Does casting too much put carp off?

Does it buggery! Maybe in the summer it might but not in the winter, particularly on higher stocked waters when they are grouped up. My experience is that they don’t really want to move far even when you are chucking at ‘em and the only thing that will move them out of an area completely is a change in weather conditions or a serious amount of angling pressure over a continued time. They are where they are because they want to be there. It’s more comfortable there than anywhere else and it will take an awful lot to move ‘em.

There have been numerous occasions when I have cast out, felt the lead down and as it drops through the water either the lead or the line is catching on fish or bumping off them. This is a great indication because it tells you exactly where they are so make sure you feel that lead down. Also, and vitally importantly, when you do manage to catch one or more, if they are in a group they may well spook… but not far. Remember, the water is cold and they are secure together so as a result they generally will not have gone far. I find that once I have found them I tend to chase them round a very localised area about the size of a tennis court.

When you re-cast after bites, leave one in the area you have had the bite in case they re-group and then move one to the left a bit and the other right. One rod length distance is enough, but cast just behind the spot. If nothing happens 15 to 20 minutes later, move and re-do everything. If you get liners, condense all of the rods in the area of the liner and you’re off again.