Over the years the great and good of carp fishing have graced the pages of Improve Your Coarse Fishing. This month, we look back at some of the best gems of information and tactical tips they imparted...
1 TARGET SWIMS OFF THE BEATEN PATH
RICH WILBY – “Whenever I fish a day-ticket water I always search for the overlooked swims that appear like they haven’t been fished for a while. These are usually the ones that require a tricky cast, or have a bush or tree that makes positioning a rod awkward (or they’re a long walk from the car park!).
Every lake will have these less-favoured spots and the carp will invariably frequent them because they know they receive far less angling pressure.
When I arrive at a new lake I’ll do a couple of laps and once I’ve identified a few of these spots I’ll bait them close-in with a handful of barrel-shaped boilies and corn. I then keep an eye on them until I see signs of fish feeding over them. Invariably, these fish can be stalked and caught quickly as they are much more confident feeding in these parts of lake, which they consider to be ‘safe’ from anglers.”
2 TRY TO FISH ‘EFFICIENTLY’
ADAM PENNING – “There are occasions when anglers are in the right spot and offering good bait, but still fall short of getting the results they want. This, in my view, largely comes down to a lack of efficiency at the tackle end, resulting in the bait just not being accessible to the carp.
The rig could be tangled or buried in an area of unclean lakebed. To prevent these potential issues, we need to take careful countermeasures.
First, before deploying a rig anywhere, I will always flick out a bare lead. On a braided line, I can quickly and quietly determine if the bottom is clean. If the lead slides towards me without undue impediment then I can fish the spot. I don’t care if it is sand, clay, silt, gravel, mud or whatever – if the lead slides then I can present a rig there efficiently.
Next, by incorporating anti-tangle tubing and using a coated braid or stiff mono hooklink, you will greatly alleviate the risk of any tangles. Tangles are the number one enemy, and avoiding the potential for one should always be considered. Never use uncoated, soft braid unless it is inside a bag or being placed in the edge – it WILL tangle.
Making sure you always stop the rig before it enters the water is the next stage towards angling efficiency. Use the line clip, or your finger, to stop the rig a couple of feet before it hits the water. This will cleanly separate the rig and lead, negating the possibility of a tangle in most situations.
After that, the final stage is to feel the lead down through the water on a tight line, waiting until you feel it come into contact with the lakebed.”
3 BAIT TRICKS FOR SILT
OZ HOLNESS – “There are a few ways that y
