(This article has been produced in partnership with CC Moore)
Generally, after the carp have spawned, they can become disinterested in a lot of baits anglers have to offer. How many times have you been to a lake and the carp are cruising around seemingly uninterested, and whilst they may take an odd floater (where allowed) the fishing slows down, and the fish are seemingly happy doing nothing. When it’s difficult to provoke a feeding response, this is the time to use pellets.
Pellets were originally developed to grow fish in a sustainable and healthy way. Everything in a pellet is therefore included to be of maximum benefit and digestibility, equating to a perfect food source for carp looking to pack on some mass and replenish their energy stores. Any good quality pellet, such as CC Moore’s Halibut pellets, are packed full of attraction from the various naturally occurring amino acids in the fishmeals and fish oils.
A carp has the ability to locate single bloodworm below deep silt, so don’t always assume you need to overstimulate the fish with liquids and flavourings, as the fish are dependent on aminos to locate their food, something pellets are packed full of. Carp know what is good for them and fish farmers feed their animals pellets for good reason, so it may be time to start including the in your armoury if you haven’t already.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT PELLET FOR FISHING
When it comes to pellets the choice really is endless, numerous flavours and colours can bewilder even the most seasoned angler, so keep it simple. As mentioned, pellets are attractive to fish because of their ingredients rather than flavourings, a good quality pellet will generally outscore a cheap, flavoured one. CC Moore Halibut Ultramixtakes the guess work out for you, providing a quality pellet in a mixture of sizes.
In the warmer water, higher oil pellets are generally best due to their longer breakdown time, with varying size pellets offering a continued stream of attraction as they breakdown at different rates.
To further boost the versatility and attraction of pellets use natural fish oils, as the oil compliments the amino release you’re looking to achieve, whilst also prolonging the breakdown time of the pellet (depending on how long they are soaked). Some of our favourites worth including are Tuna or Salmon oil, pure, high-quality oils that no carp can resist.
HOW TO FISH WITH PELLETS FOR BIG CARP
When it comes to fishing with pellets, it really comes down to your imagination, as they can be used in practically any situation. From a handful applied to various margins spots around the lake, to Spombing a large bed of pellets out to a spot. Once fish get a taste for the pellets, they really struggle to ignore them, and the best part is you are providing the fish with perfect nutrition, which can only be a good thing, right?
One of the most common and effective ways of using pellets is to use them in conjunction with a solid bag, providing the fish with a mouthful of bait that usually results in a fish on the bank. It's best to use smaller 2-4mm pellets for this tactic as they help take up all the space in the PVA, making the bag tighter and more aerodynamic, which will aid casting distance and accuracy.
USE A BLACK HOOKBAIT
When fish are eating pellets consistently, fishing a bright bait over the top is what you’ll see on 99% of all lakes and this can be counterproductive, especially if the fish have been subjected to bright singles all spring.
Putting a pellet on the hair is something that is rarely witnessed by the carp, yet river and match anglers catch loads of fish this way. Worrying about whether a pellet is still on your hair is a genuine concern, however, if you soak your pellets in the oils mentioned above, allowing the pellet to draw the oil all the way into the centre (2 weeks is ample), this can drastically extend the breakdown time. The acid test is to leave a pellet in some water and time how long it stays whole and fishing.
If you still want an edge away from the bright hookbaits but don’t trust using pellets on the hair, then CC Moore have you covered. New to the market are their Halibut Wafters, completely black in colour and shaped like a pellet these will match the pellets you’re feeding perfectly, as wafters they also negate the weight of the hook. Another benefit is they draw far less attention from birdlife, so no more diving birds ruining your chances at bite time.
When did you or someone you know last use a black hookbait? Chances are the answer is never, meaning the carp won’t have seen it either, this could just be the edge you have been looking for on your water. Give it a go next trip!