The Campaign Trail

As I sit back and think about them, it’s tricky to pinpoint the defining moments that have shaped my angling. A lot comes from time on the bank and experience, and often, a chain of events will see something finally click into place. I remember realising that I was perhaps capable of catching target fish when I banked Lenwade’s Baby Face some 11 or 12 years ago. At the time, it was the largest carp in my home county. It had been caught by the likes of Terry Hearn, Darrell Peck and Jim Shelley, some of the best anglers in the game, and it was probably the first fish of such magnitude that I had fished for. 

Up until that point, most of my fishing had been on West Stow and Nunnery Lakes, which were run by the same people. I’d fished these waters for many years, and in a way, they were my safety blanket. When I went to Lenwade, I didn’t know anyone. I joined on my own, which was a new experience in itself. It was also the furthest I had travelled for my fishing, but I went on to catch Baby Face within three months of acquiring my ticket. I had done well on my previous lakes, but I had fished them for a good while. That familiarity felt like a major contributing factor, and it probably was.

CARP ARE JUST CARP
There is now dark art involved in targeting the more prestigious carp

I guess taking things to the next level and maintaining my success elsewhere was an illustration that I could catch anywhere. At the very least, it gave me the confidence I needed going forward, to target certain carp. Carp are just carp, after all, and the bare bones of fishing are very simple. As I’ve said before, they are carp, and you fish for them with a rod and line. Some places may require a little more working out, or demand more time, but they are all just carp. 

When you’re young, or maybe just less experienced, and you’re inspired by the likes of Terry Hearn, and his and others’ writings, you can be forgiven for thinking that there is some kind of dark art involved in targeting the more prestigious carp. You can also be forgiven for believing that such anglers have a special something or possess a tactic that your average carper might only hope to acquire. The reality is that they haven’t, and they don’t. 

You just need to get out there and do it, and like anything in life, with time and experience, you will grow in stature, become more confident and catch more carp. I have learnt a few things along the way, though, and these may be of use to the reader who is considering taking that next step, and who is, perhaps looking to catch their own Baby Face.

A CONFIDENT ANGLER IS A DANGEROUS ONE!
Believe in what you do. Focus on the fundamentals. Work hard at it

There are many presentations, variations of presentations and methods that catch carp. You need to find out what suits you, however, and there are a number of things to think about. Various factors can dictate your approach and shape you as an angler. For example, if you’re an angler with limited time, you may wish to consider a more mobile approach, and perhaps fish waters closer to home. On these, you’ll be able to spend more time walking and watching between trips. Those with more time on their hands can opt for a bait-and-wait approach. The realisation of what works best for you isn’t something that comes right off the bat, but after a period of fishing, you’ll figure it out. 

Whatever your angling approach, the main point is to strive for confidence in what you’re doing. Once you have a style you have confidence in, you don’t have to think about that aspect anymore. When you first started out, it was natural to change things, week in, week out, and that is how we all learned. There is nothing wrong with that, but once you’ve found your niche, your fishing can be streamlined. You’ll not need to take as much gear with you because you don’t need a tackle box full of everything, or that extra bucket of pop-ups, perhaps—we’ve all been there! When you reach that point and have found what it is that gives you the ultimate confidence, then you can concentrate on the important stuff, such as trying to read the water and finding the fish. 

I know a lot of good anglers who, with limited time, adopt a mobile approach. They try to take advantage of every little opportunity, and they do very well. I also know many who, like me, choose a more static approach. I think the latter can sometimes appear lazy, but it’s an extremely successful method for catching the big ’uns. The main thing is, once again, that you find what works for you and what gives you confidence, as a confident angler is a dangerous one!

STRENGTH AND RELIABILITY
It’s simple: just use strong, reliable kit which won’t let you down and that’s one part of the puzzle ticked off 

I honestly think too much emphasis is placed on rigs and the supposed latest game-changing components. It’s understandable, as companies are merely trying to make a living. The reality is, however, that you can catch on the most basic of rigs, and that element of your approach makes up only a tiny percentage of your chance of success. I imagine that, with so many information outlets these days—magazines, social media, YouTube channels—it can all become a little overwhelming. You can have a group of good anglers all catching carp, and they might all be using something different. What does that tell you?

When it comes to rigs, your only considerations should be their strength and reliability. You need to look at the most extreme end of the scale when campaign fishing, as you could do weeks on end as you wait for an opportunity, and when that opportunity presents itself, you need to have very confidence that you’ve done everything you can to reduce your chances of losing a carp. You will lose fish; it’s part of the game. Hook-pulls occur, and unfortunately there’s nothing you can do to completely eliminate them, but having an item of tackle let you down isn’t something that should happen. 

I remember when Joe from Thinking Anglers first brought me samples of their Beaked Chod Hooks down to the lake to look at. The first thing I noticed was their gauge. I could see they were strong, and after digging the point into my nail I was instantly sold. The same can be said about their SBX Braided Main Line. I’ve used it in some extremely demanding conditions and it hasn’t let me down once. Their 30lb Recoil is another seriously strong component that features in my angling, along with 35lb Tungskin. All these components work beautifully in sync, with strength being at the forefront of my focus. They’ll make you the strongest carp-fishing rigs you’re ever likely to construct, which in my mind, is key. Hook-pulls happen, as I’ve mentioned, but kit letting you down isn’t acceptable.

Another point to add is that you should regularly check your kit. Check your leaders and main line for little nicks or damage after every capture, if not, more frequently. I’ve known anglers to tie up a leadcore leader and then use it all year round. That’s bad practice, in my honest opinion. You should change components like swivels on a regular basis—what’s the cost of a swivel, 40p? There’s no excuse for not changing them after every couple of bites. Nothing should be left to chance when it comes to kit and campaign angling. There are already enough variables that we don’t have any control over

BOILIES OR PARTICLES? 
Are they really the best bait for catching big carp?one part of the puzzle ticked off 

Ah, the age-old question! I think boilie fishing is very one-dimensional, but on some waters the approach works extremely well. That said, there are definitely occasions where you’ll need something else, and when you’ll need to refine things. It might seem like all I do is fish boilies, as I’ve had some good results doing so over the last few seasons, but prior to that I was on a water where things were very different.

Before I even fished Shallow Pit, I knew how I would catch those carp. I’d seen many catch reports, and had spoken to a few anglers who had done well on there over the years, and it was always on particles. Certain venues lend themselves to the boilie approach. The venue I’m fishing now, for example, holds a lot of big bream, so bigger baits and cruder rigs work. Is that the most effective way of fishing? Probably not. But does that approach do what I need it to do when it matters and there’s a big ’un on the cards? Absolutely. It’s the same with pop-ups. I’ve used pop-up rigs exclusively for around 10 years. They are not always the best option, but do they do what I need them to do when it really matters? Yes, 100 per cent. 

Generally, the going method on a water—be it fishing boilies, particles, with Zig Rigs, etc.—is usually as such for a reason. What really separates the great anglers from the good ones, however, are the little things, and not a certain bait that they might be using. Carp fishing is enjoyed by so many nowadays, and I’m not convinced a huge number of anglers get it majorly wrong. Again, what separates anglers are the numerous tiny details that all add up to quite a bit more. These details will include watercraft, understanding the fishes’ habits, line-lay, making sure your hook point is as good as it needs to be, etc. Such little things amount to something much bigger, yet many don’t really consider them.

One thing I have done for a long time now when using just boilies, is coat them in some kind of liquid. Originally, I used L0-30, but for the last couple of seasons it’s been Pure Calanus. The main reason for using liquids initially was that I wanted a way to stop the bait ‘turning’ during longer sessions in the warmer months. I’ve never been a fan of air-drying baits, as I think by doing so you let a lot of their goodness evaporate. Effectively, you’re then left with a dry biscuit. By adding a nice, fishy, salty liquid, you help to keep the bait in tip-top condition, and you’re also enhancing the baits’ attraction. Having something that leaches attraction over a longer period of time can only be a good thing when you’re going long periods between bites.

You need to consider the amount of time your bait could potentially sit there on low-stock venues. On occasion, the earliest I’ll expect to get a bite is the following morning, and it may not come until the last morning of a tree-night session.

IS THE JUICE WORTH THE SQUEEZE? 
It’s all down to mindset—and I pride myself on my resilience…one part of the puzzle ticked off 

The mindset required for campaign angling on trickier venues is something I think people naturally have. For fear of sounding boastful, to me, this type of fishing came easily. I pride myself on my resilience, and I know that I can keep going, week in, week out. As I rack up the blanks, I soldier on regardless. Consistency is massive when you’re pursuing target fish, and if you have just one night a week, then you need to go no matter what, and trust me, setting up for a night’s fishing in the pouring rain as you stare down the barrel of a 20-night blank isn’t always fun! You need that mindset, and if you’re looking for something a little more pleasurable, then maybe you should reconsider before you get stuck into your first lengthy campaign. Always ask yourself, is the juice worth the squeeze?

When I see a photo of a certain carp, I know almost instantly, whether or not I want that fish in my album; it’s like a lightbulb moment. Only after that do I worry about the other factors. Is it a low-stock venue? Is it busy? Will there be long periods of inactivity? Once I’ve seen a photo, I’ll know whether or not it is all going to be worth it. Having that as fuel and as an initial motivation is massively important. Then, staying consistent becomes easy. You need to be the proverbial dog with a bone and not let go.

I mentioned earlier that they are all just carp, and also that there is no dark art involved in catching them. We can all do it, but we need to remain consistent with our efforts. I’ve lost count of how many times that wheel of fortune has started to turn in my favour without me even realising it at the time. A random show or a liner in the night may have resulted in me checking out a new zone, and may I then have ended up catching the one I’d yearned for. 

That said, you need that fire in your belly. You need to look at that photo and really want it. The juice needs to be worth the squeeze, and you can’t undertake this style of angling on a regular basis unless you really, really want it!