The more light there is, the more they'll feed
Spring can be one of the most confusing times for us anglers. Why? Well, in spring there are so many variables that we have an awful lot to think about…
Let there be light
The more light there is, the more they'll feed
There is no question in my mind that the main reason for carp becoming more active is more as a result of the increase in light levels rather than just the increase in heat in the water. The spring equinox, 20th March, is a real feeding trigger and everything in nature is aware that the days are now the same length as the night (hence the name equinox – equal).
Water takes a long time to heat up so although it will be rising slightly with the warmth of the sun, in my mind it’s the increased strength of light that is the most important factor.
It is now getting strong enough to penetrate all the way down to the bottom of the lake in clear water and in cloudy water will be more obvious in the upper layers.
Top: Fluorocarbon leaders and hooklinks at this time of year help make it more difficult to spot your end tackle and line.
Above: When tight lining, leadcore is a bit of a no-no unless it's a very short length.
We all like a bit of sun on us, even when the temperature doesn’t change, so think about looking in the shallows, in the edge or up in the water. Also bear in mind that in the clearer waters our rigs, and particularly our lines, can be seen a lot more so a bit more attention should be paid to getting everything as hidden as possible.
Once the water starts to colour up with algae things become a little more difficult to see but at the moment with the water being so clear and the fish often visiting the shallows, everything becomes a bit more obvious. If you are fishing at short-range, then heavy slack lines will probably be a better bet in clear water. If you are fishing at longer range, then for me it’s tight lines all the way but bear in mind that a tight line will pull off the bottom and will be more visible so opt for a naked set-up or a short leader of fluorocarbon rather than leadcore where it is allowed.
Also, the difference in the bottom make-up can have a lot more of an effect on the amount of light around, so if you are fishing over gravel things will be a lot more visible than if you are fishing in silt.