The PVA Bag – A Solid Approach

The use of solid bags seems to go in and out of fashion, both for me and for other anglers too. People seem to master its effectiveness and then forget about it for years at a time. Well I'm in one of those periods where I think it is a superb way to present bait and I'm catching plenty on it at the moment a well. One of the main reasons why I've started to get back into fishing with solid bags is that I was thinking more and more about the centralisation of the hook bait to the free offerings and I found that the quickest and easiest way to get around this problem was to use solid bags. That is, when using things like Funnel Web bags or sticks your hook bait is often offset to your free offering. If you tie one up and put it in the margins you'll see what I mean. When the stick breaks down your left with a pile of bait with your hook bait offset to the rest and I think the fish have worked this out too and it makes it easier for them to know which one is yours. OverseasOver the years I've spent quite a lot of time fishing overseas. This has not only been a great adventure, but it has also taught me that we are often very stereotyped in our approach to carp fishing. It has taught me that there are lots of different ways to catch carp and what we often think is best is not always true in some situations. One such trip was 10 day match in France. I won't go into the details of this endurance event, but the anglers that were catching the most all had mobile freezers in their swims. They were basically creating little pots of frozen hemp with their hook bait inside. Once removed from the pot they would simply attach the hook link and cast the frozen mass out into the lake and sure enough they would get a run. On investigation I asked if I could drop one in the margins and sure enough it created the perfect little pile of hemp with the hook smack bang in the centre. Similarly, on a trip to a carp match in America I saw something similar used used called Pack Baits. It is a bit like method feeding, but the anglers put the mix around the hook bait and not the feeder or lead. The aim here is to cast the pack bait so that it survives the cast and lands in tact on the bottom. Once there it needs to break down as soon as possible leaving the hook bait, yes you've guessed it, central to the free offerings. Like the French, the American guys did not stop catching and I just had to take note of this approach. Method feeders don't work quite the same as, as before, they leave the hook bait ofen offset to the free offerings. Solid BagsThe more I've thought about it the more I've realised that the use of solid PVA bags is the only real way to get around the problem of centralisation. You might be thinking why I didn't use an ice pot or pack bait, but these approaches have there limits; I know as I've tried them. Carrying a mobile freezer whilst your fishing is not easy and mixing the ideal pack bait, especially when fishing at a bit of range, is not easy either. The best way to do something very similar and easier is to use solid bags; you can certainly cast these a lot further too. Pete's BagI like to use in-line leads when I'm making up solid bags, but I take out the insert so that it allows the lead to be free-running on the Safe Zone swivel leader. I like this for two reasons: the lead has an initial shock effect, but doesn't detach on the take still giving some resistance and also because it is very safe if something does go wrong further up the mainline (the lead can be got rid of easily). I start the solid bag by trimming off about a centimetre off the top of the PVA bag (this is going to be my PVA tape for ceiling the bag) and then I put the 2-to-3oz lead sideways. I put the lead in first as this makes the bag front loaded, which makes it easier to cast, and I put it in sideways as it makes it easier to tie. By putting it in this way I have the leader going down one side of the bag and the rig the other. I never just chuck it all in as the rig can get tangled and, as mentioned several times now, I'm trying to get the hook bait central. Once the lead is in place I put in a scoop or two, depending on the size of the bag, of mixed size pellets. I then put in my small trimmed-down hook bait making sure that it is not tangled. Another couple of scoops of pellet go in and the bag is ready to tie. I simply do this with a twist at the top and then wrap around and tie the one centimetre piece cut off earlier with an double overhand knot. I cut off any excess and lick and wrap the top. I use the bottom corners of the bag to tighten it when I lick and fold them over. The bag is now ready to cast and it will fly straight and true. However, you can add a little extra boost with liquids added with the body of a syringe when your ready to cast. Simply pierce a hole and inject a little of your preferred liquid. This will also be more centralised and not just wash off from being on the outside of the bag, as it does when dipping sticks. This is a great approach when you want instant attraction, but for wiser carp I'd stick to a small, plain and discrete bag. Pete's Approach Pete favours a small hook bait – cut down pop-ups are ideal. Supple hook links are by far the most effective for solid bag fishing. Pete use’s a syringe to inject liquids into his solid bags, which creates instant attraction. A fresh bag is cast carefully into position just off the far margin – how long will the carp be able to refuse all those attractors? These bright hook baits are perfect hook bait options – they really grab the carp’s eye! A combination of micro pellets is the perfect bag filler. Carp love them too! With the rods in position, it won’t be long before one of the bobbins signal a bite! Tying The Bag All the kit you need for the perfect solid bag. Trim 1cm off the top of the bag. This will be your matching PVA tape. Put the lead in first sideways. Just a scoop or two of pellets depending on the size of the bag. Place the rig in carefully checking that there are no tangles. Another scoop or two of mixed size pellets. Twist the top of the bag. Tie the bag with the tape. Now trim off any excess. Lick and twist the top. Lick and fold the bottom corners to tighten the bag and make it solid. You want a nice rounded shape like this. Your bag is now complete and ready to be injected! Injecting The Bag Start by piercing a small hole in the side if the bag. Now carefully poke the small syringe through the hole. Give it a good squeeze and your bag will be pumped full of goodness! SummarySolid bag fishing has accounted for thousand and thousands of carp captures. It is a great method that defiantly puts fish on the bank. Like many of my other methods that I regularly fish with today, it is simple, but has loads of advantages. I've mentioned how it keeps the hook bait central, but it is also tangle free and they cast like a dream if tied correctly. In fact, I think I'm right in thinking that a solid bag will cast further than a baited rig as it doesn't have a hook bait dragging behind it like a parachute. They are also great for casting anywhere: weed, silt, gravel, long range or down the margin. By using a solid bag you are always in the knowledge that your rig is tangle free with no debris attached and that there is a hook bait with a nice pile of bait siting all around it, which few carp would resist. Good luck out there!