If you slavishly use one tactic for carp year-round then you are probably doing yourself a massive disservice, as the behaviour of the fish varies greatly throughout the year.
In early spring, for example, just as water temperatures are beginning to rise, single bright pop-ups combined with a chod rig are an unmissable target for any inquisitive carp.
Try that same tactic now, after a summer of angling pressure, and you’ll probably only muster the odd bite.
Right now, falling water temperatures and significant leaf fall will affect water chemistry and potentially lead to tricky times on even the most prolific venues.
The good news is that the fish will still be active, and a targeted approach will often result in bites.
CHECK OUT THIS BUYERS GUIDE FOR OUR PICK OF THE BEST BUDGET BIVVIES.
Don’t go too heavy
The biggest mistake that I see many anglers make is turning up and baiting up relatively heavily and then, irrespective of whether or not they are catching, topping up with more bait as the session goes on. With most baits, but especially boilies, what you put in won’t be going anywhere. If you are not getting bites, or at least indications of carp being present, then adding more bait could work against you.
On busy venues we should also presume that ours won’t be the only baits in the swim.
Boilies will last for several days, and it could be that you are putting bait on top of what’s already out there.
I can think of several times when I have moved into swims that have become available and had a few quick bites simply by fishing single hookbaits over spots baited earlier by other anglers.
GET YOUR SPOMBING ON THE MONEY WITH THE BEST SPOD RODS.
One spot, two baits
Using marker sticks and clipping up guarantees spot-on accuracy and enables me to position two hookbaits close together. This way, I can experiment with different hookbaits to see if there is any noticeable preference.
I try to eliminate other confounding variables, such as different rigs, so that I know that any difference is down to the hookbait.
Bright versus muted coloured hookbaits is something that I will experiment with. You can also vary hookbait size and shape, or try dipped, paste-wrapped, and washed-out baits versus a boilie straight from the bag, or perhaps a pop-up as opposed to a bottom bait.
IN THIS GUIDE WE HAVE SELECTED OUR FAVOURITE BOILIES FOR CARP FISHING.
Kick-starter
Following on from the theme of accuracy, I also want my feed to go in as accurately as I can get it, and that means the use of a Spomb. Having checked out the spread of bait that can be achieved with a Spomb versus almost any other way of baiting up, underwater observations prove that this is the way to go, even if the spread is still more than you might imagine.
I find myself always having to check myself when Spombing, as it’s all too easy to get carried away and put in a lot of bait. It’s much better to tread lightly and introduce just enough bait to give the swim a kick-start. Ten to 20 Spombs is plenty.
I have been experimenting quite a bit with spod mixes recently in a bid to achieve a steady release of attraction. That means I don’t have to disturb the swim again once the initial dozen Spombs of bait have hit the spot.
Using simple breakfast oats as the base of my spod mix has worked well. Soaked overnight, these absorb a huge amount of liquid attraction and release it slowly. When mixed with hemp and corn, all the liquid goodness from these baits is soaked up like a sponge and then released over time.
Also added to the mix is a small quantity of chia seeds. When wetted, chia forms a thick gel that again holds that attraction and releases it slowly. A few broken-up boilies will also soak up liquid additives, giving a third, slower, release.
THIS HELPFUL GUIDE WILL HELP PREPARE THE BEST PARTICLES FOR CARP FISHING.
