Locating Carp using 5 Visual Features

You cannot possibly catch carp if there aren't any Carp around the swim! So, if you want to catch more carp on any water, then you must locate the carp before choosing a Swim.

 This is not an easy task, but there are basic things to look out for, signs of carp movement or carp feeding. Try to look for fish rolling or Watch for carp jumping out of the surface of the water, Look for large swirls or movements on the surface of the lake.

If you can't see any of these signs there are other ways of detecting possible hotspots. Just from looking at a lake's visible features you may be able to find possible holding areas or sections where carp patrol. The 5 most common areas where carp like to patrol are:

Islands

Islands are a common area where carp tend to patrol, because they offer some protection and cover - providing there are overhanging trees which protrude over the water.

The carp may feed freely around an island providing carp anglers do not target these areas too often as the pressure can force carp to seek other quiet areas.

Fishing an island on a new venue can be a safe bet, especially on a quiet day, plus an island can make a great marker for accurate casting without having to use a marker float which may spook the carp if used too much.

Weed Beds

carp love weed beds. It makes them feel safe and tends to contain lots of natural food. So if you are struggling to locate carp using sight alone then fishing close to a weed bed can produce plenty of carp.

The use of safe rigs is paramount at all times but, when fishing weedy areas, it is necessary to pay even more attention to this area. The likelihood of line breakage is higher owing to the abrasive qualities of weed and the damage it can cause your mainline.

The Chod rig is by far the best way of presenting a hookbait in weed. I have found it, not only the easiest, but also the most effective way of getting a bite in a weedy situation. There are many advantages of using it. I don't need to find a clean hole in the weed, I can get rigs in the water with minimal disturbance and I can cast to where the fish are rather than where there is a clearing.

Lily pads

Lily pads are similar to the weed beds in that they provide shelter and food for the carp, therefore they are a great place to put your hook bait, especially for floating bait in-between individual pads.

As lily pads are often situated near the bank you will need to be quiet.

Overhanging trees

Overhanging trees are one of the best places to head for when fishing on a new, unknown venue. They provide carp with plenty of security and shelter, and I have personally witnessed carp feeding very confidently. I have also seen some of the biggest carp caught from under a tree.

If possible, I sit well back from the water's edge. If the configuration of the bank makes that impossible, I like to sit behind cover. If no cover exists, I may create it, drab clothing helps. It is also necessary to sit very still.

Carp are wild creatures - they have an instinctive fear of alien shapes, shadows and noises. We intensify that fear by constantly pursuing and hassling them. We are not likely to catch them close-in, therefore, if they know we are there.

 

Snags

Carp will always visit snags in their various forms. They seem to love the feeling of security and treat such places as a retreat where they can hide away from pressure. I have observed many times, from overhanging vantage points, carp feed excitedly in amongst a tangle of roots or underwater obstructions.

There is one important piece of advice I want to give to anyone fishing near snags and for that matter weed - LOSE THE LEAD. Most problems occur when the lead is pulled through underwater obstacles such as branches, weed or lilies. If your lead is discharged from the rig, soon after a take, the hooked carp will usually rise to the surface and you will be in direct contact, so the odds of landing the fish will fad heavily in your favour.