win
One of three nash brollies >>
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arper.c o
No.228 August 2016
August 2016 | Issue 228 | £4.25
J U L I A N c un d i f f
SE SSION Get Crafty... GET CATCHING! craftycarper.co
HOW TO CATCH CARP up in the water with tom maker
+
adventure abroad
make this your best carp fishing holiday with jon mac
perfect selfie
master self-take photography + your chance to win the kit
On sale 20th July – 23th August 2016
layer cake
t h e v e r y l at e s t ta c k l e , b a i t s , t e c h n o l o g y a n d t i p s
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05/07/2016 14:33
Crafty Carper /// Issue CC228 /// August 2016 /// www.craftycarper.co
107
On the cover: Julian Cundiff with a scaly caught on a short session from a Yorkshire venue.
31
16
Rise To The Top
Nash Competition
Alex Shields
Here’s your chance
We ventured down to sunny Essex to meet up with
to win one of three epic Nash
Alex Shields, who was having some brilliant surface-
Groundhog Brollies, which are
fishing action using a variety of hookbaits, along with
great for keeping the elements
his great knowledge of bagging carp off the top.
at bay in the warmer months.
WIN
>> ONE OF THREE NASH BROLLIES
7
Editorial This month, Steve Broad talks
preparation as he gets ready for his trip
er.co
No.228 August 2016
to Teillatts in France. It’s something
craftyca rp
he’s been looking forward to so he spent a good portion of a weekend making sure he had everything ready
JULIAN CUNDIFF
| August 2016 | Issue 228 £4.25
for chasing some French chunks.
11
Master The Midwater
S E S S IO N
Tom Maker
England international and all-round hauling machine, Tom Maker, shows you how to make the most of midwater fishing with Zigs, and how he gets fish feeding competitively with his highly effective Zig slop mix.
18
Get Crafty... GET CATCHING!
Close-Quarter Carping Scott Lloyd
We caught up with Scott Lloyd at Linch Hill’s Willow Lake, where he showed us the way to put fish on the bank from less than a rod-length out. You don’t need to fish far out to catch some truly impressive carp.
25
The Rig Mechanic Lee Wagner
This month, Lee Wagner gives us the
LAYER CAKE
ADVENTURE ABROAD
ins and outs of a rig which has worked
PERFECT SELFIE
super-efficiently for him – the Horton Rig. It’s highly versatile and has caught
craftycarper.co
IN HOW TO CATCH CARP UP THE WATER WITH TOM MAKER
+
MAKE THIS YOUR BEST CARP MAC FISHING HOLIDAY WITH JON
GRAPHY MASTER SELF-TAKE PHOTO KIT + YOUR CHANCE TO WIN THE
2016 On sale 20th July – 23th August
Lee an impressive amount of big fish.
05/07/2016 14:33
121
Short-session Success Julian Cundiff
We all know what it’s like to try to make time to get
Under-21s Blog Dan Price
With A levels out of the way, BYCAC champ Dan Price managed to squeeze in a trip to Linear Fisheries,
ND TIPS E, BAITS, TECHNOLOGY A T H E V E R Y L AT E S T TA C K L
001_Cover_CC228.indd 1
28
where a session on B2 saw him having to make some changes to his tactics to put fish on the bank.
38
What’s Next? Rob Nunn
We’ve all been there – waking up
on the bank, but it doesn’t always have to be an
after an unproductive night and
overnighter or a day session. A few hours can be just
thinking that was that. But Rob
as productive, as Julian Cundiff shows by giving his
Nunn has a totally different mindset,
expert advice on how he goes about short sessions.
and shows how a blank night shouldn’t dampen your spirits.
4
Crafty Carper
004-005_Contents_CC228.indd 1
05/07/2016 15:15
71
pointers on how you can
Time Greg Myles
get the most from these
Like most of us, finding time
fantastic fisheries.
to get the rods out to feed the
103
The Crafty
obsession can sometimes be
Debate
difficult, as Greg Myles knows
Glugs and dips – do they
only too well. But when you put in the extra effort, the
make a difference? We put
rewards can be well worth it.
it to our panel of experts, which this month includes
75
Precision Trap
the likes of Iain Macmillan,
Setting Alan Stagg
Alex Shields, Lewis Read
When the weed starts to take
and Marcus Barrowcliffe.
hold and the fish are scattered
107
Take The
across the lake, positioning
43
Perfect Selfie
rigs can prove to be a problem.
Ways Around The
We caught up with Alan
Weed
It may seem a tricky thing
Stagg as he showed us how
to get right at first, but
Dave Lane
he gets around these tricky
with a bit of practice you
With the warm sunny
situations to reap the rewards.
can get some perfect
weather comes the dreaded weed, and it’s something that can be a real battle
self-take shots. And to
81
The TicketMaster
go with the tips we’ve
We’ve got three
put together, there’s a
fantastic venues for you this
competition courtesy of
Lane has a few tricks up
month: Lavender Hall Fishery, a
Johnson Ross, with five
his sleeve, which he shares
beautiful lake in the Midlands;
self-take kits to be won.
with us to help find a
Todber Manor’s Wadmill Lake,
way around the weed.
where there are plenty of
at the best of times. Dave
49
113
Catch Column This is the
bites to be had; and finally,
Carp Food
Majestic Pool, an intimate lake
In this issue, Steve
place to get your catch
based in Hull, which contains
picture published, so
Broad checks out some of
some true character fish. Be
send them in to us,
the awesome products from
sure to take advantage of
and you’re in with the
DNA Baits, including the
the free fishing on offer in
chance of a great prize,
Crayfish Mini Mix pellets and
this issue of TicketMaster.
courtesy of Sticky Baits.
Swimstim liquid (a deadly combination), as well as a whole host of brilliant baits which are well worth
85
126
Carpers’ Kit
Inbox
The latest kit in the
Keep up to date
carp-fishing world is featured
with all the latest news
in the Carpers’ Kit section this
and views from around
month. It includes some fantastic
the carp-angling scene,
The Question Is
products from FishHunter,
plus the recent winner
Our panel of experts
checking out this month.
56
Chub’s extremely comfortable
from JRC’s Every Picture
this time consists of Lee
Vantage Flatbed, and some great
Tells A Story competition.
Merritt, John Kneebone,
bits of kit which we think are
Steve Briggs, Ellis Brazier and
essential for modern carpers.
Allan Parbery, a collection of serious big-fish anglers who have caught some truly
129
Mega Deals
92
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with a range of subjects,
ticket fisheries, such as the Big
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tactics too often to how the season affects the kind of
SUBSCRIPTION OFFER MASTER THE METHOD AND CATCH >
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We’ve put together a fantastic Zig package in conjunction with the guys at Avid, which is everything you need to catch fish feeding in the upper layers. They can be caught from here at all times of the year, so Zig fishing is truly a tactic that you need to master, and here is the ideal bundle to get you going – you even get a hat to keep the sun out of your eyes. We strongly advise giving Zigs a go during the warmer months. They can be a deadly tactic when fished as over-depth Zigs, and a static surface bait can be much more effective, instead of a controller float, whilst trickling floaters in over the top using a Surface Spod. In the package there
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waters local to Crafty HQ,
B
June 2016 | Issue 226 | £4.25
Get Crafty... GET CATCHING!
Get Crafty... GET CATCHING!
with Tim Paisley about
WIN
PIECING IT TOGETHER
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After a recent conversation
HOW TO TIE YOUR OWN UNIQUE ZIGR S>>
May 2016 | Issue 225 | £4.25
CROWY
TO ACHIEVE
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CHG E NI N Y A FR H A IS LID F O H
No.226 June 2016
Tom Morrison
N WI No.225 May 2016
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Contents /// August 2016
Crafty Carper
Crafty Carper
55 09/05/2016 14:06
5
LINEAR FISHERIES, NEAR WITNEY, OXFORDSHIRE, OX29 7QF 05/07/2016 15:16
TOM MAKER
MASTER THE
WATER
MID
Tom Maker has been on the carp scene for a good number of years, and his catch results speak for themselves, especially his big-hit Zig tactics. The bites don’t always come to you, but by working the swim, you can make them happen, as Tom shows us.
Crafty Carper 010-014_Master_The_Midwater_Feature_CC228.indd 1
11 30/06/2016 10:55
Master The Midwater Tom Maker
I
often find myself fishing on the
At this time of year, you can achieve
higher stocked waters; places such
a hit of carp, multiple catches and
as Linear Fisheries are a prime
exhausting sessions. The key is to spod
example. On such lakes, there aren’t
bait over the top of the Zigs and get
many tactics which are more effective
the fish competing for the food in the
than Zigs, especially at this time of
upper layers. Thinking back to all the
year. Going back 10 years now, I have
matches I fished on these lakes in the
had amazing sessions fishing solely
summer, they were all won on Zigs. The
with Zigs. Back then they were not
fish, under immense pressure, seem
known about as much, but even with
to find safety in the upper layers and
having them at their disposal, they seem just as effective in the right situation. The key to fishing with Zigs on lakes such as Brasenose
“
are willing to feed there. Like any lake or
The fish, under immense pressure, seem to find safety in the upper layers and are willing to feed there
One and Two is to feed the swim. You
“
everyone
A marker float is essential to understand the depth of the spot.
situation, the first thing I look for is the carp. I walk around until I find an area where they are showing regularly. Once
Having a few Zigs tied up ready will save you so much time on the bank.
I have selected my swim, it is
can catch on single Zigs, but that
important to have a quick lead around,
seems to be more effective during
but also check the depth of the swim.
the colder months, or in early spring.
You need to get a decent measurement Three spods every 10 minutes is a good indication of when to feed.
Measure the Zig against your rod to make things quick and easy.
Once the rods are out, the elastic should sit parallel to indicate them all being on the same spot, and right underneath the spod mix you are introducing.
The slop dispersing from the spod into the layers.
12
Crafty Carper
010-014_Master_The_Midwater_Feature_CC228.indd 2
30/06/2016 10:55
Master The Midwater Tom Maker
Carrying a variety of different-coloured hookbaits is key; some will work better than others, depending on the circumstances.
When playing the carp, keep the rod down and away from the other lines.
Like buses, not long after putting one back, Tom was away again.
An anti-tangle sleeve will kick the hooklink away and prevent tangles.
of the surrounding area too. If it is
I quickly whip them off the disc and
or tubing, as the Zig tends to latch
have found a nice little combination
10ft where it lands on the line clip,
measure them against the rod. I use
itself around it and tangle. With line
that has worked really well for me.
but 12ft a few yards short, then you
12ft rods, so go halfway for a 6ft Zig
straight down, I don’t get tangles. I add
need to make sure that the fishing
and to the reel for a 10ft. It makes it
an anti-tangle sleeve to the Zig and
to the mix, which sinks slowly and
rod hits the clip bang on and doesn’t
a lot quicker than having to measure
pull it up on to the swivel, just to kick
makes up the food element. The
fall short. That 2ft variance can be
it accurately against a rig board or
the hooklink away from the line. When
fish can take this on the drop, and
the difference in getting a bite and
something
sitting behind motionless bobbins.
like that. You
It also allows you to have the depth
don’t have to
in mind to enable you to adjust and
be exact to the
play around with the depths of the
centimetre, as
Zigs. I set my Zig depth depending
long as you are
on the conditions, and how high up
roughly there.
in the water I think the fish are. If it
There isn’t an
was 12ft, then I would have one at
absolute rule
10ft, one at 8ft and one at 6ft, and
on which depth
that would be a good starting point.
to fish, it’s all
I carry a number of Zig Alignas
about where
“
I always deliver three spods, and then leave it for 7-10 minutes before adding a few more
I start off by adding some hemp
it hits the clip,
they do. I then add a few handfuls of
the Zig will lay
corn, but not too much. If there are
out behind the
around four to five grains per spod,
lead, and you
I know that if the fish are feeding,
should see a
they will take it as it drops. This also
second little
helps when I am fishing a yellow Zig
splash where
Aligna, to match what I am putting
the foam has
out, so to speak. I also add some
landed. Once
Manilla Active Mix. I used to use The
the Zigs are
Krill, but the Manilla is perfect for
assembled,
this tactic. Its colour and solubility
I wrap all
makes it the ultimate Zig cloud, and
the rods so
it really does make the water murky.
they match
It has loads of small food items which
the marker
sink really slowly, and this helps add
“
with me too, with various coloured
you want to
foam and kickers. Some days a yellow
be on the day.
will work, on other days it will be
You could have
brown or a black; it really does differ
a load of fish on 6ft Zigs one week,
and the spod rod. I then cast them
more food element. The final addition
from day to day. I have a load of Zigs
and then not get a bite on them
all pretty close to each other to
is the Cloudy Manilla Liquid, which
already done before I go fishing,
the following week. They could be
maximise the chance of getting a
again is extremely cloudy and really
which saves so much time on the
higher in the water, so you have to
bite while I am spodding in the area.
colours up the water. It also sends
bank. It can be time-consuming
experiment and find the right depth.
It’s so important to get the spod
a lovely sweet smell all around the
getting everything clipped up to the
I have a very simple arrangement,
mix right, and I wouldn’t just chuck
swim. With this mix, everything bar
marks, and then having to tie a load
with just the line running down to the
out anything. I have seen various
the corn and hemp lingers in the
of Zigs is just wasting valuable time.
lead clip. I don’t like having leadcore
mixes used and they will work, but I
upper layers for long periods of time.
Crafty Carper 010-014_Master_The_Midwater_Feature_CC228.indd 3
13 30/06/2016 10:55
Master The Midwater Tom Maker That is what I am looking for; I want
it and wonder what it is. If you
to start over again. It’s a tactic used a
and as the day goes on, the fish
to hold those fish up in the water.
do this for an hour or so, you can
lot by match anglers, and it can get you
become more competitive, and as a
Many anglers are unsure when
guarantee that at some point there
multiple hits. The reason they catch so
result, come up higher in the water
to spod, and how much to put out.
will be fish in and around your spot.
many is because they are regimented,
in search of the food. This is when to
feeding after each bite and working the
lift the Zigs up slightly, sometimes
I always deliver three spods, and
Once you land the first fish, make
then leave it for 7-10 minutes before
sure it is safely secured in the net,
swim. It will catch you more fish, but
right up near the surface. If you are
adding a few more. The key is to
and grab the spod rod. You need to
you have to be prepared to work at it.
fishing a water with a good head
feed regularly and give the fish a
keep the fish in the swim, competing
reason to stick around in your spot.
for food. If you leave it for half an
If you keep the cloudy mix going in,
hour and stop feeding, the fish could
the water to
anything which swims by will notice
drift off elsewhere and you will have
start with,
I have found that I often get bites lower down in
of fish, but struggling to catch off the bottom, this tactic is well worth trying, and I am sure it will put you a few extra fish on the bank. CC
Another fish and another 20lb carp – this tactic really can be effective.
how to make tom’s manilla slop mix 1
2
3
1 - Take a good helping of hemp; this will slowly sink through the layers and be the main food particles. 2 - Add a conservative amount of sweetcorn, just enough for around five grains per spod which goes out. 3 - The base of it is Manilla Active Mix. Add a generous helping – you can’t really overdo it.
4
5
6
4 - Pour in some Cloudy Manilla Liquid. This complements the mix and gives a really sweet cloud which is full of attraction. 5 - Mix everything together and add water. Add a little at a time to get the consistency right, and make it sloppy. 6 - Here’s the finished sloppy mix, full of attraction and food signals, and it will work great when put out over Zigs.
14
Crafty Carper
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30/06/2016 10:56
18
Crafty Carper
018-022_Close-Quarter Carping_CC228.indd 1
01/07/2016 12:51
Close-Quarter Carping
Scott Lloyd
CLOSE-QUARTER
CARPING SCOTT LLOY D
On a lot of venues, there are often fish mooching around the margins, hiding in snaggy areas, and finding refuge from the pressures of open water. If you can find the fish and stay quiet enough, there’s always a good chance of a bite, as Scott Lloyd showed us when we caught up with him on Linch Hill’s Willow Lake.
I
’ve fished the Linch Hill complex for a number of years, and have had some brilliant success on all the waters
there. One of the lakes which has taken my interest recently is the smallest lake on the complex, Willow Lake. I’ve learned an awful lot from fishing all these lakes, and the biggest aspect of this, to me, has got to be watercraft. From my time fishing on the huge 47-acre Stoneacres Lake, I’ve often found that when the circumstances are right, there’s no need to cast to the horizon in pursuit of a bite. The margins can be highly productive, and I prefer the element of intimacy of being able to watch fish moving over my spot and feeding over my bait. There’s a lot to be learned from this style of fishing in close quarters, and it soon became a huge part of my armoury when it comes to tackling tricky venues for wary old carp, such as the ones which reside in the waters at Linch. I arrived at the lake the night before meeting up with Tom (who eventually managed to find his way to Willow, after taking a massive detour halfway around Stoneacres, before realising he was heading in the wrong direction), and immediately started to pay attention to
A snag-feeding victim in the cells, which certainly got preoccupied on the pellets.
Crafty Carper 018-022_Close-Quarter Carping_CC228.indd 2
19 01/07/2016 12:51
Close-Quarter Carping Scott Lloyd
Travel light and find fish which keep out of the pressures of open water.
the water. These venues face a lot of
is my presentation. I have a go-to
with most of the swims taken and a
style of rig which has been highly
lot of lines being present in the water,
successful for me wherever I fish, and
as you’d expect from such a busy day
the mechanics of it work perfectly, so
ticket venue. I was looking for signs of
there’s no need to change. Whether
movement, and walked a few laps of
I’m fishing 2 yards out or 100 yards
the lake before eventually putting a
out, it works exactly the same and is
bucket down in a swim which had some
just as effective. Having watched how
very interesting-looking overhanging
fish react over different presentations
branches and snags in the water.
and seeing what lies on the lakebed,
These are the kind of areas where
the different things you’re fishing over,
they will feed a lot more comfortably
you’d need a huge variety of different
in an area where they feel safer. I set
colours in different shades to try to
up, but before putting the rods out, I
match it all the best you can. To get
walked back to the snags next door
around this, I simply use a good length
and sat there watching the water as
of IQ Fluorocarbon, which is virtually
the fish moved in and out. In these
invisible over almost every bottom. I
kind of situations, you don’t need much
just keep it pinned down with a good
bait to get the
amount of
carp to feed
putty, and
confidently. All
believe me, I’m
you need is a
not shy when
of a goodquality bait in which you have confidence. I’ve been using Sticky’s Krill,
I spend a lot of time sitting in the tree near to the baited spots, so I can keep an eye on what is going on
it comes to using the heavy stuff. Three big dollops up my fluorocarbon leader gives me peace of
which is a bait
mind that it’s
that has worked
nailed to the
wonders for
decks and fish
me all over the
aren’t going
complex, and for the circumstances
to be spooking off it. The beauty of
I’m faced with. I decided to make a
using a putty like Dark Matter is that
small mix consisting of Krill pellets,
it’s soft enough to rip off should it need
liquid and boilies, which I used crushed
to, and when fishing around things
and whole. This mixture gets the fish
like snags and other such obstacles
really grubbing around and feeding
underwater, if you’re unlucky enough
super-confidently, which is just what
to be cut off for whatever reason, the
you want in these circumstances.
fish are only trailing a small amount
Instead of getting fish to come to you,
of fluorocarbon, rather than a large
and luring them out of their comfort
amount of tungsten putty. That
zones, you go to them and tackle
being said, I’m not a fan of wasting
them in an area they were already
it, and still recycle as much as I can.
happy to be in and feed, which makes everything a lot more effective.
20
to get the right match in colour for all
fish find refuge from anglers, and
good handful
Use big leads that aren’t going to roll down marginal slopes, and move the rig.
The next thing I take into account
pressure over the course of a weekend,
Once my spots are primed with a small amount of bait and I feel
A little tub of bait, just enough to prime a spot with a whole load of attraction.
Crafty Carper
018-022_Close-Quarter Carping_CC228.indd 3
01/07/2016 12:52
Close-Quarter Carping
Scott Lloyd
I’m conscious about keeping my lines on the best angles to avoid spooking the fish.
the fish are confident on the baited
on the bait. As the water started to
spots, it’s time to put the rods in. A
cloud more, and it got harder to see
whittled-down Krill Dumbell wafter is
the baited spot, it dawned on me that
my hookbait of choice, as I can really
the fish had become preoccupied on
get the buoyancy of the bait critical.
the pellets in the mix and the boilies
Knowing that I’m fishing on a gradual
were being avoided, which meant
slope in the margin, it’s vital to use a
that the likelihood of my hookbait
decent-sized lead that isn’t going to
being picked up was much slimmer.
roll further down, and although it may
The fish were simply filter-feeding
sound a bit like overkill, I opt to use
on small particles in the area. I felt I
5oz flat pears. These leads aren’t going
needed to make a change quickly to
anywhere, and they will only improve the hooking potential by having an extra bit of weight behind them to
try to nick a bite while the fish were One of my biggest tools – Polaroids – and a cap to help me see through the glare.
still moving around the area. When fishing very closed-in swims like this
really drive the hook home, and allow
one, the fish can quickly be spooked
you to drop the lead with greater ease.
out of the area. They can very much
Once the rigs are in position, I keep
be one-bite swims, and this means
the lines in the water to a minimum;
it can pay to have a variety of spots
having the best line angle possible
prebaited in anticipation of a move.
when stalking can be a key factor to
After making a quick decision for a
initially getting the bite in the first
change of tactics, and being concerned
place. Venues like Willow have seen
that the fish had been troughing the
it all before, so you have to be extra
pellets, I figured that a solid bag would
sneaky, and that includes keeping your
be just the ticket. When lowered onto
presence on the bank to a minimum.
the spot with minimum disturbance,
The less the fish know, the better.
it would give a good mouthful for any
I spend a lot of time sitting in the
passing carp which had obviously taken
tree near to the baited spots, so I can
a liking to the pellets I’d originally
keep an eye on what is going on. If I
introduced just for attraction purposes.
can clearly see fish feeding over my
I’m sure that if I had only introduced
spot and I’m not getting a pickup, I can
boilies, I wouldn’t have the fish feeding
make key changes to try to induce a
as confidently as they were at the time,
bite. I might not get this if I can’t see
and so sometimes it’s best to go with
what’s going on under the surface,
the grain and give the fish what they
and that’s why my Polaroids are so
seem to want. I used a good helping of
important to me when fishing like this.
the mix I’d already introduced into the
When I was watching the fish over
swim, and although it was messy, I was
my left-hand rod, which I’d positioned closest to the bush, I noticed that the fish came in and fed confidently
ready to lower it onto the spot. I waited A Krill Dumbell wafter, which I can whittle down to be perfectly balanced.
until the fish had returned to the shelter of the branches of the trees,
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Close-Quarter Carping Scott Lloyd
You don’t need to cast to the horizon to get some great action, and big fish too.
It tipped the scales round to just over 21lb, which was a nice result from such a quiet day.
and then lowered the bag into the swim. I watched as the bubbles came to the surface and the bag dissolved. Standing in the tree once again, I could see that everything was presented just how I wanted it to be, and I was already confident that should a fish come in to investigate the parcel of food lying in wait, I would certainly get a bite. After around 10 minutes, the rod was away, and I had to jump out of the tree to get to it. My little Outkast stalker was bent fully round as the fish made a desperate attempt to get into the snags, but with a lot of side-strain, Not the prettiest. A bag of goodness, and it was exactly what the fish seemed to be enjoying.
Super-heavy and nigh-on invisible. An IQ leader with lots of putty to really nail it down.
I managed to get it clear. I was already in my waders because the weather had been fairly unpleasant during the day and the area I was fishing was fairly muddy, so I was able to get straight into the water to a comfortable depth, which allowed me further control over the fish. It finally came to the net after an intense battle at close-quarters; it really didn’t want to give in, and I could tell it was pretty angry for being disturbed in its own environment, where it perhaps thought it was safe. With the fish safely in the net, I let it rest in the margins while I got the mat, sling and carp-care kit ready. These are all pretty old and stunning-looking fish, and it’s important to give them a bit of care, especially when they look like they do. I lifted the fish out and onto the mat, where she behaved for the cameras and weighed in at 21lb 4oz; a beautiful old fish which I’d caught from less than 5 yards out. It just goes to show that fishing this close in allows you to make some important changes, as long as you watch what’s going on under the surface. In return,
Under the rod tip from pickup to landing – serious close-quarter carping.
22
you’ll learn a lot about the way fish behave when feeding, and that will allow you to put more on the bank. CC
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ALEX SHIELDS
RISE TO THE
TOP
It’s the height of summer, the fish are basking in the sun, and you can see them exactly where you want them as they drift in and out of the surface scum. We caught up with Alex Shields for a muggy day’s angling to see how he targets the surface-slurping carp.
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Rise To The Top Alex Shields
D
uring the warmer months, you can really optimise your time on the bank, which doesn’t
necessarily mean being stuck behind the rods, waiting for one to rip off. I become a lot more active with my angling and time at the lake, and spend more time targeting fish. I personally find it much more enjoyable. You can see what you are fishing for, and watch the behaviour of the fish, and not only are you actually doing more fishing, you’re also learning a lot. You can watch fish visit different areas of the lake, and see how long they stay there, before moving into other areas. A lot of anglers
There are a variety of ways to attach the hookbait, it just depends on the bait and the situation.
will agree with me when I say that it’s the best kind of carp fishing. There’s no other feeling like bagging one off the top, and you can have some really good
Slick off the ripple; a good dose of hemp oil will do the trick.
hits of fish if you do it right. It’s not always the smaller, keener fish which are suckers for a floater, even the big girls are partial, and if you find them, there’s a good chance of catching them. I arrived at the A12 Cuton Lakes Fishery to find a huge number of fish cruising about on the surface and bathing in the sun. In my opinion, the most important aspect of tackling surface-feeding fish is to get the baiting situation right, and to do this you have to get the fish feeding confidently. When surface fishing, some people get too excited and cast on to the fish too quickly. By doing this, not only are you reducing your chances of getting a bite at that time, it can also be detrimental to a day’s angling, especially when they are usually cagey feeders. The best thing to do is to try to get the fish feeding
competitively, and you can achieve
You can get the baits out accurately
this by baiting up regularly. Something
at further range, which is ideal for
to take into account when baiting
when you want to get lots of bait
up on a regular basis, with floating
out and fast. It’s especially helpful
baits such as dog biscuits or Big Hit
when starting, as birdlife on a lot
Floaters, is that if you get lots of fish
of venues is often in abundance
feeding aggressively, it can be very
around this time of year, and they
difficult to overfeed, so be sure to have
can be a nuisance when trying to
plenty of bait to hand because you
trip up surface-slurping carp. The
can soon go through a fair amount.
birds were no different on this lake,
I have a selection of ways for
Get it out there – Spomb, catapult and baiting spoon, all ways to effectively get bait out.
32
and were soon causing me issues,
getting my bait out, which all achieve a
taking every bait put out. I think the
slightly different spread. For example,
best way around this is to feed them
I use Spombs, catapults and baiting
off in a different area, and this way,
spoons. The Spomb keeps all the bait
they are less likely to bother you. You
together, and can be fished at a much
can go about your fishing without
greater range than a catapult load of
the hassle of watching over your
floaters, which will be more spread
shoulder for the armada of water fowl
out and at a much shorter range. The
heading your way, ready to attack
baiting spoon, although not as compact
strategically placed freebies which
as the catapult, is a great bit of kit.
the carp have just started nosing.
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Rise To The Top Alex Shields
When the fish are feeding happily and taking super-confidently, this is the time to finally get a rod in the water. Although you’ve already waited for the fish to grow in confidence, it’s still important to take your time, and make sure you don’t spook them when you cast in. If you cast amongst the feeding fish, the chances are you’re going to spook them; this knocks their confidence and slows the feeding, which is the last thing you want to do. They are much trickier to trip up when they aren’t competitively feeding. There are a few different types of hookbaits which I prefer to use, and there are different ways of presenting these baits. I like to use pop-ups, Crafty Catcher Floaters, bits of fake baits, such as fake mixers, and even real mixers. For these different baits, there are a few ways in which I like to present them. If I’m fishing with pop-ups, I whittle them down into a square shape, and either cut a groove into the bait and superglue the hook in place, or tie up a Hair Rig to present the bait. I make sure that the hookbait has been whipped close to the shank of the hook. If I’m Hair-rigging the bait, I add a bit of different-coloured foam to the top of the bait. This helps to tell the difference between my hookbait and any freebies around the hook, so I can strike when a fish goes for my mixer, rather than waiting for the float to shoot off and the line to rip up off the surface. Sometimes I even
My third bite in a short period of time, just as Tom arrived with the camera.
My favourite surface-fishing setup: Bolt Bubble, 4/5ft of hooklink, and a Hair-rigged trimmed-down pop-up.
Slick off the ripple; a good dose of hemp oil will do the trick.
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Rise To The Top Alex Shields One of the biggest of the day, a stunning surface-caught mirror.
Keep the swim topped up and the carp feeding confidently. It’s the secret to success.
34
Big Hit Floaters and Hookbaits – high-attract and the perfect bait package to have to hand in the car.
just trim a pop-up and side-hook the
be absolutely devastating. The fish
bait, which can be just as effective,
don’t suspect a thing and take the
although it’s important to try to get a
bait confidently, the only downside
bait which is fairly dark and matches
being that pellet bands can be quite
the freebies. I also side-hook the soft
fiddly, and a bit of a nightmare if you
Floaters, which are ideal for this. They
haven’t got the knack for using them.
stay on the hook firmly enough, and
The next part which is important is
make for ideal baits to be free-lined,
the way you get the hookbait out there.
as well as being boosted and oozing
There are several ways to go about it,
flavours and attractants. This gives
and my personal favourite is by means
the fish something to home in on,
of a controller float. I choose to use the
and due to the brighter colour, gives
Fox Bolt Bubble, which is available in a
you something to see too. On some
few different sizes. It can be filled with
venues, the fish are only interested
water to dictate the amount of weight
in the freebies themselves, and the
in the float, allowing you to cast to the
way round this is to try to match
range needed to get the hookbait out.
the hatch. This is when pellet bands
It’s important to cast past where the
come into their own, and they can
fish are feeding, because the last thing
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Rise To The Top Alex Shields
you want is to plonk a heavy bubble
of hemp oil, so once in the water, it
float right amongst them and spook
flattens off any surface ripple and
them. By casting past them and slowly
makes it easier to see cruising fish. I can
drawing the float and hookbait back
easily target fish this way, and keep the
into position, you can make it appear as
bait going in to keep them interested.
if it’s one of the free offerings which
Don’t be impatient. You may strike out of a few fish, so be prepared to miss some.
I don’t know many anglers who don’t
their way through. I like to keep my
actually use them, but it goes without
hooklinks fairly long, so I use a good
saying that a good pair of Polaroid
4/5ft of hooklink material. This needs
sunglasses are worth their weight in
to be thin so the carp don’t suspect
gold, especially during the warmer
anything, and strong, because fights
months. You can see everything a
can be explosive on light tackle.
lot clearer, and you’re less likely to
Once I had my rod in the water, it didn’t take long at all before I got a take. I decided to use the Hair Rig
It’s common sense, but Polaroids are an important part of your armoury.
It’s common sense these days, and
the fish have been happily munching
make mistakes if you can see exactly what it is that you are doing. When the weather is warm and there
method of attaching the hookbait, with
isn’t much of a breeze, finding the fish
a small speck of white foam to allow
isn’t always so straightforward. It’s no
me to identify which bait was mine. I
secret that carp love hiding in snags
saw a pair of lips come out of the water,
and bathing in the sun, just under the
slurping in mixers left, right and centre
scum often lying around the margins.
before taking my hookbait. I struck
If you’re on a lake where willow trees
into the fish with the line whipping off
are present, the chances are that
the surface, and I was in contact with
there is a fair amount of willow fluff;
it straight away. It was a good battle,
it settles on the water and drifts into
and I eventually got it to the net after
the margins, and makes the perfect
a good plod around the margins. As
place for carp to hide under. So, even
soon as it was in the net, I got more
if you can’t see them, try dropping
floaters out there. It’s always handy to
a few freebies amongst the scum,
carry a small bucket of mixers with you;
and they’ll soon show themselves.
this is what makes the Big Hit Floater
Don’t be afraid to leave the 3-rod
Kits perfect for this kind of fishing, as
setup at home and treat yourself to a
there is just enough bait for a great
few hours’ walking around your local
day’s fishing. The only thing I do is give
water. It’s easy to put bonus fish on the
it a bit of a kick with a good helping
bank, and have a great time doing it. CC
Onsequ volorep ni omm eaquo eatur r Get amongst the willow fluff – surface scum which provides plenty of cover for the fish.
A common which took the bait on the drop, only seconds in the water to get a bite.
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DAVE LANE
W AYS
AROUND
THE WEED With longer days and lots of sunshine, lakes across the UK are covered in the green stuff, which makes fishing tricky. Dave Lane knows all about tackling weedy venues, and here’s what he has to say on the matter.
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Ways Around The Weed Dave Lane
Cleverley Mere, 23rd August – a new hole in the weed and a huge mirror.
Another Burghfield biggie from a weedy old swim.
A scaly mirror taken from a heavily weeded area.
A
ugust is not generally regarded
easier when the weed is touching
as one of the better months
the surface in August than when it
in the carp-fishing calendar,
is hidden below the surface earlier
but to be totally honest, I have fared
in the year. At least you can see the
quite well. A lot of the larger pits
map when the weedbeds are lying
always seem to fish fairly well at this
across the top, and even flowering in
time of year, and even some of the
places, so visibly pick out the areas
smaller lakes are still productive, but
most likely to be clean, and work out
the main obstacle is often the weed.
the possible routes of the fish.
By August, a lot of our waters are
Carp use the weed in many different
choked with summer weeds, Canadian
ways – as a source of food and a larder
pondweed being the most common,
full of natural grub; as a place to lie-up
although milfoil, silkweed and blanket
and be safe, sheltering from anglers
weed can also be problematic. Weed
and the sun; and as a point of reference
of any sort is obviously going to affect
as they move around the lake from bed
your presentation, but the thing to
to bed. The channels in-between the
that it is not always in a negative way. One way of looking at the problem is this: if 90 per cent of the lake is covered in weed, then there is only 10 per cent where the fish can feed on the bottom.
“
The channels in-between the weedbeds are often the easiest routes for the fish, the paths of least resistance, and a good place to lay an ambush
“
remember is
This reduces the options of where to cast and
weedbeds
the retrieve, which leads to a lot of
bottom, it doesn’t mean it is clear.
are often
false clear spots. Areas might seem
You need to remember that weed can
the easiest
clean when you mark up, but when
grow on hard ground as well as soft,
routes for
you retrieve the rig the next day, you
and weed which stands straight up
the fish, the
find you were fishing in solid weed!
from the bottom will not mute the
paths of least
There are two things to look for
donk of a lead at all, but you could still be fishing inside a forest of weed.
resistance, and
when searching out clear spots in
a good place to
weed, and the first of these is a clean
lay an ambush.
drop. You need to trap the lead on
present in your lake, it can sometimes
The best way
impact and lift the rod to remove all the
be the slightly deeper and siltier areas
to ascertain
velocity/momentum of the lead. Then,
which are the clearer ones, so the
if a spot is
lower it as slowly as you can, feeling
donk theory doesn’t always hold up,
really clear,
through the water for the slightest
I’m afraid. You are looking for a smooth
or covered in
resistance on the way down. Letting
retrieve, and the slower you feel for
hidden weed,
it swing back towards you is no good
this, the better. What you actually want
is with a
because you are covering too much
is to keep the lead in contact with the
braided main
water, and you are far more likely to
lakebed. If, after a single rod-length
line, a fairly
hit weed; just lower it straight down
of pull-back, you move the tip forward
heavy lead,
through the area you are exploring.
again and feel the lead descend and hit
and a rig; this
Any ping or tap on the descent and
the bottom, then you have lost contact,
Depending on the type of weed
increases your chance of picking the
is far more effective than a marker
it’s pretty much odds-on that you have
and this is most likely because you have
right spot. The challenge – should you
float. A marker float takes away a lot
gone through the top of a subsurface
dragged up the stems of weed, lifting
choose to accept it –is to find these
of the weight of the lead and tends
weedbed, and just because you
the lead across the weed like a fulcrum.
clear spots, but believe me, it is a lot
to lift the lead clear of the bottom on
might get a nice donk as the lead hits
44
Sometimes, a long weedbed over
Crafty Carper
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Ways Around The Weed Dave Lane
Back in the old Wraysbury days, checking for clear spots.
firm ground can feel like a decent spot, but a single tap while sinking the lead will give the game away. If the lead stays in contact with the lakebed and the rig doesn’t snag up, then you have found a proper spot, one worth fishing. It’s worth noting, however, that not all clean spots on a weedy lake are necessarily feeding areas, but you will only find this out by trying them. Any lake which has gravel in it can also have hard clear areas that are made up of stone or compressed gravel and sand. They are so hard and unyielding that they hold no natural food, and get ignored by the carp completely. When I used to fish at Wraysbury, and I had the use of a boat to check my spots, I found a lot of rocky areas made up of something called ironstone, and from the bank, they felt just like the classic gravel bars which are usually so productive. They were large lumps of compressed rock and stone which had simply been left behind during the
Kelp weed, one of the worst types of all.
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Ways Around The Weed Dave Lane
Me and Padwar clearing a swim of floating weed.
digging process, and the fish never
been ignored for months due to the
had been written off for at least a
areas, is to watch the birdlife on the
fed on them. Mostly though, clear
huge amount of weed reaching the
month. It was overlooked because of
lake. You can tell a lot about the depth
areas in weedy lakes are kept clean
surface, but I regularly spotted carp
the huge floating beds of weed, which
of the weed and the clearer areas by
by the fish feeding on them, and a
disappearing into a large hole in the
gave the impression of the entire area
watching the way that the swans,
regular supply of bait will keep them
middle of the weed. Previously, it had
being choked with greenery. A bit of
geese, and especially the coots, are
this way, or even expand them in size
been unfishable, but a quick drag with
exploration with a braided line and
feeding. You can see how far the larger
as the fish open them up by rooting
a lead showed me that the fish had
a large lead soon proved otherwise.
birds have to stretch to eat the fresh
around the edges and displacing
changed the bottom completely, and a
The surface weed was still intact, but
tops of the weed, and if you know the
the weed which surrounds them.
large circle of silt had been uncovered
the fish had been busy tearing up
depth already, you can work out the
If a lake gets really weedy, you may
only a few rod-lengths from the bank.
the bottom below the canopy, and I
length of the weed. Coots regularly
find that all sorts of fish are drawn to
I quickly set up, flicked out two baits,
managed to land 13 carp in a 3-day
dive over clear areas, especially if they
a clear area, and baiting with hemp as
and bagged myself two of the bigger
session. The biggest of these was
receive any amount of bait, and this
well as boilies will help to strip it out
mirrors in the lake. Needless to say, the
a fantastic-looking mirror of 44lb.
can be a telltale sign. Are they coming
and make it easier to fish, but there
swim wasn’t ignored much after that!
is usually a limit. If a spot becomes too big and blatant, the carp seem to
On Burghfield, I had my biggest hit of the year by fishing a swim which
Another little trick that is worth
up with weed or not? Are they actually
employing before you start to thrash
going right to the bottom and searching
the water to a foam, looking for clear
for bait? Grebes are another ‘giveaway’
feed over the top of it with extreme caution. They can be seen mooching about, but the terminal tackle becomes very obvious and the carp seem to get away with it a lot more than usual. During the summer, displaced and floating weed can also be a good indication that fish are feeding in weedy areas and opening up new spots. Just because an area has been solid for months, it doesn’t mean that it’s not worth rechecking every now and again. If you see regular bubbling or other activity in a weeded-up swim, then it’s always worth pulling a lead around to see if the bottom has changed at all. I could recount scores of examples of this which I have encountered over the years, where a swim has been written off, only to produce a big hit of fish to an enterprising angler who decided to ignore the facts and give it a go anyway. There was a little swim on Cleverley Mere which had
46
One of a Burghfield haul from a sneaky clear area under the weed.
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Ways Around The Weed Dave Lane
Sometimes, in thick weed, there is no option but to break out the boat.
species, as they hunt at speed, and
the bottom and drift off to find a better
traditional close season, then August
do to change this, apart from maybe a
rarely through the middle of thick weed.
and lighter area, and this creates the
is not actually that far into the year,
concerted effort on the surface at first
They prefer to charge up the clear
perfect ground for the fish to forage in.
and a lot of the fish may not have been
and last light, trying to bag one on a
caught yet, or maybe caught just the
floater to save a blank. Floater fishing
channels and catch fish as they cross
All the larger areas of this kind at
over from the weed on each side. By
St Ives were soft silt spots, where
once, whereas an all-year water will
is, without doubt, one of the most
watching the grebes, you can often get
the rooted weed was, I assume, not
have had significant pressure by this
frustrating forms of angling, but at the
an idea of the clearer strips, and thus
so wound into the bottom. The fish
stage of the game. This may well affect
same time, it can be one of the most
have a head start of where to look first.
moved straight in as it cleared, feeding
the way a lake fishes, during what is
rewarding, and the middle of summer
Just last August on St Ives, there
happily in the thick silt. I caught a few
traditionally the hottest part of the
is prime time for a surface bite or two.
was a similar situation. The weed was
during this time, using a very standard
year, and the weather itself will also
If you decide to approach the lake
horrendous, and we spent more time
method of tight beds of boilies in the
be a massive factor. When the weed
this summer, don’t be put off by the
raking it out than we actually did fishing,
silt, which is my favourite method
is up and the sun is high, there can be
fact that August has a bad reputation,
but below a lot of the floating rafts, we
over soft ground. To be honest, St Ives
a lot of days where the oxygen levels
or that the surface is more green than
found large areas of clear bottom. It’s
actually fished better in August than it
are quite low. The lake takes on a
blue. There is always the chance of a
not just the fish which clear these spots;
did in September or October, which are
‘cooked’ appearance, and the fish just
bite, but never when you are sitting at
the absolute absence of light makes the
usually the prime months of the year.
bask, being in a very lethargic mood.
home thinking about it! Tight lines, and
Unfortunately, there isn’t a lot you can
go out and bag an August whacker. CC
Canadian pondweed actually let go of
If you are fishing a lake which has a
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e h T e k a T ON T O M M O R R IS
T C E F R E P E I F L SE You’ve found the fish, spent time and effort baiting and targeting them, and finally slipped the net under the one you want, but there’s no one around to capture the moment. Not to worry, here’s how to take the perfect self-take photo.
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Take The Perfect Selfie Tom Morrison
so you can position the trigger over where the photo-taking button on the camera is actually located. The piece that screws into the bottom of the camera also has a thread in the bottom, which allows you to screw in the tripod adapter. This means you can easily put it on the tripod and take it off to store away when not in use. Another neat trick I actually picked up from Julian Cundiff is to use a weatherproof bag. He doesn’t use a tripod, but instead prefers to use a bankstick with a camera adapter. Once it’s in the ground with the camera on top, he simply covers the camera with the bag to protect it from getting wet, etc. Personally, I wouldn’t recommend leaving expensive camera outside overnight, as you hear far too many horror stories about equipment being
Spend a few minutes to make sure the photos are framed nicely, and the kit is set up correctly.
I
stolen, but if you’re on a secure lake where you trust everything to be safe, things are a little different.
t was only recently that I personally
the extent of using a landing net
getting a trophy shot again!
got to grips with using self-take
pole to push the button down on the
Start at the Top
to take the photo works on pressure. It
equipment. Before that, it was a real
camera just so it was focused in the
Before venturing out and starting
features a squeeze ball on one end, and
struggle to get a nice photo when
right places. It was a lot of effort, and
fishing, it’s well worth getting familiar
on the other is a pin that extends to
fishing on my own. You’re not always
looking back, I’m amazed I actually
with setting up and getting everything
press the camera button once pressure
fortunate enough to be in a position
got any images worth showing to
how you want it to be. It’s not just a
is applied to the squeeze ball. I learned
where you’ve got a fellow angler or
anyone! A lot of people find the
case of point and shoot, but with a little
quickly that getting the angle at which
passer-by to take a photo for you, and
idea of self-take photos a lot more
practice, you’ll
the pin pushes
when you do a lot of fishing on your
effort than they are actually worth.
soon be taking
the button
own, it can become an all-too-common
We’re not all professionals with the
the perfect
correctly is
problem. I even went through the effort
camera, but we all have an idea of
photo, exactly
of using the timer on the camera to try
the photos we want to achieve, so
how you want
to get a picture, just so I had evidence
we got hold of a fantastic self-take
it to look. The
of my capture (and so my ever-doubting
kit which has everything you need
obvious start
friends would actually believe me),
to help you get some great pictures.
is to familiarise
rather than taking a photo of the fish
You won’t have to suffer taking a
yourself with
on the mat. After all, you want to do
mat shot of your favourite capture,
the self-take
it justice, and I don’t think a mat shot
or retaining a fish for hours while
kit you’ve
shows the fish in its true glory.
you wait for your mate to come
chosen. The
7D, but with a
down and take the shots for you.
one used for
few adjustments
Last December, I decided that I’d
The part that triggers the camera
...with a little practice, you’ll soon be taking the perfect photo, exactly how you want it to look
important, as if the button itself is angled, it can cause the pin to stick. This was the case when I set it up on my Canon
had enough of having awful self-takes,
We’ve even teamed up with
and 12 fish in 2 nights’ fishing is what
the guys at Johnson Ross Tackle
features a bracket which attaches
pushed me over the edge, I’d had some
to offer a competition where you
to the base of the camera, to where
nice fish from Berners Hall Fishery,
can win your own self-take kit,
the tripod adapter would normally
kits is that they are incredibly universal.
up to low-30s, and I’d even gone to
and never have to panic about
screw, and has a few adjustments
They can be used on anything from a
this article
and tweaks I got it right, and it worked perfectly for me. The great thing about these styles of
Get the angle right so the button is pushed down flat, rather than at an angle, which can cause problems.
The pressure release – a simple bit of equipment which works extremely well without any complications.
108
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Take The Perfect Selfie Tom Morrison
With the pin set back, be sure there is enough space between the button and bracket to work correctly.
When the pin is fully extended, it should be effortless to press the camera button.
Keep everything as short as possible. This makes the bracket more rigid and stops any flexing.
using, and know roughly what you need
horizon in a photo doesn’t look great.
to be doing. So, you’ve just landed a fish
The whole point of going through the
and want a picture of it. Don’t panic,
effort of using the equipment is to get
you’ve got time. Make sure that the fish
the best out of it. Make sure that the
sits in the margins either in a retainer or
area in which you have set up the mat
safely in the net, so it can’t injure itself.
and equipment is clean. You don’t want
This gives you
pictures of your
plenty of time
rubbish bag in
to get the self-
the edge of the
compact digital camera to a top-of-
bit of fine-tuning to make sure that
take gear set
the-range digital SLR, providing it
I had it exactly how I wanted. For
up, and even
has a thread in the bottom of the
example, because there is a more
have a couple
camera to allow use of a tripod, so
than adequate amount of adjustment
of practice
you can’t go wrong. I actually much
available with the bracket that screws
shots to make
prefer this system over remote style
onto the base of the camera, there
sure you’re
ones, as it requires no batteries and
was a little bit of flex. Make sure
happy with
you don’t have to try to juggle the
that the bracket is extended to the
everything.
remote and fish at the same time.
minimum; this makes the kit more rigid
To ensure
and totally gets rid of any unwanted
the photos
discovered how it all works, it’s time
flex. It also makes the trigger more
are how you
to set up as if you had a fish on the
sensitive so you don’t need to keep
want them to be, spend a bit of time
mat, so you can start to understand
compressing the pressure ball.
getting everything around you right.
Once you’ve had a play and
The whole point of going through the effort of using the equipment is to get the best out of it
photo, and you certainly don’t want it to look like you’ve got a tree or fence post growing out of your head! You want to achieve a nice
clean image that you can be proud of. There’s no point in rushing because
distances and how you want the
By the time you come to take
photos to be framed. When I first
your first trophy shot, you should be
account when framing a photo, such
the tripod level using the adjustable
set up this kit in particular, it took a
familiar with the equipment you are
as getting the horizon level; a wonky
legs, which is something you may
There are a few things to take into
that’s when mistakes happen. Get
Crafty Carper 107-111_Take_The_Perfect_Selfie_CC228.indd 3
109 05/07/2016 14:13
Take The Perfect Selfie Tom Morrison The base of the bracket screws into the bottom of the camera, with the tripod plate screwed into that.
not have had to do when practising.
push down the pressure ball more
The chances are that you were
than once, so make sure you are
on fairly level ground, and this is
comfortable. My preferred position is
something you should always aim
to kneel down, with one knee up so I
for when taking photos, although
can use my foot on the trigger. This
it’s not always possible. Make sure
allows me to take as many photos as
everything is sturdy, as you don’t
I like in one hit, and I don’t have to
want the camera toppling over and
put the fish down and keep picking
possibly damaging something.
it up, which saves it a lot of stress
When you’re happy with how the
and minimises the time it’s out of the
photos are coming out and everything
water. It may not be the ideal carpy
is set up, leave everything ready and
pose, but it gets the job done and
get the fish out of the water, making
still looks great, providing you get
sure you have a spare bucket of water
the fish level and the angle right.
to keep applying to the fish, as fish
If you’ve spent some time setting
welfare is of the utmost importance.
up the kit at home, and still don’t feel
With the fish out of the water and on
overly comfortable using it by the time
the mat, it’s still important to take your
you want to go fishing, it’s well worth
time and be patient. If the fish is a
going somewhere that there are plenty
bit lively because you’ve allowed it to
of opportunities of a bite in order to
rest for a few minutes, no worries; just
build your confidence. Although you
persevere and allow the fish to calm
may not normally take a photo of
down by covering it with the mesh
every fish you catch on these waters,
of your net, flap of the mat or weigh
by practising with smaller fish which
sling, and be sure to apply plenty of
are easier to handle on the bank, you
water until it calms down. It doesn’t
can build your confidence. By the time
always work but it certainly helps.
you catch the personal best you’ve
Everyone has different ideas of
been chasing, even if you’re not in a
what looks good in a photo, but you
position where someone can take the
should position yourself so that you
photos, you can still get some great
are at ease. You need to be able to
shots and capture the memory. CC When you get it all right, you’ll soon be taking perfect photos, just like this self-take.
110
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! ! N I W
Competition
one of five self-take kits
This is a fantastic chance to get your very own self-take camera kit, thanks to Johnson Ross Tackle. If you like what you’ve seen and feel inspired to have a go at getting to grips with your own selfies, here’s your chance to win one of five fantastic universal self-take kits, courtesy of Johnson Ross Tackle. In the kit is everything you need to take your own self-take photos, including the tripod, fully adjustable bracket mount, and the pressure release. The bracket is made from stainless steel for extra rigidity, and features threaded holes for both 3mm and 4mm cable release threads. The pressure release has a more than adequate length of cable, so you won’t have to worry about positioning the camera where you want it. All this comes with a fully adjustable tripod which is ideal for the job; it allows you to set up so the camera is sturdy, and the photos are level and framed perfectly. Each kit is worth £42.99, and they are available from Johnson Ross in store and online: www.johnsonrosstackle.co.uk It’s simple to use and will allow you to capture those all-important memories when fishing on your own, and there’s no one around to take the photos.
what you can win
TOTAL PRIZE VALUE
214.95 five lucky Crafty readers will win one of these brilliant selftake kits from johnson ross, EACH WORTH £42.99. capture those great memories by yourself with ease.
Q
Which size of cable release threads can be screwed into the stainless steel bracket?
A ) 4mm and 5mm B ) 3mm and 4mm C ) 2mm and 4mm
1
ENTER VIA MOBILE PHONE
Simply text CC2 then a space, followed by your answer to the question (either A B or C), to 82070. For example, your answer could be CC2 A Messages cost £1.50 per message plus standard network charge. Under-18s only with bill payer’s permission. Text details may appear on phone bill. Service provider Digital Select Ltd. Helpline: 0844 448 0165.
2
ENTER ONLINE
Head over to www.craftycarper.co to enter via our website. The competition is open to UK and European entrants only. The winners will be selected at random and will be notified within 28 days of the closing date. No cash alternative available.
Crafty Carper
Start date: 14/7/2016 End date: 22/8/2016
17
*Camera not included*
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N R S>> HOW TO TIE YOUR OWN UNIQUEIZIG
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IN NEXT MONTH’S CRAFTY CARPER C AT C H M O R E T H I S SEPTEMBER WITH THE RIG MECHANIC
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