by Shaun Harrison;
Just had a bit of an interesting lesson drilled home to me and caused me to take a step back and take a fresh look at my angling. I have always said I like to keep a open mind on things and try and be as different to others as I can. If everyone is using pop-ups I will use bottom baits. If everyone is on tiny baits I will try large baits and so on.
However, last week during a short day session I was totally outfished on my own water! I had taken a guest Dave Booth along with me and promptly sat there and watched him catch four carp whilst I struggled to hook one only to lose it again a few seconds later.
I like to think I know the water well after paying the rent on it for the last 18 years or so but in recent times I have been struggling on there a bit. This got my brain thinking big time. Yes, Dave had been on fish and in a very good winter producing area but it had been some time since I had caught 4 carp myself from the water. I had been watching the carp feeding on my bait so knew this wasn’t the problem. It then suddenly dawned on me.
My beloved Combi-Rig and long hair approach which has caught for me everywhere for a long time now is the only rig my fish have seen with any regularity over the last few years. Dave who was with me had fished soft braided rigs and short hairs.
During the week I had been mulling this over in my mind and decided to return on Saturday afternoon to try a fresh approach. Sure enough just a couple of hours after starting I was away resulting in a lovely old 20lb plus common.
Could it have been the change in rigs – I think so. I have caught most of the fish in there on combi-rigs over the years and had been guilty of taking things for granted and not really thinking about my approach. Big lesson for me and hopefully one worth thinking about in your own fishing. No matter how good your rig has been everywhere be prepared to change.
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