Searching for an edge

Benno, Luke and I had a short evening session, out on the marshes, today. None of us caught a fish, although I got turned over at least three times! Small fish - big hooks? We were at a new venue; one which offers much scope for exploration and experiment. What little information we have been able to glean suggests that there is a decent stock of carp, maximum size unknown, but also healthy populations of bream and tench (and some decent pike! - so something to think about later in the year).

Only room for one rod in this tight swim

My desire to use the split canes has ensured that these iconic pieces of angling history were pressed into service and, once again, became central in the conversation with two other anglers we encountered. I think that we all agreed that this particular drain system isn't capable of providing the carp I so desire, but has plenty of scope to offer a challenge worthy of pursuing. Wild carp, of these wilderness sites, are so much more attractive than the boily munching "mud pigs" of the commercials and club waters that provide the sport for so many of today's carp anglers. There does seem to be a common mind-set amongst the anglers fishing these remote drains. It is about unlocking the code, overcoming the obstacles, to finally land a fish that has probably never seen a hook before. This is Marco Polo carp angling - going where no man has been before. Not, for one minute, do I think that I've actually cast into a virgin swim, but feel pretty confident that I'm part of an extraordinarily small number of anglers to have placed a bait in such positions.

Not too much scope for misplaced bait positioning - any surprise I get pissed off when a
Beaver wipes me out?

Location is key, always has been in every angling challenge I've ever been involved with, and this new system is no different. However, as it does hold a decent stock of carp finding them isn't as much of a challenge as locating the better fish. The recent weather has done little to assist our cause, as abundant, thick, rafts of floating algae and weed are present along the entire system. Brilliant for fish to skulk, undetected, under, but a right pain to discover places to present a rig with any confidence. Chods and Ronnie rigs are the way forward, although there might be scope for some surface action given  the right conditions?