This is a really hard question because we all hate them pesky little carp. But after a 3 or 2 nights blanking would you be happy to catch one? Or after a long period of blanks would a small carp make you breathe a sigh of relief? Or even when you’re fishing a mega hard lake and you catch the smallest one in there?
Well, I can say that I would be happy. It breaks the chain and you can think yourself lucky – you’ve done something right. The bait and rig are working and you picked the right feature to fish. Just because a small carp picked your bait up, it’s not the carp’s fault and it could so have been the lump you are after. You’re fishing for carp and you just had one, be happy. We all know it’s hard sometimes and I certainly feel your pain, as this season all I seem to be picking up the smaller carp but I say to myself I am not blanking, so I am doing it all right.
Food for thought the next time you catch an 8 lber.
Be Lucky
Until next time
Richard
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A big storm was moving through over the weekend, the likelihood it would stir the carp up. I just had to get myself down the lake. As luck would have it, a friend could collect my youngest from school as well as their own. I got down the lake by noontime. This gave me the opportunity to look around for a bit and I got myself sorted by 2pm, fingers crossed for an early evening take.
The main lake was pretty busy in the areas I fancied and I wasn’t keen on sitting out in the open with 50mph winds forecasted! I needed a bit of shelter to protect me, I still really wanted to be in the thick of it. The carp had been showing signs of spawning the other week – proper signs such as thrashing about in the reeds and full on chasing each other. It amazes me that with the carp in this lake spawn in the first few days of May.
After a good look about, I ended up in the same swim as my last trip out for no particular reason other than it felt the right place to be. I put both rods on the right-hand spot I had found as I was planning on moving one of the rods to my margins midmorning Saturday, as the wind would be pushing onto this bank. It would give me the opportunity to bait up a spot and just leave it be until tomorrow morning (unless I had a fish). I would not put the rod out next to the other one, in fear of spooking any other feeding carp.
I am sticking to the same tactic as previous sessions as there is no point in changing anything when it’s working for you.
With that all done it was time to sit back, relax and get my book out.
The night was incredibly rough and pretty cold. I made the hard decision, I would head home because I didn’t feel the conditions where right and I could make better use of my time later on in the year.
Until next time
Richard
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I will start the Rig section with my favourite rig that I have most confidence using and that is the Ronnie Rig, I have been using this for a few years. before that it was the 360 rig.
Ronnie Rig
My step by step guide to my take on the Ronnie Rig. Which after using the 360 rig for some years, this rig is a great step forward and improvement on the 360.
All the components you will ever need.
Step 1
Spotted Fin Turning Point curved shank Hooks, the perfect pattern and the correct one for this rig and the 360.
Step 2
Take a small length of stiff shrink tubing with is a important factor for this rig, not to be overlooked.
Step 3
Using a kwik change clip with a ring swivel on the end, put through the eye of the hook.
Step 4
Slide the shrink tubing down and over the swivel
Step 5
Heat carefully over a kettle
Step 6
Take two hook beads and a tiny swivel and thread them on bead, swivel, bead.
Step 7
Get a length of floss and thread through the tiny swivel.
Step 8
Put a Natural Pop Up on a baiting needle and attach to the floss.
And pull down a gently pushing the tiny swivel into the bait.
Step 9
Trim the floss and blob down with a lighter.
Step 10
Get a length of FinSkin semi stiff coated hook link and tie onto the ring swivel.
Step 11
Tie a loop in the other end
Step 12
Thread a bit of tubing over the top to protect the knot and eliminate tangles.
Step 13
Get a small peace of tungsten putty
Step 14
Roll into a small sausage
Step 15
And thread through the ring on the swivel
Step 16
Mould over the knot, the placing of the putty is very important and other people will tell you to put in the swivel. Don’t, the rig works best this way.
And you are all done and ready to catch a carp.
And the result of the perfect tackle, bait combination
Hope this helps
Richard
German Rig
My step by step guide to my take on the German Rig. Which is a great addition to any carp anglers armour.
All the components you will ever need.
Step 1
Spotted Fin Turning Point curved shank Hooks, the perfect pattern and the correct one for this rig and the Ronnie Rig.
Step 2
Take a small length of stiff shrink tubing with is a important factor for this rig, not to be overlooked.
Step 3
Using a kwik change clip, put through the eye of the hook and Slide the shrink tubing down and over the swivel.
Step 4
Heat carefully over a kettle
Step 5
Take two hook beads and a tiny swivel and thread them on bead, swivel, bead.
Step 6
Get a length of floss and thread through the tiny swivel.
Step 7
Put a Wafters on a baiting needle and attach to the floss.
And pull down a gently pushing the tiny swivel into the bait.
Step 8
Trim the floss and blob down with a lighter.
Step 9
Get a length of FinSkin semi stiff coated hook link and tie onto the ring swivel.
Step 10
Tie a loop in the other end
Step 11
Thread a bit of tubing over the top to protect the knot and eliminate tangles.
And the result of the perfect tackle, bait combination
Don’t get me wrong, I am no rig guru by any means. But I do love to play around with my rigs. With most new rigs you need to be on a runs water to field test them fully.
Till next time
Richard
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