I think I've picked a challenging water to start getting deeper into Carp fishing on, not only is the stock completely unknown on this estate lake, it's also infested with Crayfish.
I've had a search and seen discussion about crays before.
I've only had 2 or 3 sessions on the lake so far.
First time I fished a ESP Tungsten Coated Braid German rig, didn't realise they like Tungsten. They were twizzling up my rig into a right mess! Lesson learned.
So the next 2 times I've gone back with a hardened hookbait tipped with fake corn on a basic IQ2 Turbo German rig.
First time was in deeper siltier water and the hardened baits were still getting chewed. Second time was earlier this Spring and I went up the shallow end... had to find a clear spot as didn't realise there was Silkweed up this end and the baits remained untouched.
Am I right in thinking they don't like Silkweed? If so I'll be able to fish the shallow end with more confidence over the next couple of months, but to be honest, feels like I'm winging it.
I'd be amazed if I catch a fish from this water... lots of small Roach in there, as well as a few Tench (and loads massive Perch).
Any tips for rigs/baiting/other things from the info I've given... unknown stock 8 acre estate lake? So far I've had one shortlived dropped run as I was packing away at dusk, think it may have been a Tench but who knows.
Some might say fish a different water but beggars can't be choosers.
I've had a search and seen discussion about crays before.
I've only had 2 or 3 sessions on the lake so far.
First time I fished a ESP Tungsten Coated Braid German rig, didn't realise they like Tungsten. They were twizzling up my rig into a right mess! Lesson learned.
So the next 2 times I've gone back with a hardened hookbait tipped with fake corn on a basic IQ2 Turbo German rig.
First time was in deeper siltier water and the hardened baits were still getting chewed. Second time was earlier this Spring and I went up the shallow end... had to find a clear spot as didn't realise there was Silkweed up this end and the baits remained untouched.
Am I right in thinking they don't like Silkweed? If so I'll be able to fish the shallow end with more confidence over the next couple of months, but to be honest, feels like I'm winging it.
I'd be amazed if I catch a fish from this water... lots of small Roach in there, as well as a few Tench (and loads massive Perch).
Any tips for rigs/baiting/other things from the info I've given... unknown stock 8 acre estate lake? So far I've had one shortlived dropped run as I was packing away at dusk, think it may have been a Tench but who knows.
Some might say fish a different water but beggars can't be choosers.
In reply to Post #1
So, I fished crayfish infected waters before, a proper pain in the butt. But there are things to help you:
1. Use Armamesh on your hard hookbaits. And if they're getting through that, get a pair of the Mrs tights, wrap them in that first, tie it off with bait floss, and blob. But be careful not to burn the tights around your bait. Then put Armamesh over that.
2. Don't use rig tubing, they love that. Use leaders.
3. If you're using a hair rig with a loop, use them V shaped boilie stops, the ones with the biggest V you can get away with.
4. Use particle if you can get away with it for loose feed. They'll eat all free offerings if they're boilies. Whereas they won't with small particles like hemp or pigeon conditioner. If you have to use boilies for your freebies, get them from somewhere that will slightly customise their bait by making them harder. That'll slow the buggers down a bit.
5. If you're using a rig that uses a weight like putty, use a shot. But pinch it on really tight with a pair of pliers.
6. Recast regularly to check and replace your hookbaits if necessary.
7. Zigs can avoid them, depending on the depth.
8. Glug your hookbaits, that should make them even harder.
9. Use artificial hookbaits. But they can nibble at these too.
10. Put your bobbins up to your rod, otherwise you'll be getting beeps of your alarms all of the time with your bobbins going up and down!!
Have fun and good luck.
So, I fished crayfish infected waters before, a proper pain in the butt. But there are things to help you:
1. Use Armamesh on your hard hookbaits. And if they're getting through that, get a pair of the Mrs tights, wrap them in that first, tie it off with bait floss, and blob. But be careful not to burn the tights around your bait. Then put Armamesh over that.
2. Don't use rig tubing, they love that. Use leaders.
3. If you're using a hair rig with a loop, use them V shaped boilie stops, the ones with the biggest V you can get away with.
4. Use particle if you can get away with it for loose feed. They'll eat all free offerings if they're boilies. Whereas they won't with small particles like hemp or pigeon conditioner. If you have to use boilies for your freebies, get them from somewhere that will slightly customise their bait by making them harder. That'll slow the buggers down a bit.
5. If you're using a rig that uses a weight like putty, use a shot. But pinch it on really tight with a pair of pliers.
6. Recast regularly to check and replace your hookbaits if necessary.
7. Zigs can avoid them, depending on the depth.
8. Glug your hookbaits, that should make them even harder.
9. Use artificial hookbaits. But they can nibble at these too.
10. Put your bobbins up to your rod, otherwise you'll be getting beeps of your alarms all of the time with your bobbins going up and down!!
Have fun and good luck.
In reply to Post #1
How are you managing to fish these amazing sounding lakes with barely a clue about what you're doing is fascinating to me. No offence intended.
How are you managing to fish these amazing sounding lakes with barely a clue about what you're doing is fascinating to me. No offence intended.
In reply to Post #2
Cheers. Lots to work with there. I will look into getting some Armamesh.
For the meantime I'm using a Turbo German rig with a bait screw on the clear spots to start with. It's what I use most of the time just because it's simple for a beginner. Would love to be able to use a Chod rig over the Silkweed but worry about the pop up.
For the meantime I think I'll look into a some heli leaders.
First few times I've used pellets and boilies, as also tons of Roach in there, so will consider some kind of particle too.
Cheers. Lots to work with there. I will look into getting some Armamesh.
For the meantime I'm using a Turbo German rig with a bait screw on the clear spots to start with. It's what I use most of the time just because it's simple for a beginner. Would love to be able to use a Chod rig over the Silkweed but worry about the pop up.
For the meantime I think I'll look into a some heli leaders.
First few times I've used pellets and boilies, as also tons of Roach in there, so will consider some kind of particle too.
In reply to Post #3
It amazes me too!
In my Carp fishing I've tried to work up to places like this so I can get a small amount of Carp fishing experience first as I ain't in the business of making too many mistakes.
It's a quiet club lake and not many fish it. I've only ever seen one Carp angler there down the shallow end the first time I walked round. He told me he was only fishing it because he couldn't get on his syndicate, and was moaning about the Crayfish.
I did see one other Carp angler there, he was just walking around when I was Tench fishing with 2 rods on method feeders. He told me off for having too small a landing net. A 28" pan net for Tench if I remember right, and I had 4 Tench as it got dark.
I've been building up to it. I was fishing it on waggler and maggot in January and having 30 to 50lb of Roach and Perch, even with snow on the ground one session.
Still my coarse fishing experience greatly outweighs my Carp fishing, not everyone appreciates that. That it's a quiet club lake, with some level of difficulty appeals to me, as I can fish in relative peace.
It amazes me too!
In my Carp fishing I've tried to work up to places like this so I can get a small amount of Carp fishing experience first as I ain't in the business of making too many mistakes.
It's a quiet club lake and not many fish it. I've only ever seen one Carp angler there down the shallow end the first time I walked round. He told me he was only fishing it because he couldn't get on his syndicate, and was moaning about the Crayfish.
I did see one other Carp angler there, he was just walking around when I was Tench fishing with 2 rods on method feeders. He told me off for having too small a landing net. A 28" pan net for Tench if I remember right, and I had 4 Tench as it got dark.
I've been building up to it. I was fishing it on waggler and maggot in January and having 30 to 50lb of Roach and Perch, even with snow on the ground one session.
Still my coarse fishing experience greatly outweighs my Carp fishing, not everyone appreciates that. That it's a quiet club lake, with some level of difficulty appeals to me, as I can fish in relative peace.
Wooden balls
You can drill them out or get ones with holes in already,resin in either a swivel or what you prefer.
Soak them for at least a week before using them
Tho to make sure they sink
You can drill them out or get ones with holes in already,resin in either a swivel or what you prefer.
Soak them for at least a week before using them
Tho to make sure they sink
In reply to Post #6
Thank you. I'll have a look for some wooden balls to get soaking.
The way I've been doing it so far is using my bait boat to recast every hour! Wooden balls sounds like I could leave in with confidence for longer/overnight.
Thank you. I'll have a look for some wooden balls to get soaking.
The way I've been doing it so far is using my bait boat to recast every hour! Wooden balls sounds like I could leave in with confidence for longer/overnight.
Are you allowed to use tigernuts for hook baits? I've used them with crays around and not been bothered at all.
In reply to Post #7
Unfortunately the pics are missing now from Ken but the words should give you the gist, have a nosey here
LINKY POO™ https://www.carpforum.co.uk/Shared/Messages.asp?TopicID=336032
Unfortunately the pics are missing now from Ken but the words should give you the gist, have a nosey here
LINKY POO™ https://www.carpforum.co.uk/Shared/Messages.asp?TopicID=336032
In reply to Post #8
Yeah there's few rules on this place so could try tigers. I don't even think the club knows how many Carp are in there, so it's just basic club rules. The website states the biggest fish is a 20lb Common with the disclaimer that "Bigger have been seen".
Well I haven't seen one yet. Not even a picture. And nobody will tell me anything! Except the chap who told me off when Tench fishing, who said there's "Bigger than 20s in there".
Yeah there's few rules on this place so could try tigers. I don't even think the club knows how many Carp are in there, so it's just basic club rules. The website states the biggest fish is a 20lb Common with the disclaimer that "Bigger have been seen".
Well I haven't seen one yet. Not even a picture. And nobody will tell me anything! Except the chap who told me off when Tench fishing, who said there's "Bigger than 20s in there".
In reply to Post #8
Cheers! That came up when I had a Google. I've ordered my first 4 from AnglingIron. Without pre drilled holes I went for. Then I'll have to decide what to soak them in. Maybe some CC Moore liquid, or more likely I'll get some to match my boilies from Blakes Baits, if that will work.
Cheers! That came up when I had a Google. I've ordered my first 4 from AnglingIron. Without pre drilled holes I went for. Then I'll have to decide what to soak them in. Maybe some CC Moore liquid, or more likely I'll get some to match my boilies from Blakes Baits, if that will work.
I just soaked mine in water as they will darken up no harm in adding a little flavour or watered down marmite 
tho
tho
In reply to Post #11
ESP do fake rubber boilies in all colours. Soak them in a small tub of betalin and they hold the scent for ever! They work and crays can't destroy them!
ESP do fake rubber boilies in all colours. Soak them in a small tub of betalin and they hold the scent for ever! They work and crays can't destroy them!
In reply to Post #13
The rubber baits will be fine, but the rig...forget it
The rubber baits will be fine, but the rig...forget it
In reply to Post #14
Fish as simple as you can the less things on the rig the less for them to play with the better .
Double shrink wrap your baits , plastic / rubber baits as mentioned .
Put out a fair amount of particle and fish just off the edge of the particles .
The crusts will attack the particles , the carp are inquisitive and often stay back off the baited area .
Fish as simple as you can the less things on the rig the less for them to play with the better .
Double shrink wrap your baits , plastic / rubber baits as mentioned .
Put out a fair amount of particle and fish just off the edge of the particles .
The crusts will attack the particles , the carp are inquisitive and often stay back off the baited area .
Fish in the silt with naked chods.
They cannot scuffle around on the silt so easily, they don't like it at all. The carp love it though.
Fish on the gravel and hard spots and you will get terrorised by them. Fish in the soft stuff and they will very often leave you alone.
The cray's are also a great pointer. If you get cray'd... Move instantly. There are no carp there. Where the carp are frequenting, the cray's will all be hiding in their burrows.
They cannot scuffle around on the silt so easily, they don't like it at all. The carp love it though.
Fish on the gravel and hard spots and you will get terrorised by them. Fish in the soft stuff and they will very often leave you alone.
The cray's are also a great pointer. If you get cray'd... Move instantly. There are no carp there. Where the carp are frequenting, the cray's will all be hiding in their burrows.
In reply to Post #15
Agreed, I tended to avoid braid too as they could get caught up in the filaments, and if you're in a area where the Carp feed on the crays dont ignore them as a bait too!
EDIT, you can expect to be mullered using Crays themselves as bait, but sometimes it's worth a experiement as the Crays will draw Carp in...unless mini lobsters, in that case you're on a hope to nothing but sitting and seeing.
Agreed, I tended to avoid braid too as they could get caught up in the filaments, and if you're in a area where the Carp feed on the crays dont ignore them as a bait too!
EDIT, you can expect to be mullered using Crays themselves as bait, but sometimes it's worth a experiement as the Crays will draw Carp in...unless mini lobsters, in that case you're on a hope to nothing but sitting and seeing.
It's an interesting old lake as most of it is silt and leaf debris, and there's definitely crays in those areas despite them not liking silt. Only fished around the silkweed up the shallow end once, and no crays! Maybe I'll learn more as I fish it more.
My rigs have been very simple. IQ Fluoro knotless knotted to a Mugga hook... then a bait screw on the hook.
Appreciate all the input!
My rigs have been very simple. IQ Fluoro knotless knotted to a Mugga hook... then a bait screw on the hook.
Appreciate all the input!
Here’s a vid showing the crayfish infestation on a lake I fished last year. This is one days worth from my swim alone with a crayfish trap from the bank in front of me at my feet
https://streamable.com/nljert?t=0&src=player-page-share
(Auto link doesn’t appear to work so highlight above and select ‘open link’ to view 👍
As you can see a nightmare!
Soft plastic baits work but even they were getting a hammering.
Hookbait I eventually used was was a tiger with a hard plastic topper. If the buggers got the tiger off at least there still was the topper left
The rigs was adapted from a standard combi rig by removing the soft Merlin braid and replacing it with a coated braid with the coating left on
The rigs was lengthened as it was stiffer than usual to give it a bit more flexibility. It all worked and I had 9 fish out over a difficult week where others struggled with a few blanks recorded.
https://streamable.com/nljert?t=0&src=player-page-share
(Auto link doesn’t appear to work so highlight above and select ‘open link’ to view 👍
As you can see a nightmare!
Soft plastic baits work but even they were getting a hammering.
Hookbait I eventually used was was a tiger with a hard plastic topper. If the buggers got the tiger off at least there still was the topper left
The rigs was adapted from a standard combi rig by removing the soft Merlin braid and replacing it with a coated braid with the coating left on
The rigs was lengthened as it was stiffer than usual to give it a bit more flexibility. It all worked and I had 9 fish out over a difficult week where others struggled with a few blanks recorded.
In reply to Post #19
Is that what they call a Combi Rig? Cheers.
Is that what they call a Combi Rig? Cheers.
In reply to Post #20
Yep.
Usually shorter than that with a more softer braid section about an inch long. The boom is stiff and I prefer to use it with a Gardner Q link connector for an additional hinge effect.Ÿ‘
Yep.
Usually shorter than that with a more softer braid section about an inch long. The boom is stiff and I prefer to use it with a Gardner Q link connector for an additional hinge effect.Ÿ‘
In reply to Post #20
I'd also add to what I said before that your better tying your baits on rather than using a hair stop because the buggers can remove hair stops, got better eyesight than me
I'd also add to what I said before that your better tying your baits on rather than using a hair stop because the buggers can remove hair stops, got better eyesight than me
In reply to Post #22
The bloody rudd were removing hairstops in my place recently.
The bloody rudd were removing hairstops in my place recently.
In reply to Post #23
Fished a lake full of crays before, fake hookbait is the way forward I found. Don't fish the margins, try a boilie and fake corn topper. If the boilie goes too quickly, double fake corn.
Fished fine with a Ronnie rig, no hair to tangle, and the rig will reset should anything pick it up.
Trial and error, enjoy it as it sounds like fun and a challenge.
Fished fine with a Ronnie rig, no hair to tangle, and the rig will reset should anything pick it up.
Trial and error, enjoy it as it sounds like fun and a challenge.
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