by Toby Nathan
Throughout the Spring and into the warmer months, the weather can be very changeable. With air and water temperatures rising and prolonged hours of warm sunlight through the Spring, carp begin to seek out areas of water that they may not have visited for long periods of time through the colder months which in turn, can present opportunities in other parts of the lake.
Weather conditions at this time of the year have a significant effect on the behaviour and feeding habits of carp. It does not feel like long ago that temperatures were dipping to almost freezing overnight, yet we have recently had record highs of over 35 degrees.
We anglers know that there are no guarantees in fishing and for me, that's what keeps the fire burning. Windows of opportunity vary throughout the year and at times they can be brief. By being observant and using minimal, reliable tackle, it enables me to try to capitalise on them.
Throughout the spring and into the summer months, I often favour changing to a more active, mobile approach to my angling, with just a single rod. Pairing one of our Wychwood 9ft 3lb Recoil rods with an Extricator 5000FD reel is a favoured pairing which is very compact, yet capable of handling most situations that may present themselves. During warmer periods, this could be on the surface, on the bottom at medium range or in areas much closer in. Due to the versatility of this set-up, it enables me to adapt and react quickly in different situations and with confidence.
Keeping active, observing the lake and making tactical changes has enabled me to land several fish in quick succession from a new water, including two of the lake's main targets, during a succession of short visits to the lake. This has been the result of varying my approach to suit the changes in the carp's behaviour throughout the spring and into the summer months.
Part 1
On a warm day at the end of May, I decided to make a short evening visit to the lake. I was feeling optimistic that there could be a good chance of finding fish. I grabbed the rucksack, net, mat, my Recoil and Extricator reel along with a small bag of floaters and made my way there.
Upon arrival, there was an area that I had not fished, which I had seen earlier in the year. As I approached the swim, I spotted a group of three fish close in and watched them drift out into the clear water, before cautiously moving further up the bank to the next swim. It became clear very quickly that fish were present and that they were up in the water. I quickly introduced a couple of pouches of floaters in a couple of areas at close range and proceeded to get the rod set up. It did not take long for a couple of fish to begin taking the odd one or two. Every now and then, a particularly large mouth broke the surface and engulfed a floater. Not wanting to disturb the fish and ruin the chance, I cast past the area and slowly drew it back to where this fish had been taking a few and sat back, full of anticipation.
A picture-perfect 32lb 9oz mirror
Within a few minutes, the fish suddenly appeared and within seconds the hook bait was taken and I had one on. Having just spooled up with a test mono in 15lb, I had confidence that I could land the fish without too many issues with the weed. Thankfully, this proved to be the case and it was soon up on the surface, a few yards from the net. At this point, I saw a big, dark, plated mirror. I was unsure exactly which fish it was but kept focused until it was in the net. It soon became apparent that it was a fish that I had seen a photo of and one of a handful that I hoped I would be lucky enough to see on the bank — a picture-perfect mirror at 32lb 9oz, and one that I was overjoyed to have landed so soon.
Part 2
I returned to the lake the following evening but with a different approach in mind. The weather conditions had changed — it was cooler, overcast and drizzly — and my intention was to fish the area where I had seen the fish the previous evening, just prior to the capture off the surface.
I cautiously checked the area and, following a handful of bait, placed the rig onto the spot and moved away from the rod. Everything was looking promising with signs of carp in the area. After just 5 minutes, the rod was away. This turned out to be a fish that I had caught earlier in the year from another part of the lake — my first fish from the lake in fact — this time at 25lb+ post-spawning. Within an hour or so, I was leaving the lake after another brief and successful visit.
An instant 25lb+ reward for a tactical change
The next evening, I was back. The weather had remained the same since the previous day and with confidence high, I repeated the process and soon dropped the rig into position. Before I even had a chance to settle, the alarm was screaming. Although optimistic, I was not expecting it and it took me a second or two to realise that it was already away! This time I was rewarded with a nice common around the 20lb mark. Three fish in three short evenings — I couldn't ask for more.
Part 3
With luck on my side, I returned the next day. Upon arriving at the swim, it felt different and I was not convinced that carp were still present. Was it due to the weather, could it be due to my presence the previous days, maybe both? Whatever the reason, they had now vacated the area and after a couple of hours, I was making my way back from the lake pondering where they might now be. I was hopeful that if I could locate them, there may still be chances going by what had occurred over the previous few days.
My attention moved to the opposite end of the lake. I had yet to see any carp in this area earlier in the year but it was in the back of my mind, as I was convinced that at some point they would use this area.
Toby with the lake's prize mirror at 34lb 8oz.
A couple of days later, on the Friday evening, I made my way to this part of the lake. Sometimes you just get a feeling that the carp are present, and this was one of those moments — everything felt right. I spent the evening finding a spot to target, with the intention of returning early the following morning.
With a spot located and marked, I could return and start fishing very quickly and with very little disturbance. I was up bright and early the next morning and with the weather on my side, a small amount of bait was introduced to the area and the rod was out at 7am. Everything was going to plan at this point and with drizzly, overcast weather conditions on my side, it was time to sit back and see if anything would occur…
Within no time at all, the rod signalled a couple of bleeps and pulled up tight but almost instantly, it had come off. Without hesitation, another rig was readied and the rod was cast back out onto the spot. Although feeling the disappointment of what had just happened, I was in the right place and confident that if one carp was in this area, there could be more present. With it still being early in the day, I remained optimistic, but I did not anticipate what was about to happen…
Just like the take earlier in the morning, the rod pulled up within five minutes and another fish was on. This fish held deep, kiting between weed beds. Maintaining steady pressure, the fish was eventually up on the surface before it charged into another weed bed closer in. As it rolled and surged deep, a big, black tail broke the surface and at that moment I knew it was one of the lake's bigger fish. As you can probably imagine, I was more eager than ever to get this fish in the net and as I cautiously eased it closer, a big, dark, heavily plated mirror emerged. Surely it could only be one of two fish — two particularly special carp that reside in the lake? As I cautiously eased it over the net, I let out a sigh of relief and as I peered in, my suspicions were confirmed — there it was: a big, old, heavily scaled mirror at the bottom of the net, an incredible sight to behold.
My colleague from Wychwood, James, was nearby and with the carp safely resting in the net, he arrived within no time at all to share a special moment. The T-bar read 34lb 8oz and after some photos and a good dose of treatment, it was soon powering off back into the clear water.
Adopting this approach within your angling, particularly during this period of the year, will not only provide some exciting fishing but you will also learn a lot about the behaviour of the carp. By leaving the bulk of your gear behind and keeping mobile, the rewards could soon be coming your way — best of luck!
