| If you want to do well on a venue you must | | | | float reaches the surface you will be able to count |
| learn how to find those invisible underwater | | | | how deep it is from the line paid out, don't forget |
| features such as gravel bars, weed beds and | | | | to add on 12ins for the run rig and lead. now wind |
| clear areas. Carp use the lake bed to navigate | | | | in a couple of feet and repeat the process all the |
| their way around just as we use roads. Hugging | | | | way in to the margins. As you wind in feel how |
| gravel bars, following gullies and feeding on | | | | the lead moves along the bottom this will give |
| plateaus. The more you know about your swim, | | | | you an idea of what the lead is moving over. |
| the more you will catch. | | | | Feels smooth but steady bouncing, that's clay. If it |
| You will need a strong rod with a TC of at least | | | | feel like you are pulling through cotton wool, that's |
| 3lb. There are purpose made Marker rods out | | | | silt. If you feel a lot of tugging and suddenly pulling |
| there but these can be expensive I use a Fox | | | | free then that is weed. Clonking and jarring, that's |
| method master and although it has a 3.5lb TC it is | | | | gravel. |
| still responsive enough to feel the bottom. You will | | | | Now Cast out again this time a couple of feet to |
| need a large spooled reel to allow you to cast a | | | | the right and repeat the process. keep doing this |
| lead of at least 2oz. the reel should be loaded with | | | | all the way to the far right of the swim. You will |
| 15lb-20lb braid. braided main line has no stretch | | | | soon build up a detailed picture of the water in |
| which makes it more responsive and will give you | | | | front of you. I like to do a rough sketch of the |
| a better idea of what the lead is move over.You | | | | swim and add in the depths as I go that way I |
| will also need a marker float set up | | | | can build up a detailed map of the swim and over |
| Now cast the marker rig out starting from the | | | | time you can even build up a detailed map of the |
| left hand side of the swim, allow the lead to hit | | | | entire lake. |
| the bottom then with the rod pointing at the point | | | | Remember knowing what you are fishing over will |
| of impact wind down on the reel until you feel a | | | | determine what rig will work best so the more |
| bump, that would be the float hitting the run ring, | | | | you know about the water in front of you the |
| the float will now be 12ins above the lake bed. | | | | more chance you have of outwitting those Carp. |
| Gently pay off line a foot at a time, when the | | | | Now get out there and get that lake mapped out. |