There are plenty of day ticket carp lakes, so anglers can have a change of scenery. Each lake welcomes anglers of all abilities and experience levels, although some are geared more to beginners. Choosing your venue is where you have to be honest with yourself - how good are you?
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If you've been fishing for only a few weeks, you won't enjoy searching for carp in a 50-acre gravel pit. You'd be far better off heading for a commercial carp lake, where it's easy to attract the fish. If your aim is to improve your casting, don't choose a lake where you must cast 100 metres to reach the fish.
If you're not sure where to go, the internet is full of useful information for anglers and will suggest where you can fish in your local area.
Species of carp
There are several different species of carp. The most prevalent species in Britain is the common carp, identified by its long, lean shape, regular scale pattern all over its body and two barbules on either side of its mouth. The largest one caught in Britain was 64 lbs.
Mirror carp have irregular scales dotted about all over their body and tend to have a more rounded shape than the common carp. The leather carp has an almost leather-effect skin, with fewer scales, although it has some along the dorsal line and on its tail. Ghost carp are a hybrid species - the result of breeding common or mirror carp with koi carp. Their scales come in shades of silver, gold and white and have a metallic sheen. Grass carp were introduced to Europe from Siberia and China. They have long, slender bodies and rounded heads. The largest grass carp caught in Britain was 44 lbs 8 oz.
Be prepared
Keep a waterproof storage box of spares in your car, including a gas canister and stove, at least two litres of drinking water, spare batteries, tinned food, a can opener, small pan, spare leads, hooks and a complete spare outfit.
You may think you won't need it, but it's a good idea to have it all, just in case! Be prepared for every eventuality or emergency.
Bait
Take sufficient bait, as there's nothing worse than being on a great trip and then running out. For a two-night weekend fishing trip, 5kg of boilies, some pellets and particle bait should be sufficient.
Keep your rods rigged up, tying a few rigs before arriving at the lake. Then, as soon as you arrive, you can be fishing within minutes, instead of wasting time because you're still preparing.
Watercraft
Checking the weather is important, as there's no point turning up with bottom-baits if the weather's going to be scorching hot, as the fish will be higher up in the water.
Be prepared for all weathers by taking both floater and zig fishing gear and bait. When you arrive at the lake, walk around to acclimatise yourself. If you have a quiet first night, this will change if the wind changes, so you may suddenly find yourself in a great position for when the fish turn up.
Once you've tied rigs and baited up, put the kettle on and sit and wait. Patches of bubbles on the surface of the lake will tell you the fish are feeding there, so you can move closer to these spots if necessary.
Carp rig
The choice of carp rig is down to personal taste and there's no specific one that's better than another. Stick to a rig you can tie effectively and make sure you know how to use it properly. Even some of the top anglers stick to a couple of favourite rigs. Familiarise yourself with how the rig sits on the lakebed and how it catches hold of the fish's mouth. Learn to tie and use a zig rig - the ideal choice from early spring throughout most of the summer.
In your rig box, pack wafter rigs, pop-up rigs and bottom bait. Learn to tie them simply, before advancing to anything tricky.
Marker floats
A key skill when it comes to carp fishing, you should learn how to use marker floats. Use a heavy 4oz lead to help it move through any low-lying weed. A buoyant marker float and a marker reel with braided line can be your biggest advantage.
A braided line is more sensitive and transmits every bump to the rod tip. A monoline isn't as sensitive in this respect. Keep your rod at 45 degrees and you'll feel the thud as the lead hits the bottom. As you become more experienced, you'll recognise whether the lake bed is clear, or if it is full of plant cover.
Fish not biting
A fishing trip when you don't catch anything isn't necessarily a waste of time, as it's all a learning curve for the beginner. Make notes on what you did, where you were, what the weather was like and any other factors that may have influenced your session. This will help you to build a picture of what to do and what not to do.
You should never stop learning - read online blogs, watch videos, read articles in angling magazines, etc. You can make use of downtime when the fish aren't biting by reading useful articles on your mobile phone. Don't be afraid to ask questions of more experienced anglers - they will usually be happy to pass on their knowledge!
Fishing rules
Each individual carp fishing venue is likely to have its own rules to ensure angling is fun for everyone and that the fish and lake are managed responsibly. Rules can include fishing from specific platforms only and using a purpose-made large landing net.
Many venues specify using barbless hooks only and may restrict the types of bait anglers can use. The main rule for recreational anglers is that they must not take the fish home with them. All of the carp must be returned to the water immediately after landing and photographing them.
Solent Plastics provides an affordable range of tackle boxes for anglers of all abilities. Give us a call on 01794 514478 for further information.