Hi all,
I've got permission to fish an old estate lake that belongs to a family I've started working with, about half an hour drive from me, its around 2 acres, some pads in there, and one clear bank with a few reeds and on the opposite bank a few old trees along one side with thick reeds.
There have been one or two locals fishing it with bread from what I can gather, and I took my 5 yearold boy today to ease into things as it is a family run place and I want to be able to fish it properly over time, as it could be a very peaceful experience and some large old carp.
From fishing today, the lake is clearly full of silvers though, we were getting bites on float fished maggot as soon as the float hit the water, and as it dropped.
The lake was choppy with the wind, but I did see signs of carp with some swirls and bubbles in the stiller areas.
I did some plumbing (not enough today), and it is pretty shallow throughout mainly around upto 4 foot, and around 5 to 7 foot deep in the middle.
I'd thought for my first carp fishing trip there next week, I was going to go with corn on one rod, and 15mm tricknut on the other rod, and maybe a small extra rod in the margin with bread.
But now I think having seen the amount of small silvers in there, I think I need to go with boilies - couple of rods on the bottom with 20mm boilies, and maybe a pop up on the third rod.
Ideally some pre baiting, dependent on how things go with access.
Anyone any previous experience or thoughts on going about a very old family estate lake regarding bait and rigs?
I've got permission to fish an old estate lake that belongs to a family I've started working with, about half an hour drive from me, its around 2 acres, some pads in there, and one clear bank with a few reeds and on the opposite bank a few old trees along one side with thick reeds.
There have been one or two locals fishing it with bread from what I can gather, and I took my 5 yearold boy today to ease into things as it is a family run place and I want to be able to fish it properly over time, as it could be a very peaceful experience and some large old carp.
From fishing today, the lake is clearly full of silvers though, we were getting bites on float fished maggot as soon as the float hit the water, and as it dropped.
The lake was choppy with the wind, but I did see signs of carp with some swirls and bubbles in the stiller areas.
I did some plumbing (not enough today), and it is pretty shallow throughout mainly around upto 4 foot, and around 5 to 7 foot deep in the middle.
I'd thought for my first carp fishing trip there next week, I was going to go with corn on one rod, and 15mm tricknut on the other rod, and maybe a small extra rod in the margin with bread.
But now I think having seen the amount of small silvers in there, I think I need to go with boilies - couple of rods on the bottom with 20mm boilies, and maybe a pop up on the third rod.
Ideally some pre baiting, dependent on how things go with access.
Anyone any previous experience or thoughts on going about a very old family estate lake regarding bait and rigs?
In reply to Post #1
Keep things simple on both baits, maybe maize on one rod, and maize on the other, and for rigs, a knotless knot set up is fine, bottom bait or pop up is personal preference.
Stay mobile, move about, maybe fish one or 2 swims, or more a day, as you move around the lake to get an accurate feel of the lake and the bottom.
above all, keep your eyes and ears peeled for signs, and above all ENJOY being away from the circus crowds.
Best of luck,
Keep things simple on both baits, maybe maize on one rod, and maize on the other, and for rigs, a knotless knot set up is fine, bottom bait or pop up is personal preference.
Stay mobile, move about, maybe fish one or 2 swims, or more a day, as you move around the lake to get an accurate feel of the lake and the bottom.
above all, keep your eyes and ears peeled for signs, and above all ENJOY being away from the circus crowds.
Best of luck,
In reply to Post #2
Hi mate,
Thank you for the considered reply and advice - I've not posted recently as sometimes it's not worth the flak of a few from the forum.
Really appreciated, and it makes sense to keep mobile and moving to gain more of an understanding of the lake. I'm always watching the water, mainly out of looking for signs of carp, but also I find it relaxing from my job.
Like you wrote, this could be a great chance to get away from the circus, which having got back into carp fishing after a 25 year break and seeing the crowds that now go sounds like heaven.
I will definitely be getting some quality maize in before I have my first session, cheers for that. Might be good to blend some with crushed boilies (lumpy and not smooth) too to make a small bed on one of the rods.
Hi mate,
Thank you for the considered reply and advice - I've not posted recently as sometimes it's not worth the flak of a few from the forum.
Really appreciated, and it makes sense to keep mobile and moving to gain more of an understanding of the lake. I'm always watching the water, mainly out of looking for signs of carp, but also I find it relaxing from my job.
Like you wrote, this could be a great chance to get away from the circus, which having got back into carp fishing after a 25 year break and seeing the crowds that now go sounds like heaven.
I will definitely be getting some quality maize in before I have my first session, cheers for that. Might be good to blend some with crushed boilies (lumpy and not smooth) too to make a small bed on one of the rods.
In reply to Post #3
I'm sure you will catch a few once you have sussed things out, and located a few feeding fish in reasonable weather conditions.
What a lovely opportunity you have
I'm sure you will catch a few once you have sussed things out, and located a few feeding fish in reasonable weather conditions.
What a lovely opportunity you have
In reply to Post #3
Prebait it and get the silver fish feeding and carp will come they are very inquisitive and good luck hope there a few surprises in there for you 👍👍👍
Prebait it and get the silver fish feeding and carp will come they are very inquisitive and good luck hope there a few surprises in there for you 👍👍👍
In reply to Post #1
I wouldn't bother with boilies at first, or not in any real quantities anyway. I'd go along the particle route , using maize or nuts as hookbaits. Keep mobile, bait a few little spots with a small amount of bait and spend your time watching the water to see what's going on.
I wouldn't bother with boilies at first, or not in any real quantities anyway. I'd go along the particle route , using maize or nuts as hookbaits. Keep mobile, bait a few little spots with a small amount of bait and spend your time watching the water to see what's going on.
In reply to Post #6
Don't forget the old classic Luncheon meat in the margins
Don't forget the old classic Luncheon meat in the margins
In reply to Post #1
Fishing styles, everybody has their own which makes this pastime unique
Sounds like it see's little pressure. This is what i would do. buy 10kg of a reputable boilie, Mainline or Sticky etc. and put 5kg straight in (2.5kg if limited £), spread all over the lake (2 acre) when nobody is about or if you know definite spots put a bit more in these. The more they see of it, the quicker they will know what it is, eat it and be on to it. When you are at work i would let the fish worry about what they will do with it. After every session put some bait in when you go home or bait the spots you want to fish a couple of days before and don't tell anybody what you are using
Fishing styles, everybody has their own which makes this pastime unique
Sounds like it see's little pressure. This is what i would do. buy 10kg of a reputable boilie, Mainline or Sticky etc. and put 5kg straight in (2.5kg if limited £), spread all over the lake (2 acre) when nobody is about or if you know definite spots put a bit more in these. The more they see of it, the quicker they will know what it is, eat it and be on to it. When you are at work i would let the fish worry about what they will do with it. After every session put some bait in when you go home or bait the spots you want to fish a couple of days before and don't tell anybody what you are using
In reply to Post #1
personally I would go with maize mixed with lupins and use a lupin as hookbait over the top of it, I would expect fish that have not had much pressure wont recognize boilies as a food source until a lot of prebaiting bas been done regularly. By introducing maize and lupins you will have nice visual bait and will likely be able to fend off a lot of the smaller silver fish but introduce enough activity in the swim to get the carp inquisitive and on the feed. By using a larger hookbait such as a lupin you will stop the smaller fish from picking up the hook bait while offering a bait similar to maize and one that matches some of the freebies, and believe me they LOVE lupins and its a very under used bait these days, it can be quite an edge
.
personally I would go with maize mixed with lupins and use a lupin as hookbait over the top of it, I would expect fish that have not had much pressure wont recognize boilies as a food source until a lot of prebaiting bas been done regularly. By introducing maize and lupins you will have nice visual bait and will likely be able to fend off a lot of the smaller silver fish but introduce enough activity in the swim to get the carp inquisitive and on the feed. By using a larger hookbait such as a lupin you will stop the smaller fish from picking up the hook bait while offering a bait similar to maize and one that matches some of the freebies, and believe me they LOVE lupins and its a very under used bait these days, it can be quite an edge
.
In reply to Post #3
Hello Mate....sorry to hear about the flak as you put it that you may have received from the few on this forum. I would not limited your options , I would consider using mixed particle , tigernuts , peanuts , meat , cheese and pastes.
Sounds like you have a very good opportunity, I would prime the pad areas with particle every time you fish there , don't ignore hemp , this can be a deadly bait.
Most of all keep your eyes and ears open for signs of fish.
Hello Mate....sorry to hear about the flak as you put it that you may have received from the few on this forum. I would not limited your options , I would consider using mixed particle , tigernuts , peanuts , meat , cheese and pastes.
Sounds like you have a very good opportunity, I would prime the pad areas with particle every time you fish there , don't ignore hemp , this can be a deadly bait.
Most of all keep your eyes and ears open for signs of fish.
In reply to Post #10
Again, absolutely wouldn't bother with boilies. Think of all the money you'll save 🙂
If no one else is fishing it, I'd find a likely area and bait the granny out of it - pigeon conditioner, maize and whatever. At 2 acres it's small enough that you can see the whole lake, so I'd get them feeding in one or two areas max. Maybe have the odd stalking spot, but I'd keep it simple - they should act like carp used to!
Again, absolutely wouldn't bother with boilies. Think of all the money you'll save 🙂
If no one else is fishing it, I'd find a likely area and bait the granny out of it - pigeon conditioner, maize and whatever. At 2 acres it's small enough that you can see the whole lake, so I'd get them feeding in one or two areas max. Maybe have the odd stalking spot, but I'd keep it simple - they should act like carp used to!
In reply to Post #1
That sounds very much like the estate lake i run.
dug out in the 1800's, reed lined, lillies, mostly un touched or fished really. Island in the middle, shallow, silty, lots of rudd and roach.
using particles, finer baits etc are a bit of a waste of time in my lake, so its either tigers, chickpeas, boillies.
Hope that helps a bit
That sounds very much like the estate lake i run.
dug out in the 1800's, reed lined, lillies, mostly un touched or fished really. Island in the middle, shallow, silty, lots of rudd and roach.
using particles, finer baits etc are a bit of a waste of time in my lake, so its either tigers, chickpeas, boillies.
Hope that helps a bit
Hi all,
Just wanted to say a big thank you for the quality and informative replies.
All will work I'm sure, and I'll be visiting the water again soon.
I can not wait, it could be a lovely refuge where in time I can work things out with this advice.
Cheers.
Just wanted to say a big thank you for the quality and informative replies.
All will work I'm sure, and I'll be visiting the water again soon.
I can not wait, it could be a lovely refuge where in time I can work things out with this advice.
Cheers.