Frustrating evening

[windrush1982]

I have just returned from a 3 hour evening session on my local lake and it has frustrated the hell out of me!

The lake has a good head of 10 - 15 lb carp, and lots of roach and bream.

My tactic was to use a golfball sized piece's of luncheon meat straight on the hook, with a AAA shot 5 inches from the hook, and used a tiny float "lift method" style.

I kept getting bites all evening, where the float would dip down a couple of times, and then bury under, but each time i struck..... nothing.

I know other anglers have had great success on big bits of luncheon meat under the float, and there were people catching carp on the float all around me, anyone have any ideas why i could not hit the bites?

I am thinking thar SOME of the bites may have been caused by small nuisance fish, but some of the bites seemed quite aggressive and must have been a bigger fish.

Anyone have any thoughts on the "lift" method. Are there any more effective float rigs?

[cg74]

For carp, I'd use more weight than a single AAA shot, as even a carp wafting its tail near to your bait will lift it off the deck, that and all the nuisance fish playing with your bait will move it around without any effort.

Try a couple of SSG shots next time. Also use a bigger more buoyant float, as a sensitive float will disappear far to readily.

Like Terry M says below, hair rig your bait but I would also scale down your bait size a bit to 20-25mm.

[terry m]

Windrush, you should try a similar approach but hair rig the meat on and use a heavier float. Golf ball sized luncheon meat does not need to be paired with a sensitive pole float.

Good luck!

[barbelboi]

Originally Posted by cg74

For carp, I'd use more weight than a single AAA shot, as even a carp wafting its tail near to your bait will lift it off the deck, that and all the nuisance fish playing with your bait will move it around without any effort.

Try a couple of SSG shots next time.

And I'd also make it somewhat closer than 5 inches, the purpose of the lift method is to pin your bait to the deck so the fin turbulence doesn't move it.
Jerry

[cg74]

Originally Posted by barbelboi

And I'd also make it somewhat closer than 5 inches, the purpose of the lift method is to pin your bait to the deck so the fin turbulence doesn't move it.
Jerry

Very true. I hadn't even noticed he was using a 5" hook length, I'd use one of about 3".

[chub_on_the_block]

Maybe take the hookbait size down a notch too?, may be picking it up without really taking it in?

[windrush1982]

cheers for the hints chaps, just off to google how to hair rig luncheon meat...........