From Spring Into Summer
Dave Levy talks about what baits he uses at various times during the year, and explains why
What are the most obvious differences between your spring and summer approaches?
“At the start of spring, I don’t put in large quantities of bait, and there are a few reasons for this. The water temperature is still rising and it still isn’t that warm. Consequently, the fishes’ metabolism won’t be in full swing and they won’t need to feed hard. Also, their eyesight will not be great, so you will find that bright baits work much better. Don’t ignore Zig fishing; it can be devastating in the spring.”
What comes out and what goes into your bait bag as we move into the warmer summer months?
“During the colder months, I’ll often use maggots, but as it warms up and the silver fish become more active, I’ll drop them from my mix and I won’t crumb my bait. I’ll still use broken bait, but most of it might be whole. I like to add liquids and oils, as these will form a column that’s attractive to a carp’s sense of taste and smell.”
How do you look after your bait during the hot summer months? Any tips to keeping it in tip-top condition?
“There are few ways to keep your bait from going off. The first and most common method is to air-dry it in mesh bags. I’ve done this a lot in the past, and will then rehydrate it using liquids before I put it out. Adding rock salt to the bags can also prevent it from going off. These days, though, if I’m doing a really long trip away, I’ll use bait from the shelf-life range. During the last few years I’ve caught countless big carp on shelf-life baits, a favourite of mine being Banoffee.”
Any neat tricks you do with your boilies that you could tell us about?
“There are plenty of tweaks you can do to make your bait more individual and unique, and also more effective. You can do something as simple as add hemp oil or one of the Smart Liquids. Roll your bait in oil or one of the liquids, then crush some of your bait to a fine dust and roll it in the dust. This will stick to the baits and really increase their attraction as small particles fill the water column.”
Do you have a preferred boilie size? Do you like small sizes, like 10mm, or do you think we’re all missing a trick by not using 25mm baits, as no one does?
“I tend to use 15mm baits. I mix these with crushed and broken baits, as the different sizes help prevent a carp from singling out a hookbait and the small bits keep them feeding for longer. I use all sizes, and have even hand-rolled 30mm hookbaits. As a rule, though, I like 15 and 18mm. The 25mm baits have their place, and their use is probably very much overlooked.”
When it comes to baiting up, how far in advance do you like to have everything ready before a known feeding time?
“If you know, there are certain areas the carp like to visit at particular times, and it’s always good angling to be waiting. With some areas I pre-bait I’ll wait weeks for the right situation, and sometimes just 20 baits introduced regularly in one spot is enough. When you start to see signs of fish, or the weather suits the situation, then that’s when you make your move. For sure, the more regularly you can feed them, the better the area will become; timing is key.”
What is your preferred hookbait colour, and what size?
“It really would depend on the time of year. IB or Pineapple in the winter and spring; then match-the-hatch baits and tigers as we move through summer.”
How would you finish this statement? ‘Dave Levy’s best bait edge is…’
“Having a good understanding of the dietary needs of carp, knowing how much is enough and that no boilie that’s put in is a waste. They will all lead to the downfall of your target fish.”
