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No.229 September 2016
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HOW F R O M to CATCH
RIG
HT G I TL O N P S LLA
SHALLOW
I DS ACM R CHO
M OU IAINETTING Y ON
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FE R E P
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TACTICS
VENUES
TECHNIQUES
DAVE LANE SHOWS YOU HIS SECRET BAITING STRATEGIES
WHY YOU SHOULD GIVE THE RIVERS A TRY THIS WEEKEND
WE REVEAL HOW GROUNDBAIT CAN MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE
+
A FULL REPORT ON THIS YEAR’S
001_Cover_CC229v3.indd 1
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salmons
BYC A C F I N A L 12/08/2016 11:40
Crafty Carper /// Issue 229 /// September 2016 /// www.craftycarper.co On the cover: James Salmons with a Northey Park 30-pounder, caught using his shallow-water tactics.
7
Editorial This month, Steve recounts his
recent trip to Teillatts in France, where
25
63
secret that he’s a fan of boilie fishing. Here he shows
Baits to give two lucky readers
us how to tie his preferred Naked Chod setup.
the opportunity to win over £190
The Rig Mechanic Iain Macmillan
This month’s Rig Mechanic is Iain Macmillan, and it’s no
he found himself fighting off mosquitoes!
Sticky Baits Manilla
He’s also been down at the BYCAC,
Competition
and shares some of his highlights of
We’ve teamed up with Sticky
worth of their new Manilla bait.
the week’s action from the event.
10
Four Waters, Four Targets, One Rig Simon Crow
Crowy returns to the pages of Crafty to share some of his most recent angling success. He’s taken four target fish from four different venues, using one very effective but simple rig.
31
Thames Treasures Jack Funnel
Getting away from the masses and fishing for carp on the rivers can be a daunting task, but it’s been worthwhile for Jack because he’s caught some beautiful fish from the mighty River Thames.
37
Breaking The Mould Steve Smith
When the going gets tough on a new venue, it often pays to try a new approach, as Steve Smith found when he threw modern carp tactics out of the window and tried something completely different.
43
Strategic Baiting Dave Lane
September is traditionally a time for fish to start their autumn feed, so Dave Lane gives us an insight into how his baiting differs in this special month on the angling calendar.
50
Stick It To Them Dave Magalhaes
When time on the bank is short, you need a tactic that will get bites quickly, as Dave Magalhaes knows all too well. Here, he shows how his PVA stick tactic can be super-effective.
56
The Question Is This month’s panel of experts
consists of John Kneebone, Ellis Brazier, Rich Adams, Alan Blair and Lee Collings, who are all very experienced anglers with an impressive amount of fish from all over the world under their belts. This month, you’ve tested them with questions ranging from canal carping and fishing weedy venues, to how to
19
In At The Shallow End
76
BYCAC Round-up We give the full details of exactly
James Salmons
We caught up with James Salmons on the
get the best out of a single hookbait.
65
CC Under-21s This month signifies Dan’s
final instalment of his monthly blog
what happened in this year’s exciting British
very shallow and weedy Northey Park,
Young Carpers’ Angling Championship,
where he showed us how to make the
series, as the new BYCAC champion
which saw Jude Ashken take the crown.
most of shallow-fishing situations.
will soon be taking the baton, and we catch up with Brandon Butler, whose new campaign has kicked off in style.
4
Crafty Carper
004-005_Contents_CC229_V5.indd 1
11/08/2016 14:33
69
Carp Food In this month’s Carp
Food, Steve Broad checks out
102
The Great Crafty Debate
This month’s Debate is about
120
Little and Often
Julian Cundiff
Blake’s Baits Power Lifters
the use of backleads – are
If you’re the type of angler
range of pop-ups, with which
they an underused asset? Our
who only gets occasional
he’s highly impressed, and
panel gives their views on
day sessions to fish,
there’s a detailed look at RG
the pros and cons of utilising
knowing when to build
Baits’ range of shelf life boilies,
them in today’s carp fishing.
the swim to get maximum
which will appeal to many, plus DNA’s tip of the month to help you catch more.
82
106
effect plays an important
Everyone Loves Lily
role, which is something
Ellis Brazier
Julian knows all too well.
The dark green canopy of a bed of
The TicketMaster
lilies provides many things for the
This month’s
average carp, including shade, food,
126
Inbox Keep up to date
TicketMaster features
and sanctuary, so when presented
Leicestershire’s Beedles Lake,
with the opportunity to place a bait
and views from around the
North Yorkshire’s Lake 1 at
near them, an angler’s confidence
carp-angling scene, plus
Selby 3 Lakes, and Hendre
is high. But are you getting it
the recent winner from
Lake in Cardiff, which is brand
right? Ellis explains why he loves
JRC’s Every Picture Tells
new to TicketMaster, plus a
fishing to this natural holding area,
A Story competition.
fantastic tip from Adi Blantford.
and how to reap the rewards.
87
Carpers’ Kit We check out some
new products from the
113
Catch Column This is the place to
with all the latest news
129
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look at Avid Carp’s brilliant Day
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pick up some great offers.
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10
LINEAR FISHERIES
Contents /// September 2016
110
OXF OX FORDSHIRE’S
AW AW WARD ARD WINNING
Carp Team England
FISHERY?
If you’re fed up
of football failures, and disappointment on the national stage, then look no further than Carp Team England. The 2015 World Champions are
07885 327708 LINEAR-FISHERIES.CO.UK
set to defend their title, and here, Team England manager Rob Hughes explains more about our national side.
Crafty Carper 004-005_Contents_CC229_V5.indd 2
5
LINEAR FISHERIES, NEAR WITNEY, OXFORDSHIRE, OX29 7QF 11/08/2016 14:34
Welcome FROM THE EDITOR
I
t’s been a busy old month, what
challenge, and every single young person
with one thing and another. I’d just
worked hard to succeed. The skill level of
got back from a gruelling trip to
these guys never ceases to amaze me;
France, had a few days in the office,
they really are brilliant, and frighteningly
and then it was off to BYCAC 2016.
good at what they do. As ever, I would like
My most recent jaunt across the
to personally thank the sponsors, who are
Channel was a great example of how
listed in the write-up on page 76, without
being prepared was a godsend. My friend,
whom the event wouldn’t take place.
Gary Spencer, and I were heading to
Thanks also to all the marshals who work
Teillatts, for the second half of a 2-week
tirelessly, especially Oz Buchan for his
trip organised by Tim Paisley, which
endless support, the competitors, camera
actually helped us no end. We stayed in
crew, the Korda presenters, and all the
touch with the guys and discovered three
parents and guardians. There is also the
things: the lake was fishing like a dog,
behind-the-scenes team, who organise the
the weather was scorching and set to
event, including Jemima Musson, without
remain that way, and finally, the mozzies
whom the whole event wouldn’t exist.
were horrendous. Knowing this helped
It was just prior to the highly
us plan, so we took a gazebo for shelter
anticipated award ceremony that the
from the blistering sun, more mozzie
manager of Team England, Rob Hughes,
repellent than you can shake a stick at, a
arrived from another event. Rob was
gas fridge to keep us supplied with cold
determined to see all the competitors
drinks, and a good dose of optimism. As it
personally, and he wanted to make an
turned out, we needed all these things.
announcement prior to the presentation.
The fishing was rock-hard, with only
A 34 ½-pounder from my recent trip to France.
?
Just like football or motor racing, Rob is
a few shallow-water spots producing,
trying to create a pathway for skilled
but thankfully, I managed to fluke out
young anglers to make it to the England
young sports people that the UK has
a branch of our varied sport beginning
a 34-pounder from the deep water in
team to represent their country. We
ever seen, so there is no reason why the
to get the recognition it deserves.
front of me. The mozzies were terrible,
have seen how effective this is in other
same shouldn’t happen in angling. These
to the point where several people left
sports, creating some of the very best
are exciting times, with carp angling as
fishing is one of the biggest, so it rightly
early because they were that bad. Finally, in our swim, the shade disappeared at
When you look at the size of all the other disciplines within angling, carp warrants greater representation. It is only
The great crowd at this year’s BYCAC.
about 11.30 a.m. until about 7.30 p.m.,
30 years ago that fly angling and match
so the gazebo really was essential. As is
fishing were both massive, and people
always the case when things are tough,
who fished for carp were a minority, but
Gary and I had a great laugh, mainly
now things are different. So, the future
about how bad things were, but the one
looks bright, and I’m sure that many of
thing to take from it is that preparation
the young anglers who have taken part in
made it nearly bearable for us.
BYCAC will find their way into the ladies and men’s squads in the future. The event
Next on the agenda was BYCAC, an event I love, in spite of me only being
has a pretty good track record if you look
involved for a few years. There’s such a
at who is in the team at the moment. Well, that’s it for me for another
positive vibe about the whole occasion, from everyone concerned, and each
month. I’ve got a couple of weeks to
year I come away feeling really positive
work on Carpworld, and then it’s off
about carp fishing. This time around, the
to one of my favourite fishing venues,
normally consistent and massively prolific
Rainbow, near Bordeaux in France, and
Oxlease, on the Linear complex, fished
to say I can’t wait is an understatement.
hard, but the competitors rose to the
So, until next time, be lucky. Broady.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> GOT SOMETHING TO SAY? EMAIL ME: STEVE@CRAFTYCARPER.CO <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
PUBLISHED BY: Angling Publications Limited | Regent House | 101 Broadfield Road | Sheffield |
S8 0XH
| T: 0114 258 0812
| E: info@anglingpublications.co.uk | PUBLISHER: Tim Paisley
EDITORIAL
ADVERTISING, SALES & MARKETING
DESIGN & LAYOUT
CRAFTY CARPER 229 SEPTEMBER 2016
Editor Steve Broad E: steve@craftycarper.co
Advertising Director Philippa Dean E: pip@anglingpublications.co.uk
Graphic Design Tyler Lowe-Fowler / Dan Roberts
Not to be reproduced in any form without the permission of the publisher, Angling Publications Ltd., 2016.
Staff Writer Tom Morrison E: tom@anglingpublications.co.uk
Advertising Manager Richard Newman E: richard@anglingpublications.co.uk
Distribution Seymour Distribution
CRAFTY CARPER SUPPORTS:
Subeditors Lynda Glover & Tim Paisley Jnr.
Marketing Director Jemima Musson E: jemima@anglingpublications.co.uk
Print Precision Colour Printing
www.craftycarper.co 007_Ed's Comment_V2_CC229.indd 1
Crafty Carper
7 11/08/2016 16:51
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Crafty Carper
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4 TARGETS 4 WATERS SIMON CROW
Crowy brings us up to date with his angling, and heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s found success with four target fish from four waters, all on the same basic rig.
Crafty Carper 010-014_Simon_Crow_CC229_2.indd 2
11 28/07/2016 14:58
Four Targets, Four Waters, One Rig Simon Crow
Morning mist on the stunning Weston Park in Shropshire, which is run by RH Fisheries.
I
’ve had a really busy couple of
pickup, but take it from me, you won’t
Stabilised boilies lately, with exactly
never going to be easy because it has
months since I last wrote, having
recognise these moments until you
the same boilies on the Hair as
a low stock. We didn’t see many fish at
fished four different waters,
have spent many hours, days, months,
those which I feed the swim with.
all, and my rods remained motionless
each with a different target in mind,
and years on the bank, so don’t get too
which has kept me on my toes. I’ve
wrapped up in the end tackle minefield.
Trips Away
someone with 30-odd years of carp
been dashing all over the place.
I know it’s difficult because there is
I’ve used this rig to great effect all
experience, it wasn’t easy to sit there
It started with a 3-day trip to the
so much technical information around,
around the world for many years
with nothing to show for my efforts.
massive Virginia Water in the Windsor
but my advice is to find a simple rig to
now, and it works. At Virginia Water
All sorts of thoughts went through my
Great Park, where I was issued the
begin with, and once you’ve started
in May, I went in completely blind
mind, including cutting the trip short.
task of catching a 30 in front of the
catching on it, stick with it. The chances
after being invited to fish there for a
cameras. I then moved on to a 6-day
are that it will work in most situations.
few days by the Crown Estate which
stuck with it, because I knew I was on
session at the stunning Weston Park
Over the last couple of months, I’ve
runs it. They are opening a new carp
the right path with what I was doing.
in Shropshire, where I set myself the
used exactly the same rig to catch fish
syndicate on the 140-acre lake, and
I knew the swim I had chosen was in
target of a 30 or two. Around these
from the four waters I spoke about
they asked me to have a fish and
a great area; it was in the central part
two trips I also had a few midweek
earlier, and it’s a simple braided rig
see what I thought. I’ll be honest and
of the massive lake, and was a lovely
overnighters on my syndicate and
around 6-8ins in length. I’ve been
say it was hard going for the first
shallow bay which had lots of good
another local venue in between work,
using Nash Combilink or Missing Link,
48 hours, although we knew it was
features. I spread my rods about to
and I had several target fish in mind.
stripping the outer
I’ll come to the fishing in a moment,
coating from it
as I think it’s important to begin this
and using just the
month by touching briefly on rigs.
inner core. I cut it
If you’ve read any of my articles in
into 18ins lengths,
the past, you’ll know that I’m a big
and Knotless Knot
advocate of having confidence in
it to Size 6 Fang
what you are doing. If you don’t have
X hooks, leaving
faith in your basic approach, you’ll find
a short tail to
yourself drifting all over the place as
form the Hair. I
you chop and change, trying to fix
then slip a piece
things. Blank periods in carp fishing
of 0.5mm tubing
are part of the game. It isn’t possible
over the eye of
to eradicate them, and it is for this
the hook to form
reason why you shouldn’t think too
the line-aligner, as
technical at this stage of your carping
well as to protect
career. Finding the fish is the most
the knot. The rig
important part of catching them,
is completed by
not spooking them is the next, and
tying a Granny
the rest is about having confidence
Knot into the
in your rigs, bait and application.
Hair at the
Of course, carp get riggy, and there
In the end, however, I stayed put and
Little Linear, one of the finest-looking carp in the north.
length I wish to
will be times when you need to adjust
use. I’ve been
or use something different to get a
using 20mm Key
12
until the final morning. Even for
Crafty Carper
010-014_Simon_Crow_CC229_2.indd 3
28/07/2016 14:58
Four Targets, Four Waters, One Rig
Simon Crow
Keep it simple! The components needed to tie up my basic braided rig.
Close-up on the business end of the rig that’s delivered my recent run of success.
Size 6 Fang X with Knotless Knot attachment.
in the evenings, but the best time
the syndicate that the smaller of the
was at night and first light, when I
two is the hardest to track down,
landed some really lovely old carp.
but it is by far the best-looking. It’s
The best two went just over 30lb, but
such a nice carp that it has to rank
there were others which were well
as one of the best-looking fish in the
spawned-out that would normally
region, if not the north of England.
cover these, and didn’t just concentrate
Fisheries. My girlfriend, Lucy, and
be over that weight. I also had some
Sometimes it doesn’t get caught all
on one spot. I had complete faith in
I had the lovely Boathouse Swim
cracking 20s and doubles, all falling
season, which obviously adds to its
the bait because The Key has proved
booked for a week. Although I’d fished
to exactly the same presentation
desirability amongst the members.
itself to be capable of catching carp
Weston before, the last time was a few
that I’d used at Virginia Water – single
from any water going. I just needed
years ago, so I was well out of touch
20mm bottom baits fished on the
weeks, but after notching up a string
to sit and wait, and hope all came
with it. I went armed with loads of
simple braided rig I mentioned earlier.
of blanks on another water, I fancied
good in the end. Thankfully it did,
particles and Key boilies, and baited
when I netted a cracking upper-double
the margin opposite the boathouse
Overnighters
I’d been there was almost a month
common, followed by one of the real
with copious amounts each day, as
In between the two trips away, I’ve
previously, and when I returned I was
jewels in the lake, a classic-looking 33lb
well as casting hookbaits as tight to
also fished a few overnighters on
facing a completely different scenario.
chestnut-coloured mirror. I was over the
the overhanging margins as I could.
my local waters. I mentioned my
There was weed all over the place,
main syndicate a couple of months
with 90% of the surface covered from
because I was doing touristy stuff
ago, when I caught the venue’s
top to bottom. It looked absolutely
I was on the famous Weston Park
with Lucy, reeling in and going for
biggest common and mirror on
awesome and very carpy, but I must
in Shropshire, which is run by RH
walks and visits. I had a couple of fish
consecutive nights. There are some
admit my confidence wasn’t entirely
moon when the biggie went in the net. A couple of weeks after that trip,
An old warrior of a 30-pounder from Weston Park.
I didn’t fish much during the days
I’d not been to the lake for a few
a change of scenery. The last time
simply stunning carp
brimming because the carp were
in this water, so it
very much hidden away. I never saw
was inevitable I was
a single fish as I set up, so imagine
going to return at some
my surprise when the only action
point, even though I’d
from the night was the most desired
bagged my main target
carp in the lake! I couldn’t believe
known as Starburst.
it when I saw it lying in the bottom
There are a couple
of the net; only a few hours earlier
of really nice linears
I’d been talking to one of the lads
which I have on my
about how much we both wanted it.
most-wanted list. Known
I can’t name the final water where
as Big and Little, the
I fished and found success. Let’s just
biggest is a scraper-30,
say it’s a very tricky North Lincolnshire
with the other not
pit which contains only a dozen or so
far behind. Both are
carp in around 8-9 acres of water. My
quite rare visitors to
main target is a big common around
the bank, so I knew
the upper-30s/40 mark, which has
they were going to
lots of pedigree dating back over
be tricky to tempt. It’s
a 50-year period. There are some
well known amongst
lovely backup fish in there too, and
Crafty Carper 010-014_Simon_Crow_CC229_2.indd 4
13 28/07/2016 14:59
Four Targets, Four Waters, One Rig Simon Crow I’ve been fortunate to get amongst these since I started fishing there in early May. Besides the big common, one of the main fish I had my eye on is a really dark mirror known as The Black Fish. I’ve seen this one with a few of the lads since I started getting interested in the place, and I really wanted it in the album. Things kicked off really well, and it didn’t take me long to start doubling up on the residents. My best was a 27lb mirror, which I backed up with two different upper-20 mirrors. All but one of my fish came to exactly the same tactics as on the other waters – single 20mm hookbaits on the braided rig. The other one came off the top on a really warm day, when I made a trip after work one evening, and found the fish sunning themselves. Whilst on my travels, looking in bushes and climbing trees, I like to think
On the bank with the Nash boys at the massive Virginia Water in the Windsor Great Park.
With four target fish in the bag,
I’ve seen all the residents in this lake,
I’ve certainly had a good few weeks
including the big common. However,
of angling to talk about in this issue.
the one I hadn’t seen until recently was
Of course, I’ve enjoyed recalling these
The Black Fish, which had been hiding
captures, but the main message I
itself away. With fish movement rife
wanted to get across is about my rig.
in the area, I wasn’t sure if it was still
I caught them all on exactly the same
there, so imagine how chuffed I was
concept, so the next time someone
when I slipped the net under it only a
tries to sell you a new wonder rig
few days before compiling this feature.
to improve your catch rate, just
It was almost a déjà vu of the Little
remember this feature. Confidence
Linear capture, as only a few hours
is where it all lies, because if you’re
earlier I’d been telling one of the other
not confident in what you’re doing,
anglers how much I wanted to catch it!
you may as well not be there. CC
I’d only been talking about him a few hours earlier, and now he was in the sling waiting to be photographed!
A nice early-morning wake-up from The Black Fish.
14
Crafty Carper
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28/07/2016 14:59
IAIN MACMILLAN
The RIG MECHANIC
It’s no secret that Iain Macmillan is a fan of Naked Chods, and looking at his catch results, it’s clear to see why. Here he shows you how to go about tying them.
Crafty Carper 025-027_The_Rig_Mechanic_CC229_v3.indd 1
25 04/08/2016 16:22
The Rig Mechanic Iain Macmillan
I
think it’s fair to say that from the very first time I cast this rig out, I knew it was a game-changer.
that I was presenting effectively. As with most rigs, they evolved. In fact, there were so many components
I’d been struggling with the horrid
available that I was really spoilt for
silkweed on the Essex Manor – 8
choice. I’d seen a lad using pike crimps
nights of struggling in fact – but
on his Chod, and it looked so neat and
within 10 minutes of constructing
far easier than trying to tie a short
one of these rigs (half-heartedly), I
Chod with the hook continually sticking
had my first Manor carp in the net. I
in my hand. The very fact that the
finished the session with a further
silkweed wasn’t too far off the lakebed
two fish, and crackers at that, so as is
meant I could get away with a Chod
always the way with me, I scoured my
of around a couple of inches from the
assortment of end tackle to perfect
bottom of the ring swivel to the top
this amazing piece of rig engineering.
of the hook, and then the key was to
When you think about it logically,
create the perfect curve to allow the
waters like the Manor were crying out for the Naked Chod. Leadcore was
rig free movement in any direction. After checking out various purpose-
banned, which was the main reason
designed Chod boxes, I stumbled across
I had to go down the Naked route.
the one from Nash. I only use certain
There was very little in the way of
products because they are the best
Canadian pondweed, just the snotty
for my fishing. If there was something
green stuff, but as soon as I dropped
better, trust me, I’d be using it, but the
the rig onto the marginal weed, the
Nash Chod box is different gravy. Not
light bulb came on in my head. This
only can I store a dozen rigs in there,
rig gave me the confidence to fish
but because the foam on the centre
swims I’d deemed unfishable, and
piece of the box is so tough and rigid,
transformed the very way I went about
it also allows me to steam the perfect
my angling. I used to be very much
curved angle in the rigs every single
a bait-and-wait kind of angler – bait
time, without the foam perishing. I’ve
heavy and stay static – that was until
used two for a number of years now,
the circus that is the Manor. I had to
one for smaller hooks and one for Size
up my game, and by having a rig I
4s, and they’re both as good today as
could fish almost anywhere meant I
they were 8 years ago when I got them.
could move on to showing fish at the
Next comes the beads, which
drop of a hat, and be totally confident
allow the rig to settle in the desired
My deadly combo – a tiger nut cork ball fished over a bed of matching freebies.
A lovely Millbrook mirror caught on the Naked Chod over a bed of boilies.
My very simple lead arrangement; I can change my lead with ease.
position. I’ve found that it’s always
weed is thicker, you have to move the
best to err on the side of caution, and
top bead further up. What you don’t
by that I mean the distance between
want is to trap the rig between beads,
the top and bottom bead. I normally
only to find the weed is deeper than
have the bottom bead 6ins from the
the distance at which you’ve set the
lead so the hookpoint is protected
beads, or the whole lot will be rendered
from any potential tangles at the
useless, as the lead will simply pull the
lead end, with the top bead around
whole lot directly into the green stuff.
5ft away. Obviously, if you know the
Years ago, I used to floss my baits on, but since the development of the bait screws from various manufacturers, that’s a thing of the past. The screws are quicker and easier, and again, if there was a better way for me to attach a pop-up, I’d be doing it. If you don’t leave the rods out for days on end (in which case I’d strongly recommend cork ball pop-ups), then off-the-shelf baits are fine, but as with all rigs, make sure you match the hook size to the appropriate bait so the rig looks balanced The bait screws simply go on the ‘D’, but take care when blobbing the ‘D’ as you can easily damage the Chod filament. The final thing, which is paramount, is where you put it. Contrary to some opinions, it’s not just a case of slinging a Chod out and fishing blind. I’ve found
The beads can be moved up to suit the depth of weed you are fishing over.
26
that Chods on rock-hard blatant spots are a massive no-no, and let’s be honest,
Crafty Carper
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The Rig Mechanic Iain Macmillan
if it’s a clean lakebed, why would you need a Chod in the first place? If I get what I think is a too-good drop, I actually reel the rig in and look for a dirtier drop, where I know I’m in a
...take c are when b l ob b ing the ‘ D ’, b ec au se y ou c an easil y damage the hod filament
bit of weed, or deeper silt even. At first, it’s tough to get your head round actually looking for a poor drop, but on several waters where I’ve taken the Naked Chod, the blatant spots don’t produce the lion’s share of the fish any more. They’ve been hammered to death, and naturally, the fish are as wary as hell when feeding on them. On the flip side, if you put a rig just into the weed around the clear spot, it’s amazing how many of the wily fish fall for it. I’m convinced they think it’s a safe bait to take because it’s not on the polished area. A water in the Cotswolds was a classic example of this. Fish would fall for a rig in the clear spots, but while my catch rate was no better than some of the lads on there, I was nailing a lot more of the bigger fish from the less obvious areas. I was also able to move instantly and get away with presenting in weedier zones, where the fish were holding up because there was cover. I’ll finish by saying that if the Naked Chod isn’t in your armoury, then it’s definitely costing you bonus fish over the course of the year. It’s not as effective as it once was because it’s overused now, but I really can’t imagine fishing without it, and it continues to catch me fish when all else has failed. CC
The finished rig. It’s caught a lot of fish for me, and I have extreme confidence in it.
HOW TO TIE IAIN MACMILLAN’S NAKED CHOD
1 Go through the eye of the hook and whip up around the shank 12 times, and back through the eye.
4 Crimp on a flexi-ring swivel, taking care not to cross the line because this can weaken the material.
2 Add a bait screw onto the tag end, thread it back through the eye of the hook then trim the tag end.
5
3 Blob the tag end with a lighter to create the ‘D’, being careful not to burn the rig when holding a lighter to it.
6
When the rig is complete, store it away and steam it to Use puller tools to test the strength the crimp and trim off the tag end. If you strangle the line it can become weak. create the perfect curve, then it is ready to be used.
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ON SAL E: W E D N E S DAY 2 1 ST S E PT E M B E R 2016 Crafty Carper 129_Mega_Deals_CC229_v3.indd 2
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