Short and sweet !
by Pat Gillett
Over the last few weeks I have been doing a few short afternoon / day sessions, with the longest one being no more than 10 hours. This really is my favourite type of carp fishing. I have kept the tackle to a minimum and been very mobile in my fishing. By moving around a lot (sometimes up to four or five times) and closely watching the behaviour of the carp I have been able to catch one or two fish when the going has really been pretty slow.
The Midlands Estate Lake I have been fishing is about 4 acres, crystal clear and very shallow (no more than 3 ½ feet deep). It also has an increasing amount of weed has the weather warms up. Stocking levels are not particularly high with approximately 35 fish. Because of the water conditions it really is a better ‘night water’ with most angler’s catching very little in the day. But I have always believed in the old adage of ‘catching on my own terms’ and as such I have still not fished a night on this water. (I get more enjoyment catching in the daytime).
As with a lot of shallow lakes the position of the sun plays a key part to where the fish will be at any given time during the day and by taking this into consideration you can usually work out where a few fish will be. It has also been very noticeable since the increase in the weed growth that the fish have been far more prone to following the wind. This I believe is due to the increase in natural life that has developed due to the extra weed growth. This natural life is washed up on the windward bank providing a rich food larder for the carp.
Most often a take comes within 60 minutes of casting in on any new spot. Any longer than this and nothing seems to happen. Despite making every effort to conceal myself and fishing slack lines etc. I still think that the carp can sense that you are fishing for them. I have always believed that carp on shallow clear waters are very highly in tune with their environment, which can make them difficult to catch at times. You only have to see their reaction when a plane flies across or a noisy vehicle drives down the road to see how aware these fish can be.
One of the noticeable things about this mobile type of fishing is that you can very often build up a ‘picture’ in your own mind of the feeding spots that the fish have. On this particular lake there are no more 6 spots where I am confident of getting a ‘pick up’ in the daytime, whereas I know the guys that night fish the water get takes from virtually anywhere. There are also a couple of spots where the carp show regularly but you never get a ‘pick-up’ from. I have tried all manner of different baits and line angles etc but to no avail on these spots. I have come to accept that for some reason the fish just don’t feed on these areas.
Due to the mobile nature of the fishing I generally use nothing more than stringers around each hookbait. I have been using a mixture of 10, 15 and 20mm shelf life Rahja Spice and Liver B8 boilies to keep the fish guessing. I have tried fishing static over large beds of bait, but have had no success whatsoever, only succeeding in feeding the numerous coots, tufties and swans.
Up to now 6 short sessions have produced 4 fish. These were 3 upper doubles and a cracking common of 30lb 3oz (possibly the lakes largest resident). I have caught on 4 of the trips and on the 2 blanks I made the wrong choice of venue, with a cold north or easterly wind very much limiting any chance of sport on such a shallow water. With the changeable weather the carp have been spawning ‘one minute’ and then not knowing what to do the next, has it suddenly grows cold. This has lead to fishing that has been both fascinating and frustrating at times but nearly always enjoyable (apart from when the birdlife has driven me to distraction, picking up even single baits.)
Cheers,
Pat
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Tags: afternoon, angling, artificial, bait, behaviour, boilies, carp, casting, crystal, distance, favourite, fish, fishing, france, growth, hair, hook, hookbait, increase, life, Liver B8, Midlands, night, nothing, particles, plane, queries, Rahja Spice, reaction, Rigs, rod, size, slack, spawning, sun, tackle, technique, techniques, water, weed
Hi Pat, I like your phrase ‘catching them on your own terms’. A lot of anglers seem to forget we should be fishing for sheer pleasure. It often makes me think some anglers find it quite an ordeal to go carp fishing simply because they go through the routine which is accepted as the norm’. Rather than take a step back, decide exactly what they like and enjoy about their fishing then concentrating on these aspects.
Like you, I would much rather catch fish during the daylight hours and it’s now several years since I have done a night on a local water.
I do fish nights - regularly but only because I like to be at the lake and settled in at first light but the distance involved in most of the waters I fish make day only sessions a little impractical.
If I were fishing local waters I would be adopting your tactics almost all of the time. I do like fishing without all the clutter associated with doing nights.
Shaun Harrison
I agree with you both when it comes to ‘catching them on your own terms’. It’s something i’ve come to appreciate more and more over the last year or so.
I still haven’t made up my mind about exactly what my own preferred way is. I think it changes from water to water, and also over time depending on what sort of fishing I’ve been doing recently.
At the end of the day, you’re only fishing for yourself, so you might as well enjoy it
Keep up the good work guys!
Will James
Hi Will,
You are spot on there reflecting my thoughts really. My ‘preferred way’ varies from water to water and from different times of the year.
One of the things I love about carp fishing is the sheer diversity of it. I have written several times before that the term ‘Carp Fishing’ is a totally inadequate phrase. It is meant to cover so many different styles and methods but can’t.
Some waters I feel totally at ease lounging behind the rods waiting for a fish to semi-hang itself. Whilst on others I feel I need to keep active and hunt them down. Different waters, different moods and different styles all go to make this ‘Carp Fishing’ a totally absorbing pastime.
Best fishes
Shaun
Hi Shaun and Will,
I still fish a few nights and enjoy the atmosphere they bring with them. It really is good to be away from it all sometimes and just ‘chill out’ in a bivvy.
Has you say each water varies and different tactics / methods will suit the various waters we fish. No one method is going to be successful all the time whereever it is used.
I think my preference for the more mobile approach stems from the fact that over the last 10 years or so i have done a lot more river fishing. In general with the amount of walking involved and swim moving whilst on a river trip, i try to ensure that all tackle etc is kept to a minimum. I guess this is somethin that has carried over into my carp fishing. Has Shaun says :”I do like fishing without all the clutter associated with doing nights”.
Obviously this is not for everbody, and i know that if i fished at night on the water mentioned i would generally catch more than i do now, but has i said i would sooner catch them in the day light if possible.
Although with the cost of fuel the way it is these short sessions are going to cost a small fortune when i start my river fishing again has most trips will be a round trip of between 80 and 100 miles.
Cheers,
Pat