Crafty Carper June 2013

June 2013 | Issue 190 | £4.10

On sale May 22nd – June 19th 2013

ALSO INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

Martin Bowler on tackling snagsBoilie fi shing with Iain Macmillan48 hours’ free fi shing for everyoneEssential day ticket rigs revealed

craftycarper.co

craftycarper.coN

o.19

0 June 2

01

3G

et Crafty... GET

CATCH

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!

HIT THE SPOT EVERY CAST!Ian Stott on how to spod with pinpoint accuracy

DARRELL PECK ON THE LITTLE THINGS THAT MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE

WIN!OVER £1,400 WORTH OF TACKLE UP FOR GRABS

The Zig Master!The Zig The Zig The Zig Why NOW is the time to fi sh up in the water, by big-fi sh expert Jerry Hammond

001_Cover_CC190.indd 1 10/05/2013 11:35

Crafty Carper /// Issue 190 /// June 2013 /// www.craftycarper.co

June 2013 | Issue 190 | £4.10

On sale May 22nd – June 19th 2013

ALSO INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

Martin Bowler on tackling snags

Boilie fi shing with Iain Macmillan

48 hours’ free fi shing for everyone

Essential day ticket rigs revealed

craftycarper.co

craftycarper.co

No.1

90

June 20

13

Get Crafty... G

ET CA

TCHIN

G!

HIT THE SPOT EVERY CAST!Ian Stott on how

to spod with pinpoint accuracy

DARRELL PECK ON THE LITTLE THINGS THAT MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE

WIN!OVER £1,400 WORTH OF TACKLE UP FOR GRABS

The Zig Master!The Zig The Zig The Zig

Why NOW is the time to fi sh

up in the water, by big-fi sh

expert Jerry Hammond

001_Cover_CC190.indd 1

10/05/2013 11:35

What’s on this month’s cover...

6 Crafty Carper

82 The Finer PointsDarrell Peck

Darrell gives us the insight into the fi ner points

of his angling, his motto being, ‘It’s the small

things that make a big difference.’ Enough said!

CRAFTY COLUMNISTS

11 EditorialJames Turner

This month our esteemed editor

talks about the weather and how

the fi shing has picked up, and he

encourages you to get out there

and make the most of your time.

157 Diary of an Everyday Carp Angler

Julian Cundiff

Our Jules continues with his personal

carping, rocking, wrestling, and

the fact that he still manages

to hold down a full-time job.

OUT & ABOUT

13 The TravellerMark Bartlett

Bart heads to the Colne Valley to take

on the residents of Thorney Weir. Will

he manage to get amongst them?

86 TicketMasterWe profi le six of the

best venues from around the

country, including free fi shing at

two top day ticket venues.

92 Hot Holiday VenueWant to seek out carp on the

Continent? We take a look at a venue

that one of our team has already

encountered. Bring on Le Lac Caché.

INTERACTIVE

28 Crafty Catch ColumnChunks, lumps, units, lunkers,

whackers, kipperpotami – whatever

you call your captures, send the pic

to us, and you’re in with the chance

of a great Mainline Baits prize.

62 Competition – JRCIf you’re currently on the

lookout for a bivvy, we suggest

you take a look at this. We review

the TX2G Bivvy from JRC, as well

as giving away four of them.

71 The Question IsDo you have a burning

question you want answering

by our panel of experts?

145 Competition30Plus

We’re giving you the opportunity

to own a set of the new

30Plus Kodex luggage.

142 Subs OfferMarukyu

Fed up of going to the newsagents?

Let us deliver a copy of Crafty straight

to your door, and we’ll also give

you a load of Marukyu goodies.

Front cover: Jerry Hammond with a recent Zig-caught monster.

119 Keeping It TightIan Stott

Have you ever tried to fi sh all three rods

on the tightest spot possible? If so, you’ll

know it’s not easy. Stotty has done it for

years and has just about perfected it.

37 The Zig MasterJerry Hammond

Big-fi sh angler, and this month’s cover star

Jerry Hammond, takes us through an epic

month he’s experienced on the Zigs.

111 The Art Of Boilie FishingIain Macmillan

Ting Tong goes in-depth about all

things boilie-related. He loves fi shing

the boilie-only approach, so who

better to put you on the right track?

006-007_Conts_CC190.indd 1 10/05/2013 15:20

Crafty Carper 7

Contents /// June 2013

BEHIND THE SCENES AT CRAFTY CARPER

Highlights of the month…152 Inbox

Send us your letters, stories,

and pictures, and we’ll print the ones

we like. We’ve got news stories from

around the carping world, and Robbo

gives us his monthly thoughts.

FEATURES

19 Inside EdgeDave Magalhaes

If you want to target the margins

for some proper kippers, check out

the tips from Dave on page 19.

24 Rigs Under the SpotlightScott Day

Fox’s Scott Day gives the low-

down on how to set up an

in-line drop-off system.

33 The Great Crafty DebateIn the Great Debate this month,

our panel of knowledgeable carp

anglers air their views on whether

particles are for summer use only.

43 Crafty Carper Under-21s

Up-and-coming

young carp angler

Jack Hudson-

Edwards tells his

story this month,

and we touch

base with BYCAC

champion Josh Jones

for his monthly blog.

48 Angling Through The Seasons

Martin Bowler

Martin diarises another month of

his angling, and as ever, it really

will open your eyes to another

world. You’ll be glued to this one.

65 Hit ’N’ RunAndrew Endean

If you can only fi t in quick

overnighters between a hectic work

and family life, then this is the

place to go. Andrew does just the

same, and with great success.

77 Essential Day Ticket RigsMark Hogg

Northern lad Hoggy looks at

the three rigs he’d never be

without when day ticket carping.

Simplicity is the key, people.

96 BYCAC 2013With it being the 10th

anniversary of BYCAC this

year, we’re staying on

the nostalgic road, and

caught up with Jake

Taylor for a look at his

BYCAC experience.

126 Most Memorable

Richard Chapman

Derby-based carp angler Richard

relives the ups and downs of a

time spent on a local club water.

131 Choosing The Right RodDave Springall

It’s the old conundrum that many

anglers get stuck with – how to

choose the right rod for them.

138 Is Big Better?Rich Adams

There’s long been a debate about

whether big baits catch the

bigger fi sh, so we’ve asked Rich

Adams to give his opinion.

Lake Record For Issac

Team Crafty took to Merrington

recently for a practice

session before the next BCAC

appearance. Our Kris and partner

Craig Stannard were put to

shame by BYCAC 2012 runner-

up Isaac Johnson, who bagged

a new lake record at 30lb 4oz

– this kid knows how to angle!

Nige Off to Le Lac Caché

Carpworld assistant editor

Nigel has spent a week on Le

Lac Caché and has had a bit

of a result. After the shame

of Kris’s Ribière blank, Nige

restored the Angling Pubs

reputation with a stunning

50lb+ fi sh, catching the lake’s

second-biggest resident.

Comedy Tonight!

A few members of team Crafty

will be off to the Last Laugh

comedy club to see our Five-

Minute Interrogation star

Steve Shanyaski performing.

If you’ve not encountered Mr.

Shanyaski before, read his

interview on page 162 – trust

us, this dude is funny!

162 The Five-Minute Interrogation

Steve Shanyaski

Stand-up comedian Steve Shanyaski

is also a carp angler, and he takes

the hot seat this month. Get the

cotton ready because your sides will

defi nitely be split by the end of it.

CARP FOOD

55 Carp FoodWe’re back with another look

at some of the best bait products

around. Steve Broad looks at an old

favourite, Nash Scopex Squid, and

Joe Turnbull creates a food signal.

59 Carp Food SpecialSplashbaits: Factor VII

We take a look at the Factor VII

boilies from Splashbaits.

CARPERS’ KIT

99 Carpers’ KitA look at some of the new

tackle items hitting the shelves,

including a closer look at some quality

stalking gear from Prologic, and Team

Crafty reveal their indispensable

tackle items from the last month.

105 In FocusTrakker

We all know that the British weather

can throw in some rain at absolutely

any time, so we take a look at the

Downpour Jacket and Trousers and

the Aphex Jacket from Trakker.

106 In FocusFox International

We got a sneak peek at some of

the new Edges range from Fox

last month, and now here’s some

more – very impressive indeed.

149 Mega DealsFantastic offers from some of

the biggest and best retailers around.

48 Crafty Carper

MARTIN BOWLER | PART TWO: SPRING INTO SUMMERNow that spring is in full fl ow, it’s time to take a look at this beautiful season and see what it has to offer to our angling.

Carp fi shing affords many pleasures that cannot

merely be counted in pounds and ounces. Getting

close to nature is certainly one of these

and you will, if you keep your eyes open,

be afforded sights few birdwatchers

and walkers will ever see, because

if you stay in the same place for 24

or 48 hours, the natural world will

come to you. A kingfi sher sitting

on a rod with its azure blue jacket

illuminating even the dullest of days;

a robin keeping you company – even

being bold enough to enter the bivvy;

or, in my case, this spring an osprey

fi shing alongside me for 2 days. Having

migrated from Africa where it had spent the winter,

a pit stop was required in the south of England before

continuing on to the breeding grounds in Scotland. I was

certainly in the right place at the right time, watching it

hover over the lake, trying to get a fi x on a roach

whilst being mobbed by angry crows not

amused at having to share their air space.

Then, as the afternoon arrived and

the wind abated, it made its move,

wings folded, free-falling towards

a fl ank of silver scales. A spray of

water registered the impact and

momentarily it seemed stranded,

bobbing around on the surface, but its

majestic movement soon returned, and

with a beat of its wings it rose from the

lake, exposing talons full of roach sushi. Tea

had been served, to be devoured on top of a distant

treeline. A highlight indeed, alongside the carp caught.

Trouble in the sky as an osprey looked for

silver fi sh prey.

MAIN IMAGE The snags are simply a carp magnet.

048-052_Seasons_CC190.indd 1 02/05/2013 14:19

Crafty Carper 49

“A SIMPLE APPROACHis always the name of the game for me, with

LOCATIONthe only thing thatREALLY CONCERNS MEwhen on the bank”

048-052_Seasons_CC190.indd 2 02/05/2013 14:20

48 48 Crafty Carper





migrated from Africa where it had spent the winter, migrated from Africa where it had spent the winter,

a pit stop was required in the south of England before a pit stop was required in the south of England before


silver fi sh prey.

MAIN IMAGE MAIN IMAGE The snags are simply a carp magnet.simply a carp magnet.48

82

96

COMPETITION WINNERS

Trakker Competitionfrom Crafty Carper April issue 188The three winners each receive a Trakker Levelite Bed and Layers Sleeping Bag worth £440.00 each.

David Hawksworth, Richmond, Sheffi eld.

Terry Parsons, Cheam, Surrey.

Ian Johnstone, Bury, Lancs.

Taska Competitionfrom Crafty Carper March issue 187The ten winners each receive a Taska Baseline Terminal Tackle prize pack worth £60.25 each.

W. Hickson, Ashford, Kent.

Mr P. McDougall, Grimsby, North Lincs.

Eric Sprought, Dagenham, Essex.

Tony Morris, Luton, Beds.

Daryl Lucas, Bournemouth, Dorset.

Liam Benson, Barton-upon-Humber, North Lincs.

Christopher Cordingly, Coningsby, Lincs.

Alan Carruthers, Stanley, Co. Durham.

Rob Olford, Gillingham, Kent.

Robin Stow, Barrow-upon-Humber, North Lincs.

006-007_Conts_CC190.indd 2 10/05/2013 15:20

RIGSUNDER the SPOTLIGHT

Top carper and product development guru for Fox International, Scott Day, reveals how to construct the perfect in-line lead drop-off setup.

This month: In-Line Drop-Off Leads

24 Crafty Carper

ANGLER PROFILE

Scott Day

Age 36

HometownNorthwich

OccupationProduct development

UK PB55lb 12oz

Favourite venueRedesmere

RodsFox Horizon XTK

ReelsFox Stratos FS12000 Mag

AlarmsFox NTXr

BELOW Here are the components that Scott uses to construct his rig.

ABOVE Scott is a big fan of solid PVA bags, and often uses his in-line drop-off rig inside a Rapide bag.

Solid PVA bags play a large part

in my carp fi shing, hence why

I set about developing the

Rapide Load PVA System at the end

of 2011. When I stumbled across

that way of constructing a PVA bag,

it really was a eureka moment, and

one that has changed the way that I

fi sh with solid bags, as well as many

anglers across the globe. Like most

anglers who use solid PVA bags, I

prefer to use an in-line lead setup

and a lead of 3-4oz. The problem

with having a heavy lead on such a

short hooklink is that it can cause the

lead to work the hook free, and also

the lead can be a hindrance when

fi shing weedy or snaggy venues. I

therefore like to eject the lead on

the take; however, using the Fox

in-line leads with the soft rubber

inserts made creating an in-line

lead drop-off setup problematic, so

once again we set about designing

a product specifi cally for the job.

Leader

When using an in-line lead drop-off

setup, my preferred leader of choice is

the new Camo Leadcore in the Edges

range. I use the Dark Camo when

fi shing over dark lakebeds such as

silt and debris, and opt for the Light

Camo when fi shing over weed or

gravel. On venues where leadcore is

banned, my next choice is Submerge,

a lead-free leader, and if I’m tackling

a venue with a complete leader ban,

I use fl uorocarbon straight through,

naked-style. The beauty of leadcore

024-025_Rigs_CC190.indd 1 07/05/2013 16:14

“Over the course of the

rest of 2012 we decided to take our time and give the

system a thorough development

period”

Rigs Under the SpotlightScott Day

Crafty Carper 25

SET UP SCOTTY DAY’S IN-LINE LEAD DROP-OFF RIGIf you’re looking to dump the lead when using an in-line system, then these purpose-designed components make the process a doddle.

Cut 3-4ft of leadcore and slice an Edges Ring/Kwik Connector Swivel onto one end.

Next, thread one of the inserts from the Edges In-line Drop-off Kit onto the leader.

Take a Fox In-line Flat Pear Lead, remove the insert and cut off the thin tail.

1 2 3

Now place the thick grommet over the eye of the swivel on the leader, as shown here.

Place the grommet and swivel into the wider end of the in-line lead.

Run the leadcore leader around the outside of the lead and then place the insert into the top of the lead.

4 5 6

You can then slide one of the tail rubbers supplied in the kit over the insert, should you so wish.

Attach your chosen hooklink and the in-line drop-off setup is ready for action.

When the lead ejects you only lose the lead, and retain the other components.

7 8 9

LEFT A monster common banked

during the extensive fi eldtesting of the Edges

In-line Drop-Off Kit.

is that it’s incredibly

strong and abrasion-

resistant, is fairly

subtle (well this new

stuff is), and also

has great camoufl age

properties. It is

very easy to work

with and is something

in which I have total faith.

The Lead Itself

As previously mentioned, I tend to use

leads of 3-4oz when fi shing with a

solid PVA bag, and my preferred lead

is an In-line Flat Pear. These leads are

fantastic for solid bag work and due to

their shape they offer great resistance

for setting the hook, but because of

the soft rubber insert they have never

lent themselves to creating an in-line

lead drop-off. I have therefore had

always fi sh with the lead on the leader,

which at times has caused me problems

that I could have done without,

especially on very weedy venues.

development period (plus we had other

big projects on the go, such as the Supa

Brolly). We now have a fi nished product

that really does work a treat, and when

you look at the accompanying sequence

you will see just how easy it is to use.

When to Eject

You don’t always need to eject the

lead, so we have designed the

system so it can take more

pressure for the lead to

release. This is achieved by

simply placing a tail rubber

over the stem. If

Edges In-line Lead

Drop-off Kit

Way back at the

start of 2012, Fox’s

product development

director, Shaun

McSpadden, and I

started playing with

an idea to convert the Fox

in-line leads into something

that could be ejected on the take. In

the April of 2012 we were fortunate

to fi sh Rainbow Lake in France, which

has extreme snags. It was the perfect

venue for testing our new creation,

and we both managed to land 50 carp

between us, including 14x 40s, 13x

50s, two 60s, one 70-pounder and

two over 80lb (one each!). The system

worked a treat but a

few issues were

identifi ed in terms of

tolerance, etc., and so

over the course of the rest of

2012 we decided to take our

time and give it a thorough

you want to drop the lead immediately

on the bite then you would fi sh the

kit without the tail rubber – I do this

if fi shing with very short rigs under

4ins, and/or when fi shing amongst

weed and snags. However, if I am

fi shing with a longer rig without a

solid PVA bag, maybe a coated braid

and Snowman, then I would place

the tail rubber over the drop-off

stem. This means that the lead

will only eject when it comes

into contact with a snag, etc.,

or when more pressure

is applied. CC

024-025_Rigs_CC190.indd 2 07/05/2013 16:15

48 Crafty Carper

MARTIN BOWLER | PART TWO: SPRING INTO SUMMERNow that spring is in full fl ow, it’s time to take a look at this beautiful season and see what it has to offer to our angling.

Carp fi shing affords many pleasures that cannot

merely be counted in pounds and ounces. Getting

close to nature is certainly one of these

and you will, if you keep your eyes open,

be afforded sights few birdwatchers

and walkers will ever see, because

if you stay in the same place for 24

or 48 hours, the natural world will

come to you. A kingfi sher sitting

on a rod with its azure blue jacket

illuminating even the dullest of days;





migrated from Africa where it had spent the winter,

a pit stop was required in the south of England before

continuing on to the breeding grounds in Scotland. I was

certainly in the right place at the right time, watching it

hover over the lake, trying to get a fi x on a roach

whilst being mobbed by angry crows not

amused at having to share their air space.

Then, as the afternoon arrived and

the wind abated, it made its move,

wings folded, free-falling towards

a fl ank of silver scales. A spray of

water registered the impact and

momentarily it seemed stranded,

bobbing around on the surface, but its

majestic movement soon returned, and

with a beat of its wings it rose from the

lake, exposing talons full of roach sushi. Tea

had been served, to be devoured on top of a distant

treeline. A highlight indeed, alongside the carp caught.


silver fi sh prey.

MAIN IMAGE The snags are simply a carp magnet.

048-052_Seasons_CC190.indd 1 02/05/2013 14:19

Crafty Carper 49

“A SIMPLE APPROACHis always the name of the game for me, with

LOCATIONthe only thing thatREALLY CONCERNS MEwhen on the bank”

048-052_Seasons_CC190.indd 2 02/05/2013 14:20

D A R R E L L P E C K

The Finer PointsDarrell Peck

82 Crafty Carper

This month Darrell takes a close look at some of the more technical points within his angling. We’re sure it will open your eyes to how the mind of this

carp-catching machine really works, as it’s the little things that make a big difference.

In this article I’m going to

go into detail about some

of the fi ner, more technical

points within my angling. I’ll

try to explain how and why I do

things the way that I do. Some

of this is my personal opinion,

and some of it is just stuff that

has served me well over the

years. What I’ll be trying to get

across is how I go about things,

so I can sit behind motionless

rods knowing for sure that I am

fi shing effectively, but most

of all, with total confi dence.

ANGLER PROFILE

Darrell Peck...........................Age 31...........................HometownChelmsford...........................OccupationAngling consultant...........................UK PB65lb 4oz...........................Favourite venueNorth Met Pit...........................RodsDF Infi nity 12ft 3.75lb...........................ReelsDaiwa QDX...........................AlarmsDelkim Tx-i

WATCH THE LEAD IN FLIGHTWe all know that a tangled rig is

counterproductive and should be avoided

at all costs. When thinking about rig construction,

it’s the anti-tangle properties that are my fi rst

consideration, quickly followed by the hooked-

to-landed ratio. This may sound obvious, but it

seems these days, some believe that a simple well-

constructed rig that never tangles isn’t enough to

outwit the wary modern-day carp. Well, trust me, the

carp don’t care if you’re using the latest wonder rig.

What matters most is that the carp can get at the bait

and the hook is able to catch hold within the mouth.

Even though I have extreme confi dence in the anti-

tangle properties of any of my chosen rigs, I still

watch the rig like a hawk during fl ight, just to be sure.

What I’m looking for is good separation between the

lead and the bait – a bait rotating on a fully extended

rig is generally not tangled. On the other hand, a bait

that is close to the lead can often be tangled and

would certainly warrant checking, for peace of mind.

Ever heard of the double plop? This is when you see

the separate splash of both the lead and bait. This

can’t be achieved in all situations, but when spotted

it gives me unrivalled confi dence. Look for it at short

to medium range, and especially with Zig Rigs.

082-084_Pecky_CC190.indd 1 10/05/2013 13:33

The Finer PointsDarrell Peck

Crafty Carper 83

MARK THE LINE AND USE THE LINE CLIPWhether I have just

fl icked out or I’ve marked up an area,

I always mark my line with soft pole

elastic. I do this next to the reel’s clip

or where I have trapped the line with

my fi ngers. This enables me to hit

the desired area time and time again

with the utmost accuracy by simply

recasting to a horizon marker. By

placing the line behind the clip at the

desired range, the distance I can cast is

predetermined. I make sure I anticipate

the impact and cushion the lead down,

which makes for a smooth cast. This

tactic can be super-useful when you’re

getting multiple bites or returning

to the same swim at a later date.

LOSE THE LEADI would never

advocate losing a lead

for the sake of it, but when I think

it’s benefi cial I do so. When fi shing

near snags or heavy weed, I very

lightly nick the tail rubber onto the

Hybrid Lead Clip. This setup has

always been very effective for me

in these situations and the lead is

always ejected when necessary.

The fi sh only has to shake its head

and the lead comes free. With

nothing to pull the fi sh down, they

often rise up in the water, helping

me to draw them over and away

from any subsurface obstacles.

WHIP LEVEL WITH THE HOOK’S POINTFor all my rigs and for

as long as I can remember, I have

always done this. I only really use

the Wide Gape and Choddy patterns,

which have a medium length shank.

I’ve found that when whipping level

with the point and with the top of

the bait brushing the bend, I don’t

suffer hookpulls, which for me is

very important. In my younger days,

I suffered a lot of losses when I

hadn’t whipped far enough down

and the bait then swung round

the shank. I don’t know why this

is, but I assume the bait somehow

impedes the hook, so I always make

sure the Hair exits the knot exactly

opposite the point after it’s been

tightened. This works for me on

basic Knotless Knot presentations,

using either braid or coated braid,

straight through with a soft Hair.

Mark the line.

BAIT TO HOOK SIZEI’ve found that

matching the hook

size to the bait size is key to a rig’s

mechanical efficiency, and also to

my hooked-to-landed ratio. I use

a Size 6 with 16-20mm baits and

Size 8 with 12-15mm baits. I vary

the hook pattern when fishing with

either a pop-up or bottom bait, but

the actual hook size is dictated by

the bait. When Zig fishing I use

a Size 10 or 12 Mixa hook with a

tiny piece of 8mm foam – it’s all

relevant and should

look like it works.

I vary the hook pattern when fi shing

with either a pop-up or bottom bait



pop-up or bottom bait

Match the hook and bait size.Whip level with the hookpoint.

Use your line clip.

082-084_Pecky_CC190.indd 2 10/05/2013 13:33

RICH CHAPMANWe’ve asked Derbyshire-based carp-chaser Richard Chapman what he recalls as being his most memorable. It’s one that will capture the imagination, as he seeks out a particular

fish from a local club water packed with original stock, many of them older than him.

Most MemorableRich Chapman

126 Crafty Carper

ANGLER PROFILE

Richard Chapman...........................Age 21...........................HometownBurton-on-Trent...........................OccupationSales Assistant(Mullarkeys Direct)...........................UK PB39lb...........................Favourite venueNeve Valley syndicate...........................RodsGreys Isofl ex 12ft 3lb...........................ReelsDaiwa Tournament ts5000t...........................AlarmsChub Neuron T5

126-128_MostMem_CC190.indd 1 29/04/2013 14:49

W henever anyone asks me

what my most memorable

capture is, I always struggle

to choose just one; some that stand

out are not really because of the fish,

but the strange situations that often

coincide with the capture. This one tops

the lot though, not only a mad little

lake, but a truly awesome fish to boot.

Going back a few years, I had just

passed my driving test and was looking

a little further afield for venues to

target with, hopefully, a few bigger

carp. Going on a tip-off from a mate,

I had purchased a cheap club ticket

with the intention of fishing a little-

known water with a low stock of some

really old fish. My ultimate target

was the Broken Linear, which, in the

past, had topped 40lb in weight,

although from what I could find out it

was normally around mid- to upper-

30s. Couple this with the fact that

it is jet-black and as old as the hills,

and it made it a truly worthwhile

adversary to pit my wits against.

The lake itself is not big, 3-4 acres

at most, and relatively shallow. The

gin-clear water allowed you to see

most of the lakebed, which was tinted

green with a carpet-like covering of

silkweed. Clear spots were non-existent

and the absence of carp sightings did

little to boost the confidence. The only

time you really got to see what you

were fishing for was when exploring

the marginal snags that provided

sanctuary for the wily residents.

You could get up close and personal

with the residents, but fishing for

them would be suicide in those

conditions. It would have to be a

case of waiting until they ventured

out into open water and setting

traps in preparation for their arrival.

The first year I had the ticket, I

Most MemorableRich Chapman

Crafty Carper 127

fished a couple of

nights with nothing to

show for my efforts.

One bank of the lake

has what can best be

described as wooden

huts, which are home

to a number of locals,

and let’s just say they

don’t mind a drink or two. One

night’s chances were cut short

when a couple of them, in a rather

intoxicated state, set sail in the club’s

boat. The end result

was a couple of wet

locals, a sunken boat,

and any chance of

catching well and

truly blown, so I

packed up in the

morning, feeling

rather dejected. On the following

session, as soon as I opened the car

door I could hear music blaring out

from across the lake. Undeterred, I

set up at the ‘quiet’ end of the lake,

hoping that the fish would have the

same idea, but by the early hours of

the morning it was clear they were

partying all night and I’d had enough – I

packed up and vowed never to return!

Time obviously numbed the memory,

and the next season I decided to go

back for round two. On my first session

I was lucky enough to turn up to see

a local angler landing a couple of fish

off the surface. They weren’t any of

the real biggies, but whilst taking

the pictures I couldn’t help but notice

how dark and stunning they were. I

left him to it, congratulating him on a

fine piece of angling, and left to get

myself set up for the night ahead.

I fished close in for the night, but

once again I woke

up with no fish to

show for my efforts.

I had waded out

the baits so knew

that presentation

wasn’t a problem,

it was just a case

that the fish hadn’t paid me a visit.

I had a rethink on my tactics whilst

I was away from the lake, and decided

the only real option was the humble

Chod. This was before it had become

as widely used as it is today and I

don’t think anyone else was using

it on there at the time, so knowing

I could fish anywhere

where anything showed

LEFT PAGE First fish from the water and my target. Get in!!

ABOVE Although small, the water brought its own set of challenges.

RIGHT You could find them in the snags, but catching them was another question.

BELOW Leadcore was the choice, but I think lead-free Downfall made a massive difference.

BOTTOM To my knowledge, nobody else was using the Chod on this water.

“it’s slightly slower-sinking and more supple,

so you can balance out the pop-up and get it to sit on top of even

the fluffiest of weed”

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Crafty Carper June 2013