| How can you really get the best carp fishing results | | | | Feeding lots of these tiny bait pieces in your swim |
| when things really hot up? How many anglers have | | | | over a reasonable period of hours can make carp go |
| not yet savored the joy of summer carp fishing and | | | | crazy for sure, even better than using dog mixers on |
| all the great opportunities and experiences of great | | | | pressured waters... A competitively feeding big carp is |
| catches, that summer brings? Why miss out on the | | | | easier to catch, but achieving multiple competitively |
| action! | | | | feeding big carp in your swim is far better! |
| Surface fishing is possibly your favorite method of all. | | | | In extremely hot summer conditions, do bear in mind |
| Actually watching the movements of the fish you | | | | conditions. Cover-up against the sun. Sun block is not |
| are about to hook is so exciting! The subject of | | | | enough, heat induced headaches and sun stroke and |
| surface bait silhouettes, shading and colors are | | | | even dehydration are not pleasant while fishing! So if |
| interesting, as is the ability of your bait to move in as | | | | you're new to hot weather carp fishing, be prepared |
| natural a way as possible and obscuring of the hook | | | | to take plenty of water and equipment to make |
| too. | | | | your own shade if needed. A 'bivvy' can turn from |
| Plastic baits are available flavored now and some can | | | | shade into a baking oven, leaving you nicely roasted |
| be made to glow in the dark too. It's not really | | | | and feeling quite ill in very hot conditions. Even that |
| surprising that baits such as 'glowing' artificial corn can | | | | cool box of beer may not save you! |
| be as effective in day time as in the dark. When | | | | Please remember though, if you're hot, then any fish |
| used in conjunction with other baits like pellets, boilies, | | | | you land certainly will be also. De-oxygenated water, |
| particles etc to enhance the carp's attentions they do | | | | contact with a hot carp mat (even when watered |
| demonstrate a proven edge. Plastic baits are great | | | | down) and simple stress from handling, can easily |
| for simultaneously offsetting the weight of your | | | | induce shock in more weakened fish. These may be |
| hook, and changing the behaviour of your rig too. | | | | spawn bound, or in post spawning recovery. Many |
| Floating corn is fairly new to the scene in the UK as | | | | spawn bound fish are likely to be very big, and very |
| is giant corn. Pink and white marshmallows are a good | | | | vulnerable and perhaps some of the biggest residents |
| sweet alternatives. The variety of multicoloured | | | | of your water. |
| floating candies that can be exploited is amazing. For | | | | Especially at times directly after or between |
| those of you more natural bait oriented air injected | | | | spawning, many big fish are very susceptible to being |
| worms of different types, dipped in additives can | | | | caught, being ravenous and energy depleted. But |
| really work well, although the ethics may need | | | | they are most at risk of suffering from shock when |
| considering here... | | | | caught and in the case of high density stocked very |
| Using large quantities of floating maggots and casters | | | | small waters with little shade, this can be lethal. Please |
| on the surface as chum can be devastating and on | | | | be prepared not to fish if this could be a risk! (If the |
| waters where this has already been done, the | | | | forecast is 90 degrees perhaps it's best to head for |
| flavoured bait sprays can be a great edge too. | | | | the beach and not that small commercial lake!) |
| Floating fish pellets of many types from pond sticks | | | | Just as a side note, especially in the UK, if you fish a |
| and pellets to floating salmon pellets etc, have always | | | | small commercial lake with a high fish stocking with |
| worked well. Using tiny floating pellets soaked in | | | | no oxygenating weed or pump and fish behaviour |
| additives is another edge where standard sized dog | | | | and catches indicate that severe de-oxygenation of |
| biscuits have been over-used in the past. Just as with | | | | the water is taking place, take action. Insist that a |
| bottom baits, it pays to mix different sizes, colours, | | | | pump is installed and turned on. I fished one water |
| flavours, oil contents, weights etc together, to | | | | where the pumps were not in use which led to an |
| confuse your carp. Even spotting your own hook bait | | | | easily avoidable big fish death. (It's no good having |
| can be impossible when using this approach! | | | | 'emergency pumps' if they're not in use when |
| In very hot weather, adding cork or foam etc to | | | | obviously needed; it takes time to re-oxygenate a |
| float any sinking type bait, including any boilie is good, | | | | water!) So please make management responsible |
| especially if that boilie used is the dominant catching | | | | especially if the water has a record of fish wipe-outs |
| one that water at the time. Making a homemade | | | | due to de-oxygenation! |
| buoyant base mix and simply rolling it flat and | | | | The author has many more fishing and bait 'edges' up |
| chopping into small pieces, then air-drying these | | | | his sleeve. Every single one can have a huge impact |
| pieces is a great alternative. You can pack them full | | | | on catches. (Warning: This article is protected by |
| of your chosen attractors and go fishing extremely | | | | copyright.) |
| confident indeed! | | | | By Tim Richardson. |