Category: Article

Wild Carp or King Carp

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What’s the differences between wild carp and king carp? How can you catch the true wild fish?

Genetically there is in fact very little difference between wild carp and king carp. Stemming from the River Danube carp were transported around the world originally by the Romans. Over the years they have been selectively bred to grow faster and bigger firstly because they were an important food source and more recently for us to fish for.

Telling the difference between true wild carp and skinny commons is very difficult particularly as there is nothing to stop them breeding together. Wild carp generally have longer barbules a long dorsal fin and a large head. The body is almost chub-like in shape if the fish grow to bigger than about ten pounds then the chances are they are not true wild carp.

You definitely should try cooking with carp.  There are many great fish recipes online but do try not to smother your carp in sauce the first time you cook with it.  You can only make recipe decisions once you know the true taste of your fish.

Carp really became widespread in the British Isles as a food fish brought to this country from mainland Europe in the Middle Ages. So to find true wild carp now you should look for ancient ponds that have not been stocked with king carp. Estate lakes are your best bet for true wild carp although as more venues become stocked with king carp finding true wild carp will not be an easy task.

The wild carp has a larger tail for its size and has an altogether leaner and longer body.

 

Video Wild Carp v King Carp

Top 5 Places to Fish in Alaska

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  • Chilkat River
  • Susitna River
  • Kenai River
  • Kah Sheets Lake
  • Kasilof River

Alaska is known worldwide for truly amazing fly fishing. It is no wonder that every year fishermen come from all over the world to catch a piece of the action. But once you decide to take a fishing trip to Alaska, where do you go to find the best fly fishing opportunities? There are countless options to choose from, depending on what part of the state you will be visiting.

Chilkat River

Located in the south-east part of the state, the Chilkat River is an ideal place for fly fishing for salmon. There are five types of salmon common in Alaska ‘s Chilkat River including silver, red and king salmon. Dolly Varden, steelhead and trout are also available. This area also serves as an important habitat for the bald eagle, so you could find eagles fishing alongide you. The Chilkat River is near Skagway and Haines, so you can use either of those cities as a base to fish from.

Susitna River

Running through the mountains of south-central Alaska, the Susitna River is another great place to go fly fishing. Some of the fish species present in the Sustina include rainbow trout, all types of Pacific salmon (as well as the king, red and silver), Arctic grayling and Dolly Varden. The suburbs of Sustina are near, so you can stay in the city and then take seaplane excursions from there to the river.

Kenai River

By far the most famous river in Alaska, the Kenai Peninsula is known for spectacular fly fishing especially salmon in particular king. The Kenai River is located in the south-central part of Alaska and extends from Kenai Lake to Cook Inlet. King salmon, steelhead, coho and sockeye salmon can be found in the area. The king salmon fishing is the most popular fishing on the river, and for good reason. Most of the greatest kings were recorded caught in the Kenai River. The river is easily accessible by car and there are several cities that can be used as a base.

Kah Sheets Lake

A beautiful spot, quieter than most, the lake abounds with sockeye salmon,bass, bluegill and crappie.  Although other options are available booking a cabin close to the lake has to be one of the most appealing options. Otherwise look for accommodation  in Wrangell, Petersburg.

 Kasilof River

Located in the south-central part of the state, the Kasilof River is another place for fly fishing. In the Kasilof you can find many species of fish, same as those available in the Kenai River, but Kasilof has a much more relaxed atmosphere and will be less crowded. Fish species that are most popular here are the red salmon, trout, chinook and coho salmon. The Kasilof is reachable by car, so you can use any number of cities in Alaska as a base.

There are so many great places for fly fishing in Alaska, with these top 5 we have only touched the tip of the iceberg. The Alaska frontier is vast and full of fish ready for you to enjoy. No matter where you go fly fishing in Alaska, it’s sure to be an amazing experience. Great fishing!

Sea Fishing

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What is it called when you go fishing in the ocean?
Saltwater Fishing – fishing in salt waters (oceans). Also called “tidal waters fishing”.

Targeting a species and learning all the methods and situations that can increase your catch rate can be a very important factor in increasing you catch rate when sea fishing. There are a vast number of different species, such as Pollock, fish that can be found in many different locations and can be fished for using many different methods. Where to fish for many species include;

  • Rock and reef marks are very popular locations for fish.
  • Both inshore and off shore wrecks will produce various fish pollock to a good size.
  • Piers  will produce fish all year around but. generally these fish are not of a great size.
  • Weed beds and deep kelp  hide a lot of predators and prey.
  • Broken ground can hold all sorts of species including the pollock. Some fishing techniques
  • Lure fishing. Deep sea wreck fishing often requires heavy weights to take a jelly worm or metal lure to the sea bed.
  • Saltwater fly is effective when fish are in shallow water and fish can be of all sizes and at a whole range of locations including piers, reefs and weed beds.  Flies that mimic small fish and prawns work well, sea trout flies and saltwater flies are popular.
  • Float fishing can be used almost anywhere in shallower water.Common baits are sand eel and fillets of fish bait.
  • Ledgering can work well using the normal  baits fish.
  • Live baits work well for many fish usually resulting in a strong take and suitable equipment needs to be used.

Common  Catches when Sea Fishing

The sky’s the limit, or in the case of sea fishing, the sea’s the limit. Even fishing inshore waters, anglers can catch everything from tarpon to flounder. Anglers fishing the northeast coast can expect flounder and cod to congregate in bays and river mouths. Striped bass and bluefish fall for lures from surf-casters, as will weakfish and sea trout.

Farther south, red drum (redfish), tarpon, and bonefish excite anglers as they cruise the shallow flats of bays. These fish can be taken on traditional gear or fly-fishing tackle, nothing special needed for sea fishing. Snook fight like the saltwater version of the large-mouth bass, and sharks cruise off many coasts. With sea fishing, you don’t really know what you’re going to catch next, which is part of its great allure.

Sea Fishing Video

 

Carp Fishing

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Fishing for Carp

Carp Fishing

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One of the largest members of the minnow family and a close relative of the goldfish, the common carp is among the least – favoured targets of freshwater anglers in North America. Common carp exist in good supply and in relatively large sizes (compared to most other species), and provide an underutilized resource for anglers, not to mention an ample source of protein. In some circles carp are highly regarded as a food fish and can be prepared in many ways. ID. The common carp has a deep body form and a heavy appearance.

Distinctive features include a short head, rounded snout, single long dorsal fin, forked tail, and relatively large scales. The mouth is toothless and sucker like, adapted to bottom feeding, and the upper jaw projects slightly past the lower one. The common carp has a single serrated spine at the front of the dorsal and anal fins and two pairs of fleshy barbels on either side of its mouth. Colouring ranges from gold to olive to brown, with a yellowish colouring on the lower sides and belly and a reddish tint to the lower fins. Each scale on the upper sides of the fish has a concentrated dark spot at its base and a conspicuous dark rim.

Common Carp Cyprinus carpio

Juveniles and breeding males are usually a darker green or grey with a dark belly, and females are lighter. Habitat. Common carp are incredibly hardy and flexible in their habitat preferences. Primarily bottom – dwelling fish, carp like quiet, shallow waters with a soft bottom and dense aquatic vegetation. Although they favour large turbid waters, they also thrive in small rivers and lakes. They can live in low – oxygen environments and can tolerate temperature fluctuations and extremes. In some northern waters where the fish are abundant and such terrain is lacking or offers no food, carp will cruise over shallow, rocky flats and shoals, browsing along the rubble bottom. Food. Omnivorous feeders, carp have predominantly vegetarian diets but will feed on aquatic insects, snails, crustaceans, annelids, and molluscs.

Carp Fishing Video

Aquatic plants and filamentous algae are the most popular food groups. They grub sediments from the bottom with their sucker like mouths, uprooting and destroying vegetation and muddying the water. Carp primarily spend their lives in small groups and are inclined to roam for food. Angling. Because carp primarily eat aquatic plants, and not other fish, they are less receptive than many other species to the most commonly practiced methods of fishing in North America. Nevertheless, they are strong fish and hearty battlers, capable of stretching a fishing line and testing the skills of most anglers. Getting a carp to take your offering can be a challenge, as they are not impulsive predators or ambush strikers.

For the most part, they are not chasers or stalk – and – attack hunters. They are unlikely to strike most lures, although they occasionally strike a slow – moving jig, and either a weighted or a dry fly. Spinning, spin-casting, fly-casting, and bait-casting tackle are all used to land carp, but spinning is probably the most functional method. In North America, carp have been caught on an assortment of bait, primarily dough-balls, corn, worms, processed baits, and commercially prepared baits, with and without chumming. Although they primarily feed on the bottom, carp also feed on or near the surface as well as at mid-levels. Fishing for carp is mostly a waiting game, but stealthy anglers can opt to take a more aggressive approach and hunt for them, stalking and casting to visible fish. the equipment list.

UK Fishing Licence

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Fishing Rod Licence

New Style Fishing Licence

New Style Fishing Licence

You need a fishing rod licence to fish for salmon, trout, freshwater fish, smelt and eel with a rod and line in England (except the River Tweed), Wales and the Border Esk region of Scotland.

You need an additional licence to fish in the Thames.

You must always carry your rod licence when you’re fishing or you could be prosecuted. You can be fined up to £2,500 for fishing without a rod licence.  Children under 12 don’t need a licence. However, if you take a child under 12 fishing and hold the rod or help hold it you must buy a licence for yourself.

Types of Fishing Licence

There are 2 types of licence:

  • trout, coarse fish and eel licences that let you fish for non-migratory trout, char, coarse fish, eel and smelt
  • salmon and sea trout licences that let you fish for salmon, sea trout and all of the fish in the licence above

Applying for your licence is easy.

Here’s what you need to do:

  1. Pick the right licence. Decide if you need a Non-Migratory Trout & Coarse Licence or a Salmon & Sea Trout Licence. The Salmon & Sea Trout Licence is more expensive, but also covers you for Non-Migratory Trout & Coarse.
  2. Choose the length. If your trip’s a one-off, consider the 1 or 8 day options. If you’re a regular angler, you can get cover for the full season.
  3. Buy your licence. You can buy it online, in branch or by phone. Full contact details can be found in the right hand column.
  4. Wait for it to arrive. Remember – you’re allowed to go fishing with your email confirmation.

Licence Concessions

  • Senior – for age 65+
  • Junior – for ages 12-16 inclusive
  • Disabled – for those in receipt of Disability Living Allowance (or Personal Independence Payment) and Blue Badge Holders. You’ll need your National Insurance number or Blue Badge number for your concession.

Bass Fishing

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Fishing for Bass

Bass Fishing

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In the past, where human populations were sparse and fishing pressure modest, sea bass were simply called “bass”, meaning basically “prickly.” But in Mediterranean Europe the same species began to be named in a way that indicated intelligence. The ancient Greeks associated the fish with the word labros, or “turbulence.” Homer uses labros in reference to wind and waterbut labros as it applied to sea bass gradually came to imply cleverness. In modern Greek the concept of the sea bass as a clever fish became its defining characteristic. Today the fish is called lavraki – “the clever one.” If you wanted to indicate in modern Greek that someone had cleverly figured out something tricky and challenging, you would say that he epyase lavraki – “he caught a sea bass.”

The perception of the bass as clever occurs in other Mediterranean languages. The Romans named the fish after an animal they considered particularly intelligent – lupinus, which eventually became the French loup de mer – “sea wolf.” And the Latin poet Ovid wrote of sea bass as using its smarts to frustrate its potential captors. “In vain above the greedy [fisherman] toils,” Ovid wrote, “while with arts more exquisite the bass beguiles.”

European sea bass thus seem to have rapidly solidified their reputation for cleverness in the Mediterranean. The reason for this may be a direct product of the holiday-like environment of the Mediterranean Sea, the place where humans and sea bass had their most intense interactions. The Mediterranean occupies an exceptionally warm and dry climatic zone. Most rivers on the European continent flow away from it, meaning that, compared to other seas, the Mediterranean’s biotic systems receive few nutrients. The sea is therefore described by scientists with the Greek-derived word oligotrophic – a place that “contains little nourishment.”  By the time one reaches the level of the European sea bass, both the population of fish and the size of individual fish are naturally smaller and more sensitive to exploitation than in more productive seas. Recently the Italian cookbook author Marcella Hazan said that when she moved to the United States, she simply could not find the right fish for her European sea bass recipes. “Your bass are too big!” she lamented.

Bass Fishing Video

Fishing Tackle Shops in the UK

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Amazing Fishing Stories is a wonderful collection of tales of adventure with rod and line. This eclectic collection includes thrilling battles with monsters of the deep, epic acts of endurance and more poetic pieces on secret spots where legendary fish are said to lurk. Read extracts on our fishing tackle pages and you won’t be able to wait to buy the book, hard copy, audio or Kindle. About Paul

Also see Fishing Poles

About Paul Knight

Paul Knight is a hugely experienced fisherman and leading figure among UK anglers, who has traveled to remote parts of the globe to reel in stories with rod and line. He has worked on offshore trawlers as well as fished idyllic salmon streams. His knowledge of fishing equipment is vast as you will see from his tales. Paul has written for a range of fishing magazines for more than 20 years. His wide experience, remarkable network of fishing friends and wonderful writing style make him the perfect author of such a collection of unforgettable tales.

Note: We do not sell or promotes Amazon products. You can easily fins Paul’s book online.

 

Fishing Poles

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Best Fishing Pole

Great video on choosing the best Pole or Rod!

***  Fishing Poles & Whips  ***

More Fishing Poles and Pole Accessories

  • Advanta Power Margin 8.5m Fishing Pole
  • Advanta Pro Carp Power 13m Fishing Pole
  • Advanta Pro SKYkit Short Fishing Pole 1pc Top Kit
  • Daiwa Air Z Pro Pole 16m More Power
  • Daiwa Airity Pro 16m More F1 Package
  • Daiwa Connoisseur G90 16m Pole
  • Daiwa Connoisseur G90 16m Pole More Power Pack
  • Daiwa Connoisseur System Whip 8m
  • Daiwa Generic Interlastic Top Kits
  • Daiwa Matchwinner MW4 16m
  • Daiwa Tournament Pro X 16m More Power
  • Daiwa Whisker X 16m
  • Discover Battle Core Fishing Whip 4m
  • Discover Power Core Margin Pole 5.5m
  • Discover Powertube Carp 9.5m Fishing Pole
  • Discover Tele Whip 3m
  • Drennan Red Range Margin Carp 8m Pole
  • Garbolino UK Power Performance Match 16m Fishing Pole Package
  • Guru A-Class Whip
  • Guru Aventus Zero 900 Fishing Pole 16m + Package + FREE Top Kits
  • MAP TKS 101 3G Series 13m Pole
  • Matrix MTX1 Power V2 Fishing Pole Package 13m
  • Matrix MTX2 Power V2 Fishing Pole Package 14.5m
  • Matrix MTX3 Ultra V2 Fishing Pole Package 16m
  • Matrix Torque Carp Pole
  • Maver MV-R Competition 16m Pole Package
  • Maver MV-R Performance 14.5m Pole Package
  • Maver MV-R X Power Fishing Pole 13m
  • Maver MV-R XS Commercial Fishing Pole Package 16m
  • Maver MV-R XX Commercial Fishing Pole Package 16m
  • Maver MV-R1 Fishing Pole Package 16m
  • Maver MV-R2 Fishing Pole Package 16m
  • Maver MV-R3 Fishing Pole Package 16m
  • Maver MV-R4 Fishing Pole Package 16m
  • Maver Signature Pro Power Pole Package 10m
  • Preston Edge Monster 10m Margin Pole
  • Preston Edge Monster Margin Pole 8.5m
  • Preston Edge Monster Power Top 2 Kit
  • Preston Response System Whip 8m
  • Preston Superium Carp 16m Fishing Pole
  • Preston Superium F1 Short Kit
  • Preston Superium X10 13m Fishing Pole
  • Preston Superium X20 14.5m Fishing Pole
  • Preston Superium X50 16m Fishing Pole
  • Preston Superium X70 16m Fishing Pole

Float Fishing for Crucian Carp

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Fishing for Bass

Float Fishing Crucian Carp

jump to Float Fishing Video Crucian Carp

To catch crucians regularly a very carefully shotted light float rig is imperative the best floats being a fine-tipped antenna or a short narrow-diameter length of peacock quill fished in ‘mini-lift’ style. The object is to see those tiny bites for which crucians are renowned and which often barely register on the float tip (fig. 9B).

For this reason the single shot (a No. 1 BB or AA depending on float size) should be not more than 2 in from the hook. Try moving it even closer to 1 in away because sometimes this alone can make all the difference between seeing bites or not. The secret after casting in and tightening up so the float cocks is to wind down even further so the tip is just the merest ‘blimp’ on the surface. Strike the slightest movement.

When crucians are really feeding confidently denoted by clusters of small bubbles regularly rising to the surface the float might even lift completely out of the water and lie flat as the carp tills its head up after sucking up the bait and dislodges the shot. Or the tip will sink positively as the crucian characteristically runs along the bottom. Many more bites will barely register on the float so you need 10 hold the rod throughout and be eagle-eyed.

To stand a better chance of hilling bites from crafty crucians that just lie on the bottom blowing the bait in and out rig up a light antenna float with a dust shot 2-3 in from the hook with the bulk.

shot set at mid depth {fig. 9A). After carefully plumbing the swim adjust the float so the bait is literally a fraction above the bottom. As with the lift rig strike at the slightest movement on the float tip. Remember to keep loose feed or small balls of groundbait going in on the little-and-often principle and they might be encouraged lo feed all day. A ruse always worth trying when they are particularly dour is to gently wind the float in 6 in at a time which makes the bait lift upwards enticingly and fall gently down to the bottom again. Baits which are inherently buoyant like bread flake or csters or which are expected to move as worms work best when ‘twitching’ in this way to encourage bites.

Incidentally both these rigs work effectively for tench that are biting particularly shyly.

Crucian Carp Float Fishing Video</h3