I spent at least an hour or more of my six hour morning session today up a tree watching the carp and didn't put a rod in for the first few hours. Instead, I stayed up the tree to get a really good look at what was going on and as usual it was very revealing.
Most of the time when we are sitting behind rods we cannot see what is going on and so we sit put hoping that everything is set right. Taking a rod out and recasting, putting in bait can easily scare the carp away and kill a swim so often we just leave it be, but when you can see what is happening it becomes a different story.
After a few hours of trying, going back up the tree and watching I think I eventually sussed it and managed this wonderful old scaly fenland mirror along with a feisty little common. Not the fish I was spotting but next time out, I will be even more prepared.