UK Carp & Coarse Fishing

There is a bad trend within the fishing world of dumping leads.  I feel this is a bad trend due to the safety of the fish.  Now, I have been fishing for over thirty years and I understand that some fish have died because of being tethered.  However, are we using this as an excuse to dump 100’s of leads all over the place? We moan and complain when we see rubbish in our swims, but we are very happy to dump leads in the name of fish safety. Or is it because the hooked to landed ratio has improved?
There is also an issue with Spomb’s laying around on lake beds as they don’t float, I have put small poly balls on the end of my one, and so it will float.  It is a simple and cheap answer.

I also have a big issue with fake baits.  When your hook link breaks, there is a bait sitting around for as long as it takes for a carp to pick this up, gets hooked and possibly tethered up.  At least if this happens with a traditional bait, it would break down in the water.  Now here’s the rub, I have had the need to start using them over the past six months.  This is due to general pests who interfere with carp fishing and your bait presentation.  The only safe way I feel that I can combat this is by changing the hook link after every fish.

As anglers, we need to take more responsibility for all this rubbish lying around on and off the bank.

After doing the night and spotting a few fish spawning, I thought I would pop down my local lake for the morning for a spot of floater fishing.  I was surprised to find a good 10 dead fish floating in the lake and loads of line hanging in the trees, where other floater anglers had been fishing.

There was also a nice algae bloom going on.  I did manage to get a few fish feeding but just did not feel right to be fishing there and I was gone within the hour.

Now I know why I pay so much for my Syndicate lake, where things are so much better!

Until next time

Richard

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After the weekend’s lack of fish for me and discovering a couple of interesting features, I headed back down the lake, in the hope of getting in the same spot (or one of another 2 swims, which will also give me access to this area).  As luck would have it there were only 2 other anglers fishing and they were nowhere near me.  It was looking like the fish had moved back into the area as well.

I double check the spots with the Deeper as on this lake, 2 ft the wrong way and you will be in 2ft of water, instead of 4 ft!

Once set up and the line was clipped up, I counted out the number of wraps and took notice of the horizon makers.  I flicked a couple of Ronnie Rig with a 15mm bottom and a 15mm wafter onto the spots.  I also put a couple of pouches of Catalyst boilies which had been soaking in minaminons for some time.

The night produced one carp and one lost carp.

Which I was happy about.

With the sun coming up over the forest and the rod’s on the floor, it was time to head home.

Until next time

Richard

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With the builders working on the house this week, I didn’t really have the time to do any nights (which was a shame).  So I thought I better get out there over the weekend, the wife and kids were watching the Royal Wedding – this was the perfect opportunity for me.

As it turned out my friend Ian was already there and in a perfect area.  The wind was pushing nicely across the lake onto this bank and into a corner.  I found some perfect spots along the reed line with the Deeper.

Which were perfect for a bait.

I then baited the area with a kilo of catalyst boilies which had been soaking in minaminons for a few days.  I flicked a 15mm Catalyst wafter over each area, sat back for some food and a glass of wine in the afternoon sunshine.

For me the night passed quietly, Ian managed a nice mid double on the Smokey Jack.

And then, lost one as well.

It was a coldish night as the temperature drop and the mist rolled in.

This picture was just taken after 9am, you should have seen how thick it was as 5 am!

I stayed until just before noon time and it was not to be.

Until next time

Richard

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I would like to explain the benefits of using Fluorocarbon main line, in particular, the Berkeley brand.  Firstly, there are only two disadvantages, 1) lack of casting distance and 2) with very bouldery bottom lakes, the line can get hooked up around a rock.  However, for all other aspects of fishing, it’s brilliant.

(1) After casting out, keep the line tight, sink the line down under your rod tips and pay the line out as you place your rod on its rest.  Your line is now in direct contact with your buzzer, even when it hangs straight down.

(2) The really amazing thing is even in a drop back situation the line will pull forward, giving you an indication on your buzzers.

(3) As your line is going straight down off the rod tips and if they are placed close to the bank, you can easily play fish without the risk of picking up another one of your lines.

(4) With the line at the bottom, there is less likelihood of line bites. It’s possible to play fish, without the worries for picking up your line. (If you keep your rod tip set up just over the edge of the swim.)

By using MPS Defiant bobbins (which I have featured on my Tackle review page), you can have the bobbin sitting normally, even with the line hanging straight down off the rod tips.  You will need you use a line clip of some sort.

It’s better than sitting it on the floor.

I hope this has been helpful to you.

Till next time.

Richard