Why it's just as important to stay mobile on small venues

If you’ve come from a big lake you know full well the importance of watching, staying mobile and hunting for signs or sightings of the lake’s stock. This is equally as important on a smaller venue, but the common trap that anglers fall in to, is thinking they can see the whole lake from where they’re sat, because the venue is only a few acres after all. You can sit there and, providing you’re looking you’ll see any shows that break the waters surface. You’ve not got to move…

If there’s one bit of advice I can give, it’s to wind in and walk round, searching every nook and cranny

If there’s one bit of advice I can give, it’s to wind in and walk round, searching every nook and cranny. The number of times you see things from a different angle that you wouldn’t have from other areas of the lake. Whether it’s pinprick bubbles rising from the bottom, or a carp rubbing against the bank 3ft down in gin clear water, there’s always something to find. Soft lakebeds will have cleaner areas, spots that can be seen in clear water providing you’re not getting glare from the sunlight and you’re in the right place to see it. Climbing trees is still essential, and often more rewarding on a small lake due to being able to see a greater percentage of the water from one tree branch.

Don’t forgetinstinct here either. Some-times you may stand in a different swim and it could just feel right. Fishing is as much about instinct as watercraft so stay mobile and keep checking areas by walking round and staying observant.

Use your polaroids: their importance is unrivalled when spotting fish

Tip 1: Keep an eye on the birdlife, their reactions and movements can give you an idea of what’s going on below the surface that you can’t see.

Tip 2: It’s often movement that fish will ‘spook’ from, not the actual sight of you, so move slowly and precisely when close to the water’s edge to avoid disturbing them.

Tip 3: Use your polaroids, the advantages have been talked about again and again, but their importance is unrivalled when spotting fish.