N I W
e ag k ac t p fin ai b b ted r e ot up sp s A om fr
New: darrell peck’s must-read rig series
craftyc
arper.c o
No.224 April 2016
April 2016 | Issue 224 | £4.25
----DAVE
LANE-----
SPRING SINGLES Get Crafty... GET CATCHING!
He reveals the secret edges that will catch you more
+ + +
Steve cliff Shows you how to be bang on the money with every single cast
Myles gibson Gives an insight into his baiting strategies that make all the difference
darren belton Teaches you how to create the ultimate bag mix that will bank you more carp
On sale 23rd March–19th April 2016
What’s new in tackle and bait craftycarper.co
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Crafty Carper /// Issue 224 /// April 2016 /// www.craftycarper.co
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On the cover: Dave Lane returning an early-spring mirror which fell for one of his specials.
Editorial Steve Broad This month, Steve talks about
his enjoyment of a spot of pike
15
Spotted Fin Competition New kids on the block,
Spotted Fin, are giving you the chance
102
fishing, the build up to the Carpin’
Pecky’s Way – Darrell Peck
On show, and the plans he has in
Darrell is back with some
store for his spring campaign.
carp-fishing wisdom in this new regular
to win a fantastic selection of their
feature. The prolific big-fish angler talks
new range of baits worth up to £320
about the rigs, tactics and presentations
in this month’s competition.
which have been key to his success.
9
The Long And The Short – Lewis Read
Everyone worries about their rig being sunk into the silt and not fishing effectively, so Lewis reveals his favourite presentation when it comes to fishing over the stinky stuff.
18
Food Signal – Darren Belton When people talk about food
signals, they tend to think along the lines of piling it in. Darren Belton explains that that’s not always the case, and shows you how to get maximum attraction without using loads of bait.
23
Tightrope – Steve Broad Finding a way round problems
is something which anglers have to face. Steve had to cope with deep margins and some very line-shy fish, and here he gives an insight into how he resolved the situation.
28
The Rig Mechanic – Ellis Brazier
In this new miniseries, Ellis talks about carp rigs, and in this first instalment he shows us how to tie one of the latest and greatest new rigs in the game.
32
A Dream Come True – Matt Hart
Matt Hart was like a kid in a sweet shop when he was offered the opportunity to work with a new bait company, Spotted Fin, and to be in from the start of this very promising and fresh firm.
37
Crafty Catch Column Sponsored By Sticky Baits
This is the place to get your catch pictured published, so send them in to us, and you’re in with the chance of a great prize, courtesy of Sticky Baits.
42
Getting Started – Lewis Clayton
Starting a campaign on a new water can often be tricky. Lewis from Phat Fish gives the low-down on his first trip to a new venue.
48
Colour Coded Zigs – Tristan Peel
83
63
look at the very latest kit to hit the shops,
in Zig fishing, and Tristan Peel is a
angling to suit the way in which the
including a brand new bivvy from JRC, and a
dab hand when it comes to getting
fish are behaving. Here he reveals
range of PVA from the guys at Nash. We also
it right. Here, he sheds some light
how he has changed his approach.
have carp food from Mainline and Spotted Fin.
on how small changes can make big
Spring Singles – Dave Lane Spring has sprung, and Dave
Lane has already started adapting his
Tackle and Bait This month we take an in-depth
Playing around with colours and depths is something which is common practice
differences when it comes to colour.
4
Crafty Carper
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Contents /// April 2016
54
The Question Is Rich Adams, Ellis
Brazier, Mitch Smith, Tom
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Resident blogger and BYCAC champ, Dan Price, keeps us up
the colder months have passed.
55
TO ORDER BY PHONE: CALL 0114 258 0812 OR O N L I N E AT : W W W . T H E C A R P S T O R E . C O M
to date with his latest bankside
be switching on again now that
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Crafty Carper
70
110-111_RGSubOffer_CC224.indd 1-2
The TicketMaster This month we’re
featuring four venues from
91
Crafty Carper
On The Money –
Steve Cliff knows what
of Wight to good ol’ sunny
it means to be super-
This month, Steve Broad
Leicestershire, and be sure
accurate when it comes to
looks at the new range of very
to take advantage of the
fishing venues with steep
appealing liquids from Mainline
free fishing on offer in this
sides, small pockets within
and Solar’s new Mega Big Shots,
issue of TicketMaster.
weedbeds, and hard to find
way of offering pellets without the use of PVA. There’s also a look at Enterprise Tackle’s
75
he makes sure it’s bang on
Check out all kinds of
the money every time.
tackle items this month, ranging from Rig Marole’s new LinkteQ
Krill Pellets from Sticky Baits.
leader material to the clever new rod sleeve systems from
97
Pink and blue corn
Little? – Myles Gibson
JRC, and there’s also the items
for Myles this month – knowing
which the Crafty Team consider
when to add more bait, how
to be essential this month.
to use it right, and what he
so we thought it would only be right that we found out a bit more about the launch of Spotted Fin.
79
WASHED OUT UNFLAVOURED POPUP CORN AND 15MM BOILIES
does which makes him such a In Focus – JRC Stealth Bloxx Compact
In the market for a new bivvy? If that’s a yes, then be sure to check out the new JRC
successful all-round angler.
105
Rig Special Part Two –
Stealth Bloxx Compact. With
The second part of Julian
Young Carpers’
its clever and lightweight
Cundiff’s Rig Special is all about
Angling Championship
design, this is a bivvy which
a bottom bait rig which he
Could you be the 2016 British
will appeal to a lot of anglers.
never thought he would use.
champion? If you’re a keen young carper and are 17 or under, then this one is for
80
In Focus – Nash PVA We were keen to get
our hands on Nash’s new PVA,
110
Subscribe Get your copy of
Crafty Carper delivered to your
you. Test your angling skills
and as with all things Nash, you
door each month, and save
against other young anglers,
can tell that they have spent
the hassle of trekking down
and have the chance of
some time thinking about this
to your local newsagents.
becoming the 2016 champ!
one, with a brilliant new range.
Take out a subscription and receive a money-off deal.
28
NEW FOR 2016
Julian Cundiff
BYCAC – The British
Young Carpers’ Angling
Washed out beige and white corn
It’s all about bait application
Spotted Fin
about this new bait company,
COCONUT CREAM
Too Much Or Too
In Focus –
There’s a lot of excitement
68
CANDYFLOSS AND BETALIN
features. He reveals how Carpers’ Kit
New Imitation Maple Peas, and
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while Joe Turnbull shows a neat
111 11/03/2016 11:39
Steve Cliff
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Crafty Carper 004-005_Contents_CC224.indd 2
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Food
Signal Darren reveals how to create a massive food signal without putting in loads of bait, a real advantage at this time of the year. It’s an important tactic when approaching day ticket lakes where you are trying to nick a bite in the harshest of conditions, and every little edge helps.
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Food Signal
Darren Belton
Everything you need to create a massive food signal.
A decent fish caught on a bag this winter.
T
here is no doubt that carp are
with as many things as possible to
day, lots of the hemp floats, again
PVA bags, and I have the utmost
attracted to food – which is a
create a signal that says ‘eat me’. My
spreading the attraction. On the
confidence that it will draw carp to
natural instinct of all animals –
mix is pretty much off the shelf, but
day, I add some fresh hemp to the
my hookbait. However, you must
because they know to take advantage
every single morsel does a job and is
mix to keep the attraction round
remember that any bait is only as
of a source of nutrition. The only
food-related. The formula is easy – I
the hookbait. Finally, in goes my
good as where you put it, and even
thing that affects this in the case of
chuck a few handfuls of very small
secret ingredient, Sweet & Salty
a carp is its metabolism. At this time
mixed pellets into a bucket, and add
Popcorn. You know how
of year, the days are getting longer,
a load of crushed boilies. Both these
moreish this stuff is
which is a major factor into triggering
things are mega-attractive, and in
to humans – just
carp into feeding – but, and it’s a big
the form they are in, they break down
the smell can get
but, the water temperature is still
in water and help to transmit the
you slobbering
really cold. Even though this winter
signal. Next in is the hemp oil, which
– and exactly
has been really mild in comparison
is high in fatty acids and actually
the same thing
to most, the water is still only a few
great at rising to the surface, giving
happens to
degrees, enough to keep a cap on any
fish higher in the water column a
the carp. Crush
carp’s appetite. The trouble is that
sniff of food. Then I add one of the
the popcorn
the carp are still attracted by a big
Mainline liquids, which are heavy
into a fine
bed of bait, but will only eat a tiny
and sit on the lakebed, kicking out
powder; this stuff
bit of food once it has arrived, simply
‘eat me’ signs. A spoonful of GLM
binds to everything,
because they are slow in digesting
goes in; even a small amount coats
and rises and falls in the
anything eaten. When I’m fishing
everything, and it’s another big
water, creating a halo effect and
I deliberately fished the sheltered
easier day ticket waters in winter
draw. Hemp is next, and I do this at
kicking out even more attraction.
side of the island that was getting
and early spring, I try to capitalise
two different stages. I add a couple
This is a mix that is absolutely
the most of the sun and the least
on this attraction to a food signal
of handfuls to the pellet and boilie
loaded to the gunnels with bits and
of the bitingly cold wind. As far as
by making my one small PVA bag as
crumb the night before, so that they
pieces, and has the biggest food
I was concerned, this was where
attractive as a whole kilo of boilies.
suck up the hemp juice. This actually
signal possible. For my short spring
the carp wanted to be. I
dries the hemp, and the following
session, I fish this mix in small
am familiar with this lake
This is achieved by packing a bag
carp in day ticket lakes will have certain areas where they want to be in certain conditions, so
“Finally, in goes my secret ingredient, sweet & salty popcorn. You know how moreish this stuff is to humans…”
you still need watercraft and have to fish correctly. For this feature, I was on Elphicks, which is near my home in Kent. The lake I tackled
has a central island, and
A spoonful of GLM is a must.
Pellets have loads of pulling power.
This chunky mirror responded to a big food signal.
Everyone loves popcorn, even carp.
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c i n a h c e M
e h T g
i R
IER Z RA B IS ELL
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In the first of a four part miniseries, Ellis takes an in-depth look at some specialised presentations and how to tie them. This month it’s the aptly named DP Claw Rig
I
t has been said, in the pages of this
the results I have enjoyed have been
of points, but
publication, that I am not a ‘riggy’
strong enough for me to pen this piece.
the principle
“…this winter has seen a change in my thinking, and the results I have enjoyed have been strong enough for me to pen this piece”
what a rig it is proving to be.
angler, and I would have to agree. My
The rig came about on my Christmas
ethos has always been to keep it simple
night out with the lovable Dave Preston
interesting. To cut
on the rig front, and to work at the
(the founder of Preston innovations,
a long story short, we
feeding situation to provide the bites.
Avid, Korum and Sonubaits), or should
never got out that night;
That said, though, I have always had a
I say the night in. When I got to Dave’s,
in fact, I relieved Dave of as much of
commonly, my favoured Snowman setup,
keen interest in the more technical rigs,
he started enthusing about a new rig
his wine as I could manage, and we
on the back of the curve hook, extends
but perhaps not quite the desire to tie
he had been playing with, and I asked
sat at his rig table swapping ideas for
down the shrink tubing to stiffen the
up some of them. However, this winter
if I could take a look at this wonder rig.
the entire evening. Needless to say,
curve that is created when
has seen a change in my thinking, and
To my mind, it needed work on a couple
that’s how the DP Rig got its name, and
boiling. The length of tubing
was extremely
The technical side is fairly simple,
in that the D, which can house a pop-up, or more
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Too Much Or Too Little? Myles Gibson
Here are three items Myles always takes fishing with him, and they cover every aspect of baiting that he requires.
B
Check the lead to see if there is any weed out there, and how much there is. If there isn’t a lot, then a Hinged Rig would certainly be fishable.
aiting in the spring is something
much prefer the mobile approach, being
and in the spring especially, it can be
that differs a lot, depending on
ready to react to any situation with
really effective. If I choose to fish more
the lake you are fishing, the
which I am faced. I look for showing
of a bites water, somewhere with a lot
weather, and the time of day. So much
fish and do my best to get on them.
of fish, such as Linear Fisheries, then I
varies, and the most important thing
Single hookbaits in areas with just
may change my approach. The lakes are
is to work out the current situation
a few baits, by catapult or throwing
often busy, so moving can sometimes
you are faced with and adapt to it.
stick, can be a real winner. If it isn’t too
be out of the question. This is when I
far out, I like to mix up the size of the
look to create a feeding situation where
about the pond quickly, and will be
baits, just to create a bit of confusion.
I can catch more than one fish. It is key
searching for food as and when they
This is the sort of approach I tend to
to be different on these sorts of waters,
want. There will be plenty of naturals
adopt on the waters that I fish. They
and think carefully about what you put
in the weed, which also flourishes, and
are often weedy and not always well
out. A standard spod mix of hemp, corn,
the fish don’t always need to feast on
stocked, and bites can be few and far
pellets and some boilies will work, but it
angler’ baits until May time. They will
between. I fish for a bite at a time, and
is what most people on the lake will be
still eat it, of course they will, but it’s
the ideal rig for this is something like
using. I like to make the base of my mix
about taking care in what you are doing.
the Hinged Stiff Rig, which will kick
around boilies; I crumb and chop most
Just because it is 15° during the day, and
out and sit over most bottoms. When
of them, and mix in a bit of corn for the
the carp are leaping around left, right
feeling for the drop, if it goes down
visual aspect. It is slightly different, and
and centre, it doesn’t mean that you
hard or slightly firm, you know that it
also releases loads of attraction. This
need to Spomb buckets of bait to them.
is fishing. It is only when it’s really soft
spring I am using the Manilla, on the tail
that it will most likely be weed, and
end of an obscene winter for me, which
this is when I turn to the Chod Rig.
involved four 40s on a couple of trips.
The fish are on the move, getting
You may find yourself committing to areas of the lake, and when the swim is vacant, you feel inclined to fish there, even if the carp are somewhere else. I
I am not a religious user of the Chod, but it certainly has its time and place,
It worked wonders then, so it certainly will in the spring. It’s not just
Two very simple rigs made with strong and reliable components.
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Too Much Or Too Little? Myles Gibson
Chopped Manilla and some sweetcorn has worked for Myles so far this year, and it’s a great mix to stop the birds robbing the bait.
If the fish are showing all over you and you don’t have a bite, lead around to find out what they are doing, and make a note of it.
Two- or threebait stringers are underused but extremely effective.
Hitting the clip when baiting up is essential.
there for attraction, it’s also difficult for
something you see a lot
the birds to take advantage of. They
of – people bait every morning
can be a real pain at this time of year,
and evening and expect a bite.
and a kilo of boilies on the spot doesn’t
This is fine if you have any indication
last long, whereas a kilo of this mix will
that the fish have fed, but if they
be nearly impossible for them to clear
haven’t, it can hinder your chances.
Bright hookbaits are always a winner, and are something in which Myles puts his faith for 12 months of the year.
single hookbait
up. I never want too much out there to
I like adding lots of particles, full of
start with; I much prefer to build
sugars and salts, which, of course, are
is enough, providing you put
high in energy and carbohydrates, but
yourself in the right area.
up the swim as I go. If I am catching fish, then I give
only after they spawn. I tend to stick
If I find fish showing and fizzing, I
to the boilie approach in the spring.
cast rigs to the zone and leave them for
I don’t see the point
As I mentioned, if I am on a high-stock
sometimes 24 hours. If nothing occurs,
in putting out bait if I
water, then I like Spombing to clips
then I get out the leading rod and
have had no indication
with a mix of crumbed baits. If I am on
investigate what those fish were doing.
bigger fish waters, I tend to use the
There might be a nice clear hole in the
throwing stick and the catapult for most
weed, but thick Canadian everywhere
of my fishing. You don’t have to empty
else. This tells me where the fish were
a bucket of bait into a spot to make the
feeding, and there is a good chance
them some more bait.
that the fish have fed. This is
carp feed. Sometimes even a
that they will be back. Even if they don’t return while I’m there, I make a note of the spot, and next time the fish are showing in the area, I am all set to get the rods out to a feeding spot without having to lead around again.
An awesome 37lb mirror caught early last spring, over a catapulted spread of boilies to the back of a bar close in.
I am a huge fan of bright or highattract baits, which I use for 99% of my fishing all year round. I very rarely cast out straight bottom
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Pecky’s Way Darrell Peck
In a new regular feature, big-carp hunter Darrell Peck reveals the rigs and presentations he uses to achieve his outstanding results. Read on and learn from the master.
O
ne of the things I often see anglers getting wrong is the lead system. It’s easy to understand why because there are so many conflicting ideas floating around. Personally, I like to keep things
simple and choose the right arrangement for the job. This decision is based on a number of things, such as lakebed type, weed, and how far I need to cast. As a quick aside here, I’d like to mention dropping leads, which is a very emotive subject for many anglers, but one that should be addressed with honesty. I definitely don’t think you should be randomly dropping leads, and the only time I choose to do it is when it is in the best interests of the carp because of weed or snags. So, here is my quick guide to when and where to use the lead arrangements that I choose.
In-lines This is probably the original purpose-designed lead arrangement, and was used by stacks of anglers, including me, but I have ceased to use it with any regularity. It was initially used because of its great anti-tangle properties, and this was one of the major reasons for relying on it, plus the fantastic hooking potential it has, thanks to the weight-forward design, which unfortunately is also one of its downfalls. This style of lead will dig into a soft bottom, and if you are using a slightly stiff hooklink, this could result in the rig being very poorly presented. I would always use a braid hooklink, and really only ever use this type of lead over a hard lakebed, preferably gravel. It is ages since I last used an in-line, but perhaps I should have a rethink because it really does have a place in some situations.
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Pecky’s Way Darrell Peck
Lead Clips These are probably the most common arrangements used, and I can understand why because they are just so versatile. I tend to use the Hybrid Lead Clips, which are very easy to use. This setup is very good for casting, and with a coated hooklink it remains virtually tangle-free as long as you hit the clip or feather the cast. I predominantly use this when the bottom is soft or has a light covering of weed. This is probably my favoured presentation, simply because it ticks so many boxes, which is a huge bonus to me.
Helicopter Rigs Finally, there is this style of rig. I’m talking about standard presentations rather than any form of Chod, which is a subject I’ll discuss in its own right. I tend to use the Helicopter Rig when the bottom is very soft or there is a good coating of low weed. I thread on a small Sinker and carefully position a 4mm Rubber Bead on it, so it will pull over and release the hooklink in case of an accident. This can also be achieved with a Safety System NoTrace Bead. Next, add a ring swivel, with the ring on the line and a Helicopter Sleeve, before finally adding the lead. This is a really great casting rig which very rarely tangles. Just recently, I’ve been using this presentation on Northey Park, and it suits this lake.
Well, that’s it for now. Next month I’ll be talking Chods, to try to point you in the right direction. CC
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