When it comes to talking about bait application in carp fishing, the first question most people ask is, how much should I feed?
However, there are so many more sides to this topic that anglers need to consider if we are to make the most of our time on the bank. You could write a book on this fascinating aspect of carp watercraft, but for now we will stick with two main themes – where and when.
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Where to feed?
It isn’t as easy as just turning up, finding a clear area and filling it in with your Spomb.
Choosing precisely where to feed is a decision that should only be made after taking into account a number of factors. The first is fish location. With careful observation, or by making an informed prediction based on their regular patrol routes, you need to find out where the carp are sitting, and in which direction they are most likely to be heading.
There’s no point baiting up heavily in a corner of the lake which the carp are known to only visit on the odd rare occasion. Areas like this are best suited to small, discreet traps. The middle of the lake, however, is a common passing point for the fish.
A healthy deposit of feed in these areas will be picked at regularly. Of course, you probably won’t be the only angler ‘filling it in’ out there.
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Watch the weather
The weather is another consideration. Whether it is sunny, overcast, clear or cold, along with wind direction and air pressure, will dictate the carp’s movements and locational preference. Wind direction will also determine how close fish come to the bank, and how far you can physically deliver the bait.
If the wind changes during your session, and you find yourself casting straight into a force nine gale, you may discover you can’t hit the spots you baited earlier.
Planning for these changes and not casting to your absolute limit, will ensure you’re able to bait the same spot accurately at all times.
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Find the features
The final factor is topography. Most popular day-ticket venues will have numerous underwater features to locate and target.
With gravel bars, you will find that natural food congregates at the base of the bar, not on top of it, where anglers often put their feed.
When fishing to these features, it is also worth considering your bait choice. Depending on the size and incline of the bar, bait can easily roll off the sides and away from your accurately placed rigs.
The same can be said when fishing tight to islands or in the margins. You may think that fishing tighter is better, but if the marginal shelves are steep you could find your freebies naturally end up well away from your rigs.
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If you haven’t mapped the area effectively beforehand with a marker float, you may want to hold back on the feed until the answers are made clear to you by the fish.
The lakebed type will have an impact on how you should feed the swim. Anglers generally prefer to fish over clean and firm areas of gravel or clay. However, these aren’t necessarily the areas the fish want to feed on.
Weed and silt may cause presentation problems, but they are packed with natural food. Baiting on top of Canadian pondweed is not recommended, as individual food items can get lost through the strands. Baiting on top of blanket weed, though, and fishing a suitable presentation on top, can be super-effective.
Carp love sifting through silt for food, and a helicopter rig presented among a banquet of freebies in ‘choddy’ areas can be deadly.
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