Patience Is A Necessary Virtue When Carp Fishing
All you really need to enjoy a peaceful day at the lake fishing for carp are the basics of tackle, bait and patience by the bucketload. The first thing you will need to know though, is where to find the fish.
Still or slow moving water is that which carp prefer to live in, and this could be one of the best things about them. This means that you should have a nice relaxing time whilst pursuing your hobby. You can simply enjoy the quiet passage of time, whether you end up catching anything or not. Folk will go to enormous lengths to be photographed with a huge specimen, and carp fishing holidays in many different worldwide locations are very popular among novices and enthusiasts alike.
As an all-round sociable species, carp are usually found in groups of six or more. A quiet and shady place with lots of plant life around is the type of environment preferred by carp. Carp are bed feeders, as thus are difficult to spot from above water. You will, however, be able to tell if they are indeed there.
Carp fishermen like George Barnes have been patiently seeking out the best spots and preferred venues for many years. “They love the dark and the quiet,” he says. “If disturbed from their habitat, they may disappear and not return to the bed for days. They are easily scared, and a spot where four or five were landed on one day may be barren the next.”
Whilst a fifty-odd pound specimen has been recorded from time to time, it is not likely that your average carp fisherman would ever be that lucky. Typically, you will be looking at 3-5 lbs, so carp fishing tackle need not be too sophisticated. You don’t really need much more to begin your carp fishing journey than a simple rod and reel with a ten-pound line. A good float is a vital part of your carp fishing tackle. If you can afford a good float then it is best to invest in it as it will definitely help you. As carp are easily frightened away, it is not a good idea to keep pulling your line in and casting again.
As carp are omnivorous and will try almost anything which comes their way, there is a huge range of carp fishing bait on the market. “I usually use a ground bait, lowered gently into the water,” says Barnes. “Boilies or pellets or lobworm paste all work well. Once the fish are used to the introduction of these, they will be more inclined to take them from the hook.
“You must have patience for carp fishing. One day, you may have no luck with one type of bait, so it is essential to have as many different types of carp fishing bait in your bag as you can. Fruit flavour boilies or pellets can sometimes bring instant catches: on other days, you have to keep changing the variety of carp fishing baits before you get results.”
Other equipment, along with the Thermos and sandwiches, may be deemed necessary by some. Depending on the time of year, you may need to bring a variety of hooks. An extra rod can often come in handy. Keeping the set-up simple rather than using the fanciest tackle and latest variety of bolies can sometimes yield better results when carp fishing.
When it comes to the crunch, however, as people like George and thousands of other carp fishing enthusiasts will agree, you can load yourself up with all the fanciest bait and tackle you like, but if the fish don’t feel like biting, they won’t bite!. At the end of the day, the best thing you can take with you when going carp fishing is your patience!