Carp fishing has evolved over the years, so much so that rigs and baits that were a real winner in the past are now rarely seen at all on most day-ticket waters.
While getting on the latest wonder rig or bait early can be an edge, so, too, can be switching back to almost forgotten methods. Here are a few of those all-time classics you’ll hardly ever see on the bank.
THE HAIR RIG
There’s nothing wrong at all with a standard knotless knot hair rig. Put it in the right place and you’ll still catch your fair share of carp. If you’re casting out without anything to stop tangles, like PVA, it’s best to tie up with a coated braid, with the hair and the last few inches above the hook stripped back to allow free movement of the hookbait. Best fished on a hard lakebed like gravel, make sure you feather the cast, so the rig straightens out in flight. You can fish it over softer ground, too, by increasing the hooklink length to 12ins or more.
BOILIE OUT THE BAG
Most of us have a pretty extensive pop-up collection, with a host of funky smells and coloured baits to choose from. But, on pressured waters, the fish know that these ‘stand-out’ baits spell danger. You know what seemingly is never dangerous? All those freebies that have come straight from the bag – stick one on now and then... you may be surprised at the results.
THE STRINGER
This is a an under-used weapon nowadays, but it’s hard to see why. If you want to keep your boilie loose offerings to a minimum, but still have something around the hookbait, then a stringer is perfect. Best used in combination with the ‘straight out of the bag’ bottom bait boilie approach previously mentioned, don’t overdo the number of freebies on the string or tape. Four to six should be just the perfect mouthful. It works well with half baits, too, which you can’t feed with a throwing stick.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT HOW TO USE PVA IN YOUR CARP FISHING HERE.
GROUNDBAIT
Look at most carp anglers’ bait choices these days and it’s usually a bucket of particles or boilies. In all other angling disciplines, groundbait is essential to draw fish in to feed. Carp are no different and, with the right groundbait mix, you can keep them in the swim for a long time. Your options are endless in the current market, as carp favour both sweet and fishmeal flavours. Pump your mix with liquid attractors and you’ll likely turn your swim in to a bubbling Jacuzzi when the fish turn up. So, instead of 10 Spombs to kick off the spot on your next session, how about 10 balls?
BAITING UP WITH A CATAPULT
With a lot of focus on range fishing on most waters, how often do you see a catapult being used these days? Not only is it a quick way to get bait to a spot, with much less disturbance than a Spomb, but it also provides a different form of bait placement. The spread with a catty is far less inconspicuous than a solid clump of bait from a Spomb, which carp will see across most of the lake.
THE METHOD FEEDER
Pretty much a go-to for any commercial match angler, how often do you see this phenomenal tactic cast out on carp waters? The big-carp Method approach of the past generally centred around larger feeders capable of taking a decent amount of a Vitalin mix or scalded pellets. This busy tactic needs recasting around every half-hour to keep the swim busy. It works over most bottoms, and offers a similar presentation to the popular solid bag rig.
MEAT BAITS
Luncheon meat and Peperami are incredible carp catchers that hardly ever get used on the day-ticket circuit any more. In the summer, cubing up tins of Spam and adding it to your spod mix can give it a vital extra boost. The ‘Rami’ can be effective as a hookbait all year – it’s tough enough to resist small fish and is full of fish-luring oils.
CORN AND MAIZE
A regular addition to Spomb and spod mixes, but not so common on the hook, or as a feed on its own. The golden grains’ effectiveness at catching carp needs little explanation. This cheap bait will keep you going over winter and provides that vital visual attraction you need to lure in carp. On waters where it’s permitted, plastic hookbaits will help avoid the small fish. Two of these on a standard hair rig, presented over two Spombs of corn, will work on most waters.
LEARN MORE ABOUT CARP FISHING PARTICLE BAITS LIKE CORN IN THIS ARTICLE.
FLOATFISHING AND FREELINING
Around 99 per cent of carp rigs cast out feature some kind of lead arrangement, either to deliver the rig at range or to improve hooking mechanics. The art of striking is almost entirely gone in the big carp world. In the warmer months, however, floatfishing close to the bank can be a superb way to fool riggy fish. Whether it be fishing laying-on overdepth or the ‘lift method’, it’s worth adding some floats to your box. For real simplicity, why not remove the float too? Freelined baits will work all year round.
SCALING DOWN
With the average size of carp constantly on the rise, it seems anglers’ tackle choices are getting bigger too. Don’t rule out the smaller options, however, if conditions allow, particularly in winter when the water is crystal clear. Small hooks of size 10 and 12 can still land the biggest of carp. Boilies don’t have to be 16mm – switch down to 10mm baits.
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