As we near spring, I’m sure every anglers thoughts turn more to fishing. First
up, where will you be fishing over the coming months? The same waters as previous
years or somewhere new and exciting? Perhaps a syndicate ticket has finally
come up for you. Could be plans to target a day ticket water with rumours of
big fish. Or will you be escaping busy waters and have plans on fishing the
rivers and canals in search of an uncaught big fish
up, where will you be fishing over the coming months? The same waters as previous
years or somewhere new and exciting? Perhaps a syndicate ticket has finally
come up for you. Could be plans to target a day ticket water with rumours of
big fish. Or will you be escaping busy waters and have plans on fishing the
rivers and canals in search of an uncaught big fish
With the amount of floods over the last 20 plus years, sadly 100’s of fisheries
across the U.K. and Europe have lost valuable fish stocks in to the rivers and
canal systems, where many of these receive very little pressure and in some
cases no pressure at all. We’ve personally seen catch reports of 40lb+ carp
from rivers that I’m certain found their way in during the floods. Big fish
like to find peace and quiet with no angling pressure so the quiet canals and
back waters you drive over on a regular basis may just hold something very
special.
across the U.K. and Europe have lost valuable fish stocks in to the rivers and
canal systems, where many of these receive very little pressure and in some
cases no pressure at all. We’ve personally seen catch reports of 40lb+ carp
from rivers that I’m certain found their way in during the floods. Big fish
like to find peace and quiet with no angling pressure so the quiet canals and
back waters you drive over on a regular basis may just hold something very
special.
Making the decision where to fish can make or break your fishing year, choose wisely
and you could have a fantastic year ahead, choose poorly and it could be a
frustrating year. I’ve seen it time and time again anglers jump from productive
waters onto low stocked, highly pressured waters in the hope of catching one of
the big fish, but after a few months leave demoralised. Make your choice
carefully, if you like the buzzers to burst into life on a regular basis, is
heading to a low stocked water the right decision ?
and you could have a fantastic year ahead, choose poorly and it could be a
frustrating year. I’ve seen it time and time again anglers jump from productive
waters onto low stocked, highly pressured waters in the hope of catching one of
the big fish, but after a few months leave demoralised. Make your choice
carefully, if you like the buzzers to burst into life on a regular basis, is
heading to a low stocked water the right decision ?
My advice would always be to have a backup water, somewhere you know well and
confident in fishing. Don’t stick with a water if you’re not feeling it and
getting in tune with the style of fishing needed. Take a break and fish your
back up for a while then return for another go. We’ve all had waters that have
proven frustrating over the years, any angler saying otherwise would be lying.
confident in fishing. Don’t stick with a water if you’re not feeling it and
getting in tune with the style of fishing needed. Take a break and fish your
back up for a while then return for another go. We’ve all had waters that have
proven frustrating over the years, any angler saying otherwise would be lying.
Once the waters are chosen, it’s time to work out the tactics you will be employing,
whether it’s distance fishing, heavy baiting or stalking the itch to get
started will be on you soon. Anglers back on the same waters who are chasing a
target fish or anglers hoping to get off the mark in the first couple of
sessions on a new water. What’s important is to choose your bait wisely, choose
well and stick with it. One or two blank sessions doesn’t mean the bait doesn’t
work, it’s choosing the right spots and being there at feeding times which will
help in where and when to place your baited rigs.
whether it’s distance fishing, heavy baiting or stalking the itch to get
started will be on you soon. Anglers back on the same waters who are chasing a
target fish or anglers hoping to get off the mark in the first couple of
sessions on a new water. What’s important is to choose your bait wisely, choose
well and stick with it. One or two blank sessions doesn’t mean the bait doesn’t
work, it’s choosing the right spots and being there at feeding times which will
help in where and when to place your baited rigs.
For example one water I’ve fished for several years, the feeding times during the
warmer months has always been around 9am to 11am. Strange but you could almost
set your clock by it, then you see on a Sunday morning, anglers packing up from
first light and the lake being deserted by 9am. Leaving it to the die hards who
don’t mind getting in trouble for getting home later than promised from fishing
the weekend.
warmer months has always been around 9am to 11am. Strange but you could almost
set your clock by it, then you see on a Sunday morning, anglers packing up from
first light and the lake being deserted by 9am. Leaving it to the die hards who
don’t mind getting in trouble for getting home later than promised from fishing
the weekend.
When I join a new water, I like to walk the lake several times before my first
session, also sit quietly in a good viewing area and watch for a couple of
hours. It’s amazing what you learn watching nature, carp giving away their
location, birds being spooked etc. all clear signs and giving you starting
points. Don’t go off others advice, learn for yourself as when it comes
together it feels far better than following someone else into a supposedly
going swim and fishing over someone else’s spots. Carp are not fools, they soon
associate so called hot spots with danger. The older and wiser carp tend to
back off these areas after being caught several
session, also sit quietly in a good viewing area and watch for a couple of
hours. It’s amazing what you learn watching nature, carp giving away their
location, birds being spooked etc. all clear signs and giving you starting
points. Don’t go off others advice, learn for yourself as when it comes
together it feels far better than following someone else into a supposedly
going swim and fishing over someone else’s spots. Carp are not fools, they soon
associate so called hot spots with danger. The older and wiser carp tend to
back off these areas after being caught several
Bait Choices
Which one to choose, be honest with yourself and work out how often you will
realistically go fishing. Look at your previous years as a guide. Unless you’re
making a life changing decision such as retiring then the majority of us will
roughly get the same amount of times per year give or take a few days / nights.
realistically go fishing. Look at your previous years as a guide. Unless you’re
making a life changing decision such as retiring then the majority of us will
roughly get the same amount of times per year give or take a few days / nights.
I’ve become realist over the last few years, I used to convince myself every year
that the upcoming year I was going to fish more often. I was only kidding
myself, with a busy family / work life, my fishing tends to be 48 hour session
every third weekend with the occasional night or day session between.
that the upcoming year I was going to fish more often. I was only kidding
myself, with a busy family / work life, my fishing tends to be 48 hour session
every third weekend with the occasional night or day session between.
My fishing over the last few years has been split. Spring and summer I’ve been
targeting Grenville’s, the reason being the 200 mile round trip, getting there
before dark on a Friday in autumn / winter isn’t possible, so for this reason I
move onto Hull & District waters which are only 30 to 40 minutes drive from
home. I’ve also managed to get a ticket on a much sought after northern water
with several gems, I’ve not had the opportunity to fish there yet but I’ll be
visiting soon.
targeting Grenville’s, the reason being the 200 mile round trip, getting there
before dark on a Friday in autumn / winter isn’t possible, so for this reason I
move onto Hull & District waters which are only 30 to 40 minutes drive from
home. I’ve also managed to get a ticket on a much sought after northern water
with several gems, I’ve not had the opportunity to fish there yet but I’ll be
visiting soon.
So for myself, on a bait front I choose one bait for the year, the last 2 seasons
it’s been a swap over to Trigga Ice which has served me well with several big
and beautiful carp.
it’s been a swap over to Trigga Ice which has served me well with several big
and beautiful carp.
This year, early spring it will be the Trigga Ice once again, but May onwards, we
have been working long hours between getting orders out on a new and exciting
bait. Tank tests and first tests have been carried out and field testing will
start shortly. Field testing being a strange situation, myself and Jason are
genuinely excited about this one after taking over 2 years to source special
ingredients which we know will elevate a very good bait, loaded with premium
quality ingredients into something very special.
have been working long hours between getting orders out on a new and exciting
bait. Tank tests and first tests have been carried out and field testing will
start shortly. Field testing being a strange situation, myself and Jason are
genuinely excited about this one after taking over 2 years to source special
ingredients which we know will elevate a very good bait, loaded with premium
quality ingredients into something very special.
Field Testing
Targeting big carp waters with a totally untested bait can seem strange and one few
anglers appreciate. We hear it time and time again, anglers who would love to
field test new baits. With the majority saying I’ll put it on one rod and see
how it performs. Well that’s not the way field testing works, it needs to be on
all rods to get a true reflection on effectiveness, so watch this space moving
forward.
anglers appreciate. We hear it time and time again, anglers who would love to
field test new baits. With the majority saying I’ll put it on one rod and see
how it performs. Well that’s not the way field testing works, it needs to be on
all rods to get a true reflection on effectiveness, so watch this space moving
forward.
So for me once the final show of the year is finished which is the new Doncaster
Carp Show on the 5th and 6th April, my fishing year finally starts. It will be
the long journey back to Grenville’s as a weekend warrior, hoping to work out
where the carp will be hiding this year. May also sees my pilgrimage back to
the mighty Lac du Der, fingers crossed this year I don’t drop on the carp
spawning again. It’s always a gamble heading to Europe in May but it can also
be the most productive times of the year.
Carp Show on the 5th and 6th April, my fishing year finally starts. It will be
the long journey back to Grenville’s as a weekend warrior, hoping to work out
where the carp will be hiding this year. May also sees my pilgrimage back to
the mighty Lac du Der, fingers crossed this year I don’t drop on the carp
spawning again. It’s always a gamble heading to Europe in May but it can also
be the most productive times of the year.
I wish you all a fantastic year and hope to see your catch reports flooding into Nutrabaits HQ.
Tight Lines
Rich Hughes
