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No.188 March 2013 April 2013 | Issue 188 | £3.90
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Crafty Carper /// Issue 188 /// April 2013 /// www.craftycarper.co What’s on this month’s cover...
128
Competition Trakker
Front cover: Carp-catching machine Mark Bartlett with a stunning 27lb mirror.
13
The Traveller Mark Bartlett
CRAFTY COLUMNISTS
11
Editorial James Turner
Editor James has had a busy time of it over the last month, shooting
Trakker are in full swing with their brand
Mr Bartlett ventures down Hampshire way as he takes
features and attending shows. Here
new gear, and they’ve supplied us with a
on the famous Yateley day ticket water – Sandhurst.
he tells us all about it, and what you
few Levelite Beds and Layers Sleeping Bags
Can he catch a Sandhurst stunner? You bet he can!
can expect from this month’s edition.
to give away to three lucky readers.
141
Diary of an Everyday Carper
Julian Cundiff He’s the man who never sleeps, and his busy schedule means he has no choice but to live up to that moniker. But, remarkably, he’s still catching plenty! OUT & ABOUT
84
The TicketMaster From north to south we’ve
got your next fishing trip sorted. We preview six of the best day tickets in the land, and offer free fishing at two class venues in Yorkshire and Essex. INTERACTIVE
26
Catch Column Want to see your pics
in our magazine? Well you can in Catch Column. We select the best of the captures we receive and send the monthly winner a £50 Mainline Baits voucher.
71
The Question Is We have six carping
masters on hand to answer all your carping questions. Having problems landing that target fish? Don’t know which rig to use? Don’t worry, because these guys do!
133
Subs Offer We’ve got a corker of
a subscription offer for our readers this month – a year’s subscription to Crafty and a truckload of some fantastic Taska terminal tackle.
37
49
Master Pellet Fishing Tony Smeats
95
Carpers’ Kit Team Crafty takes a shufti at some of
There is more to pellets then just whacking them out
the best gear money can buy, including a look at the
around a hookbait. We got pellet master Tony Smeats to
ever useful distance sticks from Cygnet, and editor
show us how to get the most out of the little devils.
James talks about one of his essential bits of kit.
6
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Contents /// March 2013
136
Inbox This month’s Inbox is a
Carpin’ On 2013 special. We have a special report on this year’s Carpin’
BEHIND THE SCENES AT CRAFTY CARPER
62
Highlights of the month…
On show, and feature some of the
Super-Bart!
best photos from the exhibition.
Check out this effort from cover star Mark Bartlett. He
FEATURES
20
told editor James where he
When Opportunity Knocks
was going to be casting,
Ian Stott
so James zoomed in on the
Sticky consultant Ian Stott tells us
coot floating nearby, and
how he makes the most of the time of
as you can see, Bartlett
year when everything starts to come
was bang on the money.
to life, especially those hungry carp.
But just to bring him back
24
down to earth, our editor Rigs Under The Spotlight Rob Hughes
In a brand new series we ask a top angler to review one of their favourite rigs. This month Fox
caught a brief glance
62
Angling Through the Seasons Part 1
Martin Bowler
114
of Bart’s briefs. It’s not In the Spotlight: Foam
often we say this, but is
Chris Lowe
that Superman emerging
There’s more to foam than just Zig
maestro Rob Hughes gives us
Martin is back with another fantastic
fishing. Avid angler Chris Lowe gives
the low-down on the Zig Rig.
series, this time looking at what effect
us the low-down on his favourite
the seasons have on carp fishing.
foam tactics. Put his advice to the
The Great Crafty Debate
First up is a look at many anglers’
test and you won’t be disappointed.
Crafty has once again
favourite time of year, early spring.
33
presented the experts with a carping dilemma. This month the panel discuss whether they prefer to use a clutch or backwind.
37
CARP FOOD
A Look at Paste Leon Bartropp
Paste is a hookbait that serves anglers
55
Carp Food Joe Turnbull cooks up some
cork dust pop-ups and gives some tips
well at this time of year. We gave our
on adding extra attraction, plus editor
Urban Banx
old mate Leon a call to give us an
James takes a look at what’s been
Alan Blair
insight into how to use it, and even
catching him some fish this month.
Alan Blair continues tackling those overlooked, less attractive, but often productive carp waters. His park lake has lost its lid now, so it’s time for the Nash man to bag a few.
43
79
how to cook up your own batch.
90
CARPERS’ KIT
BYCAC 2013 It’s that time of year
again; the Korda British Young
100
In Focus Fox Supa Brolly System
Fox have only gone and made the
Carpers’ Angling Championship
Supa Brolly even better! We gave it
Crafty Carper Under-21s
will soon be upon us. We give
the Crafty inspection, and we have
BYCAC champ Josh has
you a rundown of what to expect
to say, it’s still a cracking bit of kit.
had another good month on the bank, and Taska young guns Kieran Panchal and Harry Law team up for a cracking piece covering a season on Birds Green Top Lake.
from Bart’s waistband?
Carpin’ On Backstage
from this year’s competition.
120
The Crafty team were all Most Memorable
over Carpin’ On 2013. We
Dan Chart
managed to get the likes
Surrey angler Dan Chart braved
of Terry Hearn, Tom Maker,
brutal winter conditions to try to
Jerry Hammond, Bill Cottam,
catch the sought after Clover. He
Derek Ritchie, and Mark
recounts the amazing story of his campaign on the Road Lake.
146
Five-Minute
103
Pitchers back to our micro In Focus
studio and subjected them
JRC Contact Luggage
to some carpy conundrums.
JRC have upped the stakes when it
We even got the chance
comes to quality luggage at a fair price.
to meet and interview Jim
Mark Pitchers
We took their Contact carryall, rucksack,
Davidson, who gave us
Fox angler Mark has quite an
and rod sling for a little road test.
quite a raucous interview,
Interrogation
imagination; from inventive ways of punishing anglers leaving their rods unattended, to some interesting views on reincarnation, this is one interview that shouldn’t be missed.
105
which hopefully, after a bit In Focus
of clever editing, we will
Prologic Firestarter Bivvy
be able to show you via
One glimpse of the name of this
Crafty TV. Stay tuned folks!
bivvy got us all excited, and thankfully it didn’t disappoint;
TACTICS
108
a great product at a great price. One Step Ahead Darrell Peck
Pecky’s back! The big-carp supremo is a hauler like no other, and he returns to the pages of Crafty with
Read our review on page 105.
131
Mega Deals If you’re in the market for
some new gear, then look no further
some hints and tips to help you stay
than our Mega Deals page. There are
ahead of the pack this spring.
deals for hooklinks, clothing, carp care, and even a cracking book deal.
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The Traveller Mark Bartlett
THE VENUE
FACILITIES:
Sandhurst Lake is part of the Yateley
There are Portaloos situated at the two
complex, and is now under the new
main car parks on the fishery, which are
ownership of Nick Leach. After talking to
kept clean, and just around the corner from
him, it sounds like the future is in very safe
the lake there are a couple of take-aways
hands, and this popular venue should go
that will deliver to the gate if needs be.
from strength to strength. You can currently
A new security gate has recently been
book tickets through Yateley Angling
erected so you can sleep safe knowing that
Centre and obtain up-to-date information
you, your vehicle and your gear is safe.
on the going swims and tactics. These guys have helped with the lake for many
TICKETS AND PRICES:
years, and are a wealth of knowledge if
Fishing at Sandhurst is day ticket
you are planning a trip to Sandhurst.
only with tickets available in advance
The lake itself is about 14 acres in size,
from Yateley Angling Centre.
and has around 28 swims offering a wide
Email: info@yateleyangling.
variety of options. Don’t think it will be
co.uk or tel: 01252 861955.
packed to capacity like most day ticket
They are priced as follows:
lakes, as only a certain number of anglers
Two rods for up to 12 hours — £20.00
are allowed on at any one time. I think this
Two rods for up to 24 hours — £25.00
is an excellent policy, and it really does
Three rods for up to 12 hours — £25.00
make for a pleasant stay. The fish stock
Three rods for up to 24 hours — £30.00
speaks for itself, with around 200 fish which are packing on the weight. There’s a
RULES
huge head of 30lb+ fish in the venue, with
NO parking behind swims
around 50 fish over this barrier and loads
No unattended rods
from mid- to upper-30s, not to mention
Only designated pegs may be fished. No
the three 40lb+ specimens that would be enough to fish for on their own. There was a stocking of some smaller fish back in 1998, and these are now approaching 20lb. So there you have it, an awesome stock swimming around in this glorious gravel pit awaiting your bait. As for where you
swim-building or clearing is permitted No litter. You will be asked to leave if there is litter in or around your swim All fish caught must be returned to the water as soon as possible No boats, including remote control bait boats
decide to place the bait, it’s up to you, as
No fixed-lead rigs may be used
there are numerous features. The depths
No peanuts, trout pellets or preserved
are from 2-10ft, with an average depth
baits allowed (excluding hookbaits)
of 6ft, but there are plenty of bars and
Barbed hooks only
humps, weedbeds, and even an island
No unaccompanied juniors (under 18)
that you can fish from, which is pretty
No guests allowed
cool. All I can say is get yourself down there – you won’t be disappointed.
Once in the swim I took my time in setting up base, and with little chance
ADDRESS
of rain on the cards I opted for the
Swan Lane, Yateley GU47 9DA
Supa Brolly because it would give me the best visibility over the water. I set it up in a way that I could lie in bed and see all the area in front of me. If a carp decided to stick its head out I wanted to see where it was so I could get straight on it. Whilst doing this I was constantly scanning the water for signs of fish, which was tricky due to the amount of bird life present in the area. My plan was to fish some really bright hookbaits and keep moving them around the swim to cover all the water in front of me. I didn’t think the carp were in the mood for feeding, so I wanted to make it as easy as possible for them. When
“My plan was to fish some really bright hookbaits and keep moving them around the swim to cover all the water in front of me”
it’s tough going, the last thing you need is any doubt in what you’re doing, so use whatever you’re most confident with. Personally, I have total faith in Mainline pop-ups, so I
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The Traveller Mark Bartlett
LEFT One of each. I opted for a different hookbait on each rod – all of them high-viz. ABOVE A standard lead clip system was my choice on all three rods this month. RIGHT The bird
life was having a whale of a time feasting on the weed.
put a bright pink Clockwork Orange, a
double-check this anyway, but I know
bright green Indian Spice and a white
Chemo is on the ball, and I was really
Milky Toffee on my three rods. I like
pleased when I got a nice drop on all
and chilled, watching the water. I was
small 12mm pop-ups for this. I jazz
three rods the first time round. The
just sorting out my tackle box when
approaching, and now I’d bagged one I
them up with some Hinders Liquid
margins are fairly shallow on this bank,
the left-hander was away. This was
could afford to try something with one
Gold Betalin; this provides ultimate
with it sloping down to a reasonable
too good to be true. Rock up, sling out
rod, so the decision was made to get
visibility and maximum attraction in the
depth of around 6ft about 45 yards out.
the rods, and one nailed just over 2
some bait out there. A jar of Hinders
cold clear water. I opted for the same
It is weedy on the shallow areas and
hours later! I got on with doing battle
particles, around half a kilo of 10mm
rig on each rod, which was a Combi
there is quite a lot of bird life feeding
with the unknown culprit, and after a
Mainline Hybrid boilies, and a handful
Rig comprising 10ins of 25lb Rigidity
on the weed, with a few swans hardly
couple of attempts to rid himself of a
of larger Cell baits were mixed up. I was
with a 1ins section of stripped-back
having to put their heads under the
trophy shot, a lovely upper-double was
going to put out six or seven spods
20lb Coretex and a Size 5 SSBP hook
water to have a munch on it. After it
in the net. A pristine common of 18lb
over an area the size of a groundsheet
(I also like to mould the putty around
drops off it is reasonably clear from
8oz was photographed in the wintry
and just put one rod on it. I found a
the knot between the Rigidity and
the 45yd-mark to the middle, which
sun. The rod that received the bite was
little hard area about 80 yards out, and
Coretex). All three rods were kitted
is about 90-100yds. This is where I
the Clockwork Orange pop-up. I didn’t
I clipped up my rod as well as the spod
out with leadcore leaders and lead
was going to move my rods around in
think it was totally down to the fact
rod. The baits were spread nicely and I
clips, and my main line was upped to
that the fish preferred the Clockwork
chucked out a Milky Toffee pop-up, and
20lb Soft Steel because I didn’t want
over the Indian Spice or Milky Toffee;
then rebaited the other two rods with
to take any chances if I hooked into
I reckoned it was more down to the
fresh hookbaits for the night ahead.
one of the big units in Sandy. I didn’t really want to be thrashing around with marker leads too much, so I decided to ring my mate Ian Russell,
the hope of landing on a few fish. The rods were out and I was all nice
location. The left-hander went back out, and the right-hander came in and was repositioned to the left. I was well chuffed. I’d had one already, but if
who has fished this place for the last 10 years or more. After a quick chat he put me on to some spots and told me about the swim I was in. I would normally
I’m honest I felt like it was a bit of a fluke. Better to be lucky than be good! Darkness on the first night was
Tea was cooked, the hot-water bottle was filled to keep me company for the evening, and it wasn’t long before I disappeared into the land of Nod. A 6.00 a.m. alarm call saw the middle rod slowly releasing some line, and I
LEFT Returning the first
fish of the session – it’s always a great feeling to get off the mark - especially when the venue has been quiet for so long.
scurried out of my nice warm pit to do battle. After wiping the sleep from my eyes it slowly dawned on me that the lake had frozen in front of me for about 30 yards, so
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RIGS UNDER the SPOTLIGHT This brand new series sees a top angler review one of their favourite carp-catching rigs – this month it’s Rob Hughes.
This month: Zig Rigs
I
’m going to start off with a very bold statement – Zigs are incredible fish-catchers at any time of year,
but now is when they really come into their own, and if you don’t try them you are seriously missing out on chances. In fact, I’d go as far as to say they are as good as boilies the majority of the time, and probably better than them now! Wow! There’s an opening, but quite frankly, it’s absolutely bang on. Just look at the top lads, the pages of CarpTalk, and particularly the results of the British Championships, and you’ll see that Zigs are incredibly effective. Carp don’t just feed on the bottom and the top, they feed in the middle as well, and there’s a lot of middle to go at. Herein lies the problem; a lot of the time anglers are a little unsure of what to do, so they usually have a half-hearted go for an hour or two, and when the rods haven’t rattled off they reel in and revert to the AA of carp fishing, the PVA bag. Big mistake! Up to a couple of years ago I was the same. I knew they were effective, but didn’t really like using them, and to be honest I felt like I was tactical pub chucking with a lure somewhere up in the water when I was using them. However, I persevered, and took time to learn them by going out with a couple of really good Zig anglers, particularly Mark Bartlett and Tom Maker, who are arguably two of the best Ziggers in the country. And you know what, I learned. I made myself learn because they simply can’t and shouldn’t be ignored. I actually went to an easy runs water with a bucket of slop and only Zig Rigs, which gave me no option to fish with anything else. I caught, refined the technique, added a couple of my own
ANGLER PROFILE
Rob Hughes Age 41 Hometown
Westbury Occupation
Solicitor/TV presenter UK PB
48lb 14oz Favourite venue
Heron at Abbey Lakes, France Rods
Fox Horizon XT Reels
Fox Stratos 12000E Alarms
Fox NTXr
24
RIGHT Here are
the components that Rob uses to construct his Zig Rig.
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Rigs Under the Spotlight Rob Hughes
CONSTRUCT HUGHESY’S ZIG RIG
With the new Zig Aligna from Fox, it’s never been easier to fish Zigs. Here’s how.
1
2
Cut the hooklink to the chosen depth and attach a hook using a Grinner Knot.
Now thread a Zig Aligna onto the hooklink, thick end first, and position over the eye of the hook.
4
5
Place the thin end of the loading tool through the loop on the back of the Zig Aligna.
twists, and I now reckon they are one of
3 Put a piece of foam into the loading tool, as shown here.
6
Pull the tool through the loop and it traps the foam in place, like so; the rig is complete.
When fishing a standard Zig Rig approach, Rob opts for a lead clip setup.
occasionally white foam for the
to fish them, so this is where you
hookbait, and cut it so small that
have to do some work. As a rule, when
it’s only just big enough to hold the
it’s really cold, aim for half to quarter
hooklink and hook up in the water.
depth; I prefer a brighter foam hookbait
If you really want something that
here. In the spring, as it’s warming up,
is user-friendly and does the job
try between half and three-quarters
properly, have a look at the new Zig
depth, and in the summer, when it’s
Alignas, which not only look absolutely
hot, aim anywhere between half and
bang on underwater, but are also mega-
full depth, or sometimes even over
are not feeding, have picked us up and
simple to tie up. Simply tie on a hook,
depth like an anchored floater.
done us, or possibly because they are
slide on an Aligna, then insert the foam
feeding up in the water rather than on
into the band. The foam piggybacks
gambit that Zigs are incredible
the best ways of catching carp there is. In the UK I am now almost as likely to be fishing a Zig as I am a bottom bait. Carp are opportunist feeders and will eat what’s in front of them, but it does need to be in front of them. We have all had fish over our baits but not had a bite. Is this because they
“In the spring, try between half and three-quarters depth, and in the summer, when it’s hot, aim anywhere between half and full depth”
I’ll close by repeating my opening
the bottom baits? Through my diving
through the spring, and this is why
the hook in the middle of the shank
fish-catchers at any time of year,
I have seen that they spend an awful
Zigs are so effective at this time of
and you’re ready to go. Simples!
but now is when they really come
lot of the time up in the water; this is
year. Nature is prebaiting for us.
where you find the likes of emerging nymphs, taddies, etc., particularly
The only complicated bit is where
I think part of the mental issue with Zigs is the rig itself, because it is not
into their own. If you don’t try them you are seriously missing out
BELOW A lovely Zig-caught mirror.
on chances. Happy hunting! CC
as easy to tie, nor as easy to cast, as a standard rig. However, things need not be complicated, and this is one of the most important issues when you start Zigging. Make up a few and keep them in a rig box ready to go; you’re more likely to change over to a rig that’s already made up than if you have to make one on the bank. Get a handful ready and put the foam on at home so you don’t have to faff around chopping things to the right size, and make them up to 10-12ft deep so you have a depth choice. If the lake you are fishing is shallower, you can always cut them down to the depth you need, or if you really have to search the depths, use an adjustable Zig float, which makes the ABOVE For deeper lakes you can’t go wrong
with an adjustable Zig arrangement.
job really easy without having to recast. Stick with black, yellow, and
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So that’s commercial venues covered, but what if I need to leave a bait in place for longer? Well, like nearly every bait in fishing, there is a plastic alternative, and pellets are no different.
RIGHT A powerful rod is needed to punch out a fully-loaded spod. BELOW Be careful not to overfill the
spod because it won’t fly straight. BOTTOM To stop spod spill, plug
the top with groundbait.
They come in a variety of different sizes and buoyancies, all of which are very handy, and obviously don’t
of the bag, and helps to negate the
break down and can withstand the
weight of the hook. I’m fairly convinced
attention of nuisance species, including
that when a carp drops down to feed on
crayfish and poissons chat. My personal
a tight group of pellets like this, it tries
favourites are 12 or 14mm pop-up
to suck in everything in one go, and this
versions which I use in a very particular
small hookbait goes in the mouth very
way. The ones I use have a large hole at
easily. This style of fishing has caught
one end, so I can add a counterbalance
me loads of fish when I’ve launched a
shot if I so wish. I fish them on a fairly
solid bag out towards showing fish.
standard pop-up rig and fill the whole
My final little presentation is the
with a liquid attractor, then plug it
Method, a tactic that is overlooked
with groundbait or paste. Once cast
by many, and I must say it’s their loss
out the plug dissolves and releases
and my gain. I either fish Method balls
the attractor; try it in the edge and
on the clip to create a baited area
you’ll be amazed at how well it works. This is fished in conjunction with
that’s topped up every cast, or just like the PVA bag approach, as a chuck-
what I describe
it-and-chance
as a PVA mesh
technique.
stringer. Thread
Rather than use
several 12mm
a dedicated
pellets into
Method mix,
some mesh
I much prefer
and tie them
to scald the
under tension;
pellet to create
this creates a
my own individual
presentation that scatters the pellets underwater. As the PVA dissolves it actually shrinks, contracting the
mix. Simply add several good handfuls of 4mm pellets to a bowl before pouring boiling water over them till
mesh tube,
they’re covered.
until the mesh
Then leave
finally gives,
them for just a
scattering the
minute before
pellets over a saucer-sized area – a great technique. My next tactic may seem a little old hat, but boy, if you get it right it will catch
draining off the excess water, and let them stand for several minutes; it’s even better if you can seal the container, but not
fish all day long. I simply balance one
necessary. After a short period the
of my pre-drilled pellets with a piece
pellets become sticky and can be
of plastic corn; this gives the bait a
moulded around a Method feeder.
very visual aspect, as well as adding
With a few different presentations
a degree of buoyancy. This is fished
covered, I think it’s fair to complete
with a very small PVA bag of micro
this guide with an explanation of how
pellet nicked onto the hook, a deadly
to feed pellets. As I’ve said, I tend not
presentation in its own right. I have
to go overboard with feed, but it can
also found that by utilising the line clip
be an advantage when it comes to
and marking the line, I can get better
encouraging carp to feed. Most people
results. By regular recasting to the
carry around a bucket filled with a mix
same spot I can create a small tight
of different types of pellets. These
baited area that attracts and holds fish
will be a variety of sizes, densities and
for longer, which means more bites.
have varying breakdown times, and I do
For long-range work, or on small
exactly the same. The problem is how
bite-sized packages, I tend to use solid
to get them out into the swim. If you
PVA bags, with a small artificial pellet
try to catapult them out, range is an
the same size as my free offerings,
issue, and because of the variety they
normally 4mm or 6mm. This might
fly all over the place. So when using the
seem tiny but it matches the contents
catapult, I’ve always found it best to
52
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Master Pellet Fishing Tony Smeats
fire out small PVA bags; this increases
INSET PVA bags of pellet are
the range and keeps the baiting nice
easy to feed and go further.
and tight. If I want to go even further
ABOVE Carefully does it — steering
out, then I opt for the spod. To get the best from this I two-thirds fill the body,
a pellet-caught carp to the net. BELOW Proof that pellets can
catch decent-sized carp,
then cap it off with a plug of pelletbased groundbait. This stops irritating spod spill, and ensures that every single last pellet is deposited exactly on the spot. For me, pellets are a massive edge, simply
them as hookbaits or as a bait in their own right. This is a massive bonus, and when you think how often carp see pellets, in one form or another, you can’t help but catch a few with a
because so few
carefully laid pellet-based trap. Go on,
people actually use
give them a go – you won’t regret it. CC
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ANGLER PROFILE
Darrell Peck ........................... Age 31 ........................... Hometown
Chelmsford ........................... Occupation
Angling consultant ........................... UK PB
65lb 4oz ........................... Favourite venue
North Met Pit ........................... Rods
DF Infinity 12ft 3.75lb ........................... Reels
Daiwa QDX ........................... Alarms
Delkim Tx-i
DARRELL PECK
ONE STEP AHEAD Hauling machine Darrell Peck gives some pointers to make this spring your best ever, and put you one step ahead of the rest of the field. 108
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One Step Ahead
Darrell Peck
TOP Darrell reminisces about the unbelievable winter he’s had. Follow his tips and you’ll be one step closer to the catch of your dreams.
S
pring is probably the best time of year for me. The carp are just waking up from their
winter slumbers and they’re on the move. That said, I’ve just experienced my best winter ever on the banks of the magnificent Rockford Pit nestled deep in Ringwood. What I’m trying to say is that with a bit of effort and baiting, carp don’t need to lie up all winter. If you keep them feeding and get the location right, you can still catch, just like I have. There was many a time when I’d sit there wondering what on earth I was doing. I would scan the area for signs of fish, and at times it looked so bleak and cold that I did question my sanity. However, as darkness fell I got a real sense of magic, and time after time I would get the muchneeded bite to keep me going. To be honest, this continued throughout my Rockford winter exploits, and having pinpointed the exact zone of where they were lying up, I tallied up a huge list of big carp. This included two, yes two, separate 50-pounders – mind-blowing, to be honest.
“It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to work out that they require food for energy, so it’s time to get the rods out” Right, on to spring, because this is what we’re all getting excited about. The carp are at their biggest weights and are active. This means just one thing – they’re on the move and using energy. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to work out that they require food for energy, so it’s time to get the rods out.
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£1,300+ TRAKKER COMPETITION
Get In Bed with the Trakker Competition Here’s your chance to become the proud owner of the brand new Levelite Bed and Layers Sleeping Bag.
T
THE LEVELITE BED
That’s right – it’s a bed, not a bedchair – a bed! It’s not a typo, get over it! And what a bed it is: versatile, light, flat and comfortable – it’s got all the basics. The Levelite gets its name from its abilities, i.e. it’s both light in weight and has a completely flat profile. It features a thick padded mattress and a strong aluminium frame.
rakker have been thinking
for a quick overnighter between
Trakker have also done away with the bulky locking
hard about how to help
work days is not advised. You may
cams, prevalent on most bedchairs, in favour of a
anglers get more kip on the
very well be so cosy that you don’t
series of double hinges. These allow the bed to pack
get up for work the next morning!
down to be compact, which makes it easier to load
bank. Their brains have been in overdrive, but they’ve come up with
Trakker have nailed it with both the
away in the car boot. It even packs down neatly with
two fantastic brand new items for
Levelite Bed and the Layers Sleeping
a bulky sleeping bag attached, making it perfect for
2013: the Layers Sleeping bag, and
Bag, and we’re offering the chance
use with the Layers Bag. It also has the nifty addition
the imperial Levelite Bed. Not only
for three readers to bag one of each.
of a clip to hold the bed in place tightly whilst it’s
that, they’ve supplied us with a few
That’s nearly £440 worth of top-
folded. The bed has a unique patented leg mechanism,
to give away to our readers, but
quality new Trakker gear. To win, all
which means the legs (with rotating mud feet) can be
winners beware – using these items
you have to do is answer a question.
adjusted with the press of a button, and will hold firm to keep the bed in place and level on any bankside terrain. All this weighs only a meagre 9.6kg, which makes it nice and light for transportation. It’s easy to get in the car, and it’s completely flat and comfortable; what more could you want from the Levelite? RRP: £299.99 The unique patented leg mechanism is something to behold.
128
Crafty Carper
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11/03/2013 16:42
Competition
Trakker
THE LAYERS SLEEPING BAG
Oh, the snuggliness – year round snuggliness at that! This clever little bag offers a bit more than an average sleeping bag. Very rarely do we associate sleeping bags with versatility, but it’s the case with this bad boy. Some bags might claim to be for 4-season use, but how could one sleeping bag be warm enough for the depths of winter, and yet cool enough for those sweltering summer temperatures? Well they can’t, so Trakker have rolled two bags into one. The top layer has a nice smooth finish, which is ideal for summer and 2-season work, with an extra layer underneath for a bit of extra padding. Then there is another
ON PAC E OF T KAG HRE E S OF A E PRIZ BED E A L SLE ND LAY EVELIT E E E WO PING B RS RTH A £44 G 0
bag underneath that one with a fleece finish, meaning that when you slip your frosty toes underneath there’s a soft cover with the added bulk of a summer layer above it. Each also features crash zips, which easily unfasten when a run rudely interrupts your slumber, allowing you to get to the rods without having to untie yourself from the bag. Clever, eh? Not only that, there are elasticated retention sleeves at the top and bottom of the bag, plus an adjustable tension strap around the middle to stop the bag slipping out of place. RRP: £139.99
HOW TO WIN Simply answer the following question:
What is the full name of the new Trakker Bed? (Please circle one) A) The Flatskinny Bed B) The Bumpyfatty Bed C) The Levelite Bed Name Postal address
Postcode Telephone no Mobile Email Daytime delivery address (if different from above)
Postcode Post your entry to: Trakker Competition, CC188, Angling Publications Ltd., Regent House, 101Broadfield Road, Sheffield S8 0XH. You may photocopy this page to avoid spoiling the magazine. Winners will be notified in writing, please allow 28 days for the delivery of your prize (for which a signature will be required), which will come direct from the manufacturer. No cash alternative. For more info on Trakker gear, check out the web: trakkerproducts.co.uk The competition closes at midnight on 16/04/2013.
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FATHER’S DAYgreat- JUNE 16TH gifts from the carpstore Korda Carp Bubbles T-Shirt
Carp Up Close
£18.99 + £1.95 P&P
£14.99 + £1.95 P&P BLU-RAY £19.99 + £1.95 P&P DVD
Bivvy Tramps Book
£11.99 + £1.95 P&P
Bank Tramps Beanie Hats
£8.50 + £1.95 P&P Keep Calm Go Fishing Mug
£4.99 + £1.95 P&P
Keep Calm Go Fishing Keyring
£1.95 + £1.95 P&P
Korda Thinking Tackle 7 DVD
£19.99
+ £1.95 P&P
ArmoLife Cutlery Set
£7.99
+ £1.95 P&P
Korda Carp Distressed T-Shirt
£16.99 + £1.95 P&P
TheCarpStore
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available from A N G L I N G
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