Catch More Carp Using a baiting Pole!
The baiting pole is one of those tactics I see very little use of these days, with many anglers wanting to cast to the horizon and often ignoring those nucks and crannies’ which you just know bites will be had from. On many waters, where bait boats are not allowed, these areas often see very little pressure, only being made accessible through the use of a pole or very good casting ability. Despite what many people believe to be a tool to predominantly target the margins, a pole offers a great deal more in terms of usage and the ability to present effectively and stealthily when fishing a multitude of areas on the lake. This small insight takes a closer look at the way a pole can be applied and how I have used one to great effect for a number of seasons now on some tricky, intimate venues…
Fizzers
On a number of venues that I fish, the carp often give away their presence through fizzing up on the lakebed. In these situations, even a single cast can spook them away from the area, basically writing off your chances from the get- go. Where possible, I like to use the baiting pole to stealthily lower a rig and handful of bait directly on top the fizzing, without the risk of spooking them off. Granted, the pole does restrict you, but on small waters where the carp are fizzing up at close range, by gently shipping the pole out directly on top, you can get a baited rig in position with next to no alarming disturbance.
The Cloud
There is no doubt that carp are attracted to a cloud in the water; whether that has been caused by the lakebed being disrupted, a spomb of cloudy mix or fish feeding hard over a soft lakebed. The spoon of the baiting pole is the perfect way of introducing a cloud without the disturbance of a spomb, which is particularly effective when there are small numbers of carp in an area such as a bay where they could quite easily spook off. When it comes to creating the cloud, I use my normal mix of crumbed Pacific Tuna, but add some Krill Meal and Hot Chorizo Compound, with a dash of water to produce a sloppy, stinking mix. This type of mix is perfect at drawing fish in, with very little food content in the mix, meaning that bites can be had much quicker.
The Solid Bag
More often than not, you may be faced with a situation whereby there are carp in an area and you are not 100% sure what the lakebed is made up of. Casting a lead in and feeling the area will potentially spook the carp off, so this is where I opt to use a solid bag within the pole. Where possible, try and get some elevation to see if you can see what you are likely to present over, but if in doubt, a solid PVA bag will present over most lake beds except heavy weed. When using a solid, always place bait into the pole to create a blanket for the bag to sit on, ensuring it doesn’t take on any unwanted moisture which will leave the bag melting. To ensure optimum presentation, you need the bag to fall to the lakebed and melt, with the surface area of the bag ensuring it sits over any debris.
Distance Placement
In a few circumstances, I have been faced with the problem of the pole not being long enough to reach where I want to position a rig. This could be a marginal spot that is just out of reach from the peg I am positioned, or a spot on a far margin which is difficult to reach by casting directly. In these circumstances, I always try to find a way where I can position the pole out in the water, close to where I want to fish, then casting my lead over the stationary pole. Once I have cast over, I can then leave my rod with the line free running from the spool, to go around to the pole and ship in my lead. From there, I can attach my rig, and pole it out exactly to where I want the hookbait and free offerings. Once I have done so, I can simply walk back round to the swim I am situated, tighten up the line and position the rod on the rest accordingly. It is very important that when you are fishing up to snags etc to fish them safely, by this I mean with strong, reliable tackle and in a manner when you put the carps safety first.
Holes in the Weed
Holes that are present in the weed are excellent spots to pick up bites, especially if they are on regular patrol routes for the carp. Here, setting a trap and waiting can prove incredibly effective, especially if those holes are tricky to reach and offer a presentable situation. Beforehand, I will ship the pole out to the desired mark with a grappling style lead and drop it; this will allow me to pull back gently, determining whether the spot is fishable or not before taking my rig out. I may do this a few times to find the exact, polished area I am looking for between the weed, ensuring that I can present my rig and bait effectively.
Baiting Up
I don’t just use the pole for fishing, it can be a very effective tool at baiting up accurately before visiting the lake. If the lake in question is very weedy, I will begin by leading around to find a clearish spot; low- lying weed or debris is fine because I will be looking to harvest the spot over time through baiting. Once I have found an area I want to target, I can then determine how far out from the bank it is by the number of pole sections I attach. When lining up with a far bank marker, you can be extremely precise when it come to baiting and placing your rig. For example, my spot could be 5 pole sections in line with a poplar tree on the far bank; this means I can harvest the spot for a few weeks with bait such as particles and pellets, ready for it to be primed when I come to place my rigs.
The baiting pole has proved to be an invaluable tool in my angling over the last few years and there I no doubting it has caught me extra fish and, in many situations,, provided an advantage over other anglers on the lake. If you have yet to use one, they can be a little tricky to begin with, but over time once you have practices and got the technique down to a tee, they can be a devastating tactic when used in the right situation.