Stalking Pressured Carp with Ollie Johnson

The first session I arranged to meet Ollie Johnson for a bit of stalking on my local lake after a carp or two. I arrived at the lake and this was the hottest day of the year so far, and we both expected the carp to be on or near the surface. We started by walking straight to the top lake and instantly we were greeted with a very fine sight of carp, to what I reckon were over 20lbs, basking in the sun and slowly cruising around. Both Ollie and I were very excited by this sight and crept round the lake in search of more fish. The lake was low and had a lot of clarity, therefore we could both admire shoals of small roach and perch, as well as jack pike chasing them around. We arrived in the area known as 'the bowl' and admired some more carp merely cruising past casually.

After finishing the walk round the lake, we headed back to Ollie's car where we had left the tackle. On our way back though, we saw some reeds moving vigorously with clear ripples of carp moving around on the other bank. Luckily with this lake, it is accessible on the other side, as you can go down the middle on a point. We gingerly crept around and spotted a few fish, but the most likely to feed were the one's Ollie had noticed in the reeds. With polarising glasses he managed to locate one fish he thought was at least upper double and a few smaller fish around. Doing this preparation before hand meant that we had a good idea of what areas we were going to target. We quietly crept away and headed back to the car. We headed down the point where we had located those carp, including the more active ones in the rushes. Ollie headed quietly to the rushes and we both opted to fish a single lump of breadflake amongst the groups of carp. We used a size 8 hook with the top part of the flake merely pinched on at the top so could be fished on the surface or as a slow sinking presentation. I crept around and spotted a few fish and quietly put the bread flake in their path but they either didn't have the interest or confidence to investigate. With thoughtful stealth, Ollie flicked a generous helping of bread perfectly amongst the fish. After a few minutes, Ollie struck into a bite, but sadly pulled out of the fish. "That was a decent fish" he said. Not feeling disheartened, but cautious, as the strike caused some disturbance, Ollie re-placed his bait in a similar position. After slowly creeping towards moving fish, I saw a fish on its own near the pads. I managed to perfectly place the bread offering in its path, but just as it started to move towards the bait, the ducks homed in on it; I was left with no choice but to reel in, and therefore consequently spooking the fish. The next minute I looked up to check if any fish were about Ollie was calling me saying he was into one. I picked up the net and watched the fish lunge and kite in the reeds giving Ollie a good run around. After a bit of steady pressure from Ollie, the fish was ours. We lifted the fish onto the bank and it was a nice conditioned common of 8lb 14oz, a nice first result for the day.

After failing to tempt anymore carp which were basking and slowly cruising by, we ventured back up to the top lake. Ollie picked up some of his bottom bait gear as well, in order to target the carp that would possibly get their heads down as the temperature was dropping. We again were greeted with the same carp in sight slowly moving and basking with circular motions with their fins. We spotted a few carp patrolling in close and opted to try the 'single bread' method again. A nice looking mirror swam perfectly into Ollie's path and he set the bait agonisingly slowly sinking in front of where the fish was heading. The fish clearly noticed the bait and paused as if it was going to consider slurping it in. The bait continued to sink and we noticed the fish was closely trying to monitor the behaviour of the offering on Ollie's hook. At the most uncalled for time, as this was happening, a sudden gust of wind came upon us and affected Ollie's bread presentation which consequently meant that the fish ended up rejecting it. I also tried the slow sinking presentation in its path but it didn't even seem to think about considering it.

After briefly fishing the 'single bread' method in a more static way and having no interest, we decided to go to an area were there were some nice features where the carp were likely to be patrolling. I remained with the one barbel rod and Ollie started to get out his more 'beefed-up' carp gear for the job and flicked some bottom bait rigs a foot or so off the island where the water shelfs down deeper. I casted a zig in a zone where the fish were likely to be patrolling. The temperature was dropping, and the fish seemed to be too so I quickly rigged up with a basic bottom bait rigged and casted it to a nice gravelly area by a tree. Just as the light was fading and it was getting considerably more cold, the anglers opposite us got a screaming take and after what looked to be a very enjoyable fight indeed, they had landed a nice fish. Just as the light faded Ollie also received a screaming run and was also into a decent fish, here's a video clip of the fight:

It was a very nice result that Ollie had landed a couple of lovely carp with this lovely looking mirror going 17lb 6oz. We took a few quick photos and watched the carp swim back in the shallower water and then disappear into the depths. This was a lovely result as it was just before we were due to be heading home and was a nice meeting Ollie for the first time.

Ollie is currently in the process of launching a company, Clearwater Angling Solutions, which is going to be doing bits of terminal tackle for different coarse fishing demands, such as floats and also doing some great baits which will catch all sorts of species from bream to chub to big tench, barbel and carp!
Please check out their Facebook page for updates!

Tight Lines,

Tom Aldous