Trout, carp or tench? Why not give all three a try as nature reawakens across the land?
HOW AMAZING is spring? Gone are the short, dark, depressing days of the year’s end as the natural world reawakens, and this fresh start is mirrored in my angling exploits!
We all deserve a lift after the winter just gone, and I’m already imagining the warm sun on my face and the air scented by pollen and petals.
The only issue I have is what to fish for, but for now I’ll mention just three target species to tempt you out on the water and help you enjoy some memorable moments.
I write for Angling Times, a magazine that embraces all aspects of the sport, so I have no problems in mentioning trout fishing. I don’t know why it should have had such a rough ride in recent years, because anglers these days demand a quick fix – and trout give you just that, even more so than carp.
The thrill of watching a dry fly being taken is more than equal to what you’d get fishing floaters for carp, and the same is true of stalking rainbows under the rod-tip.
If you want to go on an adventure, the Welsh valleys will offer peace and quiet while you creep up on a wild brown trout. If you prefer a venue with a toilet, a car park and café, lots of trout waters will cater for your needs.
Before you try your hand at game fishing , however, you will need to learn how to cast. That might seem a bit tricky to begin with, but you can practise at home, and YouTube is full of instructional videos which will also advise on lure patterns and tactics. Never has trout fishing been more accessible to the masses, the best bit being that if you fish for these doughty fighters on a river, you’ll never have a closed season.
From a side of the sport that has struggled to one that has boomed – a complete role reversal from the 1970s, in fact – carp fishing is very much in vogue. I can understand why, given such big , beautiful fish and so many venues to try. Let’s be honest, most of us don’t carp fish in winter, but come the spring and it all changes.
As the days lengthen, suddenly the fish are no longer lethargic, and they will leave the weed beds to roam for food.
At this time there will be a level of naivety, and now’s the time to get hold of a tub of fluorescent pop-ups and have a go at what I describe as ‘lure fishing for carp’.
I've always found pink to be the best colour for a bite in early spring – I assume it's curiosity that makes the carp suck the bait in.
I generally use these hookbaits in two distinct ways. The first is
