We’re in the depths of winter now, when feeding minimal amounts and sometimes nothing at all is what’s needed on commercial fisheries to catch a few carp. For this reason, the art of dobbing has become a must – simply placing a large, highly visible hookbait in front of a carp and seeing if it will take it.
This style of fishing isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but if it’s the only way I’m going to get a bite, then I’ll do it. To be honest, there’s nothing complicated about the method. Location is perhaps the most important part to get right but, when you do find a few fish, it pays to have the right thing on the hook to take every chance you’re given.
Bread is, of course, the go-to bait for dobbing – and rightly so – but not every fishery allows it, and this means other options need to be up your sleeve. I’m a big believer that in winter, if you place a bait in front of a carp, it will take it, but there are some offerings that will get you more bites than others – and some are on theshelves of your local shop!
ONE OF THE BEST FISHING POLES WILL MAKE IT MUCH EASIER TO DOB ACCURATELY TO FAR BANK COVER AND SNAGS.
One piece or two?
One piece of 6mm or 8mm breadpunch is enough, but I may fish two for a bigger bait. Just before punching the bread, I compress it with my knuckles to help it grip the hook better, this also stops the bread taking on water too quickly giving you longer in the water before it falls off.
LOOKING FOR A VENUE TO TRY OUT STEVE'S DOBBING TACTICS? YOU NEED TO READ OUR WHERE TO FISH GUIDE.
Try maggots...
On venues that ban bread, try dobbing maggots. Both F1s and carp love two live maggots lowered slowly in front of them – two whites work best to keep the visibility thing going. However as with all things dobbing, just keep the changes coming to see what the fish prefer on the day.
...or a corn skin
A great change bait is a corn skin, a grain with the hard centre squeezed out. Not only do carp love corn, but a skin almost flutters through the water and, being bright yellow, can be picked out with ease by a fish. It also stays on the hook really well allowing you to miss bites without the hookbait flying off.
CARP CAN BE FUSSY AT TIMES WITH WHAT THEY WILL AND WON'T EAT, CHECK OUT OUR GUIDE TO THE BEST WINTER CARP FISHING BAITS.
Stealth bombing
We can also dob with a bomb, using bread, corn, or a fluoro wafter or pop-up boilie. In coloured water, though, a cube of meat glugged in a smelly liquid can be brilliant too. Much the same as with the pole, don't leave it in the water too long and cast around your swim to find the fish.
FLAVOURS, LIQUIDS AND ADDITIVES ARE GREAT FOR BOOSTING HOOKBAITS, OUR BUYERS GUIDE CONTAINS SOME OF THE BEST.
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