Andrew Day proves that stalking big carp at very close quarters is one of the most effective ways of catching them. A short stalking rod is a definite advantage in certain situations as Andrew outlines, when a conventional 12’ rod would be a hindrance. Locating the fish and using the right gear with a careful approach can really pay dividends and watching a big fish pick up the bait and bolt as it is hooked is undoubtedly one of the most exciting sights in fishing. Top angling Andrew!
I’ve been using the ESP Stalker 9ft 2 ¾lb rods ever since they came out. I own a set of four that I use for 90% of my fishing as they suit my angling style perfectly. The waters i spend most of my time on tend to be fairly overgrown (or at least the spots i fish). I used to get so frustrated getting my line caught in trees and my tip snagged in the undergrowth with my 12ft rods, so i bought one of the ESP Stalkers to use as a third or fourth rod.
I caught a couple of big fish on it straight away and loved playing them on a shorter rod. I think you feel more of the fish’s kicks and lunges on a 9ft rod which all adds to the buzz of hooking big carp at close quarters.
By the time this spring came round I’d got a full set of four and use them all the time. You cant cast huge distances with them but thats not what they are designed to do. This isn’t a problem for me as most of my fishing is at close range. I keep two reels loaded with 15lb Syncro XT for closer snaggier spots and two loaded with 12lb Syncro XT incase I need to cast a little further.
I’ve caught a lot of my target fish this year including three 38lbers, several other 30s and plenty of of 20s and out of all the fish I’ve hooked this year on them I’ve only had two hook pulls but then they dont tend to fall off size 5 or 6 Stiff Riggers and Big T’s.
My favorite moment using the stalkers was when I located a group of four fish using a snag tree to the right of an old forgotten swim which had been left alone as snags either side of the swim and a low canopy had made it pretty much unfishable. I watched as they occasionally swam really close to the front of the swim to get to the left hand snags 8ft away. So I lowered a single sticky baits boilie on a short Sink Link hooklink, size 6 Big T, a foot of 45lb leadcore and a 3oz lead no more than 12inches from the bank. I sat on my bucket with my hand hovering over the rod as a decent mirror came in from the left snags heading for the right. He clocked my single vortex boilie and dropped straight onto it, his head shook as he hooked himself and before he had a chance to bolt I’d grabbed the rod and bent into him!
I didn’t give him an inch of line and he was no match for the Stalkers and 15lb line ( I would have struggled landing him on a longer rod because I wouldn’t have been able to get the rod vertical due to the low overhead canopy). He was a stunning carp called the S fish which had been on my wish list ever since I first saw a picture of him and weighed in at 31lb 8oz. I even managed the lakes big fully in exactly the same cicumstances a few days later and once again I gave no line and was able to let the rod and line absorb the lunges until she went in the net, happy days!
Andrew Day
To read more on the ESP Stalker rods, click here, and for the details on the ESP Syncro XT, click here.