Carp Catchers Blog

In my last blog I talked about a new season baiting campaign and how to apply your bait. I touched on areas to apply your chosen boilies, but which areas should you choose?

Weed Beds

Unfortunately on most lakes in the UK you will be competing not only against the fish but also other anglers, particularly so if you can only fish at the weekends. In order to give yourself the maximum edge you  need to concentrate your baiting campaign in areas’ which are less attractive to the majority of other anglers. Weed beds are great carp holding areas, they are not so good for attracting carp anglers though, so these are a great place to start. Try to find some clear spots in the weed preferably, if this proves to be a problem apply your bait in likely looking spots around the edges. It is possible to create your own clear hotspots in the weed by putting a nice mix of hemp, small pellets, maggots and your chosen boilies into a few carefully selected places within the weedbed itself on a regular basis. The carp will rip out the weed in order to get at the goodies you have put in and as the area becomes clear continue baiting with boilies only. As I said in the last blog though, be very, very careful whose watching! Don’t forget to note down the exact location of your newly created hot spot.

Unpopular Swims

As you walk around your lake you will see the popular swims, the big double swim with nice bark chip or gravel, the swims closest to the car park, swims facing islands or other such features, swims where the grass is all but worn away. These pegs will be ok to fish and bait later in the season when the carp are searching out your bait, but for the moment avoid them like the plague. Look for the unpopular swims and put the majority of your bait in those, trying not to trample the grass, bushes etc. too much in the process so as not to alert other anglers to your presence.

Favourable Windward Bank

The predominant wind in the UK is the southwesterly. South westerly winds normally herald favourable carp fishing conditions, low air pressure, overcast skies, warmer air temperatures and very often rain(the rain not so good in my opinion). Try to find a quite swim or two on the bank into which a south westerly wind will blow and apply your bait.

Safe Areas

There will be places on your lake where the carp will feel safe and hold up when there is a lot of angling pressure on the lake. These will be places where they can’t be fished for, good examples are deep snags, no fishing areas etc. Get some bait going into these safe houses regularly even when you’re fishing elsewhere on the lake, as the carp very often venture out of them under the cover of darkness. 

This may not be a comprehensive list, but it is a good starting place so get out there and have a season to remember.

Best fishes,

John