Good Afternoon,
I have joined the forum for a bit advice really. I'm not new to carp fishing but I am struggling on a water at the moment which maybe is too hard for me.
I've managed to get a ticket on a local club lake, where there are three lakes all quite small and quite snaggy and a fair bit of silt. The biggest lake has the bigger fish and there are quite a few 30's in there the other lakes have fish to low 20's
For this reason the bigger lake is always busy, even midweek there are 4 or 5 people on (there are only 10 swims)
The fish from what I have seen mainly seem to get caught from two main areas which are literally never free and there is an island between these swims where the fish seem to hold up and feed.
So far I've done 6 sessions and not had a single take... others have caught so it's not fishing badly but perhaps I am. To be honest I have kept chopping and changing rigs and different baits to try and get a bite but nothing has worked. The guys that are catching are mainly fishing really tight to the island or far margin snags. Bait wise they are mainly all using the same bait rolled by a local firm not a well know mainstream bait.
Everyone I've seen fish this trys to fish the same way really all using the boilie only approach as there are a lot of bream and tench in there.
People keep telling me once I catch my first first from there it will be fine but I wonder if I should maybe just fish easier waters as it may just be a bit hard for me with a lack of time recently. I can only really get to fish once every two weeks at the most.
And advice much appreciated - trevor
I have joined the forum for a bit advice really. I'm not new to carp fishing but I am struggling on a water at the moment which maybe is too hard for me.
I've managed to get a ticket on a local club lake, where there are three lakes all quite small and quite snaggy and a fair bit of silt. The biggest lake has the bigger fish and there are quite a few 30's in there the other lakes have fish to low 20's
For this reason the bigger lake is always busy, even midweek there are 4 or 5 people on (there are only 10 swims)
The fish from what I have seen mainly seem to get caught from two main areas which are literally never free and there is an island between these swims where the fish seem to hold up and feed.
So far I've done 6 sessions and not had a single take... others have caught so it's not fishing badly but perhaps I am. To be honest I have kept chopping and changing rigs and different baits to try and get a bite but nothing has worked. The guys that are catching are mainly fishing really tight to the island or far margin snags. Bait wise they are mainly all using the same bait rolled by a local firm not a well know mainstream bait.
Everyone I've seen fish this trys to fish the same way really all using the boilie only approach as there are a lot of bream and tench in there.
People keep telling me once I catch my first first from there it will be fine but I wonder if I should maybe just fish easier waters as it may just be a bit hard for me with a lack of time recently. I can only really get to fish once every two weeks at the most.
And advice much appreciated - trevor
In reply to Post #1
Have you been on fish when you've fished it mate?
Have you been on fish when you've fished it mate?
In reply to Post #1
I fish a similar lake the vast majority of the fish hole up in the pads for all day and feed mainly at night. The swims that fish up to the pads are always taken. You have to get as close as you can and hope to pick up the odd fish looking slightly further afield to feed. Like wise everyone feeds boilies sparingly to avoid bream and tench. Also the fish are mainly older fish and heavily pressured and shy away from Spods and heavy baiting. They can be caught in the margins but again it's odd stragglers you catch and not multiple catches. If you can't get near the fish you're always going to struggle on waters like that.
I fish a similar lake the vast majority of the fish hole up in the pads for all day and feed mainly at night. The swims that fish up to the pads are always taken. You have to get as close as you can and hope to pick up the odd fish looking slightly further afield to feed. Like wise everyone feeds boilies sparingly to avoid bream and tench. Also the fish are mainly older fish and heavily pressured and shy away from Spods and heavy baiting. They can be caught in the margins but again it's odd stragglers you catch and not multiple catches. If you can't get near the fish you're always going to struggle on waters like that.
In reply to Post #2
Yes I think I have on most occasions as I've been having single bleeps. On two sessions I had bleeps on all three rods at various points and the alarms are set so I don't think they were false bleeps as I saw the bobbins go up and down and a few times just up or down.
I've seen fish in the area in the evening too...
Yes I think I have on most occasions as I've been having single bleeps. On two sessions I had bleeps on all three rods at various points and the alarms are set so I don't think they were false bleeps as I saw the bobbins go up and down and a few times just up or down.
I've seen fish in the area in the evening too...
In reply to Post #5
Ok, sounds a lot like the lake I am currently fishing.
First off get some of the going bait, why wouldn't you to start with? that way you can fish the going bait side by side with your own and you will soon work out if they have a preference to bait. Generally most carp will take a decent bait if its put in the right place.
Your eyes, ears and a bare lead on a marker rod with braid will be your best asset. You need to see where the fish are for yoruself and not just showing fish, you really need to be looking for signs of feeding fish, so bubbles and clouding up. For this you need your eyes on the water as much as possible. I will stay up late and get up early if needed to try and find them until I get a feel for what's going on.
I would be using a lightish lead on the marker rod trying to find the firmer silty areas + smell the lead as you dont want to be in the really pungeant silt. The leads with the textured coatings are good for this.
Rigwise I woud be going for a leadclip or heli with a basic bottom bait rig. I am using double 20mm bottom baits or a 20mm botton and 15mm pop up for snowman setup to get around tench and bream. Crayfish are also a nightmare and I often have to use plastic baits or wooden balls if they are really bad.
Forget all the popups, ronnie rigs etc... if its a silty lake they goiing to be up to there arses in silt not hovering above the lake bed. I have had 2 fish on my lake on popups in 3 years all the rest have been on bottom baits.
I pre-soak some freebies in water before I set off to the lake. I will cast out my rig, with a 4 bait stringer, then I fire out a handfull of pre-soaked freebies over each rod. If I start to catch I can always put more in.
I have found feeding areas can be very localised on silty lakes, you need to find them and be as accurate as you can as close enough aint usually good enough especially if they are pressured carp.
I also fish every peg on the lake when I start on a new water and take everything I am told with a pinch of salt. Ideally get firendly with a few others who fish it regularly so you can share information.
Hope some of the above helps. Tight lines and keep at it.
Ok, sounds a lot like the lake I am currently fishing.
First off get some of the going bait, why wouldn't you to start with? that way you can fish the going bait side by side with your own and you will soon work out if they have a preference to bait. Generally most carp will take a decent bait if its put in the right place.
Your eyes, ears and a bare lead on a marker rod with braid will be your best asset. You need to see where the fish are for yoruself and not just showing fish, you really need to be looking for signs of feeding fish, so bubbles and clouding up. For this you need your eyes on the water as much as possible. I will stay up late and get up early if needed to try and find them until I get a feel for what's going on.
I would be using a lightish lead on the marker rod trying to find the firmer silty areas + smell the lead as you dont want to be in the really pungeant silt. The leads with the textured coatings are good for this.
Rigwise I woud be going for a leadclip or heli with a basic bottom bait rig. I am using double 20mm bottom baits or a 20mm botton and 15mm pop up for snowman setup to get around tench and bream. Crayfish are also a nightmare and I often have to use plastic baits or wooden balls if they are really bad.
Forget all the popups, ronnie rigs etc... if its a silty lake they goiing to be up to there arses in silt not hovering above the lake bed. I have had 2 fish on my lake on popups in 3 years all the rest have been on bottom baits.
I pre-soak some freebies in water before I set off to the lake. I will cast out my rig, with a 4 bait stringer, then I fire out a handfull of pre-soaked freebies over each rod. If I start to catch I can always put more in.
I have found feeding areas can be very localised on silty lakes, you need to find them and be as accurate as you can as close enough aint usually good enough especially if they are pressured carp.
I also fish every peg on the lake when I start on a new water and take everything I am told with a pinch of salt. Ideally get firendly with a few others who fish it regularly so you can share information.
Hope some of the above helps. Tight lines and keep at it.
Thank you guys.
I will keep going
I will keep going
In reply to Post #7
Forget all the popups, ronnie rigs etc... if its a silty lake they goiing to be up to there arses in silt not hovering above the lake bed. I have had 2 fish on my lake on popups in 3 years all the rest have been on bottom baits.
This - everyone is obsessed with popups where I fish, as there is a couple of inches of silt.
Light lead, wafter/balanced bottom bait all day long out fishes a pop up. Feed them where they feed - in the mud and mess!!
Forget all the popups, ronnie rigs etc... if its a silty lake they goiing to be up to there arses in silt not hovering above the lake bed. I have had 2 fish on my lake on popups in 3 years all the rest have been on bottom baits.
This - everyone is obsessed with popups where I fish, as there is a couple of inches of silt.
Light lead, wafter/balanced bottom bait all day long out fishes a pop up. Feed them where they feed - in the mud and mess!!
In reply to Post #8
I'd agree all things being equal I prefer a bottom bait. However the ronnie rig is my go to when there is any type of debris on bottom as it's only an 1" off bottom
I'd agree all things being equal I prefer a bottom bait. However the ronnie rig is my go to when there is any type of debris on bottom as it's only an 1" off bottom
In reply to Post #9
Dont listen to any advice about...boats...and paint.
Dont listen to any advice about...boats...and paint.
Hi...and welcome! As stated find the fish and try and get yourself as close to them as possible. Try a proven bait with some nutritional benefit...Sticky Krill/Manilla etc try and avoid the instant attractor baits imo. Do your best to stop chopping/changing rigs. Find something simple and easy to tie up... Basic Coated hooklink and a SHARP hook. This has worked for years and will continue to do so. One variable on this worth considering is hair length.. Most people will tie a rig with the hair set for 1 x 14/18mm bait. Try tying it to use a double 14 or even 18... a scoffing fish will want it believe me . If feeling adventurous, core both baits out and use a cork/foam stick to counterbalance/alter bouyancy. its something a tad different. Stay positive and have faith in what your're doing. You will catch eventually..
Oh..and take a spare sock for those sessions where a blank is looming
Oh..and take a spare sock for those sessions where a blank is looming
In reply to Post #11
Oh..and take a spare sock for those sessions where a blank is looming
My missus keeps asking why I buy five pairs from sports direct every week
Oh..and take a spare sock for those sessions where a blank is looming
My missus keeps asking why I buy five pairs from sports direct every week
I joined the forum for advice as well. But all I got was PMs from Braders of his ‘special man porn'
Damaged me it did. But I'm getting over it and I sometimes sleep through the night now without the night terrors.
I still can't walk past the fruit and veg aisle. He's a wrong un that boy.
Damaged me it did. But I'm getting over it and I sometimes sleep through the night now without the night terrors.
I still can't walk past the fruit and veg aisle. He's a wrong un that boy.
In reply to Post #13
You asked me to keep sending it
You asked me to keep sending it