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over £900 worth of jrc bivvies to be won
FREEO PAGE T N FISHING R TU
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No.217 September 2015
September 2015 | Issue 217 | £4.25 also featuring
Nick Helleur
Perpetual
Motion
Dave Lane Simon Crow
Up your catch rate by staying on the move
Pete Wilson Julian Cundiff
Get Crafty... GET CATCHING!
T
Why imitation pellets are better than the real thing craftycarper.co
filled with: bait 001_Cover_CC217.indd 1
take on the crays
Learn how to beat the bait-stealing critters
tackle
tactics
boilie fishing
On sale 19th August–22nd September 2015
match the hatch
Iain Macmillan reveals why this tactic will catch you more
news
venues 10/08/2015 10:20
Crafty Carper /// Issue 217 /// September 2015 /// www.craftycarper.co
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On the cover: Ian Russell showing how effective his mobile approach is.
Editorial James Turner Editor James looks at what’s in store
for you in this issue of Crafty Carper, as well as giving his thoughts for the
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he couldn’t stay still – just how
awesome JRC bivvies. All
he likes it! With only half an hour
you have to do is head over
allowed in each swim, he had to
to page 22 and answer
another slide show at a recent event,
really try to get his net wet.
one easy question.
and gets on with some filming for TFG.
Perpetual Motion
JRC Competition
Ian Russell
Here’s your
We set Ian a challenge whereby
chance to win one of three
month, and what he’s been up to.
9
The Knowledge Dave Lane It’s a busy month for Dave as he
battles the weed on his syndicate, does
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Alternative Zig Baits Mitch Smith
When you hear the word Zig, you automatically think little piece of black foam. Not any more – there are some great alternatives on page 25.
35
Crafty Catch Column Sponsored by Sticky Baits
This is the place to get your catch pictures published, so send them to us, and you’re in with the chance of a great prize from those top guys at Sticky Baits.
40
What Is Watercraft? Nick Helleur
This is an ability which is honed over years of experience, but what is it? What does it entail? What exactly are you looking for, and how do you improve on it?
47
Practice What You Preach Pete Wilson
It’s often said that fishery owners and managers know their lakes better than anyone. But do they? We put it to the test with Pete Wilson on his own Chestnut Pool.
51
Crafty Carper Under-21s Brandon Butler recalls a very
successful time in his angling, Troy Cavey checks in with his overseas blog, and BYCAC champ Michael Bamber writes his final monthly blog.
59
Carp Food Here you’ll find the latest and
greatest products of carpy cuisine on the shelves of a tackle shop near you, as well as the Editor’s Choice of the month, and a crafty tip from Joe Turnbull.
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Carp Food In Focus – Crafty Catcher
This month we take a look at
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Spot The Imposter James Turner
Pellets are a massive part
16
Tackling The Crays Luke Vallory
These pesky critters seem to
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Crafty Catcher’s highly successful
Good Old Boilies
King Prawn flavour from the Retro
Iain Macmillan
Range, which has been doing the
Out-and-out boilie fishing
of our baiting armoury, but
be all over the country now,
has been Iain’s forte over
are they used to their full
and present a problem for many
the last 10 years, so who
potential when it comes
anglers, but Luke has found a
better to talk about how
to selecting a hookbait
way round them and he’s been
to approach angling with
to fish over them?
having some awesome results.
an all-out boilie attack.
business everywhere of late.
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Carp Food In Focus – Cutting Edge
Cutting Edge Products have been going for a year now, so it’s only right we take a look at their range of awesome particles.
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Crafty Carper
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Contents /// September 2015
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The Question Is This month’s carping
conundrums are answered by our panel of experts. If you
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get your question answered, you’ll receive a cracking prize delivered straight to your door.
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Subscribe If you want to get your
favourite carp-fishing magazine through your letter box every month, this is the place to go. Every subscription this month will receive some Berkley Whiplash for free.
94
The TicketMaster We’ve got four day ticket
fisheries from across the country in the pages of TicketMaster this month, and free fishing offers for every reader to take advantage of. Get on it!
111
Simply Does It Roy Allen
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Carpers’ Kit We take a look at some of the
With a growing list of huge fish to his
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It’s All Come Right
Jo Green
name, we asked Roy which complex rig
After becoming well and truly
best products on the market, and give
does the business, only to find that he
acquainted with the stunning
you the low-down on what’s hot and
is far from complicated in his approach.
stockies in Wraysbury 1 over
what’s not. Plus the Crafty Team give you their essential items this month.
103
In Focus – Avid Carp With a number of
new products recently released by the guys at Avid Carp, we take a look to see what’s in store.
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In Focus – Phat Fish On the lookout for some
good-quality clothing? If so, then you
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recent months, she’s only Inbox
gone and done it! Jo’s had an
Here you’ll find the
original, and a stunner at that.
latest news, and you can also get in touch and find out what’s happening on the carpy grapevine.
119
130
Mega Deals If you’re up
for a bargain then you’ll
Diary Of An
definitely want to head over
Everyday Carp
to page 130 to check out
Angler Julian Cundiff
our Mega Deals for some
With 2 months to catch up on, it’s fair
of the best offers from the
to say it’s a packed diary this issue.
country’s leading retailers.
will find an array of items to get you kitted out head to toe in new clobber.
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In Focus – E-S-P Known for producing
high-quality and hard-wearing luggage items, we’re pleased to announce that E-S-P have added to their already vast range of bags.
106
In Focus – Stillwater If you’re currently
in the market for a comfortable place to lay your head for the night, the new Stillwater bedchair can be found on page 106.
107
In Focus – Starbaits Everyone needs to
eat well whilst out on the bank, and with a load of quality cookware new from Starbaits for 2015, you can cook up a storm on page 107.
109
In Focus – Wychwood On page 109, we take an
in-depth look at the newest Wychwood Riot 65 reels. They’d got a lot to live up to because the old Riots were sheer workhorses, and they didn’t disappoint.
29 Crafty Carper
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WHAT IS WATERCRAFT? N i c k
Nick has spent countless hours on the bank over the years, honing his ability to read certain situations, which we often refer to as watercraft. But what exactly is it and what rules does it follow? Read on to find out more.
H e l l e u r
Watercraft is easily broken down into the main salient points, and the first, without a shadow of a doubt, is good observation and fish location. Finding fish and putting yourself
L
into the best position to tackle ike so many key angling skills,
learn as you go, and the more you
need to focus that desire and think
them is the primary objective, but
watercraft, as it is commonly
fish the more you learn. It really is
about the route to success beyond
there’s so much more beyond that.
known, is THE most important
that simple, despite what anyone
the obvious. You can, of course, pick
of all, but it’s one that cannot simply
says; it’s how you apply what you
up any magazine and learn how to tie
I’ve fished a lot for a very long time
be learnt online or solely by reading
learn that makes the difference.
the latest rig or read about venues,
now. For well over 30 years I’ve been
about it. Without doubt, it is a major
For the less experienced, there are
bait and the tactics which produce,
out in all weathers, all year round,
piece of the jigsaw when it comes
many things you can do to fast-track
but to evolve as an angler you have
chasing carp from every conceivable
to evolving into a better angler.
your learning, alongside actually
to put in the effort and be prepared
manner of venues, and while I can
That said, good sound advice will
getting out there and trying. The
to learn and adapt. There is no
read the conditions and have a fair
help you to identify what is really
way I see it is that we all start out
shortcut in this respect, thankfully;
idea of where to start my search,
important, and what to focus on if
in carp fishing with one main goal,
it has to be said because if it was
I never take anything for
you don’t know. In carp fishing you
and that is to catch carp, but you
easy we would all soon lose interest.
granted. I ALWAYS invest
It’s fair to say that I fish a lot, and
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Dan Price managed to notch up this 30 while on his way to BYCAC glory.
The 2015 BYCAC champion - Dan Price. Take a bow.
There was a lot to play for as the hooter signalled the start of the 2015 final.
BYCAC 2015
REPORT The British Young Carpers’ Angling Championship final finished as we went to print, so we’ve put together a round-up of how it panned out at Linear Fisheries this year. A whole host of young carp-angling talent
regular Dave Lane. The 2013 BYCAC
from up and down the UK descended
champion, Josh Jones, also made it to
on Oxlease Lake at Linear Fisheries to
the final for the third year running.
take part in this year’s BYCAC (British
There was very little in the three podium places, who racked up over 700lb of carp between them.
66
Once the draw had been done, it was
Young Carpers’ Angling Championship).
time for the lads to take their places in
The four day-only eliminators were
their chosen swims, and go about using
well attended, and with eight anglers
their time wisely to get their gear ready,
qualifying from each day from Monday
spots found and also baited, if they so
3rd August through to Thursday 6th
wished. The hooter was sounded for the
August, it was fair to say that there were
rods to go out at bang on 12 noon on
some top-quality anglers there for the
Friday 7th August and the 48hr match
morning of the 48hr final on the Friday.
started. Within just 10 minutes, Steven
The line-up included BYCAC stalwarts in
Coe in Peg 23 was in, and he slipped the
the form of Liam Morgan, Nick Longpre,
net under the fastest fish of the final. It
Alfie Drew, Sam Ribano, Kieran Patel,
was a cracker off the top at 21lb 14oz,
Steven Coe, Benedict Fowler, and first-
which won him a set of Nash Siren alarms
time entrant young Tyler Lane, who is
for the first capture of the final. The
the nephew of big-carp angler and Crafty
action went into overdrive, and more fish
Oxlease’s Big Common at 47lb 15oz on the mat for Ben Hunt as the Sky cameras rolled.
Crafty Carper
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The British Young Carpers’ Angling Championship class of 2015.
STATS: Total number of fish – 121 Total weight caught – 2081lb were being caught from
Fastest fish – 10 minutes –
around the lake throughout
Steven Coe – 21lb 14oz
the rest of the afternoon and into the evening. The scores were totted up at 9.00 o’clock on Saturday morning, and
the night gave the likes of Dan Price and Nick Longpre the opportunity to close
the gap. Sunday was vital,
the top three consisted of Liam Wylde
and as the top three continued to put a
(Peg 20), Dan Price (Peg 33) and Steven
few fish on the scorecard, the match came
Coe (Peg 23), with Liam managing to get
to a halt at 12 noon, with Midlands-based
over the 100lb barrier in the process.
Dan Price being crowned the 2015 BYCAC
The action continued through Saturday,
champion with a total just short of 300lb,
and a BYCAC record was broken that
thanks to some exceptional angling. He
morning, as Ben Hunt (Peg 16) managed
walked away with a cheque for £500,
to catch the biggest fish in BYCAC history.
plus a year-long sponsorship with title
It was Oxlease’s Big Common, which
sponsors Korda, and goodies galore.
has twice gone over the 50lb mark this
A massive thank you to all the marshals
year. He caught it on a Zig at a whopping
– headed up by Simon Crow and Oz
47lb 15oz, which propelled him up the
Buchan – for all their hard work over the
leader board a fair bit, although the fish
week-long event, and the impressive list
didn’t make it into his swim in numbers.
of sponsors who support the British Young
Long-time BYCAC entrant Liam Morgan
Carpers’ Angling Championship: Reuben
(Peg 24) also managed to get in on the
Heaton, Navitas, Trakker, Mainline, Cygnet,
40s action with a whopping mirror of
Nash, Fox, Kent Particles, Spomb, Velocity
42lb, to give his total weight a boost.
Baits, Sticky Baits, Carp-Talk, Carpworld.
Steven Coe was quick to get off the mark, and had the fastest fish in the final.
Also, a huge thank you to Linear Fisheries
TOP SIX FINAL STANDINGS
SECTION WINNERS:
reported, taken on an array of tactics
for the use of the consistent Oxlease
Dan Price (Peg 33) – 15 fish – 296lb 13oz
Cygnet – Lewis Phillips
including Zigs, surface fishing and solid
Lake for the whole week. You will be able
Liam Wylde (Peg 20) – 18 fish – 247lb 15oz
Mainline – Ben Hunt
bag tactics, all of which were highly
to watch how the final unfolded on Sky
Nick Longpre (Peg 19) – 14 fish – 225lb 15oz
Trakker – Alfie Drew
successful. Going into dark on Saturday
Sports at a later date, hosted by Simon
Lewis Phillips (Peg 26) – 10 fish – 198lb 12oz
Carpworld – Sam Ribano
night, Liam Wylde was still leading the
Scott and Ali Hamidi. We’ll keep you
Liam Morgan (Peg 24) – six fish – 121lb 4oz
pack, though a lull in the action through
updated as to when it is going on air. CC
Ben Hunt (Peg 16) – four fish – 94lb 7oz
All around the venue, fish were being
Marshals Award – Finley Todhunter
The event ran very smoothly thanks to the hard work of the marshalling team.
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In Focus
Phat Fish and E-S-P
PHAT FISH CLOTHING RRP: Various
ONLINE:
phatfishclothing.co.uk
Phat Fish have been producing clothing for anglers for a good few years now, and continue to release new items into the range, so here are a few things which have recently caught our eye.
Bobble Hat RRP: £14.99 With autumn not too far away, I thought we should feature a warm bit of headwear, although it seems that the good old bobble-style hats are
Kingfisher and Rod Tee
being worn all year round nowadays.
RRP: £14.99
The Phat Fish Bobble Hat is extremely
This is the latest offering from
cool in the looks department, sporting
Phat Fish within their range of
a blue trim and a Phat Fish logo to the
quality tees. It depicts the natural
front. It’s a very nice-looking bit of kit
angler, the kingfisher, taking a
and will definitely keep the warmth
hard-earned rest on a rod while
in when the temps start to drop.
consuming its breakfast. It’s a sight which very few anglers have been lucky enough to witness; although kingfishers can be seen across the UK, it’s rare to have one perched on the rod tips. It’s truly a sight to behold, and is captured perfectly on the front of this shirt. The tees come in Olive only, with size options from Small through to XXL. As ever with Phat Fish tees, they are made from 100% cotton which has been pre-shrunk, so it won’t end up not fitting you after the first wash. I expect we’ll be seeing a few of these cropping up at the local lake or in the local pub, as they aren’t just for wearing on the bank.
E-S-P LUGGAGE RRP: COOL BAG XL – £29.95; MEDIUM CARRYALL – £39.95; LARGE CARRYALL – £44.95; RUCKSACK – £29.95 ONLINE:
esp-carpgear.co.uk
E-S-P Medium Carryall This is a pretty compact carryall with an internal capacity of approximately 30 litres, which is perfect for anglers who like to travel light for shorter sessions and overnighters. Although it’s compact, it still accommodates a fair bit of kit, and it features three roomy zipped external pockets, of which the front one is the perfect size to take a medium-
They’ve long been known for creating high-quality gear across the board, and with a number of items being added to E-S-P’s already extensive range of luggage, the expectations are high.
sized tackle box. One of the clever things with this little beauty is that the zipped lid to the central compartment of the bag features a padded buzz bar/short bankstick pocket. Both the shoulder strap and the carry handles are well padded, and the base is reinforced to maximise
E-S-P Cool Bag XL
the bag’s lifespan, as well as prevent water ingress.
The original E-S-P Cool Bags
Inside the carryall there’s a zipped storage pocket on the
have always been big sellers,
underside of the lid, as well as two handy storage pockets
having been in production for
for those smaller essential items which you usually
over 10 years, which says a lot
end up throwing in the bottom of the bag and losing.
for the quality. However, anglers were asking for a larger version, so E-S-P succumbed to their demands and have released this epic 40-litre offering which can accommodate 15kg of boilies with ease. This makes it perfect for longer sessions, including trips to the Continent. As you’d expect for a cool bag, there’s a tough insulated foil lining, the base is reinforced, and the shoulder strap features a padded support as well as carry handles. There’s also a roomy external zipped pocket.
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In Focus
Phat Fish and E-S-P
Joggers
with a neat Union Jack flag, and the two side
RRP: £34.99
pockets are pretty deep and feature good-quality
The new Phat Fish Joggers, which were released
zips, so you won’t lose all your change while
at the end of this spring, are of a very high quality,
on the way to the lake in the motor or while
and available in sizes Small through to XXXL.
waiting for the alarms to sound. The waist is
The unique thing about these is that they are
elasticated and also features a drawcord to ensure
available in two leg lengths – Regular and Large.
you get the perfect fit, and the Phat Fish logo
There is a Velcro pocket to the rear, emblazoned
is discreetly embroidered near the pocket.
Snapback Cap RRP: £14.99 Another item which was added to the range at the end of spring, and which goes with the current trend, is a cool-looking and high-quality Snapback Cap. It’s black in colour and features a blue-coloured underpeak. As with all the Phat Fish gear, it’s top quality and made to last, so you can now keep the sun out of your eyes and look good doing it.
E-S-P Rucksack This fella is a thing of beauty in the carp-angling luggage world, as it combines comfort and practicality. A lot of rucksacks have failed on this in the past, but the E-S-P design team have ensured that it stays comfortable no matter how much or how little you stuff into the 40-litre capacity work of art. The fact that it sits quite high on your back definitely helps with comfort, especially if you have a fair old trek on your hands. The same materials have been used on this as the previous luggage featured, and as well as the reinforced base, there are three large zipped pockets externally, while the front one accommodates a large tackle box. I love the addition of the pair of adjustable webbing straps, which makes it easy to carry an unhooking mat; it leaves your hands free to rummage through the undergrowth while searching out the elusive big ’un you’ve been stalking and feeding for weeks. The main compartment is what I imagine the inside of Mary
E-S-P Large Carryall
Poppins’ bag to look like – it really is never ending, and
The bigger brother to the Medium offering,
will take a mass of gear while still being comfortable to
and a whole 10 litres internal capacity more.
carry, thanks to the padded adjustable shoulder straps,
This is the ideal barrow bag or longer session
adjustable sternum strap, and a beautifully padded
bag, perfect for carrying all you need and more!
back panel. Things only get better when you see that
There are three good-sized external pockets,
the price doesn’t go over 30 quid. Now you’re talkin’!
including the front pocket which accommodates a large-sized plastic tackle box. Just like its little brother, it has the padded buzz bar/bankstick pocket to the top of the central compartment pocket lid, as well as the padded shoulder strap and carry handles. The number of internal pockets has increased though. With the larger version there are three roomy pockets built into the side walls, which are perfect for the likes of small tackle boxes, lead pouches, etc.
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