Improve Your Coarse Fishing (UK)
Spring day-ticket carp tricks – Mike Bridges
Highly-pressured day-ticket real tough waters can be Baits’ to crack. Dynamite reveals his top Mike Bridges more of 10 tips for putting on inhabitants their wily the bank...
SPRING is finally here which means the water temperatures are becoming more stable and carp will be emerging from their winter slumber and preparing for spawning, which won’t be far away. In times gone by, carp have tended to feed very heavily prior to spawning, but these days we often have such mild winters that ultimately, I don’t think they do go dormant anymore and feed more than they used to during the winter months. It’s therefore important to change your approach in order to keep catching. As fantastic a time as spring is for getting a few bites, it’s also a time when you can get it so wrong! In order to assist you in catching some pressured day-ticket carp, here are my top tips for tackling them...
USE BACK LEADS
This is something I do regardless of the distance I’m fishing at or the lakebed contours in front of me. By allowing my line to sink for a few minutes then back leading right under the rod tips, I feel this gives me the ultimate line concealment. I fish some of the most pressured dayticket waters in the country such as St John’s lake on the Linear Fisheries Complex, where it can literally be one in and one out of a swim. These carp have seen everything and are accustomed to leads being chucked their way as well as having to weave their way through dozens of anglers’ lines. Therefore, being different gives you a real edge when looking to fool one of these streetwise fish.
RIGS MUST RESET
Carp fishing is a minefield, especially when it comes to rigs because there always seems to be a new one in fashion. Personally, I try to avoid getting caught up in these trends and prefer rigs that have stood the test of time. Any rig I use must be able to reset itself upon being picked up. No matter how good you think your rigs are, you will ‘get done’ at some point. If your rig will still sit effectively after being spat out your chances of catching massively increase. A set-up I have great faith in and have used for years is the multi rig. It’s simple to tie and when fished low is ultimately an exaggerated bottom bait for those big old wiley carp that are swimming in those day-ticket depths.
‘FEEL’ THE LEAD DOWN
This is a skill every carp angler should master. It isn’t difficult, but just takes some practice. It’s imperative you understand what you are fishing over – weed, gravel or silt. This knowledge can only be obtained by what your rod and line transmit back to you. Once this skill is mastered it will transform your fishing forever. To ‘feel’ the lead down, trap the line with your fingers as soon as the lead hits the water and hold the rod at an angle of 60 degrees. Then on a tight line wait until the lead hits the bottom. The more solid a ‘donk’ you feel through the rod, the harder the bottom is. A soft ‘donk’ will indicate softer silt or possibly clay, while no ‘donk’ indicates thick weed which has prevented the lead from reaching the bottom.
GRIPPING DETAILS
Moving on from making yourself aware about what you’re fishing over, I then take this concept one step further by casting a 3oz sea-fishing gripper-style lead. For me, it is imperative to know what debris is out there because, ultimately, a bare fishing lead will tell you nothing, nor will it latch on to anything. A gripper lead will pick up strands of low lying weed and even deep silt that may contain bloodworm, which is the ‘mother’ of all spots to be fishing at any time of the year. Go the extra mile for success.
BANK ON 10mm BOILIES
A huge edge anywhere, but particularly on busy day-ticket waters, is the use of 10mm boilies. Carp are less accustomed to eating these, because the ‘average’ angler tends to use 15mm, 18mm or 20mm baits. Fishing 10mm boilies on their own, without anything else, can produce a redletter session because they create a bed of feed that the carp won’t have encountered before and will be less cautious of.
angler has fed and also try to ascertain how many fish have been caught. If the fish are not feeding and large quantities of bait have been introduced, casting a single hookbait to any showing fish can really pay off. If you think the fish are more likely to be in the upper layers, a zig rig will also work well. Single hookbait fishing takes a huge amount of confidence but, trust me, it’s a devastating method. You just need to take that leap of faith and give it a go.
MUST CAST ACCURATELY
Accurate casting is one of the fundamental basics of fishing wherever you go or whatever you fish for. The use of distance sticks will really help in this. By counting the number of wraps you make around your sticks and then clipping up the mainline at that distance, you will be able to cast back out with precision on to the same spot every time. You can also measure and clip-up your spod rod in the same way, so that you ensure you are fishing your rigs directly over the top of any loosefeed directed towards the swim.
BE READY TO MOVE SWIMS
There is a saying that “you can’t catch what’s not in front of you” and your eyes are the most important tool in your armoury. The time I have on the bank is very limited so I’m like a hawk when I’m fishing with my gear always packed away, apart from the essentials. This means I can up-sticks and move swims in seconds. By travelling light, keeping alert and your eye’s pealed, you will become a better and more successful angler.
“Single hookbait fishing is a devastating method”
SPEAK TO BAILIFFS
Never believe you know everything about a certain lake. A venue’s dynamics and mood can change very quickly. Social media is a good platform for keeping in touch with what’s going on at lakes all across the UK, but knowledgeable bailiffs are even better. They are your eyes and ears on day-ticket waters. Speak to them just prior to your visit, as they are employed to help and advise. It’s said that knowledge is power and the right knowledge