Sun, Carp and a Lesson Learned — A Summer Session at Linear Fisheries

We usually associate our visits to Linear Fisheries with the colder winter months, rugged up against the chill with a hot flask and the float lake virtually to ourselves. But with the sun making a rare and very welcome appearance, we thought, why not? Summer fishing at Linear, let's give it a go.

We pulled through the gates just after 8am, eager to get set up and make the most of the day ahead. After a quick walk round to get the lay of the land, it became clear pretty quickly that the lake was completely empty. No signs of fish topping, no obvious holding spots, just open water. Anyone who fishes regularly will know that an empty lake is one of the trickiest situations you can face. Without fish showing, you're essentially guessing, and on a day like this, that first decision of where to set up feels huge.

After a good look round we opted for the far side of the lake. There was a strong wind blowing hard into that bank and the logic was sound, wind pushes food and fish, so fish into it, right? The problem was we were fishing light feeders and light gear, which in a strong headwind is far from ideal. Casting was a struggle, presentation was compromised, and the whole session felt like hard work from the off.

To his credit, Mark did manage to bag one, which at least saved a blank, but after a few hours of grinding away with very little to show for it, we looked at each other and both said the same thing, what are we doing here?! It was one of those moments where you just have to laugh, hold your hands up and make a change.

We packed up, moved round to the car park bank, and it was honestly like stepping into a completely different world. The trees along that bank acted as a natural windbreak, cutting out the wind almost entirely. The quiver tips sat perfectly still,  not even a flicker from the flow. Within minutes of getting set up the difference in conditions was clear, and it wasn't long before the tips were flying round with the kind of aggressive, confident bites that get the heart pumping. That's what feeder fishing is all about.

Within an hour we had three or four bites and at that point we both knew, this was the right move. Sometimes fishing really is that simple. Read the conditions, be willing to move, and trust your instincts.

The tackle and bait setup was nothing fancy, just what we know works. Guru in-line feeders paired with QM1 bait band rigs in a size 12 have been a go-to combination for us for a long time and they didn't let us down here either. The real star of the show on the day though were the new 6mm Almond & Betalin Mini Wafters, dipped in the matching Betalin. Every single bite came on those hookbaits. We cannot speak highly enough of them right now, if you haven't tried them yet, get them on your next order. Absolutely deadly.

By the time we packed up, ten cups of tea and a full pack of biscuits had been consumed, as it should be on any good fishing day. We finished with over 20 bites, landing the majority of them, with carp running to low doubles throughout the day. Not bad for a session that started with us scratching our heads on the wrong bank in a howling wind!

Linear Fisheries is a fantastic, well-run venue and this trip reminded us that it's not just a winter destination. Whether you're a seasoned angler or just getting into carp fishing, it's a fishery we'd highly recommend paying a visit to whatever the time of year. We'll definitely be back, probably with even more biscuits. 🎣☀️
Steve