There’s something special about summer carp fishing, and for me, nothing beats getting them off the top. When I set out to film Surface Fishing for Big Carp with Sonubaits, I wanted to show exactly how simple and exciting this style of fishing could be. I chose a big, new lake I’d never fished before – about 15 or 16 acres – to really put the Floater Fishing Pack through its paces.
I liked the idea of fishing somewhere fresh, somewhere that proved the method would work even without knowing the water. It wasn’t exactly a “runs water,” but there were plenty of carp about. While other anglers were bivvied up with three rods out, I was creeping along the banks with just a couple of surface setups, looking for opportunities.
Setting Up for the Day
The plan was to use both throughout the day – switching between chucking a bomb and creeping around edges with a freelined hookbait. I prefer a throwing stick over a catapult for free offerings; too many elastics have let me down at the wrong moment, and with pellets it’s just easier and more accurate. Of course, surface fishing often means unwanted attention from ducks, swans and even seagulls, but that’s all part of it.
The Floater Fishing Pack itself was spot on. A 5-litre bucket filled with boosted fishmeal floaters, slightly oversized compared to dog biscuits, so they fly further from the stick and carry a nice oily slick across the surface. That oil helps flatten the water when there’s a chop, which makes spotting takes so much easier. Inside the pack were boosted hookbaits too – perfectly matched and heavy enough to cast a fair distance.
The First Take
The morning started bright and roasting, but by mid-morning it clouded over. I crept into a sheltered bay at the back of the lake and began scattering freebies, watching them drift across to where carp were already moving. One of the best tips for surface fishing is patience: don’t cast too early. Wait until they’re confidently feeding, competing even, and then your hookbait becomes just another in the mix.
It wasn’t long before I got that magic moment—rod bent round, line slicing through the surface. The fish kited into weed, and for a few minutes I wasn’t sure who was winning. Soft rods make surface fishing a proper battle, but eventually, I slipped the net under a solid mirror. On the mat, it pulled the scales round to just over 20lb.
First fish on a brand-new water, first fish of the video, and a cracking 20-pounder off the top. That’s what it’s all about.
Stalking in the Edge
As the day warmed up, I swapped to the little 8ft rod and started creeping about in the margins. Stalking carp like that is ridiculously underrated—just you, a handful of floaters, and a freelined hookbait. No controllers, no leads, just pure hand-to-hand combat.
I spotted a fish slurping at the edge of a weedbed. A couple of biscuits went in, and I crouched down, waiting for that perfect moment. Heart racing, I lowered the freelined hookbait in, and bang—it was away instantly. Fishing that light, in the edge, felt electric. Another lovely carp slid over the net cord, proving how deadly this simple approach can be.
The Gear That Made It Work
I spent a good chunk of the day showing off the kit because I knew that was the question most people would have: how exactly are you rigging up for this?
On the 10ft bomb rod, I ran floating line between 12–15lb, a surface bomb (I prefer the bigger one for the bolt effect), a short hooklength—sometimes as short as 18 inches—and a size 10 hook with a straight point. I hair-rigged the boosted hookbaits with a really short hair, almost touching the shank, so that everything was compact and efficient.
On the 8ft stalking rod, it was even simpler. Same line, same hook, same hookbait—but freelined. Nothing else on the line. Just pure, direct fishing. You can’t cast far, but when the carp are right under your feet, it’s unbeatable.
And of course, polarized glasses were essential. Honestly, I wouldn’t even bother surface fishing without them. The amount of glare they cut down is unbelievable—you can actually see what’s going on instead of guessing.
Missed Chances and Lessons Learned
Not every take ended with a carp on the mat. I missed a few, pulled out of one, and lost another when it tangled. That’s surface fishing – exciting, unpredictable, and sometimes frustrating. Carp were feeding differently throughout the day too. At times they were really competing, smashing floaters all over the swim, and other times they just nipped them from below, making bites harder to spot and hit.
One moment still sticks out: I was watching freebies drift when I looked back and my controller had vanished. I struck, only to find a tangle. That one stung. But that’s why surface fishing is so addictive – you work for your bites, and every success feels earned.
More Fish, More Fun
As the afternoon rolled on, I had a few more fish, though they got smaller as the day went on. From chunky doubles to mid-teens, they all gave great accounts of themselves. The takes were explosive, the fights were lively, and even though I missed plenty, the action never stopped.
Wrapping Up
I don’t know how many fish the lads bivvied up on the bottom were getting, but I managed three on the bank and lost or missed several more. For a first session on a big new water, I was more than happy.
So, if you fancy trying something different this summer, grab a Floater Fishing Pack, a surface rod, and a pair of polarized glasses, and get out there. Trust me – you’ll be hooked on this style of fishing after the very first take.
