This time of year is always difficult for me - the rivers are out of action so you lake fish. The Tench are still relatively uninterested, the Carp unpredictable and only small Roach and Perch seem willing to have a go. Then there is the decision on what depth to fish at and whether to go for lots of small ones or try to encourage the bigger fish to show the faintest interest.

Any advice appreciated !

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I don't speak from great experience, but I've always thought it was quite a good time for pike and perch.

Trout and sea-fish are an obvious target at this time of the year.

The water where myself and my brother are fishing is 9ft deep ,we are fishing on the bottom, the same tactics 20ft apart we both are using maggot on the hook but he loose feeds with corn I feed with maggot both of us catch perch and roach only he catches tench .The carp of which there are plenty have not shown as yet .why not fish with 2 rods 1 heavy rigged 1 light rigged then theres more chance of catching one or the other good luck...rob

[ 30. March 2004, 10:37 PM: Message edited by: rob.i ]

My advice (for what its worth) would be to do what you do normally but scale everything down a bit.

Use less bait, smaller lines and smaller hooks. Feed less often. Obviously thats just a guide and if the situation dictates, then use bigger tackle more bait etc.

For me, i mainly use maggot and pellet, but i do try and use the smaller sizes of pellet on a smaller hook.

I went week before last to a local pond that i would fish on the top for carp in the summer with floating bread. Fished a feeder with maggot. Had a good day in the end catch some quality size roach and teh odd carp and tench.

Best advice i could ever give to any angler would be, stick at it and be patient.

As far as Roach are concerned, I'd be fishing an open feeder with the holes taped up at this time of year. Get it down to them with some PV1 in the mix. I might also swap feeder for a lead on alternate casts to prevent excess noise and overfeeding. I'd also leave the quiver tip at home and use my sense of touch to detect bites. I won't expect any rod wrenching takes, just light taps. I may even resort to leaving a slight belly in the line and watch for plucks on that.

Why particularly now, Andy, rather than say in January or February?

actually i always rate this as a very good time for carp. i dont do a lot these days, but my mates are fishing on the lake i used to run as we speak and last week one of them had a lake record common, and three of them fishing all caught, but then again they are dead easy these overgrown goldfish!!!!

hi jon find a water with a few pike put out a deadbait fish another rod for bits etc roach , perch; rudd .The pike should show up sooner or later. If possible move about .............stubbohi jon find a water with a few pike put out a deadbait fish another rod for bits etc roach , perch; rudd .The pike should show up sooner or later. If possible move about .............stubbo

The old related thread syndrome thingy strikes again