Kev Hewitt continues his Top Tips series, this time focusing on location in high summer.
‘The summer is finally in full flow and that big ball of fire up above beaming through the layers of rippled water makes location a whole lot easier than in the colder months.
Fish can be found easier by close observation but their lethargic nature means that finding fish simply is not enough to guarantee a bite. Finding the right spot is as important, if not more so now than it ever is. Naturally the carp want to be frequenting the shallow margins, submerged canopies and snags. In my experience, only angling pressure stops them from residing in such areas.
Carp at close quarters, seeking sanctuary..
However, carp can often be found at close quarters just milling about and careful observation can reveal their feeding spots. You don’t have to physically watch a carp feed on a spot to know its a good spot. A small glowing clear spot amongst weed in the edge is a massive give away and these spots are nailed on for a bite on warmer days when carp are in the area.
Even if the fish are showing at range early morning, be prepared to prime a margin spot for the day time and get a trap set before the carp turn up to get one step ahead.
In the last month I have been getting bites at range through the night on my chosen venue and all my day time bites have come from marginal spots having pre-empted as to where they are going to turn up.
A ripper from down the margin
The other good thing about fishing up close and personal is that you can bait a few spots by hand and by regularly checking them you can soon figure out which spots the carp are using to eat their dinner from.
Make the most of it this month as soon autumn will be upon us and the margins will be devoid of all things carpy and those feeding spots will soon be covered in leaf matter as the carp manoeuvre to their colder water residence.