Struggling To Catch Carp? Then Try Our Tips!

Fishing can be great fun - relaxing and a good social occasion. However, it can also be something of a let down if you don't catch any fish. Our guide offers some top tips for carp fishing. First, you need to be in an area frequented by fish. Some popular fishing areas suffer from false advertising - loads of anglers go there, but because the fish associated it with danger, they're off swimming elsewhere because they like to feel safe in their environment. Sometimes the unlikely areas are the best ones.

Once you have your chosen spot, it can be tempting to just wait for the fish to come to you, but being proactive is vital. Check you're in a good area for fish and that you have good equipment -quality baits and rigs are most important. Going fishing on a warm day when the water will be warmer is a good tactic, as is going when the lake is quieter, so you have more chance of catching carp. Also choose yourself a peg (location) surrounded by lots of water.

Once you're set up in a good location, try some baiting tactics. In new lakes and popular ones, it's good idea to start a baiting campaign. This involves feeding the fish with new bait they're unfamiliar with. Introducing it to them as food encourages them to associate it with safety. Once they're familiar it, you can begin fishing with it as bait as it will lure them in. Big carp are especially good to catch with this method as they can otherwise be a bit wary of most bait.

So you've got your location and your bait sorted - the next tip relates to the rigging. You can set up something called a 'trick rig' to lure carp in and catch them. After a while, carp learn how to eat around the hook of your bait, so they don't get caught, so one thing you can do is to set up an obvious 'danger bait' that they will avoid. Secretly hide the hook in a safe-looking bit of bait that the carp will automatically try and eat, catching them quickly.

Every angler dreams of catching 'the big one.' So, when trying to lure in the biggest carp you can, it's worth deploying extra tactics. Carp are, surprisingly, into their cuisine. Add a tablespoon of salt to a 5 liter bucket of dry particles to get them flocking: they love salty food. Some of them also adore the heat of chili so try adding some flakes to your bait mixture. Maggots work well, too. This, plus a prime spot should maximize your chances of catching the biggest carp in the lake.