CC193 sample

OVER £2,600 OF PRIZES TO BE WON JRC RODS, FOX REELS, 30PLUS ALARMS & GARDNER HOOKS

No.193 September 2013 September 2013 | Issue 193 | £4.10

craftycarper.co

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

Success on a Day Ticket craftycarper.co

When the carp aren’t playing ball, Mark Bartlett shows you how to keep the action coming

PLUS URBAN CARPING WITH NASH TACKLE’S ALAN BLAIR

001_Cover_CC193.indd 1

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

craftycarper.co

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,

Success on a Day Ticket

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.

craftycarper.co

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

06/08/2013 12:20

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

Y

HN

Y

C

TE

006-007_Conts_CC193.indd 1

TE

6 IN IN Crafty MADE MADE UK UK Carper

E

E

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

006-007_Conts_CC193.indd 2

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

068-071_FavourieWaters_CC193.indd 1

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.

Crafty Carper 073-077_Question_Is_CC193.indd 3

75 06/08/2013 16:19

AVA I L A B L E N O W F R O M W W W. T H E C A R P S T O R E . C O M

A FLICK OF

THE TALE DAVE L ANE

If you’ve read Dave’s first highly-acclaimed book, An Obsession with Carp (which has now been re-released as an ebook for Kindle for those of you who haven’t), then you’ll have an idea of what to expect from this, his latest title, A Flick of the Tale. It will really open your eyes to the world of specimen carp angling.

The obsession still burns, although Dave has a modicum of control over it now. This is a book that will amuse, amaze and astound you - and hopefully inspire you, with chapters on Conningbrook, St.Ives, the Secret Mere and many more...

Take care as you go, and beware the brambles!

TheCarpStore £25.00

F O R M E R LY T H E A N G L I N G P U B L I C AT I O N S S H O P

LOAD DOWN FROM EBOOK .UK ON.CO AMAZ

+£2.95 P+P

TheCarpStore F O R M E Rby L Y phone: T H E A N G 0114 L I N G P258 U B L I 0812 C AT I O N S S H O P Order Order online: www.thecarpstore.com

ad template.indd 1 A_Flick_OF_The_Tale_CC193.indd 1

06/08/2013 15:33 11:55 02/08/2013