Lessons From Mother Nature

Aha - you are back! Welcome, please sit down, the kettle has just boiled and the morning mist is lifting its veil on another beautiful day in Africa. So tell me, what has Mother Nature shared with you since we last saw each other?.

- Francois Pretorius

I know for a fact that she taught me a few valuable lessons the last few weeks, number one not being lazy and moving swims when conditions don’t suit my swim; I was just set up so comfortably you know! I was fishing the far margins that were spoiled with flavour and all the bites that the old ladies like, but the wind was pushing straight into my bivvy for days, rendering my efforts useless.

She also whispered something in my ear that actually made so much sense. “Why do so many anglers turn up at a place that looks the best, or where a few friends have caught carp before?,” she asked. “Didn’t you know that carp feed in places where they feel safe? A hotspot only stays a hotspot for a very short while as the lumps learn to avoid danger areas,” she pointed out.

So you say you think it’s the type of rig you are using currently that has failed your chances of catching? It’s not possible my friend, there is no such thing as a wrong rig! You just cannot catch carp if there aren’t any in your swim- that’s all! So, if you want to catch more carp on any water, then you must locate the carp before choosing a swim. This is not an easy task, especially if there is a cross wind blowing on the lake. But there are basic things to look out for before starting to fish.