A friend of mine has suggested that it would be a help to put together a beginners guide to carp fishing terminology. As a help to newcomers to the sport and I will also be doing beginner’s guide to other parts of carp fishing e.g. rigs, marker setups, Spod etc.
I hope this will help all you budding carp anglers when you pick up a magazine to understand what you are being told.
Chod – Is the term used to describe the stuff on the bottom of the lake bed (decaying leaf matter) hence the rig was born from this to counteract this problem.
Wraps – The number of times you wrap the line around your marker sticks, to determine the distance you a fishing our from the bank.
Fizzing – This is when you get a huge patch of tiny bubbles coming up over a large area. This is where the fishing is digging on the bottom and creating a fizzing on the surface of the lake.
Bubbles – This is when you get bubbles popping up to the surface and then moving off, as the fish is feeding on the bottom.
Particles – The terminology used for cooked beans, peas, pulses, seed etc.
Loaded up – you have loaded up the line on your reels, you also load up the rod, when casting. This is the point where your rods are at the best point to cast out.
Firstly, I must say a big thank you to my wife & kids for understanding my need to go fishing over the few days that storm Eric pushed through the South of England. Especially to my wife who took the Friday off work and then let me go on Thursday night and set up in the dark. The storm would arrive in the early hours of Friday morning.
I arrived just after 1930 and had a drive around the lake, there was only one other person fishing. This ruled out that area.
My big dilemma was, do I fish in the wind or at the back of the wind? The wind still had a bit of a chill to it but it should stir the carp into feeding (well we hope so). The first swim I looked at was very calm, it was set back in a bay but after 40 yards you would be in the full blast of the wind. The second swim was out on a point and down the southern end of the lake, it would take the full blast of the wind. You can’t get a bait to the south bank. Or do I fish the back of the wind, where I had picked up some fish on the Deeper when I was out Tuesday, I didn’t catch anything then but they may still be there. I walked into the swim and a fish crashed out over this area, I took this as a sign that I just had to stay. The guy who had set up before me on the other point had heard fish, so you never know they may be waking up a bit.
There is a bar that heads out from the swim to about 40 yards and then drops into deeper water. This is where I was going to place my baits and also baited up with crumbed boilies micro pellets and hemp, all had been soaked in the catalyst particle syrup for the past few days both. The rods were set up with 3oz flat pear leads and a Ronnie Rig set up. Both had dumbbell wafters on Catalyst and the Pink Pepper Squid and packed nicely into a solid bag of the same mixture.
And that was me all done. Time for a brew and wait for Storm Eric to arrive, which was supposed to peak around noontime on Friday.
The night passed with no fish action. The storm arrived and kept me awake on and off. There was less rain than I expected which was nice. I struggle to catch in the rain on this lake, still don’t understand that. My plan is to watch the lake for any carpy signs and then move 1 rod off the baited area or leave it there. I will continue to top up the swim, as its only micro pellets and will soon break down over 24 hrs. With a small break in the weather (well rain), I took this opportunity to rebait both rods and stick another 10 spomb over the area. Unfortunately, I still hadn’t seen any more carpy signs, since my arrival.
Fingers crossed. There are now 8 other anglers on the lake. This will add a bit more pressure and hopefully get the carp on the move.
The second night has passed without a bite. I’m feeling the conditions are improving as last night the wind carried on blowing and the temperature dropped. This makes me feel that the back of the wind can only be the place to be and with some sunshine forecast today, that could easily bring them on the feed. The lake has not fished that well over the winter and I feel that they will soon pick up their game. It normally fishes very well over the winter period and you just need to be there when it happens.
I have moved the right-hand rod along the treelined bank for the last 24 hrs with a single hook bait on it. I’ve been playing around with different colour combinations just to try and entice them a bit.
We shall just have to hope and see if the next 24 hrs brings me a carp. Effort equals rewards or madness this weekend!
I settled into the last night and as the wind calmed down, I had a couple of carp show over my spot. This was a real boost for the last night until another burst of wind and rain arrived, they seemed to vanish again. Around midnight, it was all flat calm again and I sat up watching the lake until 1am but didn’t see or hear anything more. I drifted off back to sleep no long after that.
Well, it wasn’t meant to be as they say. The water level came up over an inch in the past 24 hrs, which can’t of helped. Also perhaps the sudden influx of anglers. It’s been very quiet over the winter. But saying this, it’s been very enjoyable being back on the bank.
Easy to digest in even the coldest of conditions, packed with active enzymes and the finest milk and hemp proteins available… There is no wonder why each winter the Catalyst continues to dominate waters! #SpottedFin#LeadDontFollow#Catalyst
After my dentist’s appointment this morning, there was only one thing to do and as I was driving past the lake on my way home, it would be rude not to! So, with that thought in mind, I already had the Perch tackle in the car and was soon set up just before 10am in my first swim of the day.
It was not long before I had some action, which I promptly lost in pads, a bit rubbish.
After I recast, they were soon knocking the line again and it was not long before I had a nice Perch in the net.
Not bad and just under 2lb. I took this opportunity to bait up with some more prawns and then go for a walk with the lure rod to give the swim a break. With no joy in the next two swims, I returned after 30 minutes and flicked the baits back out. If I had no knocks within the next 30 minutes, I was planning to move for the last hour, but I had a feeling there was more to be had from this swim.
My rig is very simple, just a free running lead with a small buffer bead tied to an Sf Longshank Turning Point Hook.
Despite my best efforts, I just couldn’t tempt another Perch to pick up a bait. I had a few nibbles and played about with the lure rod. However, it was extremely nice to be out in such lovely weather today, a nice warm breeze and some sunshine, it’s starting to feel a lot like Spring.
In Springtime or just before, when the water temperatures have started to rise, it’s a good time to start a pre-baiting plan with your choice of baits. I would use a good quality boilie, to get the fish on the move and in my net. I find it best to use a mix of 18mm & 15mm boilies.
I would try to pick 4/6 swims to bait, which don’t get fished very much.
This spot is under your feet & 4ft deep & nice a warm for the carp to hold up in
My swim choice would be very secluded and tiny, for these reasons anglers don’t fish them. Make sure there is no access to cast into these areas, other than from my chosen swims.
Back of an island where the sun will warm up the water
A perfect warm bay area
Under this tree you will find 4ft of clear lake bed
with the water starting to clear up, it will help you see if the bait you have been putting out has been cleaned up by fish. be-mindful of the bird life, as they help themselves to.
I would give it a couple of weeks, before you start fish these swims. If you can, plan to bait up 1-2kg per week of your chosen bait. These will be split over the 4/6 swims, until the lake temperature warms up a bit more. It’s best to take regular water temperatures, with a thermometer, whenever you walk round the lake to get an idea of what is happening.
As Spring starts to get going, I reduce the number of swims, down to one. On busy waters, it is best to keep 2 swims going. Please try and bait up responsibly and avoid upsetting other anglers. If permitted, by lack of other anglers’ presence. I try and bait up in my lunch hour during the week. As it best to avoid other anglers on the water if I can help it, as I don’t wish for them see what I am up to. I also do the same in the Autumn time, just before the Winter sets in. Unless you are able to get in the best swim all Winter. I have found the best option is to take note of the most popular swim and the hot spots and try to pick a spot near these, which does not get fished a lot. This will give you the upper hand in the Winter, as the hot swim with being filled up with other bait and other anglers. Hopefully, you have created your own area that no one is aware of.
Pick swims that no one fishes by some pads by an over hanging tree
Designed as an out-and-out powerhouse of a fishmeal in conjunction with Frank Warwick, it’s base is skipjack tuna – a renowned winner. Along with the legendary LT94, Frank’s included other high-protein meals which help carp digest Smokey Jack easily, and the more they can eat, the more chances you’ll get over large beds of it! We’ve also used natural, smoked flavours that give the bait a different tone to everything else on the shop shelf. #SmokeyJack#SpottedFin#TeamFin
FINAMINO: BAIT SOAK **250ML**
A rich, luxurious bait soak designed for maximum pulling power. Soak or dip your hookbaits in FINAMINO to get fish actively searching for your hookbait.
Made from a new Liver extract rather than a liquid liver, the extract is full of vitamins, minerals and aminos and has a seductive sweet aroma that will have you constantly smelling the product trying to work out its makeup.
We have had excellent results on this either using it for hookbaits or adding it to pumped expander pellets or just in your stick mix. Rather than being a liquid food to feed fish this is just “maximum power for fish pulling attraction”.
250ml
It’s been some time since my last trip. This was due to a couple of family weekends away and a load of snow! I nearly managed to get out on the snow but the lake was solid.
We are at the start of a lovely mild spell. Which hopefully will get the carp moving about. This is only the second day of the good weather. My main reason for heading down to the lake is to have a good look about and get the Deeper out there looking for fish. And I found some. I just had to have a go for them but they were just not playing ball. The swim I finally stopped in for a couple of hours at the end of my trip also gave me a great view of the bottom end of the lake. It was on the back of the wind, still no signs. I think this coming weekend will be hard work but the fish will have had a few milder days and nights – fingers crossed.
