Your holiday home is booked, the carp ditch is a stone's throw away and your rod is ready to go. It would be a shame to discover on arrival that you have left your landing net at home. Or worse: brought the wrong bait.
This list prevents that. From compulsory gear to the tips that carp specialist Mark Breedveld shares based on years of experience on the IJsselhof water.
Before we get to the gear, one rule that applies to everything: landing nets and unhooking mats must always arrive at the park dry and clean. Not as a preference, but as a requirement. Fish diseases spread extremely quickly via damp equipment. IJsselhof applies this rule to keep the fish stock healthy.
When carp fishing at IJsselhof, specific rules apply on the carp ditch. The water is densely stocked and well maintained. Anyone ignoring the rules risks a 50-euro fine.
Landing net and unhooking mat Both compulsory for every catch. Bring them dry and clean. Always use the unhooking mat to lay the carp on while removing the hook.
Carp Pro Plus pellets (6mm) On the carp ditch this is the only bait and groundbait allowed. Your own boilies, sweetcorn or other bait pellets are not allowed. IJsselhof fishes with these pellets too, so the carp feed on them readily. The pellets are available at reception or can be ordered in advance with your reservation.
Bait bands For attaching the pellet to the hook. Use a size 8 hook. Also available at reception.
Catch & release is compulsory. That means you also take aftercare seriously.
Carp Care Wound Seal For treating wounds after the catch. Available at the IJsselhof reception.
Disgorger For carefully removing the hook. Always combine this with the unhooking mat and take your time.
Mark Breedveld of CarpCare has been working with IJsselhof since 2020. He knows the carp ditch like the back of his hand. His advice for the best results on the IJsselhof carp water:
Fish as light as possible Small float, little shot, size 8 hook. Throw in some groundbait at a few spots on the deeper sides and fish right over it with your float. Keep 2 to 3 metres from the bank yourself so you don't disturb the carp.
For ledgering Use 30 to 50 grams of lead with a 25-centimetre hooklength. This is tailored to the soft West Frisian bottom. Want to fish heavier? Then use a helicopter rig so the bait always lies on top of the bottom. Combine it with a back lead for the best result.
Maximum of 2 rods per person More rods are not allowed on the park water. Night fishing is allowed, provided you don't disturb other guests.
Barbless hooks Not compulsory, but strongly recommended. They make returning the carp much easier.
You don't have to drag everything from home. At the IJsselhof reception you can buy:
You can order these with your booking so they are ready for you on arrival.
Fishing on the park water does not require a permit. Want to head out onto the IJsselmeer too? Then you need a VISpas, available from the De Moel tackle shop in Wervershoof, 4.5 kilometres from the park.
Compulsory, bring from home Landing net (dry and clean), unhooking mat (dry and clean), disgorger, barbless size 8 hooks, bait bands, 30-50 gram lead, 25cm hooklength, maximum of 2 rods per person
Handy to bring from home Head torch for night fishing, camping chair or fishing umbrella, waterproof bag, spare hooklengths
Buy at reception or order in advance Carp Pro Plus 6mm pellets, extra bait bands, floats, method feeder sets, Carp Care Wound Seal
Buy at De Moel in Wervershoof (IJsselmeer only) VISpas
The Hoorn Wellness 4 and Hoorn 6 are not on the carp ditch but on a wide, open stretch of water with their own decked terrace and fishing jetty. The strict pellet rules of the carp ditch do not apply here. Want to know more about all the holiday homes with their own fishing jetty? You will find them in the overview.
