Zoltan Kovacs

Competition Angler and CEO of SBS

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It was our first competition of 2008, the semi-final of the 2^nd Dynamite Baits Cup organized at the Palotási reservoir. Our obvious intention was to have a go on this legendary pond which is famous for large-sized fish. Also, we wished to clear up the false belief among some anglers that SBS SziKo Team is only successful at catching small-sized fish and that SBS products only attract small fish. We did not understand what they based their assumptions on, because we managed to get the Cup and prize for the biggest fish again. Throughout our career, it was the third occasion we received a Cup for the biggest fish. Moreover, for the third time the SBS team received the Cup for the biggest fish caught on this water. Those of you, who are interested in the baiting and feeding tactics we used to achieve this result, read this article and I promise I will reveal all the details…

The weight of the prize-winning fish was 20.28 kg (measured with digital scales), it was a Mirror Carp. But, instead of words, let the pictures talk for themselves:

There is no happier moment for an angler than when he can hold the capital fish in his hands, and his joy is even greater if he catches it in a Cup!

After seeing this beautiful fish let us get back to business. How did I manage to take it? Let us start with the feeding. We placed two buoys near the pond’s centre in 50 cm mud. Unfortunately there wasn’t a less muddy area nearby. At one buoy we fed with seeds and some M1 boilies, and at the other buoy we threw Halibut fish-based pellets and a few Squid & Octopus boilies. The seeds were made more appetizing for the fish by soaking, boiling and flavouring.

These are the hempseeds soaked into appetizers and flavours after boiling. Because they were pre-soaked, white sprouts are clearly visible on some seeds that opened during boiling. This is an irresistible dessert for the peaceful fish.

We used the following seed: hempseed, oilseed rape, tigernuts and corn. We only used a restricted quantity of the two latter ones because if we use too much the problem is that they attract Grass Carp. Normally, it would not be problem, what is more we would be happy, but in this competition Grass Carp are not counted in the result and they drive the hungry Carp away.

After feeding I had an hour to equip the 2.75lb Roberto Ripamonti rods. The main line is a 0.285mm diameter Carp Spirit. I fixed Fox Tapered throwing rig to the end which is originally 12m long. Then factory made and prepared end equipment was fixed:

FOX Kwik Change Safety Sleeve Rigs RigTubing

There were three of them in the original package, but I had already used two of them.

As the name suggests it is a clip-type (for the lead’s fixing) complete end equipment with silicone tube, and I fixed the size 4 FOX SSBP hook on the Reflex hook rig with the help of the quick change metal clip.

The complete end equipment I used to catch the capital Mirror Carp on. I left the length of the rig a bit longer than usual due to the deep mud so the complete length was 25 cm.

The most important thing, the bait was fixed on the presented end equipment that helped me outsmart the “Old Mirror Carp”. I offered it to him as follows:

Half SBS Flouro pop up bait, the SBS’s latest floating bait in 15 mm size

A 20 mm diameter M3 boiled boilie came before the pop up

And they were fixed with a brown Fox stopper. For some reason we trust the brown ones the most!

I was careful to cut off the flash after the stopper’s tear off so that the big Carp would not release the bait during swallowing (before it could swallow the hook) because the flash stings its mouth. It seems to be a rather irrelevant thing but we do not know how many anglers lost catches due to this …

I then moistened the M3 soluble boilies and moulded them into a paste …

… I then moulded a thin layer around the boilie so that it dissolves as soon as possible…

The bait which proved to be irresistible looked like this one!

I placed a few baits in a PVA net next to the bait as follows:

M3 20 mm boiled boilies 2 whole boilies

M3 20 mm boiled boilies 2 + 2 half boilies

M3 20 mm soluble boilies 2 whole boilies

M3 20 mm soluble boilies 2 + 2 half boilies

SBS High Oil Halibut Pellet 20 mm 2 pellets

The above-listed baits. They do not seem to be too bulky in the picture…

I filled the above baits into a Korda 4 Season Micromesh PVA net so that they dissolve quickly in cold water.

I placed the baits into the PVA net carefully, one by one…

… then fixed the properly filled PVA net onto the end of the hook’s.

I often dip the boilie or the pasted bait. Also, I usually smear some dip on the PVA net’s outside surface. I have not done so in this case, however, it is worthy baiting like this (using the dip), it can be extremely effective.

The “bait orgy” created with extraordinary care is ready. I can start to bring in the end equipment.

It is important to stop the electric engine before reaching the feeding place and approach it with quiet rowing or with the help of the currents. The capital Carp are very sensitive to unnatural noises. It is important to always place the bait at the edge of the feeding, about 2 to 3 metres from the feeding place if you want to catch large-sized Carp. The experienced large Carp are extremely careful and they just swim around the feeding so usually they just eat at the edges. In extreme cases this distance can be even up to 10 metres from the feeding place.

The next important thing is: never throw the equipment into the water if the bait is carried into water. Always sink it carefully to the pond’s bed and be careful not to pull the end equipment into the mud.

This is how the PVA net filled with our bait and sunk to the bed behaves in the water. There exists no feeding which is more concentrated than this one.

If you do not use a PVA product on the end equipment and you want to make sure that the bait and the rig will not get into the mud, use FOX High Risers pop-up foam which, if folded in half and fixed to the hook’s end, floats the hook rig’s complete length for a few seconds.

The FOX pop-up foam is available in the plastic bag you see in the picture, it protects the product from moisture (if the product gets wet it starts to dissolve immediately).

These few seconds are absolutely enough to place your end equipment perfectly as follows:

Pierce the foam with the hook’s end. If you need more time to place your end equipment perfectly, fold the foam in half and pierce the foam with the hook like this. It slows down the dissolution.

Sink the end equipment slowly to the bed.

Wait until the sponge emerges on the water surface. This way you can follow exactly where your end equipment lies (except when a high wind makes huge waves).

Then I threw this mixture of seeds on to the end equipment: the spot where the foam came up, exactly in line with the main line. I repeated it every time I brought in baits.

Then row to the bank and pay special care that the line does not get stuck or else you may pull the bait into the mud and prevent the fish from swallowing it.

When I got to the bank I stretched the line carefully, then, after the swingers were placed up, I started to wait patiently. (The central fishing rod is just a reserve rod if the line breaks - I did not want to lose valuable time equipping).

To me the most difficult part of “big fish” angling is the patient waiting.

However, the patient waiting will be fruitful sooner or later.

I trust that the few anglers who doubted the effect of SBS products on large-sized fish admit there is no such thing as “big fish” and “small fish” bait. There are only good baits or bad baits and “big fish” and “small fish” feeding and baiting methods. It is clear for everyone which category the SBS products fall into.

The prize for the biggest fish caught and the appreciation. We managed to achieve the set objective again.

Click here for a more detailed presentation and watch the short movie about the “Old Mirror Carp”:

Pictures: György Bessenyei
Video: György Bessenyei, Péter Takács