Leaderboard

Or try a lead link, basically a paternoster set-up where the lead is going to sink into the silt, but the hooklink with a light balanced bait is going to sit up. You can fish this with your choice of hooklink, mono, fluoro, braid, coated or uncoated, whichever you prefer. I would recommend a bottom bait that almost floats, I.e drilled out and foamed up in the hole, or even a wafter that only just sinks. The same lead set up works very well in weed You may want to play around with the hooklink and lead link length to get it right for your water. Also, it may be that the carp feed in the silt, not on it, you may need to find a way to get the hookbait at the level they feed at... Oh, and a quick edit, you may find a simple run ring works as well, and you wouldn't need to use the stop knot shown as per Del Ritchies original pic.

If you don't mind travelling, then Festival fishery in Sommerset is well worth a look http://www.festivalcarpfishery.co.uk/lake.html A well thought out and run lake, where all the swims are located on two large islands, meaning the longest chuck from any of the swim is no more than 50/60 yards and each of the 8 swims has more than enough water. It's not a runs water by any means but not hard either, with some real stunning looking scaley mirrors. There is showers on site and all the bailiffing staff are spot on. As I say a bit of travelling involved by well worth it in my opinion.

Lots of tench and bream. Some big roach at Welshpool basin. Havent seen a carp for 5 years though. I used to walk it every day during lunch before I switched roles at work. It was between my office and the shop where I get my lunch from!

Follow nicks advice, but I can say heartsmere at waveney valley is nice, only has 5 swims so a few of you can get the whole lake, and there is good facilities there. The fish can be cagey so must be super quiet and set up back from the bank. If you are uber quiet they can be caught on hemp and sweetcorn close in. Or either as tight as you can get to the far bank, or 6 foot off the overhanging trees. Let us know where you end up!