CARP TACTICS
Tips for single hookbaits
WE ALL know winter carp fishing can be challenging. Fish activity is reduced in comparison to the warmer months – they move less, show less and, most importantly, feed less.
Carp in lakes up and down the country will be tightly grouped right now, making location – something that is, of course, important at all times of year – more vital than ever. Then, even when you are on them, feeding spells can be remarkably short. For these reasons I adopt a mobile approach with bright single hookbaits. I don’t want to feed them – I simply want to find them and catch them!
ROVING THE RODS
Anyone can cast three singles out and leave them all day, but generally I find this won’t give you half the advantage of recasting your rods every hour. As previously mentioned, fish can be tightly packed in the colder months and they are often reluctant to move at all, even just short distances.
For this reason, positioning the rig a few yards closer to them can be the all-important difference between fooling one and blanking. With this regular recasting, I can search the water more effectively.
It isn’t only takes that alert me to the carp’s location, but liners too. By fishing with a slight drop on the bobbin and the alarm sensitivity set as high as possible, if a carp comes into contact with my line I’ll know about it.
BRIGHT IS RIGHT
On to the hookbait… now, this for me has to be a bright fluoro yellow, pink or orange pop-up. I want something that it is impossible for the fish to miss if they are in the area. The colour that works best, however, can change from venue to venue due to water quality, the bottom substrate and the stock. I’d always bring a selection and, rather like a match angler, keep ringing the changes every time you cast back out.
BOOST THE ATTRACTION
On top of my singles, I like to add a squeeze of Kodex Ectoplasm. This thick, concentrated liquid adds a massive boost of attraction around my hookbait.
Not only is the powerful aroma capable of pulling in fish from the surrounding area, but a
ghost-like colour cloud leaks from it, adding more visual appeal to the spot. This delivers a powerful combination of strong food signals and visual stimulants emulating from just one hookbait.
THE RIGHT RIG
My go-to rig all year round is the Ronnie, and it certainly fits the single hookbait approach perfectly. You want a presentation that you can pretty much cast anywhere, will reset itself if ejected and has brilliant 360 degree hooking potential.
The only difference I make to the rig in the winter is to drop the hook size down. For most of the year I will be using size 4, but in the cold, when lakes are generally much clearer, I use smaller size 6 or 8 hooks depending on the venue.
So, there you have it. Don’t think you need to pile it in to catch this weekend. Stick to singles, stay warm, remain active and keep catching.