S R E P R A C D I AV Volume 10
FREE
avidcarp.com
May /June 2014
FMROENTEHLY
BI-
INE
MAGAZ
BEAT THE WEED NEW PRODUCT - AN IN DEPTH LOOK AT THE NEW ASCENT DUAL SKIN BROLLY SYSTEM
CONTENTS... COVERFEATURE 36
RIG CLINIC
Nigel Williams shows us how to tie a neat little rig that’s ideal for fishing over silk weed.
04 To read previous issues Of Avid Carpers on PC, Android, iOS or download the latest Avid Carpers app on iPad.
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INTRO/NEW PRODUCTS
THE GRAND REOPENING
Jon ‘Shoes’ Jones introduces the magazine and reveals the new product releases.
Ian Russell reflects on a session he had on Oxlease Lake when it reopened earlier this year.
Avid Carpers May / June 2014
C O N T E N T S AV I D CA R P E R S
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ASCENT
PIN IT DOWN
After the success of our Ascent shelter, we have tweaked the system to create the most feature-packed brolly system on the market.
Dave Magalhaes reveals everything you need to know about three of the most popular lead arrangements.
KEEP UP-TO-DATE... 24
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TOP TIPS
W E E D B E AT E R
Zig queen Angie Lawley reveals her top tips for zigging.
Chris Lowe reveals some simple tips that will increase your catch results when fishing in weed.
Vis it t he web s it e av id carp . com Like u s on faceb ook /av id carp p ag e Follow u s on Twit t er @av id carp ers
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ENTERING THE UNKNOWN
THE SHOT ON THE HOOK RIG
Raf Swinnen reveals why he gets such a kick out of targeting the demanding rivers on the continent.
Jon ‘Shoes’ Jones reveals how you can transform the effectiveness of your pop-up rigs.
Follow u s on Ins t ag ram @av id carp Su b s crib e on YouTu b e /Av id Carp
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INTRO JON JONES
WELCOME...
Hello and welcome to the May/June issue of Avid Carpers. After a pretty bleak few months, the weather has finally improved, the lighter nights are here and, more importantly, big carp are getting caught frequently in the UK and across Europe. Finally, summer is just around the corner! If you read the last issue of Avid Carpers you will probably know that we’ve taken the decision to increase the number of pages in the magazine, allowing us to include even more articles from our incredibly talented team of consultants. Since releasing the last magazine, the feedback has been absolutely astounding and we’ve had loads of praise via email, Twitter and Facebook, and the number of subscribers
has increased dramatically. You guys are obviously enjoying the magazine and, judging by the amount of catch reports we’re getting sent, anglers are really taking advantage of the great hints and tips inside. Regardless of how long you’ve been fishing, what kind of venue you’re currently targeting and what you want to achieve from your own angling this year,
FOLLOW our anglers on twitter... @ ch e m o _ Av i d C ar p
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Avid Carpers May / June 2014
@j on_AvidCa rp @nigel_AvidCa rp
there’s bound to be content that will benefit you in this issue of Avid Carpers. The great thing about carp fishing is that we never stop learning, regardless of how many years we’ve been at it.
Shoes
Jon ‘Shoes’ Jones
@jas on_Av id Carp @DMag_81
N E W S AV I D CA R P E R S
NEW
ANTI-TANGLE SLEEVES
PRODUCTS READY TIED PIN DOWN LEADERS After countless requests from anglers, we have produced ready-tied leaders constructed from our strong, fast sinking and supersupple PIN DOWN unleaded leader material. Supplied with two small loops spliced at either end, the leaders are extremely safe and very easy to use. They are ideal for a whole host of different presentations, including lead clip arrangements and helicopter setups Available in GRAVEL/CLAY and WEED/SILT in 45lb or 65lb breaking strain. Turn to page 18 for more information.
SUNGLASSES After the success of our previous sunglasses range, we have launched two more exciting designs. The AV8 and CLASSIC SUNGLASSES are both extremely stylish and boast top quality polarising lenses. They are supplied with a floating lanyard and come with a hard protective case.
These stiff anti-tangle sleeves have been specifically designed to eliminate tangles and push your hooklink away from the lead when casting.
ZIG GRUBS Designed to be used in conjunction with ZIG RIGS, these GRUBS boast a pre-drilled hole so you can thread them up your hooklink and over the eye of most hooks. As well as adding visual attraction, they also improve the hooking potential of the rig.
READ TIED ZIG RIG KITS These READYTIED ZIG RIG KITS contain everything you need to start Zigging. There’s a perfectly tied ZIG RIG, a ZIG CLIp and a TAIL RUBBER. The Zig rig is tied using 11lb MONOFILAMENT which has an incredibly low diameter of 0.26mm, yet is still strong enough to perform well under pressure. The rig boasts a size 10 WDG HOOK which has a ZIG GRUB on the eye to improve hooking potential and add visual attraction. Knowing that yellow and black are two of the most popular colours for fishing in the upper layers, there’s a BLACK/YELLOW ZIG LITE already attached to the rig. The rigs have been tied using top-quality materials that won’t let you down. Available in 8FT or 10FT lengths in BARBED or BARBLESS.
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the
REOPENING Ian Russell reflects on an incredible 48-hour session he had on Linear Fisheries’ Oxlease Lake when it finally reopened earlier this year.
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Avid Carpers May / June 2014
THE GRAND REOPENING IAN RUSSELL
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A quick swim change soon put Ian back on the fish.
Although not the biggest of the trip, this 23lb mirror was certainly the best looking.
I’m sure I wasn’t the only angler that was eagerly anticipating the reopening of Linear Fisheries earlier this year. With news spreading that the lake’s largest common had hit 47lb the previous summer, I was one of the many anglers that was gagging to do a bit of time on Oxlease. Although I was busy with various work commitments for Avid Carp, I managed to find time to do a 48hour session on the popular dayticket venue when it finally opened to the general public. On arrival at the lake for my first session of the year, I was absolutely astounded to find that there were only two other anglers eagerly anticipating the grand reopening.
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Once the gates were open, I drove into the car park, grabbed a bucket and headed off around the lake for a quick recce. Within five minutes off arriving at the lake I saw several carp show a couple of rod lengths of the lake’s island. I knew exactly where I needed to be, so I headed back to the van and frantically loaded my barrow. Once back in the swim, I flicked all three rods across to the marginal shelf off the island whilst I sorted the rest of my kit out. Within a couple of minutes
Avid Carpers May / June 2014
of the rigs being in the water, the left-hand rod rattled off and I was into my first fish of the session. Now I’d like to tell you that a lovely carp splashed its way into my waiting net very quickly, but unfortunately it didn’t. The fish stayed deep for a few minutes, before showing itself about 10 yards from the bank. It was a very large mirror that looked like a fish I’d seen over the 40lb mark last summer. What a result I thought to myself, as I guided it towards the waiting net. One more dive and it’ll be mine.
THE GRAND REOPENING IAN RUSSELL Seconds later, the rig and lead arrangement flew past my ear and the carp waddled back to its watery home. Gutted. Only an angler can understand how it feels to lose a fish. My stomach turned and the air around the swim turned blue momentarily. Once I’d stop cursing, I took a reality check and told myself it was only a fish. Deep down I was absolutely devastated. I spent the next couple of hours getting the rods sorted properly and spodding out a mixture of Sonubaits Hemp ‘N’ Corn, 2mm S Pellets and a kilo of our 12mm Code Red boilies. Throughout the day and the evening I managed to bank a total of 10 carp to 22lb, but the night remained surprisingly quiet. I was up at first light the following morning trying to work out why I’d caught nothing through the hours of darkness. As I sat drinking a cup of tea, it all started to become clear. Looking down the far end of the lake it was hard not to notice all the carp flinging themselves out of the water. This was happening in front of a small swim that only ever gets fished when the lake is full. They had obviously followed the wind and moved well away from me. As quick as I could, I packed everything away and hastily headed straight for the new swim. I didn’t have a lead around in the peg because I didn’t want to spook the carp. I just wanted to get a couple of rods on them as quickly and quietly as possible.
HO W TO TIE IAN’S B L O W-BACK RIG
01. S trip some coating from a length of coated hooklink and tie a loop in the end.
03. T ie a small rig ring about
1cm away from the Code Red hookbait.
02. U sing a baiting needle,
carefully attach a Code Red wafter.
04 . P ass the point of an LSK hook through the middle of the rig ring like this.
05. P ass the hooklink through
06 . F ix the hook in place using a
07. S lide a piece of shrink tubing
0 8. T he finished rig should
the back of the eye on hooklink this.
over the eye and steam it over a kettle.
knotless knot. Ian likes quite a long hair.
look like this. It’s simple and extremely effective.
Roy Parsons popped around for
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his usual early morning coffee and we both sat staring at the rods, fully anticipating for them to rattle off at any second. The swim was alive with feeding carp. I’d opted for a super-simple presentation that I had complete faith in. I’d gone for my trusty longshank blow-back rig which had been tied using size 4 LSK hooks and 15lb Captive coated hooklink. I’d threaded a small PVA bag of 2mm Code Red pellets onto the hooklink to reduce tangles and add a little bit of attraction around my hookbait.
Ian’s new bobbins certainly brought him a little bit of luck.
other rods were kept busy with regular bites from smaller carp, this one lay dormant, hopefully ready for a larger carp. In a bid to tempt a bigger fish, I catapulted a few pouchfuls of boilies over the rod every couple of hours. As the day wore on, the display started to slow down as the carp gradually moved out of the swim and further up the lake. By now I had landed 22 Carp and 8 Tench. As the evening drew in
By the time Roy had finished his cup of coffee, I’d banked three mid doubles and a tench. The biggest challenge on Oxlease and most heavily-stocked day-ticket venues is singling out the larger fish. Knowing that the lake’s largest common gets caught regularly from the reeds in the corner of the swim, I flicked one rod away from the showing fish to a quieter area of the lake. As the
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Avid Carpers May / June 2014
my first Carp take came to the margin rod and after a right old tussle a lovely 23lb mirror was photographed. It was the biggest fish of the session so far. Now I had to be off fairly early the following morning, so I decided to stay in the swim for the night . A couple more pouchfuls of 15mm Code Red boilies were placed around the margin rod on dark and the other two rods were cast out at about 30 yards range with
Washed-out Code Red wafters did the damage.
THE GRAND REOPENING IAN RUSSELL
HO W TO TIE A P V A B AG small mesh bags attached. During the early hours of the morning, after an uneventful night, the margin rod was away. From the off, I knew I was into something powerful. It felt totally different that the doubles I’d landed the previous day. After an impressive scrap, a huge shape boiled a few yards from the bank and I managed to bundle it into the landing net. I could see that it was a big fish but it was still too dark to make out whether it was a common or mirror. As soon as I switched the head torch on I could see that it was a whopping great mirror. With the fish sulking in the net, I rung Roy because I knew he’d be up bright and early. He gave me permission to retain the fish till first light. Young Tommy Maker was in the next swim and kindly came and helped me weight the fish. I was shocked and delighted when the scales finally settled on 39lb 2oz. What a lovely way to celebrate my return to Linear! LSK hooks in size 4 were Ian’s chosen hook pattern.
01. A dd some Code Red pellets to
0 2. C ompress the pellets using
03. T wist the PVA until you create
0 4 . T ie two knots in the end of
05. C ut between the two knots
0 8. C arefully push a stick needle
07. N ick the loop of your rig onto
0 8. . ..and carefully pull the hook
a Pocket PVA System.
a compact package.
using a pair of sharp scissors.
the gate on the needle...
the plunger.
the PVA like this.
through the centre of the bag.
into the end of the PVA bag.
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At 39lb 2oz, this is one of the largest carp in the lake. What a way to mark the reopening of Oxlease. The future looks very bright.
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Avid Carpers May / June 2014
THE GRAND REOPENING IAN RUSSELL
ANGLER PROFILE: I a n Ru s s e l l Age:
51
UK PB:
57 lb 8oz
Occupation:
Ful l Time Angl er avidcarp.com
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theN
EW
T N E C AS y L L O BR S T E M SY
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Avid Carpers May / June 2014
A S C E N T B R O L LY P R O D U C T F E AT U R E
AVAILe/AJBuLlyE Jun
After the success of our original Ascent shelter, we have tweaked the system, improved various aspects and, as far as we’re concerned, created the most feature-packed brolly system on the market. The new Ascent Brolly System is perfect for anglers who fish overnighters or those serious weekend anglers that may find themselves moving at some point during their session. It’s compact, quick to erect and surprisingly light. The system is made from the incredible Dura-Stop material so It’s strong, tough and will take everything you throw at it. It’s certainly the best material to be ever used on a brolly system. What’s more, it has a UV+50 protection that will protect you from the harmful rays when in the sun. Self-leveling stability poles make the setup process fast and easy because there’s no need to thread additional poles and the system will even stand up on its own once it’s erected. Knowing how important space is to the modern day carp angler, we have reduced the size of the centre pole and hub to provide lots more headroom. From now on, you won’t be constantly banging your head on the brolly spokes and you will be able to push your bedchair further back in the system, creating more space. The most standout feature on
the system has go to be the internal inner skin, which is already fitted to the system when you buy it. The inner skin totally eliminates condensation and the dreaded drip that all anglers will have encountered at some point when fishing under a brolly. There’s no need to shell out extra cash for winter skins or overwraps because there’s already one built in. As well as reducing condensation, the inner skin also creates a layer of cool air inside the shelter, which makes the system comfortable to use during the warmer months and eliminates the need for a rear vent. Whether you’re fishing a weekend session in the depths of winter or quick day in the summer, we’ve got it covered with our front options. The system is supplied with two zip-off front panels that allow you to customise the shelter to suit your personal requirements. One is a conventional door system that boasts a clear PVC panel and a mosquito panel. This is perfect for sessions during the colder months or for those anglers that prefer a bit of extra coverage. For those that fish through the warmer months, there’s a full mosquito mesh front that boasts a full-length zip.
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The system is supplied with a heavy-duty groundsheet, superstrong pegs and two strong storm poles. Regardless of where you fish and how long your sessions are, we’re sure you’ll agree this is a great piece of kit. With increased headroom and a built-in winter skin, one of the best shelters on the market just got a whole lot better.
We have reduced the centre hub to create more space.
The Ascent has a curved peak.
Features include... • Boasts Increased headroom • Inner skin reduces condensation and cools system during warmer months • Built in stability rods • Made with lightweight fibreglass poles • Made using tough Dura-Stop material • 1 x full zip-in front with PVC window vents • 1 x full mozzie mesh front • Comes with 2 x storm poles • 4 x storm screws • 2x Velcro rod straps • Complete with heavy-duty groundsheet and pegs
WEIGHT... • 25lb for brolly, groundsheet, pegs, storm poles and both fronts • 15lb for just the brolly
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Avid Carpers May / June 2014
The inner skin eliminates condensation.
The shelter boasts two rod straps.
Heavy-duty pegging points.
A S C E N T B R O L LY P R O D U C T F E AT U R E
Do o r o p t i o n s . . .
The Ascent can be setup like this with a conventional style door system.
If the weather take a turn for the worse, the door can be zipped down to offer more protection.
The door boasts a mozzie mesh and also has a clear PVC panel.
During the summer months the front of the shelter can be stripped out.
There’s also a mozzie mesh with a full-length zip that runs up the middle.
The mozzie mesh can be pinned back to allow access to the shelter.
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CHOOSING
THE R I G H T
LEAD T N E M E G N A R R A
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Avid Carpers May / June 2014
P I N I T D O W N DAV E M AG A L H A E S
Dave Magalhaes reveals everything you need to know about three of the most popular lead arrangements.
As with anything that is written by an angler, you need to understand the type of venues I fish and my own style of angling. More often than not, the vast majority of my fishing is done on fairly lowstocked lakes. I also tend to do lots of short overnighters, often fishing areas that have normally been prebaited before hand. The most difficult part of fishing these lakes is finding the fish. For example, the two lakes I’m fishing at the moment, although worlds apart, are still very similar in that they are low stock. One is only 3 acres, but it only has three carp swimming around in it. The other is a little larger, at around 20 acres, but only has roughly 17 carp in it. As you can imagine, it’s daunting enough fishing these venues, so I need to be 100% focussed on finding the carp themselves. The rig/technical side of it I keep very, very simple. So what’s my take on, arguably, the three most popular set-ups in use at the moment? And what about leaders? Thumbs up or thumbs down? Well, let’s start off with leaders. It’s no secret that I was once a huge leadcore fan. In fact, for many, many years, I didn’t cast out a rig that wasn’t on a leadcore leader. However, in more recent times, what with the progression in development of products like Pin Down, I now stick to the leadless leaders. Like leadcore, Pin Down is heavy and has great abrasion resistance, but it is also extremely supple. This mean is hugs the lake bed better and sits more naturally over weed and debris on the lake bed.
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HO W T O C R E AT E A H E LIC O P TER AR R ANG E M ENT
0 1 . C arefully slide a Grip Stop onto the Pin Down leader.
Weighted Chod Beads on.
0 3. S lide the bead over the Grip
04. N ow thread a size 11 Ring
0 5 . . ..followed by one of the Avid
06. T hread a Chod Buffer onto
0 7 . A ttach a Micro Speed Link to
08. A ttach the lead or your choice
Stop until it sits on the lip.
Stopper Beads.
the end of the leader.
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02. N ow slide one of the
Swivel onto the leader...
the leader using a baiting needle.
Avid Carpers May / June 2014
and the leader is finished.
So, the different set-ups. Well, the helicopter set-up is without question my favourite lead arrangement. As a general rule, if I’m casting out into the lake then this will, more often than not, be what I’m using. Come to think of it, I can’t remember the last time I cast out a pop-up rig on anything other than a helicopter presentation. The beauty of the helicopter is that 99 times out of 100, I can rest peacefully knowing that the rig has landed without any tangles. As I mentioned previously, with chances of getting bites being so few and far between, the last thing I want when a carp does finally come across my rig, is for it to be tangled! The helicopter allows me to cast as hard or as soft as I Iike, especially with a single hookbait on say, a Chod rig, and will allow the rig to be presentable. Also, if an area is weedy or has any debris on the bottom, I can pull the beads either side of the rig, up the leader, helping to prevent the rig itself being pulled down and lost in the weed. Rightly or wrongly, I also think that this type of setup hooks more fish than the more popular lead clip setup. I have no technical answer for this and it’s purely based on what I’ve seen. However, having spent more time up trees and standing behind bushes, watching fish feed, than I care to remember, I know that the they certainly don’t like dealing with it, especially with a light lead. Next would be the inline drop-off. I know this is a very popular method on the more heavily stocked lakes around the country, especially when fished inside
P I N I T D O W N DAV E M AG A L H A E S
Each leader is pre-spliced with loops at either end.
Each pack is supplied with three leaders.
There are four different leaders available.
a solid PVA bag. I’m happy to hold my hands up and say that I don’t often fish solid bags, so can’t comment to the setups effectiveness when used in that manner, but I am assured by friends that use it regularly, that it can be devastating. Having seen its effectiveness at close quarters on a number of occasions when
stalking, I can see why it is so popular. I’d go as far as to say that this setup will out hook any other, especially with a heavy lead. With leads upwards of 4oz the fish simply cannot not deal with it. Fact! Personally, I tend to use this setup when I’m margin fishing or stalking. If I could be sure that the rig was laying
correctly when cast out into the lake, then I would solely use an inline drop-off. However, being the pedantic so and so that I am, especially when it comes to the presentation of my rigs, I stick with the helicopter for casting out into the lake. Plus, there aren’t many rods that can cope with casting a 4oz lead any distance.
HO W TO C R E AT E A D R O P -O F F P R ESENTATIO N
0 1 . T hread the loop on a Pin
02. P ush the loop on the leader
0 3 . C arefully pull the leader tight
0 4 . C arefully push the Drop-Off
05 . P ush the Pin Down leader
06 . F inally attach a Tail Rubber
Down leader through a Drop-Off Stem.
Stem inside the hole on the lead.
through the loop on the opposite end.
into the groove on the lead like this.
until the Drop-Off Stem is fixed in place.
and the presentation is ready to use.
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HO W TO S E T U P A LE A D C L IP AR R ANG E M ENT
0 1 . S lide a Flexi Flat Link onto a
02. P ass the loop from one end
0 3 . P ull the leader tight until the
04. N ow thread the leader
0 5 . P ull the Flexi Flat Link so that
06. N ow pull the Flat Link into the
Pin Down Leader.
Flexi Flat Link is fixed in place.
it sits flush against the clip.
of the leader through the opposite loop.
through a Flat Clip like this.
clip until it ‘clicks’ into place.
Finally, the lead clip setup. Undoubtedly, the most popular setup in carp fishing and understandably so. Quick and simple to setup, reasonably tangle proof and, when fished correctly, very safe. I have to hold my hands up here and say, other than for zig rig fishing, I very rarely use this arrangement. Again, this comes down to the type of venues I fish and my own, personal style of angling. When it comes to my thoughts on anything to do with angling, nothing is based on theory. I don’t build a picture in my head of what goes on below the surface. Everything I do is based on what I’ve seen the fish doing over the years. On more heavily stocked venues, then the lead clip is the perfect choice of setup, especially when fished with a PVA bag. However, when I’ve watched big/less pressured fish feeding close in, there is a lot of play/ movement with the lead clip and they can get away with it. Bare in mind, that these fish have all the time in the world to feed. They don’t have the same competition for food and are therefore, much more cautious and slow in everything they do. The great thing about carp fishing is that we all have our own perceptions on different tactics and presentations. The biggest advice I can give any angler is to get out there and see what works for you.
0 7 . S lide an Avid Tail Rubber down the leader.
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08. F inally attach the lead of your
Avid Carpers May / June 2014
choice and it’s ready to cast.
P I N I T D O W N DAV E M AG A L H A E S
Selecting the correct lead arrangement for the situation is the key to catching large carp.
Dave aes Magalh
@DMag_81
ANGLER PROFILE: D a v e M a g a l h a e s Age:
31
UK PB:
4 9 lb 10oz
Occupation:
Tac kl e Sho p Sal es Assistant avidcarp.com
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Top tips
for
ZIG RIG FISHING
Angie Lawley, one of the UK’s most accomplished zig anglers, gives us the low down on this incredibly effective tactic.
A DD A G R U B The new Avid Zig Grubs are available in black or yellow and simply slide over the shank of the hook to improve the hooking potential of the rig. As soon as a fish mouths the hookbait, the hook will flip and take a hold in the carp’s mouth. They’re convenient, simple to use and make a massive difference. Make sure you give them a try.
C AST REG UL A RLY When fishing zig rigs, it’s imperative you don’t just chuck them in and wait. You must work the swim, alter your presentation and keep casting until you come across a winning formula. Until I’ve found what’s working on the day, it’s not unusual for me to be recasting every fifteen minutes. Eventually, after a bit of tweaking and spreading the rods about, you will land on a pod of fish. Once you’re on them, the action can be hectic.
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Avid Carpers May / June 2014
ELI M I N AT E TAN G L E S When using such long hooklinks there’s always a chance the rig may tangle on the cast. There are various ways you can eliminate tangles, but I think adding a simple anti-tangle sleeve is all you need. As long as you feather the cast, watch the rig in flight and use one of these sleeves, you shouldn’t have any problems.
Z I G R I G F I S H I N G A N G I E L AW L E Y
GIV E THEM A DIP Although you don’t necessarily need to add extra attraction to your zig hookbaits, I do sometimes give them a dip in some liquid if I’m struggling to get a bite. Sometimes dipping the rig in some liquid is enough to encourage a take on those really tough days.
GET P RE PAR E D When I’m zigging I like to ensure all my rigs are tied up and have baits attached before my session. The last thing I want to be doing is wasting time altering the length of my rigs or tying new ones when I’m on the bank. The Avid Zig Box is a godsend because it allows me to tie loads of zigs before my session and store them safely for when I need them.
USE A SM A L L H O O K I see loads of anglers casting out large hooks and huge hookbaits when zigging. As far as I’m concerned, the smaller you go, the more fish you will catch. At the end of the day, you’re trying to mimic bug life and other food items the carp may encounter in the lake so it pays to go small. A size 10 WDG hook and a Zig Lite creates the perfect presentation.
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M A K E LI FE E AS I E R If you find zig rigs difficult to tie or you struggle for time before your session, check out the new Avid ready-tied zigs. Available in 8ft or 10ft, each rig is tied using a super-sharp size 10 WDG hook and an 11lb monofilament hooklink. The rigs boast a black/ yellow High Lite hookbait, a Zig Grub and even come supplied with a Zig Clip and Tail Rubber. It’s zigging made easy!
DROP THE L E AD If I’m fishing at range and using a large lead, I always ensure that the lead ejects as soon as I get a take. Having a big lead swinging around on a long hooklink can often pop the hook out of the carp’s mouth. The Avid Zig Clips are perfect for ejecting the rig because you can replace the tail rubber with PVA tape and ensure the lead ejects every time.
BUOYANT HOOKBAITS It’s absolutely essential you use a superbuoyant hookbait when you’re zigging. There are a loads of different hookbaits on the market but I don’t think you can beat the incredible Avid Zig Lites. They are buoyant, durable and available in a whole host of exciting colours. What’s more, they are the perfect size and do not need to be trimmed down or altered.
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Avid Carpers May / June 2014
Z I G R I G F I S H I N G A N G I E L AW L E Y
TIGH T L INES It’s absolutely imperative that you use tight lines when fishing with zigs. Don’t worry about spooking the carp because the carp are in the upper layers and will not come into contact with your main line. More often than not, when a fish picks up your hookbaits, the take will result in a drop back. If the line is super-slack, you may not get any indication.
ANGLER PROFILE: Angie Lawley Age:
52
UK PB:
41l b 4oz
Occupation:
C o nsu l tant
Angie bagged this 30lb-plus mirror using the tactics outlined in this feature.
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Avid Carpers May / June 2014
W E E D B E AT E R C H R I S LO W E
WEED BEATER Chris Lowe reveals some very simple tips that will boost your confidence and increase your catch results when fishing in weed. I spend a lot of my time doing tutorials with anglers of all abilities and if I had to pick a topic that seems to confuse the most people, it would have to be fishing in weed. As the summer gets into full swing and the warm weather sets in, the increased temperature usually encourages the weed in most venues to flourish. If you are a newcomer to the sport, or you’ve had very little experience fishing in weed, it can be quite disheartening reeling in large clumps of weed that’s tangled around your hookbait, rig
and lead arrangement. I know many anglers avoid fishing in weed and some even stay clear of lakes that contain it. Although I can totally understand certain angler’s concerns, I genuinely believe they are missing a massive trick. You see, as far as I’m concerned, you should master fishing in the green stuff. I think you’d be mad to avoid it! Weed offers natural cover for carp and it’s absolutely rammed with natural food. If there’s weed in an area of the lake, there’s no doubt that carp will be there too.
THERE ARE THREE SIMPLE TACTICS YOU CAN USE TO ENSURE YOU ARE FISHING IN WEED EFFECTIVELY...
ANGLER PROFILE: C h r i s Lo w e Age:
42
UK PB:
5 6 lb
Occupation:
Angling T u to r twitter.com/avidcarpers
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SOLID BAGGIN’ One of my favourite ways of targeting weedy venues has got to be using solid PVA bags. In fact, regardless of where I’m fishing or what the lake bed is like, there’s every chance I’ll be using them. In simple terms a solid bag allows you to encapsulate your rig, hookbait and lead arrangements as well as some free offerings, inside a small PVA bag that will dissolve when it hits the bottom. The great thing about solid PVA bags is that you can cast them anywhere, safe in the knowledge that your rig is not going tangle and will be sitting perfectly on the bottom. What’s more, when the bag dissolves, the contents will completely hide your end tackle.
In-Line Safety leads allow you to drop the lead on the take quickly and easily.
The Bag Loading Kit makes creating solid PVA bags much easier.
When I’m fishing in the green stuff, I generally have a lead around to find to try and find an area of lighter weed. That said, even if the weed is extremely dense, I’d still be happy to cast a solid PVA bag straight into it. When fishing solid PVA bags in heavy weed, I usually like to inject them with hemp oil using a syringe. That way, even if the bag in masked by weed, which sometimes happens, the oil will release and rise to the surface over a period of time, drawing carp down towards your hookbait and the contents of the bag. When it comes to using solid PVA bags I generally use them when fishing over a bed of particles, or on their own when casting onto showing fish. Although they may be a little time consuming to create, they are certainly one of the most effective presentations for beating the weed. It’s important that you always use short, supple hooklinks that will coil up inside the PVA bag. The only problem with short hooklinks, especially when using large leads, is the fact that the rigs can be prone to hook pulls. To avoid losing fish, I always ensure that the leads ejects on the take. There are various ways you can do this but, when using conventional leaders, I like to use the Avid Drop-Off Stems. Alternatively, when speed fishing and using Bag Stems, I ensure the lead ejects on the take by using the In-Line Safety Lead.
You don’t need to use complicated rigs when you’re using solid bags.
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Avid Carpers May / June 2014
W E E D B E AT E R C H R I S LO W E
HO W T O T I E A S OLI D PV A B AG
0 1 . T he Avid Bag Stems play
a huge part in the presentation.
02. R emove the insert from
03 .
04.
Attach the rig of your choice to the Ring Swivel using a loop-to-loop knot.
05. T wo grains of buoyant corn
06 . S lide a Transfer PVA bag
07.
Add a sprinkling of pellets to the bottom of the bag.
08.
09 . T hree quarters fill the PVA
1 0 . C ompact the bag by carefully
twisting the top of it.
inside an In-Line Safety Lead.
make the ultimate hookbait.
11.
Place your hookbait and lead arrangement inside the bag.
Tie some Transfer PVA tape around the bag to secure it.
Slide a Bag Stem through the centre of the lead.
over an Avid Bag Loader.
bags with pellets like this.
12. O nce you’ve made the
bag aerodynamic by sticking the corners, it should look like this.
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GET ON THE CHODS
Chris occasionally adds a small boom to his Chods to improve movement.
Chris loves the Chod Bead kits.
A stiff hooklink and a hook with an out-turned eye are vital.
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Avid Carpers May / June 2014
Although the Chod rig is becoming more popular in every angling situation, I genuinely believe it really comes into its own when fishing in weed or silt. Now, when I’m fishing for larger carp, or using boilies as my primary bait, I will generally use the Chod rig. When the leader and rig is setup correctly, you can balance your hookbait so it sinks ever so slightly and sits on top of the weed. As a general rule, I like to fish the Chod rig naked-style straight on my main line because, if you add some putty to the ring swivel, you can create a slow-sinking hookbait. As well as allowing the hookbait to settle perfectly on the weed, this also improves the rig mechanics and ensures the hookbait flies into the carp’s mouth quickly when it sucks in the hookbait. Although Chods work well over a spread of boilies, I also like to use them on their own or with a stringer attached to the lead. When fishing Chods, I still like to have a lead around with a marker float to try and find clearer areas of weed. As a rule, if the marker float will pop-up, or the lead hits the bottom with the slightest ‘donk’, I’ll be happy to fish a Chod over it.
W E E D B E AT E R C H R I S LO W E
HO W TO T I E A C H OD R IG
0 1 . C ut a length of Stiff Rig
02. S lide a CHD hook onto the
0 3 . F ix the hook in place using a
0 4 . S lide a large rig ring onto the
05 . P ass the tag end through the
0 6 . C arefully blob the tag end
0 7 . T ie a size 11 Avid Ring
08. P ass a Bait Screw through
09 . P uss the arm on the Bait
Filament from a spool like this.
tag end of the material.
Swivel onto the end of the hooklink section.
length of stiff material.
bag of the eye.
the centre of the large rig ring like this.
simple knotless knot.
using a lighter.
Screw into the groove so that it sits flush.
1 0 . S crew a High Lite hookbait of your choice onto the Bait Screw.
High Lites are super-buoyant and perfect for Chods.
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GO LONG Before anglers started using Chods and solid PVA bags, long hook links were a brilliant way to fish effectively in the weed. As well as allowing the hookbait to settle on top of the debris, they were also great for nailing carp, because they gave the fish enough rope to hang themselves. As far as I’m concerned, when fishing with conventional rigs, I’d much rather use a longer hooklink. When fishing with long hooklinks, I don’t think you can beat the new Pin Down Hooklink material. As well as being super-supple and strong, the material will also hug every contour on the bottom, ensuring your hooklink is out of harms way. When fishing in weed with long hooklinks, I tend to always use and Avid Flat Clip because I want to be able to eject the lead on the take because this will generally cause the fish to rise in the water above any weed. Some anglers tend to use light leads when fishing in weed but, as a general rule of thumb, I like to use heavier varieties because I believe they eject much quicker on the take.
Where possible Chris tries to find areas of light weed using a Marker Float Kit.
Nowadays, when fishing in heavy weed, most anglers tend to employ solid PVA bags or Chod rigs and I’m certain that using something slightly different could be a massive advantage. Personally, I believe long hooklinks could give you the ultimate edge and confuse the wariest carp.
HO W TO T I E C H R I S LOW E ’S L O NG P IN DO WN R IG
0 1 . T ie a small loop in the end of
a length of Pin Down hooklink.
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02. T hread a Code Red boilie
Avid Carpers May / June 2014
onto the hooklink.
0 3 . F ix the boilie in place using a Corn Stop.
W E E D B E AT E R C H R I S LO W E Don’t be afraid to use an extra-long hooklink.
Pin Down Hooklink is perfect for fishing in weed.
0 4 . T hread a CRV hook up the hooklink.
A lead clip is the ideal lead arrangement.
05 . F ix the hook in place using a knotless knot.
Chris has found a big lead ejects quicker in weed.
0 6 . F inally attach a PVA bag to protect the hook point.
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Avid Carpers May / June 2014
THE HOOK SWIVEL RIG NIGEL WILLIAMS
THE
S WIVEL HOOK
Nige to tie l Williams a for fi neat littl shows us shing e h over rig that’s ow silk w ideal eed.
RIG
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I must admit this neat little rig has become a firm favourite of mine over the last couple of years when targeting lakes that contain a fair amount of silkweed. Although it does lend itself perfectly for fishing with boilie bottom baits, I find it works more effectively over light weed when it’s tied using a critically balanced bait like a Code Red wafter. The key element of this rig is the Big Eye Hook Swivel that eliminates the need for a conventional hair. Although it may not seem like a particularly big tweak, it makes a huge difference. The freedom of movement the bait has when using a hook swivel is absolutely incredible. The improved flexibility offers better hooking potential because it allows the hookbait to spin when the carp picks it up. Regardless of how the carp picks up the hookbait, the rotation of the hook will prevent the hook point from turning in the wrong direction and increase the chance of it taking hold. As well as this, the ring swivel adds brilliant anti-eject properties and ensures the hookbait will never impair the hookpoint when a carp picks it up. When I’m constructing the rig, I will generally use either the Avid Captive Coated Hooklink or the Braided Hooklink, depending on the make up of the lakebed. I tend to use a bigger hook than
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Size 4 Avid CRV hooks are ideal for the presentation.
usual with this rig, generally opting for a size 4 Avid CRV hook. When using the rig, a nice little trick is to attach a small PVA bag containing two pop-ups before casting out. When the lead settles on the lakebed the pop-ups will hold up the hooklink momentarily until the PVA melts. Then, the balanced hookbait will slowly flutter down to the bottom and sit pretty over any silkweed or debris. When the pop-ups eventually surface you can use them as temporary markers so
A super-supple hooklink and a large hook works great.
Avid Carpers May / June 2014
A stunning 25lb-plus mirror bagged from an area of light silk weed using the rig outlined in this article.
you can introduce a scattering of boilies around your hookbait with pinpoint accuracy So, all in all, this is a great little rig to have in your armory.
THE HOOK SWIVEL RIG NIGEL WILLIAMS @nigel_AvidCarp
HO W TO TIE NIG E ’S HO O K SWI VEL RIG
01. T ake a size 4 CRV hook from
0 2. T ie the hook to a length of
03. S lide a Big Eye Hook Swivel
0 4 . N ow carefully slide on an Avid
05. P ass some bait floss
0 8. P ull the bait floss
07. T ie a hair stop in position as
0 8. T he finished rig should look
the packet.
Captive Braided Hooklink.
ANGLER PROFILE: Nigel Williams Age:
37 41lb 10oz
UK PB:
onto the hook.
Hook Bead.
Occupation:
S e lf E m p l o ye d
The Avid Big Eye Hook Swivels and Hook Beads are perfect for constructing this presentation.
through the eye on the swivel like this.
shown here.
through the centre of your chosen hookbait.
like this.
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39
ENTERING the
unknown
Belgian river expert Raf Swinnen reveals why he gets such a massive kick out of targeting the demanding rivers that can be found on the continent.
I used to love creeping around untapped lakes targeting large, uncaught carp. The feeling of going head to head with carp, rather than anglers, really got my adrenaline pumping. Unfortunately though, as the popularity of carp fishing in Belgium grew, the amount of anglers fishing the public lakes and commercial venues near my house did too. I found myself competing with other anglers, racing for swims and struggling to get anywhere near the fish – I didn’t like it at all. After hearing whispers of large
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Avid Carpers May / June 2014
ENTERING THE UNKNOWN RAF SWINNEN
carp being caught from the rivers close to my home, I started to explore the stretches of running water that span the length and breadth of Europe. Little did I know where my journey would take me and what truly incredible carp I would bag along the way. Now, When I think about rivers, I get a shiver down my spine. I get the same feeling I used to get from targeting the untouched lakes many years ago. The rivers I fish are large, demanding, intimidating and sometimes quite hostile places to be. You see lots of strange things,
attract lots of unwanted attention and have to overcome numerous obstacles. It doesn’t matter though because it’s me against the carp. I find myself wandering down miles of untapped potential searching for huge carp that have never been caught before. It’s heaven. The great thing about rivers is the mystery that surrounds them. Whether you’re from the UK or the continent, there will be carp swimming around in the river systems that have never been caught. Some will be big, some will be small. Some may be
stunning and others may be ugly. You just don’t know. For me, this makes river fishing the ultimate adventure. Another great thing about fishing the rivers is the fact they tend to be cheaper than other venues. There’s no need to pay day-ticket prices or large syndicate fees because most stretches are run by clubs, and some stretches are even free. It may seem like a daunting prospect fishing the river, but it’s not. Fishing running water is actually very simple. The carp aren’t particular hard to catch because they rarely get fished for.
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HO W TO T I E R A F ’ S S U C C E SSF U L R IV E R R IG
0 1 . S plice a large loop in the
02. C arefully tease the loop
0 3 . N ow thread a size 11 Ring
0 4 . P ass the hook point through
05. C arefully pull the Pin Down
0 6 . A dd a piece of shrink tubing
0 7 . P ass a length of bait floss
08. C arefully attach a snowman
09 . S lide the bait down the floss
1 0 . T his is how the hookbait
11. T o fix the hookbaits in
12. T he finished rig may look
end of a length of 40lb Pin Down leader material.
the loop on the length of Pin Down.
through the smaller eye on the Ring Swivel.
should look if it’s sitting correctly.
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through the eye on a size 4 LSK hook.
tight so that there’s a small loop like this.
presentation onto the floss using a baiting needle.
position simply tie a boilie stop in place.
Avid Carpers May / June 2014
Swivel over the Pin Down loop like this.
to the rig and steam it over a kettle.
and bury the end of the swivel into the boilie.
crude but it’s essential for large, demanding rivers.
ENTERING THE UNKNOWN RAF SWINNEN Heavy main line and strong hooklinks are absolutely essential.
Large boilies reduce interest from nuisance species.
The hardest thing is finding them. I spend hours on end walking along the river looking for potential swims and, once I’ve found a likely-looking area, I will visit it every day looking for signs of fish and baiting with large boilies. Once the swim has received bait for a couple of weeks and I’m sure the carp are frequenting the area, I will fish my first session. Once the groundwork has been done, it’s just a case of turning up and flicking a couple of PVA bags of boilies onto the spot. If the fish are in the area and have been eating the freebies, the action usually comes thick and fast. It’s not unusual to be posing with a massive carp within 15 minutes of casting out!
stronger than anything you’d ever use on a conventional lake. Most rivers are littered with snags, boulders, mussel beds and a whole host of other obstacles that will slice your line in seconds. As a general rule of thumb, I like to use the Avid WDG or LSK hooks in size 6 and the 25lb or 35lb coated hooklinks. If the river is
ultra snaggy, I may even opt for the 45lb Pin Down as a hooklink. Although strong hooklinks are important, it’s vital that you use a strong leader and a high diameter main line. At the end of the day, it’s the few feet behind your lead arrangement that is most likely to come into contact with snags in the lake.
Large leads are needed to stay in place when the river is flowing fast.
Although river carp aren’t particularly riggy, you do need to put a bit of thought into your presentation. Although basic, the rigs I use have to be much Size 4 hooks are perfect for taming the large, demanding carp.
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JUST SOME OF THE
AMAZING CARP RAF
HAS CAUGHT ON HIS ADVENTURES...
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Avid Carpers May / June 2014
ENTERING THE UNKNOWN RAF SWINNEN I absolutely love the 18lb Trap Line because it’s strong, durable and has never let me down. When combined with a 65lb Pin Down leader, there really is no better presentation for river fishing. Once you’ve caught a river carp, I think you will find it difficult to go back to lakes. They are strong, hard fighting and generally full of character. River fishing is now an addiction for me and I don’t think that will ever go away. Over the last decade I’ve fished rivers all over Europe and I’ve found the carp all react the same. They love bait, fight hard and are
easy to catch once you’ve found them. They react how carp should. If you’re getting sick of the rat race and want a bit of peace and quiet, I’d thoroughly recommend targeting the rivers. Get on Google Maps and look for stretches close to your home that may hold carp. Most rivers in England and Europe will hold carp in certain stretches, it’s just a case of finding them. Anglers have pretty much pioneered every lake imaginable in recent years, but the rivers have been left untouched. There’s huge, uncaught carp to be banked. Don’t miss your chance!
Raf Swinnen
ANGLER PROFILE: R a f S w i n n e n Age:
38
European PB:
64 lb 4 oz
Occupation:
Windo w /do o r mec hanic avidcarpers.tv
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Avid Carpers May / June 2014
HOOK SHOTS JON JONES
SHOT
the
on the
H O O K RIG With the smallest tweak you could transform the effectiveness of your pop-up rigs. Jon ‘Shoes’ Jones reveals all… Throughout my carp fishing journey there have been several stand-out moments that have really changed the way I think about my fishing. Over the years, while fishing a variety of tricky venues across the UK and Europe, I’ve found myself trying a whole host of weird and whacky rigs, baits and presentations to outwit some of the world’s most pressured carp. Some have worked, others haven’t. Some have gone on to be used by others and some I’ve kept very close to my chest. If I had to think of one presentation
that’s transformed my fishing and probably lots of others, it’s would have to be the shot on the hook rig. If you’ve been fishing for good few years, like me, you’ll probably remember when the rig first came onto the scene. If you’re lucky enough to just be starting your carp fishing journey, you many never of heard of it. Either way, it’s a fantastic presentation that served me well on some of the world’s most demanding venues.
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I first started using the rig many years ago after spending a bit of time fishing with Frank Warwick. We were both targeting an extremely tricky venue and were convinced we were getting turned over, time and time again, by the lake’s cagey residents. Together, we started developing rigs and presentations that we thought could outsmart the carp. After lots of trials and tribulations we eventually came up with the shot on the hair rig. The rest, as they say, is history. At the time Frank and I were both massive fans of critically balanced hookbaits and regularly used simple blow-back presentations. We wanted to improve the effectiveness of our rigs and ensure we turned more pick ups into runs. By adding a small split shot, which was attached to a piece of fine braid, to the shank of the hook, we created one of the most devastating presentations we’d ever used. As well as creating a super-balanced bait that ensured the rig sat at a more prone angle, the shot also added extra weight to the point of the hook. This meant that when a carp picked up the hookbait, the little bit of extra weight would ensure the hookpoint always ended up dropping down into the carp’s bottom lip. If you imagine, when a carp sucked up the rig, it would enter its mouth like a claw and catch hold instantly. It wouldn’t need to flip and turn because it was already in the right position to take a quick hold. As soon as we started using the rig on the venue we were targeting, our catch results
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0.2g, 0.4g and 0.8g Hook Shot Weights are available.
soared, and I mean really soared. We couldn’t believe how many more carp we were catching and it made us realise just how many fish were getting away with it before. As any angler who’s been around for a few years will tell you, the smallest tweak
can make all the difference. Adding the split shot to the point certainly did and we both went on to catch carp from a variety of different venues across the world. You’ve only got to look at the amount of fish Frank has caught over the last decade from
HO W TO U SE THE HO O K SHOT S
01. J on prefers a blow-back rig
when using the Hook Shots.
02. C arefully push one of
03. Push the hook Shot of your
Avid Carpers May / June 2014
choice over the stem.
the Hook Stems over the hookpoint.
0 4 . I t’s that simple!
HOOK SHOTS JON JONES
Always test your rigs in the margin before casting.
the Continent. He’s racked up an incredible list of big fish! Although the rig was extremely effective, it was a little bit fiddly to tie and I felt that it never really worked to its full potential on a piece of braid. That’s the main reason I’ve developed the new Hook Shots with Avid Carp. As far as I’m concerned this is the most effective presentation I’ve ever used and the concept really couldn’t be any simpler. Now, due to these neat little weights, you too can totally transform the effectiveness of your pop-up presentations. The Stems are available in two sizes to suit fine and large gauge hooks. You simply slide the Stem onto the shank of your hook and push one of the neat little weights onto
it. The Hook Shots are available in three different sizes so they allow you to perfectly balance your pop-up hookbaits. As well as being extremely convenient and easy to use, the Hook Shots also freely slide up and down the shank of the hook. This means that they will not hinder the hook point penetrating into the carp’s mouth when it picks up the hook bait. It’s worth noting thought that, due to the nature of the Stems, they only really work on barbed hooks.
The Stems are available in two sizes to suit small and large hooks.
If you think carp are getting away with it or you’re just looking to add another string to your bow, check out the new Hook Shots. They transformed my catch results many moons ago and could do the same for you.
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ANGLER PROFILE: J o n J o n e s Age:
43 47 l b
UK PB:
Occupation:
Br a nd M a na g e r o f A v id Ca r p
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Avid Carpers May / June 2014
HOOK SHOTS JON JONES
Jon caught this magnificent 31lb 2oz mirror while testing the Hook Shots.
@jon_AvidCarp
Instagram@avidcarp
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