Most anglers will tell you that the autumn period from the start of October until Christmas is by far the best time to fish for carp...And they are right!
However, one mistake many carpers make is to turn their back on particles as the water temperatures start to fall. Big Mistake!
Particles - seeds, cereals, nuts, pulses and blends - have been a part of my carp fishing history for more than 40 years, so with the benefit of half a lifetime of carping with particles behind me, I thought I would let slip a few of my particle secrets for using them at the back end of the year.
I first used what has now become Haith's Euro Mix back in the early 90s. It is a blend of equal parts Flaked maize, Partiblend (nowadays I use Micro-Complex), and Oat Groats, and the concoction has been one of my favourite blends ever since.
The beauty of the Euro Mix is that it needs a minimal amount of preparation. Simply soak for 8-12 hours and it’s ready to use.
Another superb blend is a 50/50 mix of hemp seed and Haith's Red Band. Simply soak the two ingredients for 24 hours then bring to the boil. Once boiling, turn off the heat and pour into a freezer box. Put on the lid and allow to stand until the bait is cool. The mix is now ready for use.
You can take the blend a step further by adding some mini maize or sweetcorn. This adds colour and taste to an already powerful blend.
The further addition of a healthy dose of Liquid Robin Red adds still further to the overall attraction.
You can pep it up still further by the addition of 2g/kilo of Betaine and Citric Acid. These should be added when preparation is complete and the seeds have cooled. These are both very powerful investigation triggers and add considerably to the pulling power of any particle.
I have used ground bait at the back end of the year for many years now and I am in no doubt that they can give you an big edge.
This 47lb mirror caught in November at le Queroy holiday complex in France certainly thought so!
Written by Ken Townley
