Carp Catchers Blog

After a recent 24 hour session on a local syndicate I landed this stunning 25lb 8oz Ghostie along with 4 other fish. The fish fell to my standard blowback set up consisting of the new Korda Kaptor Wide Gape Hooks, Korda Weed Green Shrink Tube and Atomic Jel-E-Wyre hooklink with an Armaled Locjaw Safety Leadclip, 3oz Korda Pear Swivel Lead and 3 ft of ESP Leadcore. The hookbait was a snowman presentation. The fish were all landed with the aid of the new Korda Subline.

Tight Lines

Dave

Avid Carp Sight Stops are a useful boilie stop that adds visual attraction to your hookbait. They are available in long and short to suit your hair length and enable you to change bait size without tying up new rigs. The Avid Carp Sight Stops are made of a durable plastic and come in a range of bright and visual colours to draw attention to your hookbait in any conditions. The Avid Carp Sight Stops are availble in either Yellow or Mixed Colour packs.

Step 1

Thread your choosen bait onto the hair.

Step 2

Now attach the Sight Stop to the hair loop via the hook on the underside of the stop.

Step 3

Pull the stop into the bait and you are now ready to go.

Tight Lines

Dave

Another reminder now. There is a national coarse fish closed season on all rivers, streams, drains from the 15th of March to 15th of June inclusive. Some stillwaters and canals which are designated sites of specific scientific interest (SSSI’s) also have the same close season. So make sure you are fishing legally, as you can face a big fine and a criminal record if you are caught otherwise.

Best fishes,

John

A reminder that your rod licence is due to expire on the 15th/16th March. As I have stressed before you can get a criminal record and a fine of up to £2000 if you are caught without a valid licence so it really isn’t worth the risk. A rod licence costs £27 for the year, if you fish with more than 2 rods you will need 2 rod licences. Licences are available from the Post Office, by phone from The Environment Agency on 08708 506 506 or online at www.environment-agency.gov.uk/fish. Tight lines and happy fishing for the coming season.

John

For those carp anglers of you with the new smart phones there is a new carp fishing report App. For more details go to icarp.com or check out the App Store and search for icarp.

Best Fishes,

John

What do you do when you keep getting liners but no takes? Many carp anglers will just sit there and wonder why? They will maybe change the hookbait or buy a different bait next time they go fishing. My advice is to reel in and recast 5 to 10 yards shorter. If you are still getting liners reel in and recast shorter again keep doing this until you get a run or the liners stop, you should now be in the right area.

Best Fishes,

John

Salt is often used by many anglers as an additive to particles and spod mixes. Although a lot of anglers don’t know why it is such a good addition to bait. Salt works well as an additive on many waters but it can be more effective on some waters than others. Now it isn’t completely understood why it works so well but I believe part of the reason it works is due to fishes requirements to regulate their salt and water content. Fish need to regulate the levels of water and mineral salts in their blood the same as we do, this is called osmoregulation. Freshwater fish absorb their required salts through their gills in exchange for waste products and through their food. By a combination of urine production and salt absorbtion fish can maintain their body’s salt concentration. Therefore the addition of salt to particles, boilies and spod mixes can be very effective when fishing for carp, especially in soft water areas where salt minerals in the water are scarce. One of the principle ions involved in osmoregulation include Sodium Chloride which is better known as Salt. So next time your preparing some bait for part of your baiting campaign or just for a forthcoming session grab some salt out the cupboard and add a generous handful to your mix.

Give it a go.

Dave

Top day ticket water Farlows Lake  is facing closure again as the owner has has resubmitted plans to turn it and the adjacent canal into a marina. This is a very famous historic carp water, please help to save it by emailing Margaret Smith at smith@southbucks.gov.uk and letting the council know your thoughts. Please make you thoughts constructive and positive, as negative or abusive comments will be counterproductive. Farlows Lake is self funding and can be used by anyone whilst a marina I’m sure will be for the privilaged few. Please help to save Farlows Lake.

Best Fishes

John

We now have the new Korda N-Trap Soft  in stock, although it is only available weedy green at the moment. Korda N-Trap is a soft coated braid and the inner is the same colour as the outer coating. The outer coating of the N-Trap is a nice dark matt colour cutting down on the reflection which you get with shinier coated braids. The coating is also very easy to strip.The N-Trap is suitable for most rigs and is also suitable for tying a figure of 8 loop knot. For more information or to purchase please click on the above link. 

Best Fishes,

John

Nash Tackle are to be a major sponsor of this years World Carp Championships. The Championships are to be held on the mighty St. Lawrence River in September. The match will be on 35 miles of the river between Ogdensburg and Massena.

The event will see 200 paired carp anglers from around the world do battle for the £30,000 first prize. The World Carp Championships were last held in 2005 and saw top British carp match pair Tim Paisley and Steve Briggs prevail.

Best Fishes,

John