SCOTT LLOYD REFLECTS ON HIS DEBUT IN FRONT OF THE UNDERWATER CAMERAS, INCLUDING THE VITAL LESSONS HE LEARNT FROM DELVING INTO THE UNDERWATER WORLD!
SCOTT LLOYD REFLECTS ON HIS DEBUT IN FRONT OF THE UNDERWATER CAMERAS, INCLUDING THE VITAL LESSONS HE LEARNT FROM DELVING INTO THE UNDERWATER WORLD!
Capturing a glimpse into the underwater world of the carp has always been high on my list of things to do, and thanks to the boys at Sticky and of course Tom Anderson, I was given my chance. I was tasked with getting to grips with the cameras, with a few pointers from when Tom used them on Lac de Saint Cassien. These aren’t just weighted down GoPros, they are serious bits of kit!
I soon got to grips with them, and it was decided that I would have the first chance to fish in front of them too. We chose to fish Willow Lake on the Linch Hill complex as it offered everything we would need. Clear water, plenty of gravel spots close to the bank, and most importantly some very big and rather clued-up carp.
As I am sure everyone will know, the session itself went incredibly well! We caught from the off and there was so much to take away from the session for not only the viewers, but for me on a personal angling level as well. It truly was a real eye opener!
5 THINGS I LEARNT FROM
5 THINGS I LEARNT FROM
I use braided main line and fluorocarbon leaders in practically all of my fishing, as I think it’s just the best combination you can get. What struck me was how important line lay was during the filming. There were several points where fish lifted the line up and spooked off the spot! This just highlighted how important your line lay is and as a result I will pay even more attention to it in the future.
I use braided main line and fluorocarbon leaders in practically all of my fishing, as I think it’s just the best combination you can get. What struck me was how important line lay was during the filming. There were several points where fish lifted the line up and spooked off the spot! This just highlighted how important your line lay is and as a result I will pay even more attention to it in the future.
Fishing up towards a snaggy margin really emphasised the need for strong gear to me, it was clear the fish weren’t bothered by big, size four hooks! Using the strong braid and a thick fluorocarbon leader, with the big hook means I can drag them away from snags and have full control of the fish in no time!
Fishing up towards a snaggy margin really emphasised the need for strong gear to me, it was clear the fish weren’t bothered by big, size four hooks! Using the strong braid and a thick fluorocarbon leader, with the big hook means I can drag them away from snags and have full control of the fish in no time!
In the past, I would never cast the Noodle rig out without any PVA foam on, just because I was paranoid about tangles. Well, as it turns out, I have probably been missing out on some quick bites! Even in the shallow margins of Willow, those nuggets took a while to dissolve, all the while the fish were in the swim feeding! In the end, I started casting without the foam and as it happens, the rig landed perfectly every time. The combination of the balanced Krill wafter with the anti-tangle sleeve and semi-stiff hooklink seems to avoid tangles really well. I won’t be using PVA nuggets half as much as I used to, that’s for sure!
In the past, I would never cast the Noodle rig out without any PVA foam on, just because I was paranoid about tangles. Well, as it turns out, I have probably been missing out on some quick bites! Even in the shallow margins of Willow, those nuggets took a while to dissolve, all the while the fish were in the swim feeding! In the end, I started casting without the foam and as it happens, the rig landed perfectly every time. The combination of the balanced Krill wafter with the anti-tangle sleeve and semi-stiff hooklink seems to avoid tangles really well. I won’t be using PVA nuggets half as much as I used to, that’s for sure!
There’s no doubt seeing the reaction to The Krill Active on those underwater cameras just cemented it right up there with me. Of course, I knew it had done wonders in testing, but to see it first-hand right there in front of me was amazing to see. I was also surprised at how much bait we went through! Normally, when fishing close in, I would use a handful of bait here and there, but we absolutely piled it in, as it just wasn’t lasting long enough. Eventually, I had to start using 20mm Krill Active, just to make sure some of it stayed there until a carp came along and even then, the big mirrors and of course the infamous big common, soon saw off everything I put in the swim. There’s no way I will be going fishing without a bag of Krill Active ever again, that’s for sure!
LESSON FOUR
| BAIT
There’s no doubt seeing the reaction to The Krill Active on those underwater cameras just cemented it right up there with me. Of course, I knew it had done wonders in testing, but to see it first-hand right there in front of me was amazing to see. I was also surprised at how much bait we went through! Normally, when fishing close in, I would use a handful of bait here and there, but we absolutely piled it in, as it just wasn’t lasting long enough. Eventually, I had to start using 20mm Krill Active, just to make sure some of it stayed there until a carp came along and even then, the big mirrors and of course the infamous big common, soon saw off everything I put in the swim. There’s no way I will be going fishing without a bag of Krill Active ever again, that’s for sure!
This is without doubt the main thing I took away from the underwater filming, bags of confidence in my approach. It just confirmed that everything I was doing worked, and worked well at that! Yes, there were a few occasions where I was done, but if it were that easy, we would soon all get bored and give up. I know I can sit behind my rods now, without the cameras there, knowing I am fishing 100% as effectively as I can and that in fishing is everything!
LESSON FIVE
| CONFIDENCE
This is without doubt the main thing I took away from the underwater filming, bags of confidence in my approach. It just confirmed that everything I was doing worked, and worked well at that! Yes, there were a few occasions where I was done, but if it were that easy, we would soon all get bored and give up. I know I can sit behind my rods now, without the cameras there, knowing I am fishing 100% as effectively as I can and that in fishing is everything!
