The first episode of the fourth series of Grand Fishing Adventure has just aired on ITV4, where Ali Hamidi, Roo Abbott and our underwater diver, Luc Boerrigter, embarked on a mission at the picturesque holiday venue, Millhayes Lakes in Devon. But what did the team learn in this extended underwater film? Read on for the analysis…
WARNING! This article contains major spoilers for the Underwater Grand Fishing Adventure, if you missed it, visit ITVX to watch now!
It’s well known that small and intimate venues can be some of the hardest places to catch carp. Despite being well stocked and the fish easy to find, their behaviour is wildly different from fish in larger lakes. These fish know the game is on from the moment you step foot on the bank. They know you’re there and exactly what they need to do to avoid being caught—they are immediately on edge. Any mistake can cost you dearly.
As you will have seen, however, despite a tricky start as the fish adjusted to the bankside commotion, our team eventually unlocked the secrets of Millhayes, putting a couple of real special ones on the bank. Here are a few tips to help you minimise your bankside footprint on small venues…
How To Not Spook Carp On Small Lakes
- The Washing Line Method – When fishing across to the far bank, hiding your line is crucial. To do this, we suspend the line out of the water and across to a bankstick on the far margin, so the only line in the water is a small section running from the far bank to the rig. This allows carp to enter the zone without coming into contact with the line and spooking.
- Keep the noise down and set up further back – You don’t need to be right on top of your rods if they’re set up securely. Noise travels far underwater, so every movement could cost you a bite.
- Minimise recasting – Once you have found a good spot and placed a rig on it, don’t redo it unless you think something has happened. Fish know where everything is on these venues, and you need to let them regain confidence. Notice our best feeding was on a spot with no rig on it!
Feed Little & Often
The only noise you should make on a small venue is the sound of feed going in. This turned out to be a real game changer, with Ali’s daily baiting ritual of sprinkling bait along the margins really getting the carp going and drawing them in quickly to investigate.
It doesn’t have to be a lot of food—a handful of pellets or a catapult of boilies—just keep it going in regularly.
Don’t Expect Lots of Fish on Your Spots
This was an interesting find, and one we expected, mainly due to the season we were fishing in—spring. These small-lake carp weren’t feeding in large groups; it was one, two, maybe three fish, and more often than not, the takes were dive-ins.
By that, we mean a fish would come in out of nowhere and take the hookbait first, likely feeding a little off-screen beforehand. This is why having a visually attractive hookbait, like a fluoro pop-up or wafter, is crucial at this time of year—along with a rig that will instantly convert that one chance.
Paste Around the Lead Keeps the Spot Pumping
Always controversial, as it looks quite agricultural, but paste around the lead really is a game changer when leaving rigs out for a long time. As the paste slowly breaks down, the attraction keeps working, and fish begin zoning in directly on the hookbait area.
This is vital when they are in a picky mood and not clearing the bottom—typical small-lake behaviour.
Paste Fishing Essentials
The Wand Really Is Magic — But Rig Length Still Matters
We found what we believe to be the best carp rig ever in the last series of Grand Fishing Adventure, the Kickback Linkz Lock Hook Spinner Rig with a Magic Wand Lead System.
But even with a rig this effective—about as close to 100% as you can get—small adjustments can still make all the difference.
This is exactly what Roo found when he shortened his Kickback Linkz, effectively matching the length of our Heavyweight Linkz. This brought his setup in line with Ali’s and instantly transformed his results. With the right rig length, every take was successfully hooked and landed.
This proves you’ll never stop learning in carp fishing—even with a shortcut to success. On other venues, we’ve found longer rigs make a difference, so this is entirely venue-dependent. If you think you’ve been done, change it!
One thing is certain—the footage proves it—we’re catching more on the Wand than we would without it. That clip of the carp bouncing the lead around says it all: the shock-absorbing properties of the Magic Wand make it incredibly difficult for the carp to shake the hook.
Carp Holes Are 100% a Thing!
All experienced carp anglers know that some spots on a lake are far better than others—and that’s exactly what we found at Millhayes.
Of course, we had a shortcut to finding them with Luc, but it highlights the importance of thorough leading or boat work at the start of your session, especially on longer trips.
The right spot will outperform “chuck it and chance it” rigs over time. These are often natural feeding areas, and they tend to be cleaner too, making rig presentation much easier—happy days!
Never Give Up!
Perhaps the biggest lesson from this episode is actually a life lesson: good things come to those who are patient and persistent.
It was looking like a disaster for Roo, but he turned it around under pressure (with a bit of added banter from the team) in front of the cameras. You could see the relief on his face—and then, as he really started bagging up, the pure joy.
We’ve all been there—blank spells where you question everything. But stick with it. If you’re confident in what you’re doing, the results will come.
Well done, Roo Dog—the star of Episode 1 of Series 4 of Grand Fishing Adventure. Take it in, mate—you’ve earned it.
We’ll see the rest of you in Episode 2 next week —get those record scales out… Bobby Zamora is about! And we're returning to Grenville...
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.
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