Crafty Carper May 2014

r ne ls Gard o spo m ur e fro o y n up w li Fill h ne t wi

HOOK PATTERNS EXPLAINED Are you selecting the right tool for the job?

craftyc

arper.c o

No.201 May 2014

May 2014 | Issue 201 | £4.10

ARE SINGLES OVERRATED?

17 or und er? your chan Don’t miss ce to ente the bigge r st junior ca rp match in th e UK

Ian Chillcott gives his opinion on the single hookbait approach

Entry form inside

WHICH CHOD? Get Crafty... GET CATCHING!

Find out the difference between naked and leadcore versions

INSTANT ATTRACTION

TACTICAL BAITING craftycarper.co

Darren Belton on how to feed for success on a variety of waters

Tie the Perfect D-Rig Learn the skills you need inside...

On sale April 23rd – May 21st 2014

Leon Bartropp reveals how using liquids can boost your catch rate

PLUS SHAUN HARRISON TIM PAISLEY IAIN MACMILLAN TEAM SOLAR JULIAN CUNDIFF DAVE LANE 001_Cover_CC201.indd 2

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Crafty Carper /// Issue 201 /// May 2014 /// www.craftycarper.co On the cover: Ian ‘Chilly’ Chillcott shows that giving ‘em some bait really does pay off.

CRAFTY COLUMNISTS

7

Editorial James Turner

Editor James looks at what’s in store for you

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hookbait approach, so we let him have a little

for his first feature of 2014 he’s looking at

rant to tell us what he really thinks about

hook patterns. Ever wondered which hook is

them – although he has caught using them!

perfect for which rig? Mitch will tell you.

No Single Solution Ian Chillcott

Chilly really doesn’t like to use a single

in this issue of Crafty Carper as spring is

All You Need To Know About…

blossoming, and you can also see what the

Hook Patterns Mitch Smith

lads have been up to over the last month.

Big Mitch is back in the pages of Crafty, and

123

Diary of an Everyday Carp Angler Julian Cundiff

The man who never sleeps has, as ever, been working hard, playing hard, and fishing even harder. If you’ve ever thought you haven’t got time to fish, see how Jules goes about it.

OUT AND ABOUT

114

Hot Holiday Venue – Cretelakes

This month we take a look at a complex across the Channel which seems to be producing some awesome captures. If you’re on the lookout for a quality holiday venue, then look no further.

INTERACTIVE

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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 us here at Crafty. All the runnersup will also receive a goody bag.

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The Question Is This month’s carping conundrums

are answered by our panel of experts. If you get your question answered you’ll be receiving a cracking prize delivered straight to your door.

60

British Young Carpers’ Angling Championship

Are you under 17? Want the chance to become the British Young Carpers’ Angling champion? If the answer is yes to both, then head to page 60 to find out how to enter.

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Gardner Competition We’ve got over £400 worth of main

line to give away from those lovely guys at Gardner Tackle. It’s the time of year when you need to be respooling your reels, and it’s all here to win.

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Subscribe

69

85

The D-Rig has become very

to your door. This month we’re offering

not just a case of throwing in

popular, but every now and

an awesome Zig-fishing package from the

as much as possible before

then you see something a

guys at Nash, and we’ll also show you how

you start angling. Darren looks

little different from the norm.

to use it.

at how to bait for a variety of

This month Marcus reveals his

different waters and situations.

version of the Balanced D.

Tactical Baiting Darren Belton

When it comes to baiting, it’s

The Balanced D-Rig Marcus Howarth

Fed up of going to the

newsagents? Let us deliver Crafty straight

120

Inbox We’ve got all the latest news

from around the carping world so you can keep up to date with what’s been going on.

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Contents /// May 2014

9

130

Five-Minute Interrogation

FEATURES

Jakub Vágner

The Knowledge Dave Lane It’s the second part of our series with

Another angler is in the interrogation hot seat, and this time it’s our friend Jakub who gets grilled.

Dave Lane, who imparts his knowledge

However, I don’t think we’re anywhere near as scary

and reveals how he has utilised his

as some of the fish he usually catches.

experience over the last month.

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CARP FOOD The Day-Session Approach Shaun Harrison

After a very successful day session with Shaun in the last issue, we got him to look at how he

63

Carp Food Here you’ll find the latest and greatest

products of carp cuisine that are on the shelves of a

approaches short sessions and manages to get

tackle shop near you, as well as an offering from Joe

more than one net wet in the process.

Turnbull as he looks at the more natural approach.

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67

My Favourite Liquids Leon Bartropp When it comes to utilising liquids to

good effect in your angling, there’s one person

Carp Food Special – Simply Baits We got hold of a selection of freshly rolled

boilies from the guys at Simply Baits to give them

who does it a lot. We asked Leon to give us the

a proper inspection. Find out what we think on

inside information on his favourites.

page 67.

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CARPERS’ KIT

The Great Crafty Debate This month’s panel of experts give their

opinion on how they think the mild winter we’ve had will affect the fish and the fishing for the rest of the year.

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Carpers’ Kit We take a look at some of the best

products that are new to the shops, and give you the low-down on what’s hot and what’s not. Plus

Naked vs Leadcore Iain Macmillan

the Crafty Team give you their essential items this

Chods are written about all too often,

month.

but how many times have you seen a full comparison from an angler who utilises a naked one and a leadcore Chod for two totally different reasons? An interesting read from Ting Tong.

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In Focus – Nash Heading off to France this year and

want to live in luxury? Or do you just like the finer things in life on the banks in the UK? Read our

Crafty Carper Under-21s

review of the Nash Double Top Big D Bivvy – it’s

2013 BYCAC champion Tom Kerr checks

epic.

in with his monthly blog, and there’s also a story from Max Leggett who went in search of a couple of monsters. Overnighters rule!

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In Focus – Fox With spring showers being the order

of the day up and down the country at this time of

Moving The Goalposts Tim Paisley

the year, you won’t want to get caught out in the

If you like Tim’s writing you’re in for a

rain. This review for the new Fox Rain Suit may just

treat because he hits the pages of Crafty again.

This month Tim looks at the re-examination process, as well as his findings on glaçons whilst fishing in France.

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be of interest to you.

113

In Focus – Taska Being able to drop the lead while

fishing a Chod can have huge advantages, so this

Ten Top Tips Solar Team

month we take a look at the Taska Chod Release

We’re always looking for ways of

System. Not only that, we got Mark Hogg to give us

helping you up your catch rate, and this month

the details of putting it through its paces before it

the Solar Team have put together their ten top

was produced.

tips to help you catch more carp next time you’re out on the bank.

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Mega Deals If you’re up for a bargain then you’ll

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definitely want to turn to page 129 to check

Day Ticket Answers

out our Mega Deals. We have some of the best

Tom Morrison

offers from the country’s leading retailers.

Tom heads off to a busy day ticket water to help you make the most of your day ticket angling. They can be a true minefield, so take heed and give yourself the best chance possible.

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TACTICS.

The Day-Session Approach After a very successful day session spent shooting a feature with Shaun Harrison for issue 200, we got him to outline how he achieves so much success in such a short space of time.

D

uring February I had a

on the quiet I had caught a few over

photo shoot booked with

the past few weeks. I’d managed

editor James; after writing

to go unnoticed, despite not seeing

in the very first edition of Crafty Carper, I had been asked if I would

another fish caught whilst there.

I returned home and logged on to

contribute to the 200th edition,

all the weather report sites I could

17 years on from my first article.

think of. The next day everyone was

After checking what I had written

forecasting warm weather – well,

the first time around, it seemed fitting

warm for February. I’d been receiving

to talk about rigs because I still use

a little action but never felt as though

ones very similar to what I mentioned

I had got the location sorted, but with

all those years ago. I have been writing

the way the weather was turning I

regularly for various magazines for

was sure there would be a few fish

over 25 years now and usually do all

starting to congregate in the slightly

the writing and photography myself,

shallower water out of the wind.

but I must admit it takes me a while to

The following morning I walked the

get close-up macro shots sorted on my

dog and had a leisurely drive to the

own. So I took advantage of the offer to

pits to meet up with James at

have a cameraman alongside me to do

9.00 a.m. I’d said there was no

some close-up rig and rig-tying shots.

rush because the bit of action I’d

Knowing that it’s always good

been receiving had been during the

to put a fish on the bank for the

afternoon period. It was just about

cameras, I arranged to meet James on

9.00 when I made my first two casts

a productive water I had not previously

with a Mini Spomb on my soft Free

fished. Bearing in mind we were still in

Spirit ES rod, and the third cast

mid-February, I thought it sensible to

had the Spomb removed and

have a drive over to the venue on the

replaced with a 1.5oz lead and

afternoon before the shoot and have a

baited rig, which was soon

quick look. I wanted to cast around with

sailing out to land amongst

a lead to give me a better idea of where to head the following morning, and form a plan of attack, so I did just that.

I drove over there but I’d made a major mistake. The venue was rammed – I’d forgotten it was half-term and the kids were off! I drove to one of the other trickier waters on the complex and sat and watched. I was there for a couple of hours but saw nothing, and then the phone rang to confirm everything for the next day. I explained the situation and the fact that we would probably be better off shooting the pictures on the harder but quieter venue. I was quick to add that I definitely couldn’t guarantee a carp in mid-February, although RIGHT Shaun bagged this 27lb+ mirror on his day-session tactics before I even turned up!

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The Day-Session Approach Shaun Harrison

ABOVE I turned

up to see Shaun hoisting out his third of the day, and it was only around 9.30 a.m.!

LEFT Shaun

cracked on with the weighing and it was another 20.

BELOW This was

the sight for the majority of the day, but who’s complaining?

the spread.

I placed the rod on the rests while I let the line settle before clipping the indicator on, and the next rod was

"I could hardly believe the action I was getting, and could hardly believe it even more when a third carp was hooked before I managed to get my third rod out"

ready with a Mini Spomb clipped in place.

Suddenly the first rod was

without topping back up with the Spomb (which proved to be a mistake).

I had prepared the second rod with a Mini Spomb, which was cast twice to

scatter bait to a silted area I had found. The third

away and fish number one was hooked.

cast was with rig and bait. I was just

I couldn’t believe my luck – but the

removing the hooklink from the third

cameraman wasn’t there yet. The

rod so as to be able to do the same

fight was quite protracted and I was

with the Spomb, when the second

really careful because it was the first

rod required urgent attention. A 19lb

carp I had hooked on the PB Anti-Eject

15oz specimen took a liking to the

hooks. I needn’t have worried; the

double Pimple Pop offering, this time

hookhold was as good as it gets, and

purple and yellow over a scattering of

the fish wouldn’t have fallen off even

Magnum Duo and Magnum White bits.

if I played it for a week!

I folded the net over

I could hardly believe the action I was getting, and could hardly believe it even

an obvious upper-20 and

more when a third carp was hooked

never lifted it from the

before I managed to get my third

margins, preferring to

rod out. The third fish was weighed

give it a breather after

at just over 20lb as James arrived.

the long scrap. I didn’t

He seemed impressed that I had

want to retain the fish

a second fish on the bank, and even

longer than letting it get

more so when I looked at him with

its breath back, so I told

a sly grin and mentioned it was my

James I would weigh

third and I still hadn’t got the third rod

it and get the pictures

out yet! Eventually, all the rods were

done. The scales read

out on the most productive approach

27lb 1oz and soon it

I used last winter; two or three casts

was swimming away.

with a Mini Spomb on the rod followed

The two Pimple Pops

by a rig replacing the Spomb.

(pink on top of white) I

I won’t detail each individual capture

had caught it on were

but I managed to land

still intact, so I recast

seven carp during the

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15 07/04/2014 13:42

No Single Solution When it comes to fishing singles, many anglers do it to good effect. However, one man who really doesn’t like it is Ian Chillcott; he favours his baiting approach every time, so we find out exactly why.

ANGLER PROFILE.

Ian Chillcott Age 53 Hometown

Aldershot Occupation

Angling journalist UK personal best

53lb 12oz Favourite venue

Melchbourne Estate Lake Did you know...

At the age of 14, Chilly played the violin to a full house of 2,500 people

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No Single Solution

Ian Chillcott

P

robably one of the most touted phrases in carp fishing is ‘location, location, location’.

Making sure you are in the right area of the lake to catch a carp is one of the most important aspects of any carp angler’s life. You can use the most advanced rig on the planet (or so the writers tell you) and the best bait around, but if there isn’t a carp there to be caught you can be sure that the landing net isn’t going to get wet. If you think it’s boring to keep on about location, then you may well be alarmed to hear that there is a lot more to it than just being in the right area. Once you have located some carp to fish for, you have to then find the ideal place from which to get the bite you so desire. There are probably a hundred and one things you can do once the fish have been found, and one

LEFT Casting at

showing fish with a single hookbait is probably the most ineffective way I have ever fished.

BELOW It wasn’t

until I introduced bait that I got a bite from this 34lb leather.

ABOVE I do use bright hookbaits

from time to time, but they make little difference to my catch rate.

machines, and they are also very efficient at feeding. They possess the most advanced filtration system, which

of the most usual tactics is to cast a

is saying ‘good angling’, and we get

works without them having to think

single hookbait at them. I would never

to thinking it is the most devastating

about it, and it is this that makes them

suggest that single hookbaits don’t

tactic there is – but I don’t think it is!

so good at eating. Rather like when

catch carp, they obviously do, but I

Yes, I agree that if you can see definite

the fish are spawning, carp can forget

can’t help thinking they are not the

evidence the carp are feeding, then a

even the most fundamental survival

be-all and end-all of things to do for

bait cast carefully into the area may

instincts in an attempt to get the lion’s

every situation, and I will tell you why.

well be the tactic to use, but as a

I have lost count of the number of

long-term tactic I can think

times I have launched a single hookbait

of nothing I would

at showing fish, but the amount

rather not use. Let

of times it has been successful is

me explain. Carp,

pitifully painful. When they do work,

in essence,

infrequently, it seems that everyone

are eating

share of the food on offer. If we can get them feeding well, or more preferably,

competitively, then “Rather like we are much when the fish are more likely to spawning, carp can get a bite. A forget even the most single hookbait fundamental survival is never going to illicit instincts in an attempt to competitive get the lion’s share of feeding, and the food on offer” is more likely to be picked up out of curiosity. And whilst it is grazing in such a way it is unlikely that you will hook the carp, however advanced you think your rig is. It hasn’t thought its way around hook avoidance; I will never believe there is a carp on this planet that can do that, it simply ejects the hook as it would any other debris that is picked up from the bottom of the lake when feeding. I will come to rigs in a while, but firstly I would like to talk about the colour of the hookbaits and how, very often, we are told this is important.

Sorry, but I don’t believe that either.

We are continually bombarded with anglers telling us that camouflage is important in carp fishing. In their opinion, this is directly related to the fact that carp can learn by association, i.e. the more you confront a carp with the same situation, the more likely it is to think its way around the problem, and therefore you won’t get a bite. I would suggest, from my experience, that yellow, white and pink are just about the most

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37 07/04/2014 14:41

All You Need To Know About Hook Patterns Mitch Smith

Curved Shank For the most popular hooks used, it’s a toss-up between curved shank and wide gape hooks. They lend themselves to many refined rig mechanics; even the 360 Rig can be built around a curved shank hook. It’s a very good shape when the fish are a bit riggy and have seen everything available. I always choose one with a slight in-turned eye, a nice straight point and very strong wire, which is a great shape when you want the hook to stand away from the bait. Always use a PVA nugget, or use them within a solid bag because the shape easily picks up debris from the bottom.

RIGHT Curved shanks can be used for many variations, such as a 360 or a Withy Pool Rig.

Extra-strong Snag Hooks Now these are my personal favourites. They are usually made of a slightly thicker wire so there won’t be any chance of them bending. A straight eye and point make this shape good with shrink tube when creating line-aligners.

If you are fishing a situation where you need to hook the fish and apply maximum pressure to keep them out of snags and bushes, etc., then these are the ones to use. Don’t think that a larger hook is stronger because these hooks work well with sizes 6 and 8. Use up to a Size 4 when using two 18mm boilies or a large Snowman, but try to leave the Hair a little longer.

RIGHT A snag hook using a long Hair can create a very strong setup that catches well into the flesh, allowing you to hang on with loads of power.

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All You Need To Know About Hook Patterns Mitch Smith

Longshank With these you can make some excellent Blowback Rigs, where small rings allow the bait to move back up the longer shank. I always use longshank hooks when I know the fish’s mouths may have a fair bit of damage. Longshanks create a lot of problems for the carp once they are in the mouth cavity, so again, a flexible Hair or a Hair with a lot of movement allows the extra length in the hook catch hold of flesh. As with the snag hook, try to use with some protection for the point when casting, such as a PVA nugget. Long Hairs with longshanks are also a little prone to Hair tangles, so a nugget helps alleviate this problem.

LEFT A longshank hook with a

Blowback setup and a nice long Hair is good for fish with mouth damage or fish that are wary.

Wide Gape This pattern seems to be very popular and can be used in many rig situations; they are suitable for sticks and bags and have good flesh-catching properties. Use with commercial line-aligners or shape your own with shrink tube. These are good general all-rounders with a Knotless Knot or KD Hair Rig, excellent with Zig Rigs and also for floater fishing; like the longshanks they offer anglers good hooking facilities just from the awkwardness of the shape in the mouth cavity.

Beware though, because poorquality wide gape hooks can easily spring open if the correct wire is not used or the forge is poor. Slight in-turned eyes and beaked points increase the hooking ability of any wide gape hook. They are not the best hooks to use when fish have damaged mouths because the short shank creates more pressure and can turn out easily.

LEFT A wide gape pattern hook offers good hooking potential, and is a great all-rounder.

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51 09/04/2014 15:42

BYCAC IS BACK! With thoughts of the summer to come, there’s one thing that’s on our minds for August – and it should be the same for all young anglers. It’s the Korda British Young Carpers’ Angling Championship.

Here’s what you can expect, as well as how to enter…

Mon 4th – day S 10th unday Augu st

1

BYCAC Moves Venue

This year the BYCAC has moved. While still

staying on the Linear Fisheries complex, the home of the competition will be Oxlease, which is where it all began 11 years ago. Oxlease holds

5

Event Format

two known 40s plus a good head of 30s, so there’s

As always there will be four day-only

every chance of catching a personal best.

eliminators; these run from Monday 4th August until Thursday 7th. You will be entered into one of the eliminators and fish

2

Prizes Galore!

from 9.00 a.m. until 6.00 p.m. The top eight

The champion takes home a cheque for

anglers who catch the biggest weight of

£500 and a bundle of prizes equal in value

carp qualify for the exciting 48-hour final

from tournament sponsors Korda, plus loads of

(which begins Friday 8th August until Sunday

other goodies from the numerous other high-

10th) to fight for a place on the podium.

profile sponsors. There are also prizes for the fastest fish, the biggest fish, and section winner prizes throughout the eliminators and the final.

Plus each entrant will receive a cracking goody bag, so no one goes home empty handed.

3

6

the head marshal, there will also

on his own. No, he will be joined by a crew from

be the chance to meet Ali Hamidi

Sky Sports, which covers the final weekend.

from Korda. Julian Cundiff is always

Your victory will be screened for your friends,

on hand for the prize-giving, and each

family, and anglers all around the world to see.

Meet the Stars

See Yourself on TV!

If it wasn’t enough that top

The angling world will be watching, and Ali

carp angler Simon Crow will be

Hamidi won’t arrive onto the banks of Oxlease

year there are always some top-name anglers putting in an appearance and having a wander around, chatting to some of the competitors, including the likes of Tom Dove and Jake Wildbore.

4

60

Sponsorships

Spomb are great supporters of the British

The winner will not only bag

Young Carpers’ Angling Championship,

£500 worth of gear, they’ll also get

and they continue with their backing this

themselves a year’s sponsorship with

year. They are offering each competitor

the main event sponsors, Korda. Not

products from their range, which will be

only that, they will be invited to write

part of the goody bags that are given

their very own monthly blog for Crafty

to all competitors. There are now three

Carper magazine. With Crafty and Korda

Spombs in the range, so there is definitely

behind the victor, who knows which

one for every baiting situation or distance

company might want to get their hands

you want to fish. A top-quality product

on the services of the winner…?

from great people. We love a Spomb!

Crafty Carper

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ENTRY FORM

7

Name:

Become the British Champion

You get to stand at the centre

Address:

of the podium, holding aloft the BYCAC 2014 trophy, safe in the knowledge that you have earned all the bragging rights, not to

Postcode:

mention all the gear and prize money you’ll get your hands on.

Contact Tel: Email Address: Date of Birth: Venues Fished: For more information on the event, scan the code with your Smartphone to visit the official BYCAC website.

NEED TO KNOW: What: Korda British Young Carpers’ Angling Championship 2014.

Where: Oxlease on the Linear Fisheries, near

Stanton Harcourt, Oxfordshire OX29 7QF.

Personal Best Carp:

When: Monday 4th August-Sunday 10th August 2014.

Who: Anyone aged 17 or under on August 1st 2014. Parent or

Most Memorable Session:

guardian over the age of 18 must be present at all times.

Cost: £39.

Entry: Fill in the form or download the entry form from bycac.co.uk

For more info visit: bycac.co.uk BYCAC 2014 Sponsors and Supporters

Why would you like to take part in the British Young Carpers’ Angling Championship 2014?

Title sponsor

T-shirt size (please tick one) M  L  XL  XXL 

Media sponsors I confirm that I will be aged 17 years or younger on August 1st 2014  Signature of participant:

Clothing sponsor

Venue sponsor

Official weighmaster

Name of parent or guardian who will be accompanying you to the event:

I would like to enter my son/daughter/dependant in the British Young Carpers’ Angling Championship 2014, which is to be held at Oxlease Lake in Oxfordshire  Signature of parent or guardian who will be accompanying you to the event:

Fastest Fish sponsor

Biggest Fish of the final sponsor The cost of entry to the BYCAC 2014 is £39.00, which is payable either by cheque or credit/debit card.

Cheque payments I enclose the sum of £39.00 by cheque, made payable to Angling Publications Ltd. (tick if appropriate) 

Section Sponsors

Credit/Debit card payments Please debit my account the sum of £39.00 (tick if appropriate)  Cardholder name Address

Carp Care Sponsors Card number

Event Supporters

Expiry date

     / 

Issue number



Security code    Please send this completed form to: BYCAC 2014, Angling Publications Ltd., Regent House, 101 Broadfield Road, Sheffield S8 0XH. Please note that on cancellation of entry into the event no refunds will be given.

If you do not wish to receive further marketing information from Angling Publications Ltd. please tick here 

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P U B L I S H E D B Y A N G L I N G P U B L I C AT I O N S

K C BA MAND

BY DReEprinted

14

for 20

GREAT GIFT IDEA S FATHERS FOR ’ DAY

JUNE 15 TH

M

y Misspent Youth is the story of a young lad who dreamt of catching big carp above all else. The story charts Darrell’s carpangling life so far, from early beginnings at the little-known Essex Quarry aged 17, to holding his own amongst some of his idols at some of the UK’s toughest circuit

TheCarpStore

waters. Read how Darrell catches some of the UK’s best-known carp, including the incredible Two-Tone from Conningbrook, Yateley Car Park’s Arfur, Heather and pals, and the Fat Lady from St. Ives. Darrell’s determination to succeed, along with his obvious natural gift for catching carp, shines through in this deliberately honest tale.

£30 + £2.95 P&P

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O R D E R O N L I N E W W W. T H E C A R P S T O R E . C O M O R C A L L 0 1 1 4 2 5 8 0 8 1 2 MMY_Reprint_CC201.indd 1

04/04/2014 10:03