Loz’s Top 5 Tips for Autumn Carp Fishing
There’s something special about autumn carp fishing. The mornings are getting colder, the leaves are starting to turn and the days are getting shorter, but it can be one of the best times of the year to be on the bank.
The carp have had a summer of feeding and as the water starts to cool, they can be keen to put on some extra weight before winter.
For me, autumn is all about adapting. What worked in August might not work in November, so you’ve got to keep an eye on the conditions and let the fish tell you what they want.
Here are my five top tips for making the most of your autumn campaign.
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1. Find the fishIt sounds obvious but location is everything. Don't simply arrive at the lake and head for your favourite swim. Take some time to look. Watch for shows, bubbling, coloured water and signs of feeding. A warm wind pushing into a bank can be a good starting point while deeper, more stable areas can become increasingly important as the water cools. Autumn is all about reading the conditions rather than fishing to the calendar. |
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2. Adapt your baitEarly autumn can still feel very much like summer and the carp may be happy to eat plenty. As the water cools, however, it’s worth becoming more controlled with your baiting. Start with a sensible amount and see what the fish tell you. If you’re getting regular action, you can build the spot. If things are quiet, don’t keep piling bait onto a swim simply because it’s autumn. It can also be worth adding a handful of naturals into your mix, such as maggots, casters or hemp, giving the carp something different to pick at and helping create a more natural feeding situation. As we move towards the colder part of the season, smaller and more precise amounts of bait can often make more sense. |
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3. Spot on presentationAutumn brings another challenge: leaves, dying weed and debris. A spot that was perfect a few weeks ago can suddenly be covered in rubbish from the surrounding trees and vegetation. Spend time finding a clean area and make sure your rig is presenting properly. There's no point having the perfect bait and the perfect location if your hookbait is buried in a pile of leaves. Keep things simple, sharp and reliable. Check your hook, leader and main line regularly and make sure everything is ready for that one chance. |
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4. Follow the changesOne of the biggest mistakes you can make during an autumn campaign is fishing the same way for three months. September can still offer warm-water conditions with carp using shallow areas and weed. October can see the fish becoming more focused on feeding areas while November can start to feel much more like winter. Keep an eye on water temperature, wind direction and how the lake is changing. If the fish move, you need to move with them. |
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5. Put the hours inFinally, give yourself a chance. Autumn can produce some incredible carp but you have to be there when it happens. The weather can change quickly and feeding windows can be short, so preparation is important. Get your kit organised before dark. Have warm clothing ready. Keep your bait and tackle accessible and make sure you're comfortable enough to stay focused when the temperature drops. And don't overlook the middle of the day. As conditions change, carp can feed at different times than they did during the height of summer. |
Make the most of autumn
Autumn carp fishing isn't about having one magic tactic. It's about paying attention and adapting.
Find the fish. Feed with confidence. Keep your presentation right. Adapt to the conditions. Put the hours in.
Do those five things and you give yourself a very good chance of making the most of one of the most exciting periods of the carp fishing year.
