Martin Bowler discusses his favourite time of year, while in session chasing down some special carp.
Martin Bowler discusses his favourite time of year, while in session chasing down some special carp.
There is no better place to live, or in my book, fish, than the British Isles in May. I wish I could have this month perpetually but maybe those all too short few weeks in the year are what make it so special. Life is bursting out everywhere and it’s as if nature has swept a giant new broom across the countryside. The joy isn’t restricted to the top side only as beneath the placid surface there is an equally big celebration going on. The weed is fresh and so is the larder of bloodworm and snails providing a bounty for every fish that wants some. A perfect scenario for the carp, as their hunger grows daily before spawning commences. The larder may well be full, but these are greedy fish so offer them an angler’s bait and in this month they’ll rarely refuse. A boilie is without doubt their preference and a compressed ball of fishmeal is, in my opinion, what they like best. Oil and protein rich, it gives the carp the perfect tonic they need. Whatever you can feed they’ll eat and there is no better sight than a big fish ‘head and shouldering’ over the table of boilies you have laid and spiked with a rig — exciting and exactly what I was thinking about as I made the long journey to the lake.
I love fishing, hate driving but it’s the necessary trade off to enjoy copious amounts of adventures each year. The first step out of the truck was a relief away from the madness of our roads and the warm spring sun on my face soothed me as did the sweet, pollen filled air. A quick walk revealed that I wasn’t the only one pleased with the weather, as a shoal of carp lounged around in a patch of rapidly growing lily leaves. Their backs purple and thick looked tempting, so I left a few halved boilies close by to see if they wanted food, while I continued a lap of the lake. Alas, there wasn’t anything else to go on and within 20 minutes I was back by the pads hopeful of further encouragement, something that wasn’t forthcoming either. I wasn’t surprised as it was the wrong time of the day for feeding but it was important that I made a plan for when it was, during darkness and early the following morning.
My suspicion was that as soon as the sun fell the fish would retreat from the shallow water so it seemed logical to set up close by and put a banquet in place that they couldn’t ignore. A few casts with the marker float revealed low-lying weed already in control of most of the bottom, save for one clearing the size of a dinner table that could have already been harvested by the carp – perfect. It was the place I would feed my lovingly prepared Sticky Krill boilies, marinated in matching liquid and powder as they defrosted. Three kilos might seem a lot and it is, but for a few short weeks more bait means more success and I didn’t want the shoal to bypass me and head for richer feeding grounds. Fortunately, the tufties had left a few weeks previously so they wouldn’t be robbing me blind before the carp arrived.
Tactics started with only a single rod, which many carpers will find unusual, but it’s an approach I often use. Maybe my all-round angling background makes me more comfortable fishing in such a manner? When the area to target is small, I much rather put one bait in the correct place than squeeze in more which inevitably leads to a compromise. The disturbance is also minimised along with the chances of detection by the carp. It was crucial however that the rig I did present was effective and tangle proof. With immense clarity in the water, I went for something very subtle on the rig front. A full fluorocarbon hooklink, with a soft, braided hair and neat little kicker. The lack of weed growth allowed me to fine down to 15lb hooklink and a size 5 hook, with the soft hair giving me a better presentation than a stiff one. Stiffer materials see the hook sitting off the bottom unless the hair is created separately and in doing so aids presentation immensely.
A 16mm Krill Tuff One was threaded into place with one vital accessory added prior to casting – a foam nugget. This however wasn’t squeezed around the shank like most anglers do. Placing it inside a PVA mesh before nicking on the shank might seem over the top but it’s these small attentions to detail that make a big difference. The speed it separates is guaranteed whatever the water temperature and no bits of white residue will be left that can hang on for hours potentially spooking the carp. Also, to aid efficiency I had a spare rod rigged up identically and the line marked for casting to the spot in case I was lucky enough to catch a fish.
A red sky and an evening warm enough to still be wearing a t-shirt in was bliss, as was the BBQ supper. It’s a lovely feeling when everything is perfect, and you know a bite is almost certain. I did however have to wait for most of the night before the alarm broke the silence. No matter how many years I’ve been fishing panic always ensues and a blur of events saw me holding a reel that had no option but to give line. The initial savagery was then replaced by a resolve not to yield to the rods will with boil after boil on the surface from a determined tail. There was however a limit to the carp’s energy and a pristine common over 30lb had to accept it would have its photograph taken with me. Happily holding an armful of golden scales, how I wished spring could go on forever.
