Baiting Heavy & Carp 'Safe Zones' At Iktus | Underwater Grand Fishing Adventure Episode 3 Review
Episode 3 of the new Underwater Grand Fishing Adventure TV series took Ali Hamidi, Bobby Zamora, and Luke Boerrigter to the stunning Run Lake at the mighty Iktus complex in southern France. Renowned for its enormous stock of big carp, the lake sees plenty of fish in front of the cameras. However, the varied lakebed — which ranges from 3 to 10 metres deep — made fishing here a bit of a challenge. Here's what the team discovered...
Carp fishing in France always brings excitement — and the chance of landing a true monster. That was certainly the case during our last visit to Iktus in the previous series of Grand Fishing Adventure, when Bobby landed the biggest carp ever caught on an underwater camera using the phenomenal Magic Twig and Lock Hook combo.
This time, we tackled the newer Iktus Run Lake. While it holds a much higher stock of carp, it’s far from easy. As we've already seen this series, fishing in front of underwater cameras is never straightforward...
Carp, Cameras and Safe Zones
One of the biggest takeaways from this trip? Carp do not like underwater cameras — especially in confined areas where there’s no easy escape from the disturbance.
At our first base camp, the cameras were positioned near snags on the far margins. Initially, there was plenty of fish traffic, but that quickly dried up as the carp sought refuge in the safer, open water.
This mirrors what anglers see on many pressured waters: concentrate too much activity in a small area and the fish will vanish. And on most venues, the safest zone is right in the middle — well out of casting range for most anglers.
If you think the fish have moved off, don’t hesitate — stay mobile and follow them.
End-of-Day Margin Spots
Even after relocating base camp, there were still areas the carp preferred at specific times. Ali’s margin rod stayed quiet through the day, but fish nearly always showed up around early evening, and the bait would often be cleared by morning.
In contrast, a plateau in the centre of the lake showed consistent daytime activity but was often untouched overnight — clear evidence the fish were avoiding that area in the dark.
This is an important lesson for your own carp fishing sessions: different swims often produce at different times of day. If only we could fish all of them at once!
Depth Really Does Matter
How often do you consider the depth of your swim? On this session at Iktus Run, it proved to be critical.
Patrick, another angler on the lake, was catching consistently from the deeper middle section, where the lakebed was softer and muddier. Unfortunately, we couldn’t film there due to poor visibility — but it was clear the fish were far more confident feeding in those deeper zones.
This was further proven when Bobby managed a bite by casting into that area. A move that earned him a much deserved yellow card! Moral of the story? Find the right depth, and your chances of catching increase massively.
Paste That Lead!
This episode once again highlighted how attractive paste is to fish. Ali wrapped his Arra Leads in paste and also dropped additional paste balls around the spot.
Several clips showed carp and even sturgeon feeding directly from these paste deposits. Even more interesting, the movement of their fins puffed the paste off the lakebed, creating a suspended cloud of attraction that drew more fish in.
How Much Bait is Too Much?
One of the key debates in this episode was bait quantity. Bobby was all for piling it in, while Ali stuck to a more cautious strategy.
Both approaches have merit. Even with heavy baiting, we saw that carp often ghost over the area, occasionally dipping for a mouthful. This suggests that too much bait might reduce your chances of a take.
However, when carp are actively feeding, they create competition, drawing in more fish and clearing a spot in no time. So, more bait can also mean more feeding confidence — and more fish.
As ever, it’s a balancing act. It comes down to watercraft and understanding the mood of the fish during your session.
What About Rigs?
Rigs weren’t a big focus this episode — simply because they worked flawlessly. Nobody got ‘done’ on balanced wafters.
Ali stuck to his favourite Lock Hook Spinner Rig with the Magic Wand, while Bobby went for his record-breaking Lock Hook German Rig. Both rigs delivered when it counted.
If there was one rig tip to take away, it’s this: attraction around the hookbait is key when the carp are finicky. Bobby’s brightly coloured Snowman Rig was narrowly missed by a clumsy carp — proof that both visual and scent appeal matters.
What’s Coming in Part 2?
Don’t miss the second part of this epic Underwater Grand Fishing Adventure series finale, where the Iktus Run carp finally turn on big style!
Ali discovers a rig that keeps delivering. Bobby brings out the nuts, and the team gears up for an unforgettable finish. But will it include a 50lb carp and two underwater koi?
Tune in to find out!
Journalist Chris Haydon joined the OMC Family in the spring of 2024, after six years working for the UK's number 1 fishing publication, the Angling Times. He is a keen Coarse and Carp Fishing All-rounder, fishing in the South West region, including the famous Cotswold Water Park.
