With spring approaching more quickly than expected I thought I would share a few things that I feel help me put a few carp on the bank during this period.

The first thing on my list is tackle maintenance. Whether you are a seasoned all weather angler who still goes in search of carp during the winter months or an angler who packs his carp gear away neatly as soon as the first frosts arrive in view of either fishing for other species or taking a break until the warmer weather resides, now is the time to make sure everything is in order ready for a season when the carp will be in fine fettle and fully fighting fit. Nobody wants to spend the time waiting and working hard for that first run of the spring only to find that the ... (read more...)

Several years ago I was sat up a tree watching carp feeding on the Cell boilies that I was flicking into the lake one at a time. It was very relaxing just sat there swaying backwards and forwards in the branches in the light breeze on a warm sunny spring day. I watched as these lovely dark leney mirrors came in over the boilies and picked them off one by one. The carp would actually place its mouth around the bait hard on the bottom, lift up to right itself and swallow the boilie. Not one was ejected, sucked in or blown out, they just scoffed them all until I ran out of the pocket full of boilies I had climbed the tree with! I remember thinking to myself at the time these fish would be suckers for a chod rig presented bait, fished only an inch or so off the ... (read more...)

Available for free from your local tackle shop...

To me, productive fishing trips are all about making the right decisions when you arrive at your chosen venue. You maybe lucky enough to find some fish in an area that is uninhabited by other anglers, you may have a bait that those carp will find irresistible but how much thought has gone into your presentation and the efficiency of your rig? If you get the odd couple of bleeps when you are fishing will you call it a liner or will you wonder if a fish has managed to rid itself of your hook? If this has happened would that get the alarm bells ringing to other fish that maybe feeding nearby? Now I’m not trying to make you paranoid but I think this happens all the time and it’s worth being aware before casting a rig out on to that hotspot. These thoughts ... (read more...)

These days fishing can be frustrating! Sometimes you see the fish jumping and crashing on the baitedspots, but the expected bites don't occur .  This can be hard to accept, but it can also be a chance to adapt your “end tackle” and amend the way you are baiting up your swim or hot spots.  These days the banks are more and more crowded and the fish have naturally become more and more aware of our presence.

A few months ago I was reading an interesting article written by a Dutch angler who was critically analysing the last ... (read more...)

With the colder weather soon to be upon us I thought I would write a short piece about a method that can put one or two bonus fish on the bank during the winter months.

Back in the 1980’s when my love affair with carp began it was deemed difficult enough to catch carp in the midst of summer and to pursue our elusive quarry during the winter months may have gained a few strained looks from even the most experienced of anglers. Once the calendar year had got to October my thoughts ... (read more...)

Going long....

It was probably around fifteen years ago when I first got the feeling that my catch rates would dramatically increase if I could only cast into an area of my local lake where fish would never usually see bait. I would sit and watch the fish cruising up and down along the far margin, where fishing was not allowed, their backs would often be out of the water and I could pretty much count them as I sat on my bed chair over a hundred and thirty yards away feeling rather ... (read more...)

Caring for your catch is a vitally important aspect in the sport of carp fishing. It is the responsibility of all anglers to ensure their catch is treated with the utmost respect, and returned to the water without harm i.e. in the same pristine condition as it left the water. Having studied at Sparsholt College, the UK’s premier aquaculture college, I have learned that good fish care practice is an essential requirement for all anglers and a lot can be learnt from watching experienced anglers deal with their catch.

By ensuring the fish are given this care damage is avoided we can be happy that we have cared for the fish whilst they are out their natural environment, but also means that the fish will in perfect ... (read more...)

Despite its apparent popularity in the angling press these days fishing zigs or zig rigs still seems a pretty underused method on some of the waters I fish. I would hazard a guess that perhaps only 10-20% of anglers give them a serious go and I’m still shocked to speak to people who have never used them! At this time of year there’s usually a flurry of article in the angling press like this one as anglers such as myself try ... (read more...)

Bait and the successful application of it can mean different things to different people, and of course this can change dramatically at different times of the year. As anglers we all fish different venues and whilst some may fish busy well stocked day ticket waters, others choose the solitude of big fish low stocked venues.

One thing’s for sure though and that is any ... (read more...)