help with carp fishing......

[00powells]

setting/location: a lake, a few miles away from my house. open lake, with no weed beds, overhanging trees etc. it is in a square shape, approx 80 metres across.

story: i went to fish there the other day and i went to the bank and there were about 10 carp (some were mirrors) all feeding about 2-5 metres away from me! i got my tackle set up as quick as possible without making too much noise or it would have disturbed the fish. after about 8 minutes my bait which was lobworm (freelined) was in the water. i put this around where they were feeding and they wouldnt bite so i kept trying and eventually i got a bite!! my got it fought for about 3 seconds and the darn hook came out!!!! AAAARRRRRGGGHHHH. i was so shocked and they all swam off and must have continued feeding on the bottom because i did not see one more for a couple of hours feeding on the surface. the bad luck about this is that i have never caught a carp before i only ever seem to catch roach.

my tackle: rod (obviously), 15lb line, size 6 hooks (barbless), bait - lobworm

other tackle avaliable in tackle box: 8lb line, 16, 8 and 4 sized hooks and size 4 again (barbed), the usually bits like floats, weights, feeders etc, etc.

bait avaliable on that day: lobworm, sweetcorn, dog biscuits and bread

can anyone help me sort my tactics out with catching those carp???

any recommendations will do, feel free to ask more questions about my tackle, setting or whatever you want to ask!

thank you

[dan the fishing man]

if the carp were on top i think it would have been a better option to try a big bit if breat crust on a size6/8 hook

on bottom sweetcorn would have probably worked as well as lobs, but you won't get so many perch and species like that going for it when you don't want them to. also, why not use the 8b line, just make sure you set your drag properly.

[fishypaul]

hello mate,you don't seem to be doing much wrong,
welcome to carp fishing,i have lost count of the number of times i have felt like shouting out and throwing my rod in the water,carp can do that,
keep plugging away,you will soon have a day when they all want to feed exactly how you want them to and you will bag up,
one thing that is a boon is the hair rig,are you using them ?

its nice to get another forumite from kent,where is it you come from,perhaps we can get together one day and have a social

[00powells]

im from higham, (in between strood and gravesend) and im 16 what about you?

[fishypaul]

faversham mate,i fish the mid kent waters

[surface#iain#]

I would say that a size 4-6 is to big go for ten so you dont push your luck and you very lucky to see acrp feeding like that next time try using lighter line and soon enough you will have you first carp.......

[Norfolkboy]

Hi mate.

I'd of gone for the lighter line, 8lb. The bailiff at Cobbleacre Lakes near me landed a 30lber on 6lb line, so 8lb would have been fine, just set your drag on the reel and play it sensibly.

I'd have preferred to use a size 8 hook rather than a 6.

Lobworm is a great carp bait, so would have used that like you if they were on bottom, had they been on top, bread.

Better luck next time you go, and let us know how you get on

[Olde Danny]

Hi m8

When i fished fresh water it was only for the big carp, and here are the few things that i learned over the years. Hooks need to be offset and a size or two smaller than the bait you use.If yours are not offset its easly cured with a little pair of smooth-jaw pliers.. Line.. well i always used Braid. its a must. Floats.. long quills set to the exact depth and leaning at 45deg. this gives you both the gentle lift bite and the usual steam engine bite with minimum drag. Bait.. try not to use the same as the rest because the fish get sick of it as you or i would if we where fed the same thing every day. Try the unusual .. Mattersons liver patty was always a good one, use it neat at short range or mixed with grain flour to thicken it up for longer casting. It is a very soft bait so practice lobbing with it rather than hard casting. Thats about it, the rest is practice and years of learning.

Catchya........

[00powells]

ok thanks very much for the replies guys! i will go fishing most probably within the next week so i will tell you how it went. thanks again!