WE REVEAL OUR BEST TIPS FOR SHORT SESSION FISHING, ENSURING YOUR CATCH RATE DOESN'T SUFFER EVEN WHEN TIME IS AT A PREMIUM!

WE REVEAL OUR BEST TIPS FOR SHORT SESSION FISHING, ENSURING YOUR CATCH RATE DOESN'T SUFFER EVEN WHEN TIME IS AT A PREMIUM!


Carp angling is synonymous with long, drawn out sessions, which probably date back to the times where carp were considered to be uncatchable. In reality, with modern tackle, bait and literature we have come to realise you don’t need to spend days on end on the banks of your chosen venue to be successful. Short, day sessions are incredibly enjoyable, especially in the colder months, when let’s face it a nice warm bath is much more appealing than a night spent in a bivvy in the cold and wet.

We have put together our best tips to help you put more fish on the bank, specifically catered towards short sessions:

BOOST YOUR HOOKBAITS

Adding a little bit of extra attraction to you hookbaits can help you get bites far quicker than using standard ones. This can be as simple or complicated as you want to make it; adding a few squirts of matching bait spray is by far the easiest way of introducing some extra pulling power.

You can take it further by including Pure Natural powders, such as Betaine, which when combined with a bait spray of your choice will form a super soluble layer of attraction around your hookbait. Even in the coldest of water, this thin layer will instantly disperse through the water and draw carp towards the danger zone as it were.

BOOST YOUR HOOKBAITS

Adding a little bit of extra attraction to you hookbaits can help you get bites far quicker than using standard ones. This can be as simple or complicated as you want to make it; adding a few squirts of matching bait spray is by far the easiest way of introducing some extra pulling power.

You can take it further by including Pure Natural powders, such as Betaine, which when combined with a bait spray of your choice will form a super soluble layer of attraction around your hookbait. Even in the coldest of water, this thin layer will instantly disperse through the water and draw carp towards the danger zone as it were.

PREP YOUR PVA

During short sessions, time is obviously of a premium, so everything we can do at home prior to your session is going to save you valuable time whilst on the bank. So long as you don’t tie them up more than a couple of days in advance, PVA bags can be pre-prepared ready to just hook or loop on as soon as you get your rods ready. Whether you use funnel web or solid bags, it is well worth getting them prepared beforehand.

PREP YOUR PVA

During short sessions, time is obviously of a premium, so everything we can do at home prior to your session is going to save you valuable time whilst on the bank. So long as you don’t tie them up more than a couple of days in advance, PVA bags can be pre-prepared ready to just hook or loop on as soon as you get your rods ready. Whether you use funnel web or solid bags, it is well worth getting them prepared beforehand.

BEING ORGANISED AND WELL PREPARED GIVES YOU THE BEST CHANCE FOR SUCCESS ON SHORT SESSIONS

BEING ORGANISED AND WELL PREPARED GIVES YOU THE BEST CHANCE FOR SUCCESS ON SHORT SESSIONS

TRACK THEM DOWN

Ensuring you are fishing the right area is even more vital on a short session, as if you aren’t in the right place, you haven’t got the luxury of time on your side!

Obvious signs of fish showing can often only be seen at first light, outside of these times it can be hard to find them, especially in the cold! It is therefore vital you make the effort to arrive early or stay late, otherwise you could be left scratching your head. Often if you have no choice to arrive early, the carp shoal up tightly in the cold, so if you stumble across one, there’s likely to be more.

TRACK THEM DOWN

Ensuring you are fishing the right area is even more vital on a short session, as if you aren’t in the right place, you haven’t got the luxury of time on your side!

Obvious signs of fish showing can often only be seen at first light, outside of these times it can be hard to find them, especially in the cold! It is therefore vital you make the effort to arrive early or stay late, otherwise you could be left scratching your head. Often if you have no choice to arrive early, the carp shoal up tightly in the cold, so if you stumble across one, there’s likely to be more.

PRE-BAITING FOR CONSISTENCY

Pre-baiting can really help even if you only fish day sessions, your bait can do the hard work for you while you aren’t even there! A mix of Manilla boilies, Bloodworm pellets and corn would be perfect for the winter months. If you get a spot rocking, you might only have to bait it once or twice a week, but still reap the rewards when you find the time to fish it.

PRE-BAITING FOR CONSISTENCY

Pre-baiting can really help even if you only fish day sessions, your bait can do the hard work for you while you aren’t even there! A mix of Manilla boilies, Bloodworm pellets and corn would be perfect for the winter months. If you get a spot rocking, you might only have to bait it once or twice a week, but still reap the rewards when you find the time to fish it.

TRAVEL LIGHT

Unless you are fishing a very highly stocked venue, you are unlikely to use a full 5kg bucket of bait during a day session in the winter. It pays to split your bait up into smaller containers/bags. A small bucket for your freebies, with a few tubs of hookbaits is all you need on a short session. Anything you have left over would also be ideal to bait a few spots ready for your next trip.

TRAVEL LIGHT

Unless you are fishing a very highly stocked venue, you are unlikely to use a full 5kg bucket of bait during a day session in the winter. It pays to split your bait up into smaller containers/bags. A small bucket for your freebies, with a few tubs of hookbaits is all you need on a short session. Anything you have left over would also be ideal to bait a few spots ready for your next trip.

SPREAD OUT YOUR CHANCES

If you haven’t pinned down the carp’s location, one of the best options is to cast all of your rods to different, likely looking spots. This will maximise your chances of finding where the fish are held up and if you receive a bite on one rod, you can move more to that area. It is also worth using a semi tight and light bobbin, any line bites will be easily registered with this method, helping you further in locating the fish.

SPREAD OUT YOUR CHANCES

If you haven’t pinned down the carp’s location, one of the best options is to cast all of your rods to different, likely looking spots. This will maximise your chances of finding where the fish are held up and if you receive a bite on one rod, you can move more to that area. It is also worth using a semi tight and light bobbin, any line bites will be easily registered with this method, helping you further in locating the fish.

IT MAY BE AN OLD CLICHÉ, BUT FIVE MINUTES IN THE RIGHT SWIM COULD BE WORTH FIVE HOURS IN THE WRONG ONE

IT MAY BE AN OLD CLICHÉ, BUT FIVE MINUTES IN THE RIGHT SWIM COULD BE WORTH FIVE HOURS IN THE WRONG ONE