Reading and Getting to Know a Carp Lake
As an angler who likes to get to know the lakes I’m targeting, gaining a good understanding of how the inhabitants of that lake go about their daily lives – and why – becomes an important tool. This is a rundown on how I go about it.
The first thing I will do is use Google Maps. This gives you a satellite image of the lake, which can help to quickly identify deeper and shallower parts of the water if it is clear enough. It may also be possible to spot lighter, glowing areas that can be investigated later with a leading rod.
Google Maps is the perfect place to start
As you can see from a typical aerial image, a lighter glowing area can often indicate a raised bar or feature. Another useful thing you can get from this stage of research is a better understanding of compass points in relation to the lake. This helps identify which winds will push into which banks, as well as where the sun rises and sets.
When you have done this homework and arrive at the venue, it gives you a better starting point straight off the bat. Walking the bank will then give you more pieces of the puzzle. Even just looking into the margins on a clear lake can give you a rough idea of how the lakebed is made up – whether weed is present and what varieties. This always gets the cogs turning in my head as to what type of presentation may end up being appropriate, along with rig camouflage.
Obviously, it goes without saying that the close margins won’t necessarily be identical to the spot you eventually fish, but as a rough guide you won’t go far wrong.
If the lake has marginal vegetation such as overhanging trees or reedbeds, these can be magnets for carp. Reeds in particular offer sanctuary and hold warmth – two things carp absolutely adore.
These areas are usually relatively shallow and will warm up quickest during the spring. On a first visit to the lake, it is always helpful if you can get there for first light. Observation and clear sightings of carp will always trump imagined ideas of where they might be spending their time.
Reeds offer sanctuary and warmth
Observation and Leading the Swim
If I see a show or fizzing in a particular area of the lake, I will usually start there. Once the morning draws on, I will be reaching for the leading rod, making sure to have a few casts around the swim where the activity was seen, as well as the surrounding areas.
In an ideal world, you’ll get a nice firm drop and a smooth pull on the rod, indicating a clean spot that is easily presentable. This will also give you an idea of depth. Sadly, things don’t always go that easily, and depending on the makeup of the lakebed, some extensive leading work can be required to find the best fishing areas.
Once I’m happy, I’ll get the rods out and start fishing.
Watching the Water and Building a Picture
As the session develops, I’m constantly watching the water, looking for signs of carp. I will also keep an eye on birdlife — numbers and species present can often give clues. For example, if a lake holds several swans, shallow areas can sometimes become problematic.
As time goes on and further sessions are completed, I make mental notes of where carp are seen and caught under different weather conditions and times of day. Do they follow a new wind? Do they prefer to hold off the back? Do they show in one corner in the morning but move to the other end in the evening?
Relentlessly watching the water is paramount
I have fished a few lakes where typical low pressure, windy and overcast conditions haven’t been as productive as higher pressure days with clear skies. Every lake has its own little idiosyncrasies, and these can only really be understood with time and observation.
I once fished a Cotswold gravel pit where I had been baiting a margin spot. Initially, I would stand there for hours, eyes fixed on a clean patch of gravel tucked under a marginal overhang. The reason I selected the spot was that I had already seen fish in the area, and I felt there was a good chance it would receive regular passing traffic.
After a few sessions and captures from the spot, I soon realised the carp would mainly turn up after 2pm, when the sun was angled perfectly to shine into that corner of the lake. This made fishing there even more enjoyable, as I could get the trap set when the coast was clear and then find a comfortable viewing spot, knowing I was maximising my time.
When you learn the lake, you can really capitalise
Final Thoughts
In summary, learning is inherently a slow process. Some of the modern technology at an angler’s disposal can help speed things up, but nothing replaces time and experience.
Lessons learned from one lake can sometimes be transferred to another – rules of thumb, if you like – but each venue will often have its own characteristics that force you to adapt and rip up the script.
I always start with what I think and then adjust accordingly. This could relate to depth, feeding habits, bait types, quantities, or responses to weather conditions and angling pressure.
I have only really scratched the surface of the subject here, but hopefully there are a few pointers to get you thinking. As a self-confessed tackle tart, it’s easy to believe the next item of tackle or rig will be the answer to wet nets and full SD cards, when in reality it is often observation and putting bait in the right place that makes the difference.
With spring upon us, there is no better time to get back out on the bank. Get yourself stocked up with bait, get your eyes peeled, and work out where to put it.
Tight lines and be lucky.
