| Many carp anglers have a habit of turning up at a | | | | feed freely around an island providing carp anglers |
| place that they think looks the best or one where | | | | do not target these areas too often as the |
| a few friends have caught carp before. However, | | | | pressure can force carp to seek other quiet |
| carp will always feed in places where they feel | | | | areas. Fishing an island on a new venue can be a |
| safe, and if anglers are catching carp regularly | | | | safe bet, especially on a quiet day, plus an island |
| from a certain place, then the carp will eventually | | | | can make a great marker for accurate casting |
| associate the area with danger rendering that | | | | without having to use a marker float which may |
| hotspot useless. | | | | spook the carp if used too much. |
| Many carp fishermen often believe that if they're | | | | Weed beds |
| not catching it's probably due to the wrong type | | | | Casting towards weed beds can be a nightmare |
| of rig, but even if you're using the best rig in the | | | | for many anglers. There can be many problems |
| world (which is impossible because there's no such | | | | with hook bait presentation, and if a carp is |
| thing!) you cannot possibly catch carp if there | | | | eventually hooked, you'll need to stop it from |
| aren't any around the swim! | | | | diving into the thick parts of the weed. The good |
| So, if you want to catch more carp on any | | | | news is carp love weed beds. It makes them feel |
| water, then you must locate the carp before | | | | safe and tends to contain lots of natural food. So |
| choosing a peg. This is not an easy task, | | | | if you are struggling to locate carp using sight |
| especially if there is a cross wind blowing on the | | | | alone then fishing close to a weed bed can |
| lake. But there are basic things to look out for | | | | produce plenty of carp. |
| before fishing for carp. | | | | Lilly pads |
| As you arrive at the lake, spend some time just | | | | These are similar to the weed beds in that they |
| watching the water looking for signs of carp | | | | provide shelter and food for the carp, thus they |
| movement or carp feeding. Try to look for fish | | | | are a great place to place a hook bait, especially |
| rolling or crashing in the distance. You may need | | | | for floating bait in-between individual pads. The |
| to bring some binoculars for this task. Look for | | | | only downside to fishing the lilies is they are often |
| feeding bubbles close in the margins as you walk | | | | situated near the bank so you may need to be |
| round the lake, if the bubbles are not static and | | | | quiet when setting up. |
| slowly travel across the water, then it's more | | | | Reed rush beds |
| than likely to be fish. Look for large swirls or | | | | Again these are a good place to see carp |
| movements on the surface of the lake. Okay it | | | | patrolling, however like lilly pads, they are often |
| may not be carp, but surely it's better to catch a | | | | situated close to a bank so the carp may not feel |
| tench or bream than nothing! | | | | as safe. This may effect how confidently they |
| Watch for carp jumping out of the surface of the | | | | feed. |
| water, especially around the middle of the lake or | | | | Overhanging trees |
| areas where nobody tends to fish. | | | | I believe overhanging trees are one of the best |
| If you can't see any of these signs within an hour | | | | places to head for when fishing on a new, |
| or two, then you can try other ways of locating | | | | unknown venue. They provide carp with plenty of |
| carp. A good tip is to choose an area where | | | | security and shelter, and I have personally |
| there are no fishermen at all. In other words, if | | | | witnessed carp feeding very confidently. I have |
| three-quarters of the lake is taken then choose a | | | | also seen some of the biggest carp caught from |
| peg somewhere in the other quarter. If you see | | | | under a tree. The reason I believe they are so |
| one of the best pegs empty, but there are carp | | | | good is because many anglers neglect them. I see |
| anglers all around it then stay away as the | | | | many carp anglers cast far out towards the |
| pressure of the surrounding anglers can drive carp | | | | horizon without giving a thought to the trees or |
| out of the area. Even if some are catching carp it | | | | fishing the margins. Many trees also grow berries |
| may be just the odd few fish swimming through | | | | which are a natural food for the fish so they may |
| their patrol routes. If you turn up on a lake at the | | | | associate overhanging trees as a natural area for |
| weekend and most of the pegs are taken, then | | | | feeding. |
| go where you have to, and if possible, cast into | | | | Snags |
| the middle as far from other lines as possible. The | | | | Snaggy areas can be some of the best places to |
| lines all around the lake may force carp into the | | | | find carp. Carp often associate these areas as |
| middle area of the lake. Remember the carp can | | | | safe because many anglers won't risk fishing in |
| hear all those leads splashing in the water even | | | | snags. However, if you're prepared to take some |
| from a distance, and if the lake is pressured the | | | | risks, you may be able to find a spot just away |
| constant splashes may just push most carp into | | | | from the snags where (if you fish with tight lines |
| the furthest regions of the lake. | | | | and stand close to your rods) you may be able to |
| Think about the weather conditions, not just on | | | | drag the carp away before they have chance to |
| that day, but also how has the weather been | | | | head for the safety of a snag. |
| over the previous days. If it's been hot, the | | | | Wind direction |
| shallow waters will be warm, and carp will head | | | | The direction of the wind is a common reason |
| toward those warmer regions, especially in the | | | | why many carp anglers end up in their chosen |
| cold mornings when the sunshine hits the shallow | | | | peg. The common belief is that carp follow the |
| water. | | | | wind. I agree, although I'm not sure why. Maybe |
| There are other ways of detecting possible | | | | it's because it helps push food towards the |
| hotspots. Just from looking at a lake's visible | | | | windward bank, or maybe it helps stir up food at |
| features you may be able to find possible holding | | | | the far bank. I have also read that the wind can |
| areas or sections where carp patrol. The most | | | | help push the thermocline down deeper. The carp |
| common areas where carp like to patrol are: | | | | tend to follow and swim in this comfortable, |
| | | | warmer water and thus end up closer to the |
| - Islands | | | | bottom where rigs are placed. Whatever the |
| - Weed beds | | | | reason, I do not believe it's always necessary to |
| - Lilly pads | | | | fish the far bank (windward bank) where the wind |
| - Reed rush beds | | | | is heading. Sometimes it's best to fish on the back |
| - Overhanging trees | | | | of a colder wind, especially at times of the year |
| - Snags | | | | when the oxygen levels in the water are high. |
| - Wind direction | | | | Shallow waters |
| - Shallow water | | | | The shallow waters may not sound like a potential |
| Let's discuss each of the above in more detail. | | | | hotspot, but if you turn up to a new venue on a |
| Islands | | | | cold morning and the sun is beaming down into |
| Islands are a common area where carp tend to | | | | the shallow end of the lake, I guarantee there will |
| patrol, because they offer some protection and | | | | be carp around the area. Shallow waters warm up |
| cover - providing there are overhanging trees | | | | much faster in the morning sun, and carp will |
| which protrude over the water. The carp may | | | | always seek out warm spots. |