Good Shot Guide
So what are the rules on lead and non-toxic shot in the UK? What’s it made of, and why is some shot softer than others. Nigel May of shot manufacturer Dinsmores answers all in the first of tcf’s new
How To Prepare Maize
Here we show you how to soften up your maize and add a little oomph to the bait.
The Long And Short Of Avon Chub Fishing
The crossover between autumn and winter is a great period to target quality chub and for Pete Reading the top tactic at this time is the maggot feeder. But it’s not just a case of chuck it and see.
Red Hot
Welsh international Lee Edwards’ no-nonsense pellet feeder method is simple but deadly. All you need is an island within casting distance, and red pellets!
Hobson's Choices
Maver Barnsley stalwart Keith Hobson loves his river matches and is delighted that the Calder circuit is thriving once again. We join him there for some top river tips.
In conversation with Neil Machin
Dave talks to commercial-fishery ace Neil Machin, the man who has won more money than any other match angler on the circuit over the past few seasons.
The Pellet Revolution Rolls On!
Pellets work brilliantly on commercial fisheries where the fish have been reared on them, but what about on natural venues? Saints captain Derek Bennett (Preston Innovations) has a session at St Hele
Jamie Masson On Shallow Pellets
Once carp start competing up in the water a good weight should almost be guaranteed and, for me, there is no better combination for this than the pole and pellets.
In conversation with John Raison
John Raison is England star Will Raison’s dad and the man behind the fabulous Gold Valley empire. Dave Harrell talks to one of the true gentlemen of our sport…
Jamie Masson On The Method Feeder
The Method feeder is a devastatingly effective approach that can work in all but the coldest of conditions. It is simple in nature, but far from the chuck-it-and-chance-it tactic that some people bel
Flaked Maize
Flaked maize is a really cheap way of bulking out groundbait, especially when you are pre-baiting and intend to use maize or sweetcorn on the hook.
‘Fatha’s’ Pride!
Maver-backed ace Denis White uses his loaf to work out how to eke out some hot early-summer carping on a breathless day at Fleets Dam, South Yorkshire.
Moor Skimmers Please!
Stafford Moor Fishery in North Devon is noted for some superb silver sport in winter. Gareth Purnell finds out more, and ends up booking a festival...
How To Hook Livebaits And Deadbaits
The tcf magazine teams shows how to correctly hook a livebait and a deadbait...
The Perfect Pellet Rig
Ian Welch looks at a rig that adds a subtle new dimension to that most deadly of barbel fishing techniques – the legered pellet.
Anything But Carp: Grayling
Clear waters are a considered a ‘must’ when targeting grayling. However, Ian Welch faces a challenging upper Kennet after heavy rainfall has made conditions far from ideal.
Anything But Carp: Zander
Despite their Dracula-like appearance zander are a very shy-biting species and, as Ian reveals, it can take seriously sensitive tactics to tempt them.
Pole Float Choice
The tcf team looks at bristles, eyes, stems and bodies and selects some favourite floats and set-ups for rivers, drains and stillwaters...
Broken Boilie Rig
Running water big-fish angler Pete Reading reveals the rig that’s seen him fool some wary barbel from the south’s most noted rivers.
Blockend Feeders
The TCF team focuses on blockend (block end) or maggot feeders with a look at what's out there and how to get the best from them..
Shot and Shotting Patterns
Pole Clinic from TCF magazine turns its attentions to shotting patterns for pole rigs...
Know Your Deadbaits
The tcf (Total Coarse Fishing) magazine gives a rundown of the most popular freshwater and sea fish deadbaits.
Clint Elliott
The fishery manager of the country’s No1 angling holiday destination talks to Gareth Purnell about learning on the hoof and what it's like to have to disqualify cheats.
The Reluctant Carp Angler
After more than 40 years of avoiding trying to catch a 20lb-plus carp, tcf editor Gareth Purnell finally gets talked into having a go – in the worst storm of the winter!
How To Tie The Grinner (Uni) Knot
This tcf team gives you a step-by-step guide on how to tie a knot that’s stronger than a grisly bear on steroids…
In conversation with Dick Clegg
The man who led England to its first every gold medal talks about world championships set-ups past and present as he shares a pint and a pie with tcf’s editor, Gareth Purnell.
Fishing With Sweetcorn And Maize
The tcf magazine teams looks at different types of corn and maize and their uses in angling, winter and summer...
Back To The Future
Modern baits and antique tackle meet as John Andrews goes in search of tench in London’s historic Bushy Park. But it doesn’t quite go to plan…
Barbel Maggot Feeder Rig
Ian Welch outlines how he sets up a tangle-free rig for barbel when targeting them in clear water with a maggot feeder set-up.
Floating Maggots
The ability to make maggots float gives the angler an extra weapon in the armoury against the old enemy.
Popped-Up Breadflake
Bread is very visual bait in clear water, and is also very easy for the fish to suck in and digest...
Popped-Up Sweetcorn
Sweetcorn is very visual, and when popped up it becomes even more obvious to the fish.
Popped Up Lobworms
Although this method will catch all manner of fish, it’s recognised as a deadly method for targeting quality perch – a species that simply can’t resist the lure of lobworms.
Wye Boilies?
Bob James has come across a deadly way of putting together big bags of quality chub on the float on the River Wye, one of his favourite rivers.
2007 - Lake Velence, Hungary
Total-Fishing.com's Gareth Purnell fished in the recent World Championships for his country of birth, the United States. Here’s his slant on what it was like…
Artificial Baits In The Spotlight
The tcf team takes an up close and personal look at some of the best fake baits on the market.
How To Use Artificial Casters
The tcf team has come up trumps with a great way for using artificial and real casters in tandem when targeting specimen fish...
How To Use The Maggot Klip
The maggot clip is a very recent development that allows the angler to easily fish a ball of maggots off a hair rig. They are made by Korda and come in four sizes: extra small, small, medium and la
How To Use Artificial Mixers
One of the main advantages of an artificial mixer is that it will remain very buoyant. Conversely, a real one will take on water and sink further. It’s better to retain the buoyancy because fish need
Artificial Baits
The tcf team takes a look at some of the best artificial baits on the market, and how to use them.
DIY Pole Anchors
If you’ve got spare bits of pole elastic lying around, there’s no need to ever buy a pole anchor again.
Anything But Carp: Barbel
There can hardly be an angler who doesn’t fancy fishing for barbel, but catching them in the heat of the day needs a targeted approach, as Ian Welch explains.
DIY Kinder Pot
The tcf team is on the case with a step-by-step guide to making a Kinder pot for pole fishing.
Fitting Your PTFE Bush
Fitting Your Pole Elastic Part One: Cutting Kits Back To Fit A PTFE Bush
Anything But Carp: Perch
Ian Welch finds perch haven in the Land Of My Fathers, bagging fish to over 4lb from a day ticket venue, and the tcf cameras are on hand to witness his catch.
Groundbait Feeder Fishing
Rigs, mixes and tricks to help you get the most from fishing the open-ended feeder, from the tcf team
The Pop-Up Boilie Rig
Ali Hamidi talks through setting up a rig that will keep your bait visible when the autumn leaves are falling into the water.
DIY Inline Feeder
Short hook links are traditionally fished as part of a semi-fixed set-up, and that normally means The Method. But what if the venue you want to fish has banned the tactic?
Plastics And Jellies
It’s a modern world, so we’d better look at a selection of new-world lures, including lead-loaded rubber imitations and soft plastic grubs.
Shallow And Deep Divers
A look at some of the bright and beautiful plugs you can buy, and what they will do to catch you more fish.
Spoons And Spinners
Here’s tcf’s guide to the various pieces of metalwork on the market designed to catch more fish.
Surface Lures
Surface Sizzlers Seven styles of top-water lure to help you enjoy some explosive predator action.
Lures Guide
The tcf team answers some common questions on targeting perch, pike, zander and chub on lures...
How To Prepare Hemp - And Not Get Kicked Out The House!
Unless you are single you are getting to get some serious earache if you prepare hemp in the kitchen due to the almighty smell it makes - and it lasts for ages.
How To Hook Hemp
The tcf team shows three popular ways of hooking hemp seed...
How To Make Liquidised Hemp
Feeding liquidised hemp can be very effective when roach, in particular, are your target on clear canals, rivers, stillwaters and drains. You’ll need some cooked hemp and a liquidiser.
Fitting Your Pole Elastic
In this piece we are fitting the green Preston Innovations Hollo elastic – which involves using about a No12 and would be well suited to small to medium-sized carp.
Bob James
Gareth Purnell joins Bob James on the banks of the River Wye to find out what makes the Passion For Angling star tick.
Tare 'Em Up
tcf editor Gareth Purnell sets about proving that tare fishing is easier than many anglers believe and that stillwater roach can’t get enough of the stuff!
Hemp
The tcf team look at how to prepare, fish with and hook hemm - also known as 'the magic seed.
Wagglers
The tcf magazine team is one the cast to explain all things waggler fishing...
Groundbait Day
tcf Editor Gareth Purnell ditches the pellets and pole to find out how commercial fisheries respond to a maggot, waggler and groundbait approach.
Roy Marlow
Owner of one of the country’s premier man-made venues, former Leicester Likely Lad Roy Marlow talks to tcf editor Gareth Purnell about fishery management, the close season and KHV.
Sticky Mag
When groundbaits are not an option and blockend feeders are too slow to distribute bait quickly there is another way, sticky maggots!
Hooking Maggots
And you thought hooking maggots was straightforward! Here are eight options to help you put more fish on the bank.
Dead Maggots
The tcf team shows a simple and guaranteed way of making dead maggots on the bank without risking damage or losing the colour.
Maggots
Even in these days of the pellet and boilie revolution more fish are still caught on maggots than anything else – and there seem to be more ways of getting the most from this magical bait than ever b
Stick Float
The Total Coarse Fishing magazine team's complete guide to fishing the stick float, also know as the top and bottom float.
Martin Founds
In his first ever interview, the Anglers World Holidays boss talk to tcf editor Gareth Purnell about how angling is changing across Europe, the power of wheat and his own favourite angling destinatio
DIY Pike Traces
Ian Welch shows how he sets up his own DIY pike traces...
Anything But Carp: Pike
Sinister-looking and foreboding with evil, staring eyes and a flattened snout filled with rows of needle sharp teeth – there is absolutely no mistaking the pike!
Ouse The Daddy?
Gareth Purnell heads to the upper Great Ouse to try out a theory on targeting specimen perch with the pole.
Reading The Weather
The weather forecasters by no means always get is right, and as a boat angler you need to be ready with a good understanding of weather systems and terminology… with Jim O’Donnell
Shore Fishing For Rays
There are many venues around the country where anglers can experience the thrills of landing many different species of ray. If you want to know how, then read on…
Plotters 4: Fishing At Anchor
Jim O’Donnell, skipper of top Plymouth charter boat ‘Tiberon’, explains how to use a chart plotter to drift over marks with precision.
Plotters 3: Fishing On The Drift
Jim O’Donnell, skipper of top Plymouth charter boat ‘Tiberon’, explains how to use a chart plotter to drift over marks with precision.
Plotters 2: Accurately Plotting Bottom Features
Jim O’Donnell, skipper of top Plymouth charter boat ‘Tiberon’, reveals a few of his tricks for finding fish holding features.
Plotters 1: Buying A Plotter
Jim O’Donnell, skipper of top Plymouth charter boat ‘Tiberon’, explains what a boat angler needs from an effective chart plotter and how they can catch him more fish.
Safe Lead Core Clip Rig
Top carper Dave Lane’s step-by-step guide to tying his safe lead core clip rig...
The Safe Lead Core Helicopter Rig
Top carper Dave Lane’s step-by-step guide to tying the leadcore helicopter rig...
Winter Zig Rig
Dave Lane’s step-by-step guide to tying one of his favoured winter set-ups…
The Seven Best Carp Baits
Simon Scott reveals his all time top seven carp baits, in reverse order, and explains why he believes they are so good.
Big Hit Carping - Rigs And Hook Baits
Clive Owden looks at the rig he uses when going for an all-out big hit at Horseshoe Lake. He also reveals what hook baits he uses and why...
Fishing At Range
Top carp angler Dave Lane reveals how he fishes effectively at ranges of 100 yards plus...
My Fourth UK Fifty
Dave Lane became the first angler to bank four UK carp over 50lb when he landed a 52lb 8oz mirror in 2003. Total Carp got the exclusive story in which he reveals how he did it...
The Klinkhammer
This is a fly that has to be in every angler's kit. The Klinkhammer is one of the most-successful flies ever devised and like most effective patterns; its success comes from close study of trout feed
Teal, Blue and Silver
The Teal Blue and Silver cannot have existed before the invention of chemical dyes in the 1830s.
The Black Pennell
One of the most dependable patterns ever created? The Black Pennell will tempt double-figure sea trout as well as it will buzzer-feeding rainbows.
Fishing For Whiting
When all else fails you can always rely on whiting to keep the rod tips nodding. So here's a load of top tips that are sure to get you bagging more fish this autumn.
Clean Ground Codding
If you want to catch more from the beach then read on as Total Sea Fishing reveals 10 top tips that are sure to improve your chances this season.
Mullet Man
Cornish rock-hopping legend Ed Schliffke is an ace at catching the elusive grey mullet... one of the Total Sea Fishing team joins him for a one-stop lesson...
How To Use VHF Radio
Have you ever been on board a boat when something drastic has happened? Well, what would you do if it was the skipper who was injured? Here’s the TSF guide to using a VHF radio properly…
Shock Leader Knot
Here’s a simple, step-by-step guide to tying the perfect leader knot.
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Straight-Through Pulley Rig
How to build a simple, straight-through pulley rig…
Bomber Rig
How to tie the Bomber Boom Rig
The Truth About Pellets: Part Two
A look at hook pellets and how to fish this bait to maximum effect and win.
Top Worm Tips
Paul Boothby’s Top 10 Tips For Worms...
Worm Fishing On Canals
Paul Boothby of Maver visits the Shropshire Union canal at Pendeford to show how he fishes chopped worm on canals...
World Championships 2003
England squad member Shaun Ashby reports on the 2003 World Championships, held on Slovakia’s River Vah.
Catching Shallow On Commercials
Catching shallow is a key tactic on commercial waters through the warmer months, so you need to know how to do it correctly. Match Fishing asked Andy May to reveal some tricks of the trade.
The Truth About Pellets: Part 1
Pellets are the most used bait on commercial waters, but do you understand them as well as you should? Find out all about the different varieties, including how to prepare expanders.
Pellet Fishing In Winter
Pellet fishing is without doubt one of the most deadly commercial water tactics and as the water starts to warm, pellets take over from the winter maggot and pinkie approach. Preston Innovations-back
Pastes On Test
A close up and personal look at some of the leading pastes on the market...
Fishing Up In The Water In The Margins
Thatchers 2000 skipper MARK HARPER has just the method to avoid those foul hookers and sort out the lumps when you’re fishing in the margins – suspending big lumps of meat up in the water. Match Fish
Maggot Fishing On Commercials In Winter
Many commercials now allow bloodworm and joker in the colder months, however it’s not the time to abandon your maggot. Will Raison knows that feeding a maggot line can still be the way to a frame pla
Chopped Worm On Commercials
Les Thompson: Fishing chopped worm on commercial fisheries
How To Avoid Carp In Silver Fish Matches…
If you fish silver fish matches on commercial waters unwanted carp are a big problem. Garbolino’s UK boss Darren Cox knows how to pull a ‘fast one’ over carp to bag up instead of being bust up.
Bloodworm And Joker Tackle And Rigs
Here we explain the best tackle and rigs to employ when fishing with bloodworm and joker...
Fishing The Block End Feeder
Blockend feeders are a valuable addition to any match anglers tackle box, but there’s no point carting them around in your box if you don’t know how to get the best out of them. Fox backed Mark Polla
Bite Indication
Carp ace Dave Lane shows how you can improve your bite indication – and catch more fish...
Maples And Peanuts
Tares, maples and peanuts are quite different in size, weight and texture and each is suited to different ways of feeding.
Stalking With Simon Scott
Simon Scott goes stalking for a day – revealing the tackle and tactics you’ll need to find and catch carp that are feeding in the edge...
Spodding With Style
Dave Lane takes a close look at spodding. How does he spod, what kit does he use and when does he spod?
Surface Fishing: 17 Top Tips
Great tips from Jason Cann to help you catch more carp off the top...
Spodding
Chris Berry reveals all about getting baits where you want them with a spod rod.
How To Stop Spod Spill
Dave Lane explains how you can make sure bait doesn’t fall out when you are spodding.
20 Tips With PVA
PVA bags continue to be popular with today’s carp angler, but did you know there are many other uses for PVA other than just tying on a bag and chucking it out? We’ve got 20 of these uses for you, ri
The Frank Warwick Peanut Pop-Up Rig
Chris Berry explains how sets up to fish with popped up peanuts
Traditional Controller Rig
Jason Cann shows how to tie a simple surface controller rig for non-pressured or commercial waters.
Emergency Controller Rig
Jason Cann shows how to tie a surface rig when you don’t have a controller float with you…
Drift Wood Controller
Jason Cann shows how he ties his close range drift wood surface set-up.
The Flatliner Controller Rig
Jason Cann’s favourite rig for surface fishing at 50-80 yards.
Bubble Float Rig
Jason Cann shows how he sets up his bubble float rig when fishing for cautious carp.
Simple Rigs Are Best
Fish lecturer Simon Scott travels to Roost Hole Lake to demonstrate why simple rigs are often best…
Knotless Knot
Carp ace Simon Scott shows how he ties up his knotless knot Snakebite rig.
Alternative Particle Fishing
There is more to particle fishing than spodded hemp and corn and we caught up with Chris Berry at Canons Ashby Fishery to find out why…
Feature Finding
Dave Lane reveals how you find features that produce carp.
Faking It
Big carp ace Dave Lane looks at how imitation baits can catch you more fish...
Carp Fishing In Weed
Carp love feeding in weed during the height of summer, but what rigs should you use? Yateley ace Steve Fantauzzi has the answers...
Carp Care
Simon Scott gives his views and advice on the essential issue of carp care. How can you best look after the carp you catch?
Big Hit Carping
Clive Owden goes all-out for a big hit at Horseshoe Lake and tells us about the bait he uses, how much he uses and how he decides on a spot to fish...
Anti Eject Balanced Particle Rig
Chris Berry's set-up for particles like maples in a balanced set up.
Leader Knot
How to tie the leader knot...
Choosing The Right Line
Total Sea Fishing's technical guru Barney Wright takes a closer look at the different lines we use for shore angling and explains how to get the best from them, including how to tie the leader knot.
Balancing The Spool On Your Multiplier
International tournament caster Barney Wright takes a closer look at some of the more technical aspects that we face in sea angling. This month he shows you how to correctly balance the spool of a mu
Give ‘Em The Slipper!
Total Sea Fishing travels to Hampshire's Hayling Island to discover how to catch winter bass from the beach on slipper limpets, with local expert Tom Foster.
Geoffrey Palmer
Geoffrey Palmer is one of British television’s most recognisable, and lovable, faces. He was a star way back in the days of ‘Butterflies’ and more recently in ‘As Time Goes By’ – just two of his high
The Sedge
High summer brings with it some of the most chaotic evening rises of the season; the sedge is, more often than not, responsible!
Desert Island Flies: Dave Chalmers
Dave Chalmers, one of Scotland’s most capped competition anglers, shows us his trio of must-have patterns.
Fiery Devil (Stillwater)
The Fiery Devil is an out-and-out stalking pattern, designed to get down to the fish’s cruising depth quickly.
Corixa (Stillwater)
The Corixa fly is very good year round, although it tends to be fished more towards the end of summer and the start of autumn.
Big Red (Stillwater)
August can often be the best time of the year for any surface activity when it comes to trout fishing and, with loads of flies hatching or falling on the water, you’d be mad not to make the most of i
Rob Jones
Environment Officers – once Fishery Officers – are central to the health of our fisheries. John Bailey meets up with just one from a legion of unsung heroes.
The Damselfly
The sign of electric-blue insects flying around the margins of a stillwater is a sure sign of summer. It’s also a sure sign of some fantastic, imitative fishing…
Desert Island Flies: Craig Barr
One of the competition scene’s biggest names, and consistent Rutland Water expert, Craig Barr, shows us the three patterns he would be lost without…
Huff ‘N’ Puff (Upland Water)
This pattern - The Huff 'N' Puff - lends itself very well to the top-dropper position with a couple of other wet flies.
Big Ball Buzzer (Stillwater)
When you see fish moving at the surface, yet they are refusing a dry fly, it’s often the case that they are feeding just under the surface, rather than on it...
Red Head Sunburst Damsel (Stillwater)
The Sunburst Damsel is out-and-out attracter pattern for targeting those lethargic summer trout.
Jeremy Paxman
Paxman is regarded as one of the most ferociously intelligent of TV presenters. He is also an avid fly fisherman and compiler of the bestselling book, ‘Fish, Fishing and the Meaning of Life’ (Michael
The Midge
Meet the stillwater trout’s number-one meal - the midge. June sees swarms of the little blighters, and some of the season’s finest dry-fly fishing.
Desert Island Flies: Jim Crawford
Top Scottish angler, Jim Crawford tells us about the three flies that he couldn’t possibly live without.
Deer Dub Emerger (Stillwater)
This Deer Dub Emerger is a little cracker for those times when fish are rising, yet you don’t know what they are feeding on.
Iron Blue Dun (River)
The iron blue dun is a fly that hatches out in late spring/early summer along the majority of our rivers in the UK.
Biot Back Nymph (Stillwater)
The Biot Backed Nymph is a very good year-round pattern that can be just as effective for brown trout as it can for rainbow trout.
Green Beak Damsel (Stillwater)
This pattern of the super effective damsel fly works as well on reservoirs as it does on small-water fisheries.
River Itchen
Ron Holloway was a river keeper on the Itchen at Martyr Worthy for 30 years...
Rainbow Trout
A charismatic character from across the pond, the rainbow trout has changed British fly fishing forever, says John Bailey.
Tye’s Pale May
Professional fly dresser Rod Tye tshows you how to create his deadly, Tye’s Pale May.
Shipman’s Buzzer (Reservoir)
Here’s a fly developed by that doyen of the reservoir competition scene Dave Shipman, which has proved the downfall of countless grown-on, resident trout.
Biot Backed Buzzer (Small Stillwater)
Here’s something that you may not have seen before, but it is very successful none the less - the Biot Backed Buzzer...
Olive Emerger (River)
Here’s a pattern that covers more than you think for river anglers - the olive emerger.
Bibio Dry (Upland Water)
Ah, the Bibio. Well known as a traditional wet fly, stripped down, it also has its uses as a top-of-the-water pattern.
Fly Lines Up Close
The Total Fly Fisher team reveals just what it takes to produce this essential item for the fly fisher…
Drifting On Giant Waters
Scottish reservoir ace Jim Crawford takes to the Midlands’ mighty Rutland Water to explain all you need to know about tackling buzzer hatches with dries…
Brown Trout
Angling writer John Bailey takes a look at the UK’s indigenous species… the brown trout.
Thunderflash Variant (Salmon)
Black is a great colour choice for the salmon angler, especially in clear water.
Steroid Dry/Indicator (Stillwater)
Here’s a fly pattern that can work one of two different ways.
Bird’s-Nest Pupa (River)
Here’s a pattern that ticks all the boxes for river anglers. Despite its name it fits the bill when imitating a whole host of underwater creatures.
Apache (Stillwater)
Experieced trout anglers are well aware of how much of a winning combination black and green is for trout, at any time of the year.
Chocolate-brown Blackwater
Faced with a big spring river? Steve Cullen had the same problem but a good guide and perseverance paid off.
A Backpacker’s Guide To Salmon
A trip to Norway needn’t cost the earth, explains Tim Smith, as he gives us a rundown of salmon fishing on the River Gaula on a budget
Bank House Fly Fishery
Let’s face it, we all like to fish with imitative patterns, but often fall for the lure-and-sinker approach when conditions are against us. There’s no need explains Fred Bainbridge, who has a ball wi
Let’s Hear It For The Beetles!
It’s anything but buzzers when it comes to fishing some waters, and Gary Champion puts his faith in four flies that imitate bugs us fly anglers rarely think about.
Salmon
With the British climate being less than predictable in the last few years, we can almost throw the spring salmon fishing rule book out of the window...
Stillwater Nymphs
Even early in the season there are times when trout definitely respond better to realistic-looking patterns.
Stillwater Lures
Early season is a very busy time for stocked waters because there will be plenty of fresh stock fish to be had.
River Trout
Spring is a great time to target trout on rivers. After a long close season the fish are keen to get some weight back on and they can often be that little bit easier to catch.
Hill Lochs And Upland Reservoirs
Fly