Carpworld August 2014

00 OVER £1,0 to be won of prizes

Pecky’s thoughts on single hookbaits

What’s new in the world of rigs

We interview the man behind RK Leisure

ISSUE 287 AUGUST 2014

ISSUE 287 / August 2014 / MONTHLY £4.50

THE JOY OF SUCCESS

Roy Russell reveals why making the extra effort pays dividends

BRITAIN’S BIGGEST CARP-ANGLING MAGAZINE

Bill Cottam’s Carping Allegedly “A l l o f y them qualif st e h g i h e for th kshire l e v e l o f Yo r ny bait compa 10p – p i h s r sponso of off the pot eir h t f o s p pop-u choice!”

carpworldmagazine.com

THE

MAGAZINE

FOR THE W ORLDWIDE ANGLER

Issue 130 August 2014

c ar pwor ld maga z in e. co m

A Carper’s path

When your luck’s in

An intriguing journey revealing the potential of the River Great Ouse

Daren Norman looks back at the last 12 months in which he banked a 50 and three big 40s

THE

MAGNIFICENT SEV EN

P177 Arjen Ui tbeijerse tells the tale of 4 t in the capture r e m e n d o u s we of no less tha e k s ’ fi s h i n g t h n s eve n fi s h ove at resulted r the magical 30kg mark

Also inside carp news and features from around the globe

ECHOES AROUND THE WORLD

P167 All the news and catche s from around the globe as summe r reache s its peak

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FISHERY FOCUS

P184 An in-dept h look at this 16-acre holiday venue in the Champ agne region.

PA S T U R E S N E W

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P187 Julian Jurkew itz goes of f the beaten track to find some awesom e French fishin

CONTENTS

The Carpworld Contents / Issue 287 /

August 2014

fish are basking on the surface, what’s the best way to tempt them to take a bait?

FEATURES

15

A Different Perspective Adam Clewer Adam loves the peace and tranquility of lone carping and whenever he can he loves to go back to a time gone by.

O N T HE C OV E R : Roy Russell reveals why making the extra effort pays off.

REGULARS

6

Editors’ Comment What have Broady and Banksy been up to over the past month? Have lots of great fish come to their rods? Find out on page 6.

8

Gazette All the news and views from around the carp-angling scene to keep you up to date with what’s going on.

39

Bait World featuring Joe Turnbull Join Joe and the Carpworld team as they take a look at the world of bait including interviews with the lads from Pyramid Baits, Bait-Tech, and Mark Lycett of Custom Bait Services.

78

Rig World featuring Mike Kavanagh Our man on the bank, Mike, looks at sinking braids, floater fishing, Helicopter Rigs and Rotten Bottoms! Don’t be put off, it’s all great stuff, and there’s also an interview with the man behind Ashima in the UK, and how to get the best from leadcore with Kryston’s Dave Chilton.

109

Think Tank Ian Chillcott, Paul Hatton and Mark Bartlett look at summer carping. When the

24

A Carper’s Path – River Ripples Dave Little Carp angling isn’t all about fishing busy lakes, and for those who tread the riverbanks in search of carp, a whole new world opens up which is full of untapped potential – as Dave Little found on the Great Ouse.

31

Caravan Club Carping Dave Moore Would you purchase a caravan just to gain access to a private carp water? That’s exactly what Dave did, and once armed with his Caravan Club members’ card, he was off on new adventures in search of 50lb+ carp.

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54

Mental May Daren Norman Daren tells the story of some fantastic captures and reveals how Lady Luck played a major part in his success.

63

In Conversation With – Raphael Khalili Raphael is the man behind RK Leisure, a forward-thinking company that is set to take carp fisheries into an exciting new era.

What does he think the future holds for UK carp angling?

demands of work and family need to be juggled to get the best from your fishing. Peter reveals the key things he uses to actually pinpoint the best time to get out on the bank to maximise his chances.

86

Historical Carp Waters Chris Ball By today’s standards, the carp at Hinton Admiral wouldn’t raise an eyebrow, but in the past, the residents of this exclusive little pool certainly caused waves in the carp world.

91

The Thinker – Why Plastics Work Frank Warwick In this instalment of his occasional series, Frank shares his thoughts on imitation baits. How and why do they work, and what’s the best way to use them?

101

From The

Top To The Bottom Roy Russell Roy takes a couple of weeks off from running his fishery to visit Linch Hill. It’s a time to catch up with old friends, and hopefully catch a few of the stunning fish that call the water home.

115

The F Word Paul Forward Our Mr F. has been trying to tempt the Burghfield Common into visiting the bank for the cameras – but he’s been beaten to it by his good friend Dave Lane.

There’s no problem though, as they’re really good mates, and, after all, Paul’s had a few consolation prizes.

120

The Only Way To The Stars Elliott Symak What have otters and Battlestar Gallactica got to do with carp fishing? All will become clear as we take a trip into the mind of one of carp-angling’s most outspoken writers.

101

Viva La Method!

Mitch Smith In the last few years, the Method has taken a bit of a back seat in favour of PVA bags and Chod Rigs, but Mitch is convinced it’s easier to use, cheaper, and a superb way to catch big fish.

130

Pecky’s Progress Darrell Peck This month Darrell talks about single hookbaits, and why you should have faith in them. He’s also been out on the bank again, and reveals how he nearly lost a rod in a hit-and-hold situation.

135

Bivvy Tramps Blog Kes Waterman In a life full of x-treme carping, Kes reveals that he’s going underground where others fear to tread!

153

An Explosive Situation Stuart Roberts Stuart was enjoying a peaceful day by the waterside when his life was changed forever. It’s a thoughtprovoking tale, and Stuart tells it in the hope that the warning to others will, quite possibly, save a life.

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69

Once In A Blue Moon Peter Kingsbury If you’re like Peter Kingsbury, the

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F: facebook.com/CarpworldMagazine / T: @CarpworldMag

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Carping Allegedly Bill Cottam Bill’s humour is beginning to make him a celebrity in the carping Mecca that is Rotherham, and our piscatorial comedian is back with more jolly jests and observations pertaining to the world of carp angling.

69

TACKLE WORLD

137

Tackle World With the welcome return of the classic Fox Easy Dome, a look at the latest bedchairs from Trakker, a review of the new range of Kodex rig components from 30Plus, and a whole page full of Fox end tackle, along with bankware from Cygnet and a host of other bits and bobs, there are 10 pages of tackle to whet your appetite this month.

PAGE

96

UP FOR GRABS

61

30Plus Luggage Competition Do you fancy some new top-quality luggage to keep all your gear safe and sound during transport?

If so, you need to take a look at our Kodex luggage competition on page 61.

74

Ask The Experts Our expert panel answer questions sent in by readers. This month they look at information overload, avoiding tangles when Zig fishing, and storing boilies. What’s more, there are prizes on offer for the winning question.

107

Carpworld International Championship You could be in with a chance of being £10,000 better off as the winner in the Carpworld International Championship. Turn to page 107 to find out how.

SUBSCRIBE TO YOUR FAVOURITE MAGAZINE TODAY! Receive over £50 worth of gear from Taska when you take out a subscription to Carpworld

IN INTERNATIONAL CARPER Keep up to date with all the

THE

MAGAZINE

FOR THE WORLDWIDE ANGLER

Issue 130 August 2014

big-carp captures from around the world in Echoes, take a trip to Lac du Charlou for a carping holiday, and check out how Carpworld regular and editor of Spiegel magazine, Arjen Uitbeijerse, had an amazing

THE

MAGNIFICENT SEVEN

P 1 7 7 A r j e n U i t b e i j e r s e t e l l s t h e t a l e o f 4 t r e m e n d o u s we e k s ’ fi s h i n g t h a t r e s u l t e d i n t h e c a p t u r e o f n o l e s s t h a n s eve n fi s h ove r t h e m a g i c a l 3 0 k g m a r k WORLD ECHOES AROUND THE

FISHERY FOCUS

PA S T U R E S N E W

141 fish from Rainbow Lake, including several over 30kg. It’s all in this month’s International

P167 All the news and catches from around the globe as summer reaches its peak 165_ICCover_CW287.indd 1

P184 An in-depth look at this 16-acre holiday venue in the Champagne region.

P187 Julian Jurkewitz goes of f the beaten track to find some awesome French fishing.

18/07/2014 10:27

Carper, along with a feature from Julian Jurkewitz, who takes time out to fish with his girlfriend, Isabell, on the unspoiled huge reservoirs of France, and reveals how he tackles the monsters that live in their depths.

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FEATURE

D av e

L ittle

A C A R P E R ’ S PA T H

RIVER RIPPLES PA R T O N E

Flowing from Syresham village in Northamptonshire, the River Great Ouse, our country’s fourth largest river, meanders through sleepy countryside to the Wash at King’s Lynn, Norfolk. At around Bedford and downstream to St. Neots, Huntingdon and St. Ives, the river widens and slows its pace and becomes a haven for carp. Dave Little takes you on a journey to reveal the untapped potential of this fantastic waterway.

W

ith bankside willows stretching their long, leafy, trailing branches into the flowing river, it’s not uncommon to see a chub or two hanging around. In the main flow, bleak and dace dart around like the busy flies above them, but quickly vanish when packs of marauding perch punch their way through. Looking deeper into the depths, dark shadows hide their prize golden -flanks.

It was not through choice that I ended up fishing the Ouse. My younger days were spent hanging around the shops and mates’ houses in Welwyn Garden City. At the weekends my parents would drag me and my sister away to our static weekend home by the river at Offord. The only thing possible to do was either go on massive long walks with the terriers, or fish. I loved to explore though, and found some lovely-looking little farm ponds, as

“ I wa s rudely a wo ke n w h e n a hungr y common a ro u n d t h e 1 0 l b m a r k s e n t my o l d Tr u d e x r e e l s p i n n i n g . I wa s h o o ke d . . .”

well as huge windswept gravel pits dotted along the valley. We’d fish for pretty much anything – bream, eels, roach and chub. It was around the time when Yates and James were on TV that I found myself on a lily pad-covered section of slow-moving river after tench. With an old tweed hat (I had to look the part), centrepin and lob tails as bait, I was rudely awoken when a hungry common around the 10lb mark sent my old Trudex reel spinning. I was hooked...

After fishing the River Great Ouse for many years, it’s now clearly quite an attractive way to fish, and I see it growing in popularity. Recently, many anglers are enjoying a bit of time away from their chosen stillwaters to have a crack at a bit of this river carping lark. Most of the captures are stunning creatures, and I love it when the lucky captors begin to tell me of how powerful and dignified the fish are, and how they fight before showing themselves impressively in front of the lens.

Around 10 years ago I was fitting a kitchen in a house in Welwyn Garden.

I remember getting a phone call around

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A Ca r pe r ’ s P a t h – R iv e r R ipples Da ve L ittle

MAIN IMAGE Peering

through the trailing willow fronds trying to spot an Ouse carp.

FAR BOTTOM LEFT One

of my first river carp that really got me going.

BELOW The best description of these Ouse carp is powerful and dignified.

midday, regarding all the carp swimming round my dad’s narrowboat. Looking back now, I remember the startled look on the house owner’s face as I shouted, “Down tools!” and a couple of us left to have a go for the spotted river carp. Nothing else mattered. The marina was a haven for carp, and, for that matter, all fish. A huge basin off the main flow of the river harboured hundreds of boats and floating jetties. With mature willow-strewn banks, it was quite a piece of manufactured, tranquil heaven. We all saw the pod of carp hovering gently around in the ginclear depths of the marina. Made up of around a dozen fish, there was one mirror slightly bigger than the rest, which was apparent. We tried to nick a fish off the surface and found the floating pontoons a big advantage as we chased the fish around. My friend, Lee Marshall, had the big one come right upon his mixer, and with its mouth wide open, about to slurp, he struck it right out of the big girl’s mouth. We both looked at each other and then rolled about laughing!

After that uneventful trip, some boilies were deposited around a bar semi-circling my dad’s narrowboat. It was clear to see why the carp were attracted to the life on board. The ‘predigested human meals’ were being polished off on spots below the boats as they were pumped

out most mornings. A yucky thought, but free meals delivered regularly were the big attraction for the fish life. I returned a week later, with Stiff Hinges set and rancid squid-scented pop-ups, my bedchair perched crookedly at the aft of the narrowboat below the broad East Anglia night sky, and I had another go at ’em. Two rods were wobbly, placed on the jetty with banksticks, wedged between the decking. It was truly a rocky old setup!

It wasn’t until dawn the next day that my wait came to fruition. A powerful creature decided to roar off towards underwater cables and stanchions that held the floating jetties. It was wildly pulling line from my reel and tearing the rod tip around, and the underwater torpedo carried on charging away. I held on for dear life as I got a lesson on how to hook and hold a river carp. The power of the fish was incredible. After what seemed an age and plenty of minutes of rod-bending surges and line-stretching moments, the big girl rolled into my net. I was elated.

That fish is now being caught by others, and up to last season, if I remember correctly, it was 38lb, which is huge for an Ouse carp. I was fortunate enough to catch her again at a weight of around 34lb, which I hope the editor still remembers from his time with Angling Times. I also braced a 35lb river carp and 25lb river carp a fortnight before that, and with otters present; however, that’s another story. These fish had come from the open flow, because after much deliberation, as comfortable as it was angling in the marina, it was time to go out on to the main parts of the river to really have a stab at it.

The 2012 season was brief, with only a total of 2 nights and an evening’s Au gu Ju lst y 2014 2 014 C a r pwor l d 27 25

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FEATURE

D A R E N

N O R M A N

MENTAL MAY Da re n t a k e s a l ook b a ck a t h i s fis hing over the las t y ear . He retells the s to r y o f s o me fa n t a st i c ca p t u res , and reveals why L ady L uck play s s uc h a n i m p o r t a n t p a rt i n every a n gler ’s life.

W

hen I think back to 1st May 2013, a smile spreads across my face; dreams can come true, and on my 13th night on the water, mine did. I got my Roach Pit account off the mark by landing The Mug at 50lb 4oz, Barbs at 44lb 10oz, and Lens at 37lb 10oz, over a crazy 24-hour period. I’ve written about this magical session before and wanted to reveal a bit about my fishing since.

It was around that time I got the news that my cushy little shift job, 5 days on, 5 off, was going back to Monday to Friday 9-5. Gutted wasn’t the word, as I knew straight away it would mean an end to the type of angling I’d been enjoying for the last 10 years. Shift work had given me the chance to explore, and go fishing out of my immediate area in Kent. I’d been fortunate enough to spend my time fishing incredible waters like

Savay, Wraysbury, the Colne Valley Club Lake, and Roach Pit. Before getting back into the weekend-only fishing, I managed a couple more trips to the wonderful Roach Pit. Roach really is a special place and I’d fallen in love with it. For me, the stock is up there with the best, as not only does it have a good head of

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M e n t a l M a y Da ren No r m a n

big fish, more importantly, they are real lookers and come in all shapes and sizes.

There are the deep sparsely-scaled fish such as The Mug and the Yellow Fish, and then there are the long scaly beasts like the Big Lin and Shaun’s, which are really something else. The lake itself is full of features, and with gin-clear water, nice margins and plenty of snags, you get the chance to see the fish up close and personal, which, in my book, always makes things more exciting.

My next bite came at the start of June.

After the long drive down, rather than rushing, I decided to walk around in the darkness in the hope of finding where they were hiding. At 11.30, when I was starting to think I was wasting my time, I heard a good fish crash 40 yards out in front of the Willow Swim. ‘You’ll do for me,’ I thought, and just after midnight I had two single hookbaits on Chod Rigs flicked out to the area, and then I got in the bag for some much-needed kip.

The next morning, the water in front of me was alive with activity. Mostly tench rolled, but I also saw a couple of carp show amongst them and things were looking spot on for a bite. I had a quick plumb about at midday and located a nice shallow bar where the carp had crashed the previous night. The weather was hot and it felt like an ideal area from which to tempt a carp.

I baited heavily with 4kg of mixed-size Sticky Krill boilies, and changed all my rods over to short Stiff Hinged Rigs. The third rod was waded down the margin and swung onto a very carpylooking gravel spot

that I could see through the trees. of roughly 30 acres and basically Nothing occurred until midnight, rectangular in shape. Due to this there but between then and 4 o’clock the is quite a bit of long-range fishing tench went on a feeding spree and I involved, as it’s over 350 yards across caught eight of the red eyes. I really in places and the fish like to sit out did think the disturbance would kill in the safe zone. As well as the carp the swim, so I was gobsmacked when present, when the lake was taken over a big carp rolled right over the top of about 10 years ago ,the new owner put my margin rod just before 5 o’clock. in 200 high-quality low-doubles, and I lay on my bedchair frozen, scared they have thrived in the rich water. A to move from fear of spooking it, few have gone over the 40lb barrier, knowing something special was feeding the star of the lake being a beast of on my bait in only 4ft of water. A few a common that now weighs 49lb. minutes later the tip pulled round and I I hadn’t done any real casting pounced on it. I sunk the tip down low since Savay, so it took a while to get and didn’t let it take an inch because back into it, and I ended up buying there were sunken branches further new rods and reels because my old along the margin. My unseen quarry gear seemed a bit undergunned. pulled like its life depended on it, but I With the stepped up gear and plenty let the rod cushion its powerful lunges, of Spombing of Vor-tex boilies, I and slowly but surely it kited under managed to nick a few, the highlight the canopy and into the open water in being a lovely 30lb mirror on a very front of me. When I judged it cold night in December. was clear, I slowly lifted After that I hung up the the tip out of the water rods for the first 3 and breathed a sigh months of the year, “The next of relief that the line and got on with morning, the was clear. Keeping the decorating the pressure on, I I’d promised to water in front of played it hard, the do back in the me was alive powerful lunges of summer. I hate with activity” what was obviously decorating, so as a big fish getting you can imagine, by shorter and shorter the time April arrived all the time. A couple of I was absolutely gagging minutes later a huge mouth started to get back down to Roach, and gasping for air and a massive back had most of my holiday time booked followed it into the net. Yeee haaaaa! for then. Things started off great, and It looked bloody enormous in the on my first weekend I caught a lovely net, and I wondered which one of the old mirror of 18lb, but although big girls it was. At first I thought it I fished really hard, my holiday was the Yellow Fish or maybe the time was a bit of a disappointment Horse, but my buzz dipped a and I only managed another little when after a better look, 18-pounder over my three sessions.

I realised I’d doubled up on Mental May was just around the The Mug on only my fourth corner, and it’s by far my favourite capture. This time she weighed time to try to bag a big girl. This 49lb 8oz, and although I don’t like year, however, I was booked on two recaptures, I’d be lying if I didn’t say work trips away in Holland, so knew it put a big cheesy grin on my face.

I’d only manage a couple of fishing My luck was also in on my next trip, sessions. Luckily for me, things fell when I caught Baby Torpedo at 28lb into place very nicely. I’d been baiting 8oz from the Swimming Pool, but a quiet area of Roach over the previous after that I had to knock Roach on the month, and when I managed to get head for the rest of the year. I tried to in No Carp Corner for the weekend, get down once on a Friday after work I had a funny feeling it might be and it took a right royal 4½ hours, payback time. I’m a strong believer which left me a beaten man before I that you get out of fishing what you started! I needed somewhere closer to put in, and I felt that I’d put a lot home, and luckily for me I managed in over the previous month and it to get a ticket for an up-and-coming was time for the carp gods to repay local water. It’s a reed-lined deep pit me. No Carp Corner is an Au gu st 2 014 C a r pwor l d 55

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FEATURE

T

THE

ONLY WAY TO THE

STARS E l l i o tt

S y m a k

Budding author and long-time Carpworld contributor Elliot Symak gets a few things of f his chest..

he title of this feature has been in my head for years, if and when I was to write another article for Carpworld, and the meaning will become clear at the end of this piece.

I’ve been writing for almost as long as I can remember, which I find very easy, as long as I work hard at it! I know there are plenty of people who write stuff and have it rejected – tell me about it. I’ve written several novels and can’t get an agent, never mind a publishing deal. Not that I’m bothered any more. The time has gone when I was desperate to have the title ‘author’ on my passport. Come to that, I’ve not had a valid passport for years!

I don’t read a lot of fishing magazines and haven’t for years, but the ones I do read (usually Carpworld) don’t have too many: ‘I was filling in the zeds, when a one-toner had me falling out of bed, and after an epic battle (yet) another whacker of a PB was lying on the bank’-type articles. I like to read a bit of a story about carp anglers and especially their lives, which is what Carpworld, as opposed to most of the other magazines, seems to produce, month in, month out.

Because I never have (and doubt I ever will) produced technical articles, or ones showing me to be the bee’s knees, I doubt my stuff would ever be accepted by any of the other several carp mags doing the rounds. I’ve never tried, as it happens, to sell anywhere else. I used to write stuff for the old Angling magazine back in the ’70s, and the BCSG mag from the ’70s, but apart from one or maybe two stories for the Carp Society magazine, I’ve only ever sent articles to Carpworld since those times.

The question of writers wanting to get into print has stirred me up. I wonder how the younger (or older, come to that) unpublished carp anglers can get their articles in a magazine such as Carpworld.

I suppose if you want to get past the ‘safe pair of hands’ of famous carp anglers who take up most of the country’s magazine space, month in, month out, then your stuff will have to be a bit different. A list of big-fish captures (no matter how impressive) interspersed with a few clichés, full stops and commas ain’t gonna stir the interest of an editor, I shouldn’t think. Not that I’ve ever done any editing, but I can put myself in their shoes. I’m just a time-worn old cynic, you see, who’s been reading articles (seemingly) for almost 50 years, so it’s beginning to wear wafer thin; you’ve got to do a really

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T h e O n ly Wa y t o t h e S t ars Ellio tt S y m a k

ABOVE Carp fishing. good trick to keep my attention for Don’t you just love it? more than a few lines, let me tell you!

RIGHT Vroom, vroom with a view.

Despite the fact that I’ve been having stuff accepted for publication since the ’60s – but because I know I now write an unconventional, very personal narrative, and my articles are not generally stuffed to capacity with big-carp captures or rigs which could hook quicksilver – I never feel particularly confident that what I send winging off to Carpworld in Sheffield will be published. What I do know is that I go over and over the articles I write in order for “Car p fishing. be about that. To be honest, them to be the best I can do Don’ t you jus t love I won’t know what it (given my limited education). it? Sitting on the will be about until I get What? You thought this bank, day in, day out, to the end. Yes, I know was just chucked together? cooking poor food, what the end is about – And one final word of getting a carp or space, aliens and a pretty advice: Don’t ever, ever, two, yacking with blonde called Six (a rather start a sentence with ‘and’. your mates” sledgehammer reference That’s what I was told at to her as Sex, I would guess), school anyway, but when I went and I’ll explain more later if to school I was also taught a billion you’re too young to remember her! was a million million. In common I will tell you about a fish. parlance it isn’t any more, it’s only a I well remember the last time I became thousand million! Cost of living, eh? drunk enough to throw up. After an Carp fishing. Don’t you just love it? interminable stagger home supported Sitting on the bank, day in, day out, by a friend from the party we’d been to, cooking poor food, getting a carp or two, I was slung onto the downstairs settee yacking with your mates. I got back into because he refused to piggyback me that regular carp-fishing life in 2012 upstairs to bed in case I dribbled – or after a couple of years of just fishing for worse – down his neck. With the wife’s generally smaller stuff in my private lakes scornful assessment of my stupidity for and ponds. Not a bad life if you can get it, getting in such a state ringing in my ears, but suddenly, in the spring, I was struck I spent the night in the toilet or lying with the urge to have a proper go at my down with the room going round like a own syndicate lake for the first time since goldfish in a bowl. That was the second I’d stocked it 16 years previously (!), and time I’d been drunk; I was 18 at the time, therefore did, with pleasing results. many, many, years ago. I know youngsters However, not much of this chat will

(and those who should have more sense) who happily subject themselves to this trauma on a regular basis and don’t give a hoot. Mad or what? Chances are you’re one of them. I do not condemn!

I rather blush at admitting to my lack of interest in getting hammered, because it will surely undermine my deliberately cultured alpha male, butch persona, but hey ho. Unlike most of the carp world, seemingly, and at least two of my kids and one of my grandsons, I stop drinking when I feel I am beginning to talk too loudly! So I don’t drink a lot. To me, drinking is more of a treat than a ritual.

For a number of years one treat has taken the form of having a glass of wine or cider whilst sitting in my car with my beloved on one of two isolated swims on my syndicate lake – as long as there are no anglers about, of course. After a couple of times doing this during the summer, and now with the carp-fishing bug firmly back centre stage, I had a cunning plan. We were within a few feet of the water’s edge, so why not cast a rod out, put the remote in the car, and have my drink?

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FEATURE

D A R R E L L

P E C K

PECKY’S PROGRESS This month Darrell congratulates Dave Lane on his capture of the Burghfield Common, talks about single hookbaits, and why you should have faith in them. Plus he nearly loses a rod in a hardcore hit-and-hold situation.

M

and make way for Mr F and me, but until r F and I are both writing then, the Speckled Hen is on you mate. diary-style pieces for Right, single hookbaits – where to Carpworld, and by a quirk start? Whenever I’m asked about my of fate, we are both fishing Burghfield.

Obviously this isn’t ideal for the magazine, biggest weaknesses in carp fishing, I’d say one would definitely be bait application. so to keep things fresh, I’ve been asked Anglers like young Tom Maker have to write a little bit about my thoughts grown up on well-stocked venues and have and experiences on single hookbaits. consistently smashed them to bits, and This has come at a good time because I hear that one of his greatest strengths things at Burghfield have become more is bait application. On the other hand, difficult, and although I have a capture most of my angling has been on lowerto talk about, there is another angler’s stocked venues with around 100 fish or capture which has changed the game! less, and if I told you that 99% of all the I’m guessing Mr F will give you this story fish I have ever caught have been on less in greater detail than I can, being as he is than 100 boilies, it may surprise some. closer to the angling phenomenon which People often think that because I am a is Dave Lane. Let me tell you about my sponsored angler who gets free bait, I own Burghfield capture, and I would turn up, fill it in, and sit tight until I bore just like to say a few words about my one out. Trust me, that isn’t my style. I feelings surrounding Dave’s incredible am an opportunist mainly, but also an capture of the Burghfield Common. ambush angler, and well-placed singles Now, I have fished all over the country have played a large part in my success. alongside many great anglers, but For me, there are only four none have impressed me things that are of primary more than Dave. His consideration in carp ability to locate “...if I told fishing: the carp’s carp is, without you that 99% of location, where doubt, second to all the fish I have they are most likely none, and I have ever caught have to encounter my watched with been on less than hookbait/be able raised eyebrows 100 boilies, it may to pick it up; a rig as he has moved surprise some” that doesn’t tangle, round the pond which suits the bait week in, week out, and lakebed which I am staying in touch with the fishing over; a bait they want lake’s stock. Some anglers can to eat and are attracted to; and a sharp locate carp well, but they just don’t see hook. Everything after this is of secondary the bigger picture. Obviously time is the importance to me. Note I said ‘a bait’, biggest advantage anglers like Dave and I because one bait in the right spot is often have, but it’s how you use it, and without enough to get a pickup. If the carp can doubt Dave deserved his prize. To the best see it or is likely to encounter the single of my knowledge, he has got the job done boilie, it has the opportunity to pick it quicker than anyone else, and I’m over up, and the more often this occurs, the the moon that he had it from the main more chance it has of being picked up. lake. I have never been one to believe the A few years ago now I did five winters rubbish about fish only getting caught on a days-only day ticket water of around from certain spots, but on this occasion I 2.5 acres. Stock-wise, I’d guess around had started to fall into this trap. So thanks 50-60 carp, and in my opinion it was the Dave, I can stop sitting in mosquito-filled most difficult venue I’d fished in terms poke holes with no carp around, hoping of getting a pickup to the amount of that this fish might just jump on the end. traffic that passed over the rigs. The lake Now hurry up, catch the rest of them

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P e c ky ’ s P ro g ress Da rrell Peck

ABOVE Pink has

become my new yellow.

LEFT A slow-sinking

hookbait ready to go.

for food? So, I had to make sure the fish were aware that my hookbait was available, almost antagonising them by its presence.

I didn’t want to use pop-ups because I felt the fish would be sitting right over the bait all the time, thus giving them the time to inspect it visually, being aware that it was off the bottom and obviously a hookbait.

I knew where they were and I knew what I wanted to achieve. The key to this was the exact spot and the hookbait itself. Now I mentioned the bottom was leafy, and I was concerned that if my bait was hidden under a leaf it might still be fishing but not as effectively as a bait which was visible.

I lovingly hand-rolled some off-white was very shallow, with the deeper water 18mm slow-sinkers using 10mm cork being 4-6ft, and I often sat there watching balls. They floated to start with, but sank fish relentlessly jump over the rigs with ever so slowly when attached to a Size 8 nothing registering on the alarms. It was Wide Gape. These matched the bait which so frustrating that it had me questioning I knew had been piled in the lake for years, the rigs, baits, and everything that had to the point that although I knew 15mms served me so well over the years. The were generally the size going in, I knew penny finally dropped on my fourth that by the time the carp were eating them winter on there; it wasn’t the rigs that they had probably swollen to around were the problem, it was the bait. this size and colour. The final key was the Being a days-only venue with a no loose drop. These days it’s a popular thing to feed/boilies rule, the first thing everybody chat about feeling the lead down, but it’s thought of when trying to gain an edge a skill which, with a little experience, I was to book a swim in advance, which wholeheartedly know catches more carp. you were allowed to do, and then prebait Knowing which cast to leave because of it at night before your arrival, which you the drop has caught me more carp than weren’t allowed to do. Obviously, this was I’d care to count. In this situation it one of my first thoughts, but think was a case of knowing I’d not about it this way; if everybody landed in a pile of leaves is doing it and too much and that the bait was bait is going in then the “Knowing visible. I repeatedly fish can feed at night which cast to cast, waiting for that for free, and won’t leave because special drop, a crisp bother in the day. To of the drop has definitive kick-back my mind this was caught me more on the rod top as the biggest problem, c a r p t h a n I ’d the lead hit down, and I’ve seen it a few c are to count” indicating no leaves. times on days-only The rest, as they say, is venues, in particular history. I not only caught where anglers excessively bait more than I had in previous years, in an attempt to gain an advantage. but I also caught more than anyone else The bottom on this little estate lake was silt with lots of leafy debris, and at the time had had all year, including bracing the two biggest in the lake after it had only I hadn’t any experience of fishing lakes just thawed out after being frozen solid! like this. I’d been brought up on weedy What I have just spoken of is ambush gravel pits and I knew which spots to look fishing. I knew where they were and out for on these venues, but on there, what I wanted to achieve, but what of plumbing always left me none the wiser. opportunist captures? One bait in the So here comes the breakthrough. It’s right spot has caught me endless big ’uns, winter, the fish aren’t feeding hard, too especially after seeing a show. It often much bait is going in. It’s a small, shallow baffles me when targeting big fish that lake roughly 130yds long by 100yds wide, we always assume it’s all about bait and with the fish generally grouped up around the centre in an area the size of two bivvies. prebaiting. The assumption is that big carp are greedy – simply put a load of kit out How do you increase the chance of a and they will jump on the end. I often look pickup if they’re not hungry and certainly at it like this; they know bait is bait not ripping the bottom to bits searching Au gu st 20 14 C a r pwor l d 131

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O V E R S E A S

F I S H E R Y

F O C U S

Lac du Charlou The Champagne region of France is littered with carp lakes – and here’s one, if you’re looking for big fish in excellent surroundings, that should be on your checklist.

S

ituated in the south of the Champagne region of France, this 20-year-old gravel pit has been transformed into a stunning carp fishery over the last 10 years, with carp to just under 70lb. There are lots of documented and photographed carp which have grown on from mid-20lb and are now in their 50s and 60s.

The lake is set in an area dotted with a myriad of carp lakes in the Aube region, close to the town of Brienne le Chateau. The 21 acres of the Charlou site comprises mature woodland surrounding the turquoise blue, crystal-clear waters of the 16-acre lake.

Getting to Charlou is an easy drive from Calais, mainly on autoroutes, and it takes just under 4 hours. The journey takes you to a wellmaintained venue which holds some very big, good-looking carp.

The lake itself is

fully tree-lined, with nicely-sized pegs spaced out evenly around the lake. These have been brought into the 21st century with some stainless steel weigh bars and posts with peg numbers. There are 11 swims, all neatly trimmed and inspected each week. While the pegs are comfortable and practical, the rest of the surroundings have been left as natural as possible, with tree-lined margins and a gravel track winding around the perimeter of the water. Dropping

off your tackle has never been so easy. Unhooking mats are supplied and are in the pegs on arrival. The maximum number of anglers is nine, so there is plenty of space to get four rods

out. The lake is fairly deep, going to 6.5m, and the fish really know how to use the depth to their advantage once hooked. With around 1.5 acres per angler to go at, there’s plenty of room for everyone, and anglers feel like they have their own little world in which to tempt some of the monster carp. Most pegs have margins to fish, and the ones without have bars and plateaus.

Lac du Charlou is a very interesting shape, almost arrowshaped, with bays, tree-lined margins and shallow areas, as well as a few swims where the ‘bug chuck’ boys can have a bit of fun. There is one big double

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O v e r s e a s F is h e r y F o c u s L a c d u C ha r lo u

FISHERY FACT FILE LOCATION: Champagne region (Aube), around 3hrs 45mins from Calais.

Closest town Brienne le Chateau (approx.

7-minute drive).

peg which looks down the whole length of the lake and has features galore on the lakebed, along with four sexy margins.

The stock at Charlou is approximately 300 carp, with a few doubles, plenty of 20s, 30s and 40s, and several 50s and 60s going up to 68lb. Fishing on the lake could never be classed as easy, but it does have a reputation for being very generous with PBs. It’s an experienced angler’s water with truly immaculate carp.

The staff at Lac du Charlou specialise in making sure their clients go home with some trophy shots of any carp caught, and they keep records of all fish over 40lb. There are around 75 fish over 40lb residing in this lake now, and the average size is going up each year.

The facilities include a kitchen fitted with fridges and freezers for food and drinks.

There is a charging area for all phones and batteries, etc., the use of which is included in the lake and fishing price, and the bathroom has a walk-in

shower (not a cramped cubicle).

There is also a large covered eating area for those who decide to take advantage of the food package, and a barbecue is situated alongside this gazebo for those summer socials.

There’s plenty of bait available, including those from Mainline, which is one of the best baits for producing the goods. Particles work well as feed but must be supplied by Charlou Carping; they are cooked freshly each day should you require them. All baits are available to pre-order for your trip and will be waiting for you on arrival.

The car

park is secure and the venue is totally fenced in, so clients can fully relax while spending a week in search of some monster carp.

The atmosphere is so relaxed and the Charlou crew are there to help make your stay a truly memorable experience.

There are rules for the wellbeing of the carp, the anglers and the lake, but they are not repeated to you all week.

There are supermarkets, bars and tabacs within a short 10-minute drive from the lake, and if you fancy a break there’s also the mighty Lac d’Orient, Lac Temple, Lac Amance, and Lac du der Chantecoq, with some beaches and restaurants to visit.

LAKE: 16 acres set in mature woodland; depths to 6.5m; shallow margins, bars and plateaus; this is an ex-gravel pit so expect all the usual features.

SWIMS: 11 swims, one double, all gravel-based with vehicle access; waste bins; weigh posts provided, along with unhooking mats.

FISH STOCKS: Around 300 carp to just below 70lb; plenty of 40-50lb carp with a sprinkling of 60s; average weight midto upper-30s.

FACILITIES: No accommodation; kitchen with fridges, freezers, etc.; food package if required; showers and toilets; charging facilities.

BAILIFFS: Full-time and on site 24/7.

BOATS: Bait boats can be used and are available for hire.

BAIT: Mainline baits available; all particles must be purchased on site unless pre-prepared brand names, e.g.

Dynamite.

RULES: 15lb min. main line; no leadcore leaders; 2ft of tubing to be used above hooklinks; up to four rods can be used; no carp sacks.

PRICES: Drive-and-survive £295; nonanglers welcome (£75 fee); exclusive booking £2,000 (2014 prices); food packages available.

CONTACT: Email: paul@charloucarping.co.uk Web: charloucarping.co.uk Facebook: Search for Charlou Carping or Lac du Charlou.

Tel: 07951 199305 (Paul Miles).

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18/07/2014 15:39

MONSTER CARP TIM PAISLEY • STEVE BRIGGS • THOMAS DUNCAN-DUNLOP

WITH CONTRIBUTIONS FROM ALIJN DANAU • DANIEL CALLEJA • SANDRO DI CESARE • KRIS KURI • PRZEMEK MROCZEK • CHRIS BALL • ANDY CHAMBERS • SIMON CROW • ARJEN UITBEIJERSE • JON HALDANE • BILL COTTAM • LUKE MOFFATT • STEVE BROAD • ERIC SMITH • MARTIN LOCKE

THE BO OK OF 201 4

320 PAGES

£30 £2.95 UK P&P

featuring 70lb+ captures from around the world

ORDER ONLINE AT WWW.THECARPSTORE.COM OR CALL 0114 258 0812 MonsterCarp_AD_CW286.indd 1

11/06/2014 15:59