S R E P R A C D AVI Volume 5 July/August 2013
avidcarp.com
FREE
CATCH MORE THIS
SUMMER Find out how Team Avid catch consistently through the warmer months
F REE B
I-MONT H DIGITAL LY
BEAT THE WEED
Angie Lawley reveals a simple presentation that’s perfect for fishing in weed
MONSTER BRACE
Read about Jon ‘Shoes’ Jones’ 96lb brace from a Shropshire estate lake
MAGAZ
INE
PLUS: NIGE WILLIAMS’ RIG CLINIC CATCH THE BIGGEST CARP IN THE LAKE TOP TIPS FOR SURFACE FISHING NEW PRODUCTS: PIN DOWN HOOKLINK FLATBED FEEDERS SCREEN HOUSE REELS
C O N TENTS
e h t o t e m o “Welc f o e u s s i t s July/Augu rpers.” Ca d i v A
04 FORGOTTEN METHOD
10 CATCH OF A LIFETIME
Ian Russell reveals how Method feeders could totally transform your season.
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AVID CARPERS
Find out how Jon ‘Shoes’ Jones banked an incredible brace for a combined weight of over 91lb.
14 TOP TIPS
18 SUMMER ESSENTIALS
Floater-fishing expert Jon Finch highlights his top ten tips for surface fishing this summer.
Team Avid reveal the products they don’t go fishing without during the warmer summer months.
JULY/ AUG US T 2013 Well, summer is finally here and, judging by the amount of pictures we’re being sent for our Catch Reports pages, anglers across the UK and Europe are really making the most of the warm weather. With temperatures finally rising, we’ve decided to make this magazine a summer, warm-water special. When the temperature soars, the fishing can often get much trickier, so we’ve picked the brains of some of the biggest names in the business to see how they target carp when the conditions deteriorate. First up, Ian Russell explains why he believes the new Avid Flatbed Method Feeders could totally transform your catch results this summer. As well as this, Jon Finch, arguably one of the best surface anglers in the country, reveals his tops tips for this extremely exciting tactic. Plus, there’s a feature with Chris Lowe about catching the largest carp in the lake you’re targeting, and an article with Angie Lawley about her favourite summer solid bag presentation.
We’re still receiving lots of emails from anglers who can’t get hold of the paper version of the magazine because their local tackle shop has run out of copies. Don’t forget, for a small price to cover postage, you can actually subscribe to the magazine and have it sent straight to your door. If you want to subscribe to Avid Carpers, log onto www.avidcarpers.tv and click the subscribe button.
Shoes
Jon ‘Shoes’ Jones
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20 RIG CLINIC
26 BEAT THE WEED
Nigel Williams explains the advantages of using super-supple hooklinks.
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Angie Lawley shows how you can succeed on weedy venues with a very simple approach.
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32 NUMBERS GAME
Want to catch the largest carp in the lake? Chris Lowe reveals how you can do it.
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3
F E E D ER F ISH ING
THE FORGOTTEN METHOD
Carp-angling machine Ian Russell reveals a revolutionary new tactic that could transform your catch results this summer.
Many moons ago, when I first started carp fishing, lots of anglers used Method feeders for targeting specimen carp but, over the last decade, the popularity of the tactic has declined somewhat, and it now seems to be an approach often associated with match angling. When product genius Jon ‘Shoes’ Jones first showed me the new Avid Flatbed Method Feeders, I knew he was onto something very
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AVID CARPERS
special. Jon had been out with some of the best match anglers in the country, like Des Shipp and Tommy Pickering, and had witnessed them smashing wellstocked carp waters to pieces, and catching some good’uns along the way. Realising there was mileage in the hugely successful tactic for specimen carp anglers, he started developing a range of carp-specific Flatbed Method Feeders and, as they say, the rest is history.
When I first started testing the new feeders, I simply couldn’t believe how easy they were to use. They allowed me to create a small parcel of food, with my hookbait completely contained inside, similar to a solid PVA bag, in a matter of seconds. What’s more, due to the unique push-button mould, I could create feeders full of bait that were the exact same size every time, which made casting accurately at range much easier.
I A N R US S E LL
The new Pin Down hooklink is perfect for feeder fishing.
Sonubaits Stiki Pellet allows you to bind pellets around feeders.
The Flatbed Feeders are available in two sizes.
The new Flatbed Feeders are available in two sizes – small and large. This allows you to control just how much bait you’d like to present on the lakebed. Although some anglers like to fish with small parcels of food, others may prefer a much bigger offering. The small feeders are available in 1.5oz or 2oz and the large feeders in 2.5oz or 3oz. So, regardless of the distance you want to fish at and the amount of bait you want to present on
the bottom, there’s bound to be a feeder to suit your needs.
insert can be adjusted so you can completely eject the feeder on the take.
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For me, the standout feature with new feeders has got to be the quick-change design. Due to a unique lockable insert, you can simply change the weight of the feeder you are using in a matter of seconds, which is perfect if you want to achieve a little extra distance. Plus, for those anglers who may be fishing for large carp in snaggy venues, the lockable
To aid with casting, the feeders boast an extra-weighted nose and an aerodynamic profile. Plus, due to the Flatbed design and subtle colour, they are extremely inconspicuous on the bottom. This makes them absolutely perfect for fishing over beds of bait, or on their own like conventional PVA bags.
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F E E D ER F ISH ING The key to success when using the Flatbed Feeders is getting your groundbait or pellet mix spot on. This is very much a trial and error thing but, to be fair, with a little bit of practice, you can create a mix to suit the venue you’re fishing exactly. For example, you can alter the consistency of the mix so you can control just how quickly it breaks down on the bottom. Make sure you check out the next issue of Avid Carpers to find out exactly how to create the perfect Method mix. If you’re looking for the ultimate edge this summer, I suggest you take a look at these innovative little feeders. They allow you to present your hookbait inside
a tiny mound of food, safe in the knowledge that there are no tangles. What’s more, you can create the whole presentation in a matter of seconds. Don’t be fooled into thinking this tactic is designed for small fish because, during field-testing, some of the Avid consultants caught some very large carp using them.
OUT
AUGUST
HOW TO...
CHANGE THE WEIGHT OF YOUR FEEDER
01
When the stem is fixed inside the feeder it will look like this.
04
You can now pull the stem from inside the feeder.
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AVID CARPERS
02
Carefully push the stem out of the middle of the feeder.
05
Pull your main line or leader from the centre of the feeder.
03
Now twist the stem 180 degrees.
06
To attach a different feeder, perform the above sequence in reverse.
I A N R US S E LL
HOW TO...
LOAD A FLATBED FEEDER
01
02
Add a thin layer of prepared pellets to the Method Mould.
Now place your chosen hookbait and rig inside the Mould.
04
05
Carefully push the feeder into the Mould like this.
Turn the Mould upside down and press the quick-release button.
03
Fill the feeder to the brim with more pellets.
06
The loaded Method feeder should look like this.
ANGLER PROFILE NAME: Ian Russell AGE: 51 UK PB: 57lb 8oz OCCUPATION: Full Time Angler
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7
REELS
n o i t a v o n n i l e e r RANGE
SPOD REEL
OUT
NOW
The Avid Carp Air Range is a new generation of reel designed to provide anglers with the ultimate tool for spodding. This purpose-built spod reel has an increased gear ratio for quick retrieve, and has no clutch/drag system, so there’s no chance the spool will ever slip when casting, making it the ultimate reel for anglers serious about spodding.
FEATURES • • • • • • • • •
Increased Gear Ratio for Quick Retrieve 7 Stainless Steel Ball Bearings Machine Forged Aluminium Spool Lightweight Aluminium Sealed Body Non-Slip Spool Quick-Release Spool Sprung Line Clip Quick-Fold Handle Anti-Twist Roller
SUPPLIED WITH • A shallow spool
SPECIFICATION GEAR RATIO: 5.7:1 WEIGHT: 680 grams
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AVID CARP REELS
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AVID CARPERS
PLEASE NOTE: This reel has no drag/clutch so it cannot be used for general fishing.
P R O D UC TS
The Avid Carp 12000CC is a new generation of reel designed to provide anglers with the perfect tool to cope with the rigours of modern carp fishing. Boasting a revolutionary Custom-Control Drag, anglers can now adjust the sensitivity of the quick-drag system. If you wish, you can set the drag so that it goes from free running to locked up in just a quarter of a turn. This puts you in complete control at all times.
FEATURES • • • • • • • • •
12 Stainless Steel Ball Bearings Machine Forged Aluminium Spool Supplied With Two Quick-Fold Handles Lightweight Aluminium Sealed Body Custom-Control Drag Quick-Release Spool Sprung Line Clip Tapered Spool Anti-Twist Roller
SUPPLIED WITH • Shallow capacity spool • Deep capacity Continental spool • Silver handle with classic wooden knob • Black handle with moulded soft-touch knob
SPECIFICATION GEAR RATIO: 4.6:1 WEIGHT: 729 grams
LINE CAPACITY SHALLOW SPOOL: 10lb 360 yards l 12lb 320 yards l 15lb 280 yards CONTINENTAL SPOOL: 10lb 640 yards l 12lb 600 yards l 15lb 550 yards
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9
R E F L EC T IONS
CATCH OF A
LIFETIME
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AVID CARPERS
JO N JO N E S Find out how Jon ‘Shoes’ Jones managed to bank two incredible carp in one session for a combined weight of 96lb. When I booked a couple of days on Acton Burnell Bottom Lake during one of the open-access weeks, nothing could have prepared me for how the threeday session was going to pan out. I remember joking with Avid’s media man Jason Umney that I was going to bank a couple of the lake’s largest residents, but I didn’t really expect it to happen. After looking forward to the session for a couple of weeks, the day finally arrived and it was late Sunday afternoon when I pulled into the car park that overlooks the breathtaking 7-acre lake. Knowing the Island Swim is one of the most productive swims on the lake, because it allows you to fish the snags on the dam wall, I already had an idea where I wanted to be fishing. There was a warm wind trickling straight towards the dam and it really did look spot-on for a bite or two. Even though the swim looked perfect, I still did a couple of laps of the lake to see if I could find any fish elsewhere. After seeing no signs of carp anywhere, it made sense to drop
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into the Island Swim because the conditions suited it perfectly. Plus, according to a lot of the lake’s regulars, Bill, the largest common in the lake, regularly gets caught from this swim. Now that would be a nice surprise! With all my gear unceremoniously slung into the swim, I cast two rods towards the snags on the dam, then introduced a mixture of 10mm and 15mm Code Red shelf-life boilies, Sonubaits Hemp ‘N’ Corn, tiger nuts and some diced-up luncheon meat. Knowing that most anglers use boilies on the lake, it made sense to try something completely different. I’ve caught lots of fish on luncheon meat over the years and, although it’s often associated with barbel fishing and match fishing, it’s a bait that has caught me plenty of big’uns, especially from pressured venues. With two rods positioned along the dam wall, I cast my third rod into open water on a firm area that I found using the Avid Marker Float Kit, and introduced a hundred or so Code Red boilies over the top. All three rigs were baited with 15mm Code Red boilies tipped with Avid
Jon used a buoyant Mega Sight Stop to balance his hookbait.
AVID CARPERS
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R E F L EC T IONS
Bill, the lake’s largest carp, tipped the scales to 47lb.
Floating Mega Sight Stops to negate the weight of the hook and add a fleck of colour. In a bid to fool the lake’s wary residents, I opted to use running rigs on all three rods and my favourite longshank bottom-bait rig constructed from the new 20lb Avid Pin Down Hooklink and prototype Avid hooks. Nowadays, running rigs get totally neglected, which I think is a massive oversight from a lot of anglers. When targeting pressured carp, I really don’t think you can beat the presentation because, when a carp bolts, it can’t use the weight of the lead to shed the hook. The first evening passed without any action but, after hearing a couple of carp show off the dam during the night, I was relatively confident of forthcoming action. At 10am that morning, the bobbin on my right-hand rod
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AVID CARPERS
HOW TO...
TIE JON’S LONGSHANK RIG
01
Strip 3in of coating from a length of Captive Coated Hooklink and tie a loop in the end.
03
Carefully slide a small slither of silicone tubing onto the hooklink like this.
02
Attach a boilie hookbait and tip it with a buoyant Corn Stop or Mega Sight Stop.
04
Finally pass a longshank hook through the tubing and tie it to the hooklink using a knotless knot.
JO N JO N E S lifted around an inch and the rod tip bent round ever so slightly. I dived for the rod, struck and a mental battle unfolded. The fish ploughed straight into some dense snags but, fortunately, after applying steady pressure and taking my time, I eventually got the fish moving. Thinking the fish was probably one of the venue’s stockies, I actually casually drew the fish towards the net. To my surprise, a few yards from the bank, an absolutely massive common emerged and my attitude changed somewhat. Knowing that I was playing Bill, the most sought-after fish in the lake, I did my best not to lose the fish. Fortunately, Jason was on hand and, after a few last-minute lunges, I just about managed to bundle the enormous common into the net. The fish tipped the scales to 47lb and marked a new PB common for me.
that there was still a chance of forthcoming action. The conditions were spot-on and the previous night, I’d heard a couple of carp show in open water in front of me. At first light on the final morning of my session, the bobbin on the middle rod crashed off the rod blank and line began tearing from the reel. After an absolutely epic battle, which I reckon lasted for at least half an hour, a large, dark mirror emerged from the depths of The Bottom Lake. It was another one of the venue’s sought-after originals and tipped the scales to 44lb 6oz. That’s a brace of 91lb 6oz!!!
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RH FISHERIES
Although I was still buzzing from catching Bill, I was confident
ANGLER PROFILE The icing on the cake was this incredible 44lb 6oz mirror. What a way to end the session.
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NAME: Jon Jones AGE: 42 UK PB: 47lb OCCUPATION: Brand Manager of Avid Carp
AVID CARPERS
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T O P TIPS
s p i t p o T for SURFACE
JON F
reve
INCH
als
TOPT fo r su
rfac
his
IPS
e fis
hing
.
FISHING 02. DIFFERENT SIZES Try introducing different sized freebies. This simple tactic will make it much more difficult for the fish to single out your hookbait, making it a great tactic for large, pressured carp.
03. SPOD ‘EM OUT The Avid Surface Spod is the ultimate edge for floater fishing. Due to a unique roll-aball design, you get no spillage on the cast, so surface fishing can now be achieved at totally new distances.
01. CAST BEYOND THE FISH When surface fishing for carp, in order not to spook them, it’s a good idea to cast your hookbait beyond them and carefully reel it back into position.
04. WEAR SHADES As well as reducing headaches from staring into the sun all day, polarising sunglasses will also allow you to spot carp easier and study exactly how they are feeding.
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AVID CARPERS
JO N F I N C H
05. BE PATIENT
Always take your time and ensure the fish are feeding confidently before you cast out. Feed them, watch them and finally fish for them.
06. GOOD-QUALITY FLOATER When surface fishing I absolutely love using Sonubaits Oily Floaters because they are superdurable and leak-off oil in the water.
07. LIGHT HOOKLINKS
In order not to spook carp, it’s important to use a light, low-diameter hooklink. My personal favourite is the Preston Innovations Reflo™ Xceed.
HOW TO...
CREATE THE PERFECT FLOATER-FISHING HOOKBAIT
01
02
Using a pair of scissors, trim down a brown Avid High Lite.
Ensure the trimmed-down High Lite is a similar size and shape to your freebies.
04
05
If cut correctly, the groove should look like this.
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Now add a little bit of superglue to the groove on the High Lite.
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03
Carefully create a groove in the High Lite using a sharp knife.
06
Finally push your chosen hook into the groove like this and wait for the glue to set.
AVID CARPERS
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T O P TIPS 08. TAKE CONTROL
09. BAGS OF MIXERS
It’s important that you use a goodquality controller float when surface fishing. As a rule, I like to use the smallest size I can get away with in the situation.
If you want to introduce mixers super-accurately around your hookbait, try catapulting them out inside PVA bags.
10. ALTER THE LENGTH If the carp are getting away with it or acting suspicious around you controller float, try altering the length of your hooklink.
OUT C H E CeKr t s i n a l l
v our ad ading carp e l the ations for public E
MOR
S P I T P O T
ANGLER PROFILE NAME: Jon Finch AGE: 31 UK PB: 45lb 9oz OCCUPATION: Owner of Bankside Tackle
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AVID CARPERS
CATC H R E P O RTS
CATCH
REPORTS Welcome to the Avid Catch Reports page – the area of the magazine that gives you the chance to see your catch pic.
TOP CATCH WINNER
DECLAN GOGGINS, 30LB
If you’ve caught a carp using Avid tackle, send a picture to catchreports@avidcarp.com, and it may appear in the next magazine. What’s more, the winner of the star prize will receive a bundle of tackle from the Avid Carp range.
NAME: Dan Thorp FISH WEIGHT: 27lb 2oz VENUE: Rh Fisheries’ The Sitch BAIT: Ocean X pop-up TACTICS: Caught on a Chod rig fished over a large spread of boilies in open water. I was using Avid Chod beads and the new Stiff Rig Filament.
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NAME: Declan Goggins VENUE: Private syndicate BAIT: Sonubaits Code Red boilies TACTICS: I fished in open water over
a spread of boilies. I used Thread & Go Tubing, Tube Gripper Clips and 2.5oz Distance Swivel leads.
NAME: Vanessa Warner FISH WEIGHT: 21lb 8oz VENUE: Elson’s Lake, Stanwick Fishery BAIT: Balanced pop-up TACTICS: The weed was quite bad in the lake, so I opted to use Transfer 5 solid PVA bags full of mixed pellets. I also used Avid Marker Elastic to mark my main line.
NAME: Joe Knight FISH WEIGHT: 13lb 9oz VENUE: Cliva Vale Lake BAIT: Avid High Lite TACTICS: Although it was a very cold day, I still opted to use a Zig rig on one of my rods. I caught the fish on a Black/Orange Zig Lite tipped with a Yellow Maize Stop.
AVID CARPERS
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ES S E N TIA LS
Team Avid reveal their must-have items for the summer…
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PRODUCTS IN THIS ARTICLE
SUNCREAM This is probably one of the most important items that any angler should posses during the summer. Always carry suncream with you and make sure you use it!
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BASEBALL CAP When it’s warm, it’s important that you wear a cap or hat of some description. As well as keeping the sun out of your eyes, this baseball cap will also reduce the chance of you getting sunburnt.
LIGHTWEIGHT T-SHIRT This lightweight, comfortable t-shirt is great for keeping you cool when it’s hot. Similar to a football shirt, air will circulate more freely over the body. It’s finished in a subtle green colour so it’s perfect for stalking.
SUM SUMM
ESSEN ALPINE BROLLY
POLARISING SUNGLASSES Good-quality sunglasses are an absolute must during the summer. As well as making it easier for you to spot carp, they will stop you squinting and reduce the chances of you getting headaches.
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AVID CARPERS
During the summer the weather is usually a lot better, so you can get away with using brolly-style shelters. Using a brolly will allow you to travel light and move onto showing fish quickly.
P R O D UC TS COOL STORE BAGS When the temperature rises, it’s important that you own a good-quality cool bag. As well as keeping your food and drink cool, the Cool Store bags are also ideal for keeping your freezer baits fresh when you’re at the lake.
THREE SEASON SLEEPING BAG If you’re planning on spending nights on the bank this summer, it’s a good idea to get yourself a threeseason sleeping bag. As well as being light and compact, they are comfortable and cooler to sleep in.
MMER MER
NTIALS
SURFACE SPOD
OILY FLOATERS As the temperature rises, carp will certainly spend a lot of time in the upper layers. It’s definitely worth having a bag of these Sonubaitsfloaters in the back of your car throughout the warmer months.
If you want an edge when surface fishing, check out the Surface Spod. It will allow you to introduce mixers further than ever before quickly and easily. Plus, you’ll get a lot less spod spill!
ZIG LITES At this time of year it’s well worth having a Zig rig on at least one rod. As well as making brilliant hookbaits for Zig rig fishing, they also make great hookbaits for floater fishing!
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19
R I G C LINIC
20
AVID CARPERS
A SOFTLY,
NI G E L W I LLI A M S
SOFTLY
APPROACH
Nigel Williams genuinely believes you could catch more carp if you use soft, supple hooklinks. Read on to find out more… Working in a tackle shop on a regular basis and spending lots of time at shows with Avid Carp, I regularly get quizzed about rigs and rig mechanics. With hundreds of weird and wonderful rigs now at an angler’s disposal, it’s no wonder newcomers to the sport can become very confused.
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The one thing most anglers will notice about my rigs is that the majority of them are tied using braided hooklinks. Now, with all the hype these days in the magazines focusing on coated hooklinks and stiffer varieties, you may be wondering why I use braided hooklinks. Well, I started using braided materials about 25 years ago because, at
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the time, there were no coated hooklinks available and the only options you had were braid or nylon. I used to catch lots of carp using supple hooklinks and, as the years progressed, I just stuck with what I knew and what I was confident in. Plus, as time went by, the nature of the hooklinks and technology behind manufacturing braided hooklinks improved, so I found myself catching even more fish on them. For me, the advantages of using supple hooklinks massively outweigh the negatives. Firstly, regardless of where the hooklink lands, it will always sit right and hug the contours of the lake bed. Plus, even if it lands on the
AVID CARPERS
21
R I G C LINIC
oklinks will Super-supple ho more carp, u yo h certainly catc nues that are especially on ve er hooklinks. iff st dominated by
HOW TO...
TIE NIGE’S SUPER-SUPPLE RIG
01
Tie a length of Captive Braided Hooklink to a longshank hook using a grinner knot.
04
Carefully tie the hooklink onto the rig ring like this.
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AVID CARPERS
02
Pass the tag end through the eye of the hook.
05
Now tie a small loop in the end of the tag end.
03
Slide a small rig ring on to the shank of the hook.
06
Finally attach your hookbait and the rig is ready to go.
NI G E L W I LLI A M S deck in a heap, there’s enough movement in the hooklink for it to travel into the carp’s mouth when it sucks up your hookbait. As well as this, the sheer suppleness of the material means it is very flexible, therefore the hook is more likely to naturally flip and turn and grab hold in the carp’s mouth. Whenever I speak to anglers about supple rigs, a lot of them always mention that they worry about tangles when they are casting. Well, if you encounter tangles, simply try adding a small PVA stick onto your rig, or use one of the Avid Flat Sleeves. There are a whole host of supple hooklinks on the market and, although I’m sponsored by Avid
Carp, I genuinely believe the Captive Braided Hooklink is the best I have ever used. Although the material is available in two breaking strains, I generally opt for the 15lb version when I’m fishing in open water because it suits my angling needs perfectly. If I’m fishing in heavy weed or a lake that contains lots of snags, I will usually step up to the slightly stronger 25lb breaking strain. Although I regularly change the rigs I’m using to suit the venue, lake bed or even the carp I’m targeting, I do have one particular favourite that has served me incredibly well over the last decade. My trusty longshank blow-back rig is an absolutely devastating rig and, when tied using a supple hooklink, I’m confident wherever I cast it. By
attaching the hook to the braided hooklink using a five-turn grinner knot, the hook will flip and turn in the carp’s mouth quickly and effectively, without the need for any shrink tube. This, combined with the longshank hook and a blow-back presentation, makes the rig extremely difficult for carp of all sizes to deal with. Whether I’m fishing with pop-ups or bottom-bait rigs or using Flat Clips or in-line leads, you can guarantee I’ll be using this rig tied using a braided hooklink. If you’re looking for an edge, give soft, supple hooklinks a try. They are absolutely devastating for carp of all sizes and, because most anglers neglect them, they are devastating on pressured venues because the fish simply aren’t used to encountering them.
This stunning 30 lb-plus mirror was caught us ing the rig outlined in this feature.
ANGLER PROFILE NAME: Nigel Williams AGE: 37 UK PB: 41lb 10oz OCCUPATION: Self Employed
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23
P I N I T DOWN
OUT
NOW
24
AVID CARPERS
P R O D UC TS
PIN iT
DOWN After the success of our popular 45lb Pin Down Leader material, we have decided to expand the range to give anglers more options. As well as releasing the Pin Down Leader material in 65lb breaking strain to cater for anglers that fish on the Continent and superdemanding venues in the UK, we have also released our brand-new Pin Down Hooklink material. Like the leader material, this supersupple 20lb hooklink is available in weed/silt or gravel/clay colour. Due to the unique nature of the hooklink, like the leader material, the Pin Down Hooklink is very strong and sinks like a brick. Regardless of where you’re fishing or what rigs you’re using, why don’t you pin it down this summer with the Pin Down Hooklink. It’s perfect for targeting wary carp and could totally transform the effectiveness of your rigs.
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HOW TO...
TIE A PIN DOWN RIG
01
Form a loop in the end of a length of Pin Down Hooklink.
02
Now fix a hookbait in place using a boilie stop.
03
Pass the hooklink through the hook pattern of your choice.
04
Finally fix the hookbait in place using a knotless knot.
AVID CARPERS
25
S OL I D BAGGIN’
BEAT THE WEED… 26
AVID CARPERS
A N G I E LAW L E Y Angie Lawley, arguably one of the best female carp anglers in the country, reveals her favourite setup for fishing in weed. At this time of year, the weed in lots of venues tends to flourish, making it extremely difficult to present your hookbait correctly on the lake bed. Understandably, lots of anglers steer well clear of the weed because they’re worried about their presentation. This is a real shame because, as well as offering natural cover an protection, weed is absolutely stuffed with natural food. If there’s weed in an area of a lake, you can guarantee that there will be carp close to it. So, if you can master fishing in or around it, I’m certain you will catch more carp.
If you want to beat the weed this summer, I think I’ve got a very simple approach that will answer all of your prayers – solid PVA bags. Solid bags are perfect for fishing in the weed because you can present your hookbait, rig and lead arrangement in, or on top of the weed, safe in the knowledge that it’s going to be sitting spot on and tangle free. Plus, you can even present a mound of free food around your hookbait that will completely hide your end tackle. The only real disadvantage I can see with using solid PVA bags is
the fact that they can be quite time consuming to tie up at the side of the lake. Fortunately, since the release of the new Avid Bag Stems, it’s never been easier to use them. You can now tie dozens of them at home before your session, then attach them to your main line quickly when you need to. Recently, I’ve been playing around with a variety of different presentations and I genuinely think I’ve found the ultimate weed setup. Like lots of anglers, when I’m fishing with short hooklinks
Check out this cracking 37lb 6o z mirror Angie ca ught from a weedy ve nue using solid bags .
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S OL I D BAGGIN’
HOW TO...
CREATE ANGIE’S BAG ARRANGEMENT
01
The Avid Bag Stems play a huge part in the presentation.
04
Attach the rig of your choice to the Ring Swivel using a loop-to-loop knot.
07
Add a sprinkling of pellets to the bottom of the bag.
10
Compact the bag by carefully twisting the top of it.
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AVID CARPERS
02
Remove the insert from inside an In-Line Safety Lead.
05
Two grains of buoyant corn make the ultimate hookbait.
08
Place your hookbait and lead arrangement inside the bag.
11
Tie some Transfer PVA tape around the bag to secure it.
03
Slide a Bag Stem through the centre of the lead.
06
Slide a Transfer PVA bag over an Avid Bag Loader.
09
Three quarters fill the PVA bags with pellets like this.
12
Once you’ve made the bag aerodynamic by sticking the corners, it should look like this.
A N G I E LAW L E Y on weedy venues, I like to ensure the lead ejects. By combining the Avid In-Line Safety Leads with the new Bag Stems, you can actually create an incredible drop-off presentation. What’s more, by squeezing the lead and adjusting how tightly it grips the Bag Stem, you can customise how much force is needed for the lead to drop off. Personally, I generally ensure the lead is relatively loose around the Bag Stem, so it drops off as soon as a carp picks up my hookbait. Whether you’re fishing over light weed, in the middle of heavy weed, or on clear spots in the weed, I genuinely think this solid-bag approach will catch you more carp.
NAME: Angie Lawley AGE: 52 UK PB: 41lb 4oz OCCUPATION: Consultant
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TIP
If you see fish showing in the weed, it’s well worth casting a solid PVA bag straight onto them. If the fish are feeding, more often than not, you should get a bite relatively quickly.
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THE FULL AVID PVA RANGE http://avidcarp.com/PVA_Range
This 39lb 12oz mirror, known as The Kempy’s Li near, was caug ht from Linear Fish eries using the solid-bag appr oach outlined in this feature.
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S C R E EN H OU SE
THE
BIG
After speaking to our strong team of European consultants about fishing on the Continent, it quickly became apparent that lots of European anglers, and anglers from the UK visiting the Continent, were using gazebo-style shelters to cook and socialise in on long sessions. Knowing that most anglers were purchasing gazebos that were made for the camping market, in a whole host of bright colours, we decided to design a shelter specifically with carp anglers in mind. The new Screen House is easy to erect, boasts a full mozzie mesh and has full-length zips on all four sides. We’re certain the Screen House is going to find favour with anglers who fish on the Continent, or carp anglers in the UK who want somewhere to cook and socialise with friends on longer sessions.
OUT
25cm
2.03m 3.3m Height + Width
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AVID CARPERS
3.3m2
AUGUST
75cm Taped Seams
Bag Size
Insect Net
12.7kg Foot Print
Weight
Top tips for SUMMER
SURFACE FISHING
SURFACE SPOD & ZIG LITES
At this time of year, when fish can be found cruising a few inches below the surface, you can usually get them feeding off the top by introducing mixers or Sonubaits Oily Floaters. The Avid Surface Spod is perfect for tool for the job because it boasts a buoyant inner roll-a-ball. Upon impact with water, the nose will point downwards, allowing the ball to float up the arms of the spod, releasing the mixers. You get no spillage on the cast and it lands with a nice quiet splash. Perfect!
yardsticks
GET ACCURATE
I’m a massive fan of fishing accurately over tight beds of bait during the warmer months because I’m certain it’s a great way of racking up big hits of fish. When I’m fishing tight, I like to use the Avid Yard Sticks because they make fishing accurately easier than ever before. As well as having three colour-coded toggle stops that allow you to mark three different areas, they also have a slight curve in them which ensures your main line peels effortlessly off them when you reel in your line.
transit barrows
KEEP MOVING
It’s essential that you move promptly should you see signs of feeding fish. A good-quality barrow will certainly make the job a lot easier. The new Transit Barrows are perfect because they have adjustable handles so you can customise them to suit your height, making them easier to push over large distances.
ZIG LITES & ZIG CLIPS WATCH THE WATER
It’s absolutely essential that you own a decent pair of polarising sunglasses. The carp can often be found in the margins or close to the surface, so a pair of decent shades will certainly help you locate carp quicker. As far as I’m concerned, finding the fish is generally the biggest part of the puzzle.
POLARISING SUNGLASSES
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GET ON THE ZIGS
During the summer, when the upper layers are warm, carp will spend the majority of their time a few feet below the surface. If you’re struggling for a bite on the deck, it’s well worth chucking a Zig rig out. I’ve lost count of the amount of times a Zig has nicked a bite when everything else has been failing.
THE NUMBERS GAME
N U M B E RS G A M E
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AVID CARPERS
C HR I S LO W E
Want to catch the largest carp from the lake you’re targeting? Chris Lowe explains how you can do it. I spend a lot of my time fishing well-stocked day-ticket venues these days in search of large carp. Why? Well, although these places can get very busy, I absolutely love competing against other anglers and overcoming the challenges such venues throw at me. Plus, like all carp anglers, I simply love getting bites so these venues suit me down to the ground. I fish a lot at Linear Fisheries and, while I’m doing tutorials and speaking to other anglers, I regularly get asked how people can single out the largest fish in the lake. Unfortunately, due to the high stocking levels and amount of carp in such venues, it’s extremely difficult to actively single out the larger specimens. Some anglers believe that, using big-fish tactics, you can single out the larger specimens, but I disagree to some extent. If you opt to use boilies and rigs with big-fish pedigree, like the hinge-stiff rig or Chod rig, you may increase the chances of you catching bigger fish, but you’ll always catch the smaller fish too. So what’s the answer? Well, fortunately, over the last decade, I’ve formulated a fairly simple approach that has served me very
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well, and allowed me to catch some of the most sought-after residents on the Linear complex. It may sound a little bit strange but, in a bid to catch the largest carp, I generally do everything I can to catch as many carp as I can during my session. Although most anglers aim to catch lots of carp every time they go fishing, they don’t necessarily use tactics that are going to allow them to do this. I see lots of anglers these days using small PVA bags and single hookbaits and, although these tactics catch fish, you’ll never regularly achieve massive hits of fish from well-stocked venues. As far as I’m concerned, the best way to catch lots of carp during a session is to get the carp into a feeding frenzy by giving them plenty of grub. More often than not, when fish start feeding competitively, the water will often cloud up which will make it more difficult for them to spot your end tackle, and they usually get so preoccupied on feeding that they drop their guard somewhat. Plus, if you’ve got smaller fish ripping up the swim and eating your bait, I’m convinced that the commotion attracts larger fish into the swim
AVID CARPERS
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N U M B E RS G A M E and, although they may not feed straight away, I’m certain their confidence grows when other carp are devouring the bait. So what’s the best way to increase your catch rate in a bid to tempt a couple of whackers? Well, although the tactics may change depending on the time of year, I generally try and fish super-accurately over a lot of bait. Fishing dustbin-lid style is certainly the best way to get the carp feeding competitively in a tight area and, in my opinion, the best way to rack up big hits of fish. If you look at any of the successful anglers that achieve the massive hits of fish on places like Linear, I guarantee, they all fish accurately over lots of bait!
Generally, after finding a feature in the swim with my marker rod, I will chuck all three rods on an area the size of a brolly and introduce a couple of kilos of bait over the top. I will introduce half a dozen or so spodfuls of bait after every fish I catch and, even if I’m not catching, I will keep ten spodfuls of bait going in every hour or so. As well as topping up the bait, this keeps the swim active and ensures there’s a reason for the fish to stay in the area. When it comes to bait, I generally like to fish with a mixture of boilies, pellets and particles. Although particle baits are associated with smaller carp, I think the amount of attraction released by them makes them very appealing. When
fishing with lots of individual food morsels, I think the carp get very preoccupied and a lot easier to catch. That said, I do make sure I put plenty of Sonubait Code Red boilies in my mix because I’m certain boilies really appeal to the large carp. The key to this style of fishing is fishing super-accurately at all times. Fishing three rods on a tight baited area can be difficult to begin with, especially if you’re casting through a strong cross wind, but practice certainly makes perfect. If you’re struggling, start by fishing two rods on a largish baited area and, as your confidence grows, try fishing tighter and getting more rods on the spot.
HOW TO...
MAKE CHRIS’ FAVOURITE SPOD MIX
01
The bulk of Chris’ spod mix is made up of Sonubaits Hemp ‘N’ Corn.
04
He also adds some crushed boilies because they leak more attraction.
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AVID CARPERS
02
He then adds a mixture of 2mm S-Pellet Feed and 4mm Elliptical Barbel Pellets.
05
A liberal dousing of Pineapple & N Butyric Booster Cloud is the final ingredient.
03
A few handfuls of Code Red boilies are included to attract larger fish.
06
The finished mix is absolutely perfect for spodding out on well-stocked venues.
C HR I S LO W E
The key is getting all three rigs close together.
Spodding regularly keeps the swim active.
Although fishing accurately can be a bit of a pain, there are various things you can do to ensure you’re always fishing bang on the money. The most popular way of ensuring you always cast slap-bang in the middle of your baited area is to mark your main line with Marker Elastic. This is a brilliant tactic and one that has been used by carp anglers for many moons. Personally though, I much prefer to
use the new Avid Yard Sticks. They allow you to accurately mark up your rods quickly and efficiently. The great thing about them is, the fact that once you’ve found a good spot, you can make a note of the wraps and write them down so, next time you’re lucky enough to get in the same swim, you know exactly where you need to be fishing. Just always make sure you pick a far-bank marker so you can
There’s no need for complicated rigs for this style of fishing. ensure you’re casting exactly the right place, even when it’s dark. As far as I’m concerned, this is the best way of increasing the chances of you catching the largest carp in the lake. Although there’s no guarantee you will catch the biggest carp in the lake, you will dramatically increase your chances every time you go fishing.
ANGLER PROFILE
This 30lb-plus mirror was part of a twenty-fish hit from an extremely pressured dayticket venue.
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NAME: Chris Lowe AGE: 42 UK PB: 56lb OCCUPATION: Angling Tutor
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AVID CARPERS
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STU N
FIVE
NIN GU
KV EN U
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