Stewart Bloor

Field Tester

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I've really enjoyed my winter fishing, although with the mild weather we've had in the UK, it has hardly seemed like winter at times. But time moves on and the first spring fish that I targeted was tench. If you're a regular reader of my blogs you will know that I am a big fan of SBS' corn shaped-boilies - the poppers. They really are the business and I recommend anyone to get hold of a tub and give them a go.

The fish above was caught on a four-night session on three poppers. They have the attractiveness of real sweetcorn yet at the same time the durability of a boilie. You can cast out, put the rods in the pod and rest, knowing that small roach haven't reduced your bait to nothing.

And how about that for a sunrise in the photograph above? Sometimes as anglers it's good just to be there, catching fish is a bonus. I love the beginning and the end of a day - not only are they good fish-feeding times but the sun often entertains us as well as it rises and falls.

In England the rivers close during March so I managed a session on the mighty Severn for barbel. Although the Barbel Stix is no longer being produced, it won't affect my fishing as I'll switch to relevant boilies. However it was the SBS Undercover that tempted this nice-looking fish above.

I've been using groundbait for carp for many years so now that SBS has designated products available, that's perfect for me and my fishing. I started using the Flumino last year and was really impressed. Add a dash of CSL, and what carp can resist?

I have used the M1 and M2 range of boilies for some years now and they are definitely up there with the corn-shaped boilies in terms of confidence baits. Those are M2 below, and what I like about the tub of pop-ups is that you get a choice of sizes so you can vary your presentation if needed.

And finally, the rig you can see below is a simple one, yet it works. The boilie is a cranberry pop-up; that's a new one I am trying this year. Well, not strictly new I suppose as I did have a few as part of a Flumino box last summer, but new in the sense that I've gone for a tub this time round. I've got no doubt they will catch - watch this space.