If anyone tells you they have mastered lake of fishing; they’re lying.  It can change in the blink of an eye!

I personally think the biggest mistake anglers make, is once they perceive they’re at the top of their game and have cracked their chosen venue, they sit back on their hands and fail to keep the momentum going.  Then blame other factors for the inability to catch fish.  You have to work hard at fishing and keep one step ahead of the carp.  Never compare yourself to other anglers, as you will burn out.

Carp are living creatures and are more connected with nature than we will ever be.  This has been clearly proven lately by all the rubbish etc left on the beaches/parks after lockdown finished.  The human race is definitely the biggest problem this planet has.

Lakes evolve with the coming and going of each season and also global warming.  Nature has a way of adapting, it may take a few years, but it will recover.

Fish have learnt to move with these changes.  If as an angler you carry on fishing the same old spots each week, don’t you think they will wise up, there isn’t a big sign out there telling the carp where to feed, they do as they wish.

Fish are more connected with their body’s than we are and certainly know what’s good for them.  I’m sure some learn that if they eat boilies they will get caught and they will be returned to the water, so they just carry on.  However, there will be an equal number that doesn’t like the experience, will learn to be very wary and keep will away.  This is why it’s always worth fishing the swim, that exists on most lakes, called no carp something, that would always be my first port of call on a new lake.

There is always the hot swim, but is it because they are fished the most frequently and the law of averages dictates that more fish will come from that swim?  This doesn’t make it the best swim on the lake.  The best swim could easily be the overgrown one in the corner that’s not seen a fisherman’s bait for decades.  They are also one of my first ports of call on a new water.

There are so many factors which can influence carp; from weather with high pressure to low pressure constantly changing or long periods of the same.  This is something I personally feel is overlooked.  A constant high or low is perhaps something the carp can acclimatise to, just like we do.  If you move to a hot or cold country it’s horrible for a period of time, but you get used to it and it becomes enjoyable.  Well, perhaps carp can adjust quickly and relax.  Whereas ups and downs in the pressure could completely throw them off track.

Angler pressure, unless you are on the bank 24/7, you don’t really have any idea of what had been going on since your last trip – where people have fished, how much bait has been put out and the number of takes they have had.  This is more important than the number of fish landed, as it gives you a better indication of what is really going on in the swim. I understand it’s all about catching, but if they have landed 2 carp and also lost 4, the swim is producing takes, if you are only aware of the fish landed, that would be just 2 and influence your discussion making.

Water temperature can also play a key factor in fish most certainly and I believe it affected the lake I fish quite dramatically.  A couple of years back, there was a couple of big long heatwaves and I’m not convinced that the carp on the shallower part of the lake which is about 30 acres and on average 3ft deep, didn’t deal with the higher water temperatures.  They hid under all the margins where the overhanging trees are.  I don’t believe they fully recovered from this until this winter just gone.  Deeper waters are a completely different ball game and I’m sure at beyond a certain depth the variations in the temperature are less dramatic.  The carp may prefer this constant temperature rather than the dramatic changes.

Their food source and I’m not talking about bait the anglers put in!  I’m more interested in the natural side of the equation, you can never really tell how much anglers have put in.  Unless you watch and see them doing it, so it’s best to stick to the natural side of their food source e.g. blood worm beds.  How much natural food there is in the weed bed, crayfish, etc?  This is a very tricky one unless you can get out there and investigate or glean some information from other sources, you are realistically guessing.

Sanctuary area’s, are brilliant for the wellbeing of the carp and it gives them somewhere to hide.  They can easily be over created and give the carp the ability to feed and stay safely out of the angler way for years.  Making the exit points the primary swim, doesn’t help the situation as the carp will just stay there and not come out.  Wouldn’t you?.

Water levels will certainly change the dynamics of the carp’s behaviour and create more save havens as the levers drop extremely low or even the opposite when water levels are high.  This gives them more access to snaggy areas under overhanging tree or even swampy area’s.  You would be surprised how little water they need some times, just look at the depth of a 30 lber and add an inch or two on and it won’t be much deeper than your knee.

I hope I’ve not added to your issues about catching carp but helped you get more fish on the bank.

The many points of this article are to generate food for thought and not sit back a just keep going with the same old routine.  Adapt, tweak things, but never too much at the same time and keep going forward with your fishing.  Don’t look back and say it was much better than now, things have changed.  There is a bucket load of possibilities to take onto consideration and I’ve only touched on some of them.  You could go into way more detail.  Never forget to enjoy your fishing and why you got into it.  It’s not all about catching and especially under the current situation going on in the world, enjoy it, relax, unwind, be grateful and go catch your next PB.

Until next time

Richard

That’s more like it.

Richard

Why the perfect capture shot?  This is the question I ask myself quite a lot when flicking through Facebook.  There is a distinct lack of night shots and I know that technology has moved on with slings and sack.  However, there is no way of stopping the stress placed on the fish. It has just be captured and taken out the water weight and then put in a retaining sling for 8 or more hours, all because there is a demanded to have the perfect shot.  In my book this is just not an expectable way to treat fish.  It amazes me that anglers are happy to do this, when they treasure the quarry so much and get upset when they get eaten by otters or when another angler mistreats the fish.  Hypercritical, I would say.  If you are on the list of anglers who keep the fish in a sling/sack for more than 10/15 minutes, this is all the time you need to set up the camera kit.  I have been doing it this was for more than 35 years.  We are in a battle to outwit the carp and land them.  It therefore does not matter if you didn’t get a photo, it was poor quality or even not in the perfect spot.  You have captured your quarry and won the battle.  Now all that it required is to put the fish back and reduce the stressed caused.  I have seen anglers take the photos in the morning after the fish has been in the net most of the night, then place the fish back into the retainer and then sit in there brolly’s checking if the photos are perfect.  If not, they keep repeating this process until they get it spot on.  They would then wonder why the fish goes belly up a couple of weeks.  I believe this is partly driven by the industry who demand the perfect shot.  This is a bit narrow-minded in itself as most are anglers, modern day anglers are hooked on Facebook and there seems to be a need to also out do their fellow anglers with who gets the best shots etc.  I come from there era of secret squirrel and you never really knew who caught what, other than what you heard over the grape vine.  Don’t get me wrong, I have embraced Facebook, as it nice to see how well other anglers are getting on.  It’s a battle between the angler and the fish and not a battle between us all, unless you are match fishing.  The barbel anglers fully understand this and do their up most to look after the quarry.  Why can’t the carp anglers (with the advice of camera technology and remote systems) do the same?  The perfect shot can be taken at night, the more anglers start doing this must be better for the fish.  This would also have the knock on effect of showing the rest, who may be not keen that fish safety must come first.  How do we know how much stress builds up in a fish over time?  Just look at human beings, there is a great deal of people having to take tablets for stress (which has built up over time), this must be the same for all living things.  On my website there is a page all about Carp Safety Photographing Fish which is the way I have been doing this for many years and with camera technology moving on things can only get better.

Just remember, the next time you see a photo of your target fish, how much stress was placed on it at the time? And will it be around for you to catch it in the future?  Look after the fish and they will be around for a long time to come.

An example of what can be archived with a bit of help from a photo editor.

Be lucky in your quest for the monster fish.

Richard

Here is my latest blog, delayed a bit as was featured in this month’s Taking Carp Magazine

It had been nearly a month since I’d seen Ian, plus it is the first May Bank Holiday weekend and you never know how many people will turn up. So, after a long discussion about the weather, the possibility of the carp spawning, and information gleaned from other syndicate members. The first port of call was going to be the Daisy Field Swim and would take it from there. I arrived just after 8 am and took a drive and walkabout. I then headed over to that swim, there wasn’t a great deal showing, in fact, I spotted no carp. I was not really sure what to do other than follow our gut.

So, that’s what we did. We’ve four nights ahead of us and could easily move after the first two (if we felt the need). I was fishing the left-hand side as it really required casting out 30 plus wraps to get into the best areas of the lake. I had a few options to my right, but I was very mindful of the Island Swim being occupied over the weekend and this can cut you off from the fish.

I soon located the area I had found on my Deeper Page.

I thought I would hunt around a bit more with the marker rod, looking for a likely spot with a depth of over 4 feet, to avoid any swan issues. This can be tricky on both counts in this very shallow lake.

Once that was done, I got about 10 Fox spombs over each area, I find this is best for this sort of range. I got the coffee pot on and ate my pasty, that Ian had kindly got on his way here this morning.

I had to pop home late afternoon to take my daughter and friend to their after-school club and then head back down the lake again.

I was soon back and the rods were on the money again. A few glasses were had as the setting sun disappeared behind the trees.

My first take was on my left-hand rod. I’d forgotten how long it takes to get a carp in at that distance, plus the odd knock of a boulder never helps! Eventually, the fish was netted and on the scales.

That’s a nice start and I will hopefully go on to catch some more over the next few nights, unlike the last trip before the holidays, when one was it for my three night’s effort. I’ve just heard another carp crash out, as I’m writing this, fingers crossed.

It was a bit fresh in the night and I probably shouldn’t have changed to my summer sleep bag, just yet.

What a lovely view I get out of my doorway and the prospect of a lovely day could be on the cards. The forecast for the coming days is highs of 15 degrees and the lowest night is 4 degrees, that’s tonight, then it’s up to 7 degrees. The pressure is pretty high, but it’s been like that for some time and the carp I’m sure will have adjusted.

The morning passed by with a cracking mixed grill breakfast, recasting, and trying to find a better spot in Ian’s swim that could be a better option, but alas we couldn’t find anything much better.

I had the pleasure of trying to get more bait out on the spots before I had a few glasses and kicked back for the afternoon and evening and enjoyed another lovely sunset.

It was soon time to settle down for some TV, as once that sun had dropped it was heading for the predicted 2 degrees and a frost. I was halfway through my film and the left-hand rod burst into life, I was soon there and picked the rod up, just as the fish jumped out the hook on a boulder. I was absolutely gutted.

I got the rod back and shared my disappointment with Ian. I headed back to my bivvy and watched the rest of my film.

It’s another sunny day is on the cards, that’s not been forecasted. However, the wind is due to charge to the southwest for the next two nights and the night temperatures are going up 8 degrees and with both those charges, hopefully, this will increase our chances.

Finally, something in our favor and the forecast is correct about the weather – it’s blowing South West and quite strong. With this, my confidence had grown, so, I’ve top up the swim with more bait.

With any luck, this change will bring the carp more on to the feed. Night temperatures are getting a lot higher and with any luck a bit of cloud cover, there is even the possibility of rain tomorrow afternoon. It’s looking pretty good, only time will tell if we’ve got this right. It had been a poor start, which can be put down to the incorrect weather forecast. The real surprise is how clear the water is and the low level of the water, it’s just not rained for some time.

Some things are certainly meant to test our patience, just after 9 pm, the left-hand rod was away more or less 24 hours after my last take. This one stayed on for a little bit longer before it bumped off, I’d forgotten how unforgiving this lake can be.

Unfortunately, this is something we’ve all become accustomed to fishing the Airfield Lake. Knowing this still doesn’t make it less painful to lose the second carp of the trip. I’ve clearly found a feed spot, I just need to get them to the bank. The only option I’ve come up with is to move my set up to a different position and get the rod tips higher or position them at a different angle, so the line is in a different position on the lake bed. I’ve not fished this swim at this range before and I need to understand how to avoid these obstructions, I’ve done this in many of the swims on this lake and it works very well.

This trip has become a complete nightmare, I’ve just lost my third fish of the trip and it felt like a much bigger fish, it was on for at least two minutes and I was slowly gaining ground. I knew roughly where it was heading and I stayed on the highest point of the swim. I kept gently pumping away, walking slowly backward bringing the carp ever closer and this is when the fateful hook pull happens. My hooks are extremely sharp and the same pattern that I continually use with the odd issues on here (as explained above), but three in a row this is really taking the biscuit.

With the rod back on the spot, the only option tomorrow is to move the rods. I can’t do it tonight as they would be too close to Ian’s setup and would cause him an issue and could risk him losing a carp. I’m simply going to have to wait and hope I fare better on my next take. It seems crazy to have to endure this, or even except this as part of fishing here. To an outsider looking in you wouldn’t believe its possible. In front of me, there are various gullies that drop down to 3.5 feet or some just touch 4 feet, however, you get plagued by birdlife and the only way around this is by fishing in 5 feet of water and that’s 30 wraps out. It brings me the takes and at the moment, this frustrating run of hook pulls and I’m currently wondering if I would be better off blanking. There’s a part of me that’s pushing forward and will not give up until I solved this issue as I’ve clearly found a pukka feeding spot.

I’ve finally got one in the net, no doubt a lot smaller than the others I lost, but it’s a fish, and the hook hold needed forceps to get the hook out. It just goes to show how luck must play some part in fishing. I’m definitely a lot happier as I’ve now nearly landed 50% of the takes, amazing how statistics make things look and feel better. I’m absolutely shattered, hopefully, I can get a cat nap this afternoon – when the rain is due.

Ian has taken a wise choice and is heading home – he has admitted defeat. Hopefully, the weather will be more accurate next time.

I’ve taken action, moved my rods up the bank and closer to my bivvy. This is in the hope I can get to them quickly, keep that line up in the water (and the carp more), and stop them bumping out the hooks on the bottom. I could use a Heli-safe setup, but I really don’t like dropping the lead, as it would need to be on every take. I personally feel that’s littering the lake bed which I something I’m not prepared to do on a regular basis. I prefer safety clips that only drop the lead in a real safety situation for the carp, rather than a needs most to land a fish.

Since the weather change, the carp have certainly been more active, getting three takes last night goes to show you, and there’s still activity out there this morning. The next 24 hours conditions are looking very favorable, so there’s a good chance of a few more carp. Now that I’ve had a take on the right-hand rod, the direction where to stick both rods definitely needs thinking about more today before tonight comes.

The rain arrived a lot earlier than we thought, but Ian all but his rods in the car and is planning on sitting in my bivvy until he feels it’s home time. The carp are still splashed about, so there’s a good chance of a blank saver coming his way.

Just after 11 30 am, my left-hand rod was away and I put my new plan of action into effect. I grabbed the rod and slowly walked backward, only to have to give more line out to the fish, it had an incredible amount of power, and I gained control (and of my thoughts – after you had three hook pulls in a row, it can be hard not to think of the past issues). I walked backward again, only to yet to give more line out, I gained control again and this time managed to walk backward and forwards a couple of times to gain line from the fish. It finally started to kite left, which is away from the real danger area, I finally started to relax and believe that it was going to be possible to get my third carp in the net.

It was now heading towards the corner, towards the reeds and a post sticking out into the water. This carp is a very crafty carp, fully aware of its surroundings and any chance to get rid of the hook. I slowly turned the carp and brought it towards the waiting net, finally, it was in there. I breathed a very big sigh of relief, as this carp felt a similar size to the previous ones I’d lost.

That was one hard-fighting carp. The tails on these things are like paddles and feel unstoppable sometimes. With that rod back out, I rebaited the other rod before the rain arrived, now they were both on the same spot and hopefully would give me another chance over tonight until I pack up at noontime tomorrow.

The rain has really set in for what feels like it could be for the day. Ian headed off when there was a lull in the rain. Hopefully, at some point, the rain will die down and I can get outside for some well-needed food, if not it will be inside cooking this afternoon.

The rain has very nearly passed and I’ve got the food on, I can’t wait anymore, the only downside I’ve found so far is cooking outside the bivvy in the rain.

The rain returned before 2100 hours, it’s due to be about most of the night and tomorrow morning, it also looks like a wet pack up for me as well as Ian today. He did get his kit mostly in the car before it arrived, something I may not be able to do. Let’s hope tonight brings me more success and less pain than last night.

Another wet start to the day and a very disappointing night, not a single beep. I’ve got a feeling that the guys to my right and left are fishing out to the corners of the island and with the shallower waters than the previous years I may well have been cut off from the carp.

Ian not catching to my right and no signs of carp there, it would make sense, strange as it’s not happened before, however, the water level hasn’t been this low at this time of the year, since I can remember. The carp may just not be venturing right down here yet, it will be very interesting to see where they spawn this year.

You’re always learning with fishing and adapting to the situation, you can never stand still and sit on your hands. This is why I love it so much and it constantly keeps me coming back for more. This lake is forever changing, it gets frustrating at times, but it’s never the same each season and because of that I don’t believe I will ever get bored of the place.

I’ve three hours left before pack-up time and I plan to be gone by noontime – which is about an hour after I had the mirror yesterday. Hopefully, I can winkle one more out before I’m off, the conditions are similar to yesterday morning.

We’re all done with the exception of the rods and it’s not looking good for a carp this morning. The only thing I did differently last night was no bait, I didn’t feel the need and both rods were on the same spot. This is something I’ve done many times before on here, and it’s paid dividends, I did my best, I turned around a poor start into not a bad 4 nights out and I will be back soon. I have 3 more weekends before the next school holidays when we will be away camping in Wales for our normal week’s trip and it will certainly be good to get back there again. Let’s hope they don’t spawn before then as that will put another spanner in the works.

Until next time

Richard

Use my code for 10% discount

The discount code applies to the entire order when purchasing the Deeper Sonars PRO, PRO+, PRO+ 2, CHIRP, CHIRP+, CHIRP 2, CHIRP+ 2. The code is valid in all countries.

CODE = DEEPER-H-9OCSF

Share this: