CHALLENGE No 3 CATCH A COMMON AND MIRROR CARP
THIS is prime time for catching carp of all sizes and our stillwater fisheries are reporting some huge weights right now.
A hard-fighting species, carp are on the hunt for food to help them pack on the weight for the colder months ahead.
That’s why our chosen tactic for your challenge - the Method feeder – is such as great way to catch them. This style of feeder, along with a variation on the Method called a Hybrid feeder, allows you to put a decent parcel of grub right in front of the fish – giving them an easy meal.
Fishing the feeder also allows you to search every inch of your swim, from the close-in margins to the far bank, giving you more chances of catching your target fish.
Identification
Common carp boast small scales covering the entire body, while mirrors have scales in patches or lines. Colours can vary from a bright, golden brown to a very dark brown, almost black, with a pale belly.
All carp have four barbules with one large (lower) and one small (upper) on each side of their mouth, and the mouth extends down – perfect for filtering food from the bottom of lakes.
Where to find them
Prime spots on lakes include the margins and the bottom of the near shelf, where they patrol deeper spots for food which has fallen down the slope. At the start of the day you’ll find that fishing further out towards islands or the far bank of small lakes is best.
On big lakes anglers will spend time seeking out underwater features such as gravel bars and any deviations in depth, as these can all be a magnet for carp.
Favourite baits
Maggots, casters, worms, pellets, boilies, corn, meat, bread, dog biscuits – you name it, carp will eat it!
Your challenge
There’s nothing complicated about this one - catch yourself a mirror and common carp in the same trip. Size doesn’t matter!
Record weight
The official record is a fish of 68lb 1oz known as ‘The Parrot’ caught by Dean Fletcher from the Wasing Estate, Berkshire in January 2016.
THERE are many ways to catch chub, but one of the best during the summer is to wander along a river using simple leger tactics.
This roving approach allows you to search out any likely-looking spots, covering lots of water and hopefully catching multiple fish.
Summer chub can be ravenous feeders and are often sharp to react to any food served in front of them so bites can be very rapid once you find the right spots.
Identification
The chub is a stocky fish, with a large rounded head and mouth, the lips of which are skirted in a distinctive chalk-white.
The large black tail is often a giveaway when spotted in the water.
These fish range from year-old chublets through to adults over 5lb and 60cm long.
Where to find them
Chub inhabit virtually all river systems, seeking out all the cover they can get. They prefer running water, but can grow big in stillwaters too. Chub are greedy fish, often living in large shoals in their early years before becoming more solitary in smaller pods as they mature into specimens. They’re very shy, and are easily spooked.
Favourite baits
Chub have a varied diet and will eat insects through to small fish, and it’s often said that they can be caught on almost anything.
In recent years, chub have taken to eating the invasive signal crayfish, a diet which has resulted in some very large UK fish.
In terms of baits, you have a huge choice as even the biggest fish will take small offerings such as maggots and casters, but don’t rule out bigger foodstuffs including lobworms, bread, meat and cheesepaste. Pellets and boilies are also effective.
Your challenge
Chub are ultra-reliable feeders, but can be tough to catch in the heat of the day. We want you to try a dusk session and catch a chub from a river near you.
Record weight
The current record stands at 9lb 5oz, a fish taken from a southern stillwater by carp angler Andy Maker in 2007. An equally large fish was caught from the River Lea in 2012 by Neill Stephens, but failed to become the official record.