Make up of silt and where it lies

[mancity]

Hi guys,

Is silt basically decaying leaves at different stages of decay? (hence the stench?)

AND if so,

Would I be right in thinking therefore that as a general rule silt would be more predominant in the margins?

I know I would have to get the marker rod out to check on a specific lake, but im talking generally, as a starting point

[carpking]

Its all the dead fresh water shrimp and little creatures, as a rule detritus happens all over the lake especially in little gullys where it can collect, the marginal matter will not smell as much as more light gets to it speeding up the process, if you had 6ft of silt the top layer wouldnt smell the next two ft would the bottom 2ft would be sweet smelling as it has broken down properly.

[mancity]

Sounds tasty

[carpking]

The lake bottom is like a compost bin as in all the goodness is under the top layers, if you can get a bait to sit in the top 8inchs the a fish would more likely pick that up then a bait on clean gravel as thats where the freshest natural food is dont worry bout silt use it in your armoury its the best weapon we have as anglers.

[Pilky]

decayed shrimps eh !! well I never!

generally it is decayed organic matter.. this could be leaves, weed, some cat thats been thrown in or perhaps the remains of smokeys mainline bait prebaiting regime although knowing mainline it would take some decades to breakdown.

There's varying types of silt obviously depending whats been broken down and in what state of decay..
As for saying it's where the natural food is ... well it's not always the case..

Silt can help disguise some 'joey setups' which is why some anglers can only catch there.. it can also be a nightmare to fish in with your hookbait being a million miles from the feeding zone.

There's too many variables to generalise and say it's where you should be fishing. There will always be certain areas that are better than others regardless of them all being silty / sandy or whatever..

I'd say don't think too much about it and let the fish show you where to fish that's the simpliest and probably the best.

[stotty]

Originally Posted by Pilky

decayed shrimps eh !! well I never!

generally it is decayed organic matter.. this could be leaves, weed

personally i thaught the same , surely if it was decayed shrimps we wouldnt bother looking for gravel beds and fish amongst the shrimps as it is a natural attractor

[doughnut]

Pilky got it about right there, This is where good water craft, and the hours spent watching a lake come together, silt contain a natural larder for the carp, bloodworm , snails, shrimp ect, find where the carp feed in the silt and forget the rest, its common sence really a carp will not feed where there is no food, get your bait on one of these larders and you well increase your chances alot more

[Deano]

Silt can be a productive place to fish as has been rightly said it does contain decaying organic material...this could include shrimps,bloodworm(alive and dead),leaves, weed, algae, diatoms and plankton(both microscopic). It can also be the place not to fish depending on the make up of it and the oxygen content more highly oxygenated silt will have more life in it in general.As for shrimps in general I am led to believe they prefer a more broken lake bed silt and rocks or weed as they seek refuge here during the day when they are less active as they are more active during the night.....It all depends on the time of year and the lake concerned but I would never totally ignore silt of any kind as it can be productive but so can other types of substrate...

Silt pockets are natural larders for carp. There favourite pastime of sifting through the stuff is a ritual they undertake to eat living items of food. The carps favourite food Bloodworm spends most of it's life cycle in silt and is searched for throughout the worms different stages of development, from the larvae stage right through to the hatch.
The fish themselves will show you the best bloodworm beds.

[meremoocher]

Originally Posted by Deano

Silt can be a productive place to fish as has been rightly said it does contain decaying organic material...this could include shrimps,bloodworm(alive and dead),leaves, weed, algae, diatoms and plankton(both microscopic). It can also be the place not to fish depending on the make up of it and the oxygen content more highly oxygenated silt will have more life in it in general.As for shrimps in general I am led to believe they prefer a more broken lake bed silt and rocks or weed as they seek refuge here during the day when they are less active as they are more active during the night.....It all depends on the time of year and the lake concerned but I would never totally ignore silt of any kind as it can be productive but so can other types of substrate...

Well said.Spent a long time on a mere full of silt.Certain spots fish well others won't.These better spots will fish well depending on the stage the bloodworm are at.Let the fish show you where they like feeding.Go for a mooch in a boat if allowed and find some spots.watch water till late and get up early,the carp will show you where.

[meremoocher]

You probabley know all that anyway mancity!soz mate!lol