Tackling F1 Venues - Part 3 (SwimChoices)

Commercial & Snake Lakes: Where to Target

Today's venues are very commercialised in that majority are now dug specifically for us anglers, they provide year round sport from all manner of species but primarily carp, they offer relatively easy access without the need for long walks especially with the ever increasing amount of tackle carried. But understanding these venues can be tricky at times and with so many species to target for the less experienced anglers this can be very confusing when thinking of their approach. Hopefully this next instalment will provide a little clarity and understanding of the key areas within a commercial or snake type lake.

Snake Lakes:

There are 5 key areas to target on snake lakes and each can be more productive at different times of the year or even throughout the day so understanding each will give a better understanding of how to react to the changes throughout a session. Generally these types of lakes are between 12-16m wide as they are designed for fishing the pole, although we are attracted to the features of the far bank don't be fooled into thinking its the place to sit for the duration of a match.

The Margins:

These areas can be deadly throughout the summer months, but also having a bit of knowledge from the bailiffs can also be useful, as not all margins are known for producing whereas others are virtually a dead cert if you get it right. On snake type lakes pegging is usually quite tight so space is limited, so you have to use what you have got (for example; if you have an empty peg 1 side but not the other, choose the side with space), look for cover or holes where you can keep your pole from spooking fish in the shallower water especially if it's sunny. These areas are certainly worth a visit in the final couple of hours of the match when the fish know to come in search of the freebies we all throw in at the end. Look for a good depth of around 18" as this will provide confidence for the fish to move in, it's not hard and fast to fish this depth as they will come shallower or even stay deeper but it's a good starting point at least, this could be anywhere from tight against the bank/rushes to a meter or so from the edge so careful plumbing is a must.

Near/Far Side Slope:

The near side slope is sometimes overlooked on snake lakes as anglers become drawn to the far side, very good paste anglers tend to profit from this as there is less disturbance along patrol routes at the base of these so makes a good area to target. Don't be afraid to feed a line here from start to finish mainly on the near side, to either target the likes of carp with meat or even as an any fish will do swim using maggots, pellets or casters. Start in the deepest water and work your way back when plumbing up to find where the start of the slope is, sometimes it's worth coming up the slope if needed but you will be able to determine that through the session if missed bites are a problem, on the far side slope it's a good ploy to follow the fish up as they back off just like on a shallow canal.

Down The Track:

Probably the most underused swim in the summer months as other areas seem to be better to target, this is more likely due to fish sitting much shallower and it's not an area that catches food naturally like any of the slopes or fish holding features tight in or over. They still can be great areas to target and well worth looking at if struggling for bites on an of the other lines, they sometimes produce well if high numbers of anglers are on the lake as we then create these areas to be become a feature buy forcing them to seek sanctuary where it's quiet. They are the deepest parts of the lake so if weather is cooler again the fish might find warmer areas within the track to sit happy and may be more willing to feed, when plumbing up spend a bit of time working the swim as these tend to hold small holes or raises which can be very productive or simply the bottom could have a layer of silt so make sure you are fishing on a level clear spot especially when using live baits such as maggots or worms.

Far Shelf:

This is a good starting point on a snake lake in the summer months as the water is shallower yet deep enough to provide enough cover for fish to feed confidently. It is generally a flat ledge just before the slope down towards the Track, where it actually sits in the water varies greatly from water to water so good plumbing is essential; it could be very close to the far bank or even a good meter or so from it. Starting here will also give any other swims you have a chance to settle before either resting this line or making the switch completely, if the swim dies off you can always start another further to either side.

Far Bank/Tight Over:  

The most fished part of a snake lake is the far bank it's a natural sanctuary for fish and also an area us anglers can't get away from not trying. In the summer months it's possible to catch here from the off all day long, but there are times when you can catch well for an hour or so then the swim dies off completely. There is usually so many options to choose from with rushes, overhanging trees, cut outs or even plain old flat mud bank, but bear in mind if you intend fishing on the bottom depth can vary greatly too as fishing tight to the mud bank could have a depth of 12" but yet if you moved along to fish next to an overhanging bush you might have to come quite a distance away so the depths could drop quickly.  

Commercials:

Commercials of a more standard design such as open water or with other features such as islands at most complexes have very similar stocking policies so can be approached in similar ways to a snake, you might not have a far shelf/bank or slope to fish too but every lake has a near side slope which can be targeted the same including margins which could offer very similar depths through to much deeper so again the key regardless of where you choose to fish is to use a good wide bottomed heavy plummet so you can get an accurate feel of your swim. There are several other areas and methods to employ that can be used on these more open expanses of water.

Platforms:

If you are lucky enough to have a spare platform to either side of you this is a great area to target all species in, just make sure the venue or match rules allow you to go up to these first though. They are great fish holding spots as they tend to be deeper due to where keepnets are placed and dragged out so again creating another feature for us to exploit, nothing is special to fish these areas as fish naturally hone into the area as throughout a session this is where we give fish a free meal with bait dropping in all day.

Open Water:

Probably the most varied area as you can literally fish pretty much any method here from pole to pellet waggler. Depths can vary greatly and the bottom tends to be very similar for large areas too; so having a good base knowledge of a water beforehand or once drawn can put you on track for a good session, when on lakes like several of the ones at Tunnel it pays to draw then buy your bait so you can get some info first of what baits best produce and what methods to employ. 

Islands:

A lot of venues that have islands can quite often be out of pole range so you are limited for options but again these can also be the most productive. Targeting these areas using a straight bomb, method, pellet feeder or banjo is the most common method and you can be very accurate (if your casting is up to scratch) and a good combination of baits can be used also giving a flexibility within a limited swim. The next option is to fish the waggler (only if it produces using these methods), you can use a standard waggler or more common when shallow fishing the pellet waggler. 

Tip: Do your research before you fish a venue, ask the right people questions and don't be afraid, but just remember use that info to formulate your own plan using your own strengths, trying methods you are unfamiliar with will be less productive than adapting good info into your own strong areas you are confident in.