Carp Fishing with Matt Hayes

Matt Hayes starts by showing you a simple float set up to catch carp.He has a braided hooklength about 18 inches long 15 pound line with a size 8 hook.With a swivel underneath a piece of rig putty that sits on the lake bed so that it does not effect the balance of the float and it holds the hook bait in position. When you are float fishing for carp especially in shallow clear water you want a float that will not spook them . A crystal waggler is ideal its a short float is clear and takes plenty of shot for its size. They also have a long site tip which is handy when fishing for big carp because when they come in the swim they create a lot of disturbance and this can pull the float under for a second or two .These long sight tip allows you to differentiate between a bite and a carp just swimming by in your swim causing a line bite as it swims into your fishing line.

Matt finds a likely looking swim the corner of a gravel pit between 4 and 6 feet deep with some weeds ,rushes an over hanging tree and carp already drifting around.The first thing he does is introduce some groundbait into the swim and then leaves it about an hour before he starts with a bunch of float fished worms .During this hour he introduces some carpet feed close in.With carp as long as you do not disturb them you can fish really close in along the margins right underneath your rod tip.If you are margin fishing for carp float fishing is the way to go as introducing the float into the water is almost silent compared to a 3 ounce lead splashing into the water.A little underarm cast just beyond where the fish are feeding thendraw it back while the worms are up in the water and allow your hookbait to sink slowly.That should produce very little disturbance so the carp should remain in the swim.Tell tale dips on your float will let you know that the carp are feeding on your groundbait around your hookbait.When your float slides away count to 2 then strike and hang on to your rod.Once you have hooked the carp whatever type it is mirror,leather, fully scaled or crucian they will all try to run you into rushes, weeds, lilllypads whatever underwater obstruction they can find. So when you play a carp you have to play it hard or it will snap you off on something.Once the carp is in the net on your unhooking mat carefully and quickly unhook it ,take a photograph and weigh your catch if thats what you want to do and the carp is up to it.Then carry the carp to the water in the net so that it can not fall out of your arms and once it is strong enough to swim off return it to the water.

Matt Hayes Video How to Catch a Carp

Carp Fishing Tackle