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No.193 September 2013 September 2013 | Issue 193 | £4.10
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Dare To Be
Different Ellis Brazier reveals an alternative tactic that will catch you more carp Get Crafty... GET CATCHING! On sale August 21st – Sept 18th 2013
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When the carp aren’t playing ball, Mark Bartlett shows you how to keep the action coming
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TEAM : TY CRAF et to g How est ery b the v er nuts tig from 06/08/2013 12:20
Crafty Carper /// Issue 193 /// September 2013 /// www.craftycarper.co On the cover: Shropshire angler Ellis Brazier with a scale-perfect common carp caught on a method usually associated with salmon and trout anglers, but which can be used for carp, and with devastating effect.
CRAFTY COLUMNISTS
11
Editorial James Turner
40
51
this awesome bait. Team Crafty
weather, and reveals why this
method isn’t elitist, just great fun that
unlocks the secrets that make all
issue is the must-read magazine.
can be experienced by everyone.
the difference when using growlers.
Fly-fishing for Carp
Unleash the Tiger
Ellis Brazier
How to get the best from
Ellis explains why this underused
Editor James gets the British disease and moans about the
141
Diary of an Everyday
KS ALARMS & GARDNER HOO S, FOX REELS, 30PLUS ES TO BE WON JRC ROD OVER £2,600 OF PRIZ
Carp Angler
Julian Cundiff In spite of his full-time job and busy schedule, Jules still gets out every
No.193 September 2013
week and keeps on catching them. OUT AND ABOUT
90
The TicketMaster
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The sun is still here and
193 | £4.10 | September 2013 Issue
Dare To Be
Britain is melting, but while the rest of the UK is feeling the heat, you
Different
can get under the shade of your brolly on the bank. Let Crafty help you out with your choice of venue.
alternative Ellis Brazier reveals an more carp tactic that will catch you
INTERACTIVE
26
ING! Get Crafty... GET CATCH
Crafty Catch Column This is the place to get your
catch pictures published, so send them in to us, and you’re in with the chance of a great prize from our good friends at Mainline Baits.
37
30Plus Competition We have two sets of 30Plus
On sale August 21st –
Sept 18th 2013
Centium DFX Alarms to give away,
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worth a total of £489.90, so this is a great chance to pick up a set by simply answering the question on page 37.
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When the carp aren’t playing ball, Mark Bartlett shows you how to keep the action coming
TEAM Y: FT CRA get to How est ery b uts v e n th iger t from
’S ALAN BLAIR G WITH NASH TACKLE PLUS URBAN CARPIN
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61
Gardner Tackle Competition This is your chance to win a
Gardner prize bundle worth £127.50, which contains 30 packs of the very best hooks. We have four bundles
1 001_Cover_CC193.indd
as prizes in this competition.
13
79
73
old haunt in the Oxford area. Roll up, roll up, it’s
urban in an area more commonly known for
our panel of experts. If you get
Brasenose One for our carp-catching Crafty regular. If
its medieval history. He’s in Shakespeare’s
your question answered you’re
there are fish to be caught Bart will show you how.
hometown of Stratford-upon-Avon.
in the frame for a prize.
The Traveller Mark Bartlett
Our man is travelling again and he headed to an
Urban Banx Alan Blair
The Question Is This month’s carping
Alan heads away from Essex and gets a little
conundrums are answered by
technology technologyand and craftsmanship craftsmanship
Century Century Horizontal Horizontal DPS_Websites DPS_Websites CarpCarp and and Sea.indd Sea.indd 1 1
C H OLONGOLOG
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6 IN IN Crafty MADE MADE UK UK Carper
E
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O CL O CL UT UTAV AV A A
06/08/2013 15:44
…
Contents /// September 2013
86
JRC Competition We’re giving you the chance
to get your hands on a complete set of XLR Extreme rods from JRC, and we’re also including the awesome Transmitter marker rod and the powerful Shuttle spod rod.
128
Fox Competition This is a great chance
to win one of two pairs of the brand new Fox FX11 reels, with a prize fund worth £675.
131
Subscribe Fed up of going to the
newsagents? Let us deliver Crafty
63 45
Crafty Carper Under-21s Sparsholt student Jordan
New looks back on what can
121 115
Bags of Attraction Steve Broad
Carpworld editor Steve reveals how to
straight to your door, and we’ll also
only be described as a very
maximise the pulling power of your PVA
give you a load of goodies from
memorable 12 months. Read it
bag arrangement by creating a sloppy
the nice gents at Gardner Tackle.
and you’ll soon see why, plus
mix that the carp will find hard to resist.
134
Inbox Send us your letters,
stories and pictures, and we’ll print
catch up with Josh’s latest blog.
63
Short Session Carpin’ Jon ‘Shoes’ Jones
121
Beat the Crays Dave Finn
Crayfish are the bane of many carp
Shoes reveals a simple tactic that
anglers’ lives, so Dave Finn gives a
stories from around the world
could catch you lots more carp
few pointers on how to beat the pesky
and you can find out what’s been
when time is of the essence.
little critters if they’re in your water.
the ones we like. We’ve got news
happening on the carpy grapevine.
68
My Favourite
FEATURES
19
In Session With… Ken South
Yorkshire Waters
Les Marsh
146
Hatcha some searching questions
theory of DTL, or day ticket logic to
he also enjoys fishing closer to home.
about his angling exploits.
97
CARP FOOD
33
The Great Crafty Debate This month our panel of
When it comes to making the decision of hookbait choice, it’s not as
In Focus Nash
On the bank clothing has never been exciting or stylish – until Nash unveiled their new Jigsaw range.
110
In Focus Chub
We put the Super Cyfish Dome under
137
Mega Deals If you’ve got some
money burning a hole in your pocket and don’t know what to buy,
55
Carp Food
check out our Mega Deals, the best offers around from the retailers.
Here you’ll find the latest
and greatest products of carpy
experts reveal whether they use boilies
straightforward as some think. Andy
munga, as well as a top tip from
straight out of the bag or like to give
Richardson is a big user of balanced
Joe Turnbull on how to create the
them some added liquid attraction.
hookbaits, and here you can find out why.
perfect groundbait mix. Plus, don’t miss the very latest boilies from Marukyu, which are called Credence. CARPERS’ KIT
101
Carpers’ Kit
97
109
different bankside accommodation.
The Crafty team ask Essex-based dubstep and Kiss FM resident DJ
Andy Richardson
12000cc carp reel from the Avid stable.
the microscope and test this very
wide to catch outsize specimens, but
A Balancing Act
Avid
An in-depth first look at the brand new
Interrogation
Big-carp hunter Les travels far and
get the best from short sessions.
In Focus
The Five-Minute
Our man from 30Plus explains his the uninitiated, and reveals how to
107
We take a look at some
of the best products that are new to the shops, and give you the low-
COMPETITION WINNERS Competition winners from Crafty Carper June issue 191
Nash Competition
The winner receives a set of three Nash Rods worth over £320 and a day’s casting tuition with Terry Edmonds. V Warner, Northampton, Northamptonshire.
down on what’s hot and what’s not.
……seeking seekingthe theboundaries boundariesofofperformance performance
p ip
WWW.CENTURY.GB.COM WWW.CENTURY.GB.COM
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Crafty Carper
7 06/08/2013 15:44
06/03/2013 06/03/2013 10:51:56 10:51:56
Carp On The Fly Have you ever fancied catching a carp by doing something a little different to the norm? If so then you need to read on, as Ellis Brazier goes fly-fishing for carp.
ANGLER PROFILE
Ellis Brazier ........................... Age 42 ........................... Hometown
Shrewsbury ........................... Occupation
Firefighter ........................... UK PB
39lb 4oz ........................... Favourite venue
Hawkstone Park ........................... Rods
JRC Extreme ........................... Reels
Shimano Biomaster XTA ........................... Alarms
JRC Radar
40
Crafty Carper
040-043_CarpOnTheFly.indd 1
01/08/2013 11:34
Carp On The Fly
Ellis Brazier
C
arp angling can, and does,
it’s also a method that can be kept
should be selected with a realistic
mean many different things to
in the boot of the car and squeezed
chance of catching and being able
many different people, which
into the shortest of sessions. Just like
to fish. Don’t forget that a venue
is one reason why the sport can
normal mixer fishing, this method
with banks densely covered in
be so exciting and diverse. Some
requires very little equipment and
trees is no place to be starting your
of you like the long-stay approach,
preparation time, and if you’re like me
career as a fly angler. Open banks
while others enjoy the freedom and
and have to balance work and family
on waters with plenty of carp that
stealth of short-session angling, and
against the occasional
some, like me, just like catching carp
fishing trip, then you
however they come along. As the
will appreciate the
seasons pass, I enjoy nothing more
merits of this
than to fish for carp as the weather
method. For me,
and conditions dictate. From long
one of them is
late-autumn nights tucked up in a
that it makes
bivvy to cold crisp midwinter day
small carp
sessions, I love them all, but when
extremely
the sun shines on our fair isle and
interesting
the temperature rises, much like the carp to the surface, I like nothing
ABOVE This is full-throttle
adrenalin-fuelled carp angling!
more than to get out and creep
and exciting to catch, which is something I
love a floater are the ideal ingredients for sport
on the fly rod; “This rapidly commercial expanding branch fisheries of our sport is not only are great full-throttle adrenalin places to stuff, but it’s also a method try out this that can be kept in the boot fantastically enjoyable of the car and squeezed form of carp into the shortest angling. Once of sessions” you master the
around a pool with some surface
I mean is I use what the situation
will look at over the
baits and a fly rod! Oh yes, that’s
demands to catch the fish I’m hunting,
next few pages. So, if I’ve
right, you did read that correctly. A
and if at all possible I endeavour to use
not lost you yet, let’s take a look
experienced angler from the
FLY ROD. Now before you move on
the most exciting method to hopefully
at catching a carp with a fly rod.
bygone era of the old close season,
quickly to the next article, thinking
catch that fish, whatever species it
this is a feature by some weird dude
may be. When we get good weather
Venue Choice
had to learn the art of fly-fishing
who has his nose in the air, trying
and all the water temperatures heat
The first thing to remember with this
in an attempt to avoid the pain of
to catch every known species of fish
up, and nothing really seems to want
style of angling is that it is designed
three fishless months, you can use
on the fly, then please think again,
to feed anywhere except on the
purely around fun. It isn’t the next
the method on your regular water.
because that is certainly not me.
surface, then I must admit I do try to
wonder method for catching big
Carp fishing on the fly is a fun
Yes, I do fish for a wide range of fish,
get out as much as I can and have a go
fish, it is simply a way of getting the
way of catching our quarry; match
and yes, I do use a fly sometimes,
for carp on my fly setup. This rapidly
maximum amount of pleasure from
the venue with the method and
but to be fair, sometimes I use a
expanding branch of our sport is not
whatever size of carp are available.
you’ll have endless
spinner or a worm or a boilie. What
only full-throttle adrenalin stuff, but
With this in mind, the choice of venue
enjoyable sport.
art of fly-casting, or if you’re already an
where many normal fishermen
Crafty Carper 040-043_CarpOnTheFly.indd 2
41 01/08/2013 11:34
ANGLER PROFILE
Les Marsh ........................... Age 54 ........................... Hometown
Guisborough, Cleveland ........................... Occupation
Process technician ........................... UK PB
59lb 4oz ........................... Favourite venue
Kingfisher, Bluebell Lakes ........................... Rods
Century FG 12ft 3.5LB TC ........................... Reels
Shimano Technium ........................... Alarms
Fox EOS-R
68
Crafty Carper
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06/08/2013 16:11
My Favourite Yorkshire Waters Les Marsh
My Favourite
Yorkshire W a t e r s D
ue to living in the northeast
acres, mostly shallow, up to around
of England, I’m very limited
5ft deep, with a large bar that runs
to available carp waters in my
down the centre. There are two small
area, so I’ve been travelling for my
islands at the far end of the lake
fishing for the past 14 years. For the
and it can also get very weedy in
last 3 years I’ve been fishing a number
the summer months, which can put
of waters in the Yorkshire area, my
off a lot of people. Don’t be afraid of
main one being the Willows syndicate
the weed; learn to fish in it, or very
in Castleford, West Yorkshire. My other
close to it, and this really increases
favourite water is the Majestic Pool
your chances of getting a pickup,
near Beverly, East Yorkshire. I’ll cover
because the fish in Willows really
my approach to the Willows first.
love the weed. It provides excellent cover as well as being a very good
THE WILLOWS
food source for the carp; it’s teeming
The lake itself is actually on a flood
with freshwater shrimps and other
plain – not the best place for a carp
tasty morsels for the carp to eat.
lake because it is obviously prone to
The biggest tip for the Willows
flooding! It first came to my attention
is pretty much the same as for any
around 4 or 5 years ago, through the
water I fish, and that is location,
angling grapevine and after seeing a few pictures in Carp-Talk. The lake was stocked around 2006 with a fastgrowing strain of Croatian carp,
location, location.
“I always do as much research as possible before fishing a lake for the first time because this can save a lot of time and effort in the future”
and these were
If you can find the fish and present a bait to them then you usually catch, but you need to approach the area quietly. These fish have seen most things
the fish I was mostly interested in
over the years, and if you pitch up
because they had very good growth
and start markering around and
rates; there are a few other strains
chucking 4oz leads everywhere they’ll
of carp in Willows, but these Croatian
be off. My favoured approach, if the
carp are the ones that are going
area is relatively free of weed, is
to be the really big fish, which is
just a single cast with a small PVA
what I am most interested in.
stocking of boilie crumb, or a half-bait
On my first few trips to the lake it was mostly information gathering
stringer cast to the showing fish. The fish aren’t usually up for a big
and to get to know what works and
feed early season, so don’t go filling
what doesn’t. I always do as much
it in with boilies or spod mix, etc.
research as possible before fishing
The methods I have found to work
a lake for the first time because this
the best are either a single fluoro
can save a lot of time and effort in the
pop-up or a Snowman Rig with a
long run. The lake itself is around 26
bottom bait of choice in 16mm, with
LEFT A typical chunky 20lb+ mirror from Majestic.
a 10mm fluoro pop-up on top to balance the
Crafty Carper 068-071_FavourieWaters_CC193.indd 2
69 06/08/2013 16:11
The Question Is
Team Crafty Carper
WHERE DO I START?
Q
I have just started carp fishing after going with one of my friends. With so much terminal tackle available, where do I start? Which few simple rigs should I start with and where should I limit my buying? Joel.
A
Joel’s question wins him a great selection of goodies from JRC’s brilliant Connections range of terminal tackle.
Hi Joel, it’s always good to see new people coming
into carp angling, and especially so when they are from my local area. This is a great help when answering a question like this because I can give rig advice that should be tried and trusted on the waters you will hopefully encounter. The thing I most like about your question is that you state the word ‘simple’ when you mention
“Simple but effective rigs are the cornerstone of my approach, and I always advocate their use over some of the more complex and elaborate concoctions you occasionally see”
rigs. Simple but effective rigs are the cornerstone of my their use over some of the more
and the coated hooklink assists in
listed above, then this should be a good
ABOVE Quality bait, it’s worth its weight in gold.
complex and elaborate concoctions
the hook and bait being pushed away
starting point and serve you well. Try to
BELOW Another one on the Snowman.
you occasionally see in print. I have
from the lead. This rig can be used for
read the lakebed where you are angling
included a picture of my standard
pop-ups (just place a split shot or rig
by feeling the lead hit the bottom
BOTTOM LEFT The Snowman setup with my bent shrink tube.
rig, which comprises simply of a
putty at the desired distance along the
after casting on a tight line, to tell you
length of coated hooklink material
hooklink), bottom baits, or my personal
how any adjustments may help. For
your budget. My advice would be to
tied Knotless Knot-style to a reliable
favourite, a Snowman setup. The
example, a soft lakebed, common in our
concentrate on good-quality hooks
hook, and then a small piece of
Snowman setup of a bottom bait with a
area, may need a Snowman or pop-up
and hooklinks, then keep the rest of
shrink tube placed over the eye of
slightly smaller pop-up balanced on top
setup with a hooklink length of 10ins.
your money for bait. In my opinion,
the hook and bent by steaming.
has been deadly effective for me over
On the other hand, if you’re angling
quality bait and its application is one
Each component of this rig does
the years, especially in the silty waters
on a clay bottom commercial-type
of the major keys to carp angling, so
one or more jobs; the bent shrink
in Shropshire. One rig does all Joel – well
venue, it may pay to fish a short 3-5ins
when you can afford it, buy bait.
tube helps the hook turn over in
not quite, but if you play around with
hooklink and a more natural bottom
approach, and I always advocate
the carp’s mouth
the different types of presentation
bait. What I am trying to show by these examples is that if you concentrate
I hope my answer has been some help to you Joel. Keep things simple and
on how the rig is fishing and then
spend as much time
make small adjustments, this
on the bank as you
type of simple yet effective
can, and very soon
setup will serve you well.
I’m sure you will
The last part of your
catch many carp.
question focuses on where to spend
Tight lines, Ellis Brazier.
Ellis BraziEr • JrC Ellis is a Question Is veteran, with many years’ experience of hunting carp in his beloved Shropshire meres. Whether in open water or tight to the margins, El knows how to catch ’em, and he loves a solid bag approach when it’s needed.
74
Crafty Carper
073-077_Question_Is_CC193.indd 2
06/08/2013 16:19
The Question Is
Ask our experts anything, online at www.craftycarper.co
Team Crafty Carper
BAIT BOAT HELP REQUIRED
Q
I like using my bait boat, which has an echo sounder, but I’m not sure what to look for on the screen. Some of the other lads on the lake say I’m using it because I can’t cast. Do you think this is fair? Sean Brittain.
A
everywhere, and the bonus is that the more the anglers drop their baits close, the more the carp get weary of it. It eventually puts the Sean’s query for Mitch has landed him an awesome selection of Starbaits gear.
anglers off due to the lack of bites. In answer to your question about what to look for, don’t look for fish, that’s for sure. Simply put, use the feature-finder as an extension to a marker float, and try to find variations and obstacles
Hi Sean, Nice question mate; I also
such as rocks, snags, plants, bars, plateaus, etc. These are where the
like using bait boats, and you
fish feed and where you should
know I can cast a bit. I have no
drop your hookbaits. Look at the
problem putting a lead where
grey line to distinguish how solid
I want it, but since running my
the lakebed is, watch the depth
own lakes, Hawkswood and
gauge, and look for sudden depth
Maldon, I am more than happy
differences. On some lakebeds all
to see people use bait boats,
you find is a bit of hard bottom or
and by using one myself I hope
a gradual depth difference, but
they see the benefits. If you’re
these can all increase the chances
wondering why, well, the Maldon
of a fish or two. Some of today’s
lake has many overhanging trees
side-finders can show a coke can
can’t show, so use a marker setup
and reedbeds, and all too often
on its side, and they even show
and check the depth differences as
we have to remove broken rigs
the ring pull, so try to determine
you go. If you work like that you will
that have been overcast into the
and rationalise exactly what you
improve your feature-finding skills
snags, reeds and bushes, which
see on the screen. Sometimes you
and put more carp on the mat, and
then are snapped off and become
think you’ve found a mountain of a
you’ll also not be tied to using a bait
a big problem to all wildlife,
feature only to realise it’s a small
boat when they are not allowed.
including carp. If the anglers
pebble or something similar.
use a bait boat they can drop
Remember that you’re using the
One thing that not a lot of people realise is that when you read the
ABOVE Going under trees and bushes is a winner with any bait boat, as well as moving over feeding fish. Look at the bubbler to the left of the Procat – no big casting splosh there. BELOW This big old lump came from a bait boat-dropped bag under an overhanging tree, which was impossible to cast under. BELOW LEFT I have a few bait boats, and each one is good for a specific job. The little Procat gets the most work though!
the rig perfectly in a way that
bait boat and finder as a tool to
screen on the finder, the boat
the carp can take the bait, and
help you because you can’t cast
or sensor is not in the middle of
if fished locked up, they can’t
well, so put a lead in the boat and
the screen but on the side that is
get into the snags and trees. As
drop it, pull it back and see what the
rolling in, usually the right. This
a lake owner I much prefer that
bottom feels like. A 4oz lead on braid
means that whatever the craft
if they could afford it, so crack
to rigs up trees or trailing line
transmits a lot of info that a screen
is over is on the right-hand side
on fella. Use whatever you need
of the screen, not the middle.
to make your day enjoyable, and
I hope that’s given you some food
always use the boat sensibly.
for thought Sean, and remember, don’t be put off by the bait boat
Regards mate,
antis. Most of them would use one
Mitch Smith.
MiTCH sMiTH • starbaits Starbaits’ main man Mitch Smith has used all kinds of methods to capture his quarry, and what he doesn’t know about bait presentation isn’t worth bothering about.
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75 06/08/2013 16:19
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A FLICK OF
THE TALE DAVE L ANE
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