I've been doing a mid week night since May which has been a great way to fit fishing around family/work life. Up to now it's obviously been lovely and light when arriving and leaving but in the next week or 2 that's going to change.
Any advice for carrying on when you arrive and leave in the dark? I know a few swims/spots reasonably well now so do I just drop in on those or do you still try and listen for fish before deciding on somewhere?
The other challenge is baiting up, typically my approach is a spread of boilies from a catapult then fish a couple of rods over the top. Not so easy to bait up accurately in the dark but would prefer not to spod as found with the short time on the lake it can move the fish out. Is the solution a bright head torch and a market float?
Interested how others approach midweek nights this time of year.
Any advice for carrying on when you arrive and leave in the dark? I know a few swims/spots reasonably well now so do I just drop in on those or do you still try and listen for fish before deciding on somewhere?
The other challenge is baiting up, typically my approach is a spread of boilies from a catapult then fish a couple of rods over the top. Not so easy to bait up accurately in the dark but would prefer not to spod as found with the short time on the lake it can move the fish out. Is the solution a bright head torch and a market float?
Interested how others approach midweek nights this time of year.
In reply to Post #1
Chods and a scattered boilie approach for me. I would probably try to get down the pond on dusk a few times in the coming weeks just to observe, see where they (if any) are topping out and focus on those areas. I think we would be pleasantly surprised on how accurate we can be despite low light levels. If you fish a swim or two enough, muscle memory and timings come into their own. Chods and a scattered boilie approach negate the need to be 100% accurate. After all, if you're using a spread of boilies with a catty, you don't need to use a marker to get the bait on a sixpence anyway.
Chods and a scattered boilie approach for me. I would probably try to get down the pond on dusk a few times in the coming weeks just to observe, see where they (if any) are topping out and focus on those areas. I think we would be pleasantly surprised on how accurate we can be despite low light levels. If you fish a swim or two enough, muscle memory and timings come into their own. Chods and a scattered boilie approach negate the need to be 100% accurate. After all, if you're using a spread of boilies with a catty, you don't need to use a marker to get the bait on a sixpence anyway.
In reply to Post #1
In my experience the carp are very active this time of year and worth a walk round in the dark to se if you can hear them. As the temps start to drop into November/December they'll show less and I'd focus on the deeper part of the lake. Bottom of the shelf near or far margin always a good bet. Accurate baiting with a spomb but not loads of bait. 3-5 spombs max. Bit of hemp, maggot, crumb and the like, wafter hookbait over the top. Bites out of the blue in the depth of the night. 2-4am usually.
In my experience the carp are very active this time of year and worth a walk round in the dark to se if you can hear them. As the temps start to drop into November/December they'll show less and I'd focus on the deeper part of the lake. Bottom of the shelf near or far margin always a good bet. Accurate baiting with a spomb but not loads of bait. 3-5 spombs max. Bit of hemp, maggot, crumb and the like, wafter hookbait over the top. Bites out of the blue in the depth of the night. 2-4am usually.
In reply to Post #1
I have done a move in the night a few times, fish crashing and watching the bow waves to estimate the direction. I have walked up the lake and sat on a bucket for half an hour and another bosh right in front.
A couple of solid bags, yes, a big splash but pinpoint. No scatter of boilies.
I have done a move in the night a few times, fish crashing and watching the bow waves to estimate the direction. I have walked up the lake and sat on a bucket for half an hour and another bosh right in front.
A couple of solid bags, yes, a big splash but pinpoint. No scatter of boilies.
In reply to Post #2
Me also, chods and a wide scattering has always worked for me 👌
Me also, chods and a wide scattering has always worked for me 👌
For a good few years all my was overnighters,. Right through the winter I would still be turning up at the lake around 8 p.m., not leaving home until my son had gone to bed.
To be honest I just on with it and fished the same as would if turning up during daylight. Admittedly I did have illuminated marker floats, everything else was the same.
Once set up and the rods were out everything that was needed was packed away ready for a quick departure in the morning.
IMO the most important thing is fishing a lake that consistently produces fish in the hours you'll be angling.
To be honest I just on with it and fished the same as would if turning up during daylight. Admittedly I did have illuminated marker floats, everything else was the same.
Once set up and the rods were out everything that was needed was packed away ready for a quick departure in the morning.
IMO the most important thing is fishing a lake that consistently produces fish in the hours you'll be angling.
In reply to Post #6
I recently fished a few days on a water i thought was a night water. Turned out the bites came either as the light was coming up or going down, very little in between. You need to be on the lake regularly to see if and when bite times change. Or have good info from mates who fush when you don't. Some lakes I know are stitched up by groups of locals who just keep the best swims and change over from one pair to the next. Unless you are there all the time you have no chance of moving to a going swim. No pre- baiting is allowed, so not much chance of getting a swim going elsewhere on the lake.
I recently fished a few days on a water i thought was a night water. Turned out the bites came either as the light was coming up or going down, very little in between. You need to be on the lake regularly to see if and when bite times change. Or have good info from mates who fush when you don't. Some lakes I know are stitched up by groups of locals who just keep the best swims and change over from one pair to the next. Unless you are there all the time you have no chance of moving to a going swim. No pre- baiting is allowed, so not much chance of getting a swim going elsewhere on the lake.
In reply to Post #6
Good point on bite time, it definitely does night bites and I've had some success in past few months. Midweek is mostly quiet, had the lake to myself a few times which is a luxury (but also of course risk fish just move away from you all the time)
Appreciate the comments all. I normally fish 2 rods over bait. Very little weed so fish either a wafter or low pop up. Works well with that spread of boilies. Then have one rod on a margin feature put out with bushwhacker.
I think I need to get my head around sitting in the dark listening for a bit before setting up. Then being willing to move to an area and not need to find a precise spot.
Good point on bite time, it definitely does night bites and I've had some success in past few months. Midweek is mostly quiet, had the lake to myself a few times which is a luxury (but also of course risk fish just move away from you all the time)
Appreciate the comments all. I normally fish 2 rods over bait. Very little weed so fish either a wafter or low pop up. Works well with that spread of boilies. Then have one rod on a margin feature put out with bushwhacker.
I think I need to get my head around sitting in the dark listening for a bit before setting up. Then being willing to move to an area and not need to find a precise spot.