Long Lake Sucess by Julian Cundiff
Whilst carp fishing is different things to different people I'm pretty sure that by the time you leave the complex you will want to have caught a carp....or two. Some of you will be fishing alone, some with friends and possibly some in groups for a social ? Whyever you are here and no matter how experienced or inexperienced you are we want you to catch carp so hopefully the following tips will mean you leave with a smile on your face, a wet slimey jumper and good memories.
Although the lake is well stocked and can be prolific if you get it wrong it will punish you which is not what we want. Of course when conditions are poor it can be challenging but most of the time carp can be caught everyday with a little bit of commonsense. When you see the catch reports they can be a little misleading as very few do catch reports of......blanks.
Although multiple catches are not unusual the best idea is to fish for a bite at a time. Use an approach that gives you that chance. If conditions are good for more you will catch more but putting all your bait in for that ' big hit ' will often cost you dearly rather than bless you with a big hit. Less can be more but can be added to.
There are well over twenty swims on the Long Lake and with restricted numbers allowed to be on at any one time there will always be lots of great swims left no matter what swim you ' think ' is the best one... When you arrive always have a chat with James as to how it has been fishing but get a bait bucket and go for a walk too. Leave your gear in the car and go see what your eyes can tell you. Your tackle will be perfectly safe behind the locked gates so before you push the barrow round take a leisurely walk.
Even when you have made your initial choice you are not restricted to that swim as long as your move does not affect others angling. A good tip is to pick your swim but unless you are on a shedload of fish and catching from the off maybe don't fully set up camp to start with but fish off the barrow unless it's raining of course. It's far easier to move onto fish if you don't have to pack down your bivvy etc. One of the best ways to catch bonus fish at the Long Lake is by one rod stalking tactics but it's pointless doing that at the wrong time of the day. Yes fish do get caught in the middle of the day but winding in when nothing is happening in the blazing sun and stalking then is not the best time to maximise your chances. If you are clipped up / wrapped up at base camp unless carp are showing there then do your stalking in the evening / dawn . That's when carp are moving and it is possible to nail a few bonus fish then. Back to base camp for the night and get your rods back on their marks.
The Long Lake is quite an intimate two acre water and although it can be prolific those carp are not daft and too much noise will put them on their guard. Carp that are spooked are a lot harder to catch and will probably just drift off. Set up well back from the front of your swim, at least to the side of it. Push your pegs in, keep noise to a minimum, don't stand in full view, dress in dark or camouflage clothing, talk quietly on the phone and so on. Don't push those carp away from you. If you are socialising sensibly sit down, keep it down and you will all catch.
Although the Long Lake is by nature ' silty ' there are lots, and I mean LOTS of hard spots all round it and these are the ones I'd say almost always produce bites. There are good swims, there are good spots but the best ones are where the lead goes down with a thump. With just a bare lead and no hooklength have a ' dab ' around and feel for that tap / kick as the lead finds that hard spot. Some of these spots are close in so do go left and right down the edge to feel for them. The best spots are the ' thumps ', the worst the smelly black stuff. A little time leading, feeling for the drop will usually repay you kindly.
The carp love to ' fizz up ' on the Long Lake and these are well worth fishing too. If you've got a sharp hook you don't need heavy leads, especially in silt. A large heavy lead can act against you so use an ounce to two and a half rather than three plus. Drop your lead size, ensure your hook is pin sharp and flick it slightly past and feather it down. Single baits, small mesh bag , stringer is perfect...
My normal starting point is a lead clip and lighter lead but in silt a sensible helicopter rig, light lead and bottom bait or wafter will do you proud. With a helicopter rig the lead will always go in first and even in silt that bait will be mouthable. To slow the descent of the hookbait add a small mesh bag, PVA nuggets etc.
To most people bait and wait is picking a swim, firing in your boilies and wait for them to turn up .....or not ! On the Long Lake baiting a few spots close to your swim is good angling. A handful of pellets, chopped boilies, sweetcorn etc close in to the small ' cuts ' we've put all around the lake will serve you well. Look for coloured water, fizzing, flat spots, swirls..... they are on it. Just lower one down, flick one out and watch it go.
So there you are some advice on the best way to target the carp on the Long Lake. You don't have to follow them all but believe me NONE of those tips if followed will catch you any less.