The rig is enclosed inside the bag, so I know that it cannot get caught in any weed or detritus. I can cast it virtually anywhere and know that I have a small parcel of food surrounding my hookbait, which sends off a number of different food signals for the carp to home in on.

Solid bags are best when they are filled with small items, such as Active Mix or small pellets as they compact down really well to create a rock hard, super aerodynamic bag. As a result, the finished bag casts a very long way, without deviating too much, even in heavy cross winds. A lot of anglers go too big in terms of bag size too, if you want to cast a long way, you need to use small bags with relatively small leads, otherwise you will overload you rods.

I use a 2oz lead most of the time, because if you use a 3-4oz lead, added to the weight of the bag mix, it would be too heavy to cast any range. Hookbait wise I normally use something small, bright and with an element of buoyancy. I want the hookbait to sit just proud of the mix that is on the bottom, which often means that it is the first thing that will enter the carp’s mouth when they suck it in.

When the water really cools down, I am a big fan of adding maggots to the mix. Combined with some Manilla Active Mix, the combination stands out like a beacon on the bottom. In the colder months, when the lake is covered in often dark coloured detritus, having that visual bag down there is enough to pull the fish down.