Since joining in march & catching monks pit largest resident a mirror called porky at 45lb 7oz at the end of may ( which is how back up to 50lb + & I wouldn't mind catching again) I've been moving around the lake fishing as many pegs as I could trying to map them out & make notes in my diary on anything that I've found interesting like hard clear feeding spots in amongst the weed & the famous monks pit kelp, making notes on the rod wraps to these areas, which will start to help me now I'm as losing day light hours after work, making it easier setting up in the dark, so now not worried what time I turn up after dark.

Monks pit is a busy circuit water & trying to keep a peg or area going is near impossible & most going pegs get reserved so u will see a lot of other anglers moving around trying to get on the fish.
In the summer months a lot of the carp spend most of they time in the shallow water where the thick heavy kelp beds grow this is where they is plenty of natural food & a safe heaven for them, & if u do mange to hook one is always a boat job, but lately they have been showing more out in open deep water, so this is where I’ve been concentrating the last few weeks, in these areas is a lot of Canadian weed beds some fixed & some moving around which have been ripped up from feeding fish,
Once I’ve found my spots I’m happy with I go about using the spod mix I’ve been using to good effect which is a jar or two of cc moore intense hemp & a good half of tin of sweet corn is added with some juices. There isn’t a carp in the world that doesn’t love the golden grains of corn, this gives the mix that fleck of colour & also gives u a choice to use a piece of plastic floating corn topper on the hookbait, next is 1 or 2 kilos of mixed sized cc moore equinox boillies with a good soaking of matching equinox bait dip & the same of the response + spice bait booster & some hemp oil & all mixed up together. When I make up this mix I always try to mix it all up a couple of days before I go, so that all the flavours & attractors have time to infuse with one another.

I like to create a nice slick on my chosen spot/area using a spomb which holds the spod mix juices & goodies in to help draw & attract the carp to the baited areas Starting with around 10-15 spombs & topping up after every fish caught & when I think is a good time to make things happen.
I’ve been having some amazing catch’s using this mix fished with equinox snowman rigs with 15mm bottom bait & matching pop ups or 12mm northern specials pop up.

Stay tuned for more from Ian all over winter ……….