Total carp october 2014 uk by Eugen Robu

Loving Laney’s stuff! Dear TC I’m just writing so say how much I am enjoying reading Dave Lane’s series, Exploding The Myths. I’m a bit bored of reading the usual, run-of-themill ‘man goes fishing’ features, but Mr Lane’s stuff is superb. It’s an interesting read every month and, not just for the sake of it, he’s not afraid to be a little bit controversial and certainly always says it how it is. He couldn’t be further from the plethora of modern, manufactured carp celebrities that ‘grace’ the pages of many magazines. Peter Hillary, via e-mail Ed: Even better, it’s written by a man who is hugely talented and, more importantly, has years of experience to back it all up. What Dave writes genuinely comes from his own findings from decades of fishing at the top level. I’m also loving his series, Peter, and I plan for it to continue for a long time to come.

Loving Chilly’s stuff! Dear TC I am not one for writing into magazines as I am never sure whether or not anybody ever even reads them let alone takes any notice. However, I felt drawn to do so having read Ian Chillcott’s diary piece in the last few issues since I started buying Total Carp. It’s wonderful to read about somebody who seems to have a genuine love for carp fishing, yet fits it in around the rest of his life including his sick wife. This is the reality of what most of us have to face. Okay, so I am not naive enough to think that he doesn’t get free bait and tackle, but he seems so much more ‘normal’ compared to many of the younger generation. Simon Whittaker, via email

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Mirror or leather? Dear TC I caught this lovely carp a couple of years ago from the stunning River Wye, using a worm-andcorn-cocktail bait. It’s not unheard of to catch carp from the Wye but they’re certainly not common, so I feel honoured to have caught this one. Until recently, I had always considered it a mirror, but a few people have suggested that it’s actually a leather carp. Could you please give me your expert advice and tell me once and for all which sort of carp it is? Thank you. Kevin Ford, Hereford Ed: Firstly, congratulations on the capture, Kevin.The Wye really is a stunning river and always grabs my attention whenever driving near various sections. I’ve also fished it a few times, but always for barbel and other species. Right, getting back to your query. It’s difficult to be absolutely sure because the picture is taken from a print and

the image isn’t the clearest, but I would say it’s a mirror. It appears that the fish has a small area of scales near the wrist of the tail and, possibly, also along its back. For me, a true leather should have absolutely no scales on its body whatsoever. I’ve only even caught one, what I class, true ‘naked’ leather, a mid-20-pounder some eight years or so ago from Linear’s Hunt’s Corner Lake. It remains one of my favourite ever captures. Regardless of it being a leather or a mirror, consider this one of your best because it is a great achievement from the Wye.

A holiday in his wife’s home country of Lithuania saw TC reader Andy Bell enjoy some great diving, along with nephews Romas and Marius. While he didn’t see any carp when diving at the lake resort of Plateliai he was able to swim with shoals of perch and roach, and even hold the tail of a big pike. Andy asked me to thank both his nephews and his dive instructor,Vilius, and has said that he’s already planning a return trip next year to celebrate his 50th birthday and to take his scuba licence. Andy receives a brilliant pack of Hinders Supreme Cream baits, including boilies, groundbait, liquid and pop-ups for sending in his pic.

THIS MONTH’S WINNER: Andy Bell, Boston