Carp provide healthy return in mild rivers

As far as big fish are concerned, spring has definitely arrived early and with water temperatures a good month ahead of normal the fish are already beginning to feed hard.
In fact the spring switch-on has happened to such an extent that even a sudden change to frosty conditions will not put the fish down again. Spring has sprung and from an angling point of view there is no going back.
Taplow angler Lewis Daley enjoyed an exceptional session on a local day ticket fishery last week and knew as soon as he arrived on the water at first light that he was in with a chance as several good fish were showing.
Setting up in one of the areas of greatest activity he tackled up with free running 2oz leads with Dynamite Baits’ Source boilies on size 10 hooks to a coated braid hook length and 10lb mainline.
February is usually a month to go easy on the bait but, given the mild conditions and the signs of activity, he took a gamble and put out a couple of spods loaded with crumbed boilies and hemp out to prime the area before casting out his hook baits.
After a couple of hours without a sign of a bite he was beginning to question his decision when a take resulted in a common carp of 18lb.
Lewis topped the swim with a further two spods of bait and before long he had netted mirrors of 24lb 14oz and a stunner of 26lb 2oz.
As light faded late in the afternoon a final take brought a mirror of around 12lb to end a memorable session.
Lewis’s results are not untypical of many of the more heavily stocked bigger carp waters at present and it is certainly worth taking note of his success over a small bed of bait rather than the standard winter approach of single baits or bags.
n To report catches call me on 07780 755138 or email ian@bigfishtrail.com
n You can also email pictures of your latest catch to sport@maidenads.co.uk