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Back to Academy searchMark Holmes
Former Advanced Carp fishing magazine Editor, Mark joined the Greys Carp Academy in 2008.
Mark spent many years chasing the few large carp available in his native Yorkshire. Eventually Carp further a field were targeted with Lancashire, Nottinghamshire and the Midlands in general offering Mark the carp he wanted.
Now based in the Midlands, Mark primarily targets the larger specimens however he has lost none of his enthusiasm for catching carp. When asked what he classes as large Mark bluntly said, “The day I think a 20lb carp is not a big fish I think I will probably pack it in.”
Currently Mark holds the record for the largest surface caught carp in the UK, a 61lb 4oz giant, caught from Essex in June 2006. Even more astounding is this was done in front of the cameras while making a DVD, An Obsession Of Carp. With another two 50’s caught that season, Mark puts his success down to many things but emphasis the main one as location. You cannot catch a carp that isn’t there. So to all the thousands of Carp anglers out there his advice is to set yourself realistic targets.
News from Mark Holmes - Wednesday 18th January 2012
Beating The Winter Blues
"As we all stare out of the window at certain times over the winter, quite often we can be depressed by what we see. I don't just mean the flyover or new train track obscuring the view! No, if you are a Carp fisherman it is usually the icy weather and the fact that there is a lid on the lakes. It is quite easy to get the winter blues and believe it isn't worth venturing out until the daffodils appear. Well that's not strictly true.
"It is during winter that Carp localise themselves and categorise their habits. This makes it easier to catch them provided you know these two important things. Now I am not going to lie to you and say it is easy to know these but with a little work it is possible to find them out and catch Carp consistently through the winter.
"A few years ago I fished Chad Lakes in Gloucestershire during the winter. It became particular evident to me that the fish fed for one hour, twice a day in a small depression on the lakebed that was a foot deeper than anywhere else on the lake. Their bite time was first light, up to 9.00am and the last hour before dusk. During the middle of the day you my have well as reeled your rods in and gone home or to the pub!
"Now the advantage of this type of scenario is that if you can target a water in the winter that is local, there is a very good chance that you can still catch Carp in winter but do it in a very short space of time. No need to bring the kitchen sink just fish short day sessions that will keep you refreshed and not worn down by the dreary weather.
"That leads me onto the other vital aspect of winter Carp fishing. The weather is quite simply the number one consideration. It is obvious that a frozen lake is unfishable and although you can fish holes in the ice my advice is unless you are an Eskimo... don't do that.
"Efficient winter fishing comes from being focussed and precise. Remember Carp may only feed from one spot and only for a 15 minute spell. Given that, it is far better to be mobile and observant in trying to find where winter Carp are living/laid up.
"Trust me, if you can find where they are, you have a very good chance of getting a bite. I said earlier that locating them was vital and you can consistently catch them because, they do not move far from their winter haunts. The complete opposite to the rest of the year when winds, hatches, angler pressure all move fish constantly. However, the drops in temperatures affect the Carp and make them easier to predict. Well I have certainly found so. Where the problem lies is that the accepted normal approach adopted today of occupying a swim and laying down a bed of bait, waiting for the Carp to arrive, isn't effective in winter. Simple... because they don't move so often.
"Therefore a long stay approach will often work against you. Don't make the mistake of thinking that this is only what you have to do... find them. No. When you do find where they lay up, you need to make sure you don't frighten them.
"I have found that in winter often fishing tight to one spot can be more effective. Also I like to count my rods down if I am doing that. Let me explain. It makes no sense to catch a Carp and then, if you are fishing tight with three rods, put the rod you have just caught a Carp on, back on the same spot right on top of where feeding Carp are. I have found this reduces my chances and makes it likely of scaring the Carp from feeding or worse staying in that spot. Remember, if you have found where Carp lie up in winter, there is a reason for it. Mostly they feel safe there. Leads constantly disturbing the weather above their heads aren't conducive to Carp staying put.
"So in winter when the Carp are feeding for a small time and you feel sure you are in the right spot with three rods, I would wait and not disturb the swim unless you feel it necessary. Who knows you may have caught the Carp you want with the 1st run. Happy Days.
"In conclusion, winter Carp fishing need not be an assault course of endurance. Indeed, it is amazing how few Carp anglers these days do go fishing just for a day. My advice is try it and see if you can beat the winter blues. I recently tried it and catching big, winter Carp such as a recent 40lb 2oz beast (see picture ...) made me realise that with the milder winter we seem to be experiencing in 2011/2012, there has never been a better time to be out."
See you on the bank
Holmesy
News from Mark - Monday 12th September 2011
"In Carp fishing there is always an element of surprise. Like the best surprises, they are very much a personal thing, as indeed carping in general is.
"Over the many years that I have pursued Carp, I have realised that most of the time, my experiences are personal and not shared. What I mean by that is I have lost count of the time I alone have seen something. The roll of a fish, the sway of the reeds, the silent view of some enormous beast of a fish. Often my early comments would be, did you see that? Nearly always the answer of some one near would be, what?
"Seeing large Carp has always been a very individual pastime. Indeed speaking of your sightings can bring you serious grief. Often your observations are met with derision or at best a scant agreement. These days I very rarely tell anyone of my findings. Not out of a selfish secrecy but because I realise that my observations are for me and me alone. Second hand information is never as good as the real thing.
"Years ago people would speak of the large monster Carp they saw in Redmire. I even saw the legendary picture taken by Eddie Price that showed a large Carp poking out of the weed of Redmire. However invariable, the sense of shock and awe is when you see it yourself. What gives it even more impact is if the sighting is of Carp that remains uncaught.
"Often we hear that these days there are no such things. In a consumer-led world we want it now and want to not see it but touch it too. However I know first-hand from my experiences at Lakeview there are Carp that remain uncaught.
"In one of my early blogs you may remember I called a group of Lakeview fish the Seldoms, simply because they were seldom caught. I was fortunate this year to catch one of the commons at 38lb so my luck in 2011 was certainly improving. However there are some Carp in Lakeview that simply do not get caught. It adds to the mystique of the place and one or two of them I call the Myths. I will not spoil this month's story but I know these Carp exist having seen them on odd occasions.
"This month, after sunning myself in Tenerife for two weeks, I was busting to wet a line. Dave Moore and Rob Heald had been fishing for a few days and apart from a couple of Carp, things were extremely dead. Dave did manage a nice 27lb Common so it wasn't all doom and gloom. However with a very low water level and the obvious reduction in oxygen that comes with it, the Carp were hardly on the feed.
"However, as my luck is turning out this year, a low-pressure front was bringing in lower temperatures and one day of torrential rain...perfect timing. This had to represent a feeding spell. After a full 24 hours blanking, I was beginning to wander if I had miscalculated. Then like a light switch within 12 hours I had caught five Carp up to 33lb, an old warrior of a common, and things were looking up.
"There followed a lull in the action during the day but as daybreak arrived the following morning, I received a steady run from a large Carp. I know it was large as it broke my braided line. I was dumbstruck, as I knew there were only two or three Carp in the lake capable of that. As I sat sulking and cursing my luck I saw a Carp roll that I have seen maybe twice in seven years. It is heavily scaled and frequently travels around with two other Carp that are significantly bigger. However, I have never caught it, seen it caught or indeed hooked in the eight years I have been at Lakeview. It is an original and the two or three times I have seen it in the water, always impressed by its distinctive looks.
"Some five minutes later I had a very slow pick up that moved the indicator up just two inches. I picked up the rod and was astounded when it was nearly pulled out of my hands. For the next 20 minutes I was led a merry dance but managed to land the zoo creature. It was only when I looked in the landing net that I realised how lucky I was. It was The Myth that I had seen roll.
"It weighed 37lb 15oz, which was immaterial really. It was the sense of one's personal wish list being reduced by one - that gave me the biggest thrill. Lakeview has seen some very good anglers over the years. Dave Moore, Simon Mansbridge, Jon Patterson, Kevin Grix and Lee Collings to name just a few. All very good anglers yet this Carp had managed to evade their efforts. As I held it up for the customary photo shoot, I looked up and once again thanked God for showing me the joys of Carp fishing. One less Myth for me to chase."
See you on the Bank
Holmesy
News from Mark Holmes... Tuesday 2nd August 2011
"I have known for quite a long time that the worst time of the year for Carp fishing is a tossup between January/February or, surprise, surprise, July/August.
"That may surprise some newcomers but to seasoned Carp anglers they will, I am sure, agree. It isn't so easy to initially understand why. The water temperatures are high, so the Carp being cold-blooded should be active and constantly looking for food. I wrote recently in Carpworld magazine that the Carp is a very simple animal and its main focus in life is to eat. There lies the problem.
"I recently arrived at a new water I have been intending to fish for ages. The sight that was waiting for me when I arrived was dramatic. The weed growth was so abundant that I felt I could have actually walked on water. No I'm not the messiah, it's just the surface weed growth was so prolific. Any chance of hooking a Carp would have met with the obvious losing of said Carp. This is not my idea of fishing and as I currently have no useable boat, I need to wait a few weeks for the weed to die down. If indeed it does.
"With various non-fishing commitments to fulfil and an interesting tuition session planned, I was starting to suffer Carp fever. I needed to cast a line. I had a very successful spring on Lakeview and as I wrote during my last blog. The Carp at Lakeview were now very, very spooky. Indeed even my old mate Dave Moore was suffering blanks so that shows how moody the place is. Fortunately I had been able to keep the big uns coming though and was wondering how long my different approach would work.
"With this in mind I decided to do a few overnighters on Lakeview. The first two sessions ended in blanks and as I sat peering at Carp feeding in the margins I realised why. Mid-summer brings the hatches of lakebed laying insects to life. So much so that if you sit at the waters edge at dusk or dawn you will see what you think are small fish, rippling the surface. Take another look! A lot of the time it is insects hitting the surface as they travel up through the water column from the lakebed. Now our Carp are use to this window of opportunity and are not going to miss it. The end result means our nutritional boilie is left nutritioning away untouched by carp. Very frustrating!
"However, on my third overnighter, after another uneventful night I peered through the trees down at some relentless swirling and saw a couple of Carp feeding on the naturals.... Oh and they were big Carp too. Quick as a flash I baited a roaming rod as I call it, with a prawn and gently lowered it into position as the three Carp temporarily moved out of the area. Some five minutes late as they returned, the slack lines flicked and then tightened. As I lifted the rod up, it was nearly wrenched out of my arms.
"A few heart-stopping moments ensued during which the big Carp tried to get away. However, he was soon landed and I smiled as I beamed down on another Lakeview biggy, The Recluse. (pic 24) As the needle settled at 34lb I was delighted. You can actually see footage of this fish being cared for and returned with Chub's Barrow Mat on our Chub You Tube channel.
"Buoyed by that success, I was still aware that captures such as The Recluse are opportunistic rather than planned. Therefore a week later, I was starting to think my successful tactic on Lakeview of fishing areas where the Carp are not fished for, was running its course. Basically, this year I had decided to fish areas that are overlooked at Lakeview. Most anglers fish to island snags or drop offs. My approach was to create my own hotspots where hook baits are rarely placed. These were neither at distance (the island) or margins. I have been targeting the mid, open areas of the lake. However as always seems to happen on these sessions, a single run produced a big fish. I was fortunate enough to catch a Carp that has been caught once in six years, I kid you not. A stunning male Carp called Tango (pic 23). As its fins tensed up for the trophy shot, I was very pleased to see it looking so good and weighing 30lb 6oz - it was not a small fish!
"As I packed up from this session I feared that Lakeview was becoming extremely moody and the low water levels and constant high pressures were doing little to stimulate them into a feed. With some exciting tuition planned for the end of July, I was concerned that my welcome newbie would leave Lakeview after his two days, wondering why the hell anyone goes Carp fishing! As the lad in question works with Carp anglers that would not be desirable now would it? I won't spoil the outcome as that tale can wait. All I will say is that it was, probably, my most enjoyable session for a long time and actually made me realise why all of us, go fishing for these magnificent creatures. Long may it continue."
See you on the bank
Holmesy
Not So Flaming June
"A very long time ago an old Carp angler told me that nature has a way of repaying her dues. When I asked him what he meant by that statement he told me that in the course of a year, nature needs so much sun, rain, snow and even frost. If in any season it doesn't give what it needs, it will catch up later. He wasn't kidding!
"Spring had been great with warm sunny days that had all us Carp anglers feeling like Christmas, in Carping results, had come early. I myself had caught quite a few big uns and was amazed at how dry and sunny April and May was. Enter June. Well, as I write it has just turned sunny but the rain and low temperatures have made it seem like April. To make it worse, my target water has just been shut until 9th July as the Carp have started to spawn due to two warm days. That's the problem with carp. Once they are full of spawn, ANY hot weather and they are at it!
"With this in mind I have been lucky that I could fall back on Lakeview. Yeah I had the odd angler such as Mr Moore and Mr Patterson lined up to fish Lakeview but generally I could pick the right times to fish according to the most important part of Carp fishing. Is it bait, tackle, location, tactics? No, none of these. It's the good old British weather.
"I have known for a long time the right times to fish. As I travel up and down the country giving slide shows I always tell newcomers and seasoned anglers alike, look for the pattern changes in the weather. That can be the obvious wind change, or barometric pressure drops but mostly look for a change. I have found lately on Lakeview that an area that has a margin drop off into soft clay laced with bloodworm is a prime area for Carp. However, you will get the best results when the wind blows from the North West. With this in mind I waited and waited for ages to see a change from the Westerly and easterlies that were blowing across the lake.
"Towards the middle of the 2nd week in June I noticed the forecast was for a slight change to a North Westerly. However, this would only blow for a day and then switch back to a westerly. A quick overnighter was called for and as dawn broke around 5 am, I was stirred from my slumber by a steady pick up. I was soon battling with a very big Carp that I never saw. I say never saw it as when it was under my rod tip, the hook fell out. Fell out... I nearly fell in! However, as seems to be happening with my luck at the moment, as I placed the rod back in the rest, the middle rod roared off. Playing the Carp like my life depended on it, I soon netted a very large common Carp. To make the moment even better it was one of the seldoms, as I have christened them. The seldoms are Lakeview Carp that I have seen and very rarely, and never in some cases, caught them. There are three commons and one mirror in that group. This looked to be one of the small ones but weighing 38lb 12oz, I knew that it wasn't small. Infact it was a belter.
"I stopped on the lake a further night but ended up catching nothing else. As expected the weather changed and the wind blew from the west for the next week.
"The Lakeview Carp had started to spawn late May and had finished after a couple of days. My good mate Dave Moore was on the lake at the time and told me in his own inimitable style, "they're at it!" During and immediately after spawning I like to give the Carp ample time to recover so I keep the anglers down to a minimum. However, as I write this at the end of June, the Carp have fully recovered and back to their cagey self's. Only yesterday though the wind swung again to the North West as I was hoping. Unfortunately I had no time to put a 48 hours session in but as I have done often this year, a quick overnighter was on the cards. Once again I was fortunate to be on the spots when the Carp arrived. The first run was a beautiful 21lb Carp which was quickly followed by a 16lb hard fighting common... definitely one for the future.
"As the dawn broke and the sun started to rise, I had a very jerky run which upon lifting the rod I nearly had it torn from my grasp. Several flat-roding attempts coincided and I knew there were only two, maybe three, Carp in the lake that could do this. All are males and very big fish. Soon I was staring down at another big Carp in my net... a scraper 40 called blunt-nose. As I weighed him I smiled that he also registered 38lb 12oz (see picture 21), just like the seldom common (see picture 20.) Once again lady luck had been good to me. It would be easy for me to think I am a very lucky angler, which I am but on this occasion I turned my thoughts to the old Carp angler telling me about Mother Nature paying her dues. So much for Flaming June!"
See you on the Bank
Holmesy
Memorable May Madness
"My main syndicate this year does not open until 16th June so I have been targeting Lakeview over the spring. As reported in my catches I was extremely fortunate to catch one of the big four, a fish called Bernard at 48lb 2oz. So the lake was being kind to me. But then why shouldn't it be? I was fishing well and preparations for my summer attack were taking shape and early signs on the new bait were proving very encouraging. With quite a few 30's caught and now a big 40, one thing was for sure. The bait was spot on.
"With time at a bonus I planned a quick overnighter on Lakeview. With Dave Moore, Jon Patterson and Mark Walsingham amongst others planning to fish Lakeview over the next few weekends, I wanted to have another crack myself. As usual for May 2011, the weather was not perfect with very still conditions and an immovable high-pressure front that had been with us for weeks. However, when you are fishing your fishing, so I settled back to enjoy the beautiful surrounding and tranquillity of Lakeview.
"The night passed uneventful and I was beginning to wonder if a move was needed. However, no sooner had I thought that than I had a slow take on the middle rod fished on a drop off. I pulled into the carp and soon realised this was no small Carp. Twenty minutes later I slipped the net under a very big Carp. As I looked down I realised it was Bernard again. Typical, the fish hadn't been out for nearly three years and I catch it twice in three weeks! I weighed the fish in the water as it looked a little bigger than when I caught it before. The scales registered 48lb 6oz, which surprised me, as I would have said this Carp, was a 50 now. I didn't bother photographing it but just released it to hopefully grace someone else's net next time.
"As I sat back with a cup of tea the sun was now high in the sky and I had given up hope of another Carp. I had no need to worry when the same middle rod produced a belting run. This fish was intent on reaching the island and I had all on to turn him. However, as I have written before the Greys Torsion rods are a superb bit if kit and have the backbone to move fish around as you need. Soon I had a very large common Carp in the bottom of my net that was so golden I needed sunglasses to look at it. I knew it was going to be close to being another 40lb carp and when the fish registered 38lb 14oz I was over the moon. I really was on a roll and felt like I couldn't do any wrong. It is during these times when you should fish hard and as often as you can.
"With this in mind the quick overnighter was turning into an overnighter, day'er and moving into evening too!! I was pushing it as I had a dinner appointment for 8.00pm. However, when you luck is in...it's in. I had a drop back on my right hand rod fished under the tip of the rod. This was fished up to a small snag and was positioned in an area where I had never seen Lakeview anglers fishing. Like all these situations Carp become accustomed to bait placement and these subtle changes can make all the difference. As I looked on, the dropping back of the bobbin quickly sprung up and bolted off at pace. The fish was bow waving away from the shallows and I could see this was another big carp. Infact a very big Carp!
"The usual ritual followed with the first run being heart-stopping. My nerve, the line and the hook held and soon the large fish was off up the main part of the lake away from the island snags. As I played this carp I knew what I had on. A very special fish that was last caught in 2005 at 30lb. Predominantly a ghost-type Carp, it was huge and one of the longest carp I have seen in a while. I am sure he is a male and the fight only served to reinforce that. The fish tried to flat-rod me on numerous occasions but as I went to net it, I realised I had a problem. It was too big; to go in the net...I kid you not. However, a backwards type manoeuvre taking from my eel fishing days saw the fish beaten. Now I knew this Carp must be close to being another 40. At 41lb 4oz I wasn't wrong. The pictures were quickly taken and as I sat at the dinner table later that evening, I kept getting asked why I was grinning so much? They don't get it do they?? See you on the bank."
Holmsey
News from Mark Holmes - Thursday 21st April 2011
"On my last blog I explained how sometimes Carp fishing is like banging your head against a wall. A superb brace of 30lb commons had led me to believe I was getting to grips with the Carp at Lakeview. However two ensuing blank nights had me scratching my head in disbelief. Even worse a couple of other anglers who had fished the lake were suffering the same problem as me. The snags around the island were proving to be a real problem. So much so that something like the last five hooked Carp had managed to reach them and free themselves of the hook. This is particularly disappointing as bites on the venue are few and far between at the moment. So faced with this problem, a rethink on tackle was needed.
"Before anyone states the obvious, fishing away from the snags is an option but at this time of year, most of the larger Carp are against the island.
"The problem I had encountered and noticed was that most anglers, myself included, were favouring fluorocarbon main lines coupled with various hook link materials. The lake at this time is still clear and with the removal of many unwanted silvers and the pillage from Cormorants, the lake is not going to colour up anytime soon. However I had noticed the stretch in these lines were causing the problem. I needed something that could stop the fish on that all-important first charge. The Greys Prodigy 2.75 TC rods were more than capable of that so I had no need to change the rods. I opted for a heavy sinking braid mainline with zero stretch. To this I attached 10ft long fluorocarbon leaders and fluorocarbon hooklinks to aid invisibility. There is no such thing as real invisibility but it is certainly the best version of it!
"A two night session was planned. After a fruitless 1st night I was starting to get a little concerned. Daytime temperatures were very good, 21C but the clear nights were seeing temperatures drop to as low as 4C. With little wind and a steady high pressure it wasn't my idea of perfect conditions. However on the 2nd night at 4.30 am a steady run saw me filled with expectation. The Carp was landed and although a 'tad' disappointed with a small common of 12lb at least it was a Carp. As the sun was starting to climb though I had another steady take. This time I quickly realised the Carp wasn't a 'Scotty' stockie and as the reel started to click, I knew this was a good carp. A tense battle ensued, Lakeview Carp fight hard, very hard ask anyone, and therefore after 30 minutes I was still attached to the big Carp. However, a calm hand, after a few anxious moments when I had to jump over the margin shelf to net the Carp, saw me staring down at a beast of a fish. I smiled when I realised it was the one I wanted...Big Bernard. He had not been out for nearly three years, despite Lakeview seeing more anglers than ever over the last two years. As I hoisted him ashore I knew he was big ...very big.
"A weight of 48lb 2oz was recorded and as I held him for one last time in the water, I wished him Bon Voyage and a big thank you. He has such a special place in my Lakeview journey as he was my first Carp from there in 2004 at the massive weight of 19lb. Once again the rollercoaster that is Carp fishing had seen to be good to me. I am a very lucky man. See you soon."
Banging My Head
"The constant frustrations involved in Carp fishing never cease to amaze me.
"Sometimes I think I have everything sussed and I really am on it. A recent two-night session proved to me in no uncertain terms, how frustrating and head-scratching Carp fishing can be.
"I have often said that today's Carp angler is so fortunate that they can fish this time of year when the Carp are a little easier to catch. However I have always found that the weather is such a big part in Carp fishing and it is its uncertainty during March and April that make pre-planned sessions, a little more inconsistent.
"On my first night, strong westerly winds, intermittent showers and a good overnight temperature of 11C. Perfect Carping conditions. When the buzzer sounded and a cracking common of 30lb 4oz was landed, I was well pleased. Later that night I was interrupted by another take with a nice looking mirror Carp of 14lb. Even better was to follow when at first light, I was in again and after a hard fight another 30 common at 31lb 12oz was landed.
"Absolutely elated, I was now thinking I had it sussed. However on the second night the temperature dropped to 4C, no wind and a moon so bright I could have read a book. So it was no great surprise when the night passed uneventful. However to make it worse at around 7.30am I had a take that resulted in a huge swirl in the margins where the baited hook had been placed, As I got to the rod it bounced twice and I knew the Carp had freed itself. I was not surprised to pick up the rod and feel no resistance.
"I had a wry smile on my face as I thought within 24 hours the carp had sussed out my new rig and on this particular riggy-water, I was left scratching my head. Oh the joys of Carp fishing."
See you on the bank
Holmesy
News from Mark Holmes - Thursday 3rd March 2011
"You may remember that on my last blog, I was fortunate enough to catch a cracking 32lb common. Well hot on the heels of that stroke of luck, I was back down at Lakeview trying to keep some momentum going.
"Contrary to what I read when people talk about winter campaigns, prebaiting or trickling a small amount of bait into a spot is a complete no-no for me. I know what the Carp like to eat when the temperatures are above 10C, water temp, but when they are in single figures, I believe that the window of opportunity to catch Carp is so tiny, I don't want any food in the fish at all.
"Irrespective of low temperature fishmeals such as LT94 being an all-year-round bait, fishmeals of any type still contain oil. Whether they lose their effectiveness or not, the more relevant point is how long the carp will take to digest them. I have always been concerned in the colder months that the digestibility of bait is more relevant. Remember carp have no real stomach in the sense that we would recognise, so baits that take a while to digest can lay in the Carp's gut. This won't cause too much harm but would certainly reduce the amount of time a Carp wants food. Not what you want in winter. That is why I believe maggots are such a good bait for Carp in winter. They are very easily digested and do not stay in the Carp's gut for long periods. However having said all that, I tend to fish with boilies even in the winter mainly for their selectiveness and the fact maggots on Lakeview, would mean a constant stream of Roach. Not what you want in the middle of a cold February night!
"However, snug as a bug in a rug, I was protected from bad weather and cold as I set about another 48 hours at Lakeview. With the new Torsion Extreme Canopy over my Torsion bivvy, I wasn't worried a jot about the weather. In fact has the rain hammered down so hard at one point, I reached the "please-don't-get-a-bite-now' syndrome. I think I must have overdone this as this continued the whole of the session!! As I trudged back up the fields, I was a little despondent if not disheartened.
The following weekend I was back for another attempt. I had seen a Carp head and shoulder at dusk the previous day and I know they don't travel far in this cold weather. Therefore no prizes for where I pitched up. Bang on the spot where I had seen the good fish roll.
"I have written about many aspects of winter fishing in this short trilogy but one thing I do believe is that some Carp feed more than others in cold conditions. As with humans large Carp have their own metabolic traits and I am always ‘fired up' when bites are at a premium, as I have always believed this is the best chance of a big fish. Therefore after only a couple of hours of fishing, I was anticipating something large when I received a tentative pick-up.
"Another vital little tip I will give to you about winter fishing is to hit everything. Don't get too worried about liners and waiting for positive bites. ANY occurrence out of the ordinary is worth striking at. Therefore, as the line on the left hand rod lifted so did I, closely followed by the rod. I was not surprised in the least when the rod hooped over and I felt a large Carp plodding around.
"I have written before about the sensitivity of the New Torsion Carp rods. Anyone who knows me will tell you I am no corporate whore and therefore when I tell you these rods are superior, I mean it. They are superior in that they are quite a thin-walled carbon blank which gives the cushioned through-action to absorb the power of big fish close in. More importantly, you don't have to drop to a light test curve to get this. The 12ft 2.75TC rods I was using were the perfect tools. Forgiving for hook holds but backbone to steer a big fish away from danger spots such as snags. After a tense 15 minutes, I slipped the net under a superb common carp looking all of 40lb! As I lay the fish down though I recognised it as a Carp that had been as low as 30lb this year so I was a little unsure. A friend of my best mate Dave Moore had caught her and so I was a little perplexed now. However when I picked her up and hoisted the large carp on the scales, when they read a tad over 37lb I wasn't surprised. With a weight of 37lb 2oz recorded I was over the moon. Nationally at the time, very little was being caught and here I was able to report on the 3rd part of this series another Thirty and a good one to boot.
"The rest of the session past uneventful as I kind of guessed it would. I truly believe that the Carp I had seen rolling was the one I caught. In conclusion, winter Carp do not travel far but in my opinion the big ones, get quite territorial and push other fish out of the area.
"I hope you have enjoyed my mini winter series and I look forward to seeing you on the bank in 2011. I have a lot of plans this year and hope to keep on letting you know about my triumphs and disappointments. I am sure the triumphs will be in the minority but I will do my best to take you with me as it happens."
Tight Lines
Holmesy
News from Mark - Wednesday 19th January 2011
WINTER FISHING PART 2
"After the initial success of my winter campaign with the capture of a lovely mid-30 some 8 weeks previous, you would assume I had given up. Truth was the worse December for snow and bitterly cold temperatures for 100 years had destroyed the fishing.
"In the seven winters that I had experienced on Lakeview, I had never seen ice as thick. With it being over two foot thick in parts and Carp dying all over the UK, December was a worrying time for fishery owners and anglers alike.
"Fortunately though as much as some would have you think otherwise, the UK climate is temperate and the prevailing winds are usually westerly. Therefore the 1st week in January saw the thaw I had been waiting for and as daft as it was, a two-day session was on the cards. Once, that is the new Chub Cloud-Nine Sleeping Bag system had arrived with the Greys Torsion Overwrap. Those of you that know me, know I am no tackle tart but these two pieces of kit that Greys and Chub do, are winter essentials. I will pen later in the new Carp ezine that is due out in February, what my carping essentials are . Well for winter fishing, keeping dry and warm are without question number one priority. Yes we can all rough it at times but not for 48 hours or more.
"So the date was set and soon I was all set to go. I choose the easterly bank of Lakeview to fish as the winds had swung around dramatically and were quite fresh from a westerly direction. I have written in the past that to fish into the wind in winter is not advisable particular if it is a cold wind. This is because the warm thermoclines in the lake get tipped and are on the back of the wind. In winter even a couple of degrees variation in temperature can be the difference between success or failure. However, the bizarre UK weather was forecasting those fresh Westerly winds coupled with an overnight temperature in double figures. This along with a small amount of fish activity on the East bank margins made my mind set on this area.
"In the winter I often find the daytime to be the most productive. It also allows a more conventional type of carp fishing where you can watch the line entering the water rather than wait for a buzzer to sound. Of course in darkness you have to rely on the buzzers but during the day I like to keep a close watch on the lines. I prefer to do this because at this time of year, nuisance fish are not so active. This allows you to watch for line bites from carp. It is tiring and is akin to float fishing for carp...something I do quite a lot of but that again is another article.
"The 1st day, the Saturday past uneventful but during the early morning of the Sunday, I saw a good fish head and shoulder over my right hand rod. My baits were positioned quite close to the margins as they are undercut quite dramatically. As I have wrote before I believe these are the areas winter carp shelter in and dependant upon water temperatures, almost hibernate there.
"Another tactic I employ at this time of year is to put in no free offerings. I do believe in a high leakage of attractor but employ this in a mesh PVA bag, in the form of a secret powdered mix. This is attached to the hook bait and assists in hook concealment too. I am not totally convinced that this is vital but with the clearer water of lakes due to lack of fish activity and daphnia in the water during the winter, visibility has to be a consideration. Therefore I also use flourocarbon hooklinks, coupled with small hooks, size 8 in this case.
"As the Sunday morning drifted into the afternoon, I was beginning to feel a little despondent. Something that I don't really do as I am use to so many blanks! However, I felt really confident as the weather was good and as it takes an effect, the latter part of the session was always going to offer me my best chance.
"Suddenly, out of nowhere, the line on the right hand rod tightened to the tip ring before falling immediately back in position. I was pretty sure that was a carp that had caused that and before I had time to doubt this, the line tightened again and kept going. Quick as a flash I was on the rod and pulled into a heavy fish. Lakeview Carp are well known for fighting, even in winter and this fish was no different.
After a tense ten minutes or so of heave-ho, I soon slipped the net under a cracker.
As I laid the fish down, I marvelled at its winter colours. This Carp was like a bar of gold and was not small. A fact supported by the scales that read 32lb 12oz. I'd managed to nick one at the end of the session.
"After the customary photos and tidying up of the weighing slings and associated gear, darkness descended, bringing a close to the session. With milder weather due throughout January I am hoping my luck will hold and I can get 2011 off to a flyer. I will hopefully keep you with me along the way."
Tight Lines
Holmsey
News from Mark - 2nd December 2010
WINTER FISHING
"With the deluge of snow we are all currently experiencing, fishing for Carp is probably impossible least of all desirable. However, just before the lakes froze, I was out and about for two weeks in November trying to catch a coldwater Carp.
"As daft as it sounds now, early November daytime temperatures had been as high as 17C. This meant that the water temperatures had not plummeted just yet. Despite not fishing Lakeview for a couple of years, I had kept in touch with how Dave Moore, Simon Mansbridge and a couple others had been fairing over the course of the season. The lake had somewhat changed externally as the trees had now grown to such a height to offer cover and wind protection. All this had done was to keep the fish primarily in the margins.
"It was always my intention to catch a few Carp this winter and with Lakeview being 300 yards from my house, I was able to do the important part of successful winter fishing. Keep the bait trickling in. This in itself is not as easy a task as simply throwing it in. No, the key in winter is to localising where you think the Carp will be and putting a small amount of bait in. I think the long held myth that fishmeals don't work in winter is now well and truly gone. In other words my summer bait is also my winter bait. The only difference is how I present it and what I use as additional attractors.
"As I said earlier I am planning to fish through the winter and for any other carper planning the same, then I would advise the most important aspect is the choice of water. Basically, a good winter water should be quite shallow, an average depth of less than 6ft is good, generally weed free too and finally have a reasonable head of carp. The reasons for this are primarily to do with what I have christened ‘feeding stimulus'. A good head of Carp gives an individual fish a sense of competition for food, particularly if sparse in winter. A weed-free lake stops Carp holding up in weed and not moving. They do this as weed gives an extra degree or two of warmth, stores food, both alive and dead, and offers sanctuary. Usually in winter, Carp will let the weed practically die around their heads and remain semi-torpid for weeks. Finally, shallow water allows the temperatures to fluctuate quicker in the event of wind blowing on the surface. The type of lakes to avoid in winter are deep pits, tree lined and weedy!
"Armed with a couple of rods, I decided to fish Lakeview during daylight hours only. I have found in winter mid-afternoon to be bite time and as written often, the time can be narrowed down to a matter of minutes in some cases. Also I wanted to be on the rods to see the bites develop. I have written in the past about making sure you realise what a bite will be like in winter. Generally the line tightening is a good bite! Often waiting for a screeching alarm will yield little if any results. It doesn't mean that you are not getting takes it just means you are not realising it. However, this blog is not about rigs just a general take on winter fishing. I will write later an in depth piece on how to change the indicator problem your way to avoid undetected bites. During winter when fishing, I offer no freebies. If you have done your prebaiting correctly the Carp will be in the area. I want any carp picking up bait to be hooked.
"As the mild weather of early Nov reached 14C at Lakeview, I was quietly confident sat behind my rods. I had seen evidence of carp very close in on Lakeview's Alder bank. This is the West bank of the Lake and now is heavily wooded with a mix of Alders and Willows. When doing my usual margin ‘reeky' trip, this bank is now under cut by 3ft!! I could write a full article itself on why this is the hotspot for Carp in winter. Throw in the mix the fact that this bank is generally on the back of winter winds, easterlies and northerlies, and you can see why this is such a good area to target.
"Around midday I had my 1st take. The line simply tightened and the indicator rose fractionally. I was quickly on the rods and bent into a Carp that went absolutely berserk. To avoid the Carp kiting on me, I had to jump into the margins of the lake under the Alder branches. Not the greatest thing to do when you want to keep warm. Worse still was to follow when as the Carp took off towards the deeper water the hook dropped out. Now I hadn't fished Lake view properly since 2006, say for an odd session. However, listening to the lads who do and have lost big fish, I know Lakeview carp pull hard. Therefore, I didn't want to get carried away with how big the fish was. Suffice to say, it wasn't a small Carp. However, very much like buses as I was consoling myself and damning my luck, the other rod was away. This time I was lucky as the carp immediately moved out into the deeper water. This allowed me time to play the fish out away from potential danger spots and after a tense 15 minutes, I netted a nice Carp. My first bottom caught Carp from Lakeview for two years.
"As I lay the Carp down on the mat, I was delighted with its condition and more delighted with a weight of 35lb 6oz. This Carp had fallen as low as 30lb and ounces in the spring when last caught by Dave Moore. However, I was not particularly worried as this Carp had been as high as 37lb in the past. All of the waters I know the resident Carp had lost weight after the severe winter of 2009/2010.
"The rest of the session was fruitless but after an hour in the darkness, as I walked back across the field I was feeling good that my coldwater campaign had finally got underway and despite two further blank days, I am confident of landing a big coldwater Carp this winter. I will keep you posted."
News from Mark - 11th August 2009
"The Summer of 2009 was always going to be a tough time for me to get much fishing in. With business commitments in America, Serbia and Russia, yours truly was going to be a busy fella.
"Much of the spring fishing I did was trying to catch the well-known carp Black Eye from Chad Pool. After having a successful winter stint, my plans were wrecked when the Chad Pool syndicate that I had been a member of for just one year, was disbanded. The lake was now to be pre-booked an open to the general public. This was not great news for me but I tried my best to get on the water as often as possible. However, as we approached End of June, my work commitments were too pressing and I had to shelve some of my plans.
"However, although not fishing my Estate lake Lakeview, whilst talking with the guys who were, Dave Moore, Gary Roberts, Richard Crookes and Kevin Grix, I suddenly realised something. I had told them all my thoughts on how to fish it. Even though it had been three years since I had put any time in, I still had a preconceived idea of what to do. This troubled me as three years is a long time for a fishery and the resident carp to change their instincts. Little did I know that this was to prove more relevant than I could have imagined.
"As the time approached for me to leave for the States, End June, it coincided with a heatwave. With daytime temperatures topping 30C, the carp appeared to be almost crawling on the surface. One evening, I received a text from my friend Simon who had just had a nice 30lb fish off the top. When I enquired how many he had now had off the surface, he worked out nearly half of his catches. I lamented as Lakeview Carp were very spooky of floaters and I clearly remember the first time I saw anybody fishing for the on the top, Marc Coulson, being amazed at how the carp just disappeared when they saw the freebies. If they did that on freebies what would they be like with a floater attached to a hook and line!
"My mind was troubled though as for most of my carping, I try to do something completely different to the preconceived ideas of the majority. With this in mind I thought I would have a couple of hours floater fishing. I consoled myself that although the indigenous carp were very crafty, in 2007 the lake had been stocked with carp from VS Fisheries that had never seen a floater. So at least I would get some sport.
"The old adage of feed, feed, feed is the mantra that I use when floater fishing. The simple fact is you should wait until the carp are feeding in a frenzy before casting. I have always believed that if you don’t get a take within five minutes, you are doing it wrong!
"I made up some floaters and added a mix of fish oil and crayfish juice to give the floaters added attraction. Positioning myself well away from where I had seen Carp, I started to catapult out the freebies. With a nice Southwesterly wind drifting the mixers over the Carp, within 30 minutes, I had them taking them. However, as my watch showed nearly an hour had passed, I noticed the carp were hardly being ravenous. Mindful of the impending business trip and lack of fishing time, I made a decision to simply cast a bait out. Ten minutes later, well after my imagined time limit, a large head and mouth, snaffled my bait. A sweeping strike, a rarity in modern day self-hooking carp fishing, and a carp was on. Convinced it was one of the VS carp, I was amazed that this was not the case as a pretty 25lb Mirror lay in the bottom of my net. A job well done and as I made my way across the fields, I was already looking forward to tomorrow’s evening session.
"The following evening I baited slightly different and kept the number of freebies down until activity increased. This time the carp did appear far more cooperative and within ten minutes of fishing, I was pulling the bait out of the mouth of a large fish. I had forgot how frustrating surface fishing can be but I was soon to find out. Knowing when to strike when surface fishing is vital. Many recommend waiting until the line moves but for crafty carp, often they can eject the mixer and leave you red faced. Therefore, I tend to strike when I see the carp take the floater. This I did an hour after the first abortive take and as I played a very hard fighting carp I was again amazed that at 23lb, this common carp was again one of the originals. I was scratching my head as I had been giving the guys who fish Lakeview the old adage, “They don’t take floaters in here!”
"This was once again proved to be wrong, when a large head appeared up in the water under my hook bait and in one ‘woosh’ the bait was gone and I struck. With a large round landing net, I somehow thought this would cover all eventualities. How wrong could I be? With a torpeodo of a beast dragging me all over the lake, 10 minutes, turned into 20 and then 30. This carp was wearing me out in the hot weather. As I stared down at the large Common as it came passed me it was a big carp. When eventually it was beat, the scales read 37lb and I realised that I know nothing about carp fishing! What a bizarre pastime it is.
"As I write this, I have just recently returned back from my business trip that took me away from carping for nearly a month. However, blessed with a rare day of sunshine, a couple of nights ago, I was back again trying to snare a floater-caught carp. As a large head took my hookbait, and another 20-minute battle ensued, I was delighted to land another cracking carp of just over 35lb. Another beautiful original from the ‘A team’ of the indigenous stock.
"Completely buoyed with renewed enthusiasm last night, I came crashing back down to earth. With two abortive strikes where I pulled the hook out of the carp’s mouth and a large carp that dropped off after three minutes of ‘aggro’, I smiled at the joy of carp fishing. I will make sure that the important lesson I learnt will make me never say never, again."
Tight Lines and see you on the bank
Holmesy August 2009.
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