Carpworld February 2015 - Sample

OVER £600 WORTH OF THE KEY – THE BRAND NEW BAIT FROM NASH

ISSUE 293 / FEBRUARY 2015 / MONTHLY £4.50

Roach Pit

GIANTS

BRITAIN’S BIGGEST CARP-ANGLING MAGAZINE

Mark Casper reveals the rigs and bait which led to his best season ever!

INSIDE PA U L F O RWA R D T I M PA I S L E Y B I L L C O T TA M IAN CHILLCOTT MYLES GIBSON

carpworldmagazine.com

ISSUE 293 FEBRUARY 2015

king

THE

MAGAZINE

FOR THE WORLDWI DE ANGLER

WINTER ACTION ON THE EBRO

Issue 136 February 2015

P170

c ar pwor ld maga z in e. co m

PECKY’S NEW BEST

WASHED-OUT BAITS

WHAT’S NEW IN RIGS

INTERNATIONAL CARPER

The exclusive story of how Darrell caught his first 70-pounder

Our experts examine the pros and cons of this much-used tactic

Mike Kavanagh takes an in-depth look at the latest rig accessories

All the current news and captures from around the world

ENGLISH STYLE

P163 Mark Bar tlett ???

FROZEN IN TIME

P150 Tony Davis-Patrick ???

LEARNING CURVE

P157 Roland Luesley ???

ECHOES / P143 / All the latest news and catches from around the world.

180 PAGES: THE BIGGEST READ IN CARP FISHING

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CONTENTS

The Carpworld Contents / Issue 293 /

February 2015

39

66

95

46

74

101

77

110

Historical Horton Chris Pearson The history books are packed with stories about the famous Horton Church Pool, and Chris Pearson is one of those who wrote about it! Here he chats about his time on the venue and what lies in store for the future.

O N T H E C OV E R : Mark Casper with a very distinctive mirror from Roach Pit. Read the story behind his success on Page 56.

6

Editors’ Comments It’s cold, wet and windy, so it’s been a hard time out and about for our intrepid duo. But on the bank they have been, although it’s not been an easy time, particularly for Nigel.

10

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

15

Fly-Past – At Last!

Gary Spence Catching a brace of 50s is a milestone in anyone’s book, and it’s certainly been a long, hard road for Gary. It’s taken 10 years, so here’s the warts and all story behind the captures.

23

The F Word Paul Forward The weather has been fairly mild in Paul’s neck of the woods, so he’s been out and about on the hunt for carp. He’s had more than a few disappointments this month, but he’s not been deterred, and has even managed to catch a few.

53

Nash Tackle Competition How do you fancy getting your hands on some of Nashy’s latest and greatest? The Key is a new bait which is only just arriving in the shops, but we’ve got lots and lots for you to win.

56

The Road To Roach – Part Two Mark Casper Can Mark’s phenomenal run of success continue as he tackles the famous Roach Pit, a water that’s notoriously tricky? Will a change of tactics keep the fish coming? All will be revealed.

Think Tank Our panel of experts tackle the thorny question of washed-out baits. Do they really work, or are anglers just paying good money for bait only to wash away everything they’ve paid for?

A Dream Come True Keith Jenkins Jenks is back in Carpworld, with a short story which takes the reader into a world where reality is suspended and dreams take over. But what is reality and what is the dream?

Bait World featuring Joe Turnbull Joe looks at using liquids in winter, DNA’s new liquid yeast, and chats with Lewis Read. There’s also an indepth look at the new bait from the Nash camp, The Key, and an interesting spod/ bag mix from Bait-Tech.

89

Historic Carp Waters Chris Ball The Grade II listed Broxbournebury Manor and its surrounding parkland is set in an area of outstanding natural beauty, and was once owned by the Knights Templar of The Da Vinci Code fame.

Conquering The Hill Myles Gibson Do you have faith in Zig fishing?

Is it a good tactic to use in spring?

Myles thinks so, and it’s a method which should never be ignored, no matter what time of year it is.

Tackle World This month we take a look at the new Razor-Lite brolly system from Venture, a bargain stalker rod from NGT, plus a onepiece suit from Nash, and a great way to create chopped boilies.

There’s also plenty more from the likes of Starbaits, Gardner and Phat Fish, to name but a few.

Black & White It’s back! The original quick question and answer feature in which we try to delve into the working minds of some of the top anglers around. This month we’ve enticed Keith Jenkins into our lair!

113

Estate Lake Passions – Part Two Joss Faulkner The death of a specimen carp is always a sad occasion, but when it’s fallen foul of otters and is irreplaceable, it’s a heartbreaker.

This is what Joss faced when, despite all the precautions taken to secure the lake, the defences were breached.

46

Pecky’s Progress Darrell Peck Darrell is halfway through a 3-week winter session in Belgium, and he’s managed to secure the swim he desperately wanted.

Can he come up with the goods?

Turn to Page 23 to find out.

31

Rig World featuring Mike Kavanagh Mike takes a look at two new groundbreaking products this month; Korda’s new Heli Safe Bead and a new hook from Pallatrax, which is said to combine the best of barbed and barbless hooks.

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

95

121

Targeting Cotswold Commons Jensen Manning The start of a new season is always an exciting time for any angler, and for Jensen, targeting a 40lb common on Farriers was a real daunting task, to say the least.

THE

MAGAZINE

128

Ask The Experts Ed Betteridge answers a rig question, Matt Eaton looks at making your own pop-ups, and Adam Clewer talks about fishing rivers. They’re all questions sent in by readers, and there’s a £250 prize on offer too!

133

Still Carping On Tim Paisley Tim’s life is one of mixed blessings. He loves going fishing, but what if the carp he loves angling for are being decimated by predation? How can angling survive and what can we do about it? It’s not all gloom and doom though, there’s plenty to look forward to as well.

FOR THE WORLDWIDE ANGLER

WINTER ACTION

Issue 136 February 2015

ON THE EBRO P170

ENGLISH STYLE

FROZEN IN TIME

LEARNING CURVE

P163 Mark Bartlett tackles the mighty Les Teillatts with great results.

P150 Tony Davies-Patrick takes an extreme look at winter carping.

P157 Roland Luesley reveals how he had to adapt after losing a limb.

E C HOE S FR OM A R OUN D THE WOR LD / P143 / All the latest news and catches from around the globe.

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IN INTERNATIONAL CARPER As well as our usual rundown of all the big-fish captures from around the world in Echoes, there’s a cracking look at winter carping from Tony DaviesPatrick. After many years of fishing around the world, he’s the man with the answers as to what carp really do in winter. Next, we’ve got something really different. How do you go carping when you’re disabled? Roland Luesley takes a holiday trip to France, where he has to learn to fish with only one leg. His passion for angling really shows through in his determination to enjoy his carping. The River Ebro in Spain is the next destination, as Richard Ballard guides us around the mighty river in the search for winter carp. The sport, as well as the scenery, is certainly spectacular. Finally, Mark Bartlett, who usually sits by English lakes, relies on home-grown tactics to achieve a phenomenal haul of fish from the big-fish super-water which is Teillatts.

23/01/2015 11:14

PICK UP YOUR COPY OF CARPWORLD FROM ALL MAJOR STOCKISTS

DON’T FORGET OUR AMAZING SUBS OFFERS ON PAGES 86 - 87

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FEATURE

M

A

R

K

C A

S

P

E

R

THE ROAD TO ROACH P A

R

T

T

W O

After getting off to a flying start on the Roach Pit, Mark changes tactics and carries on with his phenomenal run of success on this notoriously tricky southern venue.

W

hen Roach opened back up it was heaven, if I’m honest. The other anglers had now slowed right down, and lots of people had done exceptionally well during the lake’s first spring. Me, I only really clicked into gear a couple of weeks before the lake was closed, so I was chomping at the bit to get back. My first session back it was busy, but this soon changed very drastically. The weed had come up quite a bit more, but mainly all in one place, just to the left-hand side of the Wind Tunnel Swim at a range of around 100 yards or so. This weedbed had sprung up in the same area which had been covered in eelgrass during the spring. By sitting up at night I had the carp nailed down again really quickly.

They were spending all day long out in the weedbed, which sat bang in the middle of the big end. The two swims, Rat and Hooper’s, which looked out over these weedbeds, were the busy swims, and were full of carp basking in the sun all day. During the night though, the carp split up and spread out.

Within an hour of darkness they were on the move; some moved up the channel towards the small end, but a hell of a lot of them moved across the plateau in front of Wind Tunnel down to the NE corner of Roach, and were boshing out in front of Swim 35. This swim looks out over a lot of deep water with lovely silt beds, but it’s 17-18ft deep. At that time of year I had zero interest in fishing there; however much

they loved being there at night, the swim wasn’t really getting fished by anyone.

I hatched a plan to clump them from the spot I had found in the Wind Tunnel, at 5ft deep and sitting right next to where they were virtually living all day long. I knew I could draw their attention. I’d also watched/heard some very big fish show every night in the gully at the back of my spot, so this was going to be the area. These swims had remained closed for so long under CEMEX when this bank was out of bounds, so this spot could only be fished from the other side, with lines going across the gully. In other words, it was hideous. As I explained earlier, from the Wind Tunnel Swim I had 30 yards of shallow plateau on which to

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T h e R o a d To R o ach Ma r k C a s per

keep my lines pinned right down. I had the exact point on the plateau where I was positive they were moving across at night, a small 1ft depression created by the wind/undertow, I’d imagine.

The swim itself was hideous to actually set up in. I was setting up on pure gravel which had been pounded by cement lorries for many years. It was horrible for holding a peg as soon as there was a bit of rain. Mallets are quite rightly banned on Roach Pit, so I often spent up to an hour with hands bleeding trying to get six pegs in for the Ultralight – I kid you not! In that swim, you were right on the end of a westerly wind which had the entire length of Roach Pit with which to build up a head of steam and ruin you.

It’s only a few miles from the coast so the

wind can howl down there when it wants to. For the first year on the lake I know of at least three anglers whose bivvy got blown away when fishing in this swim.

A bit of rain on that gravel and those pegs were coming out, although it’s now been sorted during work parties.

I had the spot (which was completely left alone), so now I needed something to grab their attention. I had up until then caught all my Roach carp on our cork balls, using either Naked Chods or Stiff Hinge Rigs with a scattering of boilies. This was as much to go against the grain of what was the traditional done thing on Roach, to fish to a clipped mark and Spomb a big bucket of particles/pellets/boilies over it. Now the fish had spawned, I was about to

completely change my approach. Every Tom, Dick and Harry on the lake was now using our cork balls, and they were catching 95% of all the fish, along with Coops Choc Orange boilies. I had a different plan for them now though.

For the past month I’d had over 200kg of hemp fermenting in rotting garlic. It takes a couple of weeks to prepare, so I was making it in advance and freezing it in a chest freezer. Many years ago, I wrote a couple of threads on the old RMC forum under the username TCarper – one about salt-cured boilies, and another about fermented garlic hemp. I knew the carp wouldn’t have seen this gear before, but they were about to. It couldn’t be easier to prepare.

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THIS MONTH’S QUESTION :

D o yo u t hi nk wa s hed - ou t bait s have a p ar t t o p lay in car p fish in g , a n d w hy, a f t er s p e nd ing good m oney t o bu y high ly a t t r a c t ive b a i t s w hi c h oo ze good ne s s , s hou ld we j u s t wash i t a ll o ut ? C a n ’ t p a l e b a it s w hic h im it a t e was he d -ou t baits wor k in t hi s i n s t a n ce?

T H I S M O N T H ’ S T H I N K T A N K PA N E L A R E :

BILL COTTAM

ED BETTERIDGE

JASON TROUGHT

IAN CHILLCOTT

There’s no need to

Ed’s a man on a mission

Jason is one of the men

Ian is an angler who

introduce Bill to you

when it comes to

behind the development

eats, drinks and sleeps

– he’s a regular writer

catching carp – and he’s

of DNA Baits, and

carp fishing, and he

in Carpworld and is

rather good at it! Having

he’s always good for

knows exactly what

one of the most highly-

fished all over the country

a more, shall we say,

works and what doesn’t.

regarded bait maestros in the game.

on all types of waters, he’s seen lots

contentious look at the use of bait.

His views on bait and tactics are,

As the man behind Nutrabaits,

of different situations, and by slightly

It’s very interesting to see that his

very often, quite controversial,

he can give chapter and verse

modifying tactics, he’s been able

opinions on washed-out baits

so he’s an ideal panellist to

on the use of any sort of bait.

to catch when others have failed.

differ from our other panellists.

answer this month’s question.

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Are your washed-out baits a washout?

When you choose to buy a particular brand/flavour of boilie, it’s because it’s been lovingly made and extensively tested. It will be packed with lots of tasty ingredients which fish love to eat, all bound together in a form that’s easy to use; it can be used in a catapult or throwing stick, and with a bit of luck, will be one which the carp will search out. We care for them, nurture them and lovingly prepare them, dip them in glugs and powders, and spend ages deciding what goes into them. So what’s the point in doing all this only to wash out all the goodness that you’ve lovingly (and expensively, in some cases) made or bought?

This, in a nutshell, is the principle behind using washedout baits. You take a fullyflavoured boilie, wash all the goodies out of it, and then chuck it in the water in the hope that a carp will be fooled into thinking it’s been lying on the bottom for ages and is, therefore, safe to eat. In theory it all sounds great.

After all, in many waters there’s a near constant bombardment of spods, Method mixes, PVA bags going in, all backed up by a blistering hailstorm of boilies. So, if the carp are under so much pressure, the theory is that they’re going to be very wary of fresh bait – or are they?

On many heavily-fished waters, the sound of boilies going in is tantamount to the sound of a dinner gong, and at such venues, the key to success has been to keep the bait going in constantly. However, how many waters are really like this? Not many, we reckon, and certainly not that many on the specimen carp circuit. On waters like this you’ve got to think outside the box, and if the fish are being really cagey, it’s possible that the theory behind washed-out baits may hold true – that’s assuming that the carp have enough intelligence to know what a washed-out bait actually is! How do they know if the bait is shelf life, fresh, frozen, new, old, bright, dark, fishmeal, or birdfood? The list goes on.

As usual, it’s a question of confidence, and each method will have its day. So, what do our panel of experts think? Are washed-out baits a washout? Are you just wasting your money?

ABOVE Washed-out

Bill Cottam says:

may seem, I also believe that there are occasions when

Trigga freezer baits.

I totally understand the point you make about buying a

the older fish – which are very often the bigger fish –

RIGHT Will

quality bait, only to then attempt to reduce the inherent

are actually less tolerant to higher attractor levels than

attraction by soaking it in water prior to use, but I am

their younger and smaller brethren, and consequently

afraid the situation has much in common with the

they appear to be happier feeding on boilies which,

production of boilie crumb. Certainly, you can go down

in all likelihood, have had quite a reasonable amount

the road of trying to avoid paying for a bag of bait to be

of their smell and taste washed out of them.

the carp spook off a blatant baited spot like this? Will using washedout baits make any difference?

rolled and boiled only to then break it up into thousands of little pieces if you wish, but cutting short either process simply isn’t anything like as effective as the real thing. A lightly coloured bait with reduced flavour levels may help to fool the odd extra carp every now and again, but it certainly doesn’t replicate

I have to be honest and tell you that I have no idea why it should be so, but in my experience, the washed-out bait approach only really comes into its own with boilies which have a percentage of fishmeal in their make-up. Quite why birdfoods and more run-ofthe-mill 50/50 mix-type

a bait which has

boilies do not appear

been on the lakebed

to lend themselves

for a period of time

to being washed

in the same way as

out in the same way

washed-out bait does.

is a mystery to me,

If you are looking

but it does certainly

for an edge on pressured

appear to be the case.

waters where carp have seen just about everything, washedout baits are undoubtedly worthy of serious consideration. Basically, they are

Nothing particularly scientific is required if you are looking to try the washed-out bait approach; simply cover a quantity of

intended to imitate baits which have been sitting on

boiled baits in a bucket of lake water for a couple

the bottom of the lake for a period of time and which

of days before you need them, and get yourself

have not been eaten. The principle behind washed-out

into the routine of rotating the soaked baits so

baits certainly makes a great deal of sense. On many

you are always working a few days in front.

occasions, I have witnessed fish not moving on to beds

Feel free to add the additives of your choice

of bait until some considerable time after they have been

to the bucket of lake water if you so desire, but

introduced, and certainly it would appear that many fish

to my mind that is defeating the object a little.

treat old bait with noticeably less suspicion than they do

In my opinion, pure unadulterated water from

bait which has just been introduced. As ridiculous as it

the margins is all that is needed.

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BAITWORLD

Z A

OF

BAIT

THE

DEAN TOWEY

For those of you who don’t know Dean, let us

If you are a home-roller, this will be right

introduce him. He’s been carp fishing for over

up your street; if not, it might not grab your

20 years, has a bait company based in Stoke

attention initially. I’m hoping, though, that

(Scientific Baits), and his formal qualifications

it will grab any angler’s interest, because

include a BSc in Applied Biology and a

to me, the more you know about how carp

Masters in Plant Food Genetics. Dean has

feed and their nutritional requirements, the

applied this technical/study background to his

more likely you are to tempt them into taking

passion for bait mechanics and general love

your baits. If you buy your boilies from

of carp angling, and he’ll be joining us for

someone else (and there are plenty of good

more of his Alphabait series in the April issue.

bait-makers in this country), or if

The aim of this article, and hopefully

anything I say strikes a chord with

the others that follow, is simple. I’m giving

you, then by all means ask your

away some of the things I have learned, and

bait-maker what he thinks about

am still learning, about carp and how to

the issue, and more importantly, do

make effective, efficient baits to catch them.

they address it in your chosen bait?

A IS FOR ACID

I

t’s fitting that A is the first letter of the alphabet

our minds are clouded over with information and

because acids in their many forms are the

priorities which are not fundamental to survival,

key to successful carp baits, and how carp

although we are led to believe they are! Animals

ABOVE This 38lb UK mirror came to my net after a little tinkering with the bait. The addition of MSG saw it hit both my net and a friend’s inside 2 months.

RIGHT Amino acids are the building blocks of life.

recognise them and accept them as food sources.

of far less apparent intelligence and thinking

For instance, citric acid is a key metabolite in the

ability are not clouded by all this non-essential

Krebs, or citric acid cycle. It is found in all forms

stuff, and their simple lives centre around the

of life, and thus it is an indicator of live or recently

sequestration of food, as ours once did, but no

Acids are our Friends

deceased food sources for carp. It is therefore

longer do due to the ever increasing complexity

OK, back to acids. Before I continue to talk about

no surprise that they have a distinct liking for

of human life on planet Earth. This is supposed

citric acid, I’d just like to mention amino acids,

it, or more accurately, a taste preference for it.

to be called progress, and in many ways we

as by now some of you may be thinking: ‘Huh! I

As this is found in living cells, if a carp ingests

can thank this for a lot of things. An increase

thought carp recognise food using amino acids.’

matter containing it, even in minute amounts, it

in the average longevity of human life, disease

This is true, but they’re not the only sort of acids

is compelled to rapidly smash the source

control/eradication – the list goes on! The

to bits! As protein is omnipresent in living systems, it is therefore an indicator of a protein source, as are many things which are potent taste/ feed stimulants in carp.

Nature and evolution always ensure that even

“ I F A CARP I NGE ST S M AT T E R CONTAI NI NG I T, E VE N I N M I NUT E AM OUNT S, I T I S COM PE L L E D T O RAPI DLY SM ASH T HE SOURCE T O BI T S! ”

creatures which appear to have relatively little intelligence have

used in food recognition, although they are very

balance of nature functions better

important. Citric acid is widely used as a taste and

in a simple world, but also in

acidity regulator and natural preservative, and it is

this balance, death can come

also the molecule responsible for the tart taste of

quickly. For instance, if you

lemons and other citrus fruits. Have a look at food

are a small roach, you can

labelling to see how often it’s included. However,

be wiped out in the blink of

forget all this when thinking about a carp because

an eye by a pike. Thankfully,

it simply recognises this molecule as an indicator

civilised society has changed this for many humans, but with

progress comes some negatives.

of life, and as a source of protein; it’s not that they like things which taste like lemons (although this could be true). If you make your own bait, I strongly

extremely intelligent food recognition pathways.

Due to the increasing complexity of life, we

recommend you try this in your bait. You don’t need

In fact, it would not be folly to say that the lower

are seeing higher incidences of cancer, heart

to add much at all, and I would suggest 10g per

the intelligence, the better or more efficient, and

disease, anxiety, depression, and other mental

six eggs as a maximum, as carp are sensitive to

thus intelligent, this recognition system appears to

illnesses, which are essentially the undesirable

its presence. You will find citric acid in any Asian

be. Humans are a prime example to compound

effects of increasing complexity (progress) for a

supermarket, or even on eBay in small amounts.

this train of thought. We are essentially at the

human living in an ever more unnatural world.

The last bag I bought was 25kg in weight, which

top of the food chain, the king of the planet, the

I’d probably think though, that the positives for

is probably a bit too much for a home-roller!

dominant, most intelligent life form. However,

now outweigh the negatives, although if you are

Let’s look a little more at amino acids. It’s

through an ever-increasing complex way of life

personally affected by some of these ills you may

logical that carp recognise these as indicators of

and a build-up of extraneous life processes, we are

not think so. If you aren’t, count your lucky stars

food sources because protein is an important and

no longer highly attuned hunter gatherers. Instead

and keep on trying to live the best way you can.

essential food type for carp and any animal on the

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LEFT Small bags of citric acid (approx 400g) contain enough to make at least 40 kilos of boilies and cost less than £2.

Hopefully, by now, you are beginning to see how something which has little or limited intelligence – a carp (although we don’t say that when we blank!) –

a combined reaction far greater than the sum total of the individual reactions of each molecule. I know at least one bait brain in this country who thinks likewise. Nam

is actually in possession of a very

Pla is cheap, very cheap; you can pick

MSG – half a kilo of MSG for less than £3, and carp love it.

intelligent natural food recognition

up a bottle of good Nam Pla for less

system. The intelligence is evolution,

than £2! Again, the Asian supermarkets

and evolution is intelligence over time.

are your friend. The Squid brand is

Nam Pla is another excellent additive, and it’s my favoured brand of fish sauce.

It would be sacrilege to talk about

particularly good, because they’re not all

acids without mentioning another

of the same potency, but cheap doesn’t

BELOW LEFT

RIGHT

This fermented shrimp paste is a good additive to use in boilies.

BELOW

My mate Gary has done really well over the last 4 years, using a bait of mine loaded up with Nam Pla as the only liquid additive.

BOTTOM

group of acids, and that is organic

mean useless; try it and see. You will be

acids, or low molecular weight

impressed and so will the carp, barbel,

volatile fatty acids. Don’t worry, this stuff isn’t secret.

You will all have heard of N-butyric acid, but this is just the tip of the iceberg. More importantly,

roach, tench, etc., etc. – they all love it! The fatty acids present in Nam Pla are numerous, and then there is the salt (a known carp attractor), free-form amino acids and also an alkaline molecule,

there are some wonderful additives available

which I’ll talk about in a later article if possible.

to use in bait which contain these acids

These fatty acids are volatile and small in size,

in abundance, and carp love ’em!

and some are also lighter than water, making them great attractors which want to escape from your

Supermarket Sweep

boilies. Other commonly known and used additives

I was lucky in that a number of years ago, I got put

which are derived from fermentation are belachan,

on to a wonderful bait additive by Shaun Harrison.

or shrimp paste, soy sauce, and a concentrated

This was Nam Pla, or Thai fish sauce. I went

soy sauce called Tamari. They all work and they

out and bought some and put it into a fishmeal

all owe part of their attraction qualities to these

bait. The fish went nuts for it, and this was the

fatty acids. Again, I emphasise the point that they

only liquid additive in the bait; no liquid flavour,

are indicators of protein sources because they are

nothing, just Nam Pla! I was intrigued, and so I set

produced by fermentation of protein containing

about researching this product because I had to

systems. A very interesting study about N-butyric

planet. The most prevalent amino acids in nature

know what it contained. It is a fermented product

acid showed that it made the human body produce

are aspartic acid and glutamic acid, and thus

produced by the fermentation of anchovies in

more of a protein transport molecule called PepT1.

it is no surprise that carp respond well to these

salt. You see again that something that is protein-

Although this was ascertained in humans, I did

amino acids. However, carp can and do recognise

derived is an attractor of carp! The fermentation

wonder if this occurred in carp too, as this protein

most amino acids, and thus can easily home in

process produces a plethora of organic acids,

transporter is also present in carp. The butyric

on protein sources. An interesting additive in bait

amongst other things, and this results in a liquid

acid in this study was produced in the gut via

is MSG, or monosodium glutamate. This is the

which carp simply love and is a great attractor.

fermentation of fibre and carbohydrate sources. It

sodium salt of the glutamic acid. The Chinese

I personally believe that this additive produces a

is not too hard to apply this to a carp. If a carp is

add it to all their food, such is its power of flavour

far greater reaction from carp when used liberally

living in an environment whereby protein is scarce,

enhancement. Now, despite what some people

in boilies (20ml per six eggs minimum) than the

then its gut may also contain a high percentage

think, or think they know, carp have a receptor

commonly used N-butyric acid, although both are

fibrous material which may well begin to ferment

for this molecule, and it is a particularly good

effective. However, the vast mixture of acids and

and produce more butyric acid, which, in turn, may

additive in any type of boilie. Genetic studies have proven unequivocally the presence of

other natural molecules present in Nam Pla is, I believe, synergistic, which means it produces

lead to the increased expression (read production) of this PepT1 molecule, thus allowing it to more

this receptor, so I’m sorry for the doubters,

efficiently seize dietary proteins. This may well be a

but you can’t argue with that one. Again,

reason why the use of N-butyric acid has become

I buy it in 10kg sacks, but you can get it

so widespread and successful, owing partly to its

from Asian supermarkets in small packets

taste and attraction properties, and partly to the

for next to nothing. I’d go no higher than

effect it has on the carp’s digestive system. They

10g per six eggs, and also be mindful of

may be simple creatures, but nature’s intelligence

the sodium (salt) content of the rest of your

more than compensates for any apparent shortfalls.

bait, as this will affect how the bait gels together

That’s about it for now. I’ve talked quite a lot

upon cooking. But there are products out there

about acids and any subsequent pieces may not

which will work well in these conditions; whey gel

be as in-depth, but I hope they’re enlightening all

is one. Another point worth mentioning at this point

the same. The adage ‘know your enemy’ is what

is that both citric acid and MSG will survive the

it’s all about for me, and whilst we don’t hunt

cooking process when incorporated into a boiled

carp for food, we are still hunters, and I think the

bait. How anyone could doubt MSG’s effectiveness

knowledge helps towards the capture of your next

in boilies anyway is beyond me. Rod Hutchinson

target carp. If you are making your own bait, this

suggested its effectiveness 30 years ago, and now,

will hopefully be very useful, and if you don’t, it will

years later, he is proven to be correct by science.

still help you choose your weapons, so to speak.

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After over 50 years of fishing around the world, Tony has seen and angled for carp in all weathers and extremes of temperature.

Here he looks at winter angling, and answers the questions we all ask, about what carp actually do in the extreme cold.

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F ro z e n I n T ime To ny Da vies -Pa tr ick

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s I write this article during the opening days of 2015, the whole landscape is lost inside a sea of fog which paints layers of frost on the bivvy winter skin. Drops of moisture that hung beneath my rods at dusk have now frozen, and my reels are encased inside a thick crust of ice. The spools are locked solid and white beads of frosted ice clinging to the braided line have formed a bond over the bite alarm wheels, so they, too, are glued in position. I attempt to melt some of the line crossing the alarm sensors with the heat from my fingertips, but they suddenly stick like glue, and my skin is almost peeled off as I lift off numb fingers and push them back deep inside my pockets. I’ve been in this situation so many times during the past, and know that if I get a take from a fish, I will be forced to bang the reel against frost-hardened ground so that the ice coating is shattered and the spool will begin revolving.

A gap in the fog cloud uncloaks a sprinkling of sparks as each star reveals itself against the black sky. Temperatures continue to plummet, so I climb, fully clothed, inside the Polar sleeping bag and then pull an extra layer of bedchair cover over the top. I lay almost entombed inside the thick winter sleeping bag, watching my own breath linger in clouds, until it makes contact with the inner roof of the bivvy and freezes into a thin sheet of ice. My body temperature quickly warms up the air inside the bag, so I’m as warm as toast. Decades of winter carping has taught me that high-quality winter clothing, boots and sleeping bags are paramount. Humans cannot withstand cold body or extremities for long, and when you aren’t moving limbs for long periods of time, it’s vital to keep the inner core burning.

Two weeks have passed, and I’ve yet to see a single carp roll, or any signs at all of life in the lake, except for the occasional jack pike in the margins. The bivvy door is left rolled up so that I can still see the rods and water. I rarely ever close the bivvy door night or day, even during the most extreme of winter temperatures. I need to feel how the water beats – even at times like this, when everything seems to be in permanent sleep.

Do carp hibernate? Back in 1965, when I first began carp fishing, biologists and most anglers believed that they did, so I took it as gospel. This was

ABOVE Globetrotter night fishing for carp by winter moonlight.

MAIN IMAGE

Continued confidence is needed to maintain enthusiasm through extralong winter nights, prolonged fish inactivity, and freezing temperatures.

mirrored in the views of books and magazine articles published on the subject. Even the legendary Richard Walker and Jack Hilton hung their carp rods up from the first frosts of November until the milder days of June.

In the winter of 1966, something dramatic happened to change my views on the subject. I was only a young lad of 9 years old, and on that cold wintery day I walked down the dirt track towards the local perch pit near Farnborough.

Unfortunately, as I walked along the frosted banks, I was met with the sight of the lake covered like a sheet of glass, except for a 30ft-wide hole. My tiny 7ft green solid glass spinning rod was already set up with a float and a Size 14 spade end hook tied to nylon. A chunk of bread flake was torn from a pack of sandwiches lovingly prepared by my mother earlier that day, and then cast towards the edges of the ice sheet.

The depth was 15ft, but the float was positioned only 3ft up from the hook.

A cool breeze began to push the quill across the surface of melted water. To my astonishment, the red tip of the float bobbed twice and then vanished. A quick strike was met with solid resistance as the 7ft of glass keeled over like rubber.

Something monstrous was trying to drag me beneath the ice! The ratchet nut on the spool was already screwed down tight, and instead of playing the fish, I tried to wind in whatever was on the

end against a line as taut as a bowstring.

A monster emerged from the depths like a treasure chest full of gold coins.

The fish rolled on the surface and then dived again in an effort to reach the bottom. Something had to give, and it did – the line twanged and then suddenly snapped, throwing me back onto my backside to wallow in the slush and mud. For what seemed like ages, I just sat there bawling my eyes out. That episode lives with me today as vividly as the day it happened.

At the time, my largest carp was a beautiful hump-backed mirror carp of 2lb 8oz, yet this leviathan was a golden common carp of at least 7lb or more. It taught me to always preset my reel drag, but more than this, it proved that carp fed near the surface on the coldest of winter days.

A few years later, I managed to hook and land two double-figure carp at an icebound lake. Both had sucked in floating crust presented free-line beneath the trailing fronds of a willow tree, where the branches had prevented ice from forming.

Those early incidents proved to be a positive influence on my future winter carp fishing. During these formative years, I had no doubts that carp never truly hibernate. Today, five decades on, if asked the same question, I would be hesitant to form the exact same conclusion. I believe that carp do hibernate, but only for periods, and rarely across F ebru ary 2015 C a r pwor l d 151

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Spanish Winter Wonderland!

R I C H A R D

B A L L A R D

Since writing this feature, Rich has moved to the Ebro Valley and become a guide, helping anglers catch the fish of their dreams.

Here he reveals just how spectacular the sport can be on the main river and its tributaries, regardless of how cold it gets.

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S p a n is h W in t e r Wo n de r la n d! Richa rd Ba lla rd

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f you haven’t heard of the River Ebro by now, then this is possibly the first piece of angling press you have read for a while! Most anglers will be aware that the place is a big-fish hunter’s paradise, with specimen roach, zander, bass and carp all swimming in its depths, but the Ebro is possibly most famous for the mammoth-sized wels catfish which reside there. These huge predators are non-native to the river, having been stocked by a German angler in the ’70s, but they are one of the main reasons why thousands of people travel from all over the world each year. They’re also, to some extent at least, the reason why the carp are so big. Let me explain a bit more. The catfish predate on the small carp – read small as anything up to 20lb! – thus keeping the stocks of small fish in check, but as well as that, the most popular bait for the cats is halibut pellets, and certain areas of the river see a staggering amount used by the cat anglers. Of course, the carp get in on the action and eat the pellets as well, and as a result of this ‘pellet boom’, they are growing at a phenomenal rate. There are a few rare mirrors recorded up to 77lb, and the commons aren’t that far behind. I’m not sure what the record is for a river carp, but I should think that these are up there with the biggest in the world.

So, when is a good time to fish the Ebro for carp? They will pretty much feed all year round, and if you can find them you will catch, providing they aren’t spawning – which can happen up to three times a year. The river is a wild beast, with conditions changing by the minute. Large hydroelectric dams produce electricity 365 days a year, snowmelt floods down from the Pyrenees mountains in the spring, and big rafts of dying weed push through in the autumn. The water levels and flow are changeable by the hour, and at times 10oz leads are washed away in seconds, which makes the fishing somewhat problematic. It’s not for the fainthearted, that’s for sure! Still, as they say, where there’s a will there’s a

way, and for me it’s these challenges which make it all the more exciting, and ultimately rewarding when it all comes together.

Although nothing is ever set in stone, carping on the Ebro can be prolific during the winter.

Historically, November and December have proven to be very productive, and the shoals of carp are quite active. By November the water temperatures start to drop after the hot summer, resulting in less catfish activity, and I’m sure this plays a part in the carp’s willingness to feed. Couple this with a decline in the available natural food sources around the same time, and the mega-hits of carp reported from the venue each winter start to make sense.

These fish are extremely nomadic, and they generally move in shoals of similar-sized fish. I’ve seen this before whilst fishing the St Lawrence in Canada – if you’re catching doubles and 20s, then that is probably what you will catch that day. However, if you’re catching 30s and 40s then make the most of it while you can, because it is more than likely you have a shoal of better fish in front of you. Of course there are exceptions to this rule, but I’ve seen it more than a few times for it to be coincidence.

Last December I headed over to the Ebro with ebromadcats.co.uk to see if I could track down a shoal or two of the bigger fish. I had an idea where the fish liked to be from previous experience, so a few friends and I loaded up our boats, put on our life jackets and set sail upriver to the town of Mequinenza. There had been some heavy snowfall in the days prior to this, which was unusual for the time of year, and the river was rising fast, with a serious drop in water temperature. As we reached Mequinenza we started scouting the area with an echo sounder, and it quickly became apparent that the River Segre, which joins the Ebro at Mequinenza, was flowing at a chilly 7 degrees, whereas upstream from the confluence it was a very carpy 13 degrees! Better still, less than a mile up the Ebro is a huge power dam which was

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EXCLUSIVE FULL STORY

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26/01/2015 14:33