Haven't done much stalking before but have recently joined my little club lake that has carp up to 25lb in it. It's only an acre and a half and has plenty of pads, reeds and overhanging trees so I think it would be a great place to do a bit of stalking. Plus with it being 2 minutes in the car I can frequently pop down to bait some spots.
Anyway. When stalking, what do you guys tend to go for hookbait wise, match the hatch or a brighter hookbait? I'm thinking as a starting point i'll use small solid bags with a single grain of fake corn on the hair.
Anyway. When stalking, what do you guys tend to go for hookbait wise, match the hatch or a brighter hookbait? I'm thinking as a starting point i'll use small solid bags with a single grain of fake corn on the hair.
In reply to Post #1
I'd use same as the prebait/free offerings and a slightly over depth float. Simple single shot on the line and avoid solid bags or anything that will make excessive noise you when drop a bait onto any feeding fish that you find around the pond.
I'd use same as the prebait/free offerings and a slightly over depth float. Simple single shot on the line and avoid solid bags or anything that will make excessive noise you when drop a bait onto any feeding fish that you find around the pond.
In reply to Post #1
Bread has always done well for me.
Freelined floating with the line on the last pad nearest open water. Alternatively squeezed so it sinks at a spot of your choice, either free lined and watch the line or on a float.
Bread has always done well for me.
Freelined floating with the line on the last pad nearest open water. Alternatively squeezed so it sinks at a spot of your choice, either free lined and watch the line or on a float.
In reply to Post #1
In a lake like that, freelined bread flake or lobworms to feeding fish. Floating crust for the surface. Try sunk crust straight off the lead at night.
In a lake like that, freelined bread flake or lobworms to feeding fish. Floating crust for the surface. Try sunk crust straight off the lead at night.
In reply to Post #1
A bunch of small dendrobaenas. You can usually feed the small ones over the top of fish without spooking them. Either float fished or freelined feeling the line for bites.
A bunch of small dendrobaenas. You can usually feed the small ones over the top of fish without spooking them. Either float fished or freelined feeling the line for bites.
In reply to Post #1
Simple really.
Just react to what you SEE, let nature tell what is right or wrong on the day. That is the big edge of stalking, either on the surface or margins is that you can see them feed, or pick or ignore.
Try your best. Learn. Walk, look, move, repeat. It is a great learning curve
Simple really.
Just react to what you SEE, let nature tell what is right or wrong on the day. That is the big edge of stalking, either on the surface or margins is that you can see them feed, or pick or ignore.
Try your best. Learn. Walk, look, move, repeat. It is a great learning curve
In reply to Post #1
If it's a clear lake, you should be able to see what they are taking and what they are not, that's the beauty of stalking you can watch the fishes reaction to bait and rigs, then adjust immediately until you get a bite. If you were fishing out in the pond then you have to guess what's going on .
Personally I'd use some boili chops and a chop on the rig, but see what you get a positive reaction on. Far more important when stalking is your rig and where you place it. Avoid a pop up and go for a straight bottom bait if the lake bed allows it.
Whether you go with a bait straight out of the bag or a bright one can be day or lake dependant as I said above watch and see , you will soon learn what they avoid and what they take.
If it's a clear lake, you should be able to see what they are taking and what they are not, that's the beauty of stalking you can watch the fishes reaction to bait and rigs, then adjust immediately until you get a bite. If you were fishing out in the pond then you have to guess what's going on .
Personally I'd use some boili chops and a chop on the rig, but see what you get a positive reaction on. Far more important when stalking is your rig and where you place it. Avoid a pop up and go for a straight bottom bait if the lake bed allows it.
Whether you go with a bait straight out of the bag or a bright one can be day or lake dependant as I said above watch and see , you will soon learn what they avoid and what they take.
I've never had much on it personally (Confidence) but sweet corn Plenty of bigguns have been caught on it Past present and will be in the future
Worms or even a cube of luncheon meat is different though Had loads on both of those
There is just something about a worm waving in front of a big pair of rubbery lips That they can't resist
Worms or even a cube of luncheon meat is different though Had loads on both of those
There is just something about a worm waving in front of a big pair of rubbery lips That they can't resist
In reply to Post #1
Personally been doing well with smallish barrel hook baits, wafters & bottom baits that sometimes are tipped with a bit of bright colour.
If you can bait a few decent areas regularly it will help.
Personally been doing well with smallish barrel hook baits, wafters & bottom baits that sometimes are tipped with a bit of bright colour.
If you can bait a few decent areas regularly it will help.
Hi. Had a play with Stickys Ellipse pellets once it got a little warmer. Was able to bait a tiny spot under my feet and watch the fish pick up the pellets and avoid the boilie chop mixed with them. Drilled/hair rigged 3 and bagged a couple within minutes 
. Since then its been a mare due to the hoardes of scavenging rudd. One of the few times i could selectively bait and catch. Very satisfying when it works though!
. Since then its been a mare due to the hoardes of scavenging rudd. One of the few times i could selectively bait and catch. Very satisfying when it works though!
Black sinking corn has got me more bites than anything else I've tried
I've tried slugs a few times without success
In reply to Post #12
Killer chub bait, never tried it for carp, but always been meaning to.
Killer chub bait, never tried it for carp, but always been meaning to.
In reply to Post #1
Skinned critically balanced tiger nut mate, presented using a inline breakaway flat pear lead. Few crunched up tigers around it and you will be on the money.
Skinned critically balanced tiger nut mate, presented using a inline breakaway flat pear lead. Few crunched up tigers around it and you will be on the money.
In reply to Post #14
Why use a drop off lead?
Why use a drop off lead?