In reply to Post #14
Don't catch the carp because, at the moment the weren't in my swim, that's my thought.
Just to clarify, the lake is a big lake, don't know how many acres, but it's long 3 kilometers and wide 1 kilometer. The carps are really nomadic, so they can be in one place and the next week they could be really far from where they were. I fished the swim from the beginning of April, and I didn't have the feeling they'd there, no one leap, crashing or no one carp spotted. But finally, sunday morning I found a big shoal of carps basking in the upper layer where they used to groups. It's in a non fishing zone, but it isn't so far from where I fish. So I'm looking forward to the next session.
This year I changed my usual fishing tactics, it's the first time in over ten years I fish the lake that I trying to establish a feeding area with particles. In the past I was used to change swims if I don't got any clue of the presence of Carps. Only when I know they were there I was starting to put more baits (only boilies) on the fishing spot.
Don't catch the carp because, at the moment the weren't in my swim, that's my thought.
Just to clarify, the lake is a big lake, don't know how many acres, but it's long 3 kilometers and wide 1 kilometer. The carps are really nomadic, so they can be in one place and the next week they could be really far from where they were. I fished the swim from the beginning of April, and I didn't have the feeling they'd there, no one leap, crashing or no one carp spotted. But finally, sunday morning I found a big shoal of carps basking in the upper layer where they used to groups. It's in a non fishing zone, but it isn't so far from where I fish. So I'm looking forward to the next session.
This year I changed my usual fishing tactics, it's the first time in over ten years I fish the lake that I trying to establish a feeding area with particles. In the past I was used to change swims if I don't got any clue of the presence of Carps. Only when I know they were there I was starting to put more baits (only boilies) on the fishing spot.
In reply to Post #16
Trying to create a feeding spot for nomadic Carp can be very hit and miss. It may work out for you in the end, but equally you could be wasting your time. Also just because Caro are in a particular area, it doesn't necessarily mean they will be feeding there. But if you have tench feeding then there's every chance the carp will follow them one day . It sounds like a nice challenge
Trying to create a feeding spot for nomadic Carp can be very hit and miss. It may work out for you in the end, but equally you could be wasting your time. Also just because Caro are in a particular area, it doesn't necessarily mean they will be feeding there. But if you have tench feeding then there's every chance the carp will follow them one day . It sounds like a nice challenge
In reply to Post #17
A hard, really nice challenge thats for sure, and the reward is wonderful as well.
I know that I'd wast my time, but this year want to see what it brings to me.
Just to say I don't catch a carp from the lake since September, even if last year it's been a good one with 7 Carps caught, 5 of them in January and February, I'd found where they were grouped and caught very well (one of them my pb). But from September neither one take. Fishing there is always hit and miss, you could have a good spell of catch like a lot of blanks.
A hard, really nice challenge thats for sure, and the reward is wonderful as well.
I know that I'd wast my time, but this year want to see what it brings to me.
Just to say I don't catch a carp from the lake since September, even if last year it's been a good one with 7 Carps caught, 5 of them in January and February, I'd found where they were grouped and caught very well (one of them my pb). But from September neither one take. Fishing there is always hit and miss, you could have a good spell of catch like a lot of blanks.
In reply to Post #1
Simply put, you have been fishing with the wrong bait for the time of year, 100% in the wrong area of the lake too. The tench are there, because the carp are not.
Carp anglers (not directed at you personally) get very confused, and end up doing the right things... But at the very wrong time. That = blanks, or catching tench, when you are fishing for carp. Then what happens, is at the right time, they think that the method which previously did not work for them, is not really any good. It's just not understanding the situation, and when to apply exactly what methods.
At this time of year, you are NEVER going to attract the carp, or any fish to an area that they do not want to be in. That's never going to happen. Mother nature tells them where to go in the spring, not your bait. Warmth from the sun... Fresh weed, sprouting pads, all are emitting signals that attract the carp in the spring. Applying particle mass baits before they spawn, is not the one at all. You are never going to beat mother nature, why are you even trying? When they wake up in the spring they are still dopey. They do not want to gorge on food. Until AFTER they have spawned. In the spring, get on the fish, and put a single hook bait near them. You should be catching them for fun.
Most carp anglers make big mistakes in the spring. They spend the winter planning at home, what bait, what methods, what they are going to do, what swim. They watch videos of anglers hauling late summer using a certain method, and think that will work in the spring. They buy it all, prepare it at home, it's all part of the fun....TERRIBLE angling though.
In the spring, get on the fish, put a good single hook bait somewhere near them, and you will catch them. It's not rocket science. But you are never going to be spoon fed that by companies who want to sell you loads of bait. When they are preparing for spawning, the LAST thing they actually want to do is to eat large quantities of bait. After they have spawned.... FILL IT IN. That is when mass particles and pre baiting come into their own. Then you can attract them with bait, then you can beat mother nature. You will never beat mother nature in the spring. If you cannot get your head around singles, then the most boillies you should be putting in pre spawning should be 3 or 4 around each hook bait. They should be pre soaked and easy for the fish to process. Their bodies, when they wake up in the spring are still cold. They are still a bit dumb as a consequence. Their bodies are not even working properly to process lots of food until they reach a certain temp. Carp anglers get confused, because carp will trough bait in the depths of our winter.... But that is because in terms of water temps, the fish are not really actually cold yet. After they have had a little 'hibernate' in late Jan & Feb, when they wake up, until they spawn.... Putting in lots of bait will make things harder. But it's what so many carp anglers do, after a winter of 'planning'.
I am talking about what is the best for catching the carp right now, March April & May.
After they have spawned. Salt (minerals). Loads of bait. More bait. Even more bait.
Simply put, you have been fishing with the wrong bait for the time of year, 100% in the wrong area of the lake too. The tench are there, because the carp are not.
Carp anglers (not directed at you personally) get very confused, and end up doing the right things... But at the very wrong time. That = blanks, or catching tench, when you are fishing for carp. Then what happens, is at the right time, they think that the method which previously did not work for them, is not really any good. It's just not understanding the situation, and when to apply exactly what methods.
At this time of year, you are NEVER going to attract the carp, or any fish to an area that they do not want to be in. That's never going to happen. Mother nature tells them where to go in the spring, not your bait. Warmth from the sun... Fresh weed, sprouting pads, all are emitting signals that attract the carp in the spring. Applying particle mass baits before they spawn, is not the one at all. You are never going to beat mother nature, why are you even trying? When they wake up in the spring they are still dopey. They do not want to gorge on food. Until AFTER they have spawned. In the spring, get on the fish, and put a single hook bait near them. You should be catching them for fun.
Most carp anglers make big mistakes in the spring. They spend the winter planning at home, what bait, what methods, what they are going to do, what swim. They watch videos of anglers hauling late summer using a certain method, and think that will work in the spring. They buy it all, prepare it at home, it's all part of the fun....TERRIBLE angling though.
In the spring, get on the fish, put a good single hook bait somewhere near them, and you will catch them. It's not rocket science. But you are never going to be spoon fed that by companies who want to sell you loads of bait. When they are preparing for spawning, the LAST thing they actually want to do is to eat large quantities of bait. After they have spawned.... FILL IT IN. That is when mass particles and pre baiting come into their own. Then you can attract them with bait, then you can beat mother nature. You will never beat mother nature in the spring. If you cannot get your head around singles, then the most boillies you should be putting in pre spawning should be 3 or 4 around each hook bait. They should be pre soaked and easy for the fish to process. Their bodies, when they wake up in the spring are still cold. They are still a bit dumb as a consequence. Their bodies are not even working properly to process lots of food until they reach a certain temp. Carp anglers get confused, because carp will trough bait in the depths of our winter.... But that is because in terms of water temps, the fish are not really actually cold yet. After they have had a little 'hibernate' in late Jan & Feb, when they wake up, until they spawn.... Putting in lots of bait will make things harder. But it's what so many carp anglers do, after a winter of 'planning'.
I am talking about what is the best for catching the carp right now, March April & May.
After they have spawned. Salt (minerals). Loads of bait. More bait. Even more bait.
Trying to create a feeding spot for nomadic Carp can be very hit and miss
I completely agree, in fact I'd go further and say it's pointless trying to stop the mass, you simply won't be able to put enough bait in the area to hold them, and that's even if they want to be in that area, like TC says, not to mention even if you did stop them temporarily they might still prefer to roam once they've had their fill, learnt behaviour/creatures of habit.
I'm not saying I wouldn't do what you're trying to do, it may well throw a nice surprise as it's known some fish are just different in their behaviour to others, quite often the bigger ones.
I guess you've decided not to chase them around the lake which most folk would do, I'd be interested to know how how get on, good luck
I completely agree, in fact I'd go further and say it's pointless trying to stop the mass, you simply won't be able to put enough bait in the area to hold them, and that's even if they want to be in that area, like TC says, not to mention even if you did stop them temporarily they might still prefer to roam once they've had their fill, learnt behaviour/creatures of habit.
I'm not saying I wouldn't do what you're trying to do, it may well throw a nice surprise as it's known some fish are just different in their behaviour to others, quite often the bigger ones.
I guess you've decided not to chase them around the lake which most folk would do, I'd be interested to know how how get on, good luck
In reply to Post #19
You're right in everything, but... but sometimes isn't a bad thing to do some mistakes
I was used to fish in a different way indeed: with few baits around the hook bait, no particles (tried tigers in the past very few times) only boilies. It's because I know well that you can catch a carp there only if you fish where they are eating their natural food (mother nature, as you say) and not cause they are attracted by any baits, this is a gospel on that specific lake.
But this year I want to try a different approach if it's the right or the wrong decision I 'll see at the end of the year.
There are a couple of reasons for this decision, one is to create a feeding area, the arrive of the tench is a signal that it should work. Yes, I caught tench in the past (at max 2/3 per years) but not so much as this year (at least with the tench it's working), plus the tench activity can attract some carps. The other reason is to try to catch some carp that very rarely eat the boilie (the carps we catch are often the sames) and the use of particles is for this specific reason.
A thing I haven't mentioned before is my fishing approach. I don't chuck out buckets of baits when I get to the swim, but I fish with very few baits scattered around, just before leaving I throw out the big amount of the remaining baits on the fishing spot in the hopes that they can remain on the bottom for few days (the use of maize is for this reason, and the add of tiger and, maybe, others particles as peanuts, when the water temps will be warmer) in waits for carps.
You're right in everything, but... but sometimes isn't a bad thing to do some mistakes
I was used to fish in a different way indeed: with few baits around the hook bait, no particles (tried tigers in the past very few times) only boilies. It's because I know well that you can catch a carp there only if you fish where they are eating their natural food (mother nature, as you say) and not cause they are attracted by any baits, this is a gospel on that specific lake.
But this year I want to try a different approach if it's the right or the wrong decision I 'll see at the end of the year.
There are a couple of reasons for this decision, one is to create a feeding area, the arrive of the tench is a signal that it should work. Yes, I caught tench in the past (at max 2/3 per years) but not so much as this year (at least with the tench it's working), plus the tench activity can attract some carps. The other reason is to try to catch some carp that very rarely eat the boilie (the carps we catch are often the sames) and the use of particles is for this specific reason.
A thing I haven't mentioned before is my fishing approach. I don't chuck out buckets of baits when I get to the swim, but I fish with very few baits scattered around, just before leaving I throw out the big amount of the remaining baits on the fishing spot in the hopes that they can remain on the bottom for few days (the use of maize is for this reason, and the add of tiger and, maybe, others particles as peanuts, when the water temps will be warmer) in waits for carps.
In reply to Post #20
Thanks, I'll need it
I agree with you, I well know that's hard to stop the carps in a specific area. The only thing I know for sure is that this year I'll spend more money than the past years. But, at the moment, I 'm enjoying the "static campaign", obviously I hope in a change of fish specie
.
The swim I choose isn't a bad swim at all, it's a really good place to fish, especially in spring and summer months, where in the past some really big carp has been caught. Finger crossed
Thanks, I'll need it
I agree with you, I well know that's hard to stop the carps in a specific area. The only thing I know for sure is that this year I'll spend more money than the past years. But, at the moment, I 'm enjoying the "static campaign", obviously I hope in a change of fish specie
.The swim I choose isn't a bad swim at all, it's a really good place to fish, especially in spring and summer months, where in the past some really big carp has been caught. Finger crossed
In reply to Post #22
The only thing I know for sure is that this year I'll spend more money than the past years. But, at the moment, I 'm enjoying the "static campaign", obviously I hope in a change of fish specie .
I like your attitude, it doesn't have to be about the most, or the biggest fish, just enjoying yourself is surely enough 
Angling means different things to different people
The only thing I know for sure is that this year I'll spend more money than the past years. But, at the moment, I 'm enjoying the "static campaign", obviously I hope in a change of fish specie .
I like your attitude, it doesn't have to be about the most, or the biggest fish, just enjoying yourself is surely enough Angling means different things to different people
In reply to Post #23
Absolutely
In angling there's only one thing better than wake up on the bank and warm up your bones with the first sun lights after a long, cold winter night; and that's to catch a carp that same morning
Absolutely
In angling there's only one thing better than wake up on the bank and warm up your bones with the first sun lights after a long, cold winter night; and that's to catch a carp that same morning
After the philosophical thought we'll better to come back to the topic
Last night I fished the same swim and, after a really quite night, I had a scattered take and caught a hard fighter little tench. Fished with 24 mms boilie and hooked the smallest tench since April. The tench get hooked while it tried to eat the big bait, the hook has pinched just out the bottom lip.
Yet no signs of carps in the area but there were shoal of chubs patrolling the bank and some rudd with them.
Last night I fished the same swim and, after a really quite night, I had a scattered take and caught a hard fighter little tench. Fished with 24 mms boilie and hooked the smallest tench since April. The tench get hooked while it tried to eat the big bait, the hook has pinched just out the bottom lip.
Yet no signs of carps in the area but there were shoal of chubs patrolling the bank and some rudd with them.
In reply to Post #25
I see your location is Italy, am I right in thinking the fish have spawned already there, with you being in a warmer climate, I know in France they often spawn in April from experience.
Are you near a area where they Carp spawn anyway? You can probably already guess what I'm thinking Could they be pre occupied on Tadpole, other fished eggs etc?
I see your location is Italy, am I right in thinking the fish have spawned already there, with you being in a warmer climate, I know in France they often spawn in April from experience.
Are you near a area where they Carp spawn anyway? You can probably already guess what I'm thinking
Could they be pre occupied on Tadpole, other fished eggs etc?
In reply to Post #25
When I lived and fished in Austria , I tried many combinations of bait sizes , one lake I fished was stocked with 1 and 2 KG carp every year , the lake does contain carp to over 30kg though , it's just getting through the small ones. I tried 24mm baits without success , I ended up at hand rolled 40mm hookbaits in an effort to try and avoid hooking the smaller carp , however I still caught small carp on the 40mm baits. I came to the conclusion that the only way to fish this lake for the bigger fish was to stalk the fish with one rod and floating dog biscuits.
With regards to hemp I'm pretty sure tench will gorge themselves on it should they get given the chance.
When I lived and fished in Austria , I tried many combinations of bait sizes , one lake I fished was stocked with 1 and 2 KG carp every year , the lake does contain carp to over 30kg though , it's just getting through the small ones. I tried 24mm baits without success , I ended up at hand rolled 40mm hookbaits in an effort to try and avoid hooking the smaller carp , however I still caught small carp on the 40mm baits. I came to the conclusion that the only way to fish this lake for the bigger fish was to stalk the fish with one rod and floating dog biscuits.
With regards to hemp I'm pretty sure tench will gorge themselves on it should they get given the chance.
In reply to Post #27
With regards to hemp I'm pretty sure tench will gorge themselves on it should they get given the chance. I was wondering if the Tench might be so pre occupied with the hemp that they're being hooked incidently on the boilie, especially if it's all mixed up.
With regards to hemp I'm pretty sure tench will gorge themselves on it should they get given the chance. I was wondering if the Tench might be so pre occupied with the hemp that they're being hooked incidently on the boilie, especially if it's all mixed up.
In reply to Post #26
They haven't spawned yet, spawning time on the lake is around the end of June up to mid July, but it could be even a bit forward, a mate told me he caught a male that release sperm in August. At the moment the water temperature is 16 degrees close to the bank (last year reach 23 degrees at max). It is high on the mountain and it's feeds by some streams with cold water, few weeks ago snowed on top of the mountains around the lake as well.
Maybe some little cyprinus as rudds or chubs are due to spawn, they are beginning to gather close tu te banks. The rudds or roach (I'm not able to understand which one of them, maybe both) release the eggs on the rocks close to the bank, the last week end they weren't spawning yet.
The carps spawn in few places around the lake, where there are some submerged trees, the closest it's a bit far from the area I fish.
Never saw a tadpole there, and this is a bonus as you haven't the frogs croak all the night
The problem is that the carps don't eat often on the bottom, they found food in layers.
They haven't spawned yet, spawning time on the lake is around the end of June up to mid July, but it could be even a bit forward, a mate told me he caught a male that release sperm in August. At the moment the water temperature is 16 degrees close to the bank (last year reach 23 degrees at max). It is high on the mountain and it's feeds by some streams with cold water, few weeks ago snowed on top of the mountains around the lake as well.
Maybe some little cyprinus as rudds or chubs are due to spawn, they are beginning to gather close tu te banks. The rudds or roach (I'm not able to understand which one of them, maybe both) release the eggs on the rocks close to the bank, the last week end they weren't spawning yet.
The carps spawn in few places around the lake, where there are some submerged trees, the closest it's a bit far from the area I fish.
Never saw a tadpole there, and this is a bonus as you haven't the frogs croak all the night
The problem is that the carps don't eat often on the bottom, they found food in layers.
In reply to Post #27
The lake I'm on don't has this problem, very rarely we caught carp under 20 lbs. But there are a lot of nuisance fish that nibble the hook baits and, sometimes get hooked when they try to eat the boilies, caught some rudd with a double 24 mms.
I thought that tench eat the hemps (why not?) but, at the moment I haven't caught one with them, only on boilies, even if baited only boilies without particles.
The lake I'm on don't has this problem, very rarely we caught carp under 20 lbs. But there are a lot of nuisance fish that nibble the hook baits and, sometimes get hooked when they try to eat the boilies, caught some rudd with a double 24 mms.
I thought that tench eat the hemps (why not?) but, at the moment I haven't caught one with them, only on boilies, even if baited only boilies without particles.