In reply to Post #5
What kind of things are you recording in your diary?
My initial thoughts are as follows
1. Swin number
2. Session Start Time
3. Session End Time
4. Spots fished
5. Bait used (possibly rig)
6. Fish shows location and time
7. Weather (wind, temp etc)
8. Captures
Other than that, im not sure what else you would want to record...
What kind of things are you recording in your diary?
My initial thoughts are as follows
1. Swin number
2. Session Start Time
3. Session End Time
4. Spots fished
5. Bait used (possibly rig)
6. Fish shows location and time
7. Weather (wind, temp etc)
8. Captures
Other than that, im not sure what else you would want to record...
In reply to Post #1
Do you know the approximate stock of the lake?
If you're fishing for 10 carp in 30 acres it's a lot different to fishing for 200 carp in 3 acres. Sounds obvious but will help in managing your own expectations as well as tailoring your approach.
Do you know if other members are catching and where from?
As the weather gets colder the fish will likely be more localised so you will need to work harder on locating them. If you know arras they're being caught from the. Try to focus on these areas.
Your eyes are your biggest edge
Watch for evidence of fish - shows, bubbling, clouded up areas, and react to them.
Bite times
Particularly in winter bite times can be very specific. Not all lakes are the same but you will probably find that bites come at specific times. Often (but not always) during the night in the colder months
Water temps
If the lake is shallow, think about where the fish will be most comfortable. Often where the lake gets any sun, sometimes in weedier areas. If the lake is deep, it's often the deeper areas that do bites in the winter.
Bait
Personally unless I know they're eating I would go light on bait, possibly solid bags. This allows you to explore the lake without being committed to baited spots. Again everywhere is different but boilie crumb, pellet, hemp, maggots, all good winter baits
It will probably be about experimentation till you start to catch, then you can focus down on specific areas and tactics.
Good luck 😃
Do you know the approximate stock of the lake?
If you're fishing for 10 carp in 30 acres it's a lot different to fishing for 200 carp in 3 acres. Sounds obvious but will help in managing your own expectations as well as tailoring your approach.
Do you know if other members are catching and where from?
As the weather gets colder the fish will likely be more localised so you will need to work harder on locating them. If you know arras they're being caught from the. Try to focus on these areas.
Your eyes are your biggest edge
Watch for evidence of fish - shows, bubbling, clouded up areas, and react to them.
Bite times
Particularly in winter bite times can be very specific. Not all lakes are the same but you will probably find that bites come at specific times. Often (but not always) during the night in the colder months
Water temps
If the lake is shallow, think about where the fish will be most comfortable. Often where the lake gets any sun, sometimes in weedier areas. If the lake is deep, it's often the deeper areas that do bites in the winter.
Bait
Personally unless I know they're eating I would go light on bait, possibly solid bags. This allows you to explore the lake without being committed to baited spots. Again everywhere is different but boilie crumb, pellet, hemp, maggots, all good winter baits
It will probably be about experimentation till you start to catch, then you can focus down on specific areas and tactics.
Good luck 😃
In reply to Post #16
A few of the things you mentioned.
The swim, the date, bait and rig.
I'll jot a bit about the weather if its say extremely hot, windy, cold, thunder or prolonged periods of rain. Only do this if i think conditions are outside of what i would consider normal.
I'll note wrapp's only if i find a new spot or an old spot has changed.
I write captures down, weight, common or mirror but probably more important the time of capture.
I also note angling pressure.
Only takes a year or so to build up a story if you get out enough.
I had a low 50 out one September, went in the same swim 12 months later based on my diary, had the exact same fish out again 10 yards from the previous years capture.
Makes interesting reading after a few seasons, you will definitely build up a picture and see trends etc.
If the chance arises get down the lake when its got a lid on, you may learn a massive lesson 😉
Get yourself on Google Earth too 😉
A few of the things you mentioned.
The swim, the date, bait and rig.
I'll jot a bit about the weather if its say extremely hot, windy, cold, thunder or prolonged periods of rain. Only do this if i think conditions are outside of what i would consider normal.
I'll note wrapp's only if i find a new spot or an old spot has changed.
I write captures down, weight, common or mirror but probably more important the time of capture.
I also note angling pressure.
Only takes a year or so to build up a story if you get out enough.
I had a low 50 out one September, went in the same swim 12 months later based on my diary, had the exact same fish out again 10 yards from the previous years capture.
Makes interesting reading after a few seasons, you will definitely build up a picture and see trends etc.
If the chance arises get down the lake when its got a lid on, you may learn a massive lesson 😉
Get yourself on Google Earth too 😉