| Locating Tips, Part 3 |
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Weather Conditions We are firm believers in the theory that carp like to follow the wind, and from all directions. Like many things, however, this will depend on the lake, carp stock and the pressure the fish are put under from anglers. People in carp-fishing circles do tend to talk about warm winds being better than cold ones, and whilst this is certainly true a lot of the time, it is still never enough to guarantee success. It is our experience that carp in big lakes - of above 10 acres (4ha) - tend to be affected by winds a great deal more than those in smaller waters with lots of islands and weed beds. Food particles get picked up in the 'flow' and can be carried to the windward end of a lake. Usually the water color here is much more turbid than at the back of a wind, especially at clear waters, and as a result the carp will not only feel safer and better camouflaged, but will also benefit from an abundance of food. Small plankton items will attract predators which the carp may prefer. The water may also be much more oxygenated, which is another reason why the carp will be in large numbers at that end of the lake. Another advantage of a wind is its effect on the temperature of the water. A warm wind can quickly warm the water at the windward end, whilst a cooler wind will have the opposite effect. How this works for you will depend on the circumstances. In the summer months warm water will make the fish lethargic, so a cooler area may be a good collection point for food items and a much more comfortable area for the fish to lie up. In winter, on the other hand, a warm wind may attract fish. We tend to think that wind does affect the temperature of waters in a big way, especially on deep waters where it can disrupt the thermoclatic layers. To discuss the topic of thermoclines in depth is not necessary in this guide, but to put it simply they are zones of rapid temperature change. Thermoclines tend to occur in waters more than 100ft (30m) deep, but there is scientific evidence to suggest that they can occasionally be found in shallower waters that are not affected by wind very much. Below depths of 30ft (10m), areas of a lake can become very anaerobic if big winds don't regularly cause the water to mix. This causes aquatic life to become very scarce in the deeper areas, with the result that the carp will generally only feed in the margins or shallower areas where sunlight has a big effect on the abundance of food. We've seen it written that colder winds turn carp off, and whilst this may be the case at some venues, in our experience it shouldn't be taken as a generalization. Carp waters are all different. At some venues carp love the back of the wind, even warm ones, whilst at others they prefer to be right in the midst of it. Our advice is always to get to know a water and try to read the signs as much as possible; still, if you are lost for clues, then the windy end of a lake is always a very good starting point, regardless of which direction the wind is coming from. |
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