Float fishing master, Wayne Swinscoe, explains how he managed an impressive 14lb catch on a wind-lashed River Trent at Burton.

With the River Trent fishing so well on the float lately I was really looking forward to Sunday’s Coors AC open match at Burton. Two days previous I had fished the RAF Team Challenge at Shelford and enjoyed winning my section on the pole and waggler with 12lb-plus of nice stamp roach and dace. After this, Sunday couldn’t come quick enough!

I really enjoy fishing the Trent at Burton and this year it’s teaming with fish. My draw was pretty good; peg 20 on Sherrats Farm. It’s shallow here and with a gravel bottom.

Tackling Up

The wind was downstream and very strong but it was the same for everyone. After settling in, sat out in the river, I ruled out a long-pole attack because of the pace and wind. A 5m whip was assembled with a 0.4g AS3 pole float, shotted bulk-style with three No10 droppers. A size 20 Carbon Match hook finished the rig.

Next up was a 15ft Acolyte Ultra float rod, combined with a 4 No4 Drennan Stick Float, again bulk-shotted with three droppers and finished with a size 20 hook.

The last rod to be set up was a 14ft Acolyte Ultra with a 2.5AAA Drennan Loaded Straight Crystal waggler with three No8s spread out evenly below. The float was set around 3ft deep to fish a foot off bottom and again finished with a size 20 hook.

The Match

With bright conditions and the river being clear, my plan was to start close and chase the fish out in the shallow water. At the start of the match I introduced four small balls of Bait-Tech Pro Natural Dark groundbait with a few bronze maggots. With the float set dead depth (3ft) I was into fish straight away; mainly dace and perch.

After 60 minutes, this line began to die. I’d probably caught 50 fish for about 3Ib, however, so it was a decent start as my target weight was about 12lb.

The next 90 minutes was spent fishing the stick float swim at two and a half rod lengths out. With the wind blowing strongly downstream it was difficult, but by feeding well down my peg and casting downstream I could control my float well enough to get plenty of bites off dace and small roach.

As this line began to die I started to up the maggot feed on the waggler line further across. Again, dace greeted this change and by fishing four rod lengths out and changing depths regularly I kept fish coming every cast.

As the match progressed more roach started to feed with the odd 4oz sample coming to the net. I began to sense a good finish could happen and in the last 30 minutes I put over 3lb in the net. I ended up with around 180 fish for a level 14lb and finished runner up.

I was disappointed not to win but it was a good performance in tough conditions and I felt I couldn’t have done much better!

I must add, fishing in these difficult conditions with these new Acolyte Ultra rods is amazing. The lightness, action and response is fantastic!

Tight Lines!
Swinno.