Feature Finding

As I said earlier on in the Blog….I would at some point cover aspects of feature finding and it’s obvious benefits. I’m hoping when the weather breaks a little to put together a video on the topic, but for now here’s a few pointers on the subject.

With this ability you will be able to locate individual features and take a look at the bottom of the venue without taking a swim!

This is my marker set up. As you can see there is a large stainless ring which allows the line to move freely through.

This is connected to a swivel and then the lead. In between is a cork ball which helps to keep the whole thing above any silt or weed, this can be made longer to cope with heavy weed or silt.

We then have another cork ball which acts as a buffer and bouyancy aid for the above float.

Below are some crude drawings I have done which should help to make this method clear and obvious to its benefits.

This as far as I am concerned about the best way to get an idea of the swim in front of you.

Start with a cast to the left of your swim. Use common sense and dont cast into the next guys swim though! Follow up the cast by feeling the lead down to the bottom, you should feel it touch the bottom.This is done by touching your finger onto the reel spool as the lead is about to hit the water and gently lifting the rod on a tight line.

If it hits softly it could be silt or weed. If it hits with a bump its probably on gravel. The next step will tell you exactly. First pay line out a foot at a time till you see the float. Count the pay outs and you’ll get the depth in that spot. Once done start retrieving line till you conect with the lead. Now gently at right angles to the lead pull back the lead level to the water and bank.

You should now clearly feel the make up of the bottom. Continue doing this process from left to right with around a 2-3m difference each time. This should give you an idea of any underwater differences.

Here you can see that the lead and marker float has landed in weed. The rod will pull round gently and possibly be difficult to move depending on the density of the weed.

If the weed is light it will feel very similar to silt where the lead comes back okay back is much harder to retrieve than on clear bottom.

In most cases at the end of the retrieve the rig will have some weed on it. You can then see what your up against.

The only other time in which the tip will show this kind of gently pull round is when the lead is coming up a slope or bar. This will feel ‘free’ at the top of the slope though and not as difficult to retrieve.

Here we can see that the lead is struggling to come up a slope which may well be a plateau or bar.

These areas are typically well renowned feeding areas for carp. Presenting a bait on top of a bar or on either side of the drop off can result in good fishing. Especially if the wind is blowing onto one of these bars.

As above we spoke about the lead feeling harder to retrieve all of a sudden. This will obviously become less difficult the closer the lead becomes to the top of the bar. Beware though that these areas can harbour weeds, snags and sharp stones which can cut you off!

In this picture we can see the effect of the lead coming down a slope.

This time the rod will bounce back towards you quickly and feel ‘light’ to retrieve. Again after this its worth paying out line to gauge the difference in the depth.

This could be a great place for a bait.

Our final drawing covers the effect of gravel on the rod tip.

Here you can see that there is an obvious area of gravel which the lead will pass over.

The rod tip will show the effect of the gravel by bouncing around.

You will feel it spring back very easily and quickly with a tapping sensation coming through the rod. This is possibly the easiest of all the ‘feelings’ to locate.

This will most likely be a great area in which to place a bait as well.
It may well show up an area which has been recently cleaned by feeding fish.

Taken from Nuts about Carp

Tight Lines

Keith