not have enough room left on this
page, and the feature would be very short!
I
chose Ken for this article because he has been fishing the 'chop' for the
past 15 years and there isn't much he doesn't know about this method. Now
down to the nitty gritty.
Ken
likes the smaller sized Dendrobena worms of which he will keep one part to
three parts peat. Anything over and above this he frowns upon because the
worm, he believes can become stressed and so loses its condition. For an
average match he will take with him three quarters to one kilo along with
four pints of caster that is always fresh. He washes his worms using a
colander that he takes with him to the waters side. A part from a lot of
fisheries stipulating that worms must be washed, it also makes them easier
to chop. The worm is not to be cut to small, as Ken believes that the
smaller the chop, the smaller the fish it will catch.
 At
the start of a match he feeds a good-sized pot of neat worms followed by a
good pot of caster. He stresses avoid putting in too much at the start but
build your peg slowly but surely. Avoid the jacuzzi effect that is made by
lots of swirling fish in your swim, generally caused by over feeding because
this will result in foul hooked and lost fish. Drip- feeding using a small
pot is, in kens opinion, the solution.
If
ever you see Ken fishing he chop you will not see him fishing at distance,
he will fish under his feet in the margins. He believes this to be the best
holding area for the carp or any other fish that is interested in his bait
that day. As he states the bait is so versatile that it will catch you
anything that swims and is not selective like some other baits.
Double bladed chopping
scissors as used by Ken.
The elastic that he uses is Preston Innovations
size12, but this is his personal choice. He states that it is completely up
to the individual as to what they use as is line, hooks, floats etc, but he
likes the Preston because he has the confidence that it will handle any fish
he encounters. Line is again personal choice but he has faith in the Preston
Powerline, which is very supple for it's diameter.
Kens Drip Mix
His floats
are Preston PB4, varying in size from 4 x 10 to 4 x 16 dependant upon
conditions; this float has a cane insert and carbon stem, which is ideal for
worm fishing.
Hooking
the worm will depend on a number of factors. If the fish are hungry, Ken
hooks it through the body. If things are a little on the slow side, he
states, try hooking the worm through the head and feed it along the shank of
the hook. This may enhance the presentation and help take a few fish.
Shotting
patterns will differ in the summer to winter. In the summer he will use
styles instead of shot. He believes that this will give the bait a slower
drop and the styles will stay central on the line. Shot does not always have
the same depth of split and can sit on the line unevenly. This will not give
you the best presentation. The biggest style that will be used is a size
seven and the smallest a ten. In winter he prefers to use shot, which he
will bulk with two or three droppers.
Hooks
are also very important to Ken, albeit a personal choice, he likes the
Preston PR 22 size 16. This he states has a fine wire and he has never had
one straighten out. A useful tip is to stick to diameter line sizes or
breaking strain size, which ever you are comfortable with, otherwise you may
become confused between the two and end up with something you didn't want.
One
interesting point with regard to hooks is that he will remove 95% of the
spade leaving a tiny amount so that the line can grip the hook. He will make
seven or eight turns of line along the shank, cut the excess nylon and then
coat the shank with a fly tying varnish to seal it. This, he states will
help presentation as the hook will hang true from the line and not be curved
or twisted. An interesting point and one we all overlook when looking for
that finer presentation.
Once
on the bankside, Ken recommends making up an assortment of rigs using
different sizes of float, hook etc, for varying depths but make up two or
more of the same type just in case of a break, tangle etc.
Another
piece of advice from the man is to buy a pole which you can afford. Don't
over stretch your self. Also take into account the cost of the spares if
anything should happen.
Grant Albutt
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