Carp Catchers Blog

We have the Nash S3 Professional Bivvy and the Nash Frostbite Sub-Zero Sleeping Bags in stock now. These three items are just a part of Nash Tackles extensive new 2010 range. The Nash S3 Professional Bivvy  is lightweight and has three modular options. It has a radical new aerodynamic profile which maximises stability, increases headroom and porch protection. For more information or to purchase please click on the above link.

The Nash Frostbite Sub-Zero Sleeping Bag  is a high performance lightweight sleeping bag designed for the mobile angler. It is manufactured from a waterproof, breathable peachskin material with a thermal fleece lining for quick warm up and increased heat retention. For the larger carp angler we also have the Nash Frostbite Sub-Zero Wide Boy Sleeping Bag  which is made of the same specification materials. For more information or to purchase please click on the above links.

                  Nash S3 Professional Bivvy

          Nash Frostbite Sub-Zero Sleeping Bag

 Nash Frostbite Sub-Zero Wide Boy Sleeping Bag

Best Fishes,

John

We’ve got so many new products it’s unreal, in this blog we have the Trakker Crossfire Bivvy, the Trakker Quiklok Bedchair and some nice stainless from Wychwood.

The Trakker Crossfire Bivvy  really is a radical design and provides a practical alternative to the pramhood type bivvy. It is extremely lightweight due to it’s aerograde aluminium flexi-poles. The Crossfire is particularly suited to the mobile angler and those that do quick overnighters as it can be set up in a variety of ways ie. front off and set to a low profile. For more information or to purchase please click on the above link

The Trakker Quiklok Bedchair is another really innovative product. It has the patented Quiklok mechanism which allows you to open and adjust the head end of the bedchair with just a pull on the Quiklok lever. With a fleece lined high density foam mattress and an inflatable air bed insert the Quiklok Bedchair is the height of comfort on the bank. For more information or to purchase please click on the above link.

Finally for this blog we have The Wychwood Maximiser Stainless Steel Banksticks  and Buzz Bars. They look really solid and well made with some nice little touches. The Buzz Bar can be set up as either a single bankstick set up or as a goal post arrangement. The price point of the Maximiser Stainless range is also very favourable. For more information or to purchase please click on the above links.

                                                  Trakker Crossfire Bivvy

                                                      Trakker Quiklok Bedchair

                   Wychwood Maximiser Stainless Steel Banksticks

         Wychwood Maximiser Stainless Steel Banksticks

Best fishes,

John

Just in we have the JRC Contact 1 & 2 Man Bivvy’s, The Jrc Multi Fit Mozzi Cover and JRC 60” Oval Brolly. The   JRC Contact Bivvy  is a compact and highly portable entry level bivvy system that can be used as a brolly or bivvy depending on the weather. Plagued by mozzi’s?  JRC Multi Mozzi Cover  will keep them at bay and fits most brolly/shelter systems. Finally in this Blog we have the new 2010 model  JRC 60” Oval Brolly which has a new design which ensures that 4 ribs are in contact with the ground, it also comes supplied with two 24” storm poles, PVC groundsheet and heavy duty pegs. For more info or to purchase please click on the above links.

                                                               JRC Contact Bivvy

                                          JRC Multi Fit Mozzi Cover

                                           JRC Oval Brolly

Best Fishes,

John

Ok in this Carp Catchers Blog we are going to look at some nice new products from Korda and Wychwood. First up are the Korda Ready Tied Rigs  these look really well tied and come with 9 different sized Extenda Stops and 3 Bait Hair Stops. There are three types of ready tied rigs in the range two barbed and one barbless. For more information or to purchase, please follow the above link to the main site.

Next up we have some new bivvies from Wychwood. The Wychwood Solace Flexi Rib Shelter  is ideal for short day sessions or for the angler who likes to move about. The Wychwood Solace Flexi 3 Rib Advanced Bivvy  is for the more regular session and has a zip out front panel, rear vents and a full groundsheet. Screw pegs and frame support system are also included. Both the Shelter and Bivvy feature Wychwoods new slotlock system which makes erection easier. We also have the Bivvy Overwrap in stock. For more information or to purchase please visit the main site through the above links.

Best Fishes,

John

The absolutely awesome Trakker Armo MKII Black Series Bivvy  Is now in. I saw these at the tackle and guns show at Stoneleigh and ordered some straight away. The Armo MKII Black Series has the same specs as the green MKII Armos with the addition of two rear zipped and velcroed mozzi panels for increased ventilation when needed. Surprisingly the Black Series is the same price as the green MKIIs, but remember they are a strictly limited edition. For more information or to purchase visit the main site via the links. We also have the Trakker Armo MKII Black Series Wrap  which also has zipped and velcroed rear vents.

Best fishes,

John

Finally in this series on which Bivvies? we look at Bivvies themselves.

Bivvies

Bivvy is an abbreviation of bivouac a military term for an encampement. In the early days of Carp Fishing (70’s) army camouflage clothing was all the rage so I guess that was why the term was used. Anyway what is a Bivvy�and�which one should we choose?�Basically a Bivvy is a tent designed primarily for Carp Fishing, they are normally green in colour to blend in with their surroundings but new camouflage patterns are now becoming available. Early models used a standard elasticated thread through pole system much the same as normal tents and though these are still available they have been superceeded by more sophisticated designs.

Pram Hood Bivvies

The pram hood style of bivvy was first designed by Aqua Products and had it been patented it would have made the owner millions. Because the demand was so high and Aqua Products was a small company they liscensed the design to Trakker products a much bigger company. The Poles for pram hood bivvys are elasticated and are situated on the outside of the bivvy itself which is pegged at the back and then pulled forward, as the name suggests�like a pram hood and then pegged at the front to complete the erection. A good example of a pram hood bivvy is the Trakker Armo II . One of the disadvantages of these bivvys is that they can be a bit heavy and bulky, for those for which this is�a concern a solution is at hand. Some of the manufacturers have now incorperated areo-grade aluminium poles which are extremely light, thin and very strong, they have also decreased the numbers of breaks in the poles to speed up the erection process. Lighter weight breathable covering materials have also been used to further cut down on weight. Two good examples of these lighter weight Bivvies are the Venture Razorback Bivvy �and the Angling Intelligence Airframe Bivvy . The Pram Hood style of bivvy is the most widely�used at this moment in time.

Unique Bivvy Systems

There are�one or two fairly new erection systems which are proving quite popular with carp anglers. The first the�Trakker Pioneer Ultralite Bivvy� was again developed by Aqua Products, who this time put some design protection precautions into practice, they again also licensed the design to Trakker Products. The Pioneer is based on an umbrella type system but with the ribs on the outside.�It has a unique assembley system which features a block which pulls the ribs outwards via a lever. Another unique system is featured on the TFG Force 8 Bivvy�this has a power lock handle which also acts as a lever to pull the bivvy up, I am told that once mastered The TFG Force 8 goes up in a flash. There are a few other erection systems out there, but the ones I have disscussed are the most popular.

Bivvy Overwraps

Most manufacturers also supply Bivvy Overwraps which go over the top of the existing bivvy, a good example is the�Chub Cyfish+ Extreme Overwrap��. This provides a twin skin shelter which increases insulation and prevents condensation. The extreme versions of these Overwraps also provide more Living room.

I hope this mini series has been informative�and helpful.

Best fishes,

John

Okay so this is part 3 of which bivvy? In parts one and two we looked at advantages and disadvantages of brollys and shelters in this section we are going to look at carp fishing domes.

Domes

Domes are full blown bivvies providing maximum protection from the elements. The major difference between a bivvy and a dome is that the dome has a sewn in groundsheet, a good example is the new Trakker Armo Dome. The primary benefit of the sewn in groundsheet is that it denies access to all those creepy crawlies to a certain extent. The sewn in groundsheet does however make them a bit bulky and they therefore take up quite a bit of room in the car and on the trolley. Bivvy domes also make it a bit difficult to get your gear in especially if you have a bad back as you have to duck down through the door and over the groundsheet. However if it’s maximum protection you’re after and space and dodgy backs are not a concern then a bivvy dome may be the ideal choice for you.

Best fishes,

John

The JRC STI  is an awesome piece of kit for the money, I have owned mine now for nearly 4 years and it has been used on a regular basis and received a lot of abuse from the most horrendous of weather conditions. Like most quick erect pram hood bivvies it is very quick to put up and is very versatile, I usually have the whole front of my bivvy open to give me a wider view of the lake but at times it is required to have the bivvy closed up in strong winds and/or heavy rain to give you more shelter and make the bivvy more solid. The STI is supplied with heavy duty pegs, tension strap, support pole and a heavy duty groundsheet. The model I own is the twin skin model which has mozzi mesh panels on the roof of the inner skin which although means you can’t use the bivvy as a single skin you get excellent ventilation during the warmer months and very little condensation during the colder months. The thing I like most about the mozzi panels is it allows me to roll the outer skin back during the summer months and give the bivvy a nice bit of cool air flowing through, which is what you really need when you can’t escape the heat. The inner door on the STI has a clear window which can be fixed over the mozzi panel with velcro enabling you to still have a view of your swim even with rain coming straight at the front of the bivvy. The space inside the 2 man is more than sufficient for two bedchairs and all your kit with a little room to spare.  There are a lot of similar bivvies on the market, but if you want a fairly priced reliable bivvy I would strongly recommend the STI as a good choice.David Moore

There are so many Bivvies on the market when it comes to buying one where do you start? It’s not just Bivvies though there are Shelters, Brollys and Domes so lets have a look at the differences and advantages and disadvantages.

Shelters

 Shelters are primarily for short sessions such as a day session or a quick overnighter. Carp Fishing Shelters are basically stripped back Bivvies and are normally open fronted, two good examples are The Razorback Shelter  and The Trakker A-Lite . The advantages of shelters because they are cut back to the bare essentials is they are normally lightweight and fairly easy to erect. The disadvantages for the same reasons is that they are unsuitable for really harsh weather conditions.

Best fishes,

John

There are so many Bivvies on the market when it comes to buying one where do you start? It’s not just Bivvies though there are Shelters, Brollys and Domes so lets have a look at the differences and advantages and disadvantages.

BROLLYS

Brollys are an extention of the umbrella principle which normally have storm side extensions that create a wrap around effect. The storm sides provide more shelter than a normal umbrella and some Brollys also have zip in front panels to provide almost total protection from the elements, though a set of storm poles is needed to support the front of the Brolly. A good example of a well designed Brolly System is the Angling Intelligence IWS 10+ Brolly . So what are the advantages/disadvantges of choosing a Brolly as your Carp Fishing Shelter? Most People consider Brollys to be easy to assemble and lightweight, however I am not convinced of this as most of the Brollys I’ve picked up seem very heavy. This may be down to the amount of ribs and steel used in their construction. As for the ease of assembley I am not convinced of this either as I find them quite unweildly, if you then add in the equation a groundsheet, 4 storm poles and a front panel I think they are heavier and more awkward to assemble than a cutting edge Bivvy. However despite my personal missgivings they remain very popular particularly as an open fronted overnight shelter in the warmer months.

Best fishes,

John