Conditions this year have been perfect for carp fishing. The water temperatures have remained high, and this has created the ideal opportunity for feeding.
My tactical approach normally revolves around ‘trapping’ individual carp on the waters I tend to fish, but conditions have been so good that I’ve managed to catch 80 carp in just four sessions on some big-fish waters.
It’s important to realise that the ecosystem that the carp live in – including the availability of natural food – doesn’t start to slow down until it drops below about 12 degrees Celsius.
Being aware of this is essential as we move into the colder months, when the fishing will become a lot harder.
However, just remember, that once you know what you’re doing, success in big-carp fishing is all about being on the bank at the right time and having access to waters with good stocks.
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SEASONAL CHANGES
Historically, carp anglers have recognised autumn as a time when the fish have a big feed-up in preparation for winter. This used to coincide with the first frosts, usually around October. With the natural food exhausted, the next-best thing the fish could eat was anglers’ baits. I think that this is sadly now a thing of the past, and instead of ‘the autumn feed-up’, I now see it as ‘the water temperature- dependent feed-up’.
At the moment, depending on the venue, temperatures are still quite high. The water could be anywhere from 8-14 degrees Celsius. Don’t worry about those ground frosts, the only thing that changes water temperature quickly is cold rain. So, a bit of frost on an otherwise warm day can actually result in great conditions.
Try to consider what might be going on in your venue in the autumn. Deeper lakes take longer to get cold. This is why they aren’t always the best in spring as, on the flip side, they take longer to warm up, unlike shallow venues.
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BOILIES ARE BEST
As long as the water temperature remains in double figures, on any autumn session I will give the carp a lot of bait. I’m looking to create a feeding situation with bait that satisfies the carp’s gustatory system: this is what it wants to eat and taste – feeding triggers, in other words. When the water temperature drops into single figures, I’m looking to appeal to the carp’s olfactory system, which is its sense of smell. This is why, in cold water, singles work well, as do baits that break down quickly, like Nutrabaits Solubles.
When it comes to my choice of bait, I have no problem with using fishmeal boilies, even as temperatures drop. It’s a nonsense that fishmeals don’t work in cold water.
That might have been true back in the old days when fishmeal baits had a high fat content, but nowadays most are made with LT94 fishmeals. So, these low temperature baits don’t have saturated fats that congeal like they used to.
Going back to quantity, I’d look to start the session with 5kg around each rod. With bait placement being a massive consideration too, I’d concentrate 4kg in a tight area with a Spomb, then spread 1kg around with a stick. These baits will be a mix of sizes, so 12mm, 16mm and 18mm.
I want to condition the fish into sucking in different things. If you use the same size and shape of freebies, then the carp will get used to the suction required to pick them up, making it far easier for them to suss out your rig.
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NATURAL PRESENTATION
Moving on to rigs, I always cast mine away from the main concentrated areas of bait and among the freebies introduced with the throwing stick.
I also always cast out with a small PVA mesh bag of two or three boilies, and everything will match what I’ve fed. I’m looking for a feeding pick-up, not merely an inspection. Therefore, my hookbait is identical to my free offerings and is not a pop-up.
The rig itself is a minimum of 12ins long, and this is because I have no issues casting over light bottom weed – in fact, I’m often looking for it.
Get them feeding in these areas and they are so easy to catch. Big fish shy away from clear areas, I find, and now that the water is getting even clearer, your traps can really stand out. If you’re worried about casting over light bottom weed, just remember, as long as you keep the boilie, the hair and the hook free of the green stuff, then you’re fishing.
BOOSTED BAITS
One final tip for boilie fishing lies in the preparation, which I like to do at home before my session. All anglers know how devastating liquids can be when it comes to boosting your baits, but most will use the wrong ones as we head into the colder months, which could actually hinder your fishing.
Move away from oils and glugs, and towards hydroslates, which are totally soluble.
I use the liquid foods by Nutrabaits and they completely dissipate in the water and don’t lie in a lump on the bottom.
Add these to your boilies straight from the freezer so that they become totally saturated in them. This is where boilie choice is also essential. A steamed bait can absorb far more of these liquids than a boiled one.
Get all these pieces of the puzzle right and you will be reeling in more than your fair share of big carp this autumn, I guarantee it!
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