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