N I W
CHG N E IN Y FR H D A A IS LI F O H
HOW TO TIE YOUR OWN UNIQUE ZIG >>
craftyc
arper.c o
No.225 May 2016
May 2016 | Issue 225 | £4.25
Y W O CR
HER
GET PIECING IT TO
Get Crafty... GET CATCHING!
E V E I H C A TO
THE RIG - THATTC-H
HELPED TO CA
FIVE
50
S
S S E C C U S
INSIDE
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TO N DA R R E N B E L ~ E D AV L A N E ~ LAN A IA IN M C M IL ~ M T O M A KE R ~ LL U JO E T R N B U ~ E D AV L E V Y
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— A CARP’S EYE VIEW OF THE UNDERWATER WORLD — 11/04/2016 15:28
Crafty Carper /// Issue 225 /// May 2016 /// www.craftycarper.co
7
On the cover: Crafty regular, Simon Crow, with the stunning Floppy Tail.
Editorial – Steve Broad After planning more time
on the bank this month, Steve
14
Brocard Competition This is your chance to win a superb
holiday for two, worth £500, on the 39-
reveals how it didn’t quite
102
Give ’Em Enough Rope – Ian Stott
happen after grabbing just a
To catch one 50lb+ carp is a
couple of short sessions.
huge achievement, but Ian Stott aced that
acre Brocard Large Lake, which is nestled
when he recently banked his fifth 50 in 5
in the heart of the Champagne region of
months, a truly outstanding achievement.
France, just 4 hours’ drive from Calais.
Here is the rig that helped him do it.
10
Getting Ziggy On Wraysbury –
Tom Oliver
Ringing the changes when nothing is working can often get you that all-
IN W
important bite. Here, Tom proves the
ZIG >> HOW TO TIE YOUR OWN UNIQUE
CH G ENI N Y R F H DA A IS LI F O H
point when he swapped to a Zig on RK Leisure’s historic Wraysbury, and it really did make all the difference.
18
Building Blocks – Darren Belton
How much bait to feed, and how
craftyca rper.co
No.225 May 2016
often, is an essential skill to learn
May 2016 | Issue 225 | £4.25
to achieve consistent success. Here, Darren reveals some of the tricks he uses to help build a swim.
28
THE RIG - THAT -H
CROWY
HELPED TO
The Rig Mechanic – Ellis Brazier
CATC
Zig bugs are all the rage at the
FIVE
50
moment, and are deadly at this time of year. Here, Ellis reveals how
S
GETHER CING IT TO
to tie his unique pattern which really does do the business.
VE TO A C H I E
PIE
32
Get Crafty... GET CATCHING!
S S E C C U S
New Horizons – Tom Morrison
Crafty Carper editorial staff writer, Tom Morrison, is familiar with tackling silty and shallow waters, having caught fish from all over the country. Here he ventures to a water new to him, so let’s see how he dealt with the challenge.
46
Late Spring – Dave Lane This season is definitely
one of two halves, and this month, Dave looks at the second part
INSIDE
of spring, when the carp behave
craftycarper.co
B E LTO N DA R R E N~ NE D AVE L A ~ C M IL L A N IA IN M A~ ER TO M M A K ~ BULL JO E T U R N ~ VY D AVE L E
PL US
differently to how they do in March. Hitting The Bar – Tom Maker
2016 On sale 20th April –17th May
and knows the importance of understanding the lakebed in front of him. Here’s how he finds the right 11/04/2016 15:28
001_Cover_CC225.indd 1
23
Under Pressure – Andrew Gardner
39
Amphibious angler Andrew Gardner
has dived many waters across the UK, and
places to position his rigs in order to consistently catch big carp.
60
The Question Is Ellis Brazier, John
has seen many things which, for many of
Kneebone, Mick Tuck, Mitch Smith,
By getting lots of information about
us, would be hard to believe. Have you ever
Simon Crow, and Rich Adams
the two lakes he was going to fish,
thought that depth could affect the buoyancy
answer questions sent in by Crafty
Simon pieced it all together to catch
of your bait? Here, Andrew sheds some light
readers, ranging from information
his target fish – Floppy Tail.
on what’s really happening in deeper water.
on particles, to dumping a lead.
Together – Simon Crow
4
Tom has been successfully tackling gravel pits for a number of years,
UND ERW ATE R WO RLD — — A CAR P’S EYE VIE W OF THE
Putting The Pieces
54
Crafty Carper
004-005_Contents_CC225.indd 1
11/04/2016 15:32
– Dan Price
With a bit of time off from sixth
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N WI
CHG E NI N Y A FR H A IS LID F O H
HOW TO TIE YOUR OWN UNIQUE ZIG >>
No.225 May 2016
May 2016 | Issue 225 | £4.25
THE RIG - THAT -
CROWY
HELPED TO CATCH
FIVE
50
S
PIECING IT TOGETHER
Get Crafty... GET CATCHING!
bag one or two as well.
TO ACHIEVE
SUCCESS
INSIDE
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DARREN BELTON ~ DAVE LANE ~ IAIN MACMILLAN ~ TOM MAKER ~ JOE TURNBULL ~ DAVE LEVY
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77
Changing the Guard – Simon Crow
Crowy looks back over 13 fantastic years of BYCAC, and looks to the future of this great event.
83
Crafty Carper
97
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The Art Of Boilie Fishing – Iain Macmillan
We joined Iain Macmillan at Baden
things riggy, it’s time to put the final touches to his very
preferred style of angling – boilie
successful setup, which is simple
fishing. Are you doing it right?
to use and works great in a whole range of angling scenarios.
106
The Great Crafty Carper Debate
We ask our experts: At this time
This month, we take a
mistake you see other anglers make,
look at what’s new in the world
when a small change could make a
of tackle, including new reels from
big difference to their catch results?
Nash, clothing from Phat Fish, and
91
Of Applying It
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Subscription Offer Get your copy of
Crafty Carper delivered to your door each month, and save
Right – Dave Levy
yourself the hassle of trekking
We headed south (to Essex)
down to your local newsagents.
to catch up with the author of Fallen Kings, Dave Levy, to talk all things bait application. There are several forms of bait, and
Julian Cundiff
To finish off Julian’s run of all
and outs of his very successful and
of year, what is the most common
The Importance
111 11/04/2016 14:35
Hall’s Quarry Lake to give us the ins
Carpers’ Kit
products from JRC and many more.
121
Crafty Carper
Rig Special –
113
Catch Column Sponsored
by Sticky Baits
126
The TicketMaster This month we
feature two venues: the famous Linear complex, and East Delph Lakes in Peterborough. Be sure to take advantage of the free fishing on offer in this issue of TicketMaster.
128
Inbox Keep up to date
with all the latest news and views from around the carp-angling scene, along with JRC’s Every Picture Tells A Story competition.
130
Mega Deals There’s always a
various ways to get bait out. Dave
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and pick up some great offers.
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PUTTING THE Simon Crow
P
I E
By getting lots of information about the two lakes he was going to fish, Simon pieced it all together to catch his target fish – Floppy Tail.
C E S TOGETHER
Crafty Carper 039-043_Crowy_CC225.indd 1
39 05/04/2016 11:01
Putting The Pieces Together Simon Crow nce spring is on its way, I
O
bank known as Cabin and
always itch to get the rods
Second Out Of The Woods.
weather watcher during the winter. My
angler pressure began to drop off as we
fishing time is precious and I want to
entered the third week of the month,
out because I’m very much a
The lake was quite busy into May but
make the most of my available time,
and I found myself setting up in Cabin.
so as winter turns to spring, I will have
Conditions were absolutely spot on for
sorted all my tickets well in advance. I
carp and I spent a lot of time looking
rarely settle for just one ticket a year.
for fish. There were loads on show
I usually have my sights set on two
and I was brimming with confidence
or three different waters, and switch
as I set up the Titan, because none of
from one to the other depending on
the biggies had yet been out. It was
the state of play. If one of the lakes
obvious where my three rods needed
is busy or the biggie has been out,
to be. Directly opposite the swim was
or one isn’t fishing particularly well,
a thick band of reeds, which led into
it ensures I have something to fall
the bay where the fish were. There
back on. This is standard procedure
was an opening in the reeds leading
in my carping approach, and one
to the bay, and I dropped all three
of the best examples I can give to
rods nice and tight to the reedline.
demonstrate this was back in 2013.
While having a walk around earlier in
I had a great season’s fishing that year, all based in North Lincolnshire, which is about 40 minutes from my East
the day, I’d spread 100 or so boilies right on the edge of the reeds. Everything felt right for the night
Yorkshire home. The two lakes I chose
ahead, and I just knew this was the time
to fish were ideal for my overnighters
when things were going to happen for
in between work, and both contained
me. I was dead right too, as just before
some terrific fish. My main target was
first light I got lucky and netted one of
an old 40lb mirror known as Floppy
the A-Team members known as Drop
Tail from Woldview, with the other
Tail Linear, at just short of 30lb. That
being a real brute of a fish called One
same week I added several other fish
Pec from the Mesters syndicate.
to my tally, including some nice 20s,
The year started very differently from the previous one because spring was late in arriving. There were heavy
topped by another A-Team fish called Blind Eye. I was absolutely buzzing. A week later, I was back again for
frosts well into April, and neither
an overnighter in between work. The
water switched on until mid-May.
odd fish had been out since I was last
They were so slow turning on that I
down, and it was just what I wanted
was actually scratching my head at
to see when I arrived because
the start of my campaigns, wondering
the Cabin Swim was free.
if I was doing something wrong.
I was all set up in a
I’d heard from the regulars on
The Beast at 34lb 8oz, caught off the top.
flash to claim my spot,
Mesters that the angler numbers
before setting off on
usually dwindled away once the weed
a walk round to go
came up in May, so I started the year
carp spotting and
on Woldview. However, I was soon
spread a bit of
switching between the two when
bait down
hardly anything came out. I couldn’t seem to get settled, which did worry me a little, because target fishing always involves a certain amount of tunnel vision if you are to succeed. Eventually, a pattern began to emerge on Mesters, which I needed to capitalise on. A few fish started to be caught from a large bay which was known to be the early season hot spot. The bay was roughly a couple of acres in size, and
Job done – One Pec at 35lb 2oz. We did some of the early testing with Key boilies on Woldview during 2013.
there were no night-fishing swims which had access to it, other than a couple on the far
40
Crafty Carper
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05/04/2016 11:01
Putting The Pieces Together Simon Crow
You won’t find a more mature lake than Mesters in the north.
Early spring, and all set up for an overnighter.
have been 10 minutes, contemplating
contains some terrific fish. Floppy Tail
whether to recast or sit tight. From
is its most prized resident, a really old
the direction the fish surfaced, it was
carp steeped in carping history dating
likely to be heading towards the bay
back over 25 years. There are said to
and over my left-hander, so I laid back
be around 70-odd carp in the water,
down, patiently hoping something
including three or four 30s at the right
would break. The next thing I remember
time of year. Backing up Floppy is a very
is getting out of the bag and into my
angry carp known as The Beast, which
shoes as the left-hander tightened up.
hovers around the mid-30s bracket.
The Siren gave only a couple of bleeps,
By the time I returned to Woldview,
because I was fishing locked up to
Floppy Tail had already graced the
prevent the fish from making the reeds.
banks. The carp had clearly come to
I gently eased it towards me and out
life and I was looking at a completely
into open water, where it came to life.
different lake to the one I had visited
It didn’t feel like a biggie until I had it
earlier in the year. Everywhere I looked
in the margins, where it ploughed
was lush green, and there were carp
up and down the deep
on show up and down the
and weedless margin
8 acres of water. If I’m honest, I
for the next 5
hadn’t really got
minutes. I could just make out a large pale flank as it turned and tried to flick the line with its tail. It the reedline. An hour later I’d seen what
The left-hander was my prime rod, and
was then when
I wanted, because there were carp all
I put this in the spot from where I’d
I realised I had
over the bay, going in and out of the
landed Drop Tail Linear the week before.
a very decent fish
area via the opening in the reeds. I fired my middle rod towards the
At first light, I woke to the sound
“My main target was an old 40lb mirror known as Floppy Tail from Woldview, with the other being a real brute of a fish called One Pec from the Mesters syndicate”
on the end, before I
to grips with the water at the beginning of spring. Although I landed a few fish, I was receiving a lot of
aborted takes and lifts, which I knew were fish
of the rain tapping on the bivvy. I had
scooped it up with the net. I
one eye on the lake and another closed
drew it towards me, and there was
boilies and fairly short 10ins rigs, so I
where the reeds trickled off
as I dozed in the magical moment. It
no mistaking which one it was. I had
went back with a fresh approach. I was
and a set of pads started to
felt perfect for a biggie. I drifted in and
the most sought-after fish in the lake,
convinced that I needed to lengthen my
emerge. I’d seen a fish poke
out of sleep, waiting for something to
One Pec, at a very healthy 35lb 2oz.
links to 12ins, as well as drop down a
its head out in this area,
happen. An hour must have passed as I
middle, with my right-hander going
‘doing me’. I’d been using 20mm
size in bait to 16mm. The other big thing
and was quite confident of
half-slept and wished for something to
The Legendary Floppy Tail
on my mind was that a lot of the bigger
something coming from there.
break the silence. I don’t know why, but
With One Pec in the bag, I turned my
fish were coming out in the day. With me
for some reason I sat up on the bedchair
sights back towards Woldview, where
being an overnight man, I knew I had to
and had a good look out over my spots.
I’d heard things were beginning to
sort things out to put me in with a good
As I did so, right on cue, a large fish
kick off. I was really looking forward
chance of getting amongst the bigger
head and shouldered to the left of
to getting my teeth into this water.
fish. I made plans to stay a bit longer
where my left-hander was positioned.
It is simply stunning, surrounded by
to see if I ended up any better off.
I sat and watched, with my eyes
open countryside set at the foot of
My fresh approach
the Lincolnshire Wolds, and it also
seemed to do the trick,
fixed on where it showed for what must
Crafty Carper 039-043_Crowy_CC225.indd 3
41 05/04/2016 11:01
The Mesters carp were some of the most hard-fighting fish I’ve come across.
Putting The Pieces Together Simon Crow
Putting the pieces together. A gorgeous scaly mirror.
and within no time I started to put the pieces of the jigsaw together. I
me on though, so
began with a really good catch from
I dropped the
an area known as Bald Corner, where
rods onto the
I stumbled across the entire stock one
spots I’d been
evening. I’d certainly sorted things
targeting. I was
out because all my takes were now
baiting the area
full-blooded one-toners. I also had a
with all sorts
few off the top, including the second
of seeds, nuts
biggest in the lake, The Beast, at
and boilies. It
a cracking weight of 34lb 8oz.
was actually during
As summer faded into autumn, I was
One of eight in a day.
Something kept driving
“I had a big smile on my face, and I took in the moment and thought of the great memories I had from the season just gone”
this season when
stacking up the carp. I had a baiting
I started using the first
campaign going really well in one
test batches of the now famous
particular area, and was catching carp
Key boilies from Nash Bait. It was
from there almost every trip, including quite a few in the hours of darkness. I
into it but it didn’t work, and the next thing I heard was the
fish towards the safety of my net. There was no mistaking which one it
reeds in the margin to my left bending
was. Having been uncaught for almost
known as Key 6 back in those days.
away. It was almost in the next-door
3 months, and looking down in weight
Something felt good about the
swim by the sound of it, and I had no
at 38lb 8oz in June, Floppy Tail had
kept up the work of baiting and baiting,
night, and just an hour into dark I had
alternative other than to stick my chest
clearly bulked out since then. It looked
hoping that sooner or later I would
a 21lb common. When I hit the sack
waders on and go for a look. Keeping
a heck of a lot better, with some great
bump into the one I most wanted. I
a short while later, I never heard a
the line tight, I stepped into the water
colour to its flanks. I hoisted it up and
knew I wasn’t far off because I was
sound until 5.00 a.m., when my left-
and reeled my way to it. It was only
watched the needle go past 40, to settle
beginning to repeat on some of the fish.
hand rod signalled two bleeps. The
just into the reeds, so I placed the net
on a fantastic weight of 40lb 10oz!
Floppy Tail was well overdue, as he’d
line tightened up and the indicator
in a safe position, lifted the rod tip
hardly been caught during the season.
was touching the butt, and I just
high, and turned on my headtorch to
in the moment and thought of the great
knew I had a good fish on the end.
sort it. I caught a very quick glimpse
memories I had from the season just gone.
of what was most definitely a carp
Mesters and Woldview had been very kind
By mid-September I found myself
I had a big smile on my face, and I took
in a swim known as Willow, doing an
It was very slowly kiting on a tight
overnighter. The lake was really busy
line around to my left, leaving a niggling
as I flicked the line off a stem. It
to me. It had started off quite tough, but
with anglers and I was full of cold, and
little voice in the back of my head that
looked clear of the obstruction, and
in the end everything had come together
didn’t really want to be out fishing.
it could be Floppy. I did my best to lean
knowing it was free, I guided the
nicely, making it a season to remember. CC
42
Crafty Carper
039-043_Crowy_CC225.indd 4
05/04/2016 11:01
The
Rig ELLIS BRAZIER
Mechanic
Zig bugs are all the rage at the moment and are deadly at this time of year. Here, Ellis reveals how to tie his unique pattern which adds a little movement to a standard version.
F
or some, rigs are the be-all
true ingredients for success, no matter
and end-all in their pursuit
where you fish or what you fish for. It is
of carp, but for me, as I have
this desire to create something in which
expressed many times in the past,
I have more confidence while angling
they are just a vehicle that helps
up in the water that has led to the
me achieve my aims. In saying this
presentation I am writing about today.
though, I do try to apply experiences
fished in isolation has been the hardest
have encountered over the years. This
thing about Zigs to get my head around.
month I am taking a look at Zigs.
Don’t get me wrong, I fish lures for
I used to write for this publication,
28
For me, the static piece of foam
gained in all the forms of fishing I
many different species, so the concept
which saw me fish a different public
is nothing new. As more and more Zig
access water each month, and Zigs
bugs hit the market, I became a little
were responsible for the greatest
more interested, but when most were
catch of the entire series. We had over
tried, I soon seemed to lose confidence
60 carp in 24hrs, between two of us,
in my approach. If I wanted to fish this
with just one rod each because it was
method more often, I needed to go back
impossible to fish two. It was the right
to basics. I had to start from scratch and
method for the right conditions; the
develop an approach I was happy with.
Crafty Carper
028-030_RigMechanic_CC225.indd 1
06/04/2016 12:46
“For me, the static piece of foam fished in isolation has been the hardest thing about Zigs to get my head around�
Crafty Carper 028-030_RigMechanic_CC225.indd 2
29 06/04/2016 12:46
The Rig Mechanic Ellis Brazier
The concept of not flavouring a Zig is understandable. If a carp has
How to tie your own UNIQUE ZIG BUG
no way of knowing through scent/ taste that an object is food, then the only other way to decide is to eat it. Next came the problem of how static a piece of foam or rubber fished suspended in midwater could be. I can accept that we are trying to mimic an object which could be food, such as a snail or water beetle, but I find a static lump of foam just does not cut it for me. The many different Zig bugs available go some way to solving the problem, but for me, the absence
1
2
I take a Size 4 Aberdeen worm hook which has purpose-designed bait retention barbs on the shank, and clamp it firmly in my fly-tying vice.
3
To start with, I whip from the eye to the first barb on the shank of the hook. This acts as the base that the marabou fibres grip to.
The first batch of black marabou is carefully whipped in the middle, ready to fold over to give it more body when it is fixed in place.
of a Hair, as most, if not all, are tied directly to a hook, is a major negative point. I appreciate that flies, which are tied in the same way (directly to the hook), catch fish because I have flyfished for most of my life. However, most flies are moving, either by the angler, the current or the wind, and I believe this movement helps with the illusion of life and with the hooking
4 “My conclusion was that I merely try to pick something that vaguely suits the situation but gives the representation of being alive”
5
To create a cracking multi-coloured effect, which makes it more visual, I use two different types of marabou fibres before gluing them.
6
After cutting off the bend of the hook to create a spike, it can then be pushed into an Avid Zig Lite to create a perfect Zig bug.
Here is a variety of different colour options. All you have to do is part the marabou and tie the Hair to the exposed hookeye.
For me, they are working just fine so
or real bait. The main advantage with
as compared to just a standard piece
far, and have produced carp on waters
them though, is that they have given
of foam, is hard to quantify, but if
where Zigs are not rated. I have even
me the confidence to fish them for
you take the trouble to tie one and
caught other species, such as perch,
longer and in more situations, which
then check it out in a glass of water,
which I see as a positive aspect
in turn has given me more chance of
you will see
because I have only caught these
carp which I wouldn’t have caught by
The effectiveness of these Zigs,
the life-imitating
properties it exhibits.
before on moving flies, lures,
fishing on the bottom. I hope that if you try them, they work for you. CC
properties. The other thing with flies and lures is that when the bait is tested by the fish, the angler strikes, which is a luxury we don’t have with a static Zig. We have to rely on the lead’s resistance for a strike, and over the years this has been proved to not be 100% effective, even with short hooklengths and complex Hair Rigs. I feel that given the fact that the hooklink could be several feet long, the best we can do is give the lead a fighting chance and put a Hair on the rig. I needed a Hair Rig Zig bug that had some form of movement. I again dissected my fly-fishing, and questioned just what I wanted to achieve when picking a fly to match an angling situation. My conclusion was that I merely try to pick something that vaguely suits the situation but gives the representation of being alive. For me, there was only one material that would provide movement and life to the degree I required underwater, and this was marabou feather fibres.
30
Inset: My preferred lead arrangement for Zigs. One of the very first fish I caught on this presentation.
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