Quest Baits Blog

by Paul Cooper
One of the finest aspects of carp fishing is arriving at a venue to find that you are the only one the lake. Peace tranquillity and the choice of swims, you cannot beat it.

But what happens when you capture a specimen fish that you want to record on camera.

With most cameras there are facilities that will enable you to fix your camera to a tripod. Once the camera is on the tripod you need to accurately focus on the area that you intend to take your pictures and then you need a means of taking that photo shot. Another angler or passer by, maybe? You are on this lake and there is no-one around.. Do you sack the fish until someone does arrive or do you think of the welfare of the carp? Now my answer is self photography. continue reading…

Gareth Meyer wrote;

 I was just wondering if you could give me some advice?? I am planning a session in July at a complex I have never fished before called white springs lake in Swansea, do you know it?  This is what I know about the lake,

1. its a 10 acre lake averaging 6-9ft in depth with a few areas going to 14ft deep and one area 17ft in depth.
2. its has 9 islands with an average depth of 3ft surrounding water, with nearby shelves at each island
3. its has a large head of carp, some over 40lb, several over 30lb and numerous 20s
4. March 2008 has seen 5 carp over 30lb landed
5. Yellow baits with pop-ups working well
6. The margins are around 3ft deep and seem to be productive during warmer months
7. There are a few groups of large lily pads in the lake

What approach/approaches would you think about taking if you were going to fish this venue?
what methods would you consider best to use and what baits would you take with you?I was thinking…
Rod 1 = use a method feeder approach to a feature i.e. island and/or shelf, with a high attractant groundbait including pellets, hemp seed and maggots within the groundbait. The hookbait being hair rigged sweetcorn and/or maize, maggots and boilies. (try all to see which one produces)

continue reading…

By Paul Cooper;

Now how many times have you arrived at a good sized lake and tried to cast to the horizon in the belief that the carp only feed at a distance? I know that I have, and I am sure that most anglers have, especially on the larger waters.

France - carp mecca!

Richard Turner wrote;

Hi there, A group of us are going to France in august for the first time its only a 4 acre lake with an average depth of 5 foot with a gravel bottom with patches of silt.

In your opinion out of your baits which one would you take as your main hook bait and what size?

The owner has boilies for sale at the lake but I’m not sure about using a strange bait, what advice can you give us? Thanks.

Hi Richard,

I have been involved in the French carp scene for around 17 years, and one of the most difficult decisions is around bait.

First of all get in touch with the owners and try and ascertain the size of the carp that are stocked in the lake, and what other fish are in the lake. In my experience, most of the French lakes are stuffed with other species of fish, Bream, Tench, Rudd the dreaded Poisson Chat.

The species like Bream, Tench and Rudd are easy to get around. Increase the size of your baits. I always use a minimum of 18mils, usually 20 mils. This eliminates most of the problems that you will encounter from these nuisance fish, but even so you will still pick up the odd one or 2. continue reading…