We want to get our favourite fish further and further away. However we are all conscious that there are carps at our feet but fishing further is certainly more reassuring because few fishermen implement an approach in order to really exploit the edges; at least the closest one to us, that is to say the one where we put the rods ! My challenge was all set. I was going to carry out a fishing of extreme edge that is to say at my feet.
The objective of the challenge
Make at least 60 kg in 4 fish (minimum 15 kg) by fishing the extreme edge with a single rod over a session of eight days.
The choice of the place is necessarily essential
My challenge takes place on a shallow pond of about ten hectares, with a nice livestock. My "weight" objective is of course in adequacy with the chosen place. The surrounding vegetation is rather dense. The fishing pressure is important. The fish have seen all the colors. On these places, only the fishing of the edge is authorized. Boats of all types are prohibited. Here, the carps are used to see and to hear the spombs hitting the surface all the time. The long distance fishing seems to be privileged. So the mounts often fall in the same place, accompanied by a large quantity of food, propelled by the spod.
Climatic conditions
It's the middle of spring. The fish are spawning all over the hexagon. In the locality at the time, the small fish would have spawned, but the big ones wouldn't have started. When I arrived, it was hot. I'm afraid that they'll go back to spawning for good. Finally, the anticyclonic conditions won't be stable and will give way to heavy rain. It is almost certain that spawning will not take place during my session. Also, the rain of the last few months gives access to branches that they don't usually approach. There is indeed 20/30 cm more water. On the whole pond, the fish seem to have a majority of border activity.
Technical and strategic approach
I set a long and medium distance bait on my other two rods. Of course there is the challenge to achieve but I don't want to ruin my session either. These two rods will allow me to see how the fish are behaving before implementing my baiting strategy. During the 1st 72 hours, the fish feed generously on the baiting. But little by little, the bait is getting smaller. The fish seem to get closer and closer to the edges by turning away completely from the bait. With this observation, I put my approach in place. I spotted three spots very close to me. One on the left and one on the right of my post and another one on my buddy's post (all accessible from our side). These three spots are congested. Indeed, it is not a question of fishing the edge at random but of locating one or several zones close to me, likely to shelter fishes. I often notice that the carps, in edge, are located on very precise zones. They are often numerous in small areas. Here, branches, herbariums, reeds are at my disposal.
And it's just inches from the edge. These three spots will be fished in alternation so as to let them rest in case of a hit. Concerning my baiting, it will be light. I wish to put in confidence the fishes. A copious baiting would be suspicious for the fishes and could destroy my plans. I will only throw a few baits in the evening and in the morning, a bit like the fishermen who throw their washed bait in front of them. The fish eat them almost unsuspectingly because they almost never get stung in these areas. I spotted huge broths just in front of the rods (less than a meter away). This is a good omen. I want to accustom them to this small quantity scattered every day before stretching a line. I chose the 14mm Feedz Tiger to thwart the carp's distrust.
Indeed, in this location, many use meat and protein bait. These seed-based bait only will be my ally for the occasion. On the areas baiting in the distance, these baits worked better than the others. So there's no reason why this shouldn't be the case at the edge with the right approach. Note also that the pests are almost absent. On the technical side, a sliding mount armed with a 40 mm Shadow bottom line will do the job perfectly. On the presentation level, here again I play the discretion card. A dense eschage like the baiting will be de rigueur. I really want to take against the negative conditioning caused by overfishing and recurrent techniques.
Fish Safety
I use, when the "brittle" is not possible, a sliding mount to fish carp in obstacles. Also and in many situations I use barbless hooks. This way I am sure, in case of breakage, that the integrity of the fish will not be affected. I want to emphasize that right away. I don't have any more stalls. You can go in with your eyes closed. To sum up, efficiency and respect are the hallmarks of this set-up.
The festival is close
While I was already exploiting my long and medium distance primed spots, I maintained my extreme edge shots by dropping off morning and evening a small handful of my cut and crushed Feedz. It's only on the fourth day that I finally decided to try my luck. I make a few meters on my right and surgically remove my assembly. No other artifice such as soluble thread or other PVA will be used to thwart any mistrust. I bring my cane back on my pole as discreetly as possible avoiding branches and other reeds. Barely one hour after having stretched it, I record a 1 era touch. The fish weighs 14 kg. It is therefore not accounted for. As my approach requires, I now extend my rod to another spot. This time, I make a few meters on the left and deposit my assembly in a herbarium. Whereas I was about to change my cane of spot, a key to return occurs. And boom! A fish exceeding the imposed size joins my carpet.
So my rim stick opened the score but will remain silent all the rest of the day and all night.
5 th 24H : On this new day, I try my luck on the spot closer to my buddy. The branches but especially the reeds are even more present. Under a driving rain, I realize a big fish which brings to two the number of fishs realized in extreme edge.
I will make another fish not exceeding 15 kilos on my right spot. I still have 2 fish of this size to do to succeed in my challenge.
From there, how can I put it? It is the crossing of the desert and this whatever the spots approached (borders or others). The incessant rain has caused a drop in temperature and the fish have left our area. Only one fish will come to join my carpet during the 7 th day. But what a fish! The rod was stretched out on the spot near my buddy. This kind of fish is much more than a bonus.
The night will remain sterile! My goal, at this stage, is almost reached since I have 3 fish weighing more than 15 kg.
8 th 24 hours: Actually, the best was coming. I'm spending the last night on my friend's post. Hardly laid down, I have the impression that the fish jump in the biwy so much they seem close to the edge! I've got this feeling that something's going to happen. Around 2am, my end rod takes off. It's just as I'm about to lift the net from my net that I realise it's very heavy. It will be the biggest fish of the session.
My approach was to alternate spots but I decided to try my luck again at the same place. Bingo! I touch again a very nice fish.
What an adrenaline to catch fish so close to the edge ! Only a few centimeters away !
In the end, this rod which was simply to allow me to achieve this challenge turned out to be the most efficient (weight level). I had to carry out 60 kg in 4 fishes. Finally I will catch 5 fish of more than 15 kg. The 4 biggest ones reach a weight of 84 kilos ! A nice average (21kg) for a rod that could have been considered as "a joker". If I didn't launch this challenge, I'm not sure I would have held this approach for so long. And above all, I wouldn't have thought about it beforehand. It confirms that we sometimes miss our catch when the fish are really close. Excuse the expression but we are sometimes a bit "stupid on the edge" to neglect such an approach!
