MARGIN MARAUDERS
SUMMER can be one of the most productive times of the year to grab a rod and go in search of opportunities ‘in the edge’.
One angler who knows how to make the most of this bountiful period in the carping calendar is Simon Scott.
This month he gives his top tips for stalking big carp at close quarters.
1 CAREFULLY LOWER YOUR RIGS INTO THE EDGE
Stealth is the order of the day when stalking, particularly if the fish are really close in. I try my best to lower my rigs into position rather than flick them out. By doing this there is less chance of spooking the fish and, with experience, it’s possible to pick out individual carp as they feed at your feet. This can be an extremely exciting style of fishing. In the past I have picked out a big fish and had a take within two seconds of the rig touching the lakebed.
2 GAIN ELEVATION
Gaining some elevation greatly improves your ability to see into the lake by mitigating glare off the surface. This in turn improves your chances of being able to find the carp. Once you have found some fish it is always well worth watching them for some time. They will frequently give away the location of feeding spots and their patrol routes in the area. This can help you make choices about the best spots on which to position your hookbaits.
USE POLARISING 3 SUNGLASSES
A decent pair of polarised glasses is probably the single most important piece of kit in the armoury of a margin angler. They take the glare off the surface of the lake and, a bit like tree climbing, greatly improve your vision into the water layers.
Not only do they help us to locate the fish, they also improve our ability to see what the carp are up to in the swim, and how they are reacting to rigs and any bait items you have introduced.
Polarised glasses do not have to be fiercely expensive to work well, and it is possible to pick up a reasonable pair for no more than about £20.
4 SPOT DAWN ‘SHOWS’
One of the most significant pieces of advice I was ever given in my development as a carp fisherman was “never take your eyes off the lake” and I have done my best to follow that advice ever since. A rising fish is the best clue you are going to get as to the location of the carp and the whereabouts of their feeding spots.
One of the best times to see fish ‘head and shoulder’ is at first light. This is because dawn corresponds with one of the most significant feeding periods for many carp stocks. With this in mind I always like to be up before this and have made the first coffee of the day so I can focus on watching for shows.
Two hours staring across the lake can be hard work, but the rewards are fantastic.
5 BLEND IN, KEEP QUIET
When fishing in the edge always do your best to keep noise to an absolute minimum. Carp have excellent hearing and are able to feel the vibrations caused by a heavy footfall, so try to creep about as much as possible. Whenever you can wear nature’s shades of green or brown, rather than a bright-orange T-shirt!
6 MIX YOUR BAIT UP
One tactic that I frequently employ when margin fishing is to mix up the bait both in terms of type and size. This keeps the carp guessing and gives you loads of options for hookbaits.
I will commonly use a mixture of hemp, corn, small pellets, tigers and a few handfuls of boilies (chopped and whole). This mixture is then either placed on the margin spots by hand or lowered on to the water via a baiting spoon.
My first choice for hookbait would probably be a boilie fished over this cocktail of goodies, but if takes do not come like this I have plenty of options to choose from.
7 USE CLEAR WATER OPPORTUNITIES
When stalking you often get the chance to watch big fish feeding at your feet, particularly if you are fishing a gravel pit where the water is tap-water clear. Try to watch their feeding activity and establish how they are approaching your baits. Do the carp prefer to feed on the gravel or on the silt? Are they picking up one particular bait in preference to another? It’s all valuable information.
8 PIN IT ALL DOWN
When the water is clear and the light penetration high, it’s vital to pin end tackle to the deck. A glinting swivel or a looped-up section of nylon are all it can take to spook wary margin-feeding fish.
I often place my rig in the margins and look at what catches my eye the most. If there is something that stands out to my eye then you can be sure it will also catch the eye of a feeding carp and could cause it to spook away from your hookbait.
9 USE A COMPASS
The wind can have a big impact upon the carp and their behaviour. With this in mind it helps to know exactly where each wind direction will hit the bank of your chosen ‘stalking’ lake. A compass is a really useful tool to establish where various winds might push the carp. Most modern smart phones come with highly accurate built-in compasses, so if you have one, use it!
10 FOLLOW FRESH WINDS
Carp will often follow a fresh wind... and so should you! If the wind and waves are hitting the bank and stirring up the bottom, causing colour in the water, the carp will not be far away! Those fish living in clear-water pits find these areas of freshly-coloured water absolutely irresistible, in my experience.