How to Catch Carp from Busy Day Tickets
For the purposes of this piece, I’m going to use Linear Fisheries as an example, as it is the epitome of a busy-ticket venue and the challenges anglers are faced with here will be mirrored at other similar fisheries around the UK.
KEEP AN OPEN MIND
The most important thing at Linear is you don’t become set on a particular lake, because that lake may be full or even closed and you won’t be able to get on it. So, be prepared to spend some time looking around all the available lakes. Check the website before you go to see if there are any closures. This will save you wasting time looking at lakes that don’t work with your schedule.
If a lake is closing soon, this can really work in your favour, particularly if you are on a short session, as it won’t be busy. When this happens, there can be plenty of free swims on the run-up to the closure, so spend some time looking for the fish or signs of where they are, as you will have more options where you can set up.
Don’t make your mind up before you get there
DO YOUR RESEARCH
Also, do some research; there’s loads of information online about all the lakes. Ask the bailiff and ask in the shop. All these little snippets of information can help. Ask people fishing the lake for any information, although bear in mind that some won’t necessarily tell you the truth!
Don’t be afraid to ask
The time of year makes a big difference as to how busy the venue will be. The warmer months tend to be packed, but from November until March the lakes are quieter. Lake reopenings can mean long queues in the early arrivals’ car park, and I have seen people camp there for 48 hours before the lake opens just to get their preferred swim!
STICK TO WHAT YOU KNOW!
When it comes to fishing techniques, use what you have confidence in. Just because it is a busy day-ticket lake doesn’t mean you need masses of bait. The carp will get caught on any rig and most baits. The key is accuracy. Fish accurately and you are much more likely to succeed.
Also, try to be different. The carp are extremely pressured, so trying things that aren’t done by the majority of anglers can bring big rewards. You can also catch more this way.
Be accurate and be different!
PROOF OF THE PUDDING
A couple of years ago, I did a campaign on Hardwick Smiths to try and get one of the few known 40lb-plus carp in there, as I had caught a 40lb carp from most of the others. This was always going to be tricky with around 1600-2000 carp in there and I was only after one of three!
I knew where I wanted to fish and fortunately the peg in question was coming free when I arrived, and after a short wait it was mine! I knew the known spots, but I didn’t want to fish those, as I didn’t think they tended to yield the bigger fish. I found a spot between two known spots with low-lying weed on it. I fished Ronnie rigs with three different pop-ups side by side and introduced 18 Midi Spombs of bait. I focused on keeping the bait tight, putting out six Spombs religiously after every fish.
Between me and my son, we ended up with 22 carp that session, several being over 30lb.
Action can be frantic if you get it right
I did two more sessions on my own and really worked the two spots. With two rods on the main baited area and one on a short spot with a bag, I ended up with 32 carp, including seven over the 30lb mark to 37lb 12oz. The baited spot was much clearer this time, so I fished wafters on German rigs instead.
The third and final session was amazing. I managed to get most of the carp feeding off my spot; they just backed off it when not feeding and didn’t go far. I ended up with 42 carp, including eight over 30lb, making 96 in total. Then, on the final night, just before dawn, I managed to get the Hardwick Mirror at 44lb 12oz, which was the biggest fish in the lake!
The Hardwick Mirror at 44lb 12oz