In Search of an Edge – Locating carp

Angler: Chris Leon Age: 27 Favourite Venues: Tzaneen Personal Best: 46lb 9oz. Occupation: Labour Consultant It is with much anticipation and excitement that I introduce a new series of articles entitled “In Search of an Edge”. I have felt that for a while now carp anglers in South Africa were in need of tips and ideas from other South African carpers that have been around the block and experienced some of the magic our country has to offer. The series aims at highlighting key areas of interest when it comes to targeting and catching the biggest carp in a lake. All of the information discussed stems from my past experiences of catching carp in South Africa. If you are truly after only the biggest then as a hunter you will know that time spent observing your quarry, listening, watching, learning and waiting is all just part of the game. You cannot fish Florida Lake this weekend, Zoo Lake the next, Hartbeespoort the week after that and back to Florida and expect to have decent or consistent results. Make a choice on a specific venue and stick to it. I like to fish a lake for at least 2 years to give me the opportunity to fish each season at least twice before moving onto another lake. Carp fishing is not an instant success kind of sport and requires a lot of time and effort, often with little to show for hours spent on the bank. I see a lot of newcomers to the sport become disappointed within a year of starting and quit after they start fishing a so-called easy water with the latest and greatest rig and/or wonder bait only to blank on each session. Through no fault of their own really as I blame it on the instant lifestyle and world we all live in today. In a world where everything is instant I can understand how people have it in the back of their minds that if they want to know something they can instantly access information on their cell phones, but carp fishing is a different kettle of fish. Although the carp angling media may portray a very different side, a few things are certain - we all blank. No matter how good you are or how many 40’s you catch a week, we all blank. So get used to it! Dan and I share the same sentiments when wading out and placing our rigs. This ensures the rig is presented perfectly without the risk of any tangles. Another important point to understand is that using the newest wonder bait or wonder rig isn’t going to guarantee you a bite. I’d much rather have the wrong bait in the right place for 10 minutes than having the right bait in the wrong place for 10 hours. Much like a business there is no short cut to success and good things come to those who wait. In carp fishing it’s much the same in that good things come to those who bait… haha! I am by no means a great angler and I am pretty sure there are a lot of anglers with five lakes full more talent and natural ability than I have. However time spent on the bank and effort put in are two variables that correlate closely with one another and are the secrets to success. An average angler can transform his or her catch rate simply by just spending time on the bank and putting in the effort. It’s an old saying, but one that stands true in that effort equals reward. You do not have to have the latest rods, bivvy and pod to catch big carp, and the carp certainly do not care which bed chair and sleeping bag you have. Put in the effort and you will reap the rewards. Simple. Most of the mainstream waters in Gauteng are active in a sense that it is fairly easy to spot signs of carp. Early mornings and late afternoons are always your best opportunity to look for them. Either when they’re feeding or just showing the most obvious signs are when the carp are crashing, turning or swirling. If they’re feeding you can often see constant fizzing or bubbling over an area or over your hookbait. Conversely I am fishing a lake on the East Rand at the moment that is home to a fair number of 40lb and 50lb carp that are extremely shy. The average depth isn’t deep at all at around 5ft and spotting them here is difficult as they do not crash or swirl and turn. A lovely fully scaled mirror caught less than a rod length out from the bank. Fell to a snowman rig that was waded out and placed on a small clearing in amongst some deep silt. Happy Days. Trees are your greatest allies when it comes to locating carp and you’d be amazed just how often fish can be seen cruising just under the surface a couple of metres out from the bank. So much more information can be gathered by climbing up in tree tops and sitting amongst the birds. Naturally when climbing trees a good pair of polarised sun glasses are ideal. They are a seemingly insignificant piece of kit that greatly aids in being able to view what lies beneath the surface. Often different colours of sand can be visible where previously they weren’t (indicating a change in bottom conditions). Use the trees to your advantage. They open up a whole new world when it comes to carp spotting and offer an unrivaled vantage point (at own risk). As part of your carping gear I firmly believe every angler should have a pair of these. A good pair of polarized sun glasses are a tremendous edge especially when fishing margins or using a boat. I have two pairs with each having different variations in the darkness of the tint. If the margins allow it and it isn’t too deep, wading along and down the sides of margins are perfect places to locate carp, as well as likely features. By wading in the margins and using your feet to feel you can pick up small differences in hardness or even small differences in depth. You can find small bowls the size of a dinner plate that otherwise would have been impossible to find with an echo sounder, marker float or even prodding stick. At almost all of the waters I have fished the margins are the least exploited, most overlooked area of the lake. If carp come into the shallows to spawn then they have surely been to those areas of the lake before. Why would they not feed there? When it rains and all the water flows into the lake from the bank you can find debris, insects and other matter are washed in. Have you ever noticed how the fish are going crazy turning and swirling in amongst debris brought in by drain water? Why not fish there normally? Just have a look at these carp hanging out in some snags. Now to figure out how to present a hookbait. In all writings of carp you will always read that the most successful anglers go against the grain. They do what others aren’t willing to do. They go where others aren’t willing to go. They try things others aren’t willing to try. The fact that they are so different and do the complete opposite to what everybody else is doing is why they are so successful. The standard ‘carpy areas’ such as islands, overhanging willows, fallen trees, reeds, lily pads, grass beds, gravel-meets-silt, drop offs, shelfs and plateaus are all ideal and will always produce carp. There is nothing wrong in fishing to them as a feature or further investigating them in great detail, however they are the most obvious areas. These types of areas it has to be said are usually the first areas people look to catch carp and as a result can be an area of the lake where the carp’s guard is at its highest. For that reason I like to find other different features, ones less frequented by other anglers where the carp can relax and not be on constant high alert. Some shots of carp with their heads down clearly enjoying the hemp and corn I put out for them. I took the shots from a small ledge with the carp literally a foot beneath me. Snags are one of my favourite areas to look for carp and a sure place to locate them and to get them confidently feeding on your bait. Carp love snags as they are not only safe from any danger or anglers but also because nobody dares to fish next to them. The carp can usually go about their business unhindered by rigs or anglers’ lines. Even if you don’t see fish it is a perfect area to bait up every other day as it guarantees carp coming across your bait when they are most comfortable and least wary. Although carp are basically simple creatures and can be caught on almost any bait worldwide, do not get into the mind set that what works on one water will work on another. While a lot of methods and tactics can be used on almost any water you need to approach each lake individually and work out the behavior of the carp in that lake. A carp is a carp in any water, but they do behave differently from your heavily pressured waters to your easy run waters, and to be successful you need to do your homework on each venue. The fallen willow… Once you are at one with a water you will be able to catch carp as and when you need to by changing certain parts of your setup as you go, but this can only be achieved through experience, and that means actually fishing! A carp that had just swirled moments before I took the photograph. Making use of other anglers is a great way of locating carp, and what better way than to find out from those in the know. Fishing a new water can be daunting to say the least with so many things to think of and keep track of in those all- important first feeler sessions, however you can take so much pressure off yourself by simply going over and speaking to other anglers. You’d be surprised how much people give away after a simple “Good morning, how are you? Have you caught anything as yet?” It’s a conversation starter and many a friendship has started from those humble few words. There is no shame in going home with a dry unhooking mat. Blanking is a part of carp fishing. As long as you have learnt something through your blank sessions it is another welcomed piece to add to the puzzle. Remember to listen and be courteous. Let your fellow carper do the talking while you just ask the questions. Take notes if you have to. Draw pictures. Do whatever it takes for you to be able to build up a 3D image of the lake in your mind. And most importantly be grateful and thankful. Show some respect and thank your new friend, you never know what secrets somebody may be willing to share in the future.