Crafty Carper June 2015 - Issue Preview

URBAN MANCHESTER e siv s a Am

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ON TOUR

ALAN BLAIR’S URBAN BANX

UP NORTH

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No.214 June 2015

PLUS FEATURES FROM

June 2015 | Issue 214 | £4.10

feet

Kev Hewitt

Dave Lane

Iain Macmillan

Chris Lowe

Mitch Smith

Ed Betteridge

Tom Maker On sale 20th May – 16th June 2015

Think on

Darren Belton

your

Get Crafty... GET CATCHING!

Get better results by learning to adapt with Nick Helleur

THE WINNING METHOD

craftycarper.co

CAN A HOOK BE TOO SHARP?

FLOATER FISHING MASTERCLASS

We get the definitive answer from an expert

The latest edges for catching off the top this summer

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Bait to use Rig components Execution Results Venues 07/05/2015 13:45

Crafty Carper /// Issue 214 /// June 2015 /// www.craftycarper.co On the cover: Nick Helleur showing how it’s done when you have to think on your feet and adapt.

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Editorial James Turner Editor James looks at what’s in

store for you in this issue of Crafty

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Carper, as well as giving his thoughts

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Spring – Ups And Downs Nick Helleur

This time of the year sees the weather

Urban Banx ‘Up North’

for the month, and something

Alan Blair

seems to have got his goat!

We’ve got the exclusive on Alan’s

change day in, day out, so the chances of

Urban Banx series, and this time we

catching can be high one day and then

look at his trip up north, as he made

change in a matter of minutes to zero,

the long journey to Teeside and then

thanks to the lovely British weather.

on to Manchester.

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The Knowledge Dave Lane Laney starts out on his new

syndicate waters, which have gone from three down to two, but in true Dave Lane style, he opened his account pretty early over at St. Ives.

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Avid Carp Competition The lads at Avid have

given us an awesome prize bundle to give away this month. Not just one, but five packages of their PVA bag gear worth over £400!

17

Dare To Be Different Darren Belton

This is most definitely an article which will create intrigue as well as raise eyebrows. Darren reveals why he opts for a white lead – that’s right, it’s white!

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Crafty Catch Column Sponsored by Sticky Baits

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 those top guys at Sticky Baits.

36

The Great Crafty Debate This month’s panel of experts

give their take on the close season. Is it a good thing that seems to be a thing of the past, or is it a much-needed break?

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Baggin’ Up Chris Lowe This month Chris is on hand

to go through the rigours of fishing solid PVA bags, on which he has had massive success over the years.

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Chub Competition Head over to page 46

and answer the simple question to be in with a shout of getting your hands on a brand new set of the sleek Chub Outkast rods. We’ve got over £800 worth up for grabs.

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Crafty Carper Under-21s Brandon Butler reveals all

about his quest for The Slate Grey from his local club lake, while BYCAC champ

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Quick-fire Question Lee Byron

We ask hook-sharpening expert

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Just Scratching The Surface Lee Birch

Lee fishes on the top in a totally

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Make The Method Your Friend Ian Hirst

Use of the Method feeder seems to

Michael Bamber checks in with his blog.

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Carp Food Here you’ll find the latest

and Rig-It Tackle main man, Lee

different manner to many anglers,

have dwindled over the years, so is

Byron, a quick question on the

so we caught up with him on his

it due to PVA? Either way, Ian looks

cuisine on the shelves of a tackle

effects of sharpening. Can a

syndicate, where he knows how to

at how he makes the most of fishing

shop near you, as well as the

hook be too sharp?

have plenty of success on the surface.

this underused tactic to good effect.

Editor’s Choice of the month, and

and greatest products of carpy

a crafty tip from Joe Turnbull.

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Contents /// June 2015

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Carp Food Special – Starbaits There’s a whole host of new

liquids in the Add It range from Starbaits this year. They’re already flying off

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the shelves, so we thought we’d better take a look before they all go.

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Paste That Packs A Punch Allan Parbery

Paste is a hookbait which seems to be forgotten about by many who think it’s had its day, but Allan proves that it’s just as good a carpcatcher now as it ever has been.

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81

In Focus – Rod Hutchinson The Cabrio Bivvy from Rod

Hutchinson is something which has

116

The TicketMaster We’ve got four day ticket

fisheries from across the country

Tackling Busy Day

already got a fair few followers, so if

in the pages of TicketMaster this

Tickets Tom Maker

you want to know what all the hype

month, and there are free fishing

is about, then jump to page 81.

offers for every reader to take

At this time of the year, most day ticket lakes are busy on the weekends, so who better to give you a few pointers on being successful in this situation?

Enter the hauling machine – Tom Maker.

advantage of. Get on it!

82

In Focus – Shimano When it comes to reels, nobody

questions Shimano, and due to this, their rods have been under the radar for

70

126

Lion Carp Competition

These rods are things of pure

BYCAC – The British

some time. Their carbon work is actually

beauty and boast the best of

Young Carpers’

a thing of beauty, and very affordable.

everything you could imagine,

Angling Championship Ever wanted to become the champion? It’s easy to enter, and you can pit your wits against other

from the blanks right through

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In Focus – SONIK

to the rings. They are epic and

With the recent release of

we’ve got some to give away.

their SKS luggage range, SONIK have

junior anglers, as well as carp to over

also released a bivvy and a day shelter.

40lb in Linear Fisheries’ Oxlease.

We got hold of the bivvy, which at under £150 is well worth the money.

73

Carpers’ Kit We take a look at some of the

best products on the market, and give you the low-down on what’s hot and

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your letter box every month,

Nest Simon Crow

then this is the place to go.

Bite indication is a part of angling which can make the difference between catching and blanking, so Simon looks at how you need to be

**EXCLUSIVE**

We’ve managed to get an exclusive first look at the new Navitas LITE range of clothing, and it’s ideal for

effective rather than follow a trend.

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This month’s carping

conundrums are answered by our panel of experts. If you get your question

taking a look at page 77 – sharpish!

answered you’ll receive a cracking prize delivered straight to your door.

78

If you’re in the market for

a new bivvy, then the Chub Vizor Lite is well worth considering. We take a closer look on page 78.

Inbox Keep up to date

with the latest news, and you can also get in touch with us

105

through the carpy grapevine.

135

Diary Of An Everyday Carp

Angler Julian Cundiff Jules is back with a 2-month offering for this issue, and

A Session To Remember

he’s been hard at it, both on

Stephen Bell

and off the bank, and he’s

Sometimes things just go right, but you have to make your own luck, as Stephen found out after moving

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here and see what’s going on

The Question Is

this summer, so we recommend

In Focus – Chub

If you want

to get your favourite carpfishing magazine through

you their essential items this month.

In Focus – Navitas

Subscribe

From The Crow’s

what’s not. Plus the Crafty Team give

77

130

In Focus – Bivvy Three

lakes mid-session. He didn’t just

Book Review

move to the lake next door – he

caught a lot of fish too.

142

On The Road Lake At Last Jo Green

Well-known lady angler Jo

It’s always nice to have a good carpy

drove from Oxford to Wraysbury to

Green is back again this month,

book on the go, and with holiday season

get some rod-bending action.

telling the story of a successful

around the corner, you’re going to

time on the Road Lake, where

need something to read on the flight

she caught one of the most

or the beach. We look at Tim Paisley’s much anticipated latest release.

80

In Focus – NGT Next Generation Tackle

offer good quality at extremely

61

sought-after residents no fewer than three times!

146

Mega Deals If you’re up for a

bargain, you’ll definitely want

affordable prices, and with a

to head over to page 146 to

new landing net design recently

check out our Mega Deals

hitting the shelves, it’d be rude

for some of the best offers

not to take a proper look.

from the country’s leading retailers.

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Spring

U P S A N D D O WNS N

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It’s that time of year when the weather can be all over the shop, so we find out how Nick Helleur puts the odds in his favour when the weather tries to put a spanner in the works.

T

he weather has been very odd of late; it’s mid-

frame has not only killed the chance I was presented with,

April as I write this, and I’m huddled beneath

but also moved the fish from the areas in which they

a brolly that’s threatening to be pulled

were residing. The shorts and floater rod have been

from over me and sent skywards by the biting

unceremoniously thrown into the boot of the car

northeasterly blow which arrived here in the

with disgust, and replaced with full winter kit

south of England in the early hours, dropping

and a woolly hat – much to my displeasure!

the temperature like a stone to a positively

The effect on the fish and the fishing has,

arctic 4°. Cold spring winds are nothing out of the ordinary, but barely 48 hours

all but killed any real chance of action for

previously, the weather more resembled a

the foreseeable. I’m currently doing nothing

sunny holiday destination somewhere in the

more than going through the motions until

Mediterranean, with a mild southerly breeze

the next warm front comes along, swinging

and temperatures in the low-20s, accompanied by carp on the surface wherever I looked. You can see what I mean when I talk about bizarre weather.

The drop of 15 or more degrees over such a short time

22

unsurprisingly, changed rapidly, and it has

When the weather changes, the fish can often be found mooching around, and it’s all about finding them first.

the balance in my favour once more. Such is the prospect of recent spring fishing, which can be best described as nothing more than frustrating in the extreme. The only real bonus

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Spring - Ups and Downs Nick Helleur

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Carp Food

Team Crafty Carper

quICK bITES

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1. Richworth Type-R Yellow Passion Pellets

2. Mainline Baits Souper Zig Mix

3. Hinders PVA Friendly Hemp & Tiger Nuts

RRP: £4.95 for 1kg

RRP: £13.99 per 4kg bag

RRP: £9.99 per 1.25kg bag

Online: richworth.com

Online: mainline-baits.com

Online: hinders.co.uk

These gorgeous-smelling little beauties are

The perfect addition to a whole host of

This is possibly the greatest particle combination

available in both 4mm and 8mm versions, and

things, including spod mixes, groundbaits,

known to man when it comes to carp angling,

are supplied in 1kg bags. They are ideal for solid

bag mixes, pellets, particles – the list goes

and the guys at Hinders have made it PVA-

bags and bulking up a spod mix, and the 4mm

on. Cream Cajouser is a long-established

friendly, so it’s perfect for PVA bagging or

versions are perfect for boiling down and using

flavour which has stood the test of time, and

adding to mesh sticks. Which carp could resist?

on the Method, and my word, do they smell nice!

you’ll know why once you remove the lid.

4. Sticky Baits Pure Natural GLM Extract

5. Mistral Baits Rosehip Red boilies

6. Crafty Catcher Fish Oil

RRP: £7.99 per 100g

RRP: £9.99 per kilo

RRP: £4.99 per 250ml

Online: stickybaits.com

Online: mistralbaits.co.uk

Online: craftycatcher.co.uk

GLM, or green lipped mussel if you aren’t

You may have heard just how good Rosehip

This oil can be found in halibut and trout pellets,

familiar with it, has got to be one of the best

is, both here and abroad, and this year Mistral

so it’s obvious why carp love it so much. It’s ideal

bait additives on the market, and the number

have brought out the Rosehip Red boilie. As you

for adding to much of your bait, especially to

of baits which utilise GLM is staggering. You

may imagine, it’s red in colour and it features

give floaters a coating at this time of the year.

can now get the pure ingredient to include in

added Robin Red, so it’s got to be a winner.

your own mixes from the guys at Sticky.

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Carp Food

Team Crafty Carper

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7. Nutrabaits Cream Cajouser Liquid booster

8. Blakes Baits Nut Mix Stick Mix

9. Nash Salted Mini Mix

RRP: £8.50 per 500ml

RRP: £4.99 per 1kg bag

RRP: £8.99 per 2.5kg bag

Online: nutrabaits.net

Online: blakesbaits.co.uk

Online: nashtackle.co.uk

Corn Steep Liquor, or CSL as it is also known, has

This mix is packed with nutty goodness, and it

This is a cracking little mix of various particles,

been used a lot in recent years, and has become

also comes supplied with 50ml of Scopex & Peach

including tares, rapeseed, hemp, sunflower

a firm favourite with many for including in spod

Liquid if you want to add a little extra sweetness.

hearts, red and white dari, and red and white

mixes and the like. The guys at Crafty Catcher

It’s ideal for getting around a nut ban, especially if

millet. It’s perfect for encouraging the fish

have their own PVA-friendly version, which

fished in conjunction with blakes Nut Mix boilies.

to get rooting up those tiny particles.

makes it just as good for stick and bag mixes.

10. Rod Hutchinson Pineapple,

11. Bait-Tech Sizzling Spicy Sausage

12. Starbaits Probiotic Pro Plum Plus boilies

Mango & banana Fluoro Pop-ups

RRP: £3.69 per 250ml

RRP: £9.99 per 1kg bag

RRP: £5.99 per pot

Online: bait-tech.com

Online: starbaits.co.uk

Online: rodhutchinson.co.uk This liquid comes in a handy squeezy nozzle

Plum is a flavour which carp just love, and with

These fluoros are a very striking orange in

bottle, so you can add a shedload into your

these nicely rolled soft boilies from Starbaits in the

colour and smell beautiful, and they are also

spod mix without being covered in a very

renowned Probiotic range, you can choose from 10,

extremely buoyant. If you’re currently looking

flavoursome, spicy, meaty, garlic-smelling

14 or 20mm. It’s an ideal long-term bait, although

for a fruity hookbait, then you don’t really

liquid which is packed full of attractors.

many anglers have reported instant success.

have to look too much further than these.

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Paste That Packs A Punch Allan Parbery

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WhY anD When to use Paste

set the float, and bunch the shot close

Paste is one of the simplest baits to

to the float, using enough to cock the

make, and carp like it too, as do most

float but not take it near the colour

other species of fish. You can make

marking. Use enough paste to cock

as much or as little as you like at any

the float correctly. (It is best to use

one time, so it’s also a cost-effective

the smallest float you can get away

bait. Paste has no hard skin (like a

with.) If you fish like this you will

boilie does), so any smell the paste

know when the paste has dissolved

has permeates into the water very

because the float will lift slightly.

quickly and easily. It is simply one of

There should be no messing about with

the most adaptable baits out there,

bites when fishing this way – the float

with lots of fish-catching capabilities.

will slide to the side and go under.

Fish like the texture of paste, and its nature means that you can use it

2. Make a less soluble paste and fish

directly on the hook rather than Hair-

it slightly over-depth, with a few small

rigging it. It is ideal for margin and light

shots close to the hookbait. Bites will

tackle fishing. Here are one or two

generally be a slight lift and then it

situations where paste is worth a go.

will slide away. The disadvantage with

I would suggest that most modern carp anglers have used paste as a boilie

this is that you don’t know if a shoal of roach has destroyed the bait.

wrap at some time or another. I have used it for barbel, but rarely for carp, 3

although the idea is exactly the same.

In reality, I wanted to use a paste as bait, but nuisance fish and river flow ensured the paste was only going to last x amount of time. I needed a bait to still be there after the paste had gone, so the obvious thing was to use a boilie on the Hair and cover it with a dollop of paste. In stillwaters, if there are few nuisance fish, the paste should dissolve after a while and leave a small area around the hookbait which may carry flavour for a long period of time.

My favourite time to use a paste is when fish are actively messing around close in. Invariably, for me anyway, this involves the use of a float – if there isn’t one in your box of tricks, go out and buy one; a Drennan Crystal is my favourite. In my opinion, there are two ways to fish this paste.

1. Make a really soluble paste – one

which will completely dissolve within minutes. Plumb the exact depth and

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Paste That Packs A Punch

Allan Parbery

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1 August 1975, the height of the special paste days.

7

2 An early success for a paste-wrapped boilie.

3 From the old Mid Northants fishery, taken on the float when stalking.

4 Pellets can quickly and easily be turned into paste.

5 Cover the pellets with boiling water for a few seconds before draining off the excess.

6 As old as the hills, but a paste-wrapped boilie will still catch loads of fish.

7 A piece of tube nicked on the hook acts as the perfect anchor for your paste.

8 Commercially available pastes make life easy for modern anglers.

longer in just a few moments.

cupboard and add a few breadcrumbs.

What Does Paste Give You

Commercially Available Pastes

That’s Different?

Mistral have around 10 different ready-

Paste is almost unique in the fact that

made pastes available for anglers to

very best available, and I still use

coming out in the 1970s – Black

it is easily moulded to suit a situation. It

try. They are simple to use so you

it when the time is right. I believe

Magic, Red Slyme, PYM, amongst

can be made into any shape or size – a

probably won’t use them where you

that some of the big old carp from

several others. It is interesting to

flat piece will sink very slowly and wave

need a fast-dissolving bait. However,

Billing Aquadrome were caught on

note that these pastes used to sell

from side to side on the way down if

they are great for moulding around

bread paste with added banana.

for £2.50 per pound, or £5.50 per kilo.

free-lined. It’s fantastic for enticing

boilies, etc., using as a stalking bait, and

How many chub have been caught

If you add inflation to these prices, it

moving fish – not many baits beside

using under the float, and they will stay

on bread paste with cheese? Loads

comes out at £50 per kilo in today’s

flake can do that in a moment’s notice.

on the hook for quite a while. If you are

and loads is the answer. Simply soak

money. Please stop telling me bait

having difficulty with the paste slipping

some white bread with the crusts

is expensive nowadays – it isn’t. The

bait within seconds by adding any

the hook, just attach a small piece

removed for a few seconds, squeeze

Red Slyme, for instance, was quite a

number of other ingredients or

of crust, sweetcorn, or even rubber

out the moisture, and you’re ready.

successful bait. From memory, it was

attractors. With a standard paste

tube to the hook and then attach the

mix, two people will make different

paste to that. Simple and effective.

Paste can be made into a different

baits to each other – you might make

Bread paste is still one of the

Pellet pastes are available

More complex pastes started

made up from wheatgerm, very fine

commercially, and are very effective

maize flour, and sodium caseinate

for the most part. Many are sold

with added lycine, methionine and

an orange Tutti Fruity, and I may

Create Your Own Pastes with

for about £4 a bag and they will

arginine, and a fruity flavour. It was

make a darker Marmite one. There

a Few Simple Ingredients

last quite a while. The better ones

horrible to mix up (‘sticky’ hardly

is just no end to the possibilities,

You can easily make enough

are made of finely milled pellets;

being the right word to use), but it

some of which I will outline later.

paste to last a session or even

however, they are best used under

did catch fish, and a lot of them.

8

the float, with the paste being part

As a base for your own paste,

of the cocking weight. These pastes

you need a few things to start with.

break down very quickly and release

Firstly, you need a protein which

lots of small particles in the vicinity.

holds the bait together. Any of the

Used in conjunction with pellets as

milk proteins will do, even Five Pints.

feed, these can be devastating.

You then need an agent to bulk it

If you fancy messing with these,

up, one which tastes nice. What

you can. Try adding some krill

about a Weetabix, and maybe a bit of

protein concentrate as the liquid and

breadcrumb too. An oil or fat would

the whole paste changes tune. It

be useful, perhaps bacon fat. Add

becomes a slower-dissolving paste

these together, mix well, and slowly

that can be used in other ways –

add water or another liquid until you

something easier to use, in fact. I

get a paste. It’s then ready to use.

used the KPC as an example, but

I mentioned Marmite earlier, but

other liquids can be just as good.

Nesquik, Angel Delight, or a whole

A fish oil will bind the ingredients

lot of things I’ve never heard of, will

to make an easy-to-use paste.

do. Curry powder, chilli powder, Five

Continuing the pellet theme, try putting some pellets into a sieve; our

Spice – you name it, it will catch.

I must mention my all-time

Ten Pellet is a good example. Pour

favourite paste now, which is

boiling water over them and leave

beef sausage meat with added

for a few minutes. When the pellets

sardine or salmon. Mix the two

are soft all the way through, they

together and you get a mush, but

can be kneaded together and left

by adding breadcrumbs a bit at a

until the paste reaches the correct

time, a brilliant bait will emerge.

consistency. If you need the paste to be a little stiffer, raid the kitchen

Now go out and catch a wary carp or two – and be different. CC

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URBAN BANX A

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‘UP NORTH’

Alan’s epic Urban Banx series has always been exclusive to us here at Crafty Carper, and 2015 is no different as he takes a massive trek, well above Watford Gap. Can he have as much success in his inner-city carping adventures well away from his hometown? Get ready Middlesbrough and Manchester!

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Urban Banx Alan Blair

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Three

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

BIVVY

(The Final Countdown)

In this tome, Tim talks of the incredible highs, but conversely, visits the horrible lows just as descriptively, and I have to admit the lows are just as enthralling as the highs. In fact, although I hate to admit it, several of the low points had me laughing out loud. The great thing about laying it all out in a book is that every part of these stories is covered in incredible, and very often graphic, detail. From his beloved Mangrove to Rainbow Lake, from Iktus via Gigantica, Les Teillatts and Lac Serreire, Tim takes us on an epic quest to catch his second 70lb carp, striving to end a 13-year search. And while that may be the theme which meanders through this story, the experience is punctuated by the characters he has shared it all with: Briggsy, Hutchy, Damian Clarke and Tom Duncan-Dunlop, among others.

An extract from Ian Chillcott’s Foreword

LIMITE D LEATH EDITION E COPIES RBOUND A CALL 0 VAILABLE 114 258 0812

Tim writes about the journey through the agonies and the ecstasies like no one else can, and although I expected the book to be good, it easily surpassed all my expectations. I really can’t give Bivvy Three enough praise because it is a superb book and a riveting read, and I guarantee that you won’t be able to put it down. Tim, I don’t know how you do it, but you’ve done it again. In fact you’ve done it better than before, and given us readers something very special. Well done that man!

Steve Briggs, Carpworld Review.

Picking up from where he left off in More From the Bivvy, Tim lets the readers in on a blow-by-blow account of how his angling sessions unfold.

More interestingly from my point of view are the personal touches and intimacies, thoughts and reactions, successes and failures – it is these details which make Bivvy Three such a fascinating read.

Ben Wales, Carp-Talk Review.

Yet another classic from the true master of carp-fishing literature, Bivvy Three takes you on an emotional journey through the highs and lows of session fishing on some of Europe’s hardest waters. It’s a stunning read, and impossible to put down.

Steve Broad, Crafty Carper Review.

I have always loved the reality of Tim’s writing, and his third Bivvy book hits the mark once again. From despair to elation, boredom to excitement, pain to joy, and misfortune to personal bests – it has it all. I wanted him to succeed, but I enjoyed the pain the effort put him through, as that’s a reality most of us deal with no matter where, how, or why we fish. Recommended, and I’m already on my second reading of it.

Julian Cundiff.

BivvyThree_CC214.indd 1

£30.00 ORDER NOW +44 (0)114 258 0812 W W W. T H E C A R P S T O R E . C O M PUBLISHED BY

11/05/2015 10:26