Silverfish expert Matt Powell reveals the simple feeding trick that is guaranteed to help you catch bigger roach and skimmers
MOST commercial fisheries are teeming with silverfish and getting bites from them in winter is relatively straightforward for those who fine down their tackle appropriately.
When the temperatures are low and your float is frequently being pulled under, it’s easy to feel fairly satisfied with how the session is progressing. The occasional better fish will keep you on your toes, and will probably be classed as a bonus, but is there something that could be done, tactically-speaking, to make sure that those bigger fish become the norm in your catches, as opposed to just the odd exception?
Matt Powell has a very effective feeding trick up his sleeve, one that always manages to boost the average stamp of the fish hitting the inside of his keepnet in the colder months.
“Silverfish of all sizes will respond if you feed a swim correctly and the law of averages says that the smaller ones will outnumber the bigger ones,” explained Matt.
“It’s all about trying to concentrate the fish that you want to catch in a tight area, and introducing what I call a ‘worm bomb’ is the perfect way to achieve this.
“This stodgy nugget of groundbait is packed with chopped worms and sinks like a stone, before opening up on the deck.”
TOP TIP
Always use a dedicated match kit that comes with your pole, as opposed to a power kit when fishing for silvers. They have a lower-diameter bore at the tip-end which prevents the elastic from rattling around inside, and are stiffer. This stops the pole wobbling about upon striking, preventing hookpulls with silvers that are often only lightly hooked.
Split the shoal
The biggest silvers within any shoal are likely to be quite cautious. While the tiddlers will dive in to feed with gay abandon, the larger ones will sit back and bide their time.
“These fish don’t want to get involved in a battle to feed, and often wait for their opportunity,” said Matt.
“If you can create a calmer area where they
