In the warmer months, most of my sessions are spent watching carp feed in the edge, and setting marginal traps for them. Fishing in this way has allowed me to observe how the fish behave, which has taught me some important lessons.
One of the most eye-opening revelations is that your rigs will be rejected far more often than you realise... even those deemed as ‘anti-eject’! Stalking fish from the margins is a really exciting way to fish, so follow my guide and you’ll be able to catch big carp from under your rod tip.
NEED A NEW CARP ROD? OUR BUYER'S GUIDE CONTAINS SOME EXCELLENT RODS TO CHOOSE FROM.
Home in on hotspots
You can only catch what’s in front of you, so start your session by looking for fish. Carp, especially in summer, give away their location in several ways. A strong breeze which causes waves to hit the facing bank will stir up the bottom and increase oxygen levels.
You can be pretty certain that carp will be close by. Once at the windward end of the lake, look for clouded areas where feeding fish have disturbed the bottom, bubbling or shows. In the heat, fish may be looking for cover, so reed beds and overhanging trees are worth investigating.
WANT TO CATCH CARP FROM THE MARGINS? OUR WHERE TO FISH GUIDE HAS YOU COVERED!
Stealth baiting
The second task with margin fishing is to bait some clear areas which you can easily see with a pair of polarised glasses. If possible, use the elevation of bankside trees to get a good vantage point over these spots. This will increase your chances of seeing fish and you can then make a more informed decision on where to bait up, based on their movements.
Use a good mix of particles and boilies to prime areas, as variety keeps the carp guessing and will hold fish in the swim for longer as they sort through the various sized items. I like to use hemp, corn, small pellets and whole or chopped boilies. When you watch fish feeding you may notice that they show a preference for a certain bait, and you can adjust your hookbait accordingly.
CARP CAN BE CAUGHT ON A VARIETY OF BAITS, OUR EXPERT ARTICLE GUIDES YOU THROUGH THE BEST OPTIONS TO TRY.
Stay under the radar
Once you have fish feeding in the edge the next key to success is hiding yourself from them. Carp have excellent hearing and can feel the vibrations of a heavy footfall, so tread as lightly as possible. Whenever you can, wear colours that blend in too – not a bright yellow T-shirt! Concealment also needs to be considered with rig placement and components.
The best way to avoid spooking a fish off a margin spot is to throw in a tiny amount of feed over the top. This should encourage the fish to move off the spot rather than bolt from the area altogether, giving you the opportunity to delicately lower your rig into position before the fish returns.
Lowering the rig in means you can achieve perfect presentation on the spot, with minimal disturbance.
Hiding the line is vital, and as long as you aren’t fishing near any serious snags this can be done by slackening it right off. Alternatively, add a few blobs of putty above the lead to ensure the line closest to the rig is pinned down. Remember to stay on your rod at all times but try to resist the urge to stand over the carp and watch things develop.
If you have followed the steps outlined here, you shouldn’t have to wait long for the rod to rip off the rest!
IF YOU'RE NEW TO CARP FISHING, YOU NEED TO READ OUR ARTICLE ON CARP FISHING FOR BEGINNERS.
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