UK Carp & Coarse Fishing

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                                            20Lb + Weybread Pit’s (1989)

                                                    Nice Common 1996

                                              Broadband Lake 20lb+ 1997

                                            Weybread Pits 17lb+ 1995

                                                          20Lb+ 1996

                                                 Nutsey Lake 20lb+ 1997

                                              Nice Common 20LB+ 1995

              This was my first Carp that’s set the seed 1982 Clayton Pit’s 17lb+

                                                  1984 Weybread  carp

                                                 1984 Weybread Carp

                                                20Lb+ Weybread Carp 1991

                              17Lb+ Weybread Winter Carp 1995

                                                       Weybread in the snow 1994

.                                                           Frozen Weybread

                                                                      1984 Set up

                                           Claydon Pit’s 1982 Set up

                                                    Weybread 1989 set up

                                                              Winter 1992

                                                             Weybread 1995

                                       20lb+ Pike Weybead Pits 1992

I have put together a list of 3 of the best carp features that carp will hold up in, help you bank fish and they are very simple to find.

Carp absolutely love features and hang around them all the time.  These also tend to be areas which contain their food source.  It’s like a sanctuary for them.

1- Overhanging Tree’s –

These are simple to find and more or less every lake has then.  You must bear in mind the possibility of fallen branches and other debris.   The best thing to do first, is just run a lead through the swim, this will help you to determine which part is the best part to fish. I personally like to fish the gravely area under the trees as this has clearly been cleaned by the carp.  I also like to fish a very bright pop up with a good smell.  I have done very well on Frank Warwick’s Masala pop ups, which are bright orange.  The carp are just moving through these areas looking for food and a bright bait will take their interest and they hopefully will investigate.  There is always the possibility of zebra mussel or something that may cut the line, it’s best to fish a heavy line 18lb and I like to fish a heavy hook.

2. Gaps Between Island

This is another very simple feature to find, carp just love these.  They have the possibility to hold food and are generally used as patrol routes between different parts of the lake.  Carp, like humans, generally cut the corners and the best part is the corner of the island.  Mind you, don’t forget the middle as this is a very unfished part of the lake.  If the lake is pressured by anglers, they will cut through the middle.  Bait wise same as before, as they will generally be moving through the area and it will not be a holding area.

3. Humps or Indentation, Gully

I have put these three things all under the same banner.  You will need some help finding and understanding these and before the days of sonar, there was only one way and that was with a marker rod and a lot of time.  Deeper have solved this problem and speeded up this process 10 fold.  Humps & indention’s can be very tricky to find with a marker float and you need a bit of luck on your side.  With the Deeper and the mapping mode on, you will able spot them – not necessarily straight away but when you are at home, reviewing your lake book and spot them. Just like one I have spotted.

And when viewing the feature on the sonar, it’s perfectly clear, this is a brilliant spot.

The same will apply for indentations which a great holding area for carp and will produce carp.  Gully’s are like underwater highways for carp and will take a bit more understanding.  Watching the water will help revel their secrets but just knowing where they are and which direction they go on the lake, is a great starting point.

From a rig perspective, I have found that the Ronnie Rig is the best all rounder rig in any situation from pop up, wafter and even bottom bait.

This rig is a step forward from the original 360 rig, which specifically used the 360 hook from JRC (no longer made by them) but lucky is now made by Spotted Fin

All the above features will certainly help you catch more carp.

Be Lucky

Richard

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.

Hope This Helps

Richard

Looking back in time – River fishing

With the success of looking back over the year podcasts, I’ve dug up a 2 part special on my efforts on catching chub & barbal or not on the Hampshire Avon.

Part 2 of 2

I have changed Syndicates this year, only because the new lake syndicate that I am a members of has more River to fish and the combined cost is cheap + I cant justify joining both, bit of a shame.

trip (10)

I am on the river again, however I am fishing the evening.  The last two days have been very hot and I did not fancy my chances.

I have gone for the same swim as before, as I have seen the carp in it and at the end of the last session I got rid of my remaining bait in the swim.  This was only two days ago.  So, I am hoping the fish will be in search of a bit of my bait.  The only thing I have changed after I took some advice from Rob Nunn at Bait-tech, was change the hook baits to Polony meat which they do in tins.  I have cubed up some large for hook baits and some smaller for free offerings.

And we will see how we get on.

Well, I stayed until 2240, which  only gave me 20 minutes to get off the estate before closing time.

I completely blanked.  Not even a knock and a mark on the meat.  I can only think the carp may have moved on, or perhaps another angler may have fished there today and landed one.  You just never know.  I will take a look in the day time later this week, as I fancy a night on the lake for my next trip out.

Till next time
Richard

trip (9)

I am still persevering with the river, after seeing the carp in this area 3 or 4 times on the bounce.  I now should be after the barbel, but I just love these river carp, big or small it doesn’t matter.  I am still having a good look around the area, so am not completely focused on the carp.  I have not seen any barbel yet, but I have seen a couple of large salmon and some good chub.

No change in the swim or spots, as I put a bit of bait in before I left the last time. I was in the hope of getting them feeding confidently.  I don’t think anyone else has fished here,  which is good to know.

I have been here for two hours and there is no signs of the carp.  I am hoping the sun may bring them out, just to confirm there are still in the area.  They could of easily moved on, mind you they have plenty of weed to hide in.

You just never know.

I finally spotted one of the common carp drifting through the reed’s and will only an hour and a bit left before it’s time to run and collect the kid’s.  I will have my fingers crossed that the carp are in a feeding mood now.

I stayed for as long as possible, unfortunately no joy.

Till next time
Richard

trip (8)

With all the house work done and the kids at school.  I popped down the river for a couple of hours today.  I was in search for that Barbel, which I am so desperate after.  Facebook is good,  but at the moment I keep seeing pictures of Barbel which is driving me mad (or driving me to go and catch one).

I have found a nice spot on a bed full of weed and a couple of carp, which I can’t resist having a go for.

I have managed to get some poloni boilies out without spooking them as well as my hook baits, which had two small bags of the micro pellets with my favourite Krill & Tuna oil.  I am just going to have to sit back and wait and see, as I dare not take a peek.  I don’t wish to spooke them away.  The area within this bend is quite large and I am hoping they don’t move off this end and up to the other.

I couldn’t resist a look and low and behold the carp where still mooching around the weed beds plus a very nice pike!  I will take note of this area for some winter pike fishing.  I also found a very nice area a few yards down stream, which will be a very interesting place to fish in the future.

Looking very pleasant, I must say, it’s a lovely river to fish.

Till next time
Richard

trip (7)

I am out on the river again, after that allusive Barbel, effort = reward, I can’t say I have put much effort in this year so far.  Time to knuckle down and get out on that river more.  As this is the only way to find them and learn.

A perfect spot I hope, with a deep run close to the margin and a nice clear hole in the middle.  I have put a bit of bait out over the few hours I am here, a mix of pellets and poloni boilies and groundbait.  What more could a Barbel ask for?  Hybrid Barbel Hook Bait as before and I will just sit back and enjoy the view as well.

What more could you ask for from an evening on the river?

I started until 2230 with out a single knock,  I must be doing something wrong?

Till next Time
Richard

trip (6)

After a fantastic family holiday in a cottage by the sea in Wales, with not a soul around.

I thought it was about time to start investigating the river a bit more, as I had not really done very much (I got carried away with the lakes).  There’s just not enough time for fishing.

As I am still quite green where it comes to river fishing and after a good look round (on a rainy overcast day).  I was unable to find any fish.  I settled for a very large bend, with what I hoped gave me plenty of options and looked a likely holding area for Barbel.

Rod 1 was cast over the far bank, where I could see a nice clear gravel/sandy run.  With a Bait-tech Hybrid Barbel hook bait and a few pouches of Poloni boilies scattered around.

Rod 2 was lowered on to a lovely clear run of gravel, just along the bank from me.  I was using a large feeder with Bait-tech Poloni groundbait mixed with krill and Tuna oil (no water), with a couple of handfuls of their Mixed Marine Halibut Pellets scattered along the margin.

A bit of peace a quite on the Avon today.

The sun has finally arrived, well for a couple of minutes.

I stayed until around 2130 with no joy at all.

Till next time
Richard

trip (5)

I am on the Hampshire Avon for a short evening session.  After 2 hours of wondering around and with no real sign of Carp or Barbel (and with the light being from the wrong angle), I settled for a good clear gravel run,  just along the margin. I scattered a couple of handfuls of Bait-Tech Marine pellets and 25 Poloni boilies over the top of each area.  I was then lowering my bait into each clear spot.  I made up some very large pva mess bags with some micro pellets soaked on Krill & Tuna oil, the hook baits were the Hybrid Barbel. I am finding to be very good at staying on the hook (when nuisance fish are about). Looking very picturesque tonight. My plan is to stay until midnight then head home, we will see what happens. Despite staying until midnight, I had not even had a knock.  This part of the Avon is taking a bit of time to get my head around.   Till next time Richard

trip (4)

I have popped down the river today for a few hours and after an hour of looking around, I decided that one of the weir pool’s looked very favourable.  I would rather look around for two hours and only fish for 2 hours, as you would not like to spend 4 hrs in the wrong spot, would you?

There is a nice gravel bar that I have dropped the bait just to the left of, the other rod was flicked the other side of the weir pool across the flow into a nice calm area.

Above is today’s bait choice, not sure if I will have time to use them all.  We will just have to see..

Unfortunately, no joy on the barbel front.

Till next time
Richard

trip (3)

After a day’s carp fishing (well 4 hours) and the house husband stuff all done.  What else could I do but spend the evening down the river?!

I had been given a top tip by the Estate Manger, that the carp move up & down a 2 miles section and don’t really go beyond this area.  So, with this in mind, off I went and finally found them in a very large area above an island.  It was not that accessible with the reeds and well trodden ground by the cows.

Next time I may need to bring waders, I have wet feet already.  This is a very large area above the island, but it does have plenty of options and the carp did move around a lot.  I decided that the best place to start would be at the back of the pads.  This is where I had first spotted them digging around.  I fired out plenty of bait-Tech micro pellet, I had them left over from this mornings trip.  They were soaked in the krill & Tuna oil, a load of squads poloni boilies, a few pouch full’s of Marine pellet and sat back.  Well not quite, as the friendly cow’s were a pain.

As dusk fell, the cows slowly moved off, they must of got board finally.

At around 11 pm I decided that I should be off home as well.

Till next time
Richard

trip (2)

I have gone back to the same area again as I fished the other night.  This is for two reasons, firstly – I needed a better look around when the light conditions are more in my favour and secondly – I did put some bait in likely areas.  Which have in fact turned out to be quite good.  I am no real expert in river fishing,  only want I have learned over the past few years and I can tell you it’s an every changing thing.

I am using two rods this time, as it’s a big area I am fishing.

I am using bags again, full of a mix of Bait-Tech pellets.

Poloni Boilies as book baits, gluged in poloni.

There where a few Chub moving over the sand bar.  They were however, not interested in any food, so at around 1300 hrs I decided that I would have a walk around for a bit, before I needed to be off to collect the kids from school.

Till next time
Richard

(1) I didn’t think I was going to get out today.  However, I finely made it by 2000, not bad going and very happy to be out.  Now, as this being my first trip on this syndicate, I got a bit lost finding the car parks and walked the wrong way!

Say this, I did manage to find this lovely deep bend with plenty of slack water. Unfortunately, the light was wrong and I can’t really tell how bad the weed is here.  So I have picked a spot the other side of the river, in more or less still water and flicked I nice bag full of Bait-Tech pellets – from halibut to krill, and a nice Poloni boilies as a hook bait and catapulted about 20 free offerings.

I will sit back on my bucket and see what happens.

By 2230 and with out a knock, I was off home as the gates close at 2300.

Till next time
Richard

I can honestly say that I was extremely unsuccessful on this stretch of the Hampshire Avon and this is something I must get to grips with in the future and have another go at it at some point I time.

Baiting pole is amazing bits of kit.  I have found my one incredibly useful and it’s certainly has helped me catch fish.

Now, before you rush out and buy one, there are a few things to consider.

1. Cost – you will probably think that a 12m pole will be just perfect for you.  Not the case – as it’s not even 4-rod lengths from the bank.  This means you will need a few extension sections.

2. Carrying it – I have 1 x 12m pole + 11m extension section.  I carry it in an old brolly bag, which was lucky, as you can’t buy anything to carry them in

3. Practicality – they are not that easy to use in small swims or slopping swims as you need to lay the pieces out.

4. Being able to use it – this is not about the operator, it’s about the condition of the lake.  A crosswind or a strong wind will affect the pole and can easily cause the pole to break.

5. Advise

A. Never use on strong winds.

B. Don’t lift, always push or pull.

D. After 12m add extra floats every 10m.

E. When maneuvering the pole in the water, take your time.  As to many side, strains will snap the pole.

F. Dry the pole and keep the joints free of gravel.

G. Treat it with respect.

Hope this helps and doesn’t put you off buying one.  They are a great bit of kit and used correctly will help you bank carp.

R

Hope This Helps

Richard