It's hard to know exactly what makes the difference between catching a carp and not, but we know it can be frustrating when you spend an entire day with no bites, so we've put together a few tips for successful carp fishing.
One good tip is to look for quieter areas as this is where carp often cluster - if a lake is fished too often, carp associate it with danger and so look for alternative locations to feed.
This is because they need to feel safe in their environment.
So, you've got your spot and now you need to do some fishing.
Tempting as it is to simply set up your rod, cross your fingers and wait, a bit of effort can yield great results.
Make sure you have good quality baits and rigs.
Also check the weather forecast - it's best to fish on warm days.
This is because the water will be warmer so more carp will be out feeding.
Also choose yourself a location (peg) surrounded by water, not tucked away in a corner.
If you're about to start fishing a new lake, or if you're trying to squeeze some new life out of an old one, a good tactic to try is the baiting campaign.
Begin freely feeding the carp with bait they've not seen before, so that they associate it with food and safety.
Only start using it as bait while fishing when they've acclimatized to the new food.
This is a good way of luring carp in, especially as many carp at popular lakes will be wary of most bait.
As carp can be quite wary, it's a good idea to have some tactic up your sleeve for luring them.
One good option is what's called the 'trick rig'.
Often, carp learn how to eat around your bait while avoiding the hook, so load up an obvious 'danger bait' which the carp will then avoid.
The trick is that the hook is hidden in the surrounding areas, which the carp should then eat quite happily.
This is a good way to catch the bigger - often warier - carp in the lake.
Particularly if you're trying to catch bigger, warier carp, it's wise to have some tricks at your disposal.
For example, don't set up your equipment until you're certain you've got a good spot.
Also, add salt to your bait as carp love salty food - one tablespoon of salt to 5 liters of dry particles is a good measure.
Some carp also love chili so try adding some flaked ones to your bait.
Maggots are also a good lure.
Good luck attracting more carp!