You’ll often hear it said that in carp fishing, location is paramount and it’s absolutely true. If you can find the carp and get a rig in amongst them, your chances of catching are far greater than if you're sat at the opposite end of the lake, where a fish may never even see your rig, let alone eat your hookbait.
However, there will be times when locating them is difficult and in these situations, it's important to focus on the features within a swim to help you make an informed decision. Here are some of the key areas to look out for!
Mounds, bars and clay beds
Nothing quite beats the crackdown of a lead hitting the bottom of the lake, as it reassures you that your rig is presented as well as it possibly can be. Gravel bars and mounds that rise from the lakebed can be excellent features to target, especially where the seam of gravel meets the silt. Carp will often use gravel bars as patrol routes, so very often a fish or two will pass a well placed rig at least once a day!
If you're fishing a lake that contains very little clay, these areas become particularly valuable, especially in the spring, as fish actively seek the minerals found in clay. They know exactly where to find it, and if your lead comes back with that sticky material attached, you've found a goldmine.
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Snags
Fallen trees, reedbeds, or other structures that provide shelter for carp are usually great places to position a rig, particularly when the lake is busy. All fish seek sanctuary, and snags offer that in abundance and if you can’t locate the carp elsewhere, there’s a good chance they’re held up under any snags they have access to.
While these spots can present excellent opportunities to catch carp, it’s crucial to fish snags safely. If you're in any doubt, don’t fish tight to snags, it's simply not worth the risk of a fish becoming tethered.
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Weedbeds
In the height of summer, weedbeds offer everything a carp could want from high oxygen levels, a rich supply of natural food, cover, and often protection from anglers’ rigs. If there are weedbeds in a lake, especially one particularly large one, the carp won’t be far away.
If you can find a nice, clean spot among the weed to present a rig, you’re in with a good chance. However, be aware that carp may vacate these areas at night, as the weed can begin to draw oxygen from the water, making it less comfortable for the fish.
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Islands
An island is as much a magnet for anglers as it is for fish and for good reason as carp simply love navigating their way around islands. The margins of islands are often undercut, providing perfect spots for them to tuck themselves away. The water around islands is usually shallower too, making them ideal areas to target in hot weather, especially if the rest of the lake is deep and tactics like zigs are banned.
YOU WILL NEED TO CAST ACCURATELY IF YOU WANT TO GET THEM MOST OUT OF FISHING TO ISLANDS!
Margins
Ask any match angler where they catch the biggest carp, and they'll always say the margins. Yet, for some reason, these areas are often the most neglected on carp lakes with many anglers obsessed with casting as far as they can.
Margins lined with trees or featuring reeds, lily pads, or other cover are excellent spots to target and very often, carp are swimming right under your rod tips while your rig sits 100 yards away. On your next walk around the lake, take a good look as you might be surprised by what you find. Try baiting a few margin spots and keep an eye on them, then go stalking and see if you can catch yourself a carp or two!
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Silt gulleys
On many lakes, there’s often a well-known swim named after a deeper area of silt that runs through the water. Don’t be put off by this as carp love to feed in silt, and you don’t always have to fish on gravel to catch them. In fact, fishing in silt can often produce even better results. If there’s a low-pressure front or any particularly ‘carpy’ conditions, these deeper areas, even in summer, can be the most productive spots on the lake to target.
THESE ARE THE PERFECT WEATHER CONDITIONS TO GO CARP FISHING!
