THE ART OF FISH LOCATION

Some signs are obvious, some less so; some indications are not even fish!

HE observant angler will use a variety of clues to find their quarry. From obvious signs, such as fish rolling to the less noticeable, such as fly hatches. While it is always useful to try and pin down the location of the fish you are after, especially in lowstocked venues, these observations can tell us so much more.

The different types of bubbles

One of the most often quoted aids to fish location are bubbles. These can be produced in several different ways, some of which have nothing to do with fish at all. When organic matter, mostly leaves, in the silt on the bottom breaks down it produces gas. This is largely methane, and it often builds up to form bubbles within the silt. Periodically, the gas will escape, giving rise to a stream of large bubbles about the size of your little finger nail. A steady stream of bubbles is likely to indicate a natural release, but if the bubbles move around the area, or hit the surface in large plumes, it might indicate that fish moving around close to the bottom are responsible. With this type of bubble the fish are disturbing the surface of the silt as they move around, and so may not actually be feeding. Feeding bubbles are often quite distinct, being much smaller and with a frothy appearance. These bubbles are formed in a different manner. Several species of fish, from tench and bream to carp and crucians, often feed by sifting through the silt. The gill rakers – bony parts of the gills – form a sieve that enables fine silt to pass through but traps larger particles, including food, which can then be swallowed. Feeding bubbles are created as the trapped gas in the silt passes through the gill rakers and is broken up. So, the smaller the bubbles, generally the smaller the species of fish that have made them. Crucians, for example, produce a fine foam made up of tiny pinhead-sized bubbles, whereas carp produce much larger ones. There is a third reason that fish can cause bubbles to be released and, once again, while it is a good indicator to their location, it does not necessarily mean they are feeding. These bubbles are produced by the fish themselves and are released through the gills. To regulate their buoyancy fish must alter the amount of air in their swim bladders. During periods of rapidly changing air pressure this process releases gas into the bloodstream, which is eventually released through the gills, and so can produce bubbles.

Coloured water

Coloured water is a good indication of the presence of fish as they stir up the silt. Once again though, this does not necessarily mean that the fish are feeding. It is worth first thinking about what fish could be stirring up the bottom. It is not only big fish, such as carp

“So, the smaller the bubbles, generally the smaller the species of fish”

and bream, that can do this. Even a shoal of roach can create a silty cloud in an otherwise clear lake. Bigger fish will often create bigger areas of coloured water, especially when they are feeding, so this is a good sign to look for. Fish will often be concentrated in small areas when feeding hard on natural food, such as invertebrates. The densities of these tiny animals are uneven across the bottom of the lake and some areas will see an explosion in numbers and may contain many times the average. Fish are adept at finding these rich larders, as are other wildlife, which can sometimes give the game away. If you spot waterbirds feeding on something small in open water then the chances are they are gorging themselves on a hatch of insects. You can be sure that down below the fish are also aware of this natural phenomenon, even though this may be happening over an area of no more than a few square metres. If you can find and fish to such spots then a red-letter day can be on the cards.

Insect hatches

It is also worth looking along the margins, especially on the windward bank to spot the discarded husks of emerged insects. Often you will find the split exoskeletons of caddis fly larvae in massive numbers, especially at this time of the year. These insects tend to be found on gravelly areas of the lake, so this can be a sign to fish these areas if you can locate them.

Rolling fish

The most obvious signs to look for when walking around a lake has to be basking or rolling fish. At dawn and dusk in particular an otherwise dead-looking lake can come alive as the fish roll, giving themselves away. There are several reasons why fish roll, and not all of them are to do with feeding, but at least knowing the location of your quarry is a big step towards catching them. Fish that are regularly rolling in the same area are a good indication of a feeding spot. If you watch carefully you might observe the fish moving quite briskly from one area to another. These fish are perhaps moving to areas to feed quite rapidly and will probably be quite difficult to catch until they get there. Fish will also roll to remove parasites and to clean their flanks and gills. Often, if you watch carefully, you will see that the same fish comes to the surface several times, so not giving a true reflection of the numbers of fish present. Even so, knowing the whereabouts of the fish is a big tick in the box. These are just some of the signs of fish that are easier to spot and you might be lucky enough to see. There are many more, from diving birds inexplicably scattering when they encounter a big fish, to disturbed fragments of fresh weed washed up along the windward bank. Keep your eyes peeled and learn to interpret these signs and you will put more fish in the net.