19
craftycarper.co July 2016 | Issue 227 | £4.25 BY PREBAITING ONE OF FOUR CHUB FLATBEDS >> On sale 22nd June – 19th July 2016 TIE THE BEST SOLID PVA BAG EVER WITH IAIN MACMILLAN IAN STOTT UNVEILS HIS SIMPLY AWESOME TANGLE-FREE SETUP WIN ENJOY SCORCHING SUMMER ACTION WITH DAVE LANE HOW TO TACKLE LARGE WATERS MARK WATSON REVEALS ALL CATCH MORE TACTICS AND RIGS TECHNIQUES + THE VERY LATEST TACKLE, BAITS, TECHNOLOGY AND TIPS

Crafty Carper July 2016

Embed Size (px)

DESCRIPTION

July’s issue of Crafty Carper is packed with highly informative features to help you catch more fish during the month of July, and there are tips to help you brush up on some fantastic tactics for this time of year. This issue sees Iain Macmillan giving a masterclass on the perfect oily PVA bag, which is a deadly tactic in the warm conditions. He reveals how he goes about tying up these neat parcels of oily pellets – perfect for quick bites, or when presenting a normal rig is difficult. Simon Crow returns with his bi-monthly piece, and this time he’s been on fine form. He bagged two of his target fish in 2 weeks, and gives a full rundown of how he managed to catch two epic northern carp. There’s all this and more, including all the latest and greatest bait and tackle on the market in the Carp Food and Carpers’ Kit sections.

Citation preview

Page 1: Crafty Carper July 2016

craf

tyca

rper

.co

craf

tyca

rper

.co

July 2016 | Issue 227 | £4.25

No.2

27

July 20

16

Get Crafty... G

ET CA

TCHIN

G!

craftycarper.co

BY PREBAITING

ONE OF FOUR CHUB FLATBEDS >>

On

sal

e 2

2n

d J

un

e –

19

th J

uly

20

16

ONE OF FOUR CHUB

TIE THE BEST SOLID PVA BAG EVER WITH IAIN MACMILLAN

IAN STOTT UNVEILS HIS SIMPLY AWESOME TANGLE-FREE SETUP

craf

tyca

rper

.co

craf

tyca

rper

.co

July 2016 | Issue 227 | £4.25

No.2

27

July 20

16

Get Crafty... G

ET CA

TCHIN

G!

BY PREBAITING

WIN

ENJOY SCORCHING

SUMMER ACTION

WITHDAVE LANE

HOW TO TACKLE LARGE WATERS MARK WATSON REVEALS ALL

CATCHMORE

TACTICS AND RIGSTECHNIQUES

+ T H E V E RY L AT ES T TAC K L E , BA I T S , T EC H N O LO GY A N D T I P S

001_Cover_CC227.indd 1 06/06/2016 16:41

Page 2: Crafty Carper July 2016

Crafty Carper /// Issue 227 /// July 2016 /// www.craftycarper.co

craf

tyca

rper

.co

craf

tyca

rper

.co

July 2016 | Issue 227 | £4.25

No.2

27

July 20

16

Get Crafty... G

ET CA

TCHIN

G!

craftycarper.co

BY PREBAITING

ONE OF FOUR CHUB FLATBEDS >>

On

sal

e 2

2n

d J

un

e –

19

th J

uly

20

16

TIE THE BEST SOLID PVA BAG

EVER WITH IAIN MACMILLANIAN STOTT UNVEILS HIS SIMPLY

AWESOME TANGLE-FREE SETUP

craf

tyca

rper

.co

craf

tyca

rper

.co

Get Crafty... G

ET CA

TCHIN

G!

BY PREBAITING

WIN

ENJOY SCORCHING

SUMMER ACTION

WITHDAVE LANE

HOW TO TACKLE LARGE WATERS

MARK WATSON REVEALS ALL

CATCHMORE

TACTICSAND RIGSTECHNIQUES

+ T H E V E RY L AT ES T TAC K L E , BA I T S , T EC H N O LO GY A N D T I P S

001_Cover_CC227.indd 1

06/06/2016 16:41

On the cover: Mark Baxter with a stunning 26lb common from his Cambridgeshire syndicate.

4 Crafty Carper

43 Prebaiting On The Money – Mark Baxter Cover star Mark Baxter has tackled some

difficult venues in his angling life, and one of the secrets

to his success is prebaiting. We caught up with him to

see exactly how he goes about this brilliant tactic.

16 Chub CompetitionHere’s your chance to

win one of Chub’s fantastic new

bedchairs from their brilliant

range of flatbeds, which features

something for every kind of angler.

| |

No.2

27

July 20

16

ONE OF FOUR CHUB ONE OF FOUR CHUB FLATBEDS ONE OF FOUR CHUB FLATBEDS ONE OF FOUR CHUB ONE OF FOUR CHUB FLATBEDS ONE OF FOUR CHUBWIN

ENJOY SCORCHING

SUMMER ACTION CATCH

50 Post-Spawning Spectacle – Dave Lane Following on from his feature in the

last issue of Crafty, Dave Lane explains his

approach, how it changes after the fish have

finished spawning, and how you can reap the

rewards when targeting these hungry fish.

30

7 Editorial This month, editor Steve

Broad informs us of the recent happenings within The Carp Society, talks about his latest carping adventures, when he took his first trip to the historic Mangrove lake, and admits to a terrible tenching session.

10 Cast With Confidence Ian Stott

Captor of six 50s in 6 months, Ian Stott reveals how he ensures that he has the utmost confidence in his rigs when fishing at long range, so they are fishing effectively and aren’t ever tangled.

19 Reap The Rewards David Cooper

Owner of Lac de la Ribière, David Cooper certainly knows a thing or two about French fishing, and gives the low-down on how to get the most from your carp-fishing holiday.

25 Two Targets In Two Weeks Simon Crow

Crowy has been on fine form in recent months, banking some incredible fish after having a slow start to the year. Check out his latest article on how he went about banking two stunning northern fish.

30 The Big Blue Mark Watson

Tackling a large water can be a daunting task in itself, so where do you begin? Mark Watson is an experienced angler on these huge venues, and shares his knowledge on the matter, with some excellent advice.

004-005_Contents_CC227.indd 1 06/06/2016 19:44

Page 3: Crafty Carper July 2016

We’ve put together a fantastic Zig package in conjunction with the guys at Avid, which is everything you need to catch fish feeding in the upper layers. They can be caught from here at all times of the year, so Zig fishing is truly a tactic that you need to master, and here is the ideal bundle to get you going – you even get a hat to keep the sun out of your eyes. We strongly advise giving Zigs a go during the warmer months. They can be a deadly tactic when fished as over-depth Zigs, and a static surface bait can be much more effective, instead of a controller float, whilst trickling floaters in over the top using a Surface Spod. In the package there

is a selection of Ziglites in different colours to choose for hookbaits, different-sized hooks to suit your angling situations, and a Zig Box to ensure that once you’ve finished tying up the Zigs, you can keep them safely stored – plus much more.

• 12 issues of Crafty Carper £51• Avid Black Baseball Cap £6.99• Two Tone Zig-Line 10lb £4.99• Avid Carp Tail Rubber Long £2.99• Avid Carp Zig Clips £3.50• Avid Zig Grub Kit £2.49• Avid Carp Ziglites 10mm Black/Green £3.49• Avid Carp Ziglites 10mm Black/Orange £3.49• Avid Carp Ziglite Barrels 12mm White £3.49• Avid Carp Ziglite Barrels 12mm Orange £3.49• Avid Carp Reaction Hooks Wide Barbed Size 8 £5.25

• Avid Carp Reaction Hooks Wide Barbed Size 10 £5.25• Avid Carp Zig Box £14.99

• Avid Carp PVA Transfer Tape £4.50• Avid Carp Swivel Size 8 £2.99• Avid Carp Surface Spod £7.99

TO ORDER BY PHONE: CALL 0114 258 0812

OR O N L I N E AT :

W W W . T H E C A R P S TO RE . CO M

Subscription OfferAvid

112 Crafty Carper Crafty Carper 113

May 2016 | Issue 225 | £4.25

INSIDE

On sale 20th April –17th May 2016

craf

tyca

rper

.co

DARREN BELTON~

DAVE LANE~

IAIN MACMILLAN~

TOM MAKER~

JOE TURNBULL~

DAVE LEVY

HOW TO TIE YOUR OWN UNIQUE ZIG >>

craftycarper.co PLUS — A CARP’S EYE VIEW OF THE UNDERWATER WORLD —

HOW TO

WINA F R E N C H

F I S H I N G

H O L I D A Y

5 0S

THE RIG - THAT -

HELPED TO CATCH

F I V E

PIECING IT TOGETHER

TO ACHIEVECROWY

SUCCESS

>>

No.225 May 2016Get Crafty... GET CATCHING!

001_Cover_CC225.indd 1 11/04/2016 15:28

craf

tyca

rper

.co

PLUS — GET READY FOR SUMMER WITH DAVE LANE

craf

tyca

rper

.co

June 2016 | Issue 226 | £4.25

On sale 18th May – 21st June 2016

No.226 June 2016Get Crafty... GET CATCHING!

craftycarper.co

WINB E D C H A I R S

WORTH £1000

SPODDINGMADE EASY

PERFECTED BETTERIDGE

LEARN HOW TO

We have the very latest tackle, baits, techniques and tips that will help you catch more fish this weekend.

PERFECT

With Ronald De Witte

TOM MORRISONREVEALS EVERYTHING

YOU NEED TO KNOWABOUT ZIGS

INSIDE THIS MONTH’S CRAFTY...

MASTER THE METHOD AND CATCH >

001_Cover_CC226.indd 1 09/05/2016 14:02

craf

tyca

rper

.co

craf

tyca

rper

.co

July 2016 | Issue 227 | £4.25

No.227 July 2016Get Crafty... GET CATCHING!

craftycarper.co

BY PREBAITING

ONE OF FOUR CHUB FLATBEDS >>

On sa

le 22

nd Ju

ne – 1

9th Ju

ly 201

6

ONE OF FOUR CHUB

TIE THE BEST SOLID PVA BAG EVER WITH IAIN MACMILLAN

IAN STOTT UNVEILS HIS SIMPLY AWESOME TANGLE-FREE SETUP

craf

tyca

rper

.co

craf

tyca

rper

.co

July 2016 | Issue 227 | £4.25

No.227 July 2016Get Crafty... GET CATCHING!

BY PREBAITING

WIN

ENJOY SCORCHING

SUMMER ACTION

WITHDAVE LANE

HOW TO TACKLE LARGE WATERS MARK WATSON REVEALS ALL

CATCHMORE

TACTICS AND RIGSTECHNIQUES

+ T H E V E RY L AT ES T TAC K L E , BA I T S , T EC H N O LO GY A N D T I P S

001_Cover_CC227.indd 1 06/06/2016 16:41

WHAT’S INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGE:

EVERYTHING YOU NEEDFOR ZIG FISHING

EVERYTHING YOU COULD POSSIBLY NEED FOR ZIG FISHING

SUBSCRIPTION OFFER

GET

CRAFTY CARPER

DELIVERED EACH

MONTH PLUS

ALL THIS!

£59

• 12 ISSUES OF CRAFTY CARPER WORTH £51

PLUS AVID PACK WORTH £75.89

TOTAL RRP: £126.89

YOU PAY

112-113_AvidSubOffer_CC227.indd 1-2 06/06/2016 16:43

Crafty Carper 5

37 Supreme Solid Bags Iain Macmillan

PVA bags are a phenomenal tactic when used in the right situation, and here, Iain Macmillan explains how to get the most out of them, and gives a great insight into how to tie up the ultimate oily solid bag.

58 The Question Is Our panel of experts for

this issue consists of Jack Meyer, Brad Greening, Ellis Brazier, John Kneebone and Rich Adams, who are all highly experienced anglers in their own right. This month, you’ve asked the guys some great questions, including how to extract fish safely from weed, and how to approach the surface for first-timers.

67 Carp FoodThis month, editor

Steve Broad takes a look at some of the latest offerings from Mainline Baits, as well as Spotted Fin’s new Catalyst and Sticky Baits’ deadly Manilla range, which is set to be a big hit.

77 The TicketMasterThere are three great

venues featured this month: Willows Lakes in the south of the country, the fantastic recently reopened Frisby Lakes in the East Midlands, and the ever popular Stanwick Lakes’ Mallard Lake. Be sure to take advantage of the free fishing on offer in this issue of TicketMaster.

81 Carpers’ KitBringing you the latest

and greatest kit from some of the biggest manufacturers in the game. This month we take a look at some great new products from Prologic, some fish-finding tech from FishHunter, with the 3D mapper, and Dovetail Games’ epic Euro Fishing for those days where you can’t get out on the bank for real.

93 In Too Deep Ellis Brazier

Deep venues can be notoriously tricky, especially in the warmer months, when bites can be hard to get. Ellis

Brazier is a dab hand with deep waters, and explains how he gets the most from these difficult situations.

99 The Great Crafty Debate

Does rig concealment matter? Do we need to spend a lot of time camouflaging terminal tackle, or are we just overthinking things? Our panel of experts give their opinion on the matter.

103 Crafty Carper Under-21s

Dan Price continues his monthly blog, and shares his latest carping adventures, including how he has been planning his fishing for when he finishes his busy exam schedule. In the meantime, he has managed to sneak some Zigs out to try to get a few bites.

107 Catch ColumnThis is the place to

get your catch picture published, so send them in to us, and you’re in with the chance of a great prize, courtesy of Sticky Baits.

112 Subs OfferGet your copy of

Crafty Carper delivered to your door each month, and save yourself the hassle of trekking down to the local newsagents.

115 No Passport Required

Lewis Clayton You don’t have to travel across the Channel to get some big fish, and if you look in the right places, you don’t have to travel far at all. Lewis Clayton had a recent trip to Birch Grove, a fantastic UK holiday venue.

121 Overnighters Julian Cundiff

Jules is back with his regular slot, and this month we joined him on one of his local venues which he regularly fishes. He explains how he goes about getting the most from the limited time he has on overnight sessions.

126 CC InboxKeep up to date

with all the latest news and views from around the carp-angling scene, plus the recent winner of JRC’s Every Picture Tells A Story competition.

129 Mega DealsThere’s always

a bargain to be had in Mega Deals, from some of the leading retailers in the industry, so check it out and pick up some great offers.

112

LIN

EAR

FIS

HER

IES

PR

OB

AB

LY T

HE

BE

ST D

AY-T

ICK

ET C

AR

PR

OB

AB

LY T

HE

BE

ST D

AY-T

ICK

ET C

AR

PR

OB

AB

LY T

HE

BE

ST D

AY-T

ICK

ET C

AR

PR

OB

AB

LY T

HE

BE

ST D

AY-T

ICK

ET C

AR

PR

OB

AB

LY T

HE

BE

ST D

AY-T

ICK

ET C

AR

PR

OB

AB

LY T

HE

BE

ST D

AY-T

ICK

ET C

AR

PR

OB

AB

LY T

HE

BE

ST D

AY-T

ICK

ET C

AR

PR

OB

AB

LY T

HE

BE

ST D

AY-T

ICK

ET C

AR

PR

OB

AB

LY T

HE

BE

ST D

AY-T

ICK

ET C

AR

PR

OB

AB

LY T

HE

BE

ST D

AY-T

ICK

ET C

AR

PR

OB

AB

LY T

HE

BE

ST D

AY-T

ICK

ET C

AR

PR

OB

AB

LY T

HE

BE

ST D

AY-T

ICK

ET C

AR

PR

OB

AB

LY T

HE

BE

ST D

AY-T

ICK

ET C

AR

PR

OB

AB

LY T

HE

BE

ST D

AY-T

ICK

ET C

AR

PR

OB

AB

LY T

HE

BE

ST D

AY-T

ICK

ET C

AR

PR

OB

AB

LY T

HE

BE

ST D

AY-T

ICK

ET C

AR

PR

OB

AB

LY T

HE

BE

ST D

AY-T

ICK

ET C

AR

PR

OB

AB

LY T

HE

BE

ST D

AY-T

ICK

ET C

AR

PR

OB

AB

LY T

HE

BE

ST D

AY-T

ICK

ET C

AR

PR

OB

AB

LY T

HE

BE

ST D

AY-T

ICK

ET C

AR

PR

OB

AB

LY T

HE

BE

ST D

AY-T

ICK

ET C

AR

PR

OB

AB

LY T

HE

BE

ST D

AY-T

ICK

ET C

AR

PR

OB

AB

LY T

HE

BE

ST D

AY-T

ICK

ET C

AR

PR

OB

AB

LY T

HE

BE

ST D

AY-T

ICK

ET C

AR

PR

OB

AB

LY T

HE

BE

ST D

AY-T

ICK

ET C

AR

PR

OB

AB

LY T

HE

BE

ST D

AY-T

ICK

ET C

AR

PR

OB

AB

LY T

HE

BE

ST D

AY-T

ICK

ET C

AR

PR

OB

AB

LY T

HE

BE

ST D

AY-T

ICK

ET C

AR

PR

OB

AB

LY T

HE

BE

ST D

AY-T

ICK

ET C

AR

PR

OB

AB

LY T

HE

BE

ST D

AY-T

ICK

ET C

AR

PP W

ATE

RS

IN

TH

E U

WATE

RS

IN

TH

E U

WATE

RS

IN

TH

E U

WATE

RS

IN

TH

E U

WATE

RS

IN

TH

E U

WATE

RS

IN

TH

E U

WATE

RS

IN

TH

E U

WATE

RS

IN

TH

E U

WATE

RS

IN

TH

E U

WATE

RS

IN

TH

E U

WATE

RS

IN

TH

E U

WATE

RS

IN

TH

E U

WATE

RS

IN

TH

E U

WATE

RS

IN

TH

E U

KK

New 2016 colour brochure by phoning the fishery number at the bottom of the page or simply visit our regularly updated website at:

www.linear-fisheries.co.uk

• Eight day-ticket waters ranging from 9 to 34 acres in size

• Seven of the day-ticket waters have produced carp to over 40lbs

• Heavily stocked with twenties and thirties

• Showers and toilets on site with car parking close to all waters

• Open for fishing 24 hours – no limit to stay – no silly rules

ORDER THE ORDER THE

07885 327708

LINEAR-FISHERIES.CO.UK

FREE

WhyWhyWhyWhyWhygo to France

Whygo to France

WhyWhygo to France

WhyWhygo to France

Whygo to Francego to Francego to Francego to Francego to Francego to Francego to Francego to Francego to Francego to France

when you can visitwhen you can visitgo to France

when you can visitgo to Francego to France

when you can visitgo to France

when you can visitwhen you can visitwhen you can visitwhen you can visitwhen you can visitwhen you can visitwhen you can visitwhen you can visitwhen you can visitwhen you can visitwhen you can visitwhen you can visitwhen you can visitwhen you can visitwhen you can visitOXOXOXFFORDSHIRE’SORDSHIRE’SORDSHIRE’SORDSHIRE’SORDSHIRE’SORDSHIRE’SORDSHIRE’SORDSHIRE’SORDSHIRE’SORDSHIRE’SORDSHIRE’S

AAWWAWAAWA ARDARDARDARDWARDWWARDWWWINNINGINNINGINNINGINNINGINNINGINNINGINNING

FFISHERY?ISHERY?ISHERY?ISHERY?ISHERY?ISHERY?ISHERY?ISHERY?

• Eight day-ticket

LINEAR FISHERIES, NEAR WITNEY, OXFORDSHIRE, OX29 7QF

Contents /// July 2016

004-005_Contents_CC227.indd 2 06/06/2016 19:45

Page 4: Crafty Carper July 2016

Crafty Carper 19

ReapWe all look forward to our fishing holidays, and trips to France are up there as top destinations for

big-carp fishing. David Cooper, owner of Domaine de la Ribière, gives some interesting tips and

insights on how to get it right, and catch.

ReapDAVID COOPERReapReapO

ReapReapWe all look forward to our fishing holidays, and trips to France are up there as top destinations for

big-carp fishing. David Cooper, owner of Domaine de la Ribière, gives some interesting tips and

ReapReapOO

ReapO

ReapReapO

ReapR E WA R D S

Thomas Kamin with Alex at 72lb, caught using light leads.

019-023_Reap_the_Rewards_CC227.indd 1 06/06/2016 19:35

Page 5: Crafty Carper July 2016

20 Crafty Carper

Reap The RewardsDavid Cooper

I love fishing in France, and like many

anglers, I have fished a wide range

of venues. One thing they all have in

common is that they are pressured

and the fish are often very clued-up,

so if you go there thinking it’s going

to be easy, you can often get caught

out. Looking back at my records and

approach over the years, it’s certainly

changed quite a bit, hopefully for

the better. In the early days, I often

felt the pressure to catch, and catch

It’s never been easier to research a

venue now we have the Internet. Lots

of them have maps of the lake and

pictures of all the swims, and quite a few

have video clips which can be found on

YouTube. A few hours spent researching

gives you an idea of the lake in your

mind, and on paper. The first thing I do

is print off a Google Map of the water

and start marking the pegs and the lake

depths, including any features I can see.

On Ribière, there are pictures of every

swim and you can see each peg drained

down. This is very valuable information

because you can see key features

such as the drop-off areas and sunken

bridges, other snags, and nice areas of

hard lakebed. The next stage is to start

talking to as many anglers as you can

who are regulars on the lake. You will

find them in the catch reports and on

Facebook pages. There will be someone

you know, and a quick message asking

for advice on key spots can be worth its

weight in gold. Also, don’t be afraid to

talk to the owner. I am often asked about

specific pegs and areas, and I’m happy to

give out information, but not everyone

does this. There is no excuse for turning

up in a peg without any prior knowledge

of the venue and the swim itself.

Once you’re in your chosen peg, you

big. I would put myself under pressure

to do well and end up making a lot of

mistakes, not enjoying the experience

or the holiday. I would kick myself after:

Why did I do that? What was I thinking?

If I was with friends, there was also

the added edge of competition. I have

learned now to relax a little more, and

spend more time on my preparation well

in advance of a trip, especially if it’s a

new lake. Starting with the right mindset

is key for my fishing. My preparation

focuses on four key areas – venue and

peg knowledge, bait and bait application,

rigs and tactics, and finally, watercraft.

Being prepared allows me to relax and

put it all together once I am at the venue.

still need to find the spots. With the

aid of bait boats and echo sounders,

it’s not difficult to see what’s in front

of you within a short period of time.

Get the map out and add the depths

and any features to the peg, and then

take stock. I always run a lead over

the lakebed, to make sure I have a feel

for what I am fishing on – silt, hard,

soft, weed, etc. For me, the depths

and the key features in front of me

are so important to unlocking the

peg. At Ribière, every peg fishes in a

different way. On some you need to

fish long in the far margin, tight to

the bank or under a tree, on others

you need to be at the bottom of the

shelf, in the silt, or on the edge of the

silt, and on others you fish short.

Quite often at Ribière, most of the

runs will come from one spot, so getting

the spots to produce can be vital. If fish

are in the area and you aren’t catching,

small changes can be key. I have seen

spots produce for 3 days and then go

dead, but a move of 2-3 yards right or

left can have the fish back on it again.

Anglers here for a week spend

less than a couple of hours actually

finding out what’s in front of them.

Think about it! You have the whole

week, so half a day is nothing to spend

making sure you know what’s out

there. Equipped with this knowledge,

you can make decisions on the spots,

taking into account the weather, fish

movement, and the key features.

Remember to try something different. Use Zigs, running rigs, heavy or light leads.

Above: With a boat and echo sounder, it’s easy to map out the swim and any key features.

Main: Even in cold weather, the fish will be moving, so stay alert.

Right: It’s important to know about any features and potential snags in your peg. The bridge at Ribière needs to be approached with extreme caution.

KNOW THE VENUE

MINDSET

019-023_Reap_the_Rewards_CC227.indd 2 06/06/2016 19:35

Page 6: Crafty Carper July 2016

Crafty Carper 21

Reap The RewardsDavid Cooper

When it comes to bait, for me, the

starting point, again, is research. How

many fish are in the lake? How big are

they? Are they young and growing?

At Ribière we have over 500 fish with

an average weight of mid-40lb, so

that’s 20,000lb of carp in 22 acres,

and they need to eat. If you are at a

venue for a week, you know that the

fish will feed at some stage (in normal

conditions), so making sure you have

enough bait in the swim to get them

feeding is key. In normal conditions,

with carp moving, water temperatures

above 11°, and no big natural hatches,

I am more than confident to feed

heavily as the week progresses,

and especially if I start catching.

However, the first couple of days

are always a time for caution. You don’t

know how much has gone in the week

before, and you have no idea how the

fish are behaving when you arrive. My

advice is always to build the swim,

and bait easy-to-moderate to begin

with. If you’re catching from the off

and the fish are having it, then it’s an

easy decision. When the fish are rolling

and moving and you’re not catching,

or when you get no indication of how

they are responding and the lake just

isn’t fishing, you need to be cautious.

In this case, small clumps of bait, a light

baiting approach, and even singles can

work well. The key is to make sure you

are basing your decision-

making on observation

and feel, and not just blind faith.

How much to bait and how often

is another question I am asked a lot.

In winter, if the fish are in front of me

and I feel they are feeding, I often have

a couple of kilos of bait over each rod.

In November at Ribière, I have caught

fish to 60lb with this type of approach.

I keep it going in every day because

I want there to be bait available for

them to eat. At certain times of the

year, putting more in when you’re not

catching can be a big leap of faith. On

high-density waters, I have had a lot

of success doing this in the spring.

It’s not the norm but it can work, and

it seems to get them going and they

respond to it. In very hot weather, I have

adopted a little-and-often approach by

fishing singles and a few scatterings.

The water is warm, there are lots of

naturals, and you need to catch them

out. Attraction, curiosity, and having

it in the spot they are patrolling can

give you the take when it’s difficult.

The wrong way to go about it is to

come here with a preconceived plan

of piling it in and sitting and waiting.

It’s a one-chance approach with a very

high probability of failure. Once it’s in

you can’t take it out, so build it up in

response to the behaviour and feeding of

the fish, not assumptions. By all means,

bring the bait and have it with you, but

don’t start on Saturday with 20kg in

your peg. On good weeks at Ribière, you

can use 50kg of boilie and particles, no

problem. I know Gary Covell very well,

and his recent trip included three 50lb

fish and a couple of 49lb fish over big

beds of bait, but it was applied once

the fish arrived, and was consistently

fed during the rest of the trip.

Remember to try something different. Use Zigs, running rigs, heavy or light leads.

Try mixing it up, with chopped

boilie, maize and pellet over

a wide area, rather than

just dropping a tight spot

using the boat.

Bob with a beautiful 53lb mirror.

BAITING AND BAIT

APPLICATION

019-023_Reap_the_Rewards_CC227.indd 3 06/06/2016 19:35

Page 7: Crafty Carper July 2016

30 Crafty Carper

U

the more you fi sh it, the smaller it will

feel, and that is key to unlocking it“ “

030-034_The_Big_Blue_CC227.indd 1 03/06/2016 15:19

Page 8: Crafty Carper July 2016

Crafty Carper 31

Tackling vast waters can always be a challenge, and discovering where to begin can be a daunting task in itself. We caught up with big venue specialist Mark Watson to share his knowledge on how to approach lakes of epic proportions.

MARK WATSON

The Big BlueMark Watson

030-034_The_Big_Blue_CC227.indd 2 03/06/2016 15:19

Page 9: Crafty Carper July 2016

32 Crafty Carper

The Big BlueMark Watson

When I first started on this

huge 200-acre pit many years

ago, there weren’t an awful

lot of fish in here, and it made things

very difficult. When I say there weren’t

many, I’m talking around 30 carp, a good

handful of mirrors, with the rest being

commons. As the years went on, it was

stocked with around 800 fish, which

made things a lot easier, but still, finding

them in 200 acres is hard work. As well

as the stock of carp being low, there are

also several elements against you, but

this should never deter you from taking

on a challenge such as this.

One of the most important parts of

taking on something like this is your

mindset. You have to be committed to

the task in hand, and something you

need to take into account is the amount

of time you are willing to spend to try to

suss out the venue. The more you fish

the lake, the more you unlock it in your

head; you won’t fully understand the

lake if you only stick to one swim where

it may be comfortable, and you certainly

won’t be on the fish every single time

by having a one-track mind. Try lots of

swims, which may not mean you catch

more initially, but when you start to

work out what is in front of each swim,

the more likely it is to work out where

fish will be. For example, there may be

plateaus, bars, silt patches, weedbeds,

or other kinds of underwater features

that fish are attracted to. Initially,

the lake will feel massive if you are

used to smaller waters, but the more

you fish it, the smaller it will feel,

and that is key to unlocking it.

Before you even start on the lake,

do your research, and find out as much

information about the place before you

even start. There are a lot of things you

might want to know, such as the stock

levels. If it’s an old pit, find out what it

was originally dug for, as this will help

to know the make-up of the lakebed

before even casting the lead out. In this

case, the lake was originally dug for the

sand and gravel, and if you’ve ever seen

pictures of these sorts of pits before

water filled them, you’ll know all about

the steep slopes and various trenches.

These can be great features for

finding fish, but can cause you to lose

a lot of fish due to the sharp rocks and

things which may be there. Use the

Internet and maps for an aerial view

of your chosen water, and if you look

closely, you will see the difference in

areas; the shallower areas are lightly

shaded, and the deeper areas are

generally a lot darker in colour. They

can often reveal things which you can’t

actually see from the bank, such as piles

of boulders, as at this venue. These are

obviously very attractive to fish because

they provide cover and give an element

of safety. This means they will be

confident to feed in these areas, as they

have the security of the rocks near them.

While on the subject of maps, take

note of wind directions. Print off a map

of the whole lake with a compass in the

corner; this will help you work out wind

directions, so you are ready to jump on

to a new wind, or steer clear of a wind

if it’s a bitterly cold northerly. As well

as this, you can be prepared to make

moves before the changes in weather

even happen. I do this with the aid of

a reliable weather app, so I can make

a decision of where I want to be on the

lake, and I can batten down the hatches

ready for an incoming weather front.

On your first visit to the venue, it’s very

important to choose a swim with a view of

as much of the lake as possible, because

you need to be watching it at all times. By

doing this, you can work out where fish

are in the current conditions, which helps

give a starting point for the next session

if the conditions are similar. You can use

this knowledge to your advantage, which

may mean fishing a different swim, but

if you’ve seen fish there, you stand a

good chance of getting a bite, rather than

sitting behind motionless rods for your

session. Take into account all the different

elements which create the conditions,

make a note of them, and then choose

your swim based on this, as you stand a

good chance of locating the fish. On these

massive venues, you can’t just turn up

and expect to catch. A lot of research has

to be done, and for the first few sessions,

you shouldn’t be disheartened if you don’t

catch. Eight-hundred fish sounds like quite

a few, but when you put that number

of fish in 200 acres, they can be hidden

anywhere. Fish in big pits are generally

fairly nomadic. The odd few will group

I like to use heavier indicators to help combat the severe undertow.

Using a weather app can help predict your next move on to fish.

With everything looking pretty, I sit back to watch the

water, and the boats.

030-034_The_Big_Blue_CC227.indd 3 03/06/2016 15:20

Page 10: Crafty Carper July 2016

Crafty Carper 33

The Big BlueMark Watson

up, but compared

to commercial-style

venues, where you can

expect many big hits in

quick succession, with this style of

fi shing you may get one or two fi sh

in a shorter period of time, and be

waiting quite some time for a hit.

Before this lake was restocked, and

the original ones were all that was in

here, I remember being the top rod

for one of the seasons, with only fi ve

fi sh to my name. Five fi sh in a season

doesn’t sound a lot, but when you

think about

catching

fi ve of the

30 fi sh in

200 acres,

it’s actually

quite an

achievement.

I was very

pleased

with this,

although it’s

not for the

impatient

anglers.

The fi sh can very much be loners

in the world of carp, so it pays to

be fairly mobile. You may be able to

drive around the lake, but if you can’t,

strong, lightweight gear is important.

It may not feel windy when you’re

loading up the car for your trip, but

on these huge expanses of water,

the slightest of breezes can feel like

gale-force winds! This means you

may have to balance the lightweight

properties with strength; your kit is

going to be facing elements which you

may not be used to if you usually fi sh

secluded lakes. Across this much open

water, the wind can pick up easily,

which also affects the undertow.

Undertow can be a nightmare,

and in really harsh conditions you

may fi nd that your rigs have been

moved. Lines get caught in the tow

and pull the rigs about, which means

you have to keep an eye on them. I use

large leads to try to keep everything

anchored, and to be able to cast my rods

out there, which can be very diffi cult

in serious crosswinds that are all too

common when tackling big venues.

Whilst on the subject of strong

tackle, this is replicated in my rigs.

The thing with big pit fi sh is that they

aren’t massively

pressured

compared to

those in smaller

venues. This is

because they

obviously have a

lot more space to

escape angling

pressure, and

because they

aren’t pressured

all that much,

they aren’t riggy.

I use very simple

but strong rigs, and this is another thing

to remember when tackling lakes of

such large proportions. Big strong hooks

and strong braided rigs are what I use,

and I don’t stray away from two rigs

which have worked very well for me to

date. I tend to use a blowback-style

rig for my bottom baits and

Snowman presentations,

usually around 7-8ins long, with

a big, strong curve shank hook, a

bit of shrink tube over the eye as

a kicker, and silicone on the shank

of the hook to keep the Hair in position.

The other is the rig I use for pop-ups,

and that is the Multi-Rig. It’s simple to

tie and very effective, so I can be sure

The fi sh can very much

be loners in the world

of carp, so it pays to

be fairly mobile.

“ “ Heavy leads and anti-tangle sleeves are the main factors to ensure my rigs are set correctly.

Two very simple rigs which lend themselves very well to my style of fi shing.

Stay active and on the move, and

be prepared to change swims at the drop of a hat.

Another big pit victim; fi sh like this make the time and effort worthwhile.

030-034_The_Big_Blue_CC227.indd 4 03/06/2016 15:20

Page 11: Crafty Carper July 2016

34 Crafty Carper

The Big BlueMark Watson

that if I hook a fi sh, I’m confi dent I will

land it. When you have waited so long for

a bite, the last thing you want is to lose

the fi sh, especially if it’s the one you’ve

set your sights on. I don’t use things

like swivels and bits of putty all over

my rigs, as I like to keep them simple.

The only thing I do use on them is an

anti-tangle sleeve, and this is because

when my rigs go out, I need to be 100%

confi dent that they aren’t tangled on

the lakebed; they may be out there for

a day or more while I wait for a bite.

When I turn up for my sessions on

this venue, I often arrive at the crack of

dawn. Something I have noticed from

fi shing here over the years is that the

fi sh often show themselves early in

the morning. If I’m there when they

are showing, I can often get amongst

them quickly, and set up on the fi sh

without having to do too much work.

I can fi gure out where they might be,

and this goes back to knowing more

than just one swim. The fi sh could be

anywhere on the lake when you arrive,

but you’ll have a rough idea when you

suss out the wind direction, and this

is where knowing features in different

swims can pay off. If they are in a swim

you know, then the chances are that

you’ll be able to put rods onto known

spots you have fi shed previously.

If I turn up and see the fi sh straight

away, I don’t put any bait over them, or

try to fi gure out what they are showing

over with a marker fl oat. I simply put

single hookbaits over them – and the

best single hookbait anglers are all

from Yorkshire! If I catch one or two

from the showing fi sh, I wait until there

hasn’t been anything showing for a

little while to avoid spooking them off

the area, and that’s when I put in my

freebies. When I do this, contrary to the

Yorkshire stereotype, I actually put a

fair amount of bait in. I glug my boilies

for maximum attraction in the water,

as I want lots of food signals out there

to keep the fi sh searching long after

the last bait has been eaten. With the

savage undertows on these big waters,

the scent can travel a long way, and

carp can home in on this from greater

distance than just a standard boilie

being put into the water. I also use

particles, but they are only worth my

while when bream are not a problem.

You can cause a lot of disturbance

when wading through shoals of

bream, because of having to keep

baiting and recasting onto the spot.

When you really get in tune with

the lake, things will become easier.

It doesn’t feel like the mammoth

challenge it started off as, and

eventually, things will come good and

those big pit fi sh will soon be yours! CC

Giving my bait a good glugging using some KS15 liquid for extreme attraction.

Returning a big pit beast – back to the depths it goes.

I’m not shy when I’m putting bait in, and I like to use a very potent bait.

This stunning mirror is one of the 800 stocked, which has now darkened up.

030-034_The_Big_Blue_CC227.indd 5 03/06/2016 15:21

Page 12: Crafty Carper July 2016

50 Crafty Carper

POST-SPA WNINGThe majority of the fish across the UK have now finished spawning, possibly even more than just once. It’s safe to say they are at their lowest weights, and the fishing can be very difficult. Dave Lane has tackled this issue year in, year out and gives the low-down on how to get the most from this tricky time.

The

SPECTACLE

Playing a fish from a big bed of bait in late summer.

050-054_Dave_Lane_CC227.indd 1 06/06/2016 22:05

Page 13: Crafty Carper July 2016

Crafty Carper 51

The Post-Spawning Spectacle Dave Lane

POST-SPA WNINGSPECTACLE So, the summer is passing and

the fish have completed their

spawning ritual, maybe even

more than once, but we will forgive

them that. After all, they have waited

a whole year for the chance! After

spawning, the fish are obviously at

their lowest weights of the year,

but they will be keen to replace that

weight and repair any damage they

may have sustained, and a good food

source is the quickest way to achieve

this. Depending on the sort of weather

we get, there may well be hard times

ahead from an angling perspective.

For example, a roasting-hot August

often puts a spanner in the works,

but for now it is full steam ahead.

Carp can feed heavily after spawning,

and the food source we offer them is

particularly good. High-quality boilies

contain just about everything a carp

needs to aid healing and bulk up.

I have witnessed some

amazing growth rates in the

period from spawning through to

early autumn; a pound a week is

not unheard of with larger carp,

once they get on the munch.

I remember fishing a lake in

Northampton where I caught a

spawned-out mirror on 17th July. She

was a little battered after her ordeal,

and weighed 32lb. On 7th August

I caught her again, and she looked

fantastic, weighing a few ounces

under 37lb. In 3 weeks exactly she had

gained almost 5lb in weight, which is a

pretty amazing statistic, but one that

cannot be denied; the same scales,

the same angler, and digital dating on

the photographs, let alone the obvious

physical changes. Obviously, eating

went a long way towards this process,

and I would imagine that bait was the

greater part of this feast, but here is

an interesting fact that I never knew

before then. Female carp actually start

to grow spawn,

or eggs, for

the next year

very soon after

clearing out

what they were

already carrying.

I only learnt

this through a

conversation

with Simon Scott

from Sparsholt

Fishery College,

shortly after

this capture. It’s

amazing how

much there is still to learn about carp,

even after a lifetime spent pursuing

them. This little snippet of information

isn’t going to help you bank any more

fish, of course, but I just felt like

sharing it with you. Now we are all

that little bit smarter – cheers Simon.

So what will help us bank more fish

after spawning time has passed? For

this month at least, I reckon the main

point of attack is to learn where the

fish do the majority of their feeding,

and then gave them exactly what

they are looking for. Carp can get very

predictable for a while, and use the

same routes, the same feeding areas,

and lay up in the same safe houses

during the day. What we are looking

for is where the fish are during feeding

times, and midnight to mid-morning

are the classic times during this period

of the season.

As with all

carp-angling

scenarios,

there is no

substitution for

observation.

Watching the

water is always

the greatest

way to invest

your time

spent on the

bank. You will

learn nothing

at all from

your phone, Facebook, Twitter,

Instagram or any other distraction.

Observing will help you catch carp,

or find where they are feeding.

I always like to be awake and

watching just before it gets light. It

always amazes me how many anglers

sleep through the most telling times of

the day. In the height of summer this

may actually mean setting an alarm

for 3.30 a.m., which is a hideous time

to be waking up, but once you are

up and about, it is by far the most

magical time of all. Watching the

world come to life is a spectacle in

itself, but seeing how the carp behave

as the sky breaks each day is a very

revealing process that cannot be

replicated at 8.00 a.m., or whenever

else you crawl out of the sleeping bag!

First light and last light are quite

often the calmest times of the day as

far as wind is concerned, and during

these periods it is often possible to

see where the fish are feeding. Scan

the water with binoculars, and look

for bubbling and fizzing, which is

a sure sign of feeding carp. It’s my

considered opinion that the evenings

are not what they used to be as far as

feeding carp are concerned, hence the

early starts. As a kid, I remember that

the last vestiges of light were always

the trigger for feeding activity, and I

used to hang on as long as possible,

staring through the twilight at the

top of a quill float when fishing for

small wildie commons. Nowadays

though, the evenings seldom seem to

produce for me, and I put my full faith

in the coming of each day, learning

as much as I can to keep me going

until the next dawn comes around.

Once you have identified the

areas where the carp are during the

hot times, it’s just a case of giving

them what they need in the right

DAVE LANE

It’s amazing how much there is still to learn about carp, even after a lifetime spent pursuing them

“ “

050-054_Dave_Lane_CC227.indd 2 06/06/2016 22:05

Page 14: Crafty Carper July 2016

52 Crafty Carper

The Post-Spawning Spectacle Dave Lane

areas, and making sure your rigs are

positioned, and undisturbed, well ahead

of time. What they need, of course, is

top-quality boilies, or at least that’s

what always works for me at this time.

I know you read a lot about particle

use in the summer – hemp, tigers, corn,

etc. – and this approach will work, but

after spawning, I think that a bed of

boilies gives the carp exactly what they

need in an easy meal, apart from the

odd one with a hook in it, of course. If I

am moving on to fish which are already

feeding, then I am happy to fish singles

or a very small and delicate scattering

of bait, rather than risk spooking them,

but if I have identified a good area and

I am setting traps, then I feed a lot

heavier than in previous months. At

this time of year, I like nothing better

than to have all three traps set over

a bed of good food, and know that

each rig is presented as well as it can

possibly be. This may take time, but I

do it well ahead of the predicted bite

time, probably the evening before,

and then sit and wait, causing as little

disturbance to the swim as possible.

Quite often I actually bait the swim, clip

up all three rods, and then go off for a

walk or a social barbecue with mates

on the opposite bank, leaving the swim

rested and free of lines for hours at

a time. If I am convinced that I know

the bite times, then I cannot see the

point in risking spooking the fish before

“I like nothing better atthis time of year than tohave all three traps setover a bed of good foodand know that each rig is presented as well as it can possibly be”

All spawned-out at 32lb.

Three weeks later and nearly 5lb bigger.

Weed changes the game completely!

050-054_Dave_Lane_CC227.indd 3 06/06/2016 22:05

Page 15: Crafty Carper July 2016

Crafty Carper 53

The Post-Spawning Spectacle Dave Lane

they get settled by thrashing about

in the swim. Just three quick casts

with clipped up rods before I retire for

the night is often the best method.

In the morning, nice and early, I

will be hovering over the rods and

watching the spots, although this

can sometimes be frustrating. Quite

often it’s almost impossible to resist

the urge for a recast when the fish

are bubbling all over you and you still

haven’t received any action, but it is

seldom the right answer. I always try to

sit tight and leave the rigs in position,

putting faith in the fact that I have

cast them out perfectly the previous

evening. Sometimes it can take hours

for a feeding carp to actually make one

mistake, and I often wonder how many

times they have rejected or purposely

avoided the hookbait before slipping

up. Once again, keeping everything

low profile and the swim undisturbed

will help speed things up, as will bait

application over the previous days or

weeks. Prebaiting, or regular baiting

of the better areas will always work

in your favour, but on a lot of the

busier pits it is just as likely to work in

someone else’s favour. If you can get

an area going and keep some freebies

going in when you aren’t actually

fishing, this will vastly increase your

chances of a bite. Even baiting when

you leave the lake, as long as you are

fairly sure that nobody else is just

about to move in, can help lower the

defences of the fish as they feed on

bait without lines or rigs present.

Going back to the Northants pit

for a moment; I discovered an area at

one end of the lake where the fish

were feeding every morning, during

the first 3 hours of daylight. It was in

a large bay and easily fishable from

the side of a small point which jutted

out into the lake and actually formed

one side of the bay. More importantly,

however, while watching the water in

the evening, I spotted a fish very close

in to the end of the point, only a rod-

length or so from the bank. Normally

this swim would be fished at range, but

that single sighting changed the course

of the following few weeks for me.

I had stumbled across the route the

carp were using to go in and out of the

bay to feed, and during the night, on

a single rod on the end of the point,

I caught as many carp as I did during

the hot times from the bay. I had not

one, but two, target areas which fished

at different times of the day, and I

managed to land a good number of fish

in a short period, culminating in the

three largest fish in the lake in a frantic

12-hour spell. I kept both areas topped

up with bait and loaded the swim

before I left each week, and I think

this helped a lot with my catch results.

The rod on the end, fished on single

banksticks and a sounder box, produced

at least one fish every single night,

and always between midnight and

2.00 a.m. The bay, on the other hand,

never gave me a bite at these times,

and it was usually first light as they got

settled in, or occasionally, an evening

bite before they left again. I think the

fish had originally started using the bay

in the mornings because of the way it

faced the sun, and the abundance of

fresh weed and natural food in there.

My bait had come as a welcome bonus

for them, and hopefully, was part

of the reason they stayed so long.

During this latter part of summer,

the weed growth greatly affects the

fish and the areas they are using,

and even within a swim, things can

change dramatically. Last season

I fished a certain swim on St Ives,

as often as I could get in there, and

over the year it accounted for 10 of

my total of 18 carp from the lake.

I always keep a record of all the

spots I fish, particularly those I catch

from, and the period between the

end of June and mid-August tells an

Better than Facebook – why would you rather

stare at a tiny screen?

Carp spawning on a big gravel pit.

The end of the point rod, a bite every night.

One of my many hot spots last year.

050-054_Dave_Lane_CC227.indd 4 06/06/2016 22:05

Page 16: Crafty Carper July 2016

116 Crafty Carper

No Passport RequiredLewis Clayton

With the onset of the warmer

weather, the inevitable

spawning up and down the

country has been taking place, the

result being that my current syndicate

was closed for a month, so I was

left pondering my options for a few

nights on the bank. During a chance

conversation with Jemima at Angling

Publications, the subject of Birch Grove

came up. She let me know that nobody

was fishing the venue for the next few

days, so plans were quickly made for a

couple of days on the historic water.

Birch is a stunning, beautiful 5-acre

mere which offers anglers the chance

to fish one of the most famous waters

in the UK on an exclusive basis. Its

peaceful surroundings, comfortable

swims, and good facilities attract

anglers from all over the UK, who want

to sample a piece of carping history.

There’s the added advantage of not

having to mess around with long drives,

ferries, or passports, and it’s surprising

how this keeps the cost manageable.

Birch Grove features include a

smooth, silty bottom, bloodworm beds,

overhanging trees, lily pads, reedbeds,

and deep margins with lily beds and

overhanging trees. The water is around

13ft deep, and houses four comfortable

pegs, comprising the Caravan Swim,

the Compound (often used as a double

swim to ensure the lake is fished as

efficiently as possible), the Helipad

and the Main Boards. Birch can be

fished by a maximum of four people

at any one time. In addition there is

a small stalking swim at the far end

of the lake. The stock is a mixture

of mirrors and commons to well over

30lb, and although it can be a tricky

water, the rewards are there to be

enjoyed. There’s also a small lodge

with a stunning view of the lake, which

houses a flushing toilet, shower, a

kitchen with a fridge, and freezer. This

is perfect when you book the lake for

a full week, and allows you and your

party to eat like kings, which really

does add to the whole experience.

I made a quick phone call to my

mate Si to ask if he fancied it, and to

see if he could get the time off work

at such short notice, and the next day

we were Shropshire-bound. I had fished

the lake once before, so I gave Simon

the choice of swims. He opted for the

last swim known as the Main Boards,

and I dropped in the middle swim to Si’s

left, called the Helipad. It was around

teatime by the time we had the rods

sorted, and the weather wasn’t great. It

was reasonably high pressure, but was

due to drop over the next 48 hours.

The first night passed without

event, although in the night I heard

a few fish crashing in the pads to my

right in Si’s swim, and also at the back

of the pads and snags on the far side

in front of me. It’s a good chuck from

the middle swim, and ask anybody

who knows me, distance casting is not

my forte! However, the spots I fancied

were around 135 yards, so not out of

range for me. I figured the majority of

anglers might well fish to the obvious

spots, where there was a clear gap

between the pads and snags. Bait boats

are allowed on Birch, so I thought that

these spots had probably been pretty

well-fished over the years. I’d fallen

into the same trap on the first night,

and fished my rods in these gaps,

but I’d received no action so a rethink

was the cards. I decided to fish to the

middle area of each set of pads. I looked

for any indentation or Vs in the pads

that I could fish to, and once I’d picked

After a short rest in the sling, she was ready for some pictures.

Home from home – the Birch lodge.

Safe and strong was all that I needed.

115-118_Lewis_Clayton_CC227.indd 2 06/06/2016 15:08

Page 17: Crafty Carper July 2016

Crafty Carper 117

No Passport RequiredLewis Clayton

three spots, the rods were dispatched

and I spread a kilo of boilies all across

the pad line. I settled in for afternoon

of rig-tying and coffee drinking.

Dusk soon descended, and as I stood

watching the water, a whopping great

carp came crashing out at the back of

the pads. My confidence was growing

as I went to bed that night, and it

was well founded because I was soon

scrambling from my sleeping bag to hit

the first bite. The rod was locked up

solid so the fish couldn’t go anywhere,

which is a must when fishing like

this. It was one of those pitch-black

nights; the low pressure had rolled in as

promised, and there was heavy cloud,

so I couldn’t see a thing. At such a range

with snags and pads all over the show,

I just started pumping the fish away

from any potential problems. The only

way I knew which direction the fish

was heading was by feel, and it soon

made its intentions known by kiting

right into Si’s swim. I had snags close in

to my right, in the shape of some fallen

trees, so I knew I needed to gain line. If

it carried on going

I was in trouble.

Luckily, I

managed to turn

the fish, but to

be completely

honest, it didn’t

feel particularly

large. I wasn’t too

concerned until it

surfaced just my

side of the close-in

snag to the right. I

could then clearly

see its frame, and

realised it was a better carp than I’d

originally thought. At this point it was

doing its utmost to get into the snag,

and I was giving it everything, hoping

and praying that the hookhold held. I

knew I’d won the battle when a change

of tack from the carp saw it scream

across the front of the swim in the

opposite direction to the snag. It wiped

out both my other rods, and it could only

be described as a scene of devastation! I

had rods on the deck, line tangled round

alarms and reel handles, both rods on

the floor with open bail arms, and line

everywhere – not what I needed at all!

Somehow, and I have to say more

by luck than design, I managed to

finally slip the net under a rather large

common. I took one look at the sea of

carnage in my swim and thought I could

do with another pair of hands on the

job, so I went and woke Si. The fish was

unhooked but I

thought I’d leave

weighing her until

the morning, as I

now had all three

rods out of the

water. It was just

after 3.00 a.m.

and it would be

light in an hour

or so, so I slipped

her into a retainer

and proceeded to

sort out my swim.

Morning was

soon upon us, and after a quick coffee

to kick-start the day, we weighed her at

34lb 7oz. After taking a few photos in

the morning sun, she was slipped back

to her watery home. Just 10 minutes

later I was standing at the front of

swim watching the lake, when I saw

one of Si’s lines cutting through the

water. He was in! After a fairly short

spirited fight, a lovely mirror around

the mid-20 mark went into the net

It was reasonably high pressure, but was due to drop over the next 48 hours

“ “

I put a good spread of bait along the edge of the pads.

Si’s cracking mid-20 – a real bruiser of a fish.

A stunning 34lb 7oz common, proof that Birch still has it.

115-118_Lewis_Clayton_CC227.indd 3 06/06/2016 15:08

Page 18: Crafty Carper July 2016

118 Crafty Carper

No Passport RequiredLewis Clayton

at the first time of asking. We’d both

had a carp, so we were really happy

with how things had gone so far.

An hour later, the same rod on which

I’d had the common was away. After

just a few bleeps, the bobbin pulled up

tight and I was instantly on it. I walked

back to steer the fish away from danger,

but unfortunately, I gave it a little too

much and the hook

pulled. However,

you can’t take risks

near snags, and

I’d rather have a

hookpull in open

water than have

a fish snagged. I’d

already had a mid-

30 so I wasn’t too

despondent, and

it gave me hope

that there was a

good chance of

another bite or two.

After a quick phone call to Jemima,

we managed to arrange to stay on for

one more day. Friday night plans were

cancelled, and after a quick supermarket

run to stock up on provisions, just over

an hour later we were ready for the final

night. The carp were still crashing in the

pads on the far side as I retired to bed,

so I was brimming with confidence. I was

woken from my slumber by just a couple

bleeps in the middle of the night. I was on

it instantly, and was soon battling another

carp at range. This fight was much more

straightforward than the common, and

it wasn’t long before I was netting a

stunning heavily-scaled mirror. It went

just over 22lb, and it was evident that

they were feeding

hard. I’d put my last

2kg of S-Core in the

previous evening,

and this carp was

passing it out all

over the mat. It was

a great way to finish

the session, and I

can’t wait to return.

If you want to

give this fantastic

little water a go,

you can book

it exclusively

for 7 days. For more information visit

birchgrovefishing.co.uk. It was the

ideal break for us, without the hassle

of travelling down south, across the

Channel, and then a few hours at

the other end. Instead we enjoyed

some great fishing where there was

definitely no passport required. CC

After just a few bleeps, the bobbin pulled up tight and I was instantly on it

“ “

Gently returning her

to the tranquil waters of Birch.

A stunning 22lb mirror which obviously loved its food.

The perfect hooklink for silty meres.

115-118_Lewis_Clayton_CC227.indd 4 06/06/2016 15:08

Page 19: Crafty Carper July 2016

ON SALE: WEDNESDAY 20TH JULY 2016

I N N E XT M O N T H ’ S C RA F TY C A R P E R

THE R IG MECHANIC IS BACK WITH

LEE WAGNER

MARK BARTLETT STARTS H IS FANTASTIC

NEW SERIES.

FEATURES FROM

TO M M A K E R

DA R R E N B E LTO N

J U L I A N C U N D I F F

+

NextMonth_CC227.indd 1 06/06/2016 21:50