Crafty Carper July 2014

E G E FRHINeader! r S ry I e v F e

GET THE BEST FROM PLASTIC BAITS Frank Warwick shows you how to do it!

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arper.c o

No.203 July 2014

for

July 2014 | Issue 203 | £4.10 On sale June 18th – July 23rd 2014

GET MORE BITES THIS WEEKEND! Get Crafty... GET CATCHING!

Mark Bartlett reveals his secret edges that will keep you catching

FISH LOCATION The must-read guide to watercraft by the master Dave Lane

Dare to be Different! craftycarper.co

How Adam Penning thought outside the box to smash his PB

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Crafty Carper /// Issue 203 /// July 2014 /// www.craftycarper.co On the cover: Adam Penning reveals how thinking outside the box led to the downfall of this beast.

CRAFTY COLUMNISTS

7

Editorial

38

110

Working The Water

Crafty Tricks with Plastic

Mark Bartlett

Frank Warwick

In an ideal world, we would all use our knowledge

We all have plastic baits in our tackle

and watercraft to move into a swim that’s full of

bag, but are you making the most of

fish, but on the busy waters of today this isn’t

them? Frank Warwick reveals the tweaks

always possible. Mark Bartlett explains how he

and edges he relies on to make his fake

tries to make the best of these situations by

hookbaits go the extra mile.

using every trick in the book to get a bite.

James Turner

Editor James looks at what’s in this issue, talks World Cup, and looks at the morals of fishing for spawning fish.

123

Diary of an Everyday Carp Angler Julian Cundiff

Our man has been targeting his syndicate, fitting in some hit-and-run sessions on day ticket waters, plus a trip to Nash HQ. How does he do it?

We don’t know but we do know it’s been hectic.

INTERACTIVE

33

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.

45

Sticky Baits Competition We’ve got a huge £600

giveaway from our friends at Sticky Baits. Three very lucky readers will take delivery of a massive prize package!

58

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, head to page 58 to find out how to enter.

74

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.

103

Mistral Competition We’ve got over £400 worth of bait to

give away from Mistral Baits’ impressive range.

116

Subscribe Fed up of going to the newsagents?

Let us deliver Crafty Carper straight to your door, and this month we’re offering an awesome package from those lovely gents at Nash.

120

Inbox All the latest news from around the

carping world, so you can keep up to date with what’s been happening on the carpy grapevine.

FEATURES

9

The Knowledge Dave Lane

15

Going The Extra Mile Adam Penning

23

Get On Top Rich Adams

This month we catch up with Rich Adams

We got Adam Penning to give the low-down

and head off on a floater fishing adventure,

kicks off as Dave outlines exactly how it all

on a highly successful tuition he did overseas,

to see if he can bag a couple on the top.

happened, and details the key to good fish

and how he accounted for a huge tally of

location. It’s not easy though, because he

carp. Read on to find out how he smashed

can’t be in more than one place at a time.

his personal best, not once, but twice.

The Burghfield campaign well and truly

28

The Great Crafty Carper Debate Is floater fishing a serious part of your

carp-catching armoury, or just something to pass the time on a sunny afternoon? Our panel give their thoughts on this month’s hot topic.

4

Crafty Carper

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Contents /// June 2014

47

The Man Who Caught…

Matt Ridley

Matt reveals all about the capture of not one, but two UK carp over 50lb. You’ll be overwhelmed with the stories, and this is one not to miss.

106

In Focus Taska

The Essex-based company has just released a dedicated range of air-dry bags along with some high-quality cool bags.

54

Crafty Carper Under-21s Young James Bushnell has written

in with his story of a new personal best and time spent on the bank with Darrell Peck. Plus Tom Kerr checks in with his monthly blog.

109

In Focus Fox EOS 10000

This lightweight freespool workhorse reel should find favour with many anglers.

129

Mega Deals

68

Simple = Effective Darren Belton

Darren Belton explains why it’s the little

If you’re up for a bargain

then you’ll definitely want to have a closer look at this month’s offers.

things that count and make all the difference when it comes to catching carp consistently

OUT AND ABOUT

85

96

waters safely and get the presentation right.

some free fishing to take advantage of.

Jungle Warfare Andy Richardson

Andy Richardson discusses how to tackle weedy

91

Battling Nature Nick Burrage

Nick Burrage reveals how he goes

The TicketMaster We’ve hand-picked four fisheries

from across the UK which are all offering

100

Fishery In Focus Four Seasons

We take a close look at a fishery in the northwest

up against nature, including the

which is fast becoming a favourite with both local

weather and water temperatures.

anglers and ones from a little further afield.

CARP FOOD

61

COMPETITION WINNERS FROM CRAFTY

particles coming to a tackle shop near you, and

One winner will receive a bundle of top-quality

upon inspection they don’t half look the part.

gear from a whole host of manufacturers:

65

Taska Competition

Carp Food There are some ready-prepared

Carp Food Special Spod to success with Starbaits. If you’re

looking for the perfect spod mix to give the carp some grub, then we’ve definitely found it here.

CARPER APRIL ISSUE 200 Crafty Mega Giveaway Competition

Maurizio Alaimo – Wolverhampton, West Midlands.

Five winners will receive the Bankside Luggage: Paul Covey – Sheffield, South Yorkshire.

Nathan Waller – Southminster, Essex.

Bradley Revett – Greenwich, London.

Paul Muncaster – Manchester, Lancashire.

David Herbert – Manchester, Lancashire.

CARPERS’ KIT

Nash Competition Two winners will receive a Nash Titan Two-man Bivvy:

79

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

Peter Gorby – Sheffield, South Yorkshire.

Joe Cousins – Martock, Somerset.

products that are new to the shops, and give you

COMPETITION WINNERS FROM CRAFTY

the low-down on what’s hot and what’s not.

CARPER MAY ISSUE 201

105

In Focus Fox Easy Mat

Gardner Competition Four winners will receive £100 worth of Gardner lines and line treatment: Keith Reynolds – Stanford Le Hope, Essex.

We look at the new pop-up mat from Fox, which

William Green – Bexleyheath, Kent.

is small to carry but big on protection. It’s really

Gareth Smith – Lincoln, Lincolnshire.

worth a look this one, and seeing is believing.

Paul Wright – Thamesmead, London.

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ANGLER PROFILE.

Mark Bartlett Age 27 Hometown

Yatton, Somerset Occupation

Fishery owner UK personal best

39lb 8oz Favourite venue

Linear Fisheries Did you know...

Mark is one of Crafty’s favourite ginger anglers.

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Working the Water Mark Bartlett

TACTICS.

Working the Water In an ideal world, we would all use our knowledge and watercraft to move into a swim that’s full of fish, but on the busy waters of today this isn’t always possible. Mark Bartlett explains how he tries to make the best of these situations by using every trick in the book to get a bite.

S

itting behind motionless buzzers

doesn’t mean it’s going to come easy.

that there will more than likely be

is not really my cup of tea, to

You will still have to earn your crust, so

other people fishing, so location

be honest. Yeah, OK, if you’re

to speak, and work out a way to nick a

and watercraft rapidly go out of the

fishing for the odd big elusive carp

bite or two, especially if you are in an

window, and you will sometimes be

then you’re reading the wrong article.

area that isn’t stacked up with fish.

forced to slot in somewhere just to

I’m talking about going out for a

Carp fishing is huge nowadays,

be able to get the rods out. Secondly,

weekend’s fishing and catching some

which makes most lakes rather busy

the anglers on the bank are there

fish, primarily on fairly well-stocked

at weekends, so not only are you

for the same reason as you, so you

day ticket waters where there’s a good

up against the carp, you are also up

need to fish in a manner that is the

chance of getting some action. But just

against the other anglers in a few

most effective way, giving you the

because you’re fishing these venues, it

different ways. Firstly is the fact

best opportunity of a bite or two.

1

2

3

4

On day ticket waters you often

cannot help themselves and have

find fish passing through your swim

to have a look at what’s going on.

more often than you think, and a lot

What you do in your swim is

of the time they are rather catchable;

ultimately down to you, however,

it’s just a case of figuring

fishing off the bottom is

out what is the best way. No two situations are ever the same, but one thing that’s always the same is the amount of time the carp

without question a killer

“Fishing off the bottom is without question a killer tactic”

spend off the bottom, swimming around. I personally think they are very

tactic, and also a tactic

ABOVE 1 One lead arrangement gives me the versatility that I need to swap rigs.

2 My simple but very effective pop-up rig. 3 If I need to go up in the water, I use this Zig setup. 4 Use different lengths of anti-tangle sleeves for Zigs or bottom baits. It does make a difference.

accounted for almost all my captures

that has got me out of

at that time of year, especially on the

trouble on a number of

larger clearer lakes that I fish. In the

occasions. Zig Rigs are

summer you can bait over the top of

the best way to catch

them; specialist mixes attract the carp

carp off the bottom, and

into the swim, where they will take the

there are a few different applications of the Zig that you

hookbait in amongst the cloud without hesitation. Baiting over the top of the

catchable like this, and being a very

can use. The solitary Zig is an awesome

Zigs is something I do often,

inquisitive species, they sometimes

winter and spring tactic, and has

but with a slight twist.

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HOOKLINKS This rig works well with standard braid or the coated variety. I tend to use the slightly stiffer coated version when casting to avoid tangles. Braid is used when there is any type of debris on the lakebed.

ANGLER PROFILE.

Darren Belton Age 43 Hometown

Wells, kent Occupation

Train driver UK personal best

45lb 6oz Favourite venue

Stoneacres Did you know...

Darren is competing with Ian Russell for the title of carp angler with the most tattoos.

PUTTY

HOOKS This is what’s commonly called the KD-Rig, and it’s normally tied using a curved shank pattern. In my experience, I’ve found that wide gapestyle hooks perform better, so I stick with E-S-P Raptors which are sharp and strong.

The most important thing about putty is that it actually stays in place on the hooklink. Many brands are simply too soft; they are easy to work with but move in a genuine fishing situation. This stuff from Kryston does the job well.

SIMPLE = This rig looks nothing special, but Darren Belton explains why it’s the little things that count and make all the difference when it comes to catching carp consistently.

I

t might sound obvious, but I want

a couple of presentations that do me

to catch fish every time I go.

for 90% of my fishing. This means

With this in mind, I stick with the

that I’m always organised and, more

same tried and trusted things that

importantly, I’m confident, which is

take the worry out of the equation.

one of the key factors to fishing well.

Think about it; if you have confidence

The presentation you see in this

in your bait, which I do, you don’t

feature is the culmination of

even think about it. You just bait up,

several years’ fishing, and has

read the situation, and add more if

amalgamated all the best

needed to gain their confidence – job

bits from many different

done. I know it isn’t quite that simple

presentations to form a rig

but that’s the crux of the matter,

that I use for the vast majority

and the same goes for rigs. I don’t

of my fishing. The only exception

want to be sitting behind a set of

to this is when I want a pure pop-

rods worrying that my presentation

up presentation, and although the

isn’t right, which creates doubt in

basics of the rig remain the same, the

my mind. Like many experienced

hooklink is tied slightly differently.

anglers, I have eventually settled on

However, I’ll talk about that later,

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Simple = Effective

Darren Belton

LEAD CLIPS

LEADERS

These babies can be fine-tuned to drop the lead in the blink of an eye, or retain it in all but the most severe conditions.

I like this version simply because in dense weed the clip and the lead can come off.

This is a personal choice; there are loads of different options available but I like the properties of fluorocarbon. It sinks like a brick, is hard to see, follows the contours of the lakebed easily, is cheap, and user-friendly.

SINKERS There are loads of different types now available, from a range of manufacturers, all of which perform well. They are hardwearing plus they give the last few feet of line a bit of extra help to stay in place across the bottom.

EFFECTIVE LEFT This 38lb 8oz carp fell to

this presentation during a winter campaign on Elphicks Fishery.

so let’s start at the beginning.

line, what I am telling you to do is

of fluorocarbon

that once you’ve found a line that

anywhere between

performs to your expectations,

6 and 8 metres in

stick with it. It’s just one less thing

length. The stuff

to think about. There are a myriad

I use is supple,

I’ve settled on a reel line that I like.

of lines out there, all of which are

abrasion-resistant,

It’s strong, casts well, and sinks like

good, so find one that suits you.

and knots well, plus it

After lots of trials and tribulations,

a brick, and it suits me, so I’m

Next comes the leader, and again

“There are a myriad of lines out there, all of which are good, so find one that suits you”

really is very inconspicuous

with every couple of casts. Not only would it be a pain, it would also cost me a fortune, so the sinkers suit my needs.

There are several

brands on the market and

this is something that suits me and

underwater, so it does everything

might not be right for everyone.

I need it to. I add several of the

copolymer

I haven’t got on especially well

commercially available sinkers to

arrangement, and to put it simply, if I

which I have

with leadcore or some of the poly

the leader, just to help it follow the

don’t need it to come off I tend to use

leaders; in my head I think they aren’t

contours of whatever I’m fishing

an in-line. The only exception to this

very subtle so I worry about them.

over. I use these little gizmos rather

would be if the bottom is a bit soft

this because it’s what I

However, if this doesn’t give you

than putty simply because they are

or covered in a thin layer of silkweed.

like, so I’m happy. I’m not

cause for concern, use them, because

miles more user-friendly. Putty comes

In this case a lead clip with a swivel

saying you should go

there is no doubt that they work for

off fairly easily and I don’t want

lead gives a slightly better

out and use the same

many people. I’m happy with a length

to be replacing several large blobs

presentation when the

confident. The line itself is a

to import from America, but I do

they all work very similarly.

We then get to the lead

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Going the Extra Mile Adam Penning

CRAFTY H T I W S K TRIC

C I T S A L P

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Crafty Tricks with Plastic Frank Warwick

ANGLER PROFILE.

Frank Warwick Age 53 Hometown

Wilmslow, Cheshire UK personal best

43lb 14oz Favourite venue

Bluebell Lakes Did you know...

Frank is ambidextrous and can use either hand or foot for most things, whether it be writing or kicking a ball, plus loads more.

We all have plastic baits in our tackle bag, but are you making the most of them? Frank Warwick reveals the tweaks and edges he relies on to make his fake hookbaits go the extra mile.

I

guess I use plastic baits for about a third of my fishing, which I’m sure you will agree is quite a lot, but I

find them effective, and easy to use, so why not? Some of the purists may frown about the use of imitation baits, but that’s not a problem or concern for me. I use them simply because I keep getting excellent results on them. You may know that I have used the Enterprise versions since the very early beginnings of the company, and consider them easily the best out there by some margin. I have been lucky enough to have had a big hand in the testing and concept of many of the products. However, I still mess around with additives and attractors which I can add to the baits to enhance their effectiveness. I concede

“I use them simply because I keep getting excellent results on them”

that unflavoured versions will, and do, catch fish very well, but I much TOP This fish was fooled by some

giant corn on a Choddy.

ABOVE You can effectively add buoyancy

to the hookbait with half a plastic boilie.

LEFT You can use any combination

of flavours and essential oils; the choice is yours.

prefer the flavoured dosed-up versions.

From my comparison tests over the years, I have found the flavoured ones will out-fish the unflavoured by quite some margin, and this is the case with baits fished on or near the bottom.

However, quite the reverse is true of baits used on Zig Rigs. I strangely find that unflavoured Zig baits seem to work the best, although occasionally I have had better results in the night on a flavoured Zig. In recent years, and in all four seasons, I have found Zigs to be incredibly good at night.

This should be of no surprise really, as most fly hatches seem to take place in the dark, so I guess the carp are used to looking for emerging flies in the middle and upper layers at night.

How many times have you heard carp crashing at night on waters where to see a show in daylight is a rare event?

I don’t think this is just coincidence.

I think that on waters where big insect hatches happen at night, the carp will feed

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111 05/06/2014 17:10

Sponsored by

There are a few new snippets in the Inbox part of the mag, but more importantly, we want to use this section to keep in touch with our readers.

Anything you want to tell us, no matter how big or small, then either write to the address above or contact me by email. I love hearing about your thoughts, not only about the mag but also fishing in general. Each month one lucky reader will win a £20 voucher to be spent at www.thecarpstore.co

GET IN TOUCH Email: james@craftycarper.co By post: Crafty Carper, Regent House, 101 Broadfield Road, Sheffield S8 0XH

Horton’s Gone Posh!

How about this for a bit of luxury? This

room, and a log-burning stove. To finish

is the new clubhouse at the Horton

off, it’s got lovely views over the lake

complex, and the Crafty and Carpworld

and a fantastic decking area. RK Leisure

team ventured down south to view it,

are the owners of several fisheries, and

as you don’t see this sort of

if this is the future for carp

thing every day, do you?

RK Leisure, the owners of Horton, have spent heavily on the venue, and the prestigious development is the

angling, we can’t complain.

“If this is the future for carp angling, we can’t complain”

culmination of many months

If you fancy winning a very special Gold Card season ticket for the Horton complex, check out our sister magazine, Carpworld. In

of hard graft, during which time

the July edition there will be

the whole venue received a makeover.

a special four-page feature about the

The lodge itself has a fully-fitted

Horton complex, along with the chance

kitchen, toilets and showers, a games

to win a £1,000 Gold Card ticket.

Fox and Crafty Facebook Winner #3 The Facebook competition that we are

been fishing for 5 hours!” Well done, James,

currently running with our friends at Fox

your picture is now in the hall of fame and will

has now got a third winner! James Clifton

compete with the other winners for the chance

bagged this lovely 21lb 2oz big, old, scaly

of winning a session with Mark Pitchers, Ian

mirror, which was caught on a krill bottom

Chillcott or Tom Maker. We

bait tipped with a white krill pop-up. James

have informed the guys

told us: “This is the third time I’ve caught this

at Fox and your prize will

fish in 2 years, and it came as part of a six-

be on its way to

fish haul from a club water in Kent. I’d only

you shortly.

120

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09/06/2014 14:14

ET1

Inbox

Team Crafty Carper

Every Bit of Blue Do you remember when you were a kid, looking at maps and investigating all the blue bits to see if they held fish? Well, that’s the reason for the title of Frank Warwick’s book which is now in production at Angling Publications. The book charts Frank’s life through the memories and pictures of some of his most successful times on the banks of various lakes, from the serene meres of Cheshire to the huge Continental waters. The book is now in the final stages of production and its 360 pages will be packed with what Frank’s famous for – catching big fish! It’s not all Fishabil, where a session in October could see you pocketing £10,000!

catch reports though because Frank is also famous for his stories – and what fantastic stories they are too. If you think you know

Go on Holiday – Pocket £10k!

Frank, think again, because this book is

How often can you go

technical chapters, and because he’s a

on a fishing holiday

master bait technician, everyone will be

and come home with

able to learn from Frank’s vast experience.

full of the wit that Frank exudes, and his stories of life on the bank will certainly entertain. Frank has also added several

£10,000 in your

We’ll be taking pre-orders soon so

pocket? That’s the first

keep an eye on Crafty Carper and visit

prize on offer in the

thecarpstore.com and be the first in the

Carpworld International

queue for what will certainly be the read

Championship, which

of the year.

will take place at French venue

There are also

Fishabil in October. The 5-day endurance event is open to everyone, and for little more than the price of a carp-fishing

ABOVE Seriously,

Nick, we’re not laughing our socks off at your dilemma! Get well soon, pal.

hundreds of books and carpy goodies

need any fancy gear, you don’t need to

Big Break for Burrage

be an expert, all you have to do is get

Everyone needs a bit of a break in life, but we can’t help but

cracking

yourself to Fishabil, get the rods out, and

think that Nick Burrage wasn’t too happy with this one. Nick’s

subscription

you’re in with a chance. Fishabil’s 65 acres

building himself a name as one of the most prolific anglers

offers for

is packed with 85 tonnes of fish, so it’s

in the country, and part of his fame is now holding tuition

both Crafty

virtually guaranteed you’ll have the time

classes. Whilst on Frisby Lakes, taking a starry-eyed angler

Carper and

of your life.

on a tuition trip, he slipped and hurt his ankle. Nick, being

Carpworld.

holiday, you could join the fun. You don’t

to look at, plus some

the trooper that he is, carried on and got the guy catching For more details take a look at

before going to hospital the day after for a check-up – only

carpworldmagazine.com/cic or buy

to find he’d broken it! Nick ended up miles away from home

Carpworld this month and check out

with his foot in plaster. Oh, dear, we aren’t laughing, honest!

the details.

ENTERPRISE TACKLE

ABOVE The first look at Frank’s new eagerly awaited book., don’t miss out on your copy.

WE JUST KEEP ON INNOVATING! NEW for 2014

ET13L Large PopUp Corn

“ I have very little doubt that the new Large Corn from Enterprise will be the product of 2014, it’s simply stunning!

Can you afford NOT to try it.?”

Frank Warwick

RRP: From £1.99 All the attraction of our original Popup Sweetcorn now available in a new larger size!

Made in the UK

‘The carp’s FAKE FOOD of choice’

www.enterprisetackle.co.uk

Ask your local Enterprise Tackle stockist for details!

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20/02/2014 14:14 18:48 09/06/2014

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EVERYTHING YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT RIGS BUT WERE AFRAID TO ASK! The most up-to-date guide to modern-day carp rigs and how to use them. Featuring favourite rigs from: Terry Hearn, Tim Paisley, Frank Warwick, Mark Pitchers, Terry Dempsey and others.

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