Part
3 : Feature Finding, Bait Application, and Photography.
These are
essential parts of any fishing trip, after all you have to find the
fish, put the right amount of bait next to them, and once you have caught
one, you need to know how to take a quality trophy shot.
Feature
Finding:
Sometimes features can be very obvious. For example, overhanging trees,
bushes, islands, boathouses, lilies, large snags, the list goes on.
But often on French waters, due to there size and structure its the
less obvious features that hold the fish.
So how do you find them?
It can be very simple. Depending on the range that you are fishing,
it is possible to use a marker float set up to find depth changes and
hard spots on the lake bed. On a lake that I fished last year all the
fish were being caught in very shallow spots, so I had to use this method
to locate very small humps and then cast to them accurately. The only
way to do that was with a marker set up.
Bait boats can be fitted with echo sounders which is a very accurate
way of pin pointing different areas of depth in a lake, it can also
allow you to explore at range. Perhaps not for everyone though!
If you can access a boat, try probing with a measured stake, banging
it against the lake bed to find depressions, shallows and very hard
areas. It sounds very backward but it is very effective. Try and make
a map of your swim, especially if you are going to be there for any
length of time. It can be a real asset.
Bait Application:
This topic can be a real mine field on new waters, but you can use a
simple process of illumination to target you approach more accurately.
First of all try and get as much knowledge out of locals and the bailiff,
or even if there are overlapping anglers who have just finished fishing.
Find out what they have been putting in, quantities and patterns that
they have used over their stay and find out what was most successful.
Don't be tempted to automatically throw everything you have at the lake,
as it may be going in the wrong areas. Try using a roving rod, using
different bait situations to find what works, and if you find fish that
are being caught in a particular way, then step up that approach.
Often fishing at range is a bit foreign for british anglers, but Don't
be afraid of it, just adapt your tackle and tactics to suite. Use heavier
gear, line, shock leaders, leads. Try throwing sticks, (have a practice
before you go, they can take some getting use to). Bait boats once again
can be a real bonus if they are a viable option.
Just try to be aware of what's happening around you and Don't be tempted
to put all your eggs in one basket.
Photography:
Once your French lump is on the bank, make sure that you are confident
of getting a good picture. Get a friend to take the shot, preferably
an experienced carp angler who has taken a few carp pics in the past.
When assessing a shot, make sure that the light source is behind the
camera.
Your shadow is not casting over the fish.
You have a nice background, (no rods and bivvies).
The fish is centered in the frame and fills it! (you Don't need to stand
10 feet back).
The anglers arms are behind the fish and the fish is upright and not
obstructed.
Also bare in mind fish care. Make sure you take off rings, watches etc
that may damage the fish. Hold the fish low above a thick, large unhooking
mat. And make sure the fish is fully recoverd in the water before being
released.
By following those simple procedures you will improve your shots no
end.
