Fish farm owner, fishing expert and seasoned carp angler Ben Grethwick reveals the most common mistakes almost every carp fisherman makes.
As the owner and manager of a fish farm, as well as a passionate carp fisherman, I think I have seen almost all the mistakes that amateur carp fishers make. Having walked many times near the reservoirs of my farm and observed fishermen, as well as from my own experience, I can identify the six most common mistakes that almost everyone makes. I have a desire not only to describe them, but also to talk about how they can be corrected and even prevented.
1. Choosing a fishing spot.
First on the list and the most common mistake. Even with good equipment, a super bait, a rod, a reel, a new tent, if you choose the wrong place, you won’t catch anything. Dot!
How many lamentations have I heard from unfortunate fishermen about how this reservoir is crap, there are no fish here, etc., etc. Many fishermen stop in a certain place only because they once caught a bite there, they fished there in last time, because the place is located near the parking lot, has a beautiful view, or there is a site suitable for pitching a tent. Okay, stop!
Before stopping anywhere, take the time to look closely at the lake through good polarized glasses. Very few anglers wear them, but they are an essential attribute of a successful carp angler. Think about weather conditions. Is it sunny today? Which way is the wind blowing? How many fishermen are there on the pond, and where are they located? Take your time, carefully inspect each area, look at the water. For a better view, climb a tree. Better a bad bait presentation in a good place than a good presentation in a bad place!
2. Don't start running until you can walk.
If you are just starting to master any type of fishing, do not rush, first study it well. Once you reach a certain level, continue to study, constantly improving your skills. Fish where it is easy for you to catch fish based on your skill level. Don’t be too arrogant about only going after big fish. More than once I have seen those who spent their hard-earned money fishing in a reservoir where large carp live, but it is very difficult to catch them there, although there was a more generous lake nearby. After 48 hours they went home without having caught anything, cursing everything in the world, and especially the reservoir. But if they were located on a nearby lake, they could catch several trophies, learn something and go home in a good mood.
Size is not everything in carp fishing! I have much more respect for those anglers who catch carp constantly, regardless of size, than for those who manage to catch one or two, but large ones, over the same period. Give preference to simple and proven fishing methods; there is no need to complicate life, because it’s just carp!
3. Impermanence.
A good bait will catch fish again and again. The same goes for equipment. So put them together and that’s it! And you don’t have to look far for good bait, good equipment, and good anglers who use them successfully. But many people are ready to change everything quickly. If something doesn’t work today, they immediately go looking for a new attachment and equipment.
CC Moore bait and pellets provide excellent results on our ponds. You can tick them, they are tested and work great. A small bottom bait with a colored piece also worked well. Let’s put another tick, this is a good presentation of the attachment. The Blowback Rig works great with a 15–20 cm leader and a size 6 to 8 hook. We put a tick.
I am absolutely sure that using this set you will not be left without fish. A good angler learns a new method and sticks with it because consistency is the key to success. Look at famous carp anglers. Everyone has their favorite attachment, rig or presentation. And if it happens that they fail to catch fish, then they do not throw the bait into the bushes, as if it were good for nothing, and do not cut off the equipment, but continue to fish, because they are confident in their effectiveness.
4. Scare away the fish - failure is guaranteed.
If they gave me a pound for every piece of advice – to move away from the water, not to be located at the very edge of the shore, to be quieter – I would become a very rich man, and our lakes would turn into a syndicate!
There are always a lot of fishermen on our reservoirs, so the fish are constantly on the alert. To say the least, it is not easy for a carp angler to outwit such a fish. Walking around our lands 8-10 times every week, my assistant and I have seen more than once how fish, when there are no fishermen, or they are all on the other side, simply go crazy – splashing, muddying the water, swimming near the surface… But As soon as the carp angler begins to lay out the tent, hammering pegs into the ground, waving a marker and spod rod, hitting the water with a heavy sinker, the fish goes to the bottom or to the opposite shore.
If the fish is right in front of you, try to stay away from the water. Don’t make noise, lay out your equipment carefully, and don’t go close to the water. If fish are nearby, walk as quietly as possible. To avoid spooking the fish, cast small weights. If possible, set up your tent further from the shore. Try to disguise yourself somehow by installing a curtain so that the fish does not see your movements. You can use a camouflage net as a curtain.
Leave a reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.