Carp fishing is turning me gray

Its still that time of year, water temperatures are dropping and the carp are less inclined to feed. A lot of carp anglers hang up their rods for the winter, WHY???
Winter carp fishing is a pastime that sorts the sane angler from the insane...
I love my winter carp fishing there are far less anglers on the bank indeed on some of the waters that I fish I can nearly guarantee to have the water to myself. Its true that with the lowering temperatures the fishing does drop of for a few weeks but once the temperatures have stabilized the carp will start feeding again, and with less anglers on the bank you have more chance of catching them.

With my trip to Spain feeling like a lifetime ago i headed back out to the Folly lake for a two night sesh. On arrival the lake was dead with pick of the swims i had a walk round to try and spot signs of any carp.
After watching the water for a couple of hours and with no fish showing I decided on swim 1 (The Bog Swim) which gave me access to an island to the right and a nice silt patch i like to fish down a middle channel. I think that one of the hardest things to decide on in winter is how much bait to use, too much and you could kill your swim before you start. I have caught carp over big beds of bait in winter but I do feel that the conditions have to be right, for this reason I will usually start by using hook bait only on one rod and perhaps PVA bags on the other rods for the first hour or two and then decide whether to use any more bait.

A couple of hours in and no signs of any carp movement and no indicator movement so I decided to bait up along the right hand channel with a couple of  handfuls of monster squid and a few 10 mm boilies, the other rod was fished in open water with a PVA bag and no freebies.

After a few stressful days fishing my net has stayed dry, the weather has really messed up my fishing and has put the fish back into winter mode.
Blanking and losing fish really gets to you sometimes and you end up thinking what am i doing wrong? is it the bait? rigs? swim? over the last few months I've noticed quite a few more gray hairs and i need things to change before i turn into a silver fox.
I'm lucky enough to fish at a stunning lake and i always like to admire the views, catching fish is always my main target when i go fishing but just being there is the main prize.
As I'm lacking in fish photos here are a few views over the past few weeks

Winter Carp Fishing on the Ebro

The great thing about carp fishing on the Ebro is that the river fishes well all year round. So instead of struggling for bites in the UK during the winter months I thought i would give the Ebro a go, even though i was only heading out for a few nights i aimed high and was on the hunt for just carp and big unforgettable ones too..
Winter time seems to sort out the bigger fish whereas the summer produces more fish but of a smaller stamp, So i thought i was onto a winner when i headed out but wasn't prepared for the obstacles that lay ahead.

I've seen in some catch reports over the last few months that some nice 40's had been coming out on the stretch of river i was going to fish so i took up a trip with Nick Shattock as he had a good idea of the spots i could find these monsters..

We arrived on a nice sunny day late January and was so glad to be getting away from work and back on the hunt for carp..
We met up with nick in Riba-roja d'Ebre and got ready for our few hour drive up north to the hot spots.
We didn't want to jump straight in the first swim we sore so headed to a few places he knew.
The river was running wild due to the floods and most of the swims we went to was under water so we found a spot near caspe that was a bit less wild and looked good for a bite.
The views are stunning around these parts and hold very big fish even though the river was flooded it didn't put us off and we just got on with are challenge and got the rods out and sat it out for the night.

The next day came without a sight of a fish let alone a bite so we decided to pack up and head back up river to see if it had calmed down a bit. Chiprana was still bad so headed up to Escatron and the river was still ripping though so we got out the map and spotted a small lake that looked like it joined up with a small part of the river.
After driving for hours we found some dirt tracks that we thought would lead us to the lake, so out came the GPS map on my phone trying to find our way though the maze of tracks searching for anything we could. But all we found was a nice little stretch of water that looked fish able and after getting out the truck for a look around we sore stacks of fish - not the size we was after but we was running out of daylight so but said lets do some pastie bashing.

Pastie Paradise



After a night of catching fish that a 200lb cat fish would of loved we decided to pack up and try and find our way out of the maze of tracks but that wasn't to be as when we went to start the truck the battery had gone leaving us stranded in the middle of nowhere. luckily some Romanians turned up a few hours later and saved the day or we would have had to have another night at pastie paradise.
After a few hours driving and feeling really low me and nick headed back to all the other swims we had looked at hoping things had changed and just to see some signs of carp.
We was running out of ideas and went back to chiprana and setup on the side of some cliffs.
Nicks dad had joined us for the night as we didn't want to risk the battery going again so we all set up camp for the night.

Morning came with no joy and the weather was getting worse with 60mph winds and 4 - 5ft waves.
The river had turned into a dirty brown mess with alsorts drifting though our swim so we packed up and called it a day and hit the road

It was a great few days, was a bit gutted we didn't catch the targets we was after but the enjoyment of seeing the river from so many spots and the buzz of trying to catch a fish in these hard times was worth every minute. Nick Shattock was a top guide and a top bloke, he did everything he could to try and find where these lumps were hiding but it just wasn't to be.

Check out his website -  http://www.ebrocarpfishing.com/

This sort of holiday is for people that are after an adventure and want to hunt big carp or cats.
He will definitely help you on your hunt and will give you some good knowledge to take home with you.


Here are a few other swims we looked at on the trip back to Riba-roja d'Ebre

The Hunt Continues

As the new year rolls in my hunt continues.

Although i didn't catch one of my target 40lb carp over the last 12 months I've had a magic year meeting some new good friends and catching 4 personal best carp on the way  - 3 cracking commons of 34lb 4oz - 35lb 10oz - 36lb 8oz and a stunning 37lb 7oz mirror.
I also had my first ever fishing trip to Spain were i caught some nice catfish up to 66lb

Ive learnt alot over the past 12 months like watercraft being able to read a water, being more precise, and being able to read the fish within a water. I found it’s no good having all the right tackle and bait if you then set up in a swim completely devoid of fish. Successful carp angling is about getting lots of little things right and watercraft is no different. It’s about taking lots of little bits of information from every session you have fished, and then pulling them back out and threading them together to form a strategy when you’re next out on the bank. The difficult part is in knowing where to find the information and then deciding how best to use it. Again, there’s no one single thing that can improve your watercraft skills, rather a mix of information gleaned from many sources.

I think it was George Sharman’s ‘Carp and the Carp Angler’ where he said that it was better to have a bad plan than to have no plan at all. Possibly meaning that if you had a plan, even a bad one, then at least you were forming an opinion, and if that plan failed, then technically all you needed to do was identify where the failure occurred, refine it, and try again. In essence, that’s what watercraft is all about. It’s about taking all the things you have learnt about carp, the water you are fishing, climatic conditions and any other affecting factors, then trying to bring it all together into one salient mass for the session that lies ahead.



Watercraft; what’s it all about… and how can I get some!?

It’s no easy process and it’s not a skill which will come overnight but if you start applying the logic now, you will quickly feel the benefit and the long road ahead won’t seem quite so daunting. Watercraft is something you never stop learning - you add more to it with each session you fish, and the longer you have been fishing the more experiences you are able to draw upon.

There are many different aspects to watercraft. First you need knowledge of the lake itself; its habits, characteristics and life-cycle. You also need to learn how everyday changes in climatic conditions and angler pressure can affect carp behaviour. Once you understand the lake, you then need to understand it in relation to its habitat. This is perhaps the single most important aspect of watercraft - knowing where to find the fish is what it’s all about!

So where do we start? Well, first we need to understand a little more about the carp itself. It sounds daft, but if you want to catch big carp and catch them consistently, then you need to think like the fish you are trying to catch! Many people perceive a carp to be a swimming dustbin that only has to see a pile of bait and it’s straight on it. Whereas, in reality, we have to remember that in fish terms, the carp is quite an intelligent creature with quite a well developed brain; anybody who has watched a wary carp feeding at close range will know just what I’m talking about!

Carp are capable of a number of thought patterns. In the main, these patterns appear to be governed by a sort of short and long term memory. The fish relies predominately on the long term memory part of the brain for going about its day to day business. Basically, the way I’ve come to see this is that a carp takes in lots of short term memories, which, after conditioning (the same thing happening time and time again) become long term memories. The question is; how can we use this to our advantage? Well, have you ever wondered why pre-baiting works? It’s exactly the same thing - by supplying a constant source of free food with no danger aspect (i.e. no hook bait) the carp will pass short term memories back to the brain on each sitting saying that all is ok within the area, until eventually it becomes conditioned and they then begin to see it as a constant source of risk free food.

My own view however, is that carp will always be able to attach a degree of risk to feeding in any area, but by conditioning we are able to lower its guard. Long term conditioning on a regularly fished water will tell the carp that within the lake itself, there is always a risk that it is being angled for, but by providing this constant source of free food it thinks this particular area, for now, is safe. Once you begin to fish the area the carp will begin to wise up and after a time the spot may well dry up as the short term memory feeds into the long term memory telling the carp that, after being caught there or being around other spooky fish that have been caught there, that this area is now not safe to feed in, and so the cycle goes.



A carps  primary feeding habits are controlled by the daily cycle of life; the onset of day & night, and the surrounding climate. In terms of watercraft you need to understand that the primary need of the carp is food in order that it can maintain itself. This does not mean it will eat whatever is placed in front of it (unless competition for that food dictates it) as one of its other inherent characteristics is for its own security. What I’m getting at here is that it’s down to the carp when and where it wants to feed - not you. You can do all you like to add attractors and such like to your bait, but if the fish does not want to eat, it won’t. That said, I’ve found carp to be very inquisitive by nature; any seasoned stalking angler will tell you exactly the same thing. I would say over 90% of my catches when stalking are due to the carps inquisitive demeanour when it comes across the bait rather than the fact that it’s hungry and is looking for something to eat. Apply a shed load of bait and often the guard will go straight up. However, a single wiggling lob worm dropped right in front of its nose is an entirely different matter; carp seem unable to resist further investigation.

Many people also assume that all carp are exactly the same and think alike. As far as inherent characteristics go I don’t doubt it. However, my own experiences and those of others around me suggest that each fish can be very different. On the Folly Lakes where I have watched the same group of carp for many, many years, you begin to see that each fish has its own character, just like you or I - some are really bold and are always first on the scene to see what’s going on, others are more reserved and always tend to hold back. You also notice that the bigger fish often have a little sidekick whom they tend to let feed first before they decide whether to partake. Information like this is invaluable in relation to planning your attack on a chosen water or a particular big fish.

The key here is observation - and lots of it. Spend time getting to know how the carp live in the water you are fishing and you are half way to catching them. There are a couple of different scenarios you will be faced with when it comes to getting to know the fish, mainly with regard to the type of session you are planning - Is it a one off trip to a new water, or is it a new water which you intend to be spending a lot of time on?

 

My fishing trip over new year

My catch rate hasnt been as good as i would of liked these last few months and losing 4 fish just made me feel more gutted. I spent my new year fishing as i wanted to start the year with a bang but it wasnt to be.
I bumpped into a nash consultant nick burrage wile i was fishing and got talking about a few new rigs that he had come up with. real nice bloke and knows his stuff about carp fishing. we was the only two fishing the lake at the time and it looked real good for a bite. I ended up losing one again after the rod only being out 20mins on one of nick's new rigs ( which you will be able to see in Feb's edition of crafty carper )
Nick ended up bagging 4 carp on his trip - Stunning mid 20 mirror

And 3 commons up to 32lb 12oz all on the monster squid

Winter is on its way

Winter time can be the hardest time of the year to catch carp. The problem being that the colder conditions slows down the fishes metabolism.Therefore the fish doesn't need as much food to survive.


Not so many years ago it was thought that carp were almost uncatchable during the colder months and spent most of my time in bars and pubs instead of on the bank, but this time last year i had some great fishing and was rewarded with some stunning carp - Breaking my PB twice in as many weeks. This has changed my mind on carp fishing in winter and if you put in the time and effort you will get your rewards.

PB Commons Slipped up on Classic Nash White Choc's

I plan to do alot of fishing over the coming months in the UK and a few trips to Spain, empty lakes and the thrill of catching a big carp gives me a great buzz. Times have been slow for me the last few overnights I've done only landing one carp since the end of September. I have lost a few due to hook pulls which gutted me a bit but i hope things will change over these coming months.


I have been playing around with alot of different tactics this year and some have worked and alot haven't so i will be going back to what worked for me last winter. Alot of people say fish singles or just light bait that does work sometimes but i found a nice pile of mixed bait got them going when everyone else wasn't even getting a beep.

When fishing for carp in winter i always tend to fish boilies. Particle baits such as peanuts , tiger nuts and maples tend to lose their effectiveness possibly due the viscosity of the attractive oils these nuts contain (as the temperature decreases they thicken considerably). Also particles seem to work better in bulk. The most important thing about winter fishing is that you must have the right protective clothing. If you are cold you will not fish well.You will be too busy trying to stay warm and will miss clues which will help you put that big winter fish on the bank. Winter fishing has some advantages in that the backsides are empty so you can pick where you want to fish without competition from other anglers . Some waters in winter have beauty all of there own , just being there makes you feel good even if you don't catch. Winter carp fishing is without doubt a big challenge but the rewards in beating the odds are great .

Mark with the friendly common that we both had over the winter months

 

 



There are so many factors which influence carp and carp fishing in winter. There is no single answer to being a successful winter carper. A combination of elements must come together for you to succeed. As the average temperature begins to fall through September, October, November carp will often be feeding hard because instinct will tell them that colder, harder times are coming. This time of the year can be very productive. Eventually though, the carp will slow down and head to their winter area, for make no mistake, carp have their preferred holding areas through the winter. On many lakes this holding area will be around the center of the lake, especially if weed is present. This may be different on your lake, but its the best place to start. If I where a carp I would want to be in the quietist area which is less likely to attract attention but also close to a food source and with relatively consistent water temperature. Consistent water temperature means the deeper areas. This is because, through the winter the deeper water is the most stable temperature wise. If I where fishing a big pit where I couldn't reach the center area then I would fish as close to it as I could, preferably around some feature, be it weed, gravel bar, patch or even just a deviation in the lake bed if I could find nothing else.


I cannot over emphasis the importance of weed beds in the winter. If your lake has weed beds, especially in the deeper areas, then you must place your bait in or close to the weed. Carp love weed beds in winter. Weed beds will provide the carp with security, oxygen through photosynthesis and they will still hold food even through the depths of winter in the form of zoo plankton and invertebrates. To find the weed beds, tie a 3 ounce lead on, chuck it out and slowly retrieve feeling for resistance. You will learn through experience the difference between weed, gravel and other features

Beginning of autumn

Autumn or fall this is the start to my favourite time of year with the transition from summer into winter. The dark nights draw in and the temperatures start to drop and the flip flop boys start to pack their gear away till next year.

It was a cold and windy weekend and i had two nights planned for some fishing, Quite a few fish had come out in the week so i knew i had a good chance of bagging one or two.
I got to the lake after work on the Friday around six, The lake was quite busy and not many swims was left so i just jumped in the swim next to bob the bailiff for more of a social.
Bivvy went up and all my gear chucked into it and off i went to see how the lads have been getting on. Bob had been down a night already and not had a thing but across the lake Andy had been down for most of the week and started really well bagging a 35lb+ and a 36lb+ on his first night then had a few mid 20's the next day.

Plenty of chat and banter and the odd few beers helped us pass the night, even got to see a few of Andy's dance moves and that was worth me not fishing for the night

Bob was the only one to get some action that night with a stunning mid 20 mirror, he also had another one in the early hours weighing in at 28lb+ common, Dan also caught early morning so i was a bit gutted i didn't fish that night as i was in the middle of both of them.

Out went my rods for a few hours to see if i could bag one with no joy.
Curry time i thought so the rods came in and the tandoori chicken and lamb biryani was ordered..

The time now was 18:20 the dark was drawing in so i got my rod back out on the spots.

19:27  Screamer time - right hand rod was off

Struck into it and it felt a good fish, after a good fight for 10 Min's the carp was ready for the net.
Didn't think it was that big when i first looked at it, thought it may be a 30lb at a push.
I went to get my scales and i couldn't believe it they had broke - wasn't a happy man but help was here as i had rang Russ to pop over to come take some pictures for me. We weighed the fish and i could believe my eyes when i sore 37lb something on them i said you need to read this as i want it to be right so we span the scales round so he could see them and lifted the carp. 37lb 7oz he said  Happy days
We slipped the carp back into the water wile i was getting my stuff ready for a photo.
What a lump i was over the moon...

This stunning carp was caught on 3 15mm Nash white choc boilies on a bolt rig fished in 21ft of water

 

Summer Time

This time of year i found it tricky to catch

Might be due to my style of fishing as i seem to do really well in the colder months

 

I planned on fishing over the weekend and the lake was a bit busy so i moved up to this end of the lake

 

 

 

 

 

 

I blanked quite a few overnighters and the odd few weekends before this weekend but i got lucky this time after moving swims at 6am as i sore fish crashing on the other side of the lake

 

 

 

 

Ebro Mad Cats

 

Riba Roja D’Ebre is at the centre of an 18 kilometre stretch of river between the big dam at Riba Roja and the smaller one atFlix. This is the “Real Spain” and there is no commercial development on this part of river. Ebromadcats is based about a mile away from this small, friendly village with its range of bars, restaurants and shops – ideal for stocking up on provisions or relaxing after a day on the river. If you can tear yourself away from the fishing, this is a great area to explore with the Mediterranean beaches just a 45min car ride away. Riba Roja is on the main Barcelona line so even if you don’t have a car, you can still get out and about

 

 

 

 

 

Anglers from all over the world come to the mighty river Ebro in search of the famous Wels catfish. Not surprising as these river monsters put up a terrific fight and give some of the best sport possible in freshwater venues.

The mecca for catfishing is still Mequinenza and Caspe where the record catch now stands at around 250lb. It is perfectly possible to spend a day at one of these venues during your visit but, make no mistake, the fishing in our section of the river is fantastic. Muscle-straining takes with the line streaming out and 150lb of cat testing you and the gear – doesn’t get much better.

This stretch of the river has the dam at Riba Roja about 5 miles upstream and another dam about the same distance downstream at Flix. There are plenty of big catfish and carp in the area and these are wild river fish that will give fantastic sport. During the 2011 season the record catch from the bank was 192lb for this stretch of the river – tantalisingly close to that 200lber.

 

 

 

 

It was a special occasion When me and two of my mates came fishing at Ebromadcats. A 66lb catfish as a birthday present – what more could you ask?

All three of us managed new P.B.s and proved are credentials by fishing without a guide and landing over 400lb in are 5 day stay.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ebro PB 66lb

 

 

 

This was my first ever trip out to spain and i will be heading back out soon to try and bag myself a river monster

 

The Views are stunning and i would say if you have never been cat fishing before you must give this ago you won't regret it

 

 

More pictures can be viewed here and more info about ebro mad cats

 

http://ebromadcats.co.uk/happy-birthday-nick/