Jonathan Longden

Digital Writer at Angling Times

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Articles

Fishing hooks for beginners | What to use for different species

6 days ago | anglingtimes.co.uk | Jonathan Longden

This helpful guide will ensure you always choose the right fishing hook... Not all hooks are created equal. In fact, choosing the right hook pattern is one of the most important things you can do as an angler. Get it right, and everything just works. Get it wrong, and you’re left wondering why your beautifully presented bait is getting about as much attention as a wet sandwich. It’s a detail beginners often overlook, balancing the right hook and bait choice for your target species.
How to tie the banded knotless knot

1 week ago | anglingtimes.co.uk | Jonathan Longden

This is the best way to attach a bait band to a hair rig!Some knots are essential to learn how to tie, and the knotless knot with a bait band is one of them. Whether you're fishing shallow for F1s or chucking a Method to the horizon, this simple knot puts the bait exactly where you want it, right below the point, hanging naturally, in the perfect position to hook fish. But there’s a right way and a wrong way to tie one, and it all starts with the bait band.
8 of the best surface rods for carp fishing

1 week ago | anglingtimes.co.uk | Jonathan Longden

These excellent rods will help you catch more carp off the surface!There’s something incredibly exciting about catching carp off the surface. As soon as the weather warms up, using floaters becomes incredibly effective for carp and seeing those lips break the surface to slurp down a mixer is about as excited as fishing can get! A few hours after work, a handful of floaters, and a bit of stealth is often all it takes to put a bend in the rod.
How to tie a helicopter feeder rig

1 week ago | anglingtimes.co.uk | Jonathan Longden

Learn how to tie the incredibly effective helicopter feeder rig. Sleek, tangle-free, and built for performance, there are few rigs that match the helicopter when it comes to fishing over silt, weed, or debris-strewn bottoms. Whether you're after bream, tench, roach, or carp, this clever setup gives you a serious edge when bites are hard to come by and presentation matters the most. OUR EXPERT PICKS OF THE BEST SPECIMEN RODS ARE IDEAL FOR FISHING A HELICOPTER RIG.
British pair tame one of the River Ebro’s biggest carp “Red Eye”

1 week ago | anglingtimes.co.uk | Jonathan Longden

Dan Picksley and Nicholas Hart made their way to the Ebro last week, drawn as many are to the promise of something extraordinary from its broad, flowing waters. The setup was straightforward, four rods between them, a guide named Eric, and a coin tossed to see who’d take the first run. Dan called it right, and the rods were set. The first bite came soon after, a tiny Carassio that flapped its way into the net, raising a few chuckles. The second had a bit more weight behind it.
Use these baits to catch more F1 carp

1 week ago | anglingtimes.co.uk | Jonathan Longden

If you are targeting F1's, you need to use these baits... F1s are the nemesis of some anglers and the dependable ally of others. They’re the first-generation hybrid of a common carp and a crucian carp or goldfish. Pound for pound, they scrap like they’re in a pub brawl, yet they can be ridiculously picky when it comes to bait. So, when you’re fishing for F1s, your bait choice isn’t just important, it’s everything. CATCH MORE F1S USING ONE OF THE BEST FISHING POLES.
How to weigh fish safely and accurately

1 week ago | anglingtimes.co.uk | Jonathan Longden

Here is the best way to weigh and return your fish safely. It’s a unique thrill in angling, the moment when the line tightens, the rod bends over, and you realise you've hooked something substantial. As the fish surfaces, heart pounding, the inevitable question arises: "what does it weigh?" For beginners, accurately and safely weighing a fish is as crucial as the catch itself. Here's how to do it right. Be preparedBefore you even cast your line, ensure you have the necessary equipment.
Improve your pellet waggler fishing | Rig and tactics guide

2 weeks ago | anglingtimes.co.uk | Jonathan Longden

When the water temperatures climb, the pellet waggler is unbeatable for summer carp!When the sun’s up, the fish are up. And if there’s one tactic that stacks up the big weights when carp are cruising near the top, it’s the pellet waggler. It’s fast, it’s noisy, and it’s all about triggering competition. The rig is blissfully simple. The hard bit? Feeding. Because that’s where your session is either a success or failure.
Anglers urged to help investigate mysterious decline in mallard numbers

2 weeks ago | anglingtimes.co.uk | Jonathan Longden

We’ve all been serenaded by a mallard’s quack, that suspiciously sounds like it’s laughing at us when we can’t get a bite or you've admired a raft of ducklings swimming through your peg. You may or may not understand that these feathered friends play a vital part in our waterways' ecosystem and unfortunately mallard numbers are on the decline for reasons unbeknown to experts.
Cage feeder rig for bream fishing

2 weeks ago | anglingtimes.co.uk | Jonathan Longden

There’s something timeless about chucking a cage feeder for bream on a big, open lake. It’s one of those classic tactics that just keeps on delivering, whether you’re chasing a few bites on a quiet pleasure session or hoping for a ton-up match weight. While the method feeder might get all the modern headlines, the humble cage is still more than capable of doing the damage. Feed smart, not heavyWhen you're fishing a cage, what goes in matters just as much as what comes out.