Catching Carp on Limited Time!
Like a lot of carp anglers these days, my free time is at a premium. Trying to balance a stressful work life, keeping my wife happy and being the best dad I can be to my one-year-old daughter consumes the vast majority of my life, but if the carp fire burns bright enough, there’s always an opportunity to get out and scratch that itch.
At this stage in life, the two- and three-nighters that used to be a regular feature in my fishing routine are a long-since distant memory, and I’ve had to adapt my angling to fit in around the things that matter most. These days it’s mostly overnighters for me, and I’m happy with that. I’ve made a few small adjustments to the way I angle that allow me to get out on a semi-regular basis, and I want to share those with you to help make your overnighter life much more doable and enjoyable.
Limited time doesn’t have to mean limited success!
PREPARATION, PREPARATION, PREPARATION
The first change I made was to thin out any kit I didn’t need to be lugging around the pit I’m fishing. It might sound insignificant, but believe me, travelling light will make your fishing far more achievable and pleasurable, especially when setting up and packing up in the hours of darkness as the clocks go back.
My bag contains the terminal items I need, a handful of leads, a couple of Spombs, camera kit, hookbaits and scales. That’s it really. All my spare leads stay in the car to keep the weight down and I’ve even reduced the amount of water I take; just enough for two or three brews and some porridge in the morning. I tend to have dinner at home with the family before I head out, so I don’t need to worry about grub which, again helps me stay focused and reduces unnecessary weight.
There are so many advantages to stripping everything back. Not only does it make setting up and packing up easier; it also helps you simplify your angling, which can only be a good thing. I like to tie up half a dozen hook sections prior to my night on the bank and will have a couple of options ready depending on the area of the lake I end up in. Being mobile and able to react to subtle shows will definitely improve your catch rate, meaning you are one step ahead of matey next door who’s bogged down with everything but the kitchen sink!
Preparation is key on limited time!
VENUES
Normally I predominantly concentrate on one venue at a time, which makes overnighters a bit easier, especially when swim choice and location come into play. Take the pit I’m currently fishing, for example. Over time, I have intentionally fished all over the lake, even if just for a few hours. This has helped me build up a picture of spots or zones the fish like to be in at any given time of year more than anything else.
Everything gets written down in my phone and this information is critical to me when it comes to angling on limited time. Often I’m arriving after my daughter’s in bed, which could be 7.30-8pm and, let’s be honest, the chances of going on shows, especially in the depths of winter, are relatively slim. Even if you do manage to see one slip out in the moonlight, getting on them on busy waters can be a challenge in itself. Of course, that would be the first line of attack, but having previous information written down can help point you in the right direction and get you fishing effectively without the need to thrash the water to a foam when time is of the essence.
I make a note of tree-line markers, spot distances, bite times and captures to build up a picture that aids me to make an educated guess if there’s nothing to go on during my walk round. It also really helps if I’m lucky enough to see or hear anything during the walk, and any notes I’ve made make getting the rods in position with minimal disturbance a doddle.
It’s beneficial to concentrate on one venue at a time
BAIT
For years now I have exclusively been using The Bug. It just works! Spring, summer, autumn and winter, it really is a phenomenal bait for all seasons. It’s something I don’t have to worry about, as I know its capabilities so I’m not chopping and changing anything, which again lends itself well to only having a few hours to make something happen.
I like to give my boilies a good slug of the matching Hydro Spod Syrup and some EVO Powder for maximum attraction. These will either be dispatched with a Spomb or throwing stick, depending on the area I’m fishing and not in huge quantities; just enough for a bite or two at most. A couple of hundred of these pimped-up beauties go a really long way! If I am fortunate enough to have been successful, I’ll try to make sure I trickle a little bit in before I head home. If I can’t get back in the same area, which will always be my first choice, especially in winter, I still feel the bait will be working for me while I’m away from the lake.
The Bug just works!
GET OUT THERE!
I guess the message to take from this is that if you think you don’t have time, then try your best to make some! We’d all like a couple of nights a week at our disposal, but for the vast majority of us, that’s not really an option. Lots of anglers who I meet don’t really feel like they are fishing unless they’ve got a significant amount of hours on their hands, but nothing could be further from the truth.
Over the years I have had some really lovely results angling this way. It does take some effort, and dragging yourself out of a warm home in the dark can seem like a bit of a chore, but the rewards are there to be had and I’d encourage anyone who thinks they have no time to give it a go. Travel light, stay mobile and enjoy yourself.
I’ve always found that effort equals reward over a period of time and getting out on a regular basis will keep you in tune with the lake and its inhabitants. No session is ever wasted providing you learn something, so grab that headtorch and head off into the darkness; you won’t catch them in front of the fire!
Travel light, stay mobile and enjoy yourself
