Hull & District Anglers’ Association

Carping for the Day Angler
by Simon Crow

I've been a member of Hull & District since I moved up north in 1993, although I didn't really start fishing the Association's waters properly until 1997. When I did, I fished a few sessions here and there on the Motorway Pond. This is a venue which has a fairly tough reputation for its carp, but with a bit of careful observation and the right tactics I have managed, over the years, to extract one or two of the inhabitants every now and then.
Arriving for first light around 5am in the summer, I find it important to get the rigs and bait in place as quickly as possible. There is a very distinct feeding period between 6am to 9am and, so long as you keep the casting and bankside noise to a minimum, you are definitely in with a shout of some action if you fish well. Most of my 'leading around' is done well in advance of a visit, building up a picture of what lies beneath the mass of weed during an afternoon recce earlier in the season.
PVA bags loaded with small pellets and crushed boilies have worked extremely well, as indeed have single hook baits. I've caught well from both weeded areas as well as clear areas, so my advice is to keep your options open rather than just look for clear spots like the majority of anglers tend to do.
Fish-flavoured baits have worked best for myself and, during one particular morning spell, I was fortunate to land four carp weighing 201b, 24¾lb, 29¾lb and 30lb 10oz, I also went on to lose a fish during that session with all of my takes coming before 1pm - not bad for less than £40 a year!
One of the best pieces of advice I can give anyone contemplating fishing on the Motorway for carp during the day is to be aware of your rods at all times. The Motorway carp are as cute as any others you are likely to come across in the country. Tiny little rod twitches or single bleeps are very common indications, so make sure you keep yourself well tuned in or you may miss that golden opportunity. Also, it's worth mentioning that I didn't need to fish as tight as I originally thought to the snags in order to get some action. Perhaps the carp have seen that approach so many times that a bait presented out into the open water and well away from obstacles makes them drop their guard out of curiosity.
Another great H&DAA carp water that I have fished is Brickyard Pond - a venue where they can also be tempted during the day. Although this water contains only 20-odd carp in its five or six acres, and is a lot harder than Motorway Pond in my opinion, with a bit of persistence you can tempt the odd fish, including the chance of a real good 'un. During 2003 carp to 33lb fell to day-only anglers and in 2004 one angler tempted several fish to 31lb 8oz.
Like Motorway Pond, arrival for first light would be my advice, getting the rods out with as little disturbance as you can. Fifty percent of my Brickyard takes have come during the hour of first light. Another good time, especially in the spring and summer, is just before dark - around 8pm. Once again, bags or a light scattering of boilies and pellet would be my choice, alongside a one-inch pop-up on a short link. I would also suggest re-casting around midday just in case the eels or bream have been active without you knowing.
The only midday action I have ever encountered on Brickyard was during late November, proving that winter fishing in the day is also worth a try, even on the hardest of fisheries.
All in all, buying a H&DAA yearbook just for its carp fishing is excellent value for money. Where else can you fish for home-grown 40Ib carp in Yorkshire for less than £30 a year? Nowhere, that's where. I fished days only for several years and caught well from the Association's Newport fisheries, including landing some of the well-known residents and a much cherished Yorkshire thirty. Obviously, there are the other fisheries in the region that offer such excellent fishing - such as the Brandesburton Ponds, so the choice is yours.
I know loads of other anglers who have also caught well during the days, so don't be put off by the fact that you haven't got a night permit. If you buy a yearbook on a regular basis and keep your name down on the waiting list for a night permit, eventually your opportunity will come around and you may find yourself fishing for what I consider to be the jewel in H&DAA carp fisheries - Tilery Lake, home of more than twenty different 30lb-plus carp. Now that really is worth waiting for!
I hope to see you on one of the waters this season.

Five top tips for success on the day permit

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Make sure all your leading and plumbing is done well in advance of your trip.
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Arrive for 5am when you are allowed on the fishery
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Get the rods out as quick as you can.
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Try small clumps of bait like PVA bags or stringers.
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Sit by your rods at all times.