Why May is the perfect time for lifting your spirits
The most magical month in the fishing year has blessed me with some incredible catches of carp and tench eager to feed
IS THERE a finer time in the angling calendar than May? Spring is well into its stride above and below the water’s surface, and the mood is one of celebration.
I would consider trading the other 11 months for just this one, that’s how much I enjoy May. I reckon its ephemeral nature is what makes it so special, and why the fish make good use of the time by feeding avidly.
For anglers May 2020 will be shorter than ever, and fishing may never even come about, but that’s no reason not to recall those cherished memories when this magical month sang for all she was worth.
Last summer an old estate lake in southern England, sculpted by Capability Brown, was my destination, an oasis shielded from prying eyes by a wooded valley. The scent of wild garlic was strong and the palette of green overwhelmed the senses as every tree, shrub and herb reached for the sky.
I scanned the lake, eager to know what lived within the eight acres of water forming the centrepiece of this amazing canvas. Immediately I could see the vegetation was busy here too, with weed beds reaching to the surface.
A carp rose from the water, exposing its head and shoulders between two floating rafts. That fish was happy within this sanctuary, as were its shoal-mates no doubt, but to fish directly to them was almost impossible. With only a few hours at my disposal I needed to formulate a quick plan to lure these carp to where I wanted them to be.