ASK THE EXPERTS
Dear Panel,
I have been fishing exactly the same margin spot, but from two different swims either side of it. In one swim I get lots of aborted takes, but in the other I get near enough unmissable runs. What do you think the reason could be, and is there a solution, because I cannot always get in the best swim?
Alan Evans
Tornes,
Devon.
Dear Alan
Ironically, I suffered exactly the same problem on a small lake I used to fish many years ago. And, like you, I felt that the carp were getting away with it when I fished one particular swim. I persevered for a long time until eventually the penny dropped – and it had nothing to do with the fact that the carp might have been getting away with it.
I wasn’t really supposed to do it, but the situation became so frustrating that I simply had to find out what the problem was. With the rod cast out from the unproductive swim, I crept along into the bushes that shaded the area of activity. I made myself comfortable and waited. Sure enough, after some time, three mirrors started to make their way out of the depths. Their route took them along the edge of a small weedbed over the marginal shelf and, I hoped, onto the baited area. The first fish brushed the main line that was not very well concealed. It had draped over the weed. I heard a series of sharp bleeps from the rod that was only a few metres away. Alarmed, the fish simply ghosted off into the depths. Oh bother!! Four more times those fish attempted to get to the bait, but my efforts were thwarted on every occasion by them detecting the line. At the very least, I knew there was nothing wrong with the rigs: after all, the very same rigs had been responsible for lots of blistering takes when fished from another angle.
Backleads may help to conceal your line.
Changing my line angle proved to be a little difficult, but I came up with the answer. The use of a backlead would obviously help, but a direct line from the swim would still take the line over the little bit of weed. In the end, by keeping the line as high and as taut as possible, the backlead was attached to the line and swung out into the lake. This took the main line down over the marginal shelf, and hid it from the prying eyes of the carp.
Carp are on high alert when in the margins, so line concealment is vital.
If your rigs are successful from one swim, then I doubt that that is your problem. What you perceive as being aborted takes are probably nothing of the sort, but simply the carp clattering into your lines. Carp are always wary when they come into the edge to feed. It is instinctive, because it makes them vulnerable. Every effort must be made to conceal the fact that they are actually being fished for. Whilst my solution to the problem may not be ideal for you, please give the line lay some thought. I am sure then your buzzers will continue to scream.
A big margin-caught common after I had ensured all the line was concealed.
I hope that helps, Alan, and all the very best.
Chilly
