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Supporting Sea Anglers

Heavy Carp - Light Tackle

Although I wasn't after carp, I was lucky enough to catch a 20lb 8oz mirror on Sunday using a very light set up (6lb mainline, 3 1/2lb hook-link with an insert waggler and a size 16 spade end barbless hook.)

I had fed mashed bread a few feet away from the fishing platform, in the shade of an over-hanging tree and fished for silvers and crucians and small carp in about 4 foot of water. I was actually using a very small cube of luncheon meat on the hook.

I had thrown in a few hand full's of sweetcorn, cubed luncheon meat  and some maggots at the start with a large amount of mashed bread and topped this up through the session. I caught roach, rudd, crucians and a few small carp before the reel screamed off and the spool started to empty at a slightly worrying speed.

I played the fish for about 20 minutes on a low drag setting in order to try wear the fish down to avoid any frantic runs under the rod tip which could break the hook-link, before daring to bring it to the net.

I wouldn't have opted to go that light in line strengths obviously if I was targeting a big carp, but it's worth pointing out that when there are many lines out to the middle of the lake, and the fish feel pressured this can lead them to seek the sanctuary of the margins instead.

Something else I learned, always take the ruddy camera as you never know what will take your bait next as the photo I've got on my phone is pants!

Tight Lines!
 

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