Peak season for carp on the fly. Early mornings and evenings are best — carp cruise the margins, surface-feed, and tail in shallows. This is pure sight-fishing: walk, spot, stalk, cast. Keep low, tread softly, wear drab clothing. 5-6wt rod, 15ft fluorocarbon leader for sub-surface; floating line for surface. Have both a bread fly and a nymph rigged and ready.

If the main plan is not working, switch to a smaller, more imitative pattern fished slower and deeper. A change of drift angle can also make a difference.

Evening tends to be the best period in summer — stay late if you can for a sedge or spinner fall.

Good ripple suits both bank and boat. Bank: work inflows, dam walls, and points. Boat: broadside drift covering wind lanes.