Avid Carpers Vol.11 July/August 2014

S R E P R A C D I AV FREE

Volume 11

avidcarp.com

July / August 2014

FMROENTEHLY

BI-

INE

MAGAZ

SUMMER TIPS 52 PAGES OF HINTS, TIPS AND TRICKS THAT WILL HELP YOU CATCH MORE CARP THIS SUMMER

CONTENTS...

COVERFEATURE

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F O R S H O RT S E S S I O N S DAV E C H A N C E L LO R

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1 UN DE R S TA N D Y OUR C H A LLE N G E Remember that knowledge is power. The more you know about your target venue and the fish within, the easier the challenge will be to conquer. Keep an eye out in magazines, online and speak to old and existing members about the lake. The more you know, the more you will catch.

2 PR E PA R E IN A DVA N C E Your time will be limited so it’s important that you prepare in advance. Make sure your tackle is organized and get your bait and rigs ready before your session. It’s better to have everything ready at the side of the lake, rather than wasting time and missing valuable fishing opportunities.

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Avid Carpers July / August 2014

Top tips F O R

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S H O RT S E S S I O N S DAV E C H A N C E L LO R

3 BE O NE ST E P A H E A D

7 B E A C C UR ATE

Always try and position yourself slightly ahead of where you think the carp will be or in an area you know they frequent. As your time is limited you simply cannot wait for them to come to you and you don’t want to cast on top of them because you may push them out of the area.

With both casting and baiting, always make sure you’re fishing as accurately as possible. If you’re fishing a particular feature ensure that your rig is perfectly positioned and make sure you bait super-accurately around it. Attention to detail plays a massive part in catching large carp. Make the effort to get it right first time.

5 F I S H F OR A

R U N AT A T I M E

4 WAT CH A N D LE A R N There is no substitution for watercraft. It has caught me more large carp over the years than anything else. Make a note of fish bubbling, showing carp or other angler’s achievements. This will help you gain a picture of what’s going on at the lake and gain a valuable insight into how the fish behave from day to day. The most important thing to do is learn the feeding times and ensure your rods are in position at these times.

Be realistic. Generally the aim isn’t to rack up a big hit of fish. I like to use my snatch and patch approach. You will not be at the lake long enough for a large bed of bait to work unless you are fishing a heavily-stocked venue.

Apply enough bait to obtain one run at a time. You can always put more bait in if you catch, but it’s very difficult to take it out.

6 A LWAY S B E S T E A LT H LI K E Try to keep bankside noise and disturbance to a minimum. Any unnecessary noise at the side of the lake is a sure way to inform your quarry they are in danger. Avoid mallets, spods and excessive casting. Use small leads and try to get your rods on the spot as quickly and quietly as possible.

9 T R AV E L LI G HT When fishing short sessions you are always trying to stay one step ahead of the carp. Travel light because you may need to move at any given time. If you have all the gear loaded on the barrow throughout your session, you will be able to move in a matter of minutes. Effort does equal reward.

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8 P L A N Y OU R A P P R OA CH Always have a plan in respect of your approach. My plan is normally based around weather conditions and angling pressure. I will always fish an area of the lake that has been quiet or undisturbed for a reasonable period of time, or I will select a swim on favorable weather conditions. Once I’ve selected an area to target, I will use a rig I’ve got confidence in and apply a good-quality bait. It’s that simple!

Avid Carpers July / August 2014

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TOP TIPS FOR SHORT SESSIONS

Do you struggle for time? Cover star Dave Chancellor reveals how you can still catch massive carp if you’re limited to day sessions and overnighters.

INTRO JON JONES

N E W P R O D U C T AV I D CA R P E R S

WELCOME...

Hello and welcome to the July/ August issue of our bi-monthly Avid Carpers magazine.

Although it’s nice sitting on the bank in a pair of shades and shorts, the fishing can be incredibly tough at this time of year. As the temperature rises, I’ve found that carp on most venues seem more intent on sunbathing than they actually do feeding.

This means we have to alter our approach accordingly if we want to keep catching consistently.

04

With this in mind, we have made this issue of the magazine a

summer tips special. We have picked the brains of our talented pool of consultants to see how they fish during the warmer months and how they continue to catch carp even when the conditions are stacked against them.

In this issue, Ian Russell reveals a super-simple presentation that he’s been using on RK Leisure’s Horton Complex over the last few months. It’s a neat little rig that’s sure to nick a bite when all else is failing. Carp-catching machine Chris Lowe explains how he manages to keep catching from pressured day-ticket venues in the

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@ jon_Av id Carp @ nig el_Av id Carp

NEW

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sweltering heat. Shropshire based big-fish angler Dave Chancellor reveals how he utilises the extended light hours and catches on short sessions between work, and yours truly reveals how pinning your hooklink and leaders to the lake bed can get you more bites when the fish are feeding with a little more caution. As well as all this there are articles from Ed Skillz, Jon Finch and Jason Umney. Enjoy!

Shoes

Jon ‘Shoes’ Jones

@ jas on_Av id Carp @DMag_81

The

FL I C K

Ri g

UNIQUE FEATURES INCLUDE: • Boasts Increased headroom • Inner skin • Curved peak tension bar • UV 50+ ultraviolet protection fabric • Built in stability rods • Made with lightweight fibreglass poles

The Ascent can be setup like this with a conventional style door system.

There’s also a mozzie mesh with a full-length zip that runs up the middle.

• Made using tough Dura-Stop material

06

• 1 x full zip-in front with PVC panel and mozzie mesh • 1 x full mozzie mesh front with full-length zip • Comes with 2 x storm poles • Complete with heavy-duty groundsheet and pegs

We have reduced the centre hub to create more headroom.

The Ascent has a Curved peak tension bar.

The inner skin eliminates condensation.

Avid Carpers July / August 2014

INTRO/NEW PRODUCTS

Jon ‘Shoes’ Jones introduces the magazine and reveals the new Ascent Brolly System.

Avid Carpers July / August 2014

RIG CLINIC IAN RUSSELL

ascent

The is a complete brolly system that boasts a whole host of great features.

It benefits from increased headroom and is supplied with an inner skin that can be left in place all-year round. The system can be packed away with the built-in skin in place so there’s no need to ever take it out. As well as reducing condensation, the skin also creates a layer of cool air inside the shelter, which makes the system comfortable to use during the warmer months. Made from the ultratough Dura-Stop material for maximum protection, the system can be used like a conventional stripped-out brolly, with or without a full mozzie mesh front, or you can make the most of the full zip-in front if you require more protection.

The shelter boasts two rod straps.

avidcarpers.tv

5

6

Although it may look a bit strange, Ian Russell believes this presentation, known as the flick rig, is brilliant for targeting large, pressured carp. Read on to find out more…

Avid Carpers July / August 2014

facebook.com/avidcarppage

THE FLICK RIG

Ian Russell talks us through a unique rig he’s been having lots of success on recently.

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C O N T E N T S AV I D CA R P E R S

Tooled up

Top tips

R I G T O O L S P R O D U C T F E AT U R E

for

FOR MORE ARTICLES AND VIDEOS CHECK OUT THE FOLLOWING ...

LOWE

Catch more carp this summer from day-ticket venues with Chris Lowe’s Top Tips!

range created an entire We have finally tie rigs will help anglers of rig tools that than ever before. neater and better

F I S H F O R A B I TE If it’s warm and the lake you are targeting is fishing slow, it’s a good idea to start your session using PVA bags, sticks and single hookbaits. If the carp aren’t feeding, the last thing you want to do is introduce kilos of baits.

More often than not, a small parcel of grub put in the right place will tempt a bite, even on the toughest of days.

all carp anglers of those items that hair rigging Rig tools are one splicing leaders, need. Whether you’re stringers, you will need boilie baits or creating in your armory. various rig tools we have tried in the Avid range, Like with anything little bit different tools that are a Avid tools to create baiting available. The new extremely them than what’s already handles that make boast ergonomic of other stand-out well as a couple as use, to rings on the easy have a small metal features. All of them the strength of allow you to test back of them that you to create loop tiers that allow your knots and perfect loops. the range, including different tools in seven are super-sharp There The scissors are a pair of braid scissors.a long time. They also feature for and will stay sharp knot strength. pins for testing ned purpose-desig

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Top tips C H R I S

SUMMER

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Avid Carpers July / August 2014

D O N ’ T F O R G E T TH E F L O ATE R S

S P O O L UP W I TH S TR O N G L I N E

Sometimes one of the best ways to nick a bite is to target the carp when they are cruising around on the surface. That’s why I always have one of the Sonubaits Floater Fishing Packs in my car. Each bucket contains 1.75kg of mixers and a small tub of floating hookbaits.

Don’t get caught out.

If, like me, you spend lots of time fishing during the warmer months, you will notice that weed can become a bit of a problem. The increase in temperature encourages weed to grow so it’s a good idea to spool up with strong monofilament that’s up to the job. Trap Line in 15lb fits the bill perfectly and is my number one choice for fishing in and around the green stuff.

G I VE Z I G R I G S A TR Y

K E E P C AS TI N G If you’ve not seen signs of carp or any fish showing, it pays to keep casting on a regular basis. Although the carp may be moving around more frequently, they can still be relatively localised and held up in small areas in the lake. The more often you cast, the more chance there is you will land on a group of fish. Once you’ve caught from an area, mark up your lines and keep fishing the same spot. If there’s one fish there, there’s bound to me more.

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The summer is certainly one of the most productive times to use zig rigs, especially on wellstocked venues. With zig rigs growing in popularity and lots of anglers still getting confused by them, we have released a range of ready-tied zigs. Each rig is tied using a super-sharp size 10 WDG hook on an 11lb monofilament hooklink. The rig boasts a black/yellow Zig Lite hookbait, a Zig Grub and comes with a Zig Clip and Tail Rubber. It’s zig fishing made easy!

A D D E X TR A AT TR A C TI O N I always like to give my bait a boost regardless of the weather. I like to soak my hookbaits in Code Red Glug and add Code Red Oil to my spox mix and boilies. The liquid is absolutely devastating and has got me out of jail on numerous occasions.

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Avid Carpers July / August 2014

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TOOLED UP

TO P TI P S F O R SUM M E R

An in-depth look at our brand new range of rig tools.

Chris Lowe reveals how he keeps on catching lots of fish during the warmer months.

TAKECARE

PIN IT DOWN JON JONES

C A R P C O U C H P R O D U C T F E AT U R E

PIN IT

Are you looking for a carp cradle that’s easy to transport and quick to erect? The Carp Couch could well be the answer…

There’s no doubt carp cradles offer incredible protection. They keep the fish away from the ground at all times and, due to the nature of frame, should a fish be dropped, it will fall into the safety of the cradle, and not onto the floor.

After looking at a wide range of cradles that were already on the market, we spotted one problem.

Although the cradles offered

After experimenting with a whole host of design ideas, we eventually came up with a unique concertina frame that is compact, lightweight and easy to erect. By simply pulling each corner of the cradle, it can be erected and ready to use in a matter of seconds. It’s that

simple! The ingenious design means the Couch can be folded shut into a compact package that can be transported and loaded onto a barrow with ease.

Since its release, the Carp Couch has proved extremely popular with anglers across the UK and Europe, and lots of fisheries have chosen to have them at their venues because of the protection they offer. Check one out.

1 The Carp Couch features small holes to encourage water drainage.

2 Toggles allow you to adjust the tension of the cradle.

3 Once folded away the cradle takes up very little room.

4 It’s the perfect shape for stacking on the barrow.

5 When it comes to fish safety, cradles offer unrivalled protection.

125cm 24

22

avidcarp.com

Avid Carpers July / August 2014

DOWN

24

84cm

22

great protection, they were very bulky and had to be put together at the start of every session.

Avid’s brand manager, Jon ‘Shoes’ Jones, reveals how and why his views on leader materials have changed massively over the last coupe of years.

avidcarpers.tv

Avid Carpers July / August 2014

PIN IT DOWN

Looking for a collapsible carp cradle? The Carp Couch could be just what you are after.

Jon Jones reveals how Pin Down has changed his thoughts on leader materials and hooklinks.

Top tips

Top tips

for SURFACE

FISHING

TA K E T H E T U B E J A S O N U M N E Y

5

KEEP UP-TO-DATE...

I f y ou want to intr oduce m ix er s super- accur a tely a round y our hookbait, tr y ca t a pulting them out inside P VA ba gs.

TA K E C O NT RO L

I t ’s i m p o r t a n t t h a t y o u u s e a good-quality controller float when surface fishing.

As a rule, I like to use the smallest size I can get away with in the situation.

6 S P O D ‘ E M O UT

The Av id Sur face Spod is the ultima te edge for f loa ter fishing. Due to a unique r oll- a- ball design, yo u get no spilla ge on the ca st , so sur face fishing can no w be achiev ed a t totally new distances.

2 L I GH T H O O K L I NK S In order not to spook carp, i t ’s i m p o r t a n t t o u s e a l i g h t , low-diameter hooklink. My personal favourite is the R e f l o Po w e r.

7 WEAR SHADES

3

As well as r educing headaches fr om star ing into the sun all day, po l ar ising sunglasses will a lso allo w y ou to spot car p e asier and stud y ex actly ho w they ar e feeding.

GO O D- QU A L I T Y FL O AT E R When surface fishing I absolutely love using Sonubaits Oily Floaters b e c a u s e t h e y a r e s u p e rdurable and leak-off oil in t h e w a t e r.

TAKE

8

4

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CAS T B E Y O N D TH E F I S H

A L T E R T H E L E NGT H

W hen sur face fishing for ca rp, in or der not to spook t hem, it’s a good idea to ca st y our hookbait bey ond t hem and car efully r eel it back into position.

If the carp are getting away with it or acting suspicious around you controller float, try altering the length of your hooklink.

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JON FINCH

BAGS OF MIXERS

&

1

avidcarp.com

Avid Carpers July / August 2014

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TOP TIPS FOR S U R FA C E F I S H I N G

Top tips F O R

S H O RT S E S S I O N S DAV E C H A N C E L LO R

q RE MA I N

C O NFI DE NT

Take as much doubt out of the situation as possible. Have two or three presentations and stick to them. Use bait you have confidence in and trust it throughout your campaign. There is nothing more unsettling than sitting there thinking your rigs don’t work or your bait has blown. Believe me, this very rarely happens.

Get your rods in and sit on your hands. It will happen!

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36theT UB E

Vis it t he web s it e av id carp . com

Jason Umney reveals why he’s totally changed his opinions on tubing over the last couple of years. facebook.com/avidcarppage

Avid Carpers July / August 2014

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TA K E T H E T U B E

Have you ever tried tubing? If not, Jason Umney believes you could be missing out.

Jon Finch tell you how to get the most out of your surface fishing.

A L P I N E P R O D U C T F E AT U R E

CARPCROSSING.COM

Follow u s on Twit t er @av id carp ers

44 58lb

UK PB:

Occupation:

UK S a l es M a na ge r

Dave Chancellor

with

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Like u s on faceb ook /av id carp p ag e

CALM BEFORE THE STORM ED SKILLZ

ANGLER PROFILE: Dave Chancellor Age:

Calm before

Designed

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25

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CARP COUCH

SHORT SESSIONS in mind...

If, like Dave Chancellor, you do a lot of short sessions, or you are thinking about starting a shortsession campaign, the Alpine brolly could be the shelter for you.

It’s the ultimate lightweight shelter for the serious carp angler. When we first designed this stripped-out brolly, we wanted to produce a shelter that wouldn’t let you down. The Alpine is made using our exclusive Dura-

Stop™ material, which is an ultra-tough fabric that will keep you protected from the elements with military-style durability.

Whether you’re dragging the brolly through brambles or slinging it in the back of your car, this material will last longer than the cheaper, thinner fabrics used on other shelters.

What’s more, the Alpine boasts super-strong fiberglass ribs

Avid Carpers July / August 2014

ALPINE

Looking for a short-session shelter? Check out the Alpine brolly.

the

for lightness and reliability, as well as built-in stability rods that negate the need for storm poles and create a totally freestanding shelter.

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The Alpine is unlike any other brolly on the market. It’s totally freestanding, super-stable and is made from the best materials available. It won’t let you down!

facebook.com/avidcarppage

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STORM Ed Skillz reflects on a memorable carp he caught moments after a massive storm…

Follow u s on Ins t ag ram @av id carp

I love this kind of weather.

It’s nature’s way of showing us humans just how tiny we are.

It was unbelievable how the weather changed within a matter of minutes. One moment it was quiet and calm, the next there was a massive thunderstorm brewing. The sky turned dark and the wind howled through

Avid Carpers July / August 2014

the trees. As I sat clutching onto my bivvy, I felt like I was in a studio in Hollywood recording a blockbuster film. The atmosphere was electric.

Suddenly, the sky exploded with

bolts of lightening followed by thunder that was violent enough to make the ground shake. I sat with a smile on my face. I love this kind of weather. It’s nature’s way of showing us humans just how tiny we are.

twitter.com/avidcarpers

CALM BEFORE THE STORM

Ed Skillz reflects on the capture of a very special carp.

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Su b s crib e on YouTu b e /Av id Carp

avidcarp.com

3

INTRO JON JONES

WELCOME...

Hello and welcome to the July/ August issue of our bi-monthly Avid Carpers magazine.

Although it’s nice sitting on the bank in a pair of shades and shorts, the fishing can be incredibly tough at this time of year. As the temperature rises, I’ve found that carp on most venues seem more intent on sunbathing than they actually do feeding.

This means we have to alter our approach accordingly if we want to keep catching consistently.

With this in mind, we have made this issue of the magazine a

summer tips special. We have picked the brains of our talented pool of consultants to see how they fish during the warmer months and how they continue to catch carp even when the conditions are stacked against them.

In this issue, Ian Russell reveals a super-simple presentation that he’s been using on RK Leisure’s Horton Complex over the last few months. It’s a neat little rig that’s sure to nick a bite when all else is failing. Carp-catching machine Chris Lowe explains how he manages to keep catching from pressured day-ticket venues in the

FOLLOW our anglers on twitter... @ ch e m o _ Av i d C ar p

4

@j on_AvidCa rp @nigel_AvidCa rp

Avid Carpers July / August 2014

sweltering heat. Shropshire based big-fish angler Dave Chancellor reveals how he utilises the extended light hours and catches on short sessions between work, and yours truly reveals how pinning your hooklink and leaders to the lake bed can get you more bites when the fish are feeding with a little more caution. As well as all this there are articles from Ed Skillz, Jon Finch and Jason Umney. Enjoy!

Shoes

Jon ‘Shoes’ Jones

@jas on_Av id Carp @DMag_81

N E W P R O D U C T AV I D CA R P E R S

NEW

PPRROODDUUCCTT

ascent

The is a complete brolly system that boasts a whole host of great features.

It benefits from increased headroom and is supplied with an inner skin that can be left in place all-year round. The system can be packed away with the built-in skin in place so there’s no need to ever take it out. As well as reducing condensation, the skin also creates a layer of cool air inside the shelter, which makes the system comfortable to use during the warmer months. Made from the ultratough Dura-Stop material for maximum protection, the system can be used like a conventional stripped-out brolly, with or without a full mozzie mesh front, or you can make the most of the full zip-in front if you require more protection.

UNIQUE FEATURES INCLUDE: • Boasts Increased headroom • Inner skin • Curved peak tension bar • UV 50+ ultraviolet protection fabric • Built in stability rods • Made with lightweight fibreglass poles

The Ascent can be setup like this with a conventional style door system.

There’s also a mozzie mesh with a full-length zip that runs up the middle.

• Made using tough Dura-Stop material • 1 x full zip-in front with PVC panel and mozzie mesh • 1 x full mozzie mesh front with full-length zip • Comes with 2 x storm poles • Complete with heavy-duty groundsheet and pegs

We have reduced the centre hub to create more headroom.

The Ascent has a Curved peak tension bar.

The inner skin eliminates condensation.

The shelter boasts two rod straps.

avidcarpers.tv

5

The

K C I FL

Rig

6

Avid Carpers July / August 2014

RIG CLINIC IAN RUSSELL

Although it may look a bit strange, Ian Russell believes this presentation, known as the flick rig, is brilliant for targeting large, pressured carp. Read on to find out more‌

facebook.com/avidcarppage

7

HO W T O T I E I A N ’ S F LI C K R IG

0 1 . H ere are the components you

02. S nip off a length of Stiff

03.

05.

Fix the hook in place using a simple knotless knot.

06.

Slide a Hook Swivel onto the material.

0 7. P ass the stiff material back

09.

Now tie a size 11 ring swivel to the end of the Stiff Rig Filament.

10.

Snip a length of Pin Down hooklink from the spool.

11.

Tie the Pin Down hooklink to the ring swivel like this.

15 .

Make sure the tag ends stick out of the wafter like this.

will need to tie Ian’s rig.

1 3 . N ow thread a length of Stiff Rig Filament through the Hook Swivel.

8

Rig Filament.

14. S lide a Code Red wafter

onto the material using a baiting needle.

Avid Carpers July / August 2014

Thread the material through an LSK hook.

through the eye on the hook.

RIG CLINIC IAN RUSSELL

04.

Whip the material down the shank six times.

0 8 . T o fix the Hook Swivel in place blob the material with a lighter.

I’ve tried pretty much every rig imaginable over the years and had considerable success on most of them. When I think about it though, I don’t think any have been as productive as this unique little presentation. This year my fishing has changed considerably and I’ve found myself targeting some pretty tricky venues for some very old, large carp. Since I started using this presentation a couple of months back I have noticed a dramatic increase in the size of carp I’ve been catching. You see, I’ve always managed to catch my fair share of carp, but I’ve always had a habit of catching the smallest fish in the lake. If you put me one a venue with loads of thirties and a handful of doubles, I’d end up catching the smaller ones. I’d

always put this down to being an unlucky sod but, since rethinking my approach and tinkering with this rig, I’ve changed my outlook completely. Although I don’t think this rig will necessarily single out the larger specimens, I do think that bigger carp find it much difficult to eject.

I’ve thought long and hard about why bigger fish struggle with the flick rig and I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s because of the separation between the bait and the hook. Most modern rigs these days seem to revolve around having the hookbait tight to the shank of the hook and, although this undoubtedly works, I don’t think it’s as effective at nailing the bigger fish.

The Sonubaits Code Red wafters make ideal hookbaits for the flick rig.

1 2 . P ush a baiting needle through a Code Red wafter.

1 6 . F inally blob the tag ends to fix the wafter in place.

twitter.com/avidcarpers

9

The combination of stiff and supple materials makes this rig devastating for pressured carp.

Ian finds the LSK hook to be perfect for the presentation.

When I first started using the flick rig I actually thought it would work most effective with a pop-up and never considered using it with a balanced hookbait.

Then, while fishing out in France, I accidentally attached a wafter and ended up catching a string of large carp, including a couple of massive commons. The hook holds were absolutely incredible and the ring swivel was well past the carp’s lips. At first, I thought it was because the carp were hungry and feeding aggressively but, when I realised was using a wafter, it all became clear. Isn’t it funny how sometimes a mistake can lead to a revelation.

When tying the rig I like to use the 20lb Pin Down hooklink as a boom section because it’s

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Avid Carpers July / August 2014

strong, heavy and extremely flexible. When the Pin Down boom settles on the bottom, it doesn’t sit perfectly straight. No matter what we think, no supple hooklink does. This is perfect though because it coils up ever so slightly on the lakebed ready for a carp to suck up the hook bait. When a carp sucks up the pop-up, the Pin Down boom will straighten and shoot into the carp’s mouth.

The fact that it’s coiled up means there’s a lot more movement and allows the hookbait to travel much further. This is why they are nailed every time.

At the business end I like to use the 20lb Stiff Rig Filament and a size 6 LSK hook. Although some anglers favour the stiffer variety, I like the 20lb version because

RIG CLINIC IAN RUSSELL I think the extra flexibility and movement encourages the hook to take hold better. Although you can tie the rig with a chodstyle hook, I genuinely believe a longshank pattern is much more effective. If you tie both presentations up and put them side by side you will see exactly what I mean. The longshank hooks sits at a more aggressive angle and I’m convinced this is why it nails the larger specimens.

them. You may receive a drop in the amount of takes you get, but you will definitely connect with a higher stamp of fish. This is the first rig I’ve ever seen that works better with a wafter than a popup. Give it a try!

Check out that hook hold!

I like to create a slight curve in the Stiff Rig Filament before I cast it out. There’s no need for anything too aggressive. A slight curve in the material is all that’s needed for the rig to work correctly. Although the rig may look a little strange on close inspection, it really does catch This immaculate mirror was one of the first carp Ian caught on the presentation.

Instagram@avidcarp

11

Just one of the many large carp Ian has caught using the flick rig.

Get on it!

@chemo_AvidCarp

12

Avid Carpers July / August 2014

RIG CLINIC IAN RUSSELL ANGLER PROFILE: Ian Russell Age:

51 5 7l b 8oz

UK PB:

Occupation:

Fu l l Time Angl er

avidcarp.com

13

range eated an entire cr ly al fin ve ha We s tie rigs will help angler at th s ol to g ri of fore. er than ever be neater and bett

14

Avid Carpers July / August 2014

R I G T O O L S P R O D U C T F E AT U R E

carp anglers ose items that all th of e on e ar Rig tools ders, hair rigging u’re splicing lea yo er th he W . ed ne you will need boilie stringers, baits or creating in your armory. various rig tools e, we have tried in the Avid rang ng hi yt an th wi Like little bit different tools that are a to create baiting e new Avid tools dy available. Th than what’s alrea e them extremely ak m at handles th r stand-out boast ergonomic a couple of othe as ll we e as e, us easy to metal rings on th em have a small of th ng re st e features. All of th test th at allow you to te back of them th allow you to crea at th rs tie p loo d an s ot kn ur yo perfect loops. ing the range, includ different tools in harp r-s pe su e There are seven ar s or issors. The sciss e a pair of braid sc They also featur p for a long time. ar sh y h. gt en str and will sta ot kn d pins for testing purpose-designe

avidcarpers.tv

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KEY FEATURE

All of the tools boast a built in knot puller and loop creator.

STICK NEEDLE

Features a large gated needle that’s perfect for pulling hooklinks through PVA bags and sticks.

GATED NEEDLE

The tool features a versatile fine gated needle.

SPLICING NEEDLE

Features a fine gated needle for splicing leadcore and Pin Down.

HAIR NEEDLE

Features a safety barbed needle for hair rigging hookbaits.

HARD BAIT HAIR NEEDLE Features a safety barbed needle for hair rigging hard hookbaits.

BAIT DRILL

Features a hardwearing drill that’s perfect for drilling nuts and hard baits.

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Avid Carpers July / August 2014

R I G T O O L S P R O D U C T F E AT U R E

SCISSORS

Super-sharp blades designed for cutting hooklinks and monofilament cleanly.

STRINGER NEEDLE

Features a curved needle that’s perfect for creating stringers.

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for

SUMMER

Catch more carp this summer from day-ticket venues with Chris Lowe’s Top Tips!

FI SH FO R A BI T E If it’s warm and the lake you are targeting is fishing slow, it’s a good idea to start your session using PVA bags, sticks and single hookbaits. If the carp aren’t feeding, the last thing you want to do is introduce kilos of baits.

More often than not, a small parcel of grub put in the right place will tempt a bite, even on the toughest of days.

KE EP CASTING If you’ve not seen signs of carp or any fish showing, it pays to keep casting on a regular basis. Although the carp may be moving around more frequently, they can still be relatively localised and held up in small areas in the lake. The more often you cast, the more chance there is you will land on a group of fish. Once you’ve caught from an area, mark up your lines and keep fishing the same spot. If there’s one fish there, there’s bound to me more.

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Avid Carpers July / August 2014

A DD EXT R A AT T R AC T I O N I always like to give my bait a boost regardless of the weather. I like to soak my hookbaits in Code Red Glug and add Code Red Oil to my spod mix and boilies. The liquid is absolutely devastating and has got me out of jail on numerous occasions.

CHRIS LOWE

D O N ’T FORGET THE FLOATERS

SP OOL U P W I T H S T R O N G L I N E

Sometimes one of the best ways to nick a bite is to target the carp when they are cruising around on the surface. That’s why I always have one of the Sonubaits Floater Fishing Packs in my car. Each bucket contains 1.75kg of mixers and a small tub of floating hookbaits.

Don’t get caught out.

If, like me, you spend lots of time fishing during the warmer months, you will notice that weed can become a bit of a problem. The increase in temperature encourages weed to grow so it’s a good idea to spool up with strong monofilament that’s up to the job. Trap Line in 15lb fits the bill perfectly and is my number one choice for fishing in and around the green stuff.

GI VE ZI G R I G S A T R Y The summer is certainly one of the most productive times to use zig rigs, especially on wellstocked venues. With zig rigs growing in popularity and lots of anglers still getting confused by them, we have released a range of ready-tied zigs. Each rig is tied using a super-sharp size 10 WDG hook on an 11lb monofilament hooklink. The rig boasts a black/yellow Zig Lite hookbait, a Zig Grub and comes with a Zig Clip and Tail Rubber. It’s zig fishing made easy!

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19

TR Y DIFFERENT HOOK B A I TS I’ve noticed that lots of anglers put a huge emphasis on hookbait colour during the winter months when, in reality, it’s equally as important during the summer. Different coloured hookbaits work better on different days so it’s always worth putting a different hookbait on each rod.

FI N D A F E AT U R E Anybody who has fished with me will know how much emphasis I put on finding features on the lake bed. Gravel bars, weed beds and silt channels are like roads to carp and they spend lots of their time patrolling them. If you can present hookbaits on these features effectively, you will catch more carp. Fact!

SEE THING S CL E A RLY At this time of year there’s a good chance carp will be found in the margins, shallows or frequenting the upper layers. Therefore, it’s absolutely essential that you own a top quality pair of polarising sunglasses so you can spot them. Sporting a pair of decent shades, you’ll be surprised how much more you can actually see. There are four different types of sunglasses in the Avid range and each has a different frame and lens colour, allowing you to select a pair that perfectly suits your personal requirements.

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Avid Carpers July / August 2014

ANGLER PROFILE: Chris Lowe

42 P B : 56 l b

Age: UK

Occupation:

Angl ing Tu to r

CHRIS LOWE

VA RI ETY I S T H E S PI C E If the fish are feeding and I’m getting plenty of bites, I will start creating a competitive feeding situation by spodding out bait. When I’m spodding out bait, I generally use a mix containing Sonubaits Code Red boilies, Hemp ‘N’ Corn tins, a mixture of different sized S-Pellets and plenty of Code Red oil. I’ve found pressured carp react better and feed more aggressively when I’m spodding out a variety of different food morsels.

Regardless of the weather, Chris keeps the bites coming by employing the tactics outlined in this article.

Instagram@avidcarp

21

TAKECARE

Are you looking for a carp cradle that’s easy to transport and quick to erect? The Carp Couch could well be the answer…

There’s no doubt carp cradles offer incredible protection. They keep the fish away from the ground at all times and, due to the nature of frame, should a fish be dropped, it will fall into the safety of the cradle, and not onto the floor.

After looking at a wide range of cradles that were already on the market, we spotted one problem.

Although the cradles offered

22

Avid Carpers July / August 2014

great protection, they were very bulky and had to be put together at the start of every session.

After experimenting with a whole host of design ideas, we eventually came up with a unique concertina frame that is compact, lightweight and easy to erect. By simply pulling each corner of the cradle, it can be erected and ready to use in a matter of seconds. It’s that

C A R P C O U C H P R O D U C T F E AT U R E

simple! The ingenious design means the Couch can be folded shut into a compact package that can be transported and loaded onto a barrow with ease.

cradles offer unrivalled protection.

84cm

Since its release, the Carp Couch has proved extremely popular with anglers across the UK and Europe, and lots of fisheries have chosen to have them at their venues because of the protection they offer. Check one out.

1 The Carp Couch features small holes to encourage water drainage.

2 Toggles allow you to adjust the tension of the cradle.

3 Once folded away the cradle takes up very little room.

4 It’s the perfect shape for stacking on the barrow.

5 When it comes to fish safety,

125cm

avidcarp.com

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Avid Carpers July / August 2014

PIN IT DOWN JON JONES

PIN IT

DOWN Avid’s brand manager, Jon ‘Shoes’ Jones, reveals how and why his views on leader materials have changed massively over the last couple of years.

avidcarpers.tv

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Avid Carpers July / August 2014

PIN IT DOWN JON JONES

Pin Down is available as a hooklink or leader material.

Whenever I chat with anybody about leader materials, there’s always a massive difference of opinion regarding which is best. Some like the weight and durability of leadcore, whereas other prefer the transparency of fluorocarbon. When you bring fused leaders and tubing into the mix too, the subject can become very complex.

HO W T O T I E J ON ’ S PI N DO WN R IG

01.

Form a small loop in the end of some Pin Down hooklink material.

02.

Mount two boilie bottom baits onto the hooklink like this.

0 3.

Tie a small rig ring onto the hooklink.

04.

Pass a size 6 CRV hook through the rig ring.

05.

Push the Pin Down through the back of the eye on the hook.

06.

Fix the boilies in position using a knotless knot.

I actually answered a question a couple of years back in Carpology about my views on leaders and my response was fairly conclusive. I absolutely loved leadcore and used it for the majority of my fishing but, every so often, I would play around with fluorocarbon on gin-clear venues, and use tubing where conventional leaders were banned.

Well, as I sit writing this now, I cannot remember the last time I actually spliced any leadcore. I just don’t use it anymore. After years of raving about the material and using it on every lake I’ve ever fished, I don’t even think I own a spool now. Although leadcore was a firm favourite of mine for all those years, there were certain things I wasn’t too happy about, especially in the thicker diameters. The main bug bearer was the fact the wire running through the centre of the woven material made it quite stiff and it never hugged the bottom as I’d have like it to. When fishing over weed and debris, I always had visions of if lifting off the deck and spooking wary carp.

So what do I use nowadays?

Well, for me, you cannot beat the unleaded leader materials that have come onto the scene over the last few years. These are available from various companies now but, for obvious reasons, I use Avid Carp’s Pin Down.

As the name suggests, the material has no wire running through the centre of it, so it’s much softer and suppler than leadcore. This means that it WILL hug all the contours on the lake bed and sit discreetly over weed and debris on the bottom.

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27

Due to having some special properties woven into the material, the Pin Down sinks like a brick and well out of harms way. For me, it’s absolutely essential to use a leader material that’s got abrasion resistant qualities and the Pin Down has this base covered. Although unleaded leader materials, like leadcore, don’t disappear as well as fluorocarbon on the bottom, by putting a little bit of thought into your approach, this won’t affect your catch rate.

You see, the Pin Down is available in two different colours. The Weed/ Silt version, as the name suggests, boasts a flecked finish that’s made up of black and green colours. The Gravel/Clay version, on the other hand, is finished in flecks of light brown and dark brown. Having

these two variations in your box means you’ve got both bases completely covered.

It’s that good, I actually developed a Pin Down hooklink material which has already changed the way anglers think about hooklinks. Like the leader material, this stuff is super-strong, supple and sinks like a brick without the need for any putty.

What more do you want?

If, like me, you’ve been a fan of leadcore for many years and you haven’t tried the unleaded leader materials, I think you could be missing a massive trick. Pin Down boasts all the great advantages that leadcore is famous for, but it’s also extremely supple. Get on it!

HO W TO S PLI C E A P I N DO WN L E ADE R

28

01.

The Pin Down is available in two colours.

02.

Push a splicing needle through the Pin Down.

03.

Close the gate on the end of the Pin Down.

04.

Carefully tease the end through the centre.

05 .

Create a loop in the end of the leader material.

06.

Blob the leader with superglue to secure it.

Avid Carpers July / August 2014

PIN IT DOWN JON JONES

1 Pin Down leaders and hooklink are available in two colours.

2 It’s so much suppler than other materials.

3 If you struggle with splicing, ready-tied leaders are available.

twitter.com/avidcarpers

29

ANGLER PROFILE: J o n J o n e s Age:

43 47 l b

UK PB:

Occupation:

Br a nd M a na g e r o f A v id Ca r p

30

Avid Carpers July / August 2014

PIN IT DOWN JON JONES

Jon caught this cracking 27lb Sitch mirror using Pin Down products.

@jon_AvidCarp

Instagram@avidcarp

31

for SURFACE 1 TAKE CONTROL

I t’s i m p o rt ant t ha t y ou use a g o o d - qual i t y c ont rol l er fl o a t w h en surf ac e f i shi n g .

A s a r u l e , I l i ke t o use t he s m a l l e s t si ze I c an get a way wi th i n the si t ua t i on.

2 LIGH T HOOKL INKS I n o r d e r not t o spook c arp , i t’s i m p o rt ant t o use a l ig h t, l o w- d i a m et er hookl i nk. My p e r s o n a l f a v ouri t e i s t he R e fl o Po w er.

3 GO O D- Q U A L ITY FL OATER W h e n s u rf ac e f i shi ng I a b s o l u tel y l ov e usi ng S o n u b a i t s O i l y Fl oa t ers b e c a u s e t hey are superd u r a b l e and l eak-of f oi l in th e wa te r.

4 ALT E R THE L ENG TH I f th e c arp are get t i ng a way wi th i t or ac t i ng suspi c i o u s a r o u n d you c ont rol l er f l o a t, tr y a l te r i ng t he l engt h of y o u r h o o kl i nk.

32

Avid Carpers July / August 2014

FISHING &

JON FINCH

5 BAG S O F M I X E R S I f yo u w a n t to i n tro d u c e m i xe rs s u p e r-a c c u ra te l y a ro u n d yo u r h o o k b a i t, tr y c a ta p u l ti n g th e m o u t i n s i d e PVA b a g s .

6 S PO D ‘E M O U T

T h e A vi d S u rfa c e S p o d i s th e u l ti m a te e d g e fo r fl o a te r fi s h i n g . D u e to a u n i q u e ro l l -a -b a l l d e s i g n , yo u g e t n o s p i l l a g e o n th e c a s t, s o s u rfa c e fi s h i n g c a n n o w b e a c h i e ve d a t to ta l l y n e w d i s ta n c e s .

7 W E AR S H AD E S

A s w e l l a s re d u c i n g h e a d a c h e s fro m s ta ri n g i n to th e s u n a l l d a y, p o l a ri s i n g s u n g l a s s e s w i l l a l s o a l l o w yo u to s p o t c a rp e a s i e r a n d s tu d y e xa c tl y h o w th e y a re fe e d i n g .

8 C AS T BE YO N D T H E F I S H W h e n s u rfa c e fi s h i n g fo r c a rp , i n o rd e r n o t to s p o o k th e m , i t’s a g o o d i d e a to c a s t yo u r h o o k b a i t b e yo n d th e m a n d c a re fu l l y re e l i t b a c k i n to p o s i ti o n .

avidcarp.com

33

9 DIFFERENT SIZES

Tr y i n tro d u c i n g d i ffe re n t s i ze d fre e b i e s . T h i s s i m p l e ta c ti c w i l l m a k e i t m u c h m o re d i ffi c u l t fo r th e fi s h to s i n g l e o u t yo u r h o o k b a i t, m a k i n g i t a g re a t ta c ti c fo r l a rg e , p re s s u re d c a rp .

q BE PAT I E N T A l w a ys ta k e yo u r ti m e a n d e n s u re th e fi s h a re fe e d i n g c o n fi d e n tl y b e fo re yo u c a s t o u t. Fe e d th e m , w a tc h th e m a n d fi n a l l y fi s h fo r th e m .

HO W T O C R E AT E T H E P ER F EC T F L O ATE R -F ISHING HO O KBAIT

34

Using a pair of scissors, trim down a brown Avid High Lite.

Ensure the trimmed-down High Lite is a similar size and shape to your freebies.

Carefully create a groove in the High Lite using a sharp knife.

If cut correctly, the groove should look like this.

Now add a little bit of superglue to the groove on the High Lite.

Finally push your chosen hook into the groove like this and wait for the glue to set.

Avid Carpers July / August 2014

JON FINCH

Floater fishing is a devastating tactic for carp of all sizes.

ANGLER PROFILE: J o n Fi n c h Age:

31

UK PB:

45lb 9oz

Occupation:

O wner o f Bankside Tac kl e avidcarpers.tv

35

TAKE

TUBE

the

36

Avid Carpers July / August 2014

TA K E T H E T U B E J A S O N U M N E Y

Jason Umney reveals why he’s totally changed his opinions on tubing over the last couple of years. facebook.com/avidcarppage

37

The Avid Rubber Beads fit snugly over the tubing for casting, but will still slide free under pressure. They are perfect for creating tubing chod leaders.

To make life easier the tubing is pre-threaded on wires.

38

Avid Carpers July / August 2014

Before joining Avid Carp, I’d never considered using tubing and it’s fair to say I had never really realised its potential. I’d tried it a couple of times in the past, but I’d never really got on with it. I didn’t like how hard it was to thread onto your main line and found that it would always slide up your line when you hooked a fish.

After joining a lake that banned leadcore and various other leaders, I started looking at the various tubing products from Avid Carp. From the first session I started using them I realised that I’d been missing out massively. So much so, from that day, I even find myself using tubing on venues that allow conventional leaders.

TA K E T H E T U B E J A S O N U M N E Y The tubing is available in three colours.

I’d always avoided tubing because I found it extremely difficult to deal with and fairly stiff. Well, at Avid, they’ve developed some ingenious products that remove all the old problems that used to be associated with anti-tangle tubing.

Firstly, the Thread & Go Tubing is pre-threaded on wires, so it can be slide onto your main line in a matter of seconds. Simply remove the little stopper, put your main line through the loop in the wire, and thread the tubing up your line.

It’s that simple!

Unlike lots of other similar products on the market, the Thread & Go tubing is heavy, super-supple and inconspicuous on the bottom. It has a low diameter, no memory and hugs the bottom. Due to its supple nature, it will follow the contours of the lakebed, making it ideal for fishing over weed and debris.

What’s more there’s Choddy Brown, Silty Black and Weedy Green options available, so no matter where you’re fishing, there’s a colour to suit.

The tubing is tough enough to withstand abrasive objects like snags or weed, making it a great choice on small venues that tend to have a lot more overhanging trees, or gravel pits where the bars can rub against your line whilst playing fish.

When I use tubing I either use the Avid Tube Gripper Clips or Tube Gripper In-Line Inserts.

HO W TO U SE THE TU B E GRI PPER LE ADCLIP KI T

01.

02.

Slide your main line through the wire loop at the end and slowly thread it through the tubing.

03. Your main line should pass

04.

Slide a Tail Rubber onto your main line like this.

05.

Now push a Tube Gripper Clip onto your line.

06 .

Tie a swivel onto the end of your line and push the tubing over the knot.

07.

Pull the Tube Gripper Clip over the swivel so that in ‘clicks’ into place.

08.

Now simply attach your favourite lead and attach your chosen rig.

Start by removing the small rubber stopper at the bottom of the length of tubing.

through without any problems.

Instantly threaded tubing!

twitter.com/avidcarpers

39

HO W TO U S E T H E T U B E G R IP P ER INL INE INSE R T KIT

0 1 . Start by removing the small

rubber stopper at the bottom of the length of tubing.

02. Slide your main line through the wire loop at the end and slowly thread it through the tubing.

So whether I’m using an in-line lead or a leadclip setup, I am able to use it in conjunction with tubing safely and effectively.

These two products are designed with serrations inside which actually grip the tubing and clamp it in position. Before these two innovative products were developed, it used to be a nightmare because the tubing would constantly slide up and down the main line.

Last year Avid launched two new kits that make using tubing easier than ever before. There’s

0 3. Your main line should pass

04. When using in-line leads, use

0 5 . Thread the tubing through

06. The gripping chamber will

0 7 . The in-line lead will now hold

08. The finished lead arrangement

through without any problems.

Instantly threaded tubing!

your in-line lead and push it inside the Gripper Insert.

the Tube Gripper Insert shut.

This means the tubing won’t slide up the main line.

40

an In-Line Gripper Insert. They have a chamber that clamps the tubing in place.

trap both the swivel and tubing. Use a standard size 8 swivel for best results.

is super-safe and extremely effective. It WILL catch you more carp.

Avid Carpers July / August 2014

Jason used a tubing leader to tempt this Sitch mirror.

Jason ey Umn

TA K E T H E T U B E J A S O N U M N E Y Thread & Go In-Line Insert Kits and Tube Gripper Kits available.

Both kits contain everything you need to create safe, effective lead arrangements incorporating tungsten tubing. It really couldn’t be simple. Rather than messing around splicing leaders, you could now Thread & Go in a matter of seconds. What more do you need?

If your venue has banned leaders and leadcore, or you struggle with splicing and attaching leaders, check out the Avid Thread & Go Tubing and the associated end tackle components.

Serrations built into the clips and grippers ensure the tubing doesn’t slide up your main line.

ANGLER PROFILE: Jason Umney Age:

26 36 l b

UK PB:

Occupation:

Avid C arp Media Man @ j a s o n _ Av i d C a r p

Instagram@avidcarp

41

for

SHORT SESSIONS

1 UNDERSTA ND YOUR C H A LLEN GE Remember that knowledge is power. The more you know about your target venue and the fish within, the easier the challenge will be to conquer. Keep an eye out in magazines, online and speak to old and existing members about the lake. The more you know, the more you will catch.

2 PREP A RE IN A DVA N C E Your time will be limited so it’s important that you prepare in advance. Make sure your tackle is organized and get your bait and rigs ready before your session. It’s better to have everything ready at the side of the lake, rather than wasting time and missing valuable fishing opportunities.

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Avid Carpers July / August 2014

F O R S H O RT S E S S I O N S DAV E C H A N C E L LO R

avidcarp.com

43

3 BE ONE STEP A HE A D Always try and position yourself slightly ahead of where you think the carp will be or in an area you know they frequent. As your time is limited you simply cannot wait for them to come to you and you don’t want to cast on top of them because you may push them out of the area.

4 WATC H AN D L E AR N There is no substitution for watercraft. It has caught me more large carp over the years than anything else. Make a note of fish bubbling, showing carp or other angler’s achievements. This will help you gain a picture of what’s going on at the lake and gain a valuable insight into how the fish behave from day to day. The most important thing to do is learn the feeding times and ensure your rods are in position at these times.

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Avid Carpers July / August 2014

F O R S H O RT S E S S I O N S DAV E C H A N C E L LO R

7 BE AC C U R AT E With both casting and baiting, always make sure you’re fishing as accurately as possible. If you’re fishing a particular feature ensure that your rig is perfectly positioned and make sure you bait super-accurately around it. Attention to detail plays a massive part in catching large carp. Make the effort to get it right first time.

5 FISH FOR A

R U N AT A TIME

Be realistic. Generally the aim isn’t to rack up a big hit of fish. I like to use my snatch and patch approach. You will not be at the lake long enough for a large bed of bait to work unless you are fishing a heavily-stocked venue.

Apply enough bait to obtain one run at a time. You can always put more bait in if you catch, but it’s very difficult to take it out.

6 A LW AY S B E STE A LT H L I K E Try to keep bankside noise and disturbance to a minimum. Any unnecessary noise at the side of the lake is a sure way to inform your quarry they are in danger. Avoid mallets, spods and excessive casting. Use small leads and try to get your rods on the spot as quickly and quietly as possible.

9 TRAV E L L I G H T When fishing short sessions you are always trying to stay one step ahead of the carp. Travel light because you may need to move at any given time. If you have all the gear loaded on the barrow throughout your session, you will be able to move in a matter of minutes. Effort does equal reward.

8 PL AN YOU R A P P R OA C H Always have a plan in respect of your approach. My plan is normally based around weather conditions and angling pressure. I will always fish an area of the lake that has been quiet or undisturbed for a reasonable period of time, or I will select a swim on favourable weather conditions. Once I’ve selected an area to target, I will use a rig I’ve got confidence in and apply a good-quality bait. It’s that simple!

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F O R S H O RT S E S S I O N S DAV E C H A N C E L LO R

q R E MA IN CO NFIDENT

Take as much doubt out of the situation as possible. Have two or three presentations and stick to them. Use bait you have confidence in and trust it throughout your campaign. There is nothing more unsettling than sitting there thinking your rigs don’t work or your bait has blown. Believe me, this very rarely happens.

Get your rods in and sit on your hands. It will happen!

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Avid Carpers July / August 2014

ANGLER PROFILE: Dave Chancellor Age:

44 5 8l b

UK PB:

Occupation:

UK Sal es Manager

Dave r o l l e c n a h C

A L P I N E P R O D U C T F E AT U R E

D es i g ned with

SHORT SESSIONS in mind...

If, like Dave Chancellor, you do a lot of short sessions, or you are thinking about starting a shortsession campaign, the Alpine brolly could be the shelter for you.

It’s the ultimate lightweight shelter for the serious carp angler. When we first designed this stripped-out brolly, we wanted to produce a shelter that wouldn’t let you down. The Alpine is made using our exclusive Dura-

Stop™ material, which is an ultra-tough fabric that will keep you protected from the elements with military-style durability.

Whether you’re dragging the brolly through brambles or slinging it in the back of your car, this material will last longer than the cheaper, thinner fabrics used on other shelters.

What’s more, the Alpine boasts super-strong fiberglass ribs

for lightness and reliability, as well as built-in stability rods that negate the need for storm poles and create a totally freestanding shelter.

The Alpine is unlike any other brolly on the market. It’s totally freestanding, super-stable and is made from the best materials available. It won’t let you down!

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CARPCROSSING.COM

Ed Skillz reflects on a memorable carp he caught moments after a massive storm‌

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Avid Carpers July / August 2014

CALM BEFORE THE STORM ED SKILLZ

It was unbelievable how the weather changed within a matter of minutes. One moment it was quiet and calm, the next there was a massive thunderstorm brewing. The sky turned dark and the wind howled through

the trees. As I sat clutching onto my bivvy, I felt like I was in a studio in Hollywood recording a blockbuster film. The atmosphere was electric.

Suddenly, the sky exploded with

bolts of lightening followed by thunder that was violent enough to make the ground shake. I sat with a smile on my face. I love this kind of weather. It’s nature’s way of showing us humans just how tiny we are.

twitter.com/avidcarpers

49

CARPCROSSING.COM As I sat sheltered in my bivvy, I desperately tried to get some good shots of the lighting by playing with the bulb settings on my Canon SLR. It was difficult to get it right, but I knew if I took enough shots I would nail it.

HO W T O T I E E D ’ S R I G

0 1 . F orm a loop in a length of Pin

02.

P ull the loop through the center of a boilie.

03.

04.

Slide some silicone tubing onto the hooklink.

Down hooklink.

Fix the hookbait in position with a Corn Stop.

0 5 . P ass a size 6 LSK hook

06.

Fix the hook in position using a simple knotless knot.

07.

08.

Job done. An absolutely devastating presentation!

through the tubing.

50

Steam some shrink tubing over the eye on the hook to create a kicker.

Avid Carpers July / August 2014

A cool breeze rapidly replaced the heat of the day, the change in air pressure and drop in temperature can often be enough to get the carp feeding. The thunder after the lightening started to take longer which indicated the storm was slowly starting to pass. The rain was falling so heavy that I was certain the water level could have risen a little. All around me the swim had turned into a large mud bath.

As the water in my kettle reached boiling point, my receiver let out a solitary beep. I sat staring at the alarm intently but nothing more came. It could have been the wind, or the carp could have moved onto my baited area.

After drinking two more cups of tea, all became clear. The fish had moved onto my bait and I received a screaming take on the right-hand rod. After a precarious mudslide down towards my rods, I picked up the one that was bent towards the reed bed to my right.

If she had reached the reeds, I would certainly of lost her. The fish was pulling hard but, after applying some heavy pressure, I guided the carp towards the safety of open water. After a good 15-minute battle I finally caught a glimpse of her tail and a scaly flank. The fish looked like a beautiful mirror. After a further five minutes of last-minute lunges

CALM BEFORE THE STORM ED SKILLZ Fishing through the middle of a storm can often produce large carp.

I eventually slide the net under her. A beautiful mirror almost too big for the net lay before me. The huge thunderstorm had given me a huge present. Although thunderstorms are great for producing fish, you still have to be very careful because most fishing rods are perfect lightening conductors.

After the huge storm, Ed was rewarded with this amazing mirror.

ANGLER PROFILE: E d S k i l l z Age:

39

63 lb 5oz Tat t oois t a nd O wner of C arpc ro ssing.c om

European PB:

Occupation:

Instagram@avidcarp

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