**OTTERS & CARP** Carp Fishing - A Race Against Time
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- Опубліковано 5 січ 2021
- The carp fishing struggle is real and Mike faces some Otter predation challenges in his latest blog that ruin his winter campaign sadly. Having limited time but loving the challenge of low stocked lakes can mean long, lean spells while he waits for that one take that might just transform his season. Time is a massive edge and Mike doesn't have that at his disposal but that never stops him putting in the effort. #carpfishing
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I was born and raised in Hemel Hempstead Ive fished lakes and rivers for years all over Hertfordshire, Oxfordshire, Bedfordshire etc. Most reading this will know what its like to buy 20kg of pellet and birdseed or hemp and get ready for a baiting campaign. Particularly after weeks or months of baiting without fishing you know your going to catch and it doesn't take long to do so. In 2018 I moved to Norwich and started baiting a stretch of the river Wensum for carp but would be happy to see what else came along. Once famed for its big chub and barbel I couldn't wait and after 11 weeks of baiting a spot by a large water inlet which was the only feature for miles I setup for my first 48hr session. I blanked. But what was worse was that during that session I saw no bubbles or signs of fish. Infect I barley so any signs of anything but an occasional small chub. I went on to bait for a further 6 months in total and did over 35 sessions with only 2 skimmer bream and a crayfish. During that time I was also baiting two other areas one very near the city of Norwich and another in the largest marina. I blanked on every single session and 3 years in ive never caught or seen anything larger than about a 2lb chub.
Honestly I cannot put into words how bad the Wensum is. I've been carp and coarse fishing for over 19 years, my pb is an uncaught 47lb mirror from a trout lake in Hertfordshire. I know what I'm doing but Ive never seen anything like this. The otters up here are seen in and around the town on the wensum daily. And the Wensum at Lyng, which once held the British record Barbel is completely devoid of fish. I know this because I clean the windows for one of the chairman of the club and he hasn't caught anything bigger than a 4lb chub in 2017.
Sorry to hear that you wasted so much time and effort prebaiting but Thanks for taking the time and effort to let us know your/ our plight.
I remember those days well. I’m 70 now can’t handle the cold now. So winter overnighters are out so roll on spring nice to enthusiasm is still out there
Beautiful fish fantastic, well done, iwould feel i was walking on water now.
Love this! Absolutely brilliant film....
Oh the enthusiasm! Lol. I used to be like that many years ago. Great video
Loved that. Always look forward to your vlogs. Cheers👍
Cheers Lee, glad you enjoyed it mate, thanks for the feedback.
An other quality film from you. Thank you very much! I used to fish that lake before the otters. Good luck on your campaign!
Cheers mate, sadly its a shadow of its former self but fingers crossed.
Amazing Mike! Fantastically inspirational as positive and your very natural in front of the camera! More of this 👍 happy new year to you.
Thanks mate, thats very kind feedback, its hard filming yourself but glad you enjoyed it. Happy New Year to you also mate.
Well done Ben, what a cracking brace 👌
Really enjoy watching your edits, lovely footage and very inspirational. Thanks, look forward to your next one.
Cheers mate thats very kind feedback, but its coming straight back at ya, as your art is incredible also mate, very talented indeed fella. Keep it up.
I appreciate that thank you.
A great piece again mate. Loved how you put your time on their together. Liked the involvement with Ben, enjoyed his podcast too.
You come accross really well mate, keep up the good work.
ATB Rob 👍
Cheers Rob, that very kind of you fella and feedback is always well received, both good and constructive. All the best mate. cheers Mike
Thoroughly enjoyed that blog, wish you all the best on the predator Lake and happy new year 🤜🤛
Cheers mate, glad you enjoyed the realities of the campaign. Appreciate the feedback and HNY to your also fella.
Brilliant video, made me feel a lot more confident with my limited time on the bank 🎣👏🏻
Thanks mate, yes time is hard to find, but prep, prep and prep minus the rods is the way to go. then drop in when the time is right :)
Wow a great start to your short campaign with a carp on the bank Mike and that was so unfortunate you lost one as well “gutting”😢also what a mega result for Ben with 2x40’s and Cameron with his chunk👍 great stuff guys .... HNY 🙏👍👍
Thanks mate, yes the ups and downs of a campaign in a low stocked lake hey! glad you enjoyed it and thanks for the feedback. cheers mike
Amazing video! Some epic fish, epic tips and has got me buzzing to get out!
Go get um James, glad you enjoyed it.
Nice video blog, Mike. Love seeing the way you approach a really low stock water. Well done for getting a couple of bites.... the otter does up the ante a bit ☹️. Nice to see those big Cotswold fish, too! Huge pecs on yours👍
Glad you enjoyed it mate, in terms of low stocked lakes, yes its all in the prep for me, I've found that does stack a few odds in my favour on the very odd occasion.
Great vlog Mike hopefully you can get amongst them when we get back out again!👍🏻🍻
Cheers mate, we'll try hey! it's never gonna be easy but the challenge is what its all about. All the best mate and tight lines.
Very enjoyable and some absolutely lovely old carp
Cheers Dean, glad you enjoyed the blog mate, thanks for the feedback
Great video, didn’t expect to see my old mate Ben with a couple of 40’s, didn’t even know he was still fishing 😂👍
He still gets about old Smithy! Once and angler, always an angler, it's in the blood for life isn't it.
loved it Mike, makes me want to get my gear and go right now.
Cheers Andy, glad you enjoyed it and thanks for the kind feedback mate.
Brilliant Mike - favourite bit was Cameron being speechless at the end.
Mine also, such a great moment, he didn't know what to say, speechless! Just the best feeling ever.
You know it mate, the feeling we all aim for!!
Great vlog mike always a great watch
Glad you enjoyed it Clive, all the best Mike
Enjoyed that. Nice one!
Cheers mate, thanks for the feedback, appreciated. Tight lines
I enjoyed that excellent work mike
Thanks Ray, very kind of you to give us some feedback mate. Thanks again.
Great vlog Mike 👍🏻👌🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🎣🐳 #works
Glad you enjoyed it Paul, thanks for the feedback mate.
Brillant blog mike. Mega shame with the lost pal. tight line.
Cheers mate, it's hard to film yourself but it is what it is, you know what it's like fishing those low stocked lakes, its never easy mate but if it was easy, it would be boring I guess.
Great video loved every bit of it 👍🏻
have a chat with Embryo & see if they can help towards the otter fence’s ,,, keep them coming & happy new year ..
Glad you enjoyed it mate, thanks for the feedback. Sadly that one can't be fenced for many complex reasons, mainly public access is needed. sadly.
This has inspired me too finally get out and do my canal campaign after the known 33lb mirror in my Local 30 mil stretch
Cheers mate, no matter how little time you have, get out and make it happen fella. When we can of course!
Bloody enjoyed that Mike 💪🏻
Nice one Rob, glad you enjoyed it fella.
Great video :)
Great stuff Mike. Met u in the baitshop b4 Xmas. I've been using the old sweat band trick recently for my overnighters 🙂
Glad you enjoyed it Gareth, yes the old sweat band trick is very very effective!
Quality video 🙌...... the white tips to the fins is often new growth after either damage of fin rot etc has caused tissue loss
Yes mate, makes sense, those fish have been through a few wars in the past mate. Thanks for the kind feedback btw.
Very well made blog
Now onto our otter friends there smashing it alright anti angling lot love it!!!
My argument is we use to have bears and wolves in this county would the people who are releasing the otters want a nice big bear running round there back yard
I do look forward to the baitworks diary's and podcasts.. Thanks guys
Cheers mate, glad you enjoyed it.
@@BaitworksTV that I did.. Brilliant..
Great vid mike!!
Thanks Sam, glad you enjoyed it mate, we appreciate the kind feedback.
Throughly enjoyable Vlog fella. Think we will appreciate our fishing even more once we’re out of this pandemic 😔🤘🏻
Cheers mate, glad you enjoyed it fella. Can't wait to get out either mate, tight lines when you do.
The above drone shot is amazing, I’ve got another of the same place by Carl and Alex, love the video especially the underwater footage
Thanks guys, its a bit raw, filming yourself is never easy but glad you enjoyed it and thanks very much for your kind feedback.
@baitworks it’s the perfect balance of rawness and professionalism with the drone,underwater shots and cinema-tics feels very personal and your passion really comes threw great film 👍
@@tonymoorcroft1570 Thanks Tony, glad you liked it mate. We'll try and keep them coming mate.
Great vlog mate. Definitely inspired me to start a campaign of my own this season. I have a busy job and a young family, but thinking of doing some overnighters and having a good go at it! Keep up the good work and happy new year 👍🏻
Cheers mate, my fishing life is always overnighters mate, once your in the groove they become normal and results will follow. The prep and prebaiting plays a big part but make it happen and good luck on your quest mate.
@@BaitworksTV Thanks for the advice mate. Tight lines
Fantastic vid Mike
Cheers Josh, glad you enjoyed my waffle mate. :)
🙏 so much lads need this in hard times
Hope you enjoy it mate, stay safe Kev.
@@BaitworksTV and to you and your staff and family xxx
Watching campaigns really inspires me to get down my local gravel pit when I turn 16 in October to try and catch the big linear thats in there. It came out just after the first lockdown at 29lb 8oz and it’s done 30lb before. It’s about a 30 acre pit with a really unknown stock. Probably 60 or so carp. I’ve only ever seen one myself. It was a mid 20 common in some margin snags, at the time my pb was only 12lb so it seemed like a giant. Can’t wait to start my campaign.
Good luck mate, wait for that water to warm up a bit, a few weeks of bait into an area before you ever wet a line will certainly stack the odds in your favour. Tight lines
@@BaitworksTV thanks guys. Great words of wisdom to an inexperienced angler
I put 8 months into pre baiting last year on the river went to fish and there was a trio of otters there..But watching this has made me want to make it happen
They are here to stay mate, go do it, wait for the warmer weather and make it happen fella. Good luck mate,
Sound watch that 🎣 love to fish them waters around that area... maybe 2021 🎣🎣🎣🎣🎣🎣🎣🎣🎣🎣🎣
Glad you enjoyed it mate, plenty of water here but plenty of otters also sadly!
@@BaitworksTV good job I fish for otters 🦦 lolz 😂 no jokes..... I’ll be down at some point
top top video... tight lines.
Cheers mate, glad you enjoyed it.
Hi there, thank you for creating this content!
I am writing a study on otter predation and the effect on low stocked lakes along the nene valley in Northamptonshire.
I was wondering if possible to go over a few things?
Hi Denver, drop us a message on our insta or facebook page mate.
Respect
Great video really enjoyed it, if I saw a Otter regularly visiting a water like that, I would want to shoot it.
Sadly mate thats a jail sentence, I'm all for a balanced eco system but I certainly feel helpless.
great vlog
Cheers Tommy, glad you enjoyed it mate.
@@BaitworksTV yeah, as always! love these
That sea lead you picked up with that take has got to be poachers.
No one in there right mind would be using leads like that. And with them otters too you really are up against it. Lovely looking place tho.
The sea leads are used as marker leads to pick up weed/debris mate
This happened up here in Nottingham/Derbyshire when a few breeding pairs were released at Attenborough Nature reserve. Also 9/10 yr ago!! Coincidence??
Def no coincidence hey mate, they exploded around that time for sure!
Great vlog all the same mate! Well.done
How often do Otters breed "Their gestation period is 9 weeks and they can breed at any time of the year. They have 2 or 3 cubs weighing no more than 40g"
They can breed more than once in any given breeding year thats for sure.
An otter has been seen on my syndicate lake no fence and very expensive ticket the fish are some of the best in the country and the waiting list is endless but really not sure if its worth rejoining this year
If they are seen mate, you can bet your bottom dollar they've had a Carp or two sadly. Get that fence up mate!
Baitworks was told the fence was going up last year but nothing has happened and doesn’t seem like is going to be up anytime soon so just have to hope for the best
Bit extreme that sea fishing lead with the breakaway hinges locked. I know its been publicised by a few for checking spots but not the best idea in weedy/snaggy waters. Crack-off and the lead will get snagged up easily and as shown you lose a fish or worse your line breaks and the fish is tethered on the braid. Just used a lead clip system with a very short rig and the point/barb broken off??
Good alternative mate indeed.
Just ordered a chicken Tarka, it’s like a chicken tikka but a little otter
hahaha!
How did you get a ticket for this lake? They haven’t been on sale for over a year. Shame I wish I could of got one too because I know the rewards of breaking the rules have been reaped this year from what I’ve heard.
Tickets were re-newed for existing members fella, then Covid hit so I believe they stopped selling tickets. Also, whoever has had results from that place then hats off, its not down to rule breaking its down to bloody hard work and commitment mate.
Im surprised Ben didn't hurt his back lol
He said he slipped a disc but we aint having it lol
Northeast England ponds have been wiped out by otters and Europeans .Dire straits up here Durham and up. obviously carp and course fish must it be classed as wildlife.
Yes,we feel your pain, we've struggled with predation down here for over a decade mate. The best we can hope for is that the RSPB also put more effort into challenging the law as Otters destroy rare birds, nesting grounds, chicks etc. Seen them take swans on numerous occasions here in the water pack also.
Great Video Mike. Any chance I can pop round so I can have my sea lead back???????? :0)
hahaha! I actually now know who's lead that is now!
@@BaitworksTV Ben Smiths? LOL
@@richardrogers2903 No mate!
catapult and some ssg’s
Should have been otters Eastern Europeans.Race against time.All our carp up here in Washington Sunderland have been ate big koi gone big perch bream Rudd the lot ate.
Even now they are so brazen its mad
Crazy, they sit at the top of the food chain mate so they have very little to worry about apart from the next meal.
As a fellow bristol boy nice to hear the accent....if a little diluted
Hahaha we can't hide it mate can we, I'll try and get the Gurt lush and Babber in on the next one! :)
@@BaitworksTV Cheers drive XD :))))
@@chimpy666 lol bin busy, what time you on till!
@@BaitworksTV Ark aaat eee with his big carp! Proper bigguns! How bist my fruiter
can’t wait for the next video mike!
@@chimpy666 cheers mate, we best stop before you tube thinks this videos language tag needs changing lol
Feching otters
Take your gun next time🙌
All been stuffed up by borris now no fishing till 15 February
I'd rather be healthy mate than fishing, for me fishing comes down the priority list right now but lets stay positive, its not long and we'll be back out enjoying what we love to do I hope.
@@BaitworksTV so true 👍
@@adamroots3429 glad I'm not you then
Sacking a fish with a otter about?? Not very wise unless I missed something??what
Yes you missed something, it was in a retainer for half hour and I was sat watching it mate a few yards away. I'd not sack up a fish in the night for that very reason.
@@BaitworksTV uh ok I did think I missed something got my son next to me annoying me lol very distracting
@@englishfam9675 the joys of kids hey mate I know the feeling. Yes the risk of sacking a car while an otter is about is not the one. The lake we did sack those other fish at wasn't the same lake, that one is fenced and otter free.
Wearing jeans fishing in the winter ... very edgey
Old school!
is anyone else at a point in their life where its becoming increasingly difficult to justify hooking fish in the mouth as a hobby..I love it but i get home to my dog and think wow am I an asshole?
Very much so buddy I'm afraid, get home to my koi and I wouldn't dream of hooking them 🤔. Bit of sea fishing may be calling! 👍
Bloody hell, you talk more than my misses.
Cut out some of the constant stream of talk and concentrate of the visuals. Which are very good by the way.