Avid Carpers Vol.4 May/June 2013

S R E P R A C D AVI Volume 4 May/June 2013

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FREE

DAYS ONLY Chris Lowe explains how you can catch large carp on short sessions

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ZIG RIG MASTERCLASS Ian Russell reveals everything you need to know about Zig rigs

HIT THE SPOT

Find out how the pros fish accurately

F R EE B I-MONT

MAGAZ HLY INE

PLUS: TIE BETTER RIGS TOP TIPS FOR SOLID BAGGING SUCCEED ON PRESSURED VENUES INSIDE: IAN RUSSELL JON ‘SHOES’ JONES DAVE MAGALHAES CHRIS LOWE JON FINCH

C O N TENTS

e h t o t e m o “Welc f o e u s s i e n May/Ju ” . s r e p r a C Avid

06 ZIG MASTERCLASS

2

12 SINGLE SLINGIN’

Ian Russell explains

how Zig rigs can transform your season.

AVID CARPERS

Mark Woolley reveals why he loves single hookbait fishing.

16 KEEP RUNNING

22 TOP TIPS

Find out why Jon ‘Shoes’ Jones rates running rigs.

Jon Finch reveals his top ten tips for fishing with solid PVA bags.

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M AY/ JUN E 2013 Hello and welcome to the May/June issue of Avid Carpers.

The last magazine went down an absolute storm and we’ve received countless emails and messages from anglers across the UK and Europe expressing how much they enjoyed reading it. It’s a real team effort putting the magazine together and, with loads of other exciting things going on at Avid HQ, it can be very hectic to say the least. Fortunately, all the positive comments from you guys and stories of the fish you’ve caught using the tactics outlined in the features makes it all worth while.

As some of you may probably be aware, the magazines are available free of charge from leading Avid stockists in paper form, or in an interactive format online. We’ve had lots of emails from anglers that couldn’t get hold of the magazine because their local tackle shop ran out of copies quickly. Don’t forget, for a small price to cover postage, you can actually subscribe to the paper version of the magazine. For just £4.99 you can guarantee the next six issues will be delivered straight to your front door. If you want to subscribe to Avid Carpers, log onto www.avidcarp.com and click the subscribe button.

As you would expect, this issue is absolutely jam-packed with hints and tips from some of the biggest names in the game. Like the last issue, we’ve tried to include a varied mixture of content that should appeal to anglers of all abilities. Whether you’re fishing for your first double or targeting an elusive forty pounder, I’m sure you’re going to enjoy this issue of Avid Carpers.

Shoes

Jon ‘Shoes’ Jones

FOR MORE D AN A R T IC L E S K O U T C E H V ID E O S C W IN G .. .

O L L O F E H T http://www.carptalk-online.co.uk

28 RIG CLINIC

32 DAY TRIPPIN’

Big-fish angler Dave Magalhaes shows how to tie the ultimate Chod rig.

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Chris Lowe reflects on one of his best short sessions ever.

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You can now download the brand-new May/June edition and existing Avid Carpers interactive iPad App’s from the Apple App Store.

As well as containing all the great articles that appear in the paper version, the interactive edition boasts bonus interactive features, videos, pictures and additional content.

The interactive edition will be available the first week in June. If you haven’t already, check out the March/ April interactive app.

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IZMGASTERCLASS G E T O N T H E Z IGS

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I A N R US S E LL Carp-angling machine Ian Russell reveals why fishing with Zigs is one of his favourite approaches of all time.

Although Zig fishing seems to be appearing in all the latest carp fishing magazines, it’s fair to say that it’s still a tactic that’s neglected by most modern-day carp anglers. It can be a huge leap of faith chucking out a tiny bit of foam into the pond, but I’ve lost count of the amount of times it’s caught me a fish when everything else has failed.

If you’ve never tried a Zig rig or even heard of one, I’ll start by explaining what a Zig rig is. Basically, it’s a buoyant hookbait that’s attached to a long monofilament hooklink which is generally fished in the mid to upper layers.

So why are Zig rigs so effective?

Well, in an ideal world carp would spend the majority of their life swimming around a couple of inches off the bottom hoovering up any bait or freebies they come across. Unfortunately, this simply isn’t the case because carp spend most of their lives off the bottom and only visit the lake bed when they want to feed, which leaves anglers sat on the bank for hours twiddling their thumbs between feeding spells.

So, if you’re sat there blanking and wondering how you can nick a bite, it could be worth chucking a Zig out. You see, as the carp amble around in the mid to upper layers, they regularly come across suspended food items and, like lots of wild animals, the predatory

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instinct will certainly take over.

Lets face it, most of the creepy crawlies carp eat on the bottom will, at some point during the year, rise to the surface, so it’s quite natural for them to eat food in mid water. Plus, when anglers introduce spod mix some of their free offerings will drift away at mid-water level and, believe me, most of the freebies are eaten well before they have chance to settle on the bottom.

So how do you fish Zig rigs? Well, first and foremost, it’s absolutely essential that you know the depth of water you’re fishing in. As a general rule of thumb, I’ve found the best starting point to fish Zigs is two thirds off the bottom. So if you’re fishing in 12ft of water, I’d probably suggest setting the depth of your Zig to around 9ft off the deck. Although this approach has served me well in the past, it’s a good idea to alter the depth on a regular basis until you start receiving action. When fishing with Zigs, I only ever use a lead that is heavy enough to cast it where it needs to go. Although some anglers do use large leads, playing a carp on a long,

light hooklink with a heavy lead swinging around can result in lost fish. Fortunately though, due to the nature of the Avid Zig Clips, anglers can get away with using large leads safe in the knowledge their lead will discharge as soon as a carp picks up their hookbait. Personally, I like to tie my hooklink from a length of 10lb monofilament and generally use a size 10 or 12 hook. Although some people get confused about tying a Zig hooklink, I always remind them that it’s just a long knotless knot tied from a length of monofilament! At present, there seems to be various trends with the way people attach their pieces of foam to their rig but, having fished Zigs for as long as I can remember, the best way to fish them is certainly knotless-knot style. You see, from experience,

AVID

TIP

Ian gives his Zig Lites a boost by dipping them in Sonubaits Booster Cloud.

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7

G E T O N T H E Z IGS I’ve found that hook holds are much better when there’s a degree of separation between the hook and the hookbait.

Many moons ago we used to use tiny pieces of foam that we’d snip into shape before we cast them out. Since the release of the Avid High Lites and Zig Lites all my prayers have been answered.

They are super-buoyant, durable and available in a variety of vibrant colours. The biggest piece of advice I can give any angler is to change the colour of your hookbait until you find a combination that works.

I have used Zigs for many years now and I cannot imagine not

It’s essential to have a degree of separation between your hook and hookbait.

having them in my armoury. Don’t be fooled into thinking that Zigs are a small fish tactic because I have caught countless 30lb-plus carp over the years on small pieces of foam. My best carp to date on a Zig is a common known as Charlie’s Mate from Frimley Pit

Three, which tipped the scales to 42lb 12oz. That was taken on a single piece of bright yellow foam that was cast onto a showing fish.

Next time you’re struggling on the bottom, try flicking out a Zig rig.

It may seem like a leap of faith to some, but he who dares...

HOW TO...

USE ZIG CLIPS

01

The Zig Clips boast a super-safe friction-fit design.

04

Tie a swivel onto the end of your main line.

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02

Slide a Tail Rubber onto your main line.

05

Pull the swivel into the Clip so that it ‘clicks’ into place.

03

Pass your main line through the Zig Clip.

06

Finally attach the lead of your choice then fix it in place using PVA tape.

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I A N R US S E LL

HOW TO...

TIE A ZIG RIG

01

02

Form a small loop in the end of your monofilament hooklink.

Attach a Zig Lite of your choice and top it off with a Maggot Stop.

RE C L I CRK MHOER E FO BAITS ZIG HOOK

Fix the Zig Lite in place using a knotless knot.

04

http://www.avidcarp.com/AVZL-10BY_Item

03

Thread your hooklink through the eye of wide-gape style hook.

05

Finally tie the Zig rig onto your Zig Clip like this. It’s that simple!

ROFILE A N G L E R P Russell

n NAME: Ia AGE: 51 7lb 8oz UK PB: 5 TION: A P U OCC e Angler Full Tim

This 42lb 12oz common was caught using a Zig.

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9

G E T AC C URATE

OUT IN

HIT THE SPOT…

JUNE

There’s no doubt that anglers who fish accurately catch more carp than anglers that don’t. Well, that’s the general consensus of Team Avid and that’s why we decided to release the new Yard Sticks.

Yard Sticks make fishing accurately easier than ever before and, due to a couple of stand-out features, they are much more effective than conventional banksticks. The Sticks are designed so you can mark-up your fishing rods and spod rod with pinpoint accuracy after you’ve found a spot with your marker rod.

ensure your Gentle curves rtlessly off fo ef els pe e main lin reeling in. en wh le the po

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AVID CARPERS

The Sticks come complete with a 12ft cord so you get set them out the right distance correctly quickly and efficiently. The cord boasts three colour-coded toggle stops that enable you to mark three different spots. On other sticks, if you hit the clip between the two poles, you have to roughly guess where to clip the rod up when remarking the rods, which is not ideal if you’re fishing a small area. Now, using the unique toggle stops, you can actually mark your rods up to the nearest centimeter, making the Yard Sticks one of the most accurate ways to fish.

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P R O D UC TS

RE C L I C K H EV I D E O THE T O W AT C H DSTICKS ON YA R

http://www.youtube.com/embed/Sy6nCsqMdlY??rel=0&frameborder=0&fullscreen=0

HOW TO...

TO USE THE YARD STICKS

CLICK HE

RE FOR F E A T U R EMSO R E IAN RUSS WITH ELL

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01

Ian uses a Marker Float Kit when feature finding.

Unlike standard banksticks, the Yard Sticks have a slight curve in the end of them. This gentle curve ensures your main line peels effortlessly off the poles if you stand in between them both and start reeling. There’s no need to remove the wraps turn by turn like with conventional sticks. Perfect!

05

He places his marker float at the side of one of the poles.

08

Standing in the middle of the pole, Ian reels in his main line...

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03

...he then carefully places his line in the line clip.

06

He wraps his line around the poles, counting the turns as he goes.

09

...ensuring he keeps the line tight between his fingers.

02

After finding a spot, Ian slowly reels down until the float hits the lead...

04

Using the Cord to ensure they are 12ft apart, he pushes them into the ground.

07

When he hits clip, he slides the toggle down the cord like this.

10

Now he can mark his other rods by counting the turns and clipping up.

AVID CARPERS

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S I N GLE H OOK BAITS

SINGLE SLINGIN’

RE C L I C KF O HR E IEDO M A R K ’ SG VB L O G S FISHIN

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If I had to pick one approach to use for the rest of my angling life it would have to be fishing with single high-vis hookbaits.

Like lots of anglers, I tend to fish a variety of different venues on a regular basis, so it’s important that I use tactics that are simple, versatile and extremely effective.

Over the last couple of years, I have found that fishing with single hookbaits is one of those tactics that just seems to work wherever I use it. Although some anglers may associate the approach with cold-water carping, I’ve found that it’s equally effective in the warmer months, especially on heavilypressured venues.

Before joining Avid Carp, I’d always used standard shop-

TIP 1

To boost his High Lites, Mark soaks them in Sonubaits Booster Cloud.

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AVID CARPERS

bought pop-ups and, although they did the trick, the buoyancy was sometimes a problem when using Chod rigs on long sessions.

You see, when I’m targeting pressured carp, I may leave my hookbaits in position for long periods of time, so it’s important that my hookbait will stay buoyant for the length of my session.

Nowadays, when I’m fishing with singles, for piece of mind, you can guarantee I’ll have High Lite hookbaits on all three rods. These durable hookbaits are superbuoyant and simply do not take on any water, so they will stay

TIP 2

For something a little different, try 10mm High Lite hookbaits.

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AN

FILE GLER PRO

MARK WOOLLEY

lley ark Woo NAME: M AGE: 29 8lb 10oz P UK B: 3 TION: OCCUPA inder m d il h C

popped-up indefinitely. Plus, due to the unique rough texture of the baits, you can coat them in your favourite flavour to give them an added boost.

TIP 3

Avid Bait Screws make using High Lites easier than ever before.

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TIP 4

Always carry a selection of different coloured hookbaits with you.

The High Lites are available in two sizes and a variety of vibrant colours. I’ve found the key to success when fishing with single hookbaits is to change the colour of your bait on a regular basis until you find a combination that works. Now, due to the new Avid Bait Screws, it’s never been so simple to change your hookbait when using Chods. I generally have the Bait Screws screwed into my High Lites hookbaits all of the time. So, when I want to change the colour of my hookbait quickly, I simply unscrew the arm until it pops out, pass the arm through the rig ring on my Chod rig and screw it back into the bait. This takes a matter of seconds and is much quicker than trying to tie on a fresh hookbait. Perfect!

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H O O KLINK S

OUT

NOW

CLICK HE

F O R M O R ER E

E N D TA C K PRODUCT LE S

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RE C L I C K H EI D E O O N THE V T O W AT C H AMENT L I F G I R F STIF

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AVID CARPERS

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E H T E S A RELE

P R O D UC TS

e v i t p Ca

When we first sat down and started looking at hooklinks, we wanted to create a range that was strong, reliable and user-friendly. Instead of releasing countless different hooklinks that could potentially confuse newcomers to the sport, we’ve developed three hooklinks that will cover every eventuality. Whether you want to tie a supple PVA bag rig, a coated boilie rig, or a Chod rig, we’ve got it covered with the Captive range.

STIFF RIG FILAMENT This stiff hooklink material has been developed with Chod rigs and Hinged-Stiff rigs in mind. Although the material is stiff, there’s still no need to steam it over a kettle to create the perfect curve. You can easily shape it between your fingers and it will retain a curve even after repeated casting. The material is available in 20lb and 25lb breaking strains, and comes in a clear colour that ensures it disappears on all lake beds.

BRAIDED HOOKLINK The Captive Coated hooklink is perfect for anglers that require a super-supple material.

If you’re fishing a venue that’s dominated by coated hooklinks, it’s well worth giving this stuff a try. It boasts great camouflage properties and sinks well. It’s absolutely perfect for tying solid PVA bag rigs or combi rigs. Available in weedy green colour and 15lb or 20lb breaking strains.

COATED HOOKLINK This Coated Hooklink is already causing a stir and is quickly becoming a must-have item for lots of carp anglers. It’s supple, fast sinking and extremely easy to strip. What’s more, the outer coating will not break when you tie knots in it, and the inner core matches the colour of the outer. It’s a versatile material that can be used to create a variety of different modern-day presentations. Available in weedy green and 15lb or 25lb breaking strains.

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R U N N ING RIGS

KEEP RUNNING 16

AVID CARPERS

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JO N JO N E S Jon ‘Shoes’ Jones reveals how running leads could up your catch rate on pressured venues.

Anybody who has ever fished with me will know I’m constantly tweaking my rigs, bait and anything else that will give me an advantage over other anglers around me. When I look back over the last twenty years it really surprises me how things have gone full circle. There are tactics, rigs and approaches that I was using over a decade ago that are suddenly dominating our sport.

This doesn’t surprise me really and, to be fair, it’s like anything in life. You’ve only got to look at clothing and fashion. It still makes me smile when you see young, trendy people wearing clothing that I was wearing when I was a teenager. So, where am I going with this? Well, basically, I’m saying that, in a bid to get the ultimate edge, I don’t think you have to be thinking about weird and wacky approaches.

You just need to look at the tactics that were getting used to great success many moons ago.

Although the sport may have changed and grown a lot, we’re still fishing for the same species of fish and still targeting similar venues. So, recently, I’ve been trying some of the tactics I used many moons ago with great success and, low and behold, the results have been astounding.

Now many moons ago, if you walked around a carp fishing lake, I’d say that nearly everybody on

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17

R U N N ING RIGS

HOW TO...

CREATE A RUNNING RIG ARRANGEMENT

01

Start by sliding a Korum Running Clip onto your line.

04

Carefully pull the swivel into the buffer bead.

02

Now slide the angled buffer bead onto your main line.

05

Using some pliers, remove the swivel from a Distance Swivel Lead.

the venue would be using running rigs. The lead arrangement was absolutely devastating and I caught hundreds of carp using it. Apart from general coarse or specimen anglers, I rarely see anybody using a running rig setup these days.

The lead will always fall away from the carp when it picks up your hookbait.

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AVID CARPERS

With most carp anglers these days opting for lead-clip arrangements and helicopter presentations, I genuinely believe that running rigs could give you the ultimate edge on pressured venues. Semi-fixed lead arrangements like lead clips use the resistance of the lead to drive the hook into the carp’s mouth.

Although these presentations are

03

Tie a swivel onto the end of your line like this.

06

Here’s the finished lead arrangement. It’s that simple!

undoubtedly effective, they can sometimes work against you.

You see, when a carp is hooked there’s a good chance it will shake its head and it’s possible it could bounce the hook out in the process. Now I know this may seem a little bit extreme to some but I’m certain it happens time and time again, especially on venues that have a barbless hook only rule. I think in some cases the carp can move, shake their head and eject the rig without you even getting a registration on the indicator.

So how can running rigs help?

Well, a running rig acts totally different to a semi-fixed set-up.

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JO N JO N E S When a fish picks up the hookbait and bolts, the lead will always run away from the fish, making it virtually impossible for it to use the weight of the lead to its advantage. Regardless of how much the carp shakes its head, it will find it virtually impossible to shed the hook.

Another great reason to use running rigs is because bite indication is absolutely brilliant.

Due to the fact that the lead acts like an anchor point, you will get indication as soon as a carp picks up your hookbait. Although I’m not a massive fan of fishing with super-slack lines, if I was going to use them, I would certainly do so with a running rig. Regardless

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TIP

It couldn’t be simple to set-up a running rig arrangement. As a rule, I general use one of the Running Rig Kits from Korum.

Alternatively, I simply slide a lead onto my main line, push on two Rubber Beads and tie on a swivel.

It’s that simple!

ANGLER P

ROFILE

s on Jone NAME: J 2 4 : E AG 7lb UK PB: 4 TION: OCCUPA er of ag n a M Brand Avid Carp

lus stunning 20lb-p Jon caught this tlined in ou ics ct ta e th mirror using this feature.

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AVID

of which way the carp moves after it Regardless of what lead picks arrangement and rig Jon is using, up your he uses this PVA bag/stringer hookbait, combination. you’ll always get a positive indication on your alarm.

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C HOD KIT S

GETKITTED OUT RE C L I CRK MHOER E FO LE E N D T A CCKT S PRODU

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OUT

NOW 20

AVID CARPERS

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P R O D UC TS With so many anglers now using Chod rigs, we have released three kits that will make it easier than ever to construct a leader for Chod fishing.

Pin Down or leadcore, and a weighted Kit that’s designed to be used naked on main line or fluorocarbon. Plus, there’s a Kit that contains standard unweighted rubber beads that can be used on both leadcore or main line.

The kits contain Grip Stops, Top Beads, Ring Swivels and Buffer Beads. There are three kits available in the range, so there’s bound to be one to suit your style of fishing. There’s a Chod Kit that contains weighted beads for use with

If you’re unsure about setting up a Chod leader or helicopter presentation, take a look at the new Chod Kits. They are effective, easy to use and, more importantly, they are super-safe.

BEADS Each kit contains nine top beads. The beads simply slide over the Grip Stops. Should it need to, the bead will pop off the Grip Stop and slide over all leader knots, making them extremely fish-friendly.

SIZE 11 RING SWIVELS This size 11 Ring Swivels are absolutely brilliant for use with Chod rigs. We’ve sourced the strongest, low-glare swivels for a secure connection. Each pack kit contains 9 swivels.

GRIP STOPS The Grip Stops are supplied on a wire so you can slide them onto your leader or main line quickly and easily.

Ensuring the tapered end faces your lead, you simply slide one of the Beads over the Stop.

CHOD BUFFERS Perfect for covering the lead on your helicopter and Chod rigs, these Buffers are finished in a colour that will blend in on all lakebeds. The Buffer Beads are compatible with size 8 swivels.

Each Chod Kit contains 9 Chod Buffers.

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T O P TIPS

s p i t p o T

JON F

INCH

reve

als

TOPT fo r so

lid b

his

IPS

agg

ing.

for SOLIDBAGGING

Jon Finch, arguably one of the best solid-bag anglers in the country, reveals his top tips for this underrated tactic.

PELLETS & GROUNDBAIT

01.

USE SMALL BAITS Solid PVA bags are brilliant because you can use pretty much any kind of bait inside them. I’ve tried a whole host of different baits over the years, but I’ve found small pellets and groundbait to be the best.

When using smaller baits you can make the bag a lot more compact, which is great if you’re trying to cast them at range.

RE C L I C K H EV I D E O THE T O W AT C H TIPS MORE TOP

http://www.youtube.com/embed/N5RV-KnWees??rel=0&frameborder=0&fullscreen=0

BAG STEMS

02. GET PREPARED The key to solid-bag fishing is being prepared. If you’re catching lots of fish, it’s important that you can get a bag straight back out on the fish quickly and accurately. The new Bag Stems from Avid are perfect because you can make them at home before your session, then simply tie them to the end of your main line in a matter of seconds.

03. USE A LOADER Although solid bags can be tricky to tie, there is one very simple solution. The Avid Bag Loader was the first loader to help anglers tie solid PVA bags easier than ever before. It’s a super-simple concept and, with a bit of practice, it will allow you to tie solid bags quicker than ever before.

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AVID CARPERS

BAGLOADING KIT avidcarp.com

JO N F I N C H

04. SUPER-SUPPLE HOOKLINKS If you want to create the perfect solid-bag presentation, it’s important that you use a braided hooklink. The hooklink should be super-supple so that it can be coiled up inside the bag. There are a variety of hooklinks available but the new Captive Braided Hooklink takes some beating. It’s strong, sinks like a brick and is extremely supple. Perfect!

CAPTIVE BRAIDEDHOOKLINK 05. DROP IT When using solid bags I think it’s important that you drop the lead on the take. The combination of a short hooklink and large lead can often lead to hook pulls during the fight. If you drop the lead on the take, you will dramatically reduce the chance of you losing fish. If you’re using a standard in-line lead arrangement, take a look at the Avid Drop-Off Stems. For anglers that want to drop the lead when using our new Bag Stems, try them with the Avid Safety Leads.

DROP-OFF STEMS

HOW TO...

TIE A SOLID BAG

01

Slide a Bag Stem through the centre of an In-Line Safety Lead.

04

Carefully drop your rig and lead arrangement into the bag.

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02

Attach your rig to the swivel on the end of the Bag Stem.

05

Compress the bag and twist the top of it like this.

03

Slide a Bag Loader into a Transfer Bag and add a layer of pellets.

06

Finally, tie off the top of the bag using a length of PVA Tape.

AVID CARPERS

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T O P TIPS

TRANSFER BAGS TRANSFERBAGS 06. INJECT YOUR BAGS If you want to give your PVA bags a boost, try injecting them with high-oil liquids. The liquid will rise, drawing carp from the upper layers down towards your hookbait.

AN

FILE GLER PRO

on Finch NAME: J AGE: 31 5lb 9oz UK PB: 4 TION: A OCCUP ankside B f o r e Own k c Ta le

07. MAKE THEM AERODYNAMIC It’s important that you always make sure your PVA bags are compact and aerodynamic before you cast them out.

Always trim off any excess PVA and lick and fold over the corners of the PVA bag as shown in the picture above.

HIGHLITES

08. HIGH-VIS HOOKBAITS

When using solid PVA bags, it’s a good idea to use high-vis hookbaits. There are a whole host of different hookbaits on the market, but 10mm High Lites are perfect. There are a variety of different colours, but yellow and white take some beating.

OUT C H E CeKr t s i n a l l

v our ad ading carp e the l ations for public

MORE

S P I T P O T

xxxx xxxx x xxxx

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AVID CARPERS

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CATC H R E P O RTS

CATCH

REPORTS Welcome to the Avid Catch Reports page – the area of the magazine that gives you the chance to see your catch pic.

TOP CATCH WINNER

IAN FISHER, 42 26LB 3OZ

If you’ve caught a carp using Avid tackle, send a picture to catchreports@avidcarp.com, and it may appear in the next magazine. What’s more, the winner of the star prize will receive a bundle of tackle from the Avid carp range.

NAME: Will Oakes FISH WEIGHT: 25lb VENUE: Kent syndicate BAIT: Pineapple pop-up TACTICS: Cast a solid PVA bag into open water at 40yds range. I used Size 5 Avid Transfer Bags and Thread & Go Tubing.

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NAME: Ian Fisher AGE: 42 VENUE: North House Lake, St Neots BAIT: Fishmeal pop-up

TACTICS: I fished an area of light weed at 40yds range, using the Avid Chod Beads, 25lb Stiff Rig Filament and 1.5oz Distance Swivel Leads.

NAME: Jason Donaldson FISH WEIGHT: 19lb VENUE: RH Fisheries’ The Sitch BAIT: Pineapple pop-up TACTICS: Knowing that the lake had been fishing slow, I opted to rove solid PVA bags around the lake to try and nick a bite or two. I was using the Avid Bag Stems, Captive Braided Hooklink and Transfer PVA bags.

NAME: Leonardo Roselli FISH WEIGHT: 22lb VENUE: Local Lake BAIT: Sonubaits White Chocolate boiles TACTICS: Caught on a white pop-up fished over a scattering of matching boilies. I used the Captive Coated Hooklink, Flat Clips and a 2.5oz Distance Swivel Lead.

AVID CARPERS

25

R OD P ROTE C T ION

. . .

D E T C E T PRO

GET

n are ofte nd reels or a F s . d s o u r our with , s g e in s h a s c fi t , in mos we take rotected at all say that ems of tackle o t to em p ir fa It’s ive it keep th hen travelling s e n e w p t x a e h t t w s l o d ia e t m the amag essen n’t get d son, it’s this rea ensure they do nd times, a he lake. t m o r f and

THREE ROD

HOLDALL This full-protection holdall will hold three made-up rods in the inner compartment and two rods on the quiverstyle pockets on the outside of the bag. This allows anglers to store their spod and marker rod, with our without sleeves, on the outside of the bag so they can access them quickly at the start of their session.

Three rods without reels attached can also be stored inside the holdall.

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AVID CARPERS

avidcarp.com

P R O D UC TS

ww. http://w .com/ rp a avidc http://www.avidcarp.com/Luggage_Range kle_ c EFnOdR-TaM O R E Range

RE CLICK HE IDEAS LUGGAGE

OUT

NOW

FIVE ROD

HOLDALL This holdall will take five made-up rods in the inner compartment and two rods on the quiverstyle pockets on the outside of the bag. This allows anglers to take seven made-up rods if they want, making it ideal for anglers that like to carry extra setups, like floater fishing and stalking rods. Three rods without reels attached can also be stored inside the holdall.

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27

T HE CH OD RIG

RE C L I CRK MHOERnEd-Tackle_Range FcaOrp.com/E ww.avid http://w UNIQUE L T E R M I NBAI T S TA C K L E

Although Chod rigs have become increasingly popular in more recent times, they still play a major part in my fishing. I have to admit, I’d normally shy away from something that is so widely used as I like to keep things fresh and different, but if it ain’t broke...

Everybody obviously has their own versions and reasons on how the Chod rig should be fished and I’m no different. My whole fishing is based around making the most of the little time I have on the bank.

Taking into account that most of the venues I like to target aren’t easy at the best of times, and combined with having to compete with other good anglers and full-timers, I need every little edge I can get.

Many of the well known big fish anglers encourage using Chods on leadcore leaders. For a long time, I was of the same opinion, but ever since I removed the leadcore and tweaked about with the rig, I personally feel as though I get more bites as a result of the changes. I now fish it naked on my main line as I like the idea of it being able to settle naturally. I also don’t like fishing the rig over any amount of bait and like to fish it as either a single or with a light scattering of boilies.

Having watched fish feed for literally hundreds of hours over the years, I have my own opinions on what is acceptable around feeding carp.

Blatant high pop-ups or critically balanced hook baits are a no no over any amount of bait as far as I’m concerned. Plus, I actually feel that a Chod is more effective at hooking a carp when it’s critically balanced.

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AVID CARPERS

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DAV E M AG A LHA E S

HOW TO...

TIE A CHOD RIG

01

Avid Stiff Rig Filament is perfect for tying Chod rigs.

05

Pass the tag end through the back of the hook’s eye.

09

Push the arm of the recess into the Bait Screw.

02

Thread a hook with an outturned eye onto the hooklink.

06

Carefully blob the tag end like this.

10

Finally screw a High Lite hookbait onto the rig.

e many Here’s one of th ve has Da rp ca s lu 30lb-p rig. od Ch e th caught on

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03

04

Fix the hook in place using a knotless knot.

07

Thread a large rig ring onto the hair like this.

Tie a size 11 Ring Swivel onto the end of the hooklink.

08

Pass the arm of the Bait Screw through the rig ring.

The only thing I do, is attach a short 6inch Pin Down leader above the lead so that when I hook a fish, the swivel on the rig isn’t rubbing/pulling on the line. I’ve had it on a couple of occasions where my mainline has snapped under pressure, and I’m sure it was the swivel that was to blame. Other than that, I tend to fish them about 2 inches long.

ROFILE A N G L E R ePMagalhaes av NAME: D AGE: 31 9lb 10oz UK PB: 4 TION: OCCUPA hop Tackle s tant is s s a s sale

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AVID CARPERS

29

A S CE NT OVA L BI VVY

THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS

Boasting a whole host of great features, this unique shelter is quickly becoming one of the most sought-after products on the market.

When we designed the Ascent Oval Bivvy, we wanted to create a shelter that was quick and easy to erect, yet had all the features that larger, more substantial bivvies boast. The finished product was a shelter that gives you the best of both worlds. During the spring and summer, you can use the Ascent like a conventional stripped-out brolly, making it perfect for anglers that travel light and fish in tight swims. Then, in winter, when the weather takes a turn for the worse and you need more coverage, you can attach the front for extra protection.

It has built-in stability rods that negate the need for storm poles and create a totally free-standing shelter. On a calm day, you don’t even need to peg it out. You can simply erect it, chuck it on the ground and it will stand up on its own two feet.

When designing the shelter, we spent a long time searching for a strong, durable material that would provide the ultimate protection. The Ascent features our exclusive Dura-Stop™ material, which is an ultra-tough fabric that will keep you protected from the elements with military-style durability.

If you like the convenience of a conventional brolly but want something that offers extra protection when you need it, the Ascent is the shelter for you.

It’s the most versatile oval bivvy on the market.

RE C L I CSKE EHTEH E TO http://www.avidcarp.com/AVAL-OB_Item PACT M O R E C OBMR O L L Y ALPINE

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AVID CARPERS

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P R O D UC TS

FEATURES...

ASCENT OVAL BIVVY

GET PROTECTED

Did you know harmful rays can penetrate some fabrics? Don’t take that risk this summer and protect yourself with an Avid Ascent or Alpine shelter. Both feature our unique Dura Stop material which, unlike some other shelters, has UV 50+ protection.

This totally eliminates harmful rays.

Don’t get burnt this summer!

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The oval bivvy boasts two rod straps.

The Ascent boasts our unique Dura Stop material.

A rear vent improves air flow when it’s hot.

For extra protection, the Ascent has a peak.

During the summer, you can strip the oval bivvy out...

...or you can add the front for extra protection.

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AVID CARPERS

31

R E F L EC T IONS

DAYTRIPPIN’ Chris Lowe proves that you don’t need to spend days on the bank in order to catch large carp by banking two colossal fish during an 8-hour session.

With the season well under way on my Shropshire syndicate water and a couple of the lake’s residents already making an appearance, I was dying to get down there for my first session of the year. Unfortunately, due to work and family commitments over the weekend, I only had one day at my disposal. My hopes were lifted a little though, after speaking to a couple of the lake’s regulars, because it became clear that most of the fish had been getting caught during the daylight hours.

When I pulled into the car park for my first session of the new season, I was shocked at the amount of anglers that were fishing. Word of the recent captures had obviously spread and the whole lake was pretty

32

AVID CARPERS

stitched up. Although some anglers may have got back in the car and headed home, I couldn’t wait to get the rods out. I grabbed my polarizing sunglasses and headed off around the lake in search of carp. There were only two vacant swims on the whole lake and both of them were in the shallows, so I wasn’t exactly brimming with confidence.

Although the fish regularly visit the shallow areas throughout the day, they very rarely get caught from there.

Standing in The Oak Swim, I peered across the shallows for

the smallest sign of feeding carp.

Fortunately, within a couple of minutes of arriving, a massive mirror crashed out about 40yds from the bank. Over the next ten minutes I saw several more large fish crash and roll in no more than 2ft of water. Although I’d seen them in the shallows on a number of occasions before, I’d never seen them this active. It was game on!

Hoping that none of the other

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C HR I S LO W E

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33

R E F L EC T IONS

TOP TIPS...

FOR DAY SESSIONS

anglers had spotted the disturbance, I rushed back to my van to grab the rest of my gear. With all my gear unceremoniously chucked on the barrow, I virtually ran back to the swim. It was black with carp and, from what I could see, there were several fish that looked well over 40lb. Fortunately, I had a couple of rigs tied up so it was just a case of flicking them onto the areas where I’d seen the most activity.

Knowing that the lake’s residents had been battered on Chod rigs, I opted to add a small, stiff boom to mine. As well as giving the rig a little more movement, it makes it more difficult for carp to deal with it, especially if they’ve become accustomed to ejecting conventional Chods.

01

02

Always use reliable rigs that you have confidence in.

Use light leads because they make less disturbance.

03

04

If you see carp show, make sure you cast onto them.

Give your hookbaits some added attraction.

05

Always watch the water for signs of carp.

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AVID CARPERS

Rather than introducing loads of bait, I opted to use single Sonubaits Refresha pop-ups over a scattering of half a dozen Code Red shelf-life boilies. To make my hookbaits even more attractive, I dipped them in some Sonubaits Booster Cloud liquid. After being dipped and cast out, the hookbaits release a constant cloud of attraction and draw carp down to the bottom.

The day progressed relatively slowly and, if I’m honest, I just wanted it to draw to and end because I knew that it would be closer to bite time.

Unfortunately, by 5pm the area looked totally devoid of life and I was certain there were no fish in front of me, so I decided to have a slow pack down. As I started chucking my gear on the barrow, my righthand alarm let out a flurry of beeps. Suddenly, there was a large explosion in the shallow water as an angry carp ploughed into deeper water. I stumbled to the rod, struck and slowly waded out into the shallows. The carp kited right so I applied some pressure but I had no chance, the fish wanted to go and there was no way I was stopping it.

Eventually, after an arm-wrenching battle, I finally started to gain some control and draw the carp towards my waiting net. After a few last-minute lunges and a couple of heart-stopping moments, I slipped a large, clean mirror into the net. Having no idea what I’d caught, I secured the fish in the margins and frantically reeled in my other rod.

Knowing that multiple bites are always a possibility

avidcarp.com

C HR I S LO W E on the venue, I flicked my left-hand rod to the area where I’d caught the fish from and went to grab the angler in the next swim to help with photographs.

As soon as I lifted the mirror out of the water, I knew that I’d banked one of the venue’s largest residents. As I pulled back my landing net mesh, I realised that I’d landed the largest fish in the lake. It was a mirror known as The Dollop which regular graces the bank around the 45lb-47lb mark. With the help of a few of the members, I hoisted the fish onto the scales and waited in anticipation. When they told me the fish weighed 48lb I really couldn’t believe my luck.

After a couple of trophy shots, I waded out into deeper water and cradled the enormous mirror. As the fish flicked its tail and charged back to its watery home, my other alarm sounded and the rod tip shook violently. At first, I thought the fish had swum through my other line but, as line started tearing from the reel, I knew I was into another Shropshire chunk.

As soon as I lifted into the fish, It was apparent that I was battling another

good’un. After a short but spirited fight, I bundled a good common into the net. Shaking from the action, I went through the weighing and picture process all over again, this time with a cracking 33lb common.

Although I’d have loved to have stayed for a couple more hours, I had to pack up and leave. Within half an hour of slipping the 48lb mirror back, I was on my way home with a huge smile on my face. See, you really don’t have to fish for days on end if you want to catch large carp. Pick the right venue, find the fish and you will reap the rewards.

ROFILE A N G L E R P s Lowe hri NAME: C E G A : 42 6lb UK PB: 5 ION: T A OCCUP utor T g n li g An

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35

STU N

FIVE

NIN GU

KV EN U

Discover RH Fisheries We have created the very best carp fisheries in the country.

The RH Fisheries portfolio offers five outstanding venues that cater for every carp angler’s needs.

PROUDLY SPONSOR

For further information please contact:

RH Fisheries, Lamledge Lane, Shifnal, Shropshire TF11 8SD Tel: 01952 463141 Email: info@rhfisheries.com

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ES