| The
quality and quantity of easily available Carp fishing all
over Wales has enormously increased during the past couple
of decades. Wherever you stay, you will not be far from several
good Carp venues whether your preference is for specimens
or simply nets full of fish.
They inhabit all sorts of waters going right
up into the mountains to 1,300ft above sea level; some of
these higher and wilder places holding surprisingly large
fish. Many managed fisheries have Carp as their speciality
providing excellent sport for visitors with all degrees of
experience, from the novice to the expert.
Monsters exceeding 40lbs are known to inhabit
a few waters and in several more a 20-pounder is commonplace.
Just do the right things at the right time and you could be
seen cuddling your “fish of a lifetime” among
those coveted “Hall of Fame” pictures on a Welsh
fishing lodge wall.
There is not really any need to bring your
own bait unless you only have faith in your personal secret
Carp weapons. Plenty of variety is obtainable at local tackle
shops and many of the fisheries will have stocks of Carp goodies
at a reasonable price as well as plenty of good advice (or
even tuition, if you need it) to help you get the best from
your visit.
Carp are popular with anglers because they
grow very big and they’re not too hard to catch. Muddy
water means Carp are feeding on the bottom. Throw some ground
bait concentrate the fish in one place with ground bait and
cast to that spot every time. Rig up that most basic of end-tackle,
the running leger and attach a hair-rigged hook, using no
split shot on the trace, then bait up with a boilie, pellets,
luncheon meat - whatever. Carp like variety in their diet.
When you see them cruising around just under
the surface, try a floating bait such as bread-crust or dog
biscuit. This can be a very exciting sport because you can
see directly when the “take” occurs. Fish close
in, even right alongside the margins where the water is deep
enough, and attract the fish with bits of whatever you are
using Be sure to throw it up-wind so it drifts past you and
use no weights, except perhaps a small float to locate your
bait.
Keep out of sight as much as possible, avoid
being silhouetted against the sky and gently swing-cast your
offering among the floating ground-bait. In the right conditions
this method can provide very large catches.
There is a huge selection of tackle designed
for Carp fishing - and most can be ignored by the beginner,
except for the following basics. A proper Carp rod needn’t
be expensive, all are capable of doing the job, and the longer
ones will give you extra reach when using floating baits.
A reel with a “free-run” ability and a line distance
stop is useful, though not essential.
A minimum line strength of 8lb and a maximum
of 16lb will suit most venues - just remember that the thinner
the line, the longer it takes to net the fish, causing both
fish and angler unnecessary stress. Some anglers use an end
trace of slightly thinner line to minimise loss in the event
of breakage by a powerful fish.
A large extending landing net is vital, as
are a pair of rod-rests, one of which should also extend to
take account of sloping banks. An unhooking mat is mandatory
at some fisheries and is worth using everywhere to avoid damaging
the fish.
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