Terry Hearn's clip trick
Ultimate rig placement – and with no line stretch across the swim – it’s a trick that Terry sees very few using, but one which can be extremely effective in the right situation
‘Clipping up to the far bank’ is a tactic which has worked well for me at several different venues over the years. Obviously fishing in this way depends greatly on the venue and the nature of the bankside, but every so often you might find yourself in a situation which suits it perfectly, e.g. you might be set-up in a narrow bay with the fish feeding tight along the opposite margin.
Setting it up is pretty straightforward, and all that’s really required is a spare rod with a PVA loop tied into it, and a spare bankstick with a clip on the end. I generally fashion a clip with a freshly cut twig taped to a stick, which isn’t quite as posh, but the end result is exactly the same.
Once your ‘clip stick’ is in position, close to the edge on the far bank, it’s just a case of casting a bare lead across onto the bank, then walking round, looping on your baited hooklink and lowering the rig into place with your spare rod. I simply put the hook through the loop of PVA, which enables you to still feel for a ‘donk’ when lowering in. The rod is then held with the line tight to one side, whichever side I want the hooklink to fall. You’ll feel the line ping slack as the PVA loop melts, releasing your hookbait to settle inch perfectly on the bottom, and after that it’s just a case of nicking the main line into the clip on the bank, before walking back round, tightening up to the clip and lifting your main line free of the water. If you’re lucky enough to get a take, the main line simply pulls free of the clip and into direct contact with your rod. So long as you fish with your bobbins at the top, a take generally registers as a drop back, followed by the bobbin quickly whacking back up to the top as the fish takes up the small amount of slack.
A freshly cut twig taped to a stick like this could give you a massive edge…Using this tactic is bait placement at its very best, but as an added extra it also enables you to keep your main line clear of the water, which means there’s no chance of it spooking any fish between you and your spot. In some situations it can also work to your advantage by keeping any birdlife at bay, as they really don’t like coming too close to a tight line stretched across the water.
This example of clipping up is just one of many ways it can be used to good effect. Just lately I’ve been clipping up to an exposed gravel hump, which I’m able to wade out onto and lower my rig in from. In this instance it’s keeping my line clear of the water to avoid drifting weed, which prior to adopting the tactic had been regularly wiping my rods out soon after getting my rigs into position. Since doing so I’ve been able to leave my baits fishing perfectly for as long as I want. It’s not a tactic which I see used very often, but on the right day it’s a winner.