I have read so much on carp fishing over the past 3 weeks and started again seriously last Sunday. The one thing that stuck in my smallish brain was the topic of research and get to know the water and where the fish are before you wet a hook. I have done this with my local fishery, luckily I drive past it on way home from work so I always 'pop' in and have a walk around the lakes, taking note of where the fish are, if they are feeding or not etc. I have even drawn a map and highlighted certain areas (how sad am I ). I must say that it has paid off a little. I finished work early today and decided to have an hour or two walking around with the stalker rod I purchased yesterday (its a 9 ft lure rod but suits my needs), I had an unhooking mat, landing net and a small bag with essentials in. This meant I could move quickly if I spotted anything that needed further investigation!
There were about 25 anglers already fishing so I decided to walk around the 3 lakes first and have a look at my 'hotspots'. Indeed, in most of the ones that I marked on the map, the fish were there. I noticed that most of the other anglers were ledgering out hard against other banks or the islands, or float fishing out in the middle. My first 'hotspot' was next to someone else fishing. I asked permission to wet a line in the next swim, he agreed. He had been there since 7 am without a fish. It was now 11.30 am. I slung in my small margin float about 2 feet out and against some overhanging trees. I was using a 10 hook and a small lump of cheese (Red Liecester again, worked last time!). Withinn 30 seconds the float dipped and I was into a smallish fish. A small mirror about 3ILBS, I didnt weigh it coz I forget me scales :mad: Next cast, bang in again, about the same size. The bloke next to me and two others came walking over and said what bait ya using mate!!!!! I managed to visit 3 other 'hotspots' before I had to leave and all produced fish, nuffin big but no one else was catching.

There is a moral to this stroy and I have forgotten what it is! Hehe. Research paid off and a little time (well a lot actually) gave me my just rewards. A small few fish made the day even better. I did tell the other blokes what bait I was using, but didnt tell them about the work I had put in