Want to know which carp swim at Holiday park IJsselhof, how they behave in each season, and which technique works on our soft West Frisian bottom? This guide goes deeper than general carp wisdom: park-specific tips, weight ranges per type, playing tips and the approach that carp specialist Mark Breedveld of CarpCare personally recommends here.
Mark has been fishing here since 2020. These are the four tips he personally recommends to every guest who comes to IJsselhof to fish for carp.
Throw Carp Pro Plus pellets as groundbait at a few spots on the slightly deeper sides, then fish over them with your float. Small float, little shot. This catches far more carp than a heavy bottom rig, because the carp in the smaller waters actively search for floating and sinking food.
Bait: 6mm Carp Pro pellet on a bait band, on a size 8 hook. Available at reception or can be ordered in advance with your reservation.
Prefer a fixed lead? No heavier than 50 grams, no lighter than 30. And a short hooklength of 25 centimetres, so your bait stays close to your baited area without sinking into the silt.
Fishing at distance or in a strong wind? Choose a helicopter rig. The bait then always lies on top of the bottom, not in it. Combine it with a back lead to keep your whole set-up stable in place.
Carp feel vibrations on the bank, see shadows and hear footsteps. Standing right at the water disturbs the whole swim. Sit on a fishing chair two to three metres back and stay calm. A simple measure with a big effect.
At IJsselhof carp behaviour varies greatly from season to season. If you know when they are where, you will catch more.
The water is still cold (below 14 degrees). Carp are sluggish and eat little. But when the sun shines on a shallow spot, they prefer to move there to warm up. Fish on the sunny side of the water, in the shallow margins, between 12:00 and 16:00.
Water temperature above 18 degrees. Carp spawn in the weedy shallow areas. During and just after spawning they are hard to catch (too busy spawning). Use this time to prepare, because the week after is incredibly good: post-spawn carp are starving.
Peak activity. Early morning (5:00 to 9:00) and late evening (19:00 to 22:00) are prime time. In hot weather, carp look for deeper or shaded spots in the afternoon. Fish along the reeds, under trees or in deeper water.
The carp feed up for the winter. This is the time for the bigger fish. Boilies and larger portions of feed now work better than in summer. Feeding times shift towards the afternoon.
Sluggish carp, rarely active. You can fish, but expect little action. Better to combine a winter weekend with a wellness holiday home and fish for pleasure, not for the catch.
Playing carp at IJsselhof requires an adapted technique. On a soft bottom, aggressive pumping is counterproductive: the carp dives into the silt, wraps itself around plant debris and you lose it.
Hold your rod at a 45-degree angle, line tight, no sudden movements. Let the carp tire itself out through the constant pressure, not through jerks.
At IJsselhof there are lots of water plants in the ditch. If the carp heads for the plants, steer it away gently but steadily. Be patient: an 8-kilo carp can take 10 minutes.
Keep the landing net under water, guide the fish over it, then lift it gently. Lowering a net onto a carp from above causes panic reactions.
Before you put it on the mat: wet the mat with water from the lake, not from the tap. This keeps the carp's slime layer intact.
Mark's position is clear: catch & release is not a formality, it is the very core. A carp you catch should go back into the water healthier than when you took it out.
Check with every catch: is there a wound or damage? Dab it with Carp Care Wound Seal from the CarpCare product line before you return it. Available at reception. Prevents infections and helps faster recovery.
Selfies are fine, as long as the carp lies on the wet unhooking mat and the whole process takes under thirty seconds. Don't walk around holding a fish up. The longer out of the water, the more stress.
Barbless hooks are strongly recommended. Quicker to unhook, less damage to the mouth, easier to handle in the carp ditch.
Wide water for long casts, your own fishing jetty, privacy. Plus a private sauna after a long day of fishing. View the Hoorn Wellness 4.
Right next to the densely stocked ditch, plus your own private Finnish sauna.
Large accommodations for groups. Medemblik 8 numbers 777, 778 and 779 are right by the water with their own deck and can be booked on request. Medemblik 14 is a double villa for 14 people.
The Kindervilla 7+1 is on the ditch with a fenced garden. Ideal for young children picking up a rod for the first time. The crucian carp hybrids in the ditch bite regularly, so instant success.
Experience the real wellness feeling in this detached holiday home. Relax in the traditional Finnish sauna, steam room or in the hot tub.
Do you like that little bit extra? Then choose this luxury wellness villa for 6 persons. Relax in the traditional private sauna and enjoy the sun on your terrace deck..
This garden room-connected vacation villa is the ideal year-round vacation villa. Thanks to the garden room, you can enjoy the outdoor feeling for a long time.
This spacious, detached holidayhome can accommodate 6 people and is fully equipped. The house has a spacious living and dining room, kitchen, 3 bedrooms and a spacious terrace with lots of privacy.
Enjoy a luxurious stay in Enkhuizen 8, a comfortable holiday home beautifully located by the water. This accommodation offers space for up to 8 guests and features a modern garden room as well as a bedroom on the ground floor.
An excellent choice for those who like that little bit extra. This vacation villa features a ttraditional private sauna and a spacious terrace, perfect for cozy evenings with family or friends.
Specially equipped for our little vacationers. In this child-friendly holidayhome you will enjoy a carefree vacation with the whole family!
The biggest mistake. Anglers bring lead that works on hard sandy bottoms and here it literally sinks into the silt. 30 to 50 grams is the absolute maximum for a fixed lead here.
The second biggest mistake. Carp can feel you. Two to three metres back from the water's edge makes an immediate difference.
Playing too long or too aggressively on the soft bottom leads to fish getting caught in plant debris or silt. Keep the fight short and steady, and actively steer the fish towards open water.
In the wide water up to 12 kilos (occasionally more), in the ditch usually 2 to 7 kilos, in the carp ditch 3 to 8 kilos on average.
Late August to mid-October. The carp are feeding up for the winter and the bigger fish are more active then than in high summer.
Yes, night fishing is allowed throughout the park, respecting the quiet hours from 23:00 to 07:00. Specific tips for night fishing at IJsselhof can be found in our night fishing guide.
Only Carp Pro Plus 6mm pellets are allowed. The carp are used to these pellets and other feed upsets the balance.
Yes, with your reservation you can order pellets, bait bands and method feeder sets. They will be ready for you on arrival.
