Q Do carp like some types of weed more than others? Do some types hold more natural food than others, and are some types of weed a definite no-no?

A Interesting question Cliff. I tend to break aquatic plants or weeds down into a few categories (rather than worry about what species they are) based upon how they grow rather what they do to my rigs!

The only type that I would say is a definite no-no is blanket weed (silkweed). This is the gungy stuff that coats your rigs. Underwater it forms fluffy clouds that will mask just about any rig, and the only fishing I would be comfortable doing over this stuff is zigging. It’s worth remembering though that carp will very quickly push blanket weed out of the way when they are feeding on a spot, so if you find an area that has suddenly been cleaned off then the this would be a good spot to fish.

Stringy weeds, such as potamogeton and grassy-type weeds are often not that thick at their base, so a solid PVA bag will punch through them and remain fishable, and onion weed is actually good to fish in and around, especially in the spring when it is just short tufts on the bottom. Why carp like it I don’t know, but it will often produce a bite or two.

Finally, the pond weeds can form dense beds of growth, resembling a football pitch, that are almost impenetrable. You can sometimes find holes in this weed as they aren’t particularly keen on growing on harder lake beds. If you can find a spot early in the year and keep bait going onto it then the carp and birdlife will keep it clear for you.