Hi All,
I've joined a new water which is about an hour away from me so not easy to get down regularly and check what is going on. I've only walked it once, it's about 5 acres with about 60-70 carp up to mid 40's
The problem is that it is very shallow (around 4ft is most places) and there is a lot of bird life so the bailiff said they can be a problem over baited spots and if you can get any bait in without being picked up then you can get a result.
The lake is also quite weedy and gin clear which I am not used to!
Any advice if you fished a similar water?
Cheers
I've joined a new water which is about an hour away from me so not easy to get down regularly and check what is going on. I've only walked it once, it's about 5 acres with about 60-70 carp up to mid 40's
The problem is that it is very shallow (around 4ft is most places) and there is a lot of bird life so the bailiff said they can be a problem over baited spots and if you can get any bait in without being picked up then you can get a result.
The lake is also quite weedy and gin clear which I am not used to!
Any advice if you fished a similar water?
Cheers
In reply to Post #1
You could try feeding the birds off with loads of dog/cat biscuits and bread
You could try feeding the birds off with loads of dog/cat biscuits and bread
In reply to Post #1
Spread bait everywhere and fish small stringers/singles - its only small so if the fish come across a 'free' boilie it will generally most likely be one of yours - ducks less likely to focus on random singles than small table sized areas loaded with particle / boilie etc Try a necklace (small PVA mesh sausage with 7-8 soft baits) wrapped around the hookbait - flutters to the bottom and rests on weed nicely
Spread bait everywhere and fish small stringers/singles - its only small so if the fish come across a 'free' boilie it will generally most likely be one of yours - ducks less likely to focus on random singles than small table sized areas loaded with particle / boilie etc Try a necklace (small PVA mesh sausage with 7-8 soft baits) wrapped around the hookbait - flutters to the bottom and rests on weed nicely
In reply to Post #1
Tufty torch/laser pen.
Tufty torch/laser pen.
In reply to Post #1
Fish with dark coloured boilies and avoid sweetcorn. Might not be the total answer but might help.
Fish with dark coloured boilies and avoid sweetcorn. Might not be the total answer but might help.
In reply to Post #1
Do 2 nights, feed every 2 hrs don't cast out for 24 hrs and see what happens , birds = carp , can make the hardest carp easy , sometimes, fish rigs that don't hook the birds, if u need 2 sink your tips, put bobbins so it looks like your fishing
Do 2 nights, feed every 2 hrs don't cast out for 24 hrs and see what happens , birds = carp , can make the hardest carp easy , sometimes, fish rigs that don't hook the birds, if u need 2 sink your tips, put bobbins so it looks like your fishing
In reply to Post #1
Been on a few waters last 5 years where by using the birds I have transformed my results, on one 2 winters ago I looked for the swans put bait on bar, swans came over wiped me out, thay move on I cast out bingo, carp are easy sometimes and follow 🐦obsevation
Been on a few waters last 5 years where by using the birds I have transformed my results, on one 2 winters ago I looked for the swans put bait on bar, swans came over wiped me out, thay move on I cast out bingo, carp are easy sometimes and follow 🐦obsevation
In reply to Post #3
Maybe not bread. It messes up their metabolism / nutrient intake
Buy a bag of proper bird feed instead. Costs less than a bag of boilies and is better for the wildlife
Maybe not bread. It messes up their metabolism / nutrient intake
Buy a bag of proper bird feed instead. Costs less than a bag of boilies and is better for the wildlife
In reply to Post #9
Catch 22, it wouldn't be cooked so not suitable for fish and would need feeding to birds on the bank
Catch 22, it wouldn't be cooked so not suitable for fish and would need feeding to birds on the bank
Stalking!
In reply to Post #1
Solid pva bags and a decent laser pen that is powerful enough to work in the daylight if the birdlife is really bad.
Solid pva bags and a decent laser pen that is powerful enough to work in the daylight if the birdlife is really bad.
In reply to Post #1
Sounds like fun!
I would actually be baiting an area to keep the birds occupied with maize, white crumb and bird food. If the carp find it, brilliant, if not the birds get preoccupied, and bait another area with just boilies (preferably dark coloured or green) specifically for the carp.
Something else is bait up just before dark, although tufted can be little boogers and feed at night.
Bird proof your hookbaits with mesh or use extremely hard baits and use rigs that will reset if they do get picked up. Not saying it happens every time as I have landed a tufted duck or coot or two, but most times they drop the bait after feeling the lead.
If it is swans, bait an area close to or on the bank with maize, straight from the bag. They eat it, and then have to sit and digest it for a long time. Just I wouldn't recommend unprepared maize in the main water
Sounds like fun!
I would actually be baiting an area to keep the birds occupied with maize, white crumb and bird food. If the carp find it, brilliant, if not the birds get preoccupied, and bait another area with just boilies (preferably dark coloured or green) specifically for the carp.
Something else is bait up just before dark, although tufted can be little boogers and feed at night.
Bird proof your hookbaits with mesh or use extremely hard baits and use rigs that will reset if they do get picked up. Not saying it happens every time as I have landed a tufted duck or coot or two, but most times they drop the bait after feeling the lead.
If it is swans, bait an area close to or on the bank with maize, straight from the bag. They eat it, and then have to sit and digest it for a long time. Just I wouldn't recommend unprepared maize in the main water
In reply to Post #1
Like someone else said stalking.
Just keep walking & watching and put a few baits where you find carp especially if it looks like they've been having a feed.
Like someone else said stalking.
Just keep walking & watching and put a few baits where you find carp especially if it looks like they've been having a feed.
In reply to Post #10
Bloody pesky fish eating the bird feed eh noj?
My mate uses a catapult and boilies to spook birds. His logic is simple enough. Fire at the birds that are over your hookbaits. They fly off and there's a bit of extra bait around your key area.
It's not suitable for nuisance other anglers though...
Bloody pesky fish eating the bird feed eh noj?
My mate uses a catapult and boilies to spook birds. His logic is simple enough. Fire at the birds that are over your hookbaits. They fly off and there's a bit of extra bait around your key area.
It's not suitable for nuisance other anglers though...
Ive always found take harriot with me keeps all the birdlife away and let's me fish in peice.
I have a similar issue on a park lake I fish - some shallow areas with ****loads of coots and swans (the latter can reach the spots by upending - the sight of swan's arses in the air makes my heart sink). The solution was straightforward, but mainly because it fits well with my midweek overnighter style of fishing. I get the range to wherever I'm fishing with a light lead and clip up. Towards dusk, I use a mini Spomb or spod to put out a little bit of hemp as accurately as possible; not much, maybe three or four loads. Then I fish a small solid bag over the top with a very dark mix and a dark or at least neutrally-coloured plastic hookbait (lots of crays). The important bits are timing - setting the trap just before dark - minimal disturbance and accuracy.
In reply to Post #15
Problem with that is twofold.
Tufties and coots will 'remember' where your bait is and come back for it later when you are not looking, (even in the dark).
Boilies hitting the surface might actually spook the carp.
Problem with that is twofold.
Tufties and coots will 'remember' where your bait is and come back for it later when you are not looking, (even in the dark).
Boilies hitting the surface might actually spook the carp.
In reply to Post #16
That would scare me off,
That would scare me off,
In reply to Post #16
The 2nd most common owl in the UK...
The most common is of course the 'teet'
...
Say it out loud
...
The 2nd most common owl in the UK...
The most common is of course the 'teet'
...
Say it out loud
...
In reply to Post #1
I don't mind the bird life at all. Coots will show where the weed beds are, Swans will show you where the channels in the weed are. No coots in an area will show you where the deeper areas are. Quick chuck about of a lead just to make sure.
Not an exact science, and I ain't no Davey Attenborough, but it'll give you a rough idea of a lakes topography.
I don't mind the bird life at all. Coots will show where the weed beds are, Swans will show you where the channels in the weed are. No coots in an area will show you where the deeper areas are. Quick chuck about of a lead just to make sure.
Not an exact science, and I ain't no Davey Attenborough, but it'll give you a rough idea of a lakes topography.
Reading ALL pages