The title says it all - this article is all about those absolutely crucial big carp secrets that even having the best baits, rigs and tackle cannot beat; so read on right now and find out more!
Part of the hidden factors in successful carp fishing relate to logic. If you see carp like dogs and think of them as being able to be conditioned in many of the same ways you can see that almost anything we anglers do to make carp scared of our baits makes them harder to catch. It is logical to assume that the majority of anglers are obviously making life very difficult for the carp or they would be much easier to catch! The fact is that more often than not the entire approach of the average carp angler means he is conditioning carp to become harder to catch but how does this happen?
Carp are instinctive individuals programmed to survive by associating anything with danger of threats or with opportunities for safety or extra energy in the form of energy-efficient nutrition. There is not a lot in between these 2 extremes. Once a wary carp is alerted to the possibility that a bait or situation or circumstances it experiences in the past in a swim that may be a threat then it will more than likely feed far more cautiously there - if at all!
Unfortunately, many of the rigs and standard baiting and hook bait approaches that worked even a year ago can now not be the edge they once were when originally applied to a water. Carp communicate in many ways between themselves. You might not believe this but just consider the times you see multiple carp jump out of the water literally simultaneously when nothing has shown on the water all day.
Carp communicate many things by various means, be it body postures and methods and rates of swimming, to releasing hormones just in the same way that they do and we do to attract a mate. In fact it is thought that the mode of action of hormone based stimulants used in baits operate on male fish for instance by making them more aggressive so they approach baits much more positively. Similarly, one might well also postulate that some of the success of those carp anglers using the early hair rigs using female hair benefited from female hormones naturally in the hair.
It is not news to many carp anglers nor anglers of other species either to learn that when a hook bait is rejected as suspicious, even for no apparent reason, other fish in an area are somehow able to locate that same bait and totally ignore it without any testing of it first. This means that moving hook baits maybe every 12 hours is perhaps a better idea than simply leaving them in the same spot all the time in case the bait and rig have been marked and ignored so to speak.
This type of behavior is a common phenomenon in very heavily fishing-pressured waters and has been remarked upon by anglers fishing a wide range of waters from Redmire and busy circuit waters and even to local ponds. Carp fishing for wary fish seems to be more like a chess game where you are attempting to make the fish feel as safe as possible by fishing and using tackle and baits as cunningly as possible, also while avoiding the sometimes unhelpful intrusions of competitive fellow anglers fishing activities and baiting and so on.
I used to fish a small carp water where in the summer the average angler blanked over 70 percent of the time. The hidden factor here was that because it was a small water the fish were all too aware of angling activities and knew whenever anglers where present on the banks. But the anglers themselves did not help themselves. On a small very rich water where the fish have been absolutely hammered by anglers for years, they can respond in the easiest way possible and begin avoiding familiar baits and baiting formats and avoid them altogether, choosing to feed on natural food primarily instead.
This lake was where it took me 6 weeks during June and July of the summer of 2003 to land 60 twenties and 10 thirties which was incredible catch for the time. This year that lake had produced to all the anglers fishing that lake precisely 1 thirty all year. So what on earth has happened that enabled me to achieve my catches?
Well going back to 2003 the fish were very spooky and I decided on a medium-term baiting approach with homemade baits the carp had never experienced ever before and I knew this for certain because I made them myself. Vitally I made them and presented them in ways never tried before their.
However, because the fish were so spooky, even after a full 5 days and 4 nights of consistently baiting up and seeing fish rolling over the baits I did not get a single take. Then on the fifth night one of the biggest fish in the lake took the bait at an awesome 36 plus pounds.
Even at the time this fish took the bait it was very obvious from the fish rolling activity that many of the biggest fish in the lake were over the bait and were filter-feeding on the dissolved substances coming off it, but were not willing to actually pick up whole baits. This was due to the fact they had been hooked on whole baits before and knew to avoid them. Again, this is all too familiar a feature of fisheries today.
I was shocked at the extent of the carp instinct for survival as despite baiting all week and fishing the proceeding 5 days and 4 nights not a single bite came again - that is until the fifth night; when another of the biggest fish took a hook bait and weighed in at over 36 pounds too. Sometimes it can take quite a time for carp to treat new sources of food as safe, but once they do it really reap its rewards for applying it, but it does not mean you will necessarily catch all the biggest fish straight away.
Often big fish let the small fish do bait testing. In fact if I recall correctly when pre-baiting for the biggest carp in the Essex Little Grange water, the 2 anglers only caught the smaller fish when they began fishing a new bait (called the Grange) and it was only after a few months they caught the fish they were after.
Going back to the small lake I previously mentioned catching the 36 pound carp from, I caught one of those fish twice in 2 weeks on the new boilies yet it had come out to no-one else all that year. But more interesting than that was that once I started fishing my hook baits some distance away from my regularly baited spots I was able to catch 2 of the other biggest fish in the lake; both around 38 pounds.
What this indicated to me was that in all likelihood the big wary fish were not getting hooked by the average anglers at all because they were fishing using a smaller picture to fish with based on their own ideas on tackle and baits (often influenced by fashions,) but not influenced by knowledge of exactly what the fish were doing to avoid capture.
Frankly I believe that the wary fish were picking baits up in their lips, taking them away from the baited area, dropping them and leaving them until they thought they were safe, then swallowing them. The amount of single bleeps I got on my bite alarms indicated something like this was going on where my hook baits were often getting picked up then dropped like a stone when the fish felt any resistance.
One of the obvious solutions was to fish away from the baited areas plus give the fish enough rope to hang themselves with so to speak by changing to a more refined rig. This worked like magic and the other 7 thirties plus 60 twenties came along while many anglers failed to catch at all.
But this result was just a feedback loop born of being acutely conscious of the hidden factors involving how fish were responding to any threat represented by signs of angler presence on the bank, any obvious lines in the water, crude baiting, use of familiar fishing tactics that were obviously now history, plus the disciplined regular application of a unique new bait, bait format, and baiting technique all new to the water, and so on. The average angler visiting the water thought it was just your average commercial day-ticket water, saw the photographs of fish caught in the past by many anglers and thought they could lazily empty the place with comparatively very little thought and effort.
The fact is that fishing for big wary carp and aiming to catch them very consistently is not for the faint-hearted and demands attention to detail and effort of thought many average anglers are not willing to stretch to. I notice that the biggest fish came out of Elphicks Lake in Kent recently. Again it was caught on a method that defeated its caution and that actually exploited the behaviours it and other fish had developed in order to feed on bait in safety; i.e. on the drop and mid-water binge-feeding.
The secrets of big carp fishing include studying the fish, their senses, their adapting dynamic behaviours in direct and indirect response to everything we do to catch them, and to exploit what we observe. This is how successful army commanders often beat superior forces - with superior intelligence and information.
You see lots in magazines about new tackle, rigs and baits etc, but to truly exploit such wonders, you really need to analyse what your fish in a water are actually doing, how they are doing it and why they are doing it!
The effort doing this will open many doors to your future success again and again and will leave many of your fellow anglers scratching their heads because such things in pressured modern carp fishing are hidden and not obvious! Even if you happen to have 6 grands worth of gear on the bank it will not guarantee you will catch if you do not understand your fish! (For more information see my website and biography right now!)
By Tim Richardson.
Showing posts with label Carp Fishing tips. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Carp Fishing tips. Show all posts
Catch Carp in the Autumn-10 Top Tips
Autumn can be one of the most productive times of the year to catch big carp. As the nights draw in and the leaves begin to change from green to brown the nations big carp know that this is the last chance for them to feed heavily to insure they have enough stored fat to see them through the lean winter months.
Many of the countries top anglers choose the autumn months to target some of the harder waters knowing that it is at this time of the year that the big carp really get their heads down, Indeed that is why we often see many of the biggest carp hitting the bank at this time of year.With the abundance of natural food diminishing with the passing of the summer, it is the anglers baits that now become the easiest meal.
Here are ten top tips that will help you to get on the fish.
1.Keep your ear out for any information about recent captures. Carp feed at very distinct times as autumn takes over from summer. Knowing their patterns can help you to predetermine when the most active feeding spells will occur. Not only can this put you in the area where the fish are but it can also help you to be there at the optimum time.
2.As the autumn progresses and the weather begins to be less hospitable you will find less anglers out on the bank, this is also the time when natural food becomes less prolific. That makes it the perfect time to pre-bait the areas you intend to fish. By simply introducing a few freebies over a period of time you will greatly improve your chances of success. Carp are quick to home in on an area where they can find a regular supply of food and will keep returning to the spot improving your chances of intercepting them on your visit.
3.From September onwards particle baits such as hemp, maize and corn come into their own. The small particles can keep big carp feeding for long periods. It is a good idea to make up a mix of particles to spod out during the colder months rather than use heaps of pellets which can quickly fill the fish especially on colder days when they are feeding for shorter periods.
4.Autumn nights can be very cold while the days are still fairly warm, during these warm days you will find Carp basking in areas that receive the sun. They do this to absorb the suns energy which helps speed up their metabolism allowing them to process more food. By locating and targeting these sunny areas you can greatly improve your chances of tempting a bite.
5.During the autumn the lake-bed can be covered with fallen leaves. To avoid your hook bait sinking amongst them never to be seen it can pay to fish with balanced pop-up rig, also with so many dead leaves floating in the lower levels of the water it is also a good idea to protect your hook with a piece of dissolving foam so you can be confident that you don't pick up any rubbish as your rig sinks that would impede your strike.
6.Watch the weather for any periods where the wind is blowing in from the south west, These warmer winds often bring with them low pressure systems that can drive the carp into a feeding frenzy. But whereas a south-westerly wind can be good, a north-easterly wind is usually bad. These cold winds can often mean an early frost and usually cause the fish to switch off. You can save yourself many blanks by avoiding fishing on days when the wind comes from the north east.
7.As water temperatures begin to fall it takes longer for PVA bags to break down. Infact on cold days it can take up to 10 minutes or more for the bag to disintegrate fully, so it is a good idea to switch to a fine PVA mesh that will break down in a fraction of the time and works just as well.
8.As autumn progresses there is less and less weed in the water, this will often enable you to use a lower diameter line which will improve your presentation. It is always a good idea to scale down your terminal tackle to the lowest strength you feel comfortable with.
9.As the weed beds die and breakdown they can provide a banquet of natural food for hungry carp. It is always worth fishing close to these decaying beds in the autumn as they can often prove to be a real hotspots. Keep your eye out for fish activity such as fizzing and tail swirls as these are often caused by large carp digging around amongst the exposed roots looking for an easy meal.
10.The autumn weather is notorious for being unpredictable so it is important to be prepared. When planning your session take into consideration that you may be inactive for many hours and that you want to remain comfortable. The last thing you want is to miss a bite because you were too cold and wet to act fast. Even if the weather is mild when you set out take some warm wet-weather clothing in-case the weather changes for the worst.
Many of the countries top anglers choose the autumn months to target some of the harder waters knowing that it is at this time of the year that the big carp really get their heads down, Indeed that is why we often see many of the biggest carp hitting the bank at this time of year.With the abundance of natural food diminishing with the passing of the summer, it is the anglers baits that now become the easiest meal.
Here are ten top tips that will help you to get on the fish.
1.Keep your ear out for any information about recent captures. Carp feed at very distinct times as autumn takes over from summer. Knowing their patterns can help you to predetermine when the most active feeding spells will occur. Not only can this put you in the area where the fish are but it can also help you to be there at the optimum time.
2.As the autumn progresses and the weather begins to be less hospitable you will find less anglers out on the bank, this is also the time when natural food becomes less prolific. That makes it the perfect time to pre-bait the areas you intend to fish. By simply introducing a few freebies over a period of time you will greatly improve your chances of success. Carp are quick to home in on an area where they can find a regular supply of food and will keep returning to the spot improving your chances of intercepting them on your visit.
3.From September onwards particle baits such as hemp, maize and corn come into their own. The small particles can keep big carp feeding for long periods. It is a good idea to make up a mix of particles to spod out during the colder months rather than use heaps of pellets which can quickly fill the fish especially on colder days when they are feeding for shorter periods.
4.Autumn nights can be very cold while the days are still fairly warm, during these warm days you will find Carp basking in areas that receive the sun. They do this to absorb the suns energy which helps speed up their metabolism allowing them to process more food. By locating and targeting these sunny areas you can greatly improve your chances of tempting a bite.
5.During the autumn the lake-bed can be covered with fallen leaves. To avoid your hook bait sinking amongst them never to be seen it can pay to fish with balanced pop-up rig, also with so many dead leaves floating in the lower levels of the water it is also a good idea to protect your hook with a piece of dissolving foam so you can be confident that you don't pick up any rubbish as your rig sinks that would impede your strike.
6.Watch the weather for any periods where the wind is blowing in from the south west, These warmer winds often bring with them low pressure systems that can drive the carp into a feeding frenzy. But whereas a south-westerly wind can be good, a north-easterly wind is usually bad. These cold winds can often mean an early frost and usually cause the fish to switch off. You can save yourself many blanks by avoiding fishing on days when the wind comes from the north east.
7.As water temperatures begin to fall it takes longer for PVA bags to break down. Infact on cold days it can take up to 10 minutes or more for the bag to disintegrate fully, so it is a good idea to switch to a fine PVA mesh that will break down in a fraction of the time and works just as well.
8.As autumn progresses there is less and less weed in the water, this will often enable you to use a lower diameter line which will improve your presentation. It is always a good idea to scale down your terminal tackle to the lowest strength you feel comfortable with.
9.As the weed beds die and breakdown they can provide a banquet of natural food for hungry carp. It is always worth fishing close to these decaying beds in the autumn as they can often prove to be a real hotspots. Keep your eye out for fish activity such as fizzing and tail swirls as these are often caused by large carp digging around amongst the exposed roots looking for an easy meal.
10.The autumn weather is notorious for being unpredictable so it is important to be prepared. When planning your session take into consideration that you may be inactive for many hours and that you want to remain comfortable. The last thing you want is to miss a bite because you were too cold and wet to act fast. Even if the weather is mild when you set out take some warm wet-weather clothing in-case the weather changes for the worst.
Carp Fishing-How To Make Carp Fishing Baits And Save Money With Homemade Bait
We fishermen pay lots of money for readymade fishing baits! The fact is that if they were so wonderful, companies would not have to keep on offering new baits all the time! Just the same number of fish or more, can be caught as a result of making your own unique baits and this will save you bags of money too!
In fact when you have made your homemade baits despite any mistakes you might make, well over 80 percent of your recipes will catch fish and equal results on readymades with ease. The fact they will be fresh and new is a giant factor in this too. New baits will arouse far less care and suspicion for most fish as they have never even been hooked on your new bait before. One of the great things about homemade baits is that they can keep you well ahead of the fish and fellow anglers who always follow the crowd using readymades, giving you even better consistent catches and more big fish!
Of course it takes the usual fishing skills and application in order to catch any fish especially those bigger ones which are far less easily caught, but your unique bait is a distinct factor in producing for you consistent big fish catches. One of the most incredible highs is to land new personal best fish on bait you have made from your own recipe and knowing you are the one angler who is ever going to exploit your secret bait. You never have to compete with hundreds of other fishermen on the same bait as you!
Bait only really has a peak of effectiveness when fish feed confidently on it because they know they most likely will not get hooked and risk getting taken home for tea. Sure we put them back, but if you were hooked and dragged out of your safe air environment into a foreign one you would be wary of any bait that has led to you being hooked previously too! Making your own alternative secret bait recipes is such a great advantage over the masses who use readymades without a further thought to their never talked about disadvantages!
Popular baits in many ways do have a shelf life in terms of longevity of effectiveness. Top bait manufacturers will tell you that even in a stock pond which has never been fished, when a new bait has been fished intensively by a number of anglers successfully, their results can slow right up even literally to the point of no more fish being caught on that bait. (This is no exaggeration, for example Gary Bayes of the international bait company Nashbaits told me of his experience of this!) Many baits exploit highly concentrated flavors in order to affect bait pH to stimulate fish. Others use the biological nutritional value approach and call their baits food baits for this reason.
It might sound hard, but making baits that really work effectively is easy, and your baits do not need to be perfect like commercially produced machine rolled round or barrel shaped boilies or pellets shapes etc. There are obviously very many methods of making baits and you do not need to follow conventional steps at all, in fact there are many steps you can leave out completely. This makes things very much easier, saves hours of time and take the least effort possible!
Many fisherman overlook the advantages of not making their baits oval in shape. Remember carp remember, so using angular baits or non oval baits is a definite advantage. Just with a handful of eggs and a pound of semolina and soya flour you can make limitless different baits utilising any of thousands of additives and flavors, sweeteners and appetite stimulators and so on, or just one! Such a bait will form a protective skin if you drops pieces of such baits in water or scald them with steam. Why bother boiling your baits when bait which is merely dried in warm air are frequently more effective than boilies?
Making homemade bait is as hard as finding a bowl a mixing spoon or knife, a few eggs and some flours or other dry ingredients. Many flours about the house will bind to form a bait, from semolina and soya to maize and corn flour, and dried rice flour. For example, crack 5 or 6 eggs into a bowl and whisk them adding any flavouring or liquids additives you might choose, like ketchup or a flavoring from the baking aisle of your local store. Take 8 ounces of semolina and the same of soya flour and slowly add to your eggs until a dough the feel of putty is made. It is very easy and quick and with practice you can do this at lightening speed!
When your dough is ready you can use it immediately, or put it labelled plastic bags for later use. Store baits in the fridge or freeze them. It is best to make a note of the ingredients and levels in each individual bait mix. To make around a kilogram of bait it takes about 6 eggs with your dry powders. But this is a very rough guide and every mix can vary widely depending on ingredients, their solubility etc.
Considering you can easily make very economical baits even with better food nutrition value than just carbohydrate baits like the one described, it is still shocking to work out just how much money you can save. You can produce very effective big fish baits for 2 or 3 pounds or about 6 dollars per kilogram compared to shop prices of 5 or 6 times this cost. The total cost of 10 kilograms of readymade baits can be 80 to 120 pounds, while your homemade bait can cost you just 20 or 30 pounds, saving you 60 to 100 pounds for every 10 kilograms of readymade bait!
The best advantage of all is you can make your baits as different to normal as you like. Remember, being different is what really counts. Most frequently it is the most different and alternative homemade baits which tempt the very biggest and wariest of fish. You can start off with the simple bait here, but you might like to find out more if you really want to get cracking and hit the big-time!
By Tim Richardson.
About the Author=For expert help enhancing and making top fishing baits see: "BIG CATFISH AND CARP BAIT SECRETS!" And: "BIG CARP BAIT SECRETS!" And "FLAVORS, FEEDING TRIGGERS and CHEMORECEPTION SECRETS" SEE: http://www.baitbigfish.com These volumes are by Tim Richardson and even used by members of the British Carp Study Group so visit his site now!
In fact when you have made your homemade baits despite any mistakes you might make, well over 80 percent of your recipes will catch fish and equal results on readymades with ease. The fact they will be fresh and new is a giant factor in this too. New baits will arouse far less care and suspicion for most fish as they have never even been hooked on your new bait before. One of the great things about homemade baits is that they can keep you well ahead of the fish and fellow anglers who always follow the crowd using readymades, giving you even better consistent catches and more big fish!
Of course it takes the usual fishing skills and application in order to catch any fish especially those bigger ones which are far less easily caught, but your unique bait is a distinct factor in producing for you consistent big fish catches. One of the most incredible highs is to land new personal best fish on bait you have made from your own recipe and knowing you are the one angler who is ever going to exploit your secret bait. You never have to compete with hundreds of other fishermen on the same bait as you!
Bait only really has a peak of effectiveness when fish feed confidently on it because they know they most likely will not get hooked and risk getting taken home for tea. Sure we put them back, but if you were hooked and dragged out of your safe air environment into a foreign one you would be wary of any bait that has led to you being hooked previously too! Making your own alternative secret bait recipes is such a great advantage over the masses who use readymades without a further thought to their never talked about disadvantages!
Popular baits in many ways do have a shelf life in terms of longevity of effectiveness. Top bait manufacturers will tell you that even in a stock pond which has never been fished, when a new bait has been fished intensively by a number of anglers successfully, their results can slow right up even literally to the point of no more fish being caught on that bait. (This is no exaggeration, for example Gary Bayes of the international bait company Nashbaits told me of his experience of this!) Many baits exploit highly concentrated flavors in order to affect bait pH to stimulate fish. Others use the biological nutritional value approach and call their baits food baits for this reason.
It might sound hard, but making baits that really work effectively is easy, and your baits do not need to be perfect like commercially produced machine rolled round or barrel shaped boilies or pellets shapes etc. There are obviously very many methods of making baits and you do not need to follow conventional steps at all, in fact there are many steps you can leave out completely. This makes things very much easier, saves hours of time and take the least effort possible!
Many fisherman overlook the advantages of not making their baits oval in shape. Remember carp remember, so using angular baits or non oval baits is a definite advantage. Just with a handful of eggs and a pound of semolina and soya flour you can make limitless different baits utilising any of thousands of additives and flavors, sweeteners and appetite stimulators and so on, or just one! Such a bait will form a protective skin if you drops pieces of such baits in water or scald them with steam. Why bother boiling your baits when bait which is merely dried in warm air are frequently more effective than boilies?
Making homemade bait is as hard as finding a bowl a mixing spoon or knife, a few eggs and some flours or other dry ingredients. Many flours about the house will bind to form a bait, from semolina and soya to maize and corn flour, and dried rice flour. For example, crack 5 or 6 eggs into a bowl and whisk them adding any flavouring or liquids additives you might choose, like ketchup or a flavoring from the baking aisle of your local store. Take 8 ounces of semolina and the same of soya flour and slowly add to your eggs until a dough the feel of putty is made. It is very easy and quick and with practice you can do this at lightening speed!
When your dough is ready you can use it immediately, or put it labelled plastic bags for later use. Store baits in the fridge or freeze them. It is best to make a note of the ingredients and levels in each individual bait mix. To make around a kilogram of bait it takes about 6 eggs with your dry powders. But this is a very rough guide and every mix can vary widely depending on ingredients, their solubility etc.
Considering you can easily make very economical baits even with better food nutrition value than just carbohydrate baits like the one described, it is still shocking to work out just how much money you can save. You can produce very effective big fish baits for 2 or 3 pounds or about 6 dollars per kilogram compared to shop prices of 5 or 6 times this cost. The total cost of 10 kilograms of readymade baits can be 80 to 120 pounds, while your homemade bait can cost you just 20 or 30 pounds, saving you 60 to 100 pounds for every 10 kilograms of readymade bait!
The best advantage of all is you can make your baits as different to normal as you like. Remember, being different is what really counts. Most frequently it is the most different and alternative homemade baits which tempt the very biggest and wariest of fish. You can start off with the simple bait here, but you might like to find out more if you really want to get cracking and hit the big-time!
By Tim Richardson.
About the Author=For expert help enhancing and making top fishing baits see: "BIG CATFISH AND CARP BAIT SECRETS!" And: "BIG CARP BAIT SECRETS!" And "FLAVORS, FEEDING TRIGGERS and CHEMORECEPTION SECRETS" SEE: http://www.baitbigfish.com These volumes are by Tim Richardson and even used by members of the British Carp Study Group so visit his site now!
Carp Fishing tips=Long Distance Casting - Ten Things I've Learned To Cast Further!
Here is an excellent article by Gareth Watkins for those who love to fish for Carp. Just one of the fishing articles that I hope to publish on the subject of Carp Fishing.
In modern carp fishing the ability to cast further is a definite advantage in the anglers armoury. The fact is, that despite what their estimated casting range is, most anglers will struggle to better 100 yards by any great margin.Not all waters allow boats or bait boats, so being able to cast is a real plus, and can make the difference between catching and not catching.
I remember all too well blanking on a lake in France because the fish were at 150 yards and I couldn't reach them. The Dutch guy in the next peg was casting there easily. Needless to say he bagged up... much to my frustration.We can't all afford to go out and buy top of the range gear, which is what you 'll need to compete with the top casters.. that and loads of tuition and a modicum of talent. For us mere mortals a few hints and tips can get us up to the 140-150 yards range. I've done it measured, so as an average caster I can tell you it works. These tips were picked up from Mark Hutchinson and Mehdi Daho, but if you really want to get into the big league. I suggest you take lessons with someone like Mark.Ok so here are 10 tips that will help you cast further with your regular carp gear.
1. Use a Large Spool Big Pit 'Type' Reel: These don't have to cost a fortune, the Shimano AERLEX costs as little as fifty quid. Okuma make excellent value big spool reels too.The top flight reels like the Ultegra's from Shimano and Tournaments from Daiwa will set you back a few bob, but are excellent tools. The advantage of the wide spool on a big pit is that the diameter doesn't drop as quickly as you cast, thus less friction builds up on the spool lip, increasing your distance.
2. Fill Spool to the Rim: Make sure you fill your spool right up to the rim. Modern fixed spool reels used in carp fishing have pretty good line lay, compared to the awful things like Mitchell 300's and Cardinals. To make the most of the casting capacity of your reel fill it right flush to the lip. Don't overfill as you'll get bird's nests, but go as full as you can. Bear in mind that the line will bed down a bit.
3. Fill Your Spool with 10lb Monofilament Line: It stands to reason the finer the line you use the further you'll cast. You can't go mad in carp fishing as the fish are big and fight hard. In most open water 10lb mono is more than adequate. I use Daiwa Sensor 10lb for my long range stuff, but many of the quality monos on the market will do. Some anglers drop line strength even more...it's a trade off really between abrasion resistance and casting needs. A finer diameter line will naturally need far less chaffing to break it than heavy, thicker nylon. A few drops of Kryston Greased Lightening will also make the nylon flow off the reel better.
4. Use a Braided Leader: To get maximum distance with 10lb main line you'll need a shock leader. Here I'd recommend a 50lb braid for a leader material. Braid has no stretch so all your power is put into the blank and not into the stretch of a nylon leader. It will add distance to your casts.
5. Use A Helicopter Rig: The best casting rig is the 'Helicopter' rig. Set up right is is also the only rig that will leave the fish free of the line in the case of a crack off. Now these rigs DO have to be done right. The wrong set up and you have a death rig, as the fish trail line and the lead. There are several companies making either ready to use rigs or selling the various end rig items you need to make a safe set-up. Please pay careful attention to this! The poor set up of the helicopter rigs has seen it banned on my waters, which is stupid, as done correctly it should be the safest rig out there.It lets the lead fly first and the bait follows, giving you a more aerodynamic set up and therefore more distance. Combine this with a short nylon stiff or combi-hooklink and it will go far...
6. Use a Zip Lead: A lead of the Zip type will cast further than any lead out there. Aerodynamic, these leads really come into their own when used with a bait. In most circumstances you may net see a huge difference between dumpy pear leads and zips, that is until you attach your boilie. The zip gives your rig far more stability and lets you get several yards extra distance on your cast. These leads fly straight and true and will be more accurate too.
7. Use a Small Bait: Inertia is one of the main problems you come across when looking to gain those precious extra yards. It stands to reason a large 22mm boilie not only adds weight to the rig, but also adds wind resistance and makes the set up less stable in the air and less aerodynamic. If you drop your bait size down to 14mm or smaller, it won't prevent a carp from finding and eating your offering, but it will certainly help cancel out some of the negative effects of the large bait.
8. Use a Fingerstall: This is primarily a safety issue. Braided leaders are like cheese wire, and will cut your finger down to the bone easily if you don't wear a fingerstall. These need to be leather Reuben Heatons offers a very good one. To my mind the fear of hurting myself and certainly the pain of slicing my finger would prevent me from really leaning into a cast without one. The use of a fingerstall, the safety issue aside, gives me all the confidence to go for the big one and not worry about injury. As I said above, you need strong fine braided shock leader with no stretch to transfer the energy of the lead compressing the blank on the cast. To use braid you MUST protect your casting finger.
9. Make Sure Your Rod Handle is the Right Length: Now here is a point I bet most people don't think about when they buy a rod to cast long range with. The length of the handle. So you can transfer the maximum of your bodyweight into the cast, you need to be able to tuck the handle under your armpit as you follow through. If the handle is too long, you'll need to push it to one side at the end of the cast. You'll almost certainly be losing yourself a few metres like this. You don't need full custom built rods, but you should get a rod builder or a good tackle shop to tailor your rod for your arm length.
10. Cast Off the Deck: You can gain precious yards by laying your lead on the floor and casting off the deck. You'll transfer all the force of the cast almost immediately as you lift the weight, compressing the blank and unleashing the full power of the rod. A couple of points to bear in mind, you might want to uprate your leader strength to 100lb or so, as the casts of this type are brutal to say the least. You also might want to lay the lead and the rig on an unhooking mat of some such thing to avoid catching the rig on the ground or vegetation as you cast. I'd probably protect the hook point with PVA also to avoid it pricking the material.This is not an exhaustive list, but just a few tips and guide lines I've picked up to help you put extra yards on a cast. Don't be afraid of breaking a rod, although its always a possibility, modern carbon fibre is a hugely strong material and in normal fishing the risks are not too great. A fishing rod is a tool so use it to its full...
by Gareth Watkins
For more Carp Fishing News, Posts, Tips and Articles Check out my own Angling Lines Blog at : http://www.anglinglines.com/blog
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gareth_Watkins
In modern carp fishing the ability to cast further is a definite advantage in the anglers armoury. The fact is, that despite what their estimated casting range is, most anglers will struggle to better 100 yards by any great margin.Not all waters allow boats or bait boats, so being able to cast is a real plus, and can make the difference between catching and not catching.
I remember all too well blanking on a lake in France because the fish were at 150 yards and I couldn't reach them. The Dutch guy in the next peg was casting there easily. Needless to say he bagged up... much to my frustration.We can't all afford to go out and buy top of the range gear, which is what you 'll need to compete with the top casters.. that and loads of tuition and a modicum of talent. For us mere mortals a few hints and tips can get us up to the 140-150 yards range. I've done it measured, so as an average caster I can tell you it works. These tips were picked up from Mark Hutchinson and Mehdi Daho, but if you really want to get into the big league. I suggest you take lessons with someone like Mark.Ok so here are 10 tips that will help you cast further with your regular carp gear.
1. Use a Large Spool Big Pit 'Type' Reel: These don't have to cost a fortune, the Shimano AERLEX costs as little as fifty quid. Okuma make excellent value big spool reels too.The top flight reels like the Ultegra's from Shimano and Tournaments from Daiwa will set you back a few bob, but are excellent tools. The advantage of the wide spool on a big pit is that the diameter doesn't drop as quickly as you cast, thus less friction builds up on the spool lip, increasing your distance.
2. Fill Spool to the Rim: Make sure you fill your spool right up to the rim. Modern fixed spool reels used in carp fishing have pretty good line lay, compared to the awful things like Mitchell 300's and Cardinals. To make the most of the casting capacity of your reel fill it right flush to the lip. Don't overfill as you'll get bird's nests, but go as full as you can. Bear in mind that the line will bed down a bit.
3. Fill Your Spool with 10lb Monofilament Line: It stands to reason the finer the line you use the further you'll cast. You can't go mad in carp fishing as the fish are big and fight hard. In most open water 10lb mono is more than adequate. I use Daiwa Sensor 10lb for my long range stuff, but many of the quality monos on the market will do. Some anglers drop line strength even more...it's a trade off really between abrasion resistance and casting needs. A finer diameter line will naturally need far less chaffing to break it than heavy, thicker nylon. A few drops of Kryston Greased Lightening will also make the nylon flow off the reel better.
4. Use a Braided Leader: To get maximum distance with 10lb main line you'll need a shock leader. Here I'd recommend a 50lb braid for a leader material. Braid has no stretch so all your power is put into the blank and not into the stretch of a nylon leader. It will add distance to your casts.
5. Use A Helicopter Rig: The best casting rig is the 'Helicopter' rig. Set up right is is also the only rig that will leave the fish free of the line in the case of a crack off. Now these rigs DO have to be done right. The wrong set up and you have a death rig, as the fish trail line and the lead. There are several companies making either ready to use rigs or selling the various end rig items you need to make a safe set-up. Please pay careful attention to this! The poor set up of the helicopter rigs has seen it banned on my waters, which is stupid, as done correctly it should be the safest rig out there.It lets the lead fly first and the bait follows, giving you a more aerodynamic set up and therefore more distance. Combine this with a short nylon stiff or combi-hooklink and it will go far...
6. Use a Zip Lead: A lead of the Zip type will cast further than any lead out there. Aerodynamic, these leads really come into their own when used with a bait. In most circumstances you may net see a huge difference between dumpy pear leads and zips, that is until you attach your boilie. The zip gives your rig far more stability and lets you get several yards extra distance on your cast. These leads fly straight and true and will be more accurate too.
7. Use a Small Bait: Inertia is one of the main problems you come across when looking to gain those precious extra yards. It stands to reason a large 22mm boilie not only adds weight to the rig, but also adds wind resistance and makes the set up less stable in the air and less aerodynamic. If you drop your bait size down to 14mm or smaller, it won't prevent a carp from finding and eating your offering, but it will certainly help cancel out some of the negative effects of the large bait.
8. Use a Fingerstall: This is primarily a safety issue. Braided leaders are like cheese wire, and will cut your finger down to the bone easily if you don't wear a fingerstall. These need to be leather Reuben Heatons offers a very good one. To my mind the fear of hurting myself and certainly the pain of slicing my finger would prevent me from really leaning into a cast without one. The use of a fingerstall, the safety issue aside, gives me all the confidence to go for the big one and not worry about injury. As I said above, you need strong fine braided shock leader with no stretch to transfer the energy of the lead compressing the blank on the cast. To use braid you MUST protect your casting finger.
9. Make Sure Your Rod Handle is the Right Length: Now here is a point I bet most people don't think about when they buy a rod to cast long range with. The length of the handle. So you can transfer the maximum of your bodyweight into the cast, you need to be able to tuck the handle under your armpit as you follow through. If the handle is too long, you'll need to push it to one side at the end of the cast. You'll almost certainly be losing yourself a few metres like this. You don't need full custom built rods, but you should get a rod builder or a good tackle shop to tailor your rod for your arm length.
10. Cast Off the Deck: You can gain precious yards by laying your lead on the floor and casting off the deck. You'll transfer all the force of the cast almost immediately as you lift the weight, compressing the blank and unleashing the full power of the rod. A couple of points to bear in mind, you might want to uprate your leader strength to 100lb or so, as the casts of this type are brutal to say the least. You also might want to lay the lead and the rig on an unhooking mat of some such thing to avoid catching the rig on the ground or vegetation as you cast. I'd probably protect the hook point with PVA also to avoid it pricking the material.This is not an exhaustive list, but just a few tips and guide lines I've picked up to help you put extra yards on a cast. Don't be afraid of breaking a rod, although its always a possibility, modern carbon fibre is a hugely strong material and in normal fishing the risks are not too great. A fishing rod is a tool so use it to its full...
by Gareth Watkins
For more Carp Fishing News, Posts, Tips and Articles Check out my own Angling Lines Blog at : http://www.anglinglines.com/blog
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gareth_Watkins
Carp Fishing-Surface Fishing for carp
Here is an excellent article by Steve kempson for those who love to fish for Carp. It has some great carp fishing tips on how best to present your carp bait on the surface.Its just one of the fishing articles that I hope to publish on the subject of Carp Fishing.
Carp Fishing-Surface Fishing for carp
If you have not tried surface fishing for Carp you are missing out on a really fantastic and exciting method of Carp fishing There is nothing like seeing the big swirl around your bait and then that slurping sound as your surface bait is taken by what is usually the larger than average Carp.I have tried many methods of surface fishing and can tell you they all work and one of the most interesting facts is that the Carp you catch are usually bigger that what you will take from a bottom bait, I don't know why this is but previous experience has always shown me when I take a Carp from the surface its a nice one and bigger then the average bear !
We can use many different types of baits for surface fishing, dog biscuits, pop-up boilies, ready made floaters specially prepared with delicious flavours, the list is endless all of these works but my favourite is the old trusted bread crust. I have caught more Carp on floating bread than any other method and to set this up is really simple, I will explain this for you in a moment.I see many anglers using what we call the 'controller float' this is simply a float that is heavily weighted for casting distance and we have a 3 to 4ft tail with our bait usually sitting on the surface behind the float. Now, don't get me wrong this is a good method you can cast virtually anywhere but I have always found one major problem with this method the float will not stay in the prime area where you want it, especially if its a windy day, you know the spot by the Lillie pads where you have catapulted those free offerings and those carp are taking them like food is going out of fashion!.
I decided it was time for a change and tried something so simple it just could not work, or could it!, yes you are right it worked and it worked so well I could cast my bait out to the exact spot I wanted and it never moved, perfect!.So, what method did I use, here it is, please do not under estimate this method because its looks to simple I have found this to be very effective whenever I have used it, this is what you do. You setup a simple ledger rig, free running, slide the ledger on to the line, add a ledger stop below the ledger, one side only we need this to be free running and then tie on our hook, for crust fishing I will usually use a size 8 or 6 hook.Now we start with a tail of about 2 to 3 ft add some bread crust and cast out, id the bread does not rise to the surface our tail is to short and the depth of the water is deeper than 2 or 3 ft. We slide the ledger of another foot, re-cast until we can see the bread floating in top of the water. I have used this method in water that is over 10ft deep, so I had a ten foot tail but can still cast this out easily.So, now we have our weight sitting on the bottom and out bread floating on the surface, and yes you guessed, it will stay exactly where you cast it, even if there is a Gail force wind!.Give this method a try, I guarantee you will have great success.
Article written by Steve Kempson, 30 years of fishing experience and a lover of the sport. For more great fishing reviews please visit http://www.fishingguide4u.com/
email - L.kempson@btinternet.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steve_Kempson
Carp Fishing-Surface Fishing for carp
If you have not tried surface fishing for Carp you are missing out on a really fantastic and exciting method of Carp fishing There is nothing like seeing the big swirl around your bait and then that slurping sound as your surface bait is taken by what is usually the larger than average Carp.I have tried many methods of surface fishing and can tell you they all work and one of the most interesting facts is that the Carp you catch are usually bigger that what you will take from a bottom bait, I don't know why this is but previous experience has always shown me when I take a Carp from the surface its a nice one and bigger then the average bear !
We can use many different types of baits for surface fishing, dog biscuits, pop-up boilies, ready made floaters specially prepared with delicious flavours, the list is endless all of these works but my favourite is the old trusted bread crust. I have caught more Carp on floating bread than any other method and to set this up is really simple, I will explain this for you in a moment.I see many anglers using what we call the 'controller float' this is simply a float that is heavily weighted for casting distance and we have a 3 to 4ft tail with our bait usually sitting on the surface behind the float. Now, don't get me wrong this is a good method you can cast virtually anywhere but I have always found one major problem with this method the float will not stay in the prime area where you want it, especially if its a windy day, you know the spot by the Lillie pads where you have catapulted those free offerings and those carp are taking them like food is going out of fashion!.
I decided it was time for a change and tried something so simple it just could not work, or could it!, yes you are right it worked and it worked so well I could cast my bait out to the exact spot I wanted and it never moved, perfect!.So, what method did I use, here it is, please do not under estimate this method because its looks to simple I have found this to be very effective whenever I have used it, this is what you do. You setup a simple ledger rig, free running, slide the ledger on to the line, add a ledger stop below the ledger, one side only we need this to be free running and then tie on our hook, for crust fishing I will usually use a size 8 or 6 hook.Now we start with a tail of about 2 to 3 ft add some bread crust and cast out, id the bread does not rise to the surface our tail is to short and the depth of the water is deeper than 2 or 3 ft. We slide the ledger of another foot, re-cast until we can see the bread floating in top of the water. I have used this method in water that is over 10ft deep, so I had a ten foot tail but can still cast this out easily.So, now we have our weight sitting on the bottom and out bread floating on the surface, and yes you guessed, it will stay exactly where you cast it, even if there is a Gail force wind!.Give this method a try, I guarantee you will have great success.
Article written by Steve Kempson, 30 years of fishing experience and a lover of the sport. For more great fishing reviews please visit http://www.fishingguide4u.com/
email - L.kempson@btinternet.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steve_Kempson
Carp Fishing Tips - 10 Reasons Why You Should Fish The Margins
Here is an article by Gareth Watkins explaining exactly why we should fish the margins. But this is not only good advice for Carp it good advice for many species of coarse fish.so read on and enjoy these fishing tips.
Over the years I have been carp fishing both in France and the UK I have lost count of the number of carp I have caught fishing the margins. I would go as far as to say it is my number one choice of feature on any water. The less pressured the venue to closer in I would chose to fish. So here are ten of my reasons why, when you turn up at a new venue in France you should not over look the margins.
1. Largest Feature: The margins on any lake are the largest feature. Stretching all around the perimeter and that of any islands they offer a natural barrier where food will accumulate either by wind action or water movement. Food will fall or be thrown in the margins, and aquatic and semi-aquatic life will often lay eggs, hatch larvae or nest in the vegetation lined area of a lake.
2. Fish are Drawn to Feed in the Edge: Pleasure anglers nearly always fish close in, bait close in and throw spare bait in the edge; this in turn attracts fish and conditions them to patrol the margins of a lake. How often have you seen walkers, children etc feed the ducks in the edge? It stands to reason that any food thrown into a lake will also attract and be eaten by the fish. This includes carp, and is all the more true in Spring with flood water entering lakes and the run off from the land being important.
3. The Margins Offer Shelter: The margins of lakes often have overhangs & covering vegetation. Overhangs can on occasions stretch back several feet under the bankside, due to water erosion. Shaun Harrison proved this during a video shoot in December, when he banked a 20lb mirror on inches from the bank. This area, will offer a natural trap for food and shelter for fish species. Most margins are also rich in vegetation such as reedbeds, trees, lilies etc. These plants naturally grow along a margin where they are carried by the wind and currents. They offer a larder for the fish and help reinforce why margins are such a good place to fish.
4. Easy to Bait Up: It is far easier to bait up in the margin. You can do this with a simple catapult for pellets and particles or by hand for boilies. I remember in the 80's when I was fishing all sorts of particles to provide a blanket of bait, that the furthest we could fish was the catapult range of our bait. Fishing close-in increases the variety of baits you can use and avoids the use of baitboats, spods or feeders.
5. Easy to Fish Accurately: The ease of baiting means you can fish more accurately. Accuracy is so important in carp fishing. The margins are far easier to explore with a marker float, and once you have baited an area, to get your rig bang on the money. If weather conditions are against you, you have no worries about reaching your spot. Often a simple under hand swing is all that is needed.
6. Easier to land the fish: Fishing at long range is always more awkward and full of danger. However hooking a carp under the rods top gives you far more control. You are straight away in command. I have on occasions scooped a big lump into the net before it has realised its been hooked. Even if the first rush can be full blooded and brutal, the amount of line in the water and the reduced chance of getting snagged means that fish are more often than not easier to land when hooked close in.
7. Don't need big reels and long cast rods: Fishing the margins precludes the need for stepped up heavy, long distance carp rods. You can use softer more forgiving gear, lighter leads and smaller reels. You don't need big pits to cast 100 yards plus. Some of my friends still fish on the pin...now theres pleasure in fishing!!!
8. Far Margin is often quieter: If you chose to fish the far margin, and how many of us have ignored that sexy overhang on the far bank or the reed bed opposite? Then you will almost certainly be fishing the quieter part of the lake. Probably and area that is less accessible or inaccessible to other anglers or dog walkers. On waters that see a bit of pressure the carp will move away from this and the far margin is often an area they will hold up in.
9. Most people overlook this area of the lake: Curiously enough, despite all the reasons I have evoked above, the simple fact is most people don't fish the margins. I remember a question from and angler once 'Do you have any a long range swims on your lake?- because I've got rods that can cast 120 yards plus'. This type of question amazed me and my reply was that he'd be better off fishing where the fish were.
Equally even if anglers fish a close-in rod it is often at 20 odd yards, to me the margins are just that, inches off the bank.
10. If you're Too Drunk to Cast Out, Chuck it in the Edge: Finally the great Rod Hutchinson once said in 'A Carp Strikes Back', if you are too drunk to cast out, chuck it in the edge!!!
Gareth Watkins
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gareth_Watkins
Over the years I have been carp fishing both in France and the UK I have lost count of the number of carp I have caught fishing the margins. I would go as far as to say it is my number one choice of feature on any water. The less pressured the venue to closer in I would chose to fish. So here are ten of my reasons why, when you turn up at a new venue in France you should not over look the margins.
1. Largest Feature: The margins on any lake are the largest feature. Stretching all around the perimeter and that of any islands they offer a natural barrier where food will accumulate either by wind action or water movement. Food will fall or be thrown in the margins, and aquatic and semi-aquatic life will often lay eggs, hatch larvae or nest in the vegetation lined area of a lake.
2. Fish are Drawn to Feed in the Edge: Pleasure anglers nearly always fish close in, bait close in and throw spare bait in the edge; this in turn attracts fish and conditions them to patrol the margins of a lake. How often have you seen walkers, children etc feed the ducks in the edge? It stands to reason that any food thrown into a lake will also attract and be eaten by the fish. This includes carp, and is all the more true in Spring with flood water entering lakes and the run off from the land being important.
3. The Margins Offer Shelter: The margins of lakes often have overhangs & covering vegetation. Overhangs can on occasions stretch back several feet under the bankside, due to water erosion. Shaun Harrison proved this during a video shoot in December, when he banked a 20lb mirror on inches from the bank. This area, will offer a natural trap for food and shelter for fish species. Most margins are also rich in vegetation such as reedbeds, trees, lilies etc. These plants naturally grow along a margin where they are carried by the wind and currents. They offer a larder for the fish and help reinforce why margins are such a good place to fish.
4. Easy to Bait Up: It is far easier to bait up in the margin. You can do this with a simple catapult for pellets and particles or by hand for boilies. I remember in the 80's when I was fishing all sorts of particles to provide a blanket of bait, that the furthest we could fish was the catapult range of our bait. Fishing close-in increases the variety of baits you can use and avoids the use of baitboats, spods or feeders.
5. Easy to Fish Accurately: The ease of baiting means you can fish more accurately. Accuracy is so important in carp fishing. The margins are far easier to explore with a marker float, and once you have baited an area, to get your rig bang on the money. If weather conditions are against you, you have no worries about reaching your spot. Often a simple under hand swing is all that is needed.
6. Easier to land the fish: Fishing at long range is always more awkward and full of danger. However hooking a carp under the rods top gives you far more control. You are straight away in command. I have on occasions scooped a big lump into the net before it has realised its been hooked. Even if the first rush can be full blooded and brutal, the amount of line in the water and the reduced chance of getting snagged means that fish are more often than not easier to land when hooked close in.
7. Don't need big reels and long cast rods: Fishing the margins precludes the need for stepped up heavy, long distance carp rods. You can use softer more forgiving gear, lighter leads and smaller reels. You don't need big pits to cast 100 yards plus. Some of my friends still fish on the pin...now theres pleasure in fishing!!!
8. Far Margin is often quieter: If you chose to fish the far margin, and how many of us have ignored that sexy overhang on the far bank or the reed bed opposite? Then you will almost certainly be fishing the quieter part of the lake. Probably and area that is less accessible or inaccessible to other anglers or dog walkers. On waters that see a bit of pressure the carp will move away from this and the far margin is often an area they will hold up in.
9. Most people overlook this area of the lake: Curiously enough, despite all the reasons I have evoked above, the simple fact is most people don't fish the margins. I remember a question from and angler once 'Do you have any a long range swims on your lake?- because I've got rods that can cast 120 yards plus'. This type of question amazed me and my reply was that he'd be better off fishing where the fish were.
Equally even if anglers fish a close-in rod it is often at 20 odd yards, to me the margins are just that, inches off the bank.
10. If you're Too Drunk to Cast Out, Chuck it in the Edge: Finally the great Rod Hutchinson once said in 'A Carp Strikes Back', if you are too drunk to cast out, chuck it in the edge!!!
Gareth Watkins
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gareth_Watkins
Carp Fishing-Winter Carp Bait Pop Up Tricks for more Carp
Many anglers use their conventional tactics and rigs in winter and cold spring conditions without accounting for changes in carp behaviours due to the cold and carp being cold-blooded. So here are some proven tricks to try for more big winter and spring fish...
First off carp metabolism is much reduced which means less movement and feeding and less effective rates of digestion and so on. Carp and cold water is really all about the conservation of energy as this is central to these creatures survival. Although this produces changes in carp behaviours that can make them harder to catch, there are many things you can do to help maximise the opportunities and chances you have in winter fishing.
Probably the major factor in winter fishing in the consistent application of a digestible attractive bait designed specifically for these conditions. Believe me when I say I totally agree that instant attractor baits work very well in winter, but there are far more complex effects on carp that occur with many of these flavour substances than most anglers even imagine.
Many of the best flavours are extremely sophisticated and many are potently bioactive in effect like many top nutritional value baits. And having fished through the period years ago when Richworth Tutti Fruiti baits seemed to be the only winter bait used by the masses, it soon becomes clear that when used enough, such baits can become over-used to the degree they tend to catch predominantly smaller fish and the less wary carp! (This is very different to using a single bait fishing approach where such baits are not introduced en masse as free baits as well.)
Wrapping pop-up baits in paste of a completely different recipe base mix and flavour attractor combination is a well proven trick all year round. The chopping up of baits and trimming of pop-up baits for instance is nothing new and anyone who used luncheon meat and spam 30 years ago will have realised the effect of this on warier fish! (I used to soak mine in aniseed oil for winter.)
Many angler use the now infamous so-called snowman rig basically use of a sinking and buoyant bait on a hook rig so that one counteracts the weight of the other and much more importantly (and often missed,) the weight of the hook itself. Years before snowmen rigs, the use of a hook bait with a high fat content when used with a sinking boilie made rigs more effective especially in winter as being more buoyant, they helped counteract the weight of the hook, and assist baits in flying up into the mouth better among other effects. In fact after years of using tinned meats the incorporation of minced cheap tinned spam and luncheon meats has proven very effective in winter as they are so soluble and act more as attractive paste when used on a conventional boilie rig with boilies or particles etc.
My question is how many carp anglers use half a small pop-up bait to help balance a half a brazil nut or tip a hair full of chopped nuts or hemp in winter? Carp are notorious in winter even more so than usual, for choosing smaller sized food items and baits to satisfy their energy requirements. I find it so ironic that it is popular to use a chopped-down pop-up bait in winter when many of use have done it for decades. I suppose like anything else, eventually if something works the masses will get to hear of it so why not here?
Why not try this: add a liquid food such as Minamino, Nutramino, Liquid liver, liquid yeast or Feedstim XP to a 50 percent proportion of genuine Robin Red. Try this as your pop-up bait soak and apply it to all your free baits for winter (why not boost Robin Red based pellets too?) You might use one of the many Robin Red ground baits available alongside your hook baits.
Ground baits are not purely the domain of small carp as many carp anglers incorrectly assume; far from it! Bread based ground baits are very effective in cold water for wary big carp and you do not have be yet another conventional slave to hemp at all; the diversity of fantastic homemade and readymade winter ground bait and feed options are amazing! (Perhaps try testing your PVA products until you find ones you yourself like the taste and smell of that really do melt effectively without leaving a nasty residue in low temperature water; such little things make all the difference...)
Pop-up baits can include those fake baits too made of plastic and rubber substances etc and these obviously are used by many copy-cat anglers to tip-off there other baits. But like any other popularised method, copying eventually becomes counter-productive and doing things in new and alternative ways will always sustain more consistent success!
Personally I would far prefer to be using a buoyant pop-up bait made with 30 percent de-fatted green-lipped mussel extract (available from Cc moore), plus added squid liver extract powder, mineral salts and fish-digestible vitamin supplements, spirulina powders and European fermented shrimp extract, krill and salmon extracts for example, than a piece of rubber sweetcorn; even if it is trimmed to be different to normal and glows in the dark!
By Tim Richardson.Author: Tim F. Richardson
Article Sourse: http://www.ezinearticles.com/?Winter-Carp-Bait-Pop-Up-Tricks-For-More-Fish!&id=2050609
First off carp metabolism is much reduced which means less movement and feeding and less effective rates of digestion and so on. Carp and cold water is really all about the conservation of energy as this is central to these creatures survival. Although this produces changes in carp behaviours that can make them harder to catch, there are many things you can do to help maximise the opportunities and chances you have in winter fishing.
Probably the major factor in winter fishing in the consistent application of a digestible attractive bait designed specifically for these conditions. Believe me when I say I totally agree that instant attractor baits work very well in winter, but there are far more complex effects on carp that occur with many of these flavour substances than most anglers even imagine.
Many of the best flavours are extremely sophisticated and many are potently bioactive in effect like many top nutritional value baits. And having fished through the period years ago when Richworth Tutti Fruiti baits seemed to be the only winter bait used by the masses, it soon becomes clear that when used enough, such baits can become over-used to the degree they tend to catch predominantly smaller fish and the less wary carp! (This is very different to using a single bait fishing approach where such baits are not introduced en masse as free baits as well.)
Wrapping pop-up baits in paste of a completely different recipe base mix and flavour attractor combination is a well proven trick all year round. The chopping up of baits and trimming of pop-up baits for instance is nothing new and anyone who used luncheon meat and spam 30 years ago will have realised the effect of this on warier fish! (I used to soak mine in aniseed oil for winter.)
Many angler use the now infamous so-called snowman rig basically use of a sinking and buoyant bait on a hook rig so that one counteracts the weight of the other and much more importantly (and often missed,) the weight of the hook itself. Years before snowmen rigs, the use of a hook bait with a high fat content when used with a sinking boilie made rigs more effective especially in winter as being more buoyant, they helped counteract the weight of the hook, and assist baits in flying up into the mouth better among other effects. In fact after years of using tinned meats the incorporation of minced cheap tinned spam and luncheon meats has proven very effective in winter as they are so soluble and act more as attractive paste when used on a conventional boilie rig with boilies or particles etc.
My question is how many carp anglers use half a small pop-up bait to help balance a half a brazil nut or tip a hair full of chopped nuts or hemp in winter? Carp are notorious in winter even more so than usual, for choosing smaller sized food items and baits to satisfy their energy requirements. I find it so ironic that it is popular to use a chopped-down pop-up bait in winter when many of use have done it for decades. I suppose like anything else, eventually if something works the masses will get to hear of it so why not here?
Why not try this: add a liquid food such as Minamino, Nutramino, Liquid liver, liquid yeast or Feedstim XP to a 50 percent proportion of genuine Robin Red. Try this as your pop-up bait soak and apply it to all your free baits for winter (why not boost Robin Red based pellets too?) You might use one of the many Robin Red ground baits available alongside your hook baits.
Ground baits are not purely the domain of small carp as many carp anglers incorrectly assume; far from it! Bread based ground baits are very effective in cold water for wary big carp and you do not have be yet another conventional slave to hemp at all; the diversity of fantastic homemade and readymade winter ground bait and feed options are amazing! (Perhaps try testing your PVA products until you find ones you yourself like the taste and smell of that really do melt effectively without leaving a nasty residue in low temperature water; such little things make all the difference...)
Pop-up baits can include those fake baits too made of plastic and rubber substances etc and these obviously are used by many copy-cat anglers to tip-off there other baits. But like any other popularised method, copying eventually becomes counter-productive and doing things in new and alternative ways will always sustain more consistent success!
Personally I would far prefer to be using a buoyant pop-up bait made with 30 percent de-fatted green-lipped mussel extract (available from Cc moore), plus added squid liver extract powder, mineral salts and fish-digestible vitamin supplements, spirulina powders and European fermented shrimp extract, krill and salmon extracts for example, than a piece of rubber sweetcorn; even if it is trimmed to be different to normal and glows in the dark!
By Tim Richardson.Author: Tim F. Richardson
Article Sourse: http://www.ezinearticles.com/?Winter-Carp-Bait-Pop-Up-Tricks-For-More-Fish!&id=2050609
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