Everyone talks about how important it is to find the fish as soon as you get to a lake and not just set up in the swim you like - makes sense.
I've been watching the Greg Ellis videos on YouTube recently and noticed that he talks a lot about building a swim, putting bait in and going to the same swim every session.
That's not to say that he doesn't move if it's not happening for him, but it seems that he'll stick with a swim for at least 4/5 sessions before thinking about moving and I get the impression that he tends to go straight to the same swim every time he arrives rather than scouting the lake.
I quite like the idea of baiting regularly in the same swim, perhaps one where other people don't fish and getting something going there. Committing to a swim if you like and making it happen.
The lake I'm fishing is quite a small lake where I get the impression that the fish will lap multiple times a day. I'm thinking this sort of tactic could work at a lake like this as the fish are almost guaranteed to pass my swim at some point in the day, the key being getting them to stay there and feed.
I'm inclined to ask whether it's a legitimate tactic that someone should consider but it quite obviously does work for him so I guess I'm just wondering how other people feel about this tactic, what should be considered when trying something like this and how does it compare to changing the swim you fish every session?
I've been watching the Greg Ellis videos on YouTube recently and noticed that he talks a lot about building a swim, putting bait in and going to the same swim every session.
That's not to say that he doesn't move if it's not happening for him, but it seems that he'll stick with a swim for at least 4/5 sessions before thinking about moving and I get the impression that he tends to go straight to the same swim every time he arrives rather than scouting the lake.
I quite like the idea of baiting regularly in the same swim, perhaps one where other people don't fish and getting something going there. Committing to a swim if you like and making it happen.
The lake I'm fishing is quite a small lake where I get the impression that the fish will lap multiple times a day. I'm thinking this sort of tactic could work at a lake like this as the fish are almost guaranteed to pass my swim at some point in the day, the key being getting them to stay there and feed.
I'm inclined to ask whether it's a legitimate tactic that someone should consider but it quite obviously does work for him so I guess I'm just wondering how other people feel about this tactic, what should be considered when trying something like this and how does it compare to changing the swim you fish every session?
In reply to Post #1
There's a number of factors you need to consider
Greg Ellis was fishing Burghfield. A ball-breaker of a lake that requires serious dedication, a lot of ability, and a bit of luck to be successful. It wouldn't be unusual for a lesser able angler to blank for seasons at a time on a water like Burghfield. Often on these type of waters heavy baiting of areas of the lake and consistently fishing those areas can be productive - bait and wait' style angling.
Burghfield has a limited membership and members will respect areas that other members might be targeting and leave them to it, allowing them to bait an area without fear of other members jumping in on their hard work. He might also be very careful to make sure other members do t know where he is baiting, and gambles that with the size of the lake, and the number of anglers he will be able to get back into his baited areas easily. This is a far cry from your typical lakes in the UK
You say the lake you're fishing is small- what is the stock? How busy is it? If it is small, busy and has a half decent stock then you should have no issues locating the fish, and in my opinion you would be better off trying to get on them, and a mobile approach would work better than a ‘bait and wait' approach, especially if you have no gurantees of getting back into your baited areas very week , or have to worry about other anglers jumping in on your hard work and your bait!
If your lake is quiet and low stock, and you can ‘get something going' in the right area of the lake then maybe a bait and wait approach might work.
In short - fish to the situation
Phil
There's a number of factors you need to consider
Greg Ellis was fishing Burghfield. A ball-breaker of a lake that requires serious dedication, a lot of ability, and a bit of luck to be successful. It wouldn't be unusual for a lesser able angler to blank for seasons at a time on a water like Burghfield. Often on these type of waters heavy baiting of areas of the lake and consistently fishing those areas can be productive - bait and wait' style angling.
Burghfield has a limited membership and members will respect areas that other members might be targeting and leave them to it, allowing them to bait an area without fear of other members jumping in on their hard work. He might also be very careful to make sure other members do t know where he is baiting, and gambles that with the size of the lake, and the number of anglers he will be able to get back into his baited areas easily. This is a far cry from your typical lakes in the UK
You say the lake you're fishing is small- what is the stock? How busy is it? If it is small, busy and has a half decent stock then you should have no issues locating the fish, and in my opinion you would be better off trying to get on them, and a mobile approach would work better than a ‘bait and wait' approach, especially if you have no gurantees of getting back into your baited areas very week , or have to worry about other anglers jumping in on your hard work and your bait!
If your lake is quiet and low stock, and you can ‘get something going' in the right area of the lake then maybe a bait and wait approach might work.
In short - fish to the situation
Phil
In reply to Post #1
Be honest, this is rarely feasible for most of us.
He won't be able to build a swim up on any of the over subscribed, working mans, value for money, big fish club tickets.
Many members, limited swims, rotated swims.
Be honest, this is rarely feasible for most of us.
He won't be able to build a swim up on any of the over subscribed, working mans, value for money, big fish club tickets.
Many members, limited swims, rotated swims.
In reply to Post #3
I do seem to be lucky that my lake is pretty quiet!
Even in summer last year when everyone was complaining how busy lakes are, I think on the busiest day that I was there there was probably 9 out of 35 swims taken.
I do seem to be lucky that my lake is pretty quiet!
Even in summer last year when everyone was complaining how busy lakes are, I think on the busiest day that I was there there was probably 9 out of 35 swims taken.
In reply to Post #1
On most lakes there is absolutely no chance of doing that, although my current syndicate it might work as the members respect each other.
I did try it, but the fish simply did not move into the area I had prebaited. For some reason they did not come into that end of the lake, maybe pressure from other anglers, or possibly they moved onto areas with high levels of natural food.
If your lake is small you are probably far better finding them and casting to them. Just because it is small it does not mean every fish will swim around it. On a 2 acre lake I fished certain fish had areas they did not move out of. The 2 largest 30's kept to the opposite ends of the lake, and certain fish came from the same area each time.
On most lakes there is absolutely no chance of doing that, although my current syndicate it might work as the members respect each other.
I did try it, but the fish simply did not move into the area I had prebaited. For some reason they did not come into that end of the lake, maybe pressure from other anglers, or possibly they moved onto areas with high levels of natural food.
If your lake is small you are probably far better finding them and casting to them. Just because it is small it does not mean every fish will swim around it. On a 2 acre lake I fished certain fish had areas they did not move out of. The 2 largest 30's kept to the opposite ends of the lake, and certain fish came from the same area each time.
In reply to Post #3
Bearing in mind his latest video is at Rockford, I can't see much chance of him getting the same swim each week in the summer!
Bearing in mind his latest video is at Rockford, I can't see much chance of him getting the same swim each week in the summer!
In reply to Post #1
The main issue that arises is when someone does that sort of tactic, then there seems to be some unwritten angling law that it's that persons swim for however long they like, which isnt the case. You cant expect no one to fish that swim if there are fish flopping out everywhere in it because you stuck a load of bait in it.
The main issue that arises is when someone does that sort of tactic, then there seems to be some unwritten angling law that it's that persons swim for however long they like, which isnt the case. You cant expect no one to fish that swim if there are fish flopping out everywhere in it because you stuck a load of bait in it.
In reply to Post #1
It can be done on many types of venue if thought about carefully, it is after all just pre-baiting.
First and foremost you have to start finding the fish regularly and taking notes of areas they like, feed, pass through, routes etc.
Then watch the other anglers, how do they fish, where they prefer etc a pattern / trend will usually form.
Overlay the two and a way of approach and areas normally presents it's self, it can be a bit longwinded and require thought but many just can't be bothered, the better anglers can, it's one of the reasons they catch more.
Start getting the bait in regularly and as stealthily as you can in a few areas that you now know the fish come through and they will eat it if done right. My friend and I done just the above this season on very busy club lakes, we caught the biggest fish from both lakes and plenty of others, 3 months we were baiting one particular area!
I'd imagine with these types of blogs that you only get to see / hear a small fraction of the effort, reasons, etc behind the tactics & ideas.
It can be done on many types of venue if thought about carefully, it is after all just pre-baiting.
First and foremost you have to start finding the fish regularly and taking notes of areas they like, feed, pass through, routes etc.
Then watch the other anglers, how do they fish, where they prefer etc a pattern / trend will usually form.
Overlay the two and a way of approach and areas normally presents it's self, it can be a bit longwinded and require thought but many just can't be bothered, the better anglers can, it's one of the reasons they catch more.
Start getting the bait in regularly and as stealthily as you can in a few areas that you now know the fish come through and they will eat it if done right. My friend and I done just the above this season on very busy club lakes, we caught the biggest fish from both lakes and plenty of others, 3 months we were baiting one particular area!
I'd imagine with these types of blogs that you only get to see / hear a small fraction of the effort, reasons, etc behind the tactics & ideas.
In reply to Post #6
Was it Rockford or the lake next door?
Was it Rockford or the lake next door?
In reply to Post #9
Def Rockford not Spinny
Def Rockford not Spinny
In reply to Post #10
In reply to Post #11
The blog was very interesting
I usually inform the wife I'm the only one who caught during the night
He makes a whole blog😂
Seriously though it's very tough to bait spots without everyone jumping on them
Maybe something that works on less busy waters with lower stocks
On higher stocked ponds the carp usually know where the grub is usually found sadly
Give it a go and see
The blog was very interesting
I usually inform the wife I'm the only one who caught during the night
He makes a whole blog😂
Seriously though it's very tough to bait spots without everyone jumping on them
Maybe something that works on less busy waters with lower stocks
On higher stocked ponds the carp usually know where the grub is usually found sadly
Give it a go and see