Carp Fishing Secrets

UK Carp Fishing Secrets
Copyright Anglers Net Ltd. 2006 www.AnglersNet.co.uk info@anglersnet.co.uk

The rights of James Giinson! Julian Gratti"ge! Garth #arnar" an" $lton %urph& to e i"entifie" as the
author of their respecti'e articles within this work ha'e een asserte" in accor"ance with the Cop&right!
(esigns an" )atents Act! *+,,.
First pulishe" in Great #ritain in -../ & Anglers0 Net 1t"! /+ The Thoroughfare! 2oo"ri"ge! Suffolk
3)*- *A4.
All rights reser'e". Apart from an& fair "ealing for the purposes of research or pri'ate stu"&! or criticism or
re'iew! as permitte" un"er the Cop&right! (esigns an" )atents Act *+,,! this pulication ma& not e
repro"uce"! store" or transmitte"! in an& forms or & an& means! onl& with the prior permission of the
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$n5uiries concerning repro"uction outsi"e these terms shoul" e sent to the pulisher at the ao'e email
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6eturn To Article 3n"e7
Index of Articles
2elcome To UK Carp Fishing Secrets
3ntro"uction To Carp Fishing
8 Catching Carp
8 2hat %akes a Successful Carp Angler
2atercraft
8 2atercraft The Carp An" 3ts 4aitat
8 Stealth An" (eception
8 Feature Fin"ing
8 $ffects 9f 2in"
8 )olarise" Fishing Glasses
Approaches : Techni5ues
8 Getting The 6ight Approach
8 Stalking
8 2inter Carp Fishing
8 Static Carping 2ith #ite Alarms
8 Short Session Carping
8 Surface Fishing
8 Carp Fishing 3n Silt
8 Carp From #ig 2aters
8 %argin Tips
8 Kitting For (istance
8 2in" )rolems
8 %oon $ffects
8 #ack1ea"s! The 4ow An" 2hen
8 Gui"e To #ait 6ockets : Spo""ing
8 Fin"ing The 6ight Shelter;#i''&
8 2hich Carp 6o"s<
6igs : Components
8 4air 6ig : Knotless Knot
8 #olt 6ig
8 =ig86ig
8 )op8up : 4inge" )op8up 6ig
8 4elicopter 6ig
8 Silt 6ig
8 Semi8Fi7e" 6unning 6ig
8 3nline Safet& 6ig
8 6unning 6ig
8 #rai" 6ig
8 Carp 4ooks > Getting 6ight To The )oint
8 Safet& Clips
8 %ono Facts
#ait : #aiting Techni5ues
8 The #oilie ?#oile" #ait@
8 Shelf 1ife 9r Fresh FroAen #oilies
8 4ow To %ake Bour 9wn #oilies
8 (ips An" Soaks
8 The %etho"
8 Tiger Nuts
8 4aliut )ellets
8 The Secret Success 9f #alachan Shrimp )aste
8 2orms For Carp
8 )article %i7es
8 4emp See"
8 %aiAe
8 Sweetcorn
8 )ellets
8 Artificial #aits
8 Surface #aits
8 Criticall& #alance" #aits For Carp
8 4ow To Use ).C.A. #ags For (istance 2ork
8 Stringers
Caring For Bour Duarr&
8 Carp Care An" Fish 4an"ling
8 6ules 6ule! 9KE
8 Angling $thics
Application $7amples
8 )reface To Carp JournalsF
8 )art * ?3ntro"uction To The Top )ool! Jul& -..-@
8 )art - ?6eturn To The Top )ool! Septemer -..-@
8 )art G ?Thoughts 9n #ait! Jul& -..G@
8 )art H ?Top )ool Triumph an" #ack To #irch@
8 )art I ?2inter on Top )ool! April -..H@
8 )art / ?The Top )ool %ission Accomplishe"! August -..H@
8 )art J ?6eturn to #irch an" Short Session Tactics! 9ctoer -..H@
8 )art , ?Top )ool Swansong an" )astures New! Januar& -..I@
8 )art + ?Surface Fishing A"'entures! %ackerel Skies an" %aresK Tails! August -..I@
8 )art *. ?Surface Fishing A"'entures! New )ersonal #est > 3n 9ctoerE! 9ctoer -..I@
8 )art ** ?Surface Fishing A"'entures! 1ast Chance Saloon!%a& -../@
Appen"i7
2elcome to UK Carp Fishing Secrets
As someo"& in'ol'e" in fishing wesites since earl& *+++! 30'e met a lot of anglers across the UK! as
well as a few from foreign shores. 9ur lo'e of angling gi'es us a common on" an" the willingness to
share our knowle"ge is what has le" to generation after generation of new anglers eing welcome" into the
fol".
The three contriutors to UK Carp Fishing Secrets are three of the most generous men &ou0ll fin" on the
internet. #& that! 3 "on0t mean the&0ll sen" &ou mone& an" tackle ?efore &ou askE@! ut that the& enLo&
sharing the knowle"ge an" skills that the& ha'e collecti'el& learnt o'er man&! man& &ears of fishing. The&
are also 'er& goo" carp anglers! each slightl& "ifferent in their wa&s! ut e5uall& as effecti'e an" respectful
of e'er& angler0s choice to approach carp fishing in a slightl& "ifferent wa&
Jim i!!inson is a well known pulishe" carp
fishing author. 4e has written a numer of fishing
ooks! as well as contriuting to numerous magaAines! an"
there aren0t man& anglers in the UK who ha'en0t rea"
something & him. 9ne aspect of Jim0s fishing that
sets him apart from man& anglers is that he relishes the
opportunit& to fish "ifficult waters > ones that appear
featureless to the untraine" e&e. 4is results speak for
themsel'esE
J"li#n r#ttidge has een a carp angler for as long as he can
rememer. 4e specialises in specialisingE Throughout his
angling &ears! he0s "one Lust aout an& kin" of carp fishing
a'ailale an" a"apts his approach accor"ingl&. For e7ample!
when he was &oung! free an" single! he0" "o longer sessions
an" stu"& carp eha'iour an" aiting techni5ues that woul"
ring the est long8term results. 4a'ing Lust ecome a father
for the first time! he0s concentrating on two other aspects of
carp fishing! with great results > stalking ?inclu"ing surface
fishing@ an" short session angling.
#rth $#ffer %#rn#rd has alwa&s een a short session
angler! ne'er fishing more than one night on a water. #ecause
of this! he has hone" his skills an" tackle to perfection. 4e0s
the kin" of irritating gu& who arri'es last! packs up first an"
&et still catches the est fishM..trust me! 30'e seen him "o itE
Gaffer has an e7cellent wa& of con'e&ing his skills to other
anglers an" enLo&s seeing their successes.
&o' (hy c#rp)
30m not going to preten" that 3 think that carp possess Go"8like 5ualities an" shoul" e place" upon a
pe"estal ao'e all other fish! ut 3 can see wh& some anglers "o get grippe" & the carping N"rug0 an" see
them as suchE
There are a numer of reasons wh& carp are so sought after! ut 3 reckon the three main factors areF
*. The& ten" to e the largest fish in the lake or ri'er. Apart from catfish! there isn0t a fish in UK
waters that grows so large.
-. 9nce hooke"! carp are fighters! usuall& attling e'er& inch of the wa& to the lan"ing net ?an" often
on the unhooking mat! tooE@.
G. Carp are wil&. The& learn an" ecome 'er& elusi'e as the& grow. The ol" a"age of O9nce itten!
twice sh&P coul" almost ha'e een written aout carpE )itting &our wits against such a worth&
opponent is what it0s all aout.
3f 30m honest! 30ll also sa& that the social si"e of carp fishing appeals to man& of us. Across $urope! man&
lakes will ha'e a 'ariet& of green tents ?known as Ni''ies0@ pitche" aroun" them an" inhaite" & carp
anglers. %an& great frien"ships are forme"! i"eas an" anter swappe"! an" it0s e'en 5uite common for carp
anglers to sit aroun" a sto'e together an" chip in when it comes to cooking a heart& reakfast or e'ening
mealE
All in all! carp angling is aout fun. 4opefull&! UK Carp Fishing Secrets will lea" &ou on the path to
enLo&ing what man& of us enLo& week in! week out.
2e hope that &ou enLo& this collection of their work an" are confi"ent that the a"'ice &ou recei'e here will
help &ou to put more fish on the ank. 2hen &ou get those results! rememer to sen" a photo an" "etails to
us at galler&@carpfishingsecrets.co.uk for inclusion on our siteE
Tight lines!
$lton %urph&
)ulisher
3ntro"uction To Carp Fishing
Catching Carp
#& Julian Gratti"ge
4ow to catch carp< 3t0s one of the most common 5uestions aske" & eginners. Sometimes the asic
principles can get lost un"er the constant omar"ment of new metho"s! aits an" approaches! so how "o
&ou go aout the usiness of catching ig carp<
First things first! it0s important to manage e7pectations. Catching ig carp is not eas&! ut for man&! that0s
precisel& the challenge. Carp can e 5uite cle'er creatures an" it0s not alwa&s eas& to outwit them. 30'e
een fishing for nearl& thirt& &ears an" like man& other specimen anglers out there! 3 ha'e man& lank
sessions in amongst those where 3 catch. As a eginner! it0s important to ease &ourself into the sport gentl&!
an" as m& late father use" to sa& O3t0s no goo" tr&ing to catch ig ones Ktill &ou know how to catch little
onesP. 4e was rightE
&"ccess !reeds s"ccess* +#rtin Johnson (ith # sm#ll mirror c#rp from %l#c,(ood -ool
The first thing &ou nee" to "o is practice the art ofF locating! hooking an" pla&ing fish. 3t0s 5uite often the
case that smaller carp in well stocke" waters can e easier to catch than ig ol" specimens. As such! waters
aime" at the match or pleasure angler are goo" 'enues to start learning &our craft. 3f when &ou arri'e at
such a 'enue &ou are face" with the option of a specimen lake in a""ition to match or coarse lakesF "on0t
e tempte". Not &et an&wa&E 2hat &ou nee" from the start is 5uantit& not 5ualit&. Bour main aim is to
learn how to get ites an" con'ert them into fish on the ank. 9utwitting specimens takes time an"
e7perience! which will onl& come after &ou ha'e learnt more aout &our inten"e" 5uarr&.
Tackle is important! ut "on0t e foole" into thinking that &ou nee" to ha'e special ro"s! po"s! alarms!
swingers! i''ies! an" accessories right from the start. Nothing coul" e further from the truth. 3t0s
important to ear in min" that carp fishing has ecome a massi'e in"ustr& for shops an" manufacturers! all
of whom pa& marketing specialists large amounts of mone& to come up with a"'erts "esigne" to con'ince
the rea"er that the& must ha'e a certain item of tackle in or"er to catch. (on0t e pulle" in. To start off
with! all &ou nee" is a cheap carp ro" of aroun" -l test cur'e ?a goo" fee"er or stiff match ro" will suffice
to get starte"@. An& cheap coarse reel will e fine to get starte"! Lust so long as it has a "rag function. The
onl& other ig thing &ou nee" is an unhooking mat. A"" to that some asics like forceps! scissors! line an"
&ou are rea"&.
Then it0s a case of catching. 1ike man& seasone" anglers 3 starte" off knowing nothing an" got etter an"
wiser with time. The result is that 30'e learnt simple is often est. 2h& other with a complicate" set8up
when a simple one will "o Lust as well< Bes it0s con'enient to ha'e po"s! alarms an" swingers! ut these
are merel& accessories. Bou can catch Lust as well using ank sticks an" oins. An" in an& case! like
skinning catsF there0s more than one wa& to catch a carpE 3f &ou ha'e progresse" through catching other
coarse species on float an" fee"er! there0s not reall& much change! Lust eefe" up gear an" ait! an" if
carping is &our first fora& into angling! "on0t e foole" into thinking that &ou can onl& catch carp &
le"gering 8 float fishing can e Lust as pro"ucti'e an" in man& cases! more funE
3n terms of set8up! if le"gering! tr& a simple rai" hair rig of aout +8inches. Tie it with a hair an" loop for
the ait8stop at one en"! an" a swi'el on the other with a SiAe , hook. As for ait! again! "on0t think oilies
are the onl& ait for carp. 3n the earl& stages when targeting the smaller fish! "on0t o'erlook sweetcorn an"
luncheon meat. #oth are e7tremel& pro"ucti'e aits. Keep the hook ait small an" "on0t put in too much
free ait. 4opefull& the small fish shoul" follow on! an" elie'e me! when starting out! siAe is not
important. Keep at it an" get use" to catching fish in the -8Il range. Bou will soon learn that carp can put
up 5uite a fight so it0s important to master the art of pla&ing fish! knowing when to let them ha'e a it of
line or when to offer resistance to their lunges is what it0s all aout.
2hen not at the pool tr& to rea" an" re8rea" all &ou can aout carp fishing. (on0t get preoccupie" with
aitF for now &ou nee" to learn aout techni5ues! strateg& an" watercraft. 6ea" an& articles &ou can on
such suLects! there is a wealth of goo" information on the we so rea" as much as &ou can. 4opefull&! in
time! catching the smaller fish will ecome easier as &ou learn more aout locating carp! aiting up an"
pla&ing fish. There will come a point where &ou are ale to turn up an" catch these smaller carp prett&
consistentl&! an" onl& then is it time to start cutting &our teeth on the ne7t rung of the la""er.
.he next r"ng* /ind # prod"cti0e do"!les (#ter' -#"l &mith (ith # 12l! mirror c#rp from
%oles(orth C#stle2 one of the !est do"!les (#ters in 3ngl#nds North 4est
3nitiall&! the step up to a "oules8water can e a little "aunting. 4owe'er! the asic rigs an" techni5ues
use" on &our runs water shoul" still workF Lust rememer to keep them simple. The ig "ifference is the
fightF pla&ing a goo" "oule figure fish is an altogether "ifferent prospect from a fi'e poun"erE At this
le'el it helps to ha'e proper carp ro"s ut the& "on0t ha'e to e an&thing special. 3 woul" perhaps still
fa'our natural aits for a couple of reasons. Firstl&! e'er&o"& an" their "og will no "out e using oilies.
Secon"l&! natural aits cost a fraction of the price of oilies! an" thir"l&! eing slightl& "ifferent from
others will often pa& "i'i"en"s. 3f &ou are going to use oilies! m& onl& a"'ice is to use goo" ones. Some
of the crap 3 see on the shel'es makes me won"er how some oilies catch at allE 3t0s a case of u&er
ewareF a cheap oilie is not necessaril& a goo" oilie. 3f &ou0re going to use oilies! spen" a little mone&!
in m& e7perience it0s worth it in the long run! ut that sai"! most of m& fishing is "one with naturals! which
when prepare" an" presente" in the right wa& score Lust as well at a fraction of the price. Foo" for thought!
if &ou0ll e7cuse the pun.
Bour approach to "oules waters shoul" e the same as the runs watersF &ou0re looking to gain e7perience.
The more fish &ou catch! the more &ou will learn! an" so it goes. 9n the si"e! keep rea"ing all &ou can.
2hen irth"a&s come aroun" an" new e5uipment is top of &our list! "on0t o'erlook ooks. There are some
fantastic ooks on carp fishing written & the est anglers the sport has e'er seen! past an" present. #ooks
are ale to gi'e a "eeper insight to strateg& o'er magaAines an" much that 3 ha'e learnt o'er the &ears has
come through the ooks 3 ha'e rea". A goo" starting point woul" e to gra a cop& of Strategic Carp
FishingF & 6o 4ughes : Simon Crow! 3 think this ook gi'es the eginner or interme"iate carp angler a
great un"erstan"ing of the min"set re5uire" to go aout catching ig carp consistentl&.
9nce &ou0'e mastere" the "oules waters! the worl"! as Shakespeare once put it! is &our o&ster. %an& sta&
with "oules waters preferring the fre5uent action 'erses fight! an" others carr& on the search! looking for
waters that hol" igger an" etter specimens. A rough rule of thum woul" e that the igger an" wiser the
fish get! the har"er the& are to catch! ut of course for some! the allure of ig fish is too great an" the
rewar" of catching one ig fish far outweighs the rewar"s of catching greater numers of smaller fish.
.he s,ys the limit* 5nce yo"0e c"t yo"r teeth #nd m#stered the #rt of pl#ying fish' (here yo" go
#nd (h#t yo" t#rget is "p to yo"6
2hiche'er path &ou choose! it0s important to enLo& it. 3t0s eas& to get caught up in the numers game an"
30'e seen man& come an" go who ha'e en"e" up tearing their hair out in frustration when the runs "on0t
come. So "on0t rush things. 30m alwa&s on the look out for ig fish! ut 30m Lust as happ& picking off
smaller e7amples when the opportunit& presents itself. After all! there0s nothing 5uite like seeing a carp
pick up &our hook ait! no matter what siAe it isE
2hat %akes A Successful Carp Angler<
#& Julian Gratti"ge
This article is a'ailale in the full 'ersion of Carp Fishing Secrets from www.CarpFishingSecrets.com
2atercraft
2atercraft! The Carp An" 3ts 4aitat
#& Julian Gratti"ge
Bou0'e rea" aout it! &ou0'e hear" people talk aout! ut what "oes it reall& mean< An" more
importantl&M how can &ou get some< For me! watercraft means the skill in eing ale to rea" a water! or
to e more precise! eing ale to rea" the fish within a water. As mentione" in the last piece! it0s no goo"
ha'ing all the right tackle an" ait if &ou then set up in a swim completel& "e'oi" of fish 8 Bou nee" to e
ale to narrow "own all the options to gi'e &ourself the est possile chance of catching "uring &our
session.
As e7plaine" in the intro"uction! successful carp angling is aout getting lots of little things right an"
watercraft is no "ifferent. 3t0s aout taking lots of little its of information from e'er& session &ou ha'e
fishe"! an" then pulling them ack out an" threa"ing them together to form a strateg& when &ou0re ne7t out
on the ank. The "ifficult part is in knowing where to fin" the information an" then "eci"ing how est to
use it. Again! there0s no one single thing that can impro'e &our watercraft skills! rather a mi7 of
information gleane" from man& sources. So in this piece! 30ll tr& to e7plain what watercraft is all aout an"
e7plain some of the principles in'ol'e" that will help &ou get the most out of each session.
3 think it was in George Sharman0s NCarp an" the Carp Angler0 where he sai" that it was etter to ha'e a
a" plan than to ha'e no plan at all. )ossil& meaning that if &ou ha" a plan! e'en a a" one! then at least
&ou were forming an opinion! an" if that plan faile"! then technicall& all &ou nee"e" to "o was i"entif&
where the failure occurre"! refine it! an" tr& again. 3n essence! that0s what watercraft is all aout. 3t0s aout
taking all the things &ou ha'e learnt aout carp! the water &ou are fishing! climatic con"itions an" an&
other affecting factors! then tr&ing to ring it all together into one salient mass for the session that lies
ahea".
4#tercr#ft2 (h#ts it #ll #!o"t7 #nd ho( c#n yo" get some6)
3t0s no eas& process an" it0s not a skill which will come o'ernight ut if &ou start appl&ing the logic now!
&ou will 5uickl& feel the enefit an" the long roa" ahea" won0t seem 5uite so "aunting. 2atercraft is
something &ou ne'er stop learning 8 &ou a"" more to it with each session &ou fish! an" the longer &ou ha'e
een fishing the more e7periences &ou are ale to "raw upon.
There are man& "ifferent aspects to watercraft. First &ou nee" knowle"ge of the 5uarr& itselfF its haits!
characteristics an" life8c&cle. Bou also nee" to learn how e'er&"a& changes in climatic con"itions an"
angler pressure can affect carp eha'iour. 9nce &ou un"erstan" the 5uarr&! &ou then nee" to un"erstan" it
in relation to its haitat. This is perhaps the single most important aspect of watercraft 8 knowing where to
fin" the fish is what it0s all aoutE
So where "o we start< 2ell! first we nee" to un"erstan" a little more aout the carp itself. 3t soun"s "aft!
ut if &ou want to catch ig carp an" catch them consistentl&! then &ou nee" to think like the fish &ou are
tr&ing to catchE %an& people percei'e a carp to e a swimming "ustin that onl& has to see a pile of ait
an" it0s straight on it. 2hereas! in realit&! we ha'e to rememer that in fish terms! the carp is 5uite an
intelligent creature with 5uite a well "e'elope" rainF an&o"& who has watche" a war& carp fee"ing at
close range will know Lust what 30m talking aoutE
Carp are capale of a numer of thought patterns. 3n the main! these patterns appear to e go'erne" & a
sort of short an" long term memor&. The fish relies pre"ominatel& on the long term memor& part of the
rain for going aout its "a& to "a& usiness. #asicall&! the wa& 30'e come to see this is that a carp takes in
lots of short term memories! which! after con"itioning ?the same thing happening time an" time again@
ecome long term memories. The 5uestion isF how can we use this to our a"'antage< 2ell! ha'e &ou e'er
won"ere" wh& pre8aiting works< 3t0s e7actl& the same thing 8 & suppl&ing a constant source of free foo"
with no "anger aspect ?i.e. no hook ait@ the carp will pass short term memories ack to the rain on each
sitting sa&ing that all is ok within the area! until e'entuall& it ecomes con"itione" an" the& then egin to
see it as a constant source of risk free foo".
%& own 'iew howe'er! is that carp will alwa&s e ale to attach a "egree of risk to fee"ing in an& area! ut
& con"itioning we are ale to lower its guar". 1ong term con"itioning on a regularl& fishe" water will tell
the carp that within the lake itself! there is alwa&s a risk that it is eing angle" for! ut & pro'i"ing this
constant source of free foo" it thinks this particular area! for now! is safe. 9nce &ou egin to fish the area
the carp will egin to wise up an" after a time the spot ma& well "r& up as the short term memor& fee"s
into the long term memor& telling the carp that! after eing caught there or eing aroun" other spook& fish
that ha'e een caught there! that this area is now not safe to fee" in! an" so the c&cle goes.
et to ,no( yo"r 8"#rry2 its lifestyle #nd its en0ironment
2hat else "o we nee" to know aout the carp< 2ell! in terms of fee"ing we nee" to un"erstan" that its
primar& fee"ing haits are controlle" & the "ail& c&cle of lifeF the onset of "a& : night! an" the
surroun"ing climate. 3 "on0t want to get too much into the fee"ing aspect here as we0ll co'er this in the ait
chapter. 4owe'er! in terms of watercraft &ou nee" to un"erstan" that the primar& nee" of the carp is foo"
in or"er that it can maintain itself. This "oes not mean it will eat whate'er is place" in front of it ?unless
competition for that foo" "ictates it@ as one of its other inherent characteristics is for its own securit&.
2hat 30m getting at here is that it0s "own to the carp when an" where it wants to fee" 8 not &ou. Bou can "o
all &ou like to a"" attractors an" such like to &our ait! ut if the fish "oes not want to eat! it won0t. That
sai"! 30'e foun" carp to e 'er& in5uisiti'e & natureF an& seasone" stalking angler will tell &ou e7actl& the
same thing. 3 woul" sa& o'er +.Q of m& catches when stalking are "ue to the in5uisiti'e "emeanour of the
carp when it comes across the ait rather than the fact that it0s hungr& an" is looking for something to eat.
Appl& a she"8loa" of ait an" often their guar" will go straight up. 4owe'er! a single wiggling lo worm
"roppe" right in front of its nose is an entirel& "ifferent matterF man& carp seem unale to resist further
in'estigationE
%an& people also assume that all carp are e7actl& the same an" think alike. As far as inherent
characteristics go 3 "on0t "out it. 4owe'er! m& own e7periences an" those of others aroun" me suggest
that each fish can e 'er& "ifferent. 9n the Capesthorne $state where 3 ha'e watche" the same group of
carp for man&! man& &ears! &ou egin to see that each fish has its own character! Lust like &ou or 3 8 some
are reall& ol" an" are alwa&s first on the scene to see what0s going on! others are more reser'e" an"
alwa&s ten" to hol" ack.
Bou also notice that the igger fish often ha'e a smaller si"ekick whom the& ten" to let fee" first efore
the& "eci"e whether to partake. 3nformation like this is in'aluale in relation to planning &our attack on a
chosen water or for when targeting a particular ig fish.
The ke& here is oser'ation 8 an" lots of it. Spen" time getting to know how the carp li'e in the water &ou
are fishing an" &ou are half wa& to catching them. There are a couple of "ifferent scenarios &ou will e
face" with when it comes to getting to know the fish! mainl& with regar" to the t&pe of session &ou are
planning 8 3s it a one off trip to a new water! or is it a new water which &ou inten" to e spen"ing a lot of
time on<
Firstl&! let0s take a water that &ou inten" to e spen"ing 5uite a it of time on. Firstl&! &ou nee" to e aware
that not all aspects of watercraft are carrie" out on the ank. 3f &ou reall& want to get to grips with the fish
in a particular lake! &ou shoul" "o some homework. The more &ou can fin" out aout the lake an" its
occupants! the easier the fishing ecomes.
The first thing 3 woul" "o is ask aroun" in the local tackle shops to see if an&o"& knows an&thing! then 3
woul" check out the internet. There are literall& thousan"s an" thousan"s of wesites "e'ote" to fishing!
fisheries an" clus. Fin" out if the water &ou inten" to fish has its own wesite! an" if it "oes start emailing
them to fin" out as much as &ou can aout the water.
3f there is no wesite! ask aout on a fishing forum! someo"& somewhere is oun" to know something.
Also! fin" out if it is controlle" & a clu! if so! "o the& hol" regular meetings< 3f the& "o! get &ourself
"own there! &ou0" e amaAe" at the snippets of information &ou can pick up.
(on0t e sh& 8 ask 5uestions. Bou are asicall& looking to gain some shortcuts here. Starting a campaign on
a new water can e a little "aunting an" the more info &ou can otain at the start! the 5uicker &ou0ll get
results.
9o yo"r home(or,2 r#rely (ill !ig fish come #nd find yo"6
9K! &ou0'e "one the ackgroun" work! now it0s time to hit the ank. To start off with 3 woul" hea" "own
to the 'enue arme" with a map of sorts! polariAe" glasses! inoculars! pa"! pen! compass an" feature
fin"ing ro". %& feeling is that if &ou tr& to "o &our reconnaissance when &ou are actuall& fishing a proper
session! &ou are likel& to get too ogge" "own in the swim &ou are fishing to other "oing &our homework
properl&. That sai"! 3 fish a s&stem where 3 can 5uickl& slip a hooklink onto m& set8up! so 3 woul" also take
a net! mat! an" other essentials! so that if 3 happene" upon a fish that was Lust gagging to e caught! 30'e
got e'er&thing there with me 8 ut the aim here is to tra'el light. Bour main purpose is to get a feel for the
place an" tr& to i"entif& some choice swims.
3t helps to make a map! rief at first! then &ou can make a "etaile" one ack at home which &ou can keep
a""ing to with each session;swim &ou fish. Firstl& &ou are Lust looking to get a rough feel for the
un"erwater topograph& an" la&out. 2ork one swim at a time an" make a few tentati'e casts aroun" with
the feature fin"ing set up. (on0t get too tie" up in each swim to start off with! Lust make a few casts aroun"
to get a feel for the "epth! t&pe of lake e"! o'ious features within the swim an" the margins. %ake notes
of an&thing of interest an" mo'e onto the ne7t swim. #e aware of other anglers an" e consi"erate as &ou
"on0t want to e "isturing their fishing. 3f there are an& trees aroun" make sure &ou get up themEE 8 Bou0"
e amaAe" at how much more &ou can see from Lust a few feet up as the amount of glare on the surface
"iminishes the higher up &ou are 8 polariAe" glasses are a must as the& cut out the surface glare an" help
&ou to see un"er the surface of the water. The& are not e7pensi'e an" most tackle shops stock them!
alternati'el& there are loa"s on online 8 Lust make sure &ou get some with UCH.. protection as these will
also lock out the suns harmful ra&s that can "amage &our e&es.
2hilst casting aroun" an" climing up trees! Lust what is it &ou0re looking for< 2ell! &ou are looking for
places which the carp will fee" an" mo'e through! or e'en hang aroun" in. 3n the main! 30'e foun" that
carp are usuall& foun" "oing one of four thingsF tra'elling! fee"ing! pla&ing or resting. The tra'elling is
simple enough as the& are often mo'ing to or from a pla& or fee"ing area. The fee"ing areas are more
"ifficult to spot! ut & plotting on the map areas where &ou constantl& see fish mo'ing &ou can egin to
work out where the& are mo'ing to an" from! which in turn helps to narrow "own potentiall& pro"ucti'e
areas for further in'estigation 8 This techni5ue of plotting helpe" me locate a 'er& small fee"ing area
almost completel& co'ere" & 1ill& pa"s on one lakeF after further in'estigation 3 was ale to appl& ait to
the spot an" took countless specimen fish that season from the area without an&o"& else e'en knowing
that it e7iste"E The other aspects are pla&ing an" resting 8 where the fish are Lust hanging aroun" sitting
motionless on top or slopping aout making su""en mo'ements an" grouping with other fish in certain
areas. 9n man& waters 30'e foun" the& "o this at certain times of the "a& an" often in the same places 8
man& lakes can ha'e a numer of these places an" climate;con"itions on the gi'en "a& will often gi'e a
clue as to which of these areas &ou will fin" them in.
4or,ing o"t p#trol ro"tes #nd c#rp mo0ements (ill !ring h#ndsome re(#rds
So what makes a hol"ing or fee"ing area< 3t coul" e lots of thingsF it coul" e somewhere where the& feel
secure like a snagg& area! or a wee"e" or e'en un"er 1ill& pa"s. 3t coul" e somewhere the& like to eat!
perhaps where there is an aun"ance of natural foo" like loo"worm! snails or crustaceans. 3t coul" e a
feature within the lake where there is a change in "epth or se"iment makeup like the shallow water of the
margins! or the shelf aroun" an islan". The truth is that there ma& e hun"re"s of places in a lake that
Ncoul"0 e fish hol"ing areas! ut in'estigation is nee"e" as these areas can often e "ifferent from one
water to the ne7t. That sai"F 1ill& pa"s! islan"s! shel'es an" ars are alwa&s worth in'estigation on an&
water. #ut "o e careful as a feature which imme"iatel& Lumps out to &ou as eing a Nhot8spot0 has
proal& Lumpe" out at e'er& other angler that has e'er stoo" on the same peg in the past! an" thus the fish
ma& ha'e attache" a goo" "egree of "anger to aits place" in such No'ious0 areas.
9nce &ou ha'e locate" a few potential spots that &ou feel might e worth fishing! either from oser'ations
or from what &ou0'e foun" with the feature fin"ing set8up! it0s time to get fishing. #ut here0s the gol"en
rule 8 (9N0T )3CK A S23% #$F96$ B9U G$T T9 T4$ 1AK$E 2ithout "out! this is the single
iggest mistake that anglers ten" to make on e'er& session. 3t ma& well e the Nhot0 swim! or the one that
looks most Nfish&0 or the one that some loke ha" fi'e fish out of the last time &ou were there 8 ut what
goo" will it "o &ou if all the fish are now parke"8up at the opposite en" of the lake<
9n $C$6B session! A12ABS ha'e a goo" look aroun" efore &ou "eci"e where to set up 8 $'en when
&ou are con'ince" &ou think &ou know where the& are. 3t0s a routine &ou %UST get &ourself into! as &ou0"
e amaAe" how often &ou come into the most unlikel& swim on the lake an" ingo 8 there the& are! right in
front of &ou Lust egging to e caught. 3f &ou go awa& with Lust one thing from rea"ing this ookF make
sure this is itE
Fin"ing the fish is what it0s all aout! an" no matter how ig the water or how well 3 know it! 3 will alwa&s
ha'e a goo" look aroun"! an" e'en if 30m onl& fishing for sa& three or four hours! 3 ma& still spen" an hour
or more looking aroun" to ensure 3 pick a swim that offers the ma7imum chance of a result. #eginners
often tell me that the& fin" it "ifficult to spot carp on their chosen lake! an" &es! it can e "ifficult when
&ou start out. #ut "o stick at it 8 &ou will soon learn to tell the "ifference etween the actions of carp an"
other coarse species. 2hat 3 "o notice howe'er! is that those who often sa& it on the ank are those who
ha'e ne'er clime" a tree to look "own on a swim or use" a pair of )olariAe" Glasses. 9ften 30ll len" them
mine an" literall& tell them to clim a tree near the swim an" look "own o'er the area the& are fishing. The
look on their faces when the& come ack "own is a real picture 8 it0s as if a whole new worl" has su""enl&
opene" up in front of them. 3t0s often the case that the ne7t time 3 see themF the& are stuck up a tree looking
"own at a group of fish through their new set of polariAe" glassesE

If yo" spot # tree : get "p it2 yo"ll !e #m#;ed #t (h#t yo" c#n see6
The point 30m making is that it0s not reall& that "ifficult so long as &ou ha'e the right tools for the Lo.
From trees or the groun" &ou are looking for the same thing! the tell tale signs of carp. 1ook for the "orsal
fins of cruising carp! often trailing a ow wa'e on the surface like a oat. The& coul" e sat motionless
with Lust their acks reaking the surfaceF again onl& a "ecent amount of time spent looking aroun" each
swim will fin" these stationar& carp. Also look for swirls or oils on the surface where a carp has ma"e a
su""en mo'ement 8 an" "on0t ignore the marginsE $'en on the murkiest of waters &ou will still e ale to
spot carp with polariAe" glasses! &ou can usuall& see at least si7 or eight inches un"er the surface 8 more
than enough in most cases.
Bou nee" to see &ourself as a it of a tracker ecause e'en if &ou can0t see the fish itself! &ou can often fin"
e'i"ence that the& ha'e een in the area recentl&. 3f the lake e" is clou"e" up on the ottom for e7ampleF
&ou will soon learn to "ifferentiate these signs from other forms of wil" life an" egin to get a feel for the
areas the carp are happ& in. Carp can also e 5uite nois& at times. 9ften the& will leap an" crash! or &ou
ma& hear slurps an" sucking as the& in'estigate items on the surface.
Again! 3 get a lot of &oungsters an" no'ices coming up to me sa&ing the& can0t spot an&thing an" the fish
are nowhere to e foun". 2hilst there can e times when the& simpl& aren0t pla&ing all! &ou can usuall&
fin" something that gi'es them awa& 8 The ke& to spotting fish is stealth. 3t0s no goo" clomping aroun" a
lake wearing a right white T8Shirt an" e7pecting to spot fish in e'er& margin &ou peer into. #e 5uiet! calm
an" light on &our feet an" elie'e me! the carp will come to &ouE Carp will 'isit almost e'er& area in a
lake! an" that inclu"es the margin right in front of &our ro"s. The onl& thing that will stop them 'isiting
such areas is anksi"e "isturance! either 'isual an" au"ile.
Duite often people will make noise as the& walk aroun" a 'enue an" then su""enl& 5uieten "own as the&
approach a swim 8 too late. Bou shoul" e 5uite A11 the time if &ou want to fin" the fish. 3f &ou sta& still!
5uiet! an" camouflage"! the fish will often sli"e straight into 'iew! inches from the ank without ha'ing the
slightest clue &ou are there. 30m not sa&ing &ou shoul" imme"iatel& go out an" "eck &ourself hea" to toe in
6ealtree 8 far from it. #ut "o ensure that &ou alwa&s wear clothing that won0t stan" out. 3 alwa&s fa'our
"ark green clothing as it len"s with most things. 2hen &ou are in a swim! "on0t stan" right in the mi""le
wa'ing han"s aout! pointing an" shouting to &our frien" in the ne7t swim 8 keep it Aippe" at all times an"
if &ou "o talk! "o it in hushe" tones 8 rarel& is there a nee" to shout. 3f &ou keep to the e"ges of a swim &ou
won0t stan" out on the sk&line an" thus &ou are much less likel& to spook fish. 3f there is a ush or tree
ne7t to the swim! get right up against it as these will e shapes the fish are use" to seeing an" the& won0t
spook.
&te#lth is # 0ery import#nt #spect of s"ccessf"l c#rping*
&t#y 8"iet #nd st#y hidden #s m"ch #s possi!le : C#n yo" spot my !i00y)
Stealth is one of the most important tools in the specimen anglers0 armour& 8 an" it costs asolutel&
nothingEE 3f &ou can pre'ent a fish "etecting &ou efore &ou "etect it 8 then &ou0'e cracke" it. The whole
point is to tr& an" catch them with their guar" "own 8 an" if the& "on0t know &ou are there! then o'iousl&
&ou ha'e the upper han".
Setting up shoul" e e7actl& the same approach. 3 see man& people setting up i''ies an" e5uipment as if
on a uil"ing siteF anging an" crashing! hammering in i''& pegs an" shouting to a frien" in the ne7t
swim aout e'ents since the& last saw each otherF &ou ma& as well forget itE The fish will return! ut
&ou0'e lost the upper han". For me! the first few hours of a session can e the most important. 3f 30'e Lust
spent an hour walking aroun" to fin" them! an" the& are now all in front of me! the last thing 3 want to "o
is scare them all awa& as 3 set upE
The ao'e principles shoul" e a"opte" each time &ou 'isit the water. 3n "oing so! with each trip &ou will
egin to see ?an" learn@ more an" more. 2hen 30m out on a session 3 ten" to keep a log or Lournal. Nothing
fanc&! 3 Lust take a pa" with me an" note "own asic information like temperature! win" "irection! an"
general con"itions. 3 make notes of an& fish 3 spot an" an& 3 ank. Bou0" e amaAe" how 'aluale this
information can e as &ou get to grips with a new campaign 8 especiall& when &ou0re ack at home 8 &ou0"
e surprise" at some of the patterns that can emerge.
3t0s often the case that the information re'eals the est areas an" times to fish throughout the &ear. Again!
watercraft is aout using an& information at &our "isposal. 3 also fin" it helps to get "own to the water as
often as possile 8 e'en if 30m not fishing. There reall& is no sustitute for oser'ation on a water an" the
more time &ou can spen" there the etter 8 e'en if it0s onl& ten minutes on the wa& home from work.
Such principles are all well an" goo" if it0s a water &ou will e fishing on a regular asis 8 &ou can hone
&our skills as the season unfol"s! ut what if &ou are planning a one off trip to a new water that &ou0'e
ne'er fishe" efore< 2ell! the theor& is e7actl& the same 8 &ou Lust nee" to refine it to ma7imise &our
chances on a short session. 1et0s assume &ou are 'isiting a water of two or three acres that &ou0'e ne'er
seen efore! arri'ing mi"8afternoon an" fishing for -H hours.
First things first! "o &our homework. 3t0s unlikel& &ou will ha'e less then -H hours notice for the session!
so again! ring aroun" an" get on the we to tr& an" fin" a it of a"'ice for the 'enue. Bou ha'e to e
careful what &ou listen to. The ke& here is to take on oar" what people sa& aout swims! metho"s! or
approaches 8 ut "on0t let it rule &our Lu"gement on the "a&.
9n arri'ing at the water &ou want to ha'e a goo" look aroun" efore &ou e'en get the gear out of the car 8
rememer the gol"en ruleR A12ABS ha'e a goo" look aroun" efore &ou "eci"e where to set up. First of
all 30" gra a ro" an" ha'e a goo" look in each swim looking for signs of fish. 9n swims that look to ha'e
goo" potential 3 woul" ha'e a 5uick cast aroun" 8 Lust to confirm "epth an" ottom ensuring nothing is
going to take &ou & surprise shoul" &ou "eci"e to set up on the peg. 30'e lost count of the times 30'e
fishe" with mates who ha'e ma"e the fatal mistake of choosing a swim on looks alone. The& spen" an hour
setting up the i''& an" ro"s! an" onl& on casting in a lea" "o the& realise the& are fishing in a mass of
wee" when the rest of the lake is clear! or fin" the& ha'e got fift& feet of water in front of them. The est
one was a trip to 97for"shire on a water we0" not fishe" efore. A la" fishing with us set up in what looke"
to e a nice swim Lust ehin" an islan" in a nice little a&. 3t was 9ctoer time 8 col"! wet an" win"&. There
was a it of a chop on the water ut the swim looke" fish&. After an hour setting up in the rain he was
rea"& to cast outF at which point he foun" out! to his cost! that the whole of the a& was onl& aout se'en
inches "eepEE An" no! he0s ne'er li'e" it "ownM Bou ha'e een warne"E
4opefull&! as &ou make &our wa& aroun" the lake &ou will see some signs of acti'it& in certain swims or
an area that might in"icate where the fish ma& e. Bou are looking for signs of fish! ut not Lust that. 3f 30m
onl& on for a short session 3 want to know that the swim 3 pick has got the est potential of offering a fish
in the limite" time 3 ha'e a'ailale. 3 ma& spen" as much as a couple of hours looking aroun" efore
"eci"ing on a swim. Bou ma& think this is e7cessi'e if &ou are onl& spen"ing a short session on the water 8
ut elie'e me! the more time &ou spen" watching a water in a"'ance the etter &our chances when &ou "o
e'entuall& wet a line. 30'e fishe" with people who pick a swim within minutes of arri'al at a water an"
the&0re set up with lines in an" a rew in han" efore 30'e e'en "one a lap of the lake. 3t ma& e another
hour after that efore 3 cast a line in. #ut nine times out of ten 30ll e the first one to catch a carp 8 often
within the first hour or so of casting out. %an& people 3 fish with think some of m& successes are "own to
luck an" the fact 3 manage to "rop into Ngoing8swims0 without knowing it. Although 3 "on0t "en& luck can
pla& a part! the realit& is that 3 spen" more time working things out efore committing to an&thing.
&(im selection : -ic,ing the right s(im #t the right time is 0it#l
3 woul" sa& se'ent& percent of anglers on an a'erage water spen" no more than fi'e minutes "eci"ing
where the& are going to fish 8 irrespecti'e of weather the& know the water or not. For me it0s no
coinci"ence that the remain"er who put much more time into their choice of swim ten" to catch more fishE
As highlighte" earlier! &ou nee" to get up some trees! stick &our hea" through a few ushes 8 tr& an" get to
the spots that others will simpl& o'erlook! either through lack of e7perience or sheer laAiness.
3f it0s a water 30'e not fishe" efore! 3 will often concentrate on what appear to e the most o'erlooke"
swims first. 3f there is a swim that looks as if it0s har" work to get &our gear roun" to! or one that woul" e
reall& awkwar" to get &our i''& in 8 that0s the first swim 30" ten" to look at to tr& an" fin" carp off their
guar" 8 simpl& ecause not man& will fish it an" carp ma& well feel more secure in these areas.
The point 30m making is that &ou shoul" "iscount nothing until &ou0'e ha" a goo" look aroun". An" when
&ou "o "iscount a swim! make sure it0s ecause there are no fish in it 8 not ecause &ou woul" not e ale
set &our i''& up nice an" neatE
3f 3 fin" a swim that looks as if it ma& ha'e some potential ut 30'e not &et 'iewe" the rest of the lake! 30ll
often trickle a little it of ait in. 30m not talking aout firing in a ton of oiliesF usuall& no more than a
han"ful of particle mi7 will suffice. #asicall&! if it looks reall& Nfish&0! then logic "ictates that a fish shoul"
soon come along. 30ll then keep mo'ing an" ma& repeat the process a couple of times efore 30'e "one a
full lap of the water. 3f & that time 30'e not come across a swim full of fish! 30ll then mo'e ack aroun" to
the swims where 30'e put a little out an" see what0s "e'elope". Bou0" e amaAe" at Lust how often this
tactic works 8 3 reall& can0t egin to count the numer of times 30'e come ack to one of these spots to fin"
a fish! or in man& cases a numer of fish mopping up the ait.
#asicall& it0s short session stalking tacticsF trickle a little it of ait in here an" there an" see what happens.

Cle#r spots #nd feeding #re#s c#n !e m"ch more 0isi!le from #!o0e
3t0s not alwa&s eas& to figure out where these spots might e. 4owe'er! what 3 woul" sa& is that the& are
5uite often where &ou woul" least e7pect to fin" them. 3 woul" e looking for areas that Lust seem a little
irregular 8 free of wee"! pa"s! or silt. 1ittle spots where the ottom looks "ifferent to the area imme"iatel&
surroun"ing it. 9ften the ottom looks as if it0s een swept clear! an" often it hasM & ig gree"& carpE
#roken shells or "eris from snails! swan mussels an" crustaceans can e a "ea" gi'eawa&. These spots can
often e 5uite clear an" man& who "on0t look aroun" properl& will miss them. As we co'ere" earlier 8 get
the polariAe" glasses on an" clim some trees. At the en" of the "a& it is "own to &ou to fin" them! the&
won0t go out of their wa& to fin" &ouE
(on0t "ismiss the margins either! a massi'e amount of m& fish come from aits place" within ten feet of
the ank 8 e'en on waters where the N"one8thing0 is to cast as far as &our ro" can withstan". 3t0s often the
case that people are so us& casting to the hea'ens that the& miss all the acti'it& un"er their feet. 30'e &et to
fin" a water where fish "on0t come right into the margins. 2hat0s more! &ou0re alwa&s guarantee" etter
presentation close in 8 Lust keep 5uiet an" well awa& from the ro"s.

Ignore the m#rgins #t yo"r peril. An e#rly morning fish t#,en three feet from the !#n,
So let0s sa& &ou0'e foun" some fish! or at least a swim which looks to show signs of recent acti'it&! what0s
ne7t< 2ell! a 5uiet set up is ke&. Again too man& people rush the setting up not wanting to miss a secon"
efore getting the ro"s out. 30m the opposite. 3 will set up 'er& slowl&! making sure 30'e ne'er got m& ack
to the water for more than a minute at a time. 3 will constantl& e scanning the swim for signs of acti'it&!
so that when 3 "o finall& cast out 30m confi"ent m& chosen spots offer the est possile chance of anking a
fish.
Another thing to ear in min" is that the fish will ten" to mo'e aout a great "eal in an& -H hour perio"F
much off their eha'iour is con"itione" & temperature! an" temperature fluctuates in most areas with the
onset of "a& an" night ?as the water is heate" an" coole"@ thus! e'en if &ou "o fin" them prior to setting up!
the chances are the& won0t remain there throughout. As such! when 3 "o come across fish! 3 often lea'e
setting up i''ies an" such like an" Lust get on with the fishing whilst the& are there in front of me. 3t0s
often the case that 3 will fish with a frien" an" on fin"ing the fish in a certain area we0ll "eci"e on swims
close to each other. 9ften the frien" will then go aout setting up i''ies an" camping gear efore sorting
the ro"s 8 30m often the other wa& aroun". 3 will ten" to gra a ro" an" go for the fish right awa&! ha'ing a
ait in place within a couple of minutes of choosing the swim. 3t0s often the case ?if &ou get it all right@ that
a fish will e anke" 5uite 5uickl& within the first hour or two! an" in the same fashion it0s often the case
that the fish can then mo'e to a "ifferent area. The prolem for m& frien" is that ha'ing alrea"& i''ie" up!
he is now tie" to the swim 8 all 3 ha'e to "o is pick up m& gear an" mo'e off with the fish.

&t#ying mo!ile #cco"nted for the do(nf#ll of this specimen
)art of watercraft is this constant reassessing of the situation right throughout the "uration of &our session.
Bou shoul" e watching all the time from "awn till "usk. The trick is in eing ale to know when to effect
the change 8 what &ou ha'e to rememer is that what ma& ha'e een right when &ou set up! might ha'e
change" completel& Lust a few hours later. Bou nee" to keep re'iewing &our strateg&. Bes it might e a pain
to reak all the gear "own an" mo'e roun" to the other si"e of the lake! &es it might e raining an"
lowing a gale! ut as 30'e sai" efore! the igger fish 'er& rarel& make it eas& for &ou. Nearl& e'er& ig
fish 30'e caught 30'e ha" to work har" for! especiall& up NorthE #ut 3 still maintain the rewar" far
outweighs the har"ships! e'en in the most e7treme cases. The ke& here is to tra'el light. 2here'er possile
3 tr& to ensure 3 can carr& all m& kit in one go with relati'e ease! e'en if 30m on for a few nights! that wa& a
mo'e is no ig "eal. 3 rememer setting up in Capesthorne shallows one afternoon in earl& 9ctoer after
fin"ing a few fish milling aroun" in the margins. Nothing happene" until aout -am when 3 hear" a goo"
fish oshing out at the other en" of the lake in the a&. After hearing the oshing another half a "oAen times
o'er the ne7t twent& minutes 3 "eci"e" to get out of e"! reel in the ro"s! an" go an" ha'e a look. Sure
enough the fish were going mental 8 to this "a& 3 ha'e no i"ea wh&E 2hat 3 "i" know was that 3 onl& ha"
aout another eight hours to go until 3 ha" to lea'e an" as such! 3 "eci"e" to mo'e swim 8 there an" then at
nearl& three in the morningE The result was a race of stunning mi"8twent& mirrors efore it e'en came
lightE The 5uestion is! woul" 3 ha'e caught those two fish if 30" ha'e sta&e" up in the shallows an" simpl&
rolle" o'er an" gone ack to sleep< 3 "out it 'er& much. )erhaps an e7treme e7ample! ut &ou get m&
point.
Bou shoul" ne'er e scare" to reel in an" ha'e a walk aroun" 8 it0s part of m& e'er&"a& routine when
fishing. Bou rarel& know what0s going on in other areas of the lake that are out of 'iew unless &ou go an"
ha'e a look. Again! for me its stalking tactics 30m alwa&s looking for the ne7t opportunit& to present itself.
3t0s all a case of effort. Bou will onl& get out what &ou put in. 3f &ou want to set up in a swim for a weeken"
with e'er& lu7ur& aroun" &ou an" rela7 without lifting a finger! fine! 30m not going to criticise &ou for it 8
there is the o"" occasion when 30m like that m&self! ut for the most part 30m there to catch fish 8 so for
me! sta&ing glue" to ones i''& ehin" motionless swingers is not going to help. Bet so man& "o it week in
week outM 3t0s e&on" meE
3 hope some of this information will act as a goo" incenti'e to get out there an" get to grips with &our
chosen water. None of the metho"s or principles in'ol'e e7pensi'e gear! it0s more to "o with knowing &our
5uarr& an" its haitat. The more time &ou put in now! the easier &our fishing ecomes in the future.
So the ne7t time &ou are sat ehin" silent uAAers! ask &ourself a few asic 5uestionsF am 3 "oing all 3 can
to ma7imise m& chances on this session< (o 3 know the spots in m& swim where the fish are likel& to e!
an" of utmost importance 8 are the& there right now<
3f the answer to an& of the ao'e is no! then it0s time &ou starte" to think a it more aout &our fishing.
Stealth An" (eception
#& Julian Gratti"ge
Feature Fin"ing
#& Julian Gratti"ge
$ffects 9f 2in"
#& Garth #arnar"
)olarise" Fishing Glasses
#& Julian Gratti"ge
Approaches : Techni5ues
Getting The 6ight Approach
#& Julian Gratti"ge
There are man& wa&s to catch carpF legering! float fishing! free8lining! or e'en surface fishing. #ut how "o
&ou know which approach to use an" when to use it< Selecting the right approach when &ou arri'e at a
water is crucial! as asi"e from enLo&ing a few hours out in the fresh air! if &ou are emplo&ing the wrong
metho" at the wrong time! &ou ma& as well not e there at all reall&E So! how "o &ou get it right< The ke&
is in watercraft. The clues are alwa&s there an"! if rea" correctl&! the& will often gi'e a pointer as to which
approach coul" ultimatel& pro'e est for the session.
Asi"e from the o'ious factors like time of "a&! weather con"itions an" temperature! we are also looking
for 'isual in"icators to gi'e us some short cuts 8 we nee" to estalish what the fish are actuall& "oing.
2hen 3 arri'e at a water 3 will alwa&s take time to ha'e a goo" look aroun". Not onl& am 3 looking for a
swim that will gi'e me the est chance of catching a fish! ut 30m also looking to fin" out what kin" of
moo" the fish are actuall& in. Although carp eha'e much the same from one "a& to the ne7t in terms of
mannerisms an" characteristicsF where the& will e an" what the& will e "oing will almost certainl& e
go'erne" & the pre'ailing climatic con"itions at the time of &our 'isit! an" those con"itions can often
change "uring the session itself.
/irst things first : find the fish
The first thing to tr& an" "o is work out what "epth the& are in. Duite often &ou will see groups of fish
hol"ing or mo'ing aroun" at "ifferent "epths! an" if &ou su""enl& stumle upon twent& fish pla&ing
aroun" on the surface! then it0s a goo" et that a floating ait is going to e or"er of the "a&E Alternati'el&!
the& might not e on the surface as such! ut Lust un"er! in the upper la&ers. The& ma& e "ifficult to spot
from the swim itself so if &ou can fin" a high 'antage point! or e'en etter! clim a tree! then "o it 8 an"
make sure &ou ha'e &our polarise" glasses with &ouE 3f &ou start to see "ark shapes lurking not far eneath
the surface then it0s a goo" et the& are in the upper la&ers. A surface approach coul" also work well here!
ut "on0t ignore shallow areas an" the margins. 2hen in the upper la&ers! the fish will often mo'e 5uite
close into the e"ge an" patrol along the marginal shel'es! so a float fishe" ait flicke" out to anksi"e
feature coul" work reall& well when place" on the e"ge of a pa" line or close to an o'erhanging ush or
tree.
3t0s 5uite possile that after in'estigating all areas of the lake &ou might not ha'e spotte" a thing. 3f &ou0'e
oser'e" properl& an" not rushe" the oser'ations in each area! then this woul" point to the fish eing in
the lower la&ers of water out of sight. As such! le"gering woul" proal& suit est. The real trick is not to
ha'e a pre8"etermine" i"ea of how &ou are going to fish for them efore &ou turn up at a water! which!
unfortunatel&! is how the maLorit& of carp anglers go aout it. 3 shoul"n0t moan too much though! as this
Lust lea'es more fish for me to catchE
Through the use of GiAmo links! 30m ale to change m& set up in secon"s so 3 can 5uite literall& change
from a ottom fishe" le"ger set8up to a floating set8up in secon"s. This 'ersatilit& has enale" me to catch
man& fish o'er the &ears! simpl& & taking a"'antage of 'isual in"icators. 3f &ou are fishing on the ottom
an" &ou su""enl& start to see fish in the mi""le or upper la&ers what "o &ou "o< %ost will lea'e the
ottom ait in place thinking that the fish will e'entuall& fin" it. 3 woul" much prefer to place a ait right
un"er its nose. Acti'e carp are usuall& fee"ing carp! so 3 woul" e tr&ing to place a ait right into the thick
of it. %& first response if the& were in the mi""le la&ers woul" e to see if 3 coul" get them fee"ing up on
the surface & firing out a few floaters. )atience is the ke&F it might take a while to get them going ut
gi'en the right con"itions &ou can usuall& get a result 5uite 5uickl& once the first floater has een taken.
Alternati'el& 3 might look to place a ait in the mi""le la&ers! either through use of a Aig8rig! or more
likel& through a float fishe" set8up.
/lo#t fishing for !ig c#rp : # lost #rt)
Float fishing for carp is almost a lost art 8 how man& anglers "o &ou see float fishing for specimen carp<
Not man&E Bet there are 'arious float fishing metho"s that ha'e pro'e" "ea"l& for me in the past!
particularl& the lift rig 8 nothing coul" e simpler for flicking out a ait in to the path of a fiAAing carp with
Aero "isturance.
3n essence! selecting the right approach is aout fin"ing the fish! an" then working out which is the
5uickest an" 5uietest wa& to place a ait right in front of them without getting susse". The other ke& point!
as 30'e sai" man& times efore! is not to sit ehin" i"le uAAers. #& their 'er& nature! fish mo'e aout. %&
theor& is that & mo'ing aout with them an" & following the clues that the weather con"itions are gi'ing
me! 30m much more likel& to come across fish than if 3 Lust chuck out a three ounce lea" an" wait for the
fish to 'isit the ottom of the lake in that particular area.
Duite often 30ll e foun" stalking! a metho" that has caught me & far the most! an" in most cases! m&
largest fish. The interesting thing is that 5uite often when stalking &ou come across mo'ing fish an" &ou
ha'e a 'er& limite" time to work out the est wa& of presenting a ait. 3n these cases! an" as much stalking
work is "one close in! 3 often go for a free8line" ait. Nothing coul" e simpler! an" in a few secon"s &ou
can flick the ait into the path of the oncoming fish! "uck "own an" wait for the line to pull awa&. 3t0s often
that simple. 3 woul" sa& that perhaps /.8to8J.Q of m& fish taken whilst stalking ha'e fallen to a ait that
has een in the water for less than sa& two minutes. The onl& reason those fish ha'e een caught is ecause
30'e kept on the mo'e.
.hin, on yo"r feet* .his 2<l! C#pesthorne mirror (#s t#,en (ithin ten seconds of flic,ing # free:
lined (orm off the edge of # lily p#d ="st in front of its p#trol ro"te.
Bou "onKt ha'e to go stalking though. $'en when fishing multiple ro"s! there0s no reason not to tra'el light!
keep on the look out! an" change tactics ?or swimsE@ where necessar&. At the en" of the "a& it0s aout
keeping up with the changing con"itions aroun" &ou! an" learning how such changes effect fish eha'iour.
Just as importantl&! make sure &ou keep an open min" aout how to target the fish. Bes! chucking out a
lea" is alwa&s the easiest option 8 ut that "oes not necessaril& mean it is the est. Successful carp angling
is aout eing ale to think on &our feet an" rising to the challenge! not going for the eas& option. So! ne7t
time &ou0re fishing an" things are a little 5uiet! if &ou spot fish mo'ing that are not near &our hookait 8
ask &ourself the 5uestion 8 how can 3 place a ait right in front of its nose without spooking it<
Bou0" e amaAe" at how often it works.
Stalking For Carp
#& Garth #arnar"
2inter Carp Fishing
#& Julian Gratti"ge
Static Carping 2ith #ite Alarms
#& Garth #arnar"
Short Session Carping
#& Garth #arnar"
Surface Fishing For Carp
#& Julian Gratti"ge
Carp Fishing 3n Silt
#& Julian Gratti"ge
Carp From #ig 2aters
#& Jim Giinson
%argin Tips
#& Jim Giinson
Kitting For (istance
#& Jim Giinson
2in" )rolems
#& Jim Giinson
%oon $ffects
#& Jim Giinson
#acklea"s! The 4ow An" 2hen
#& Julian Gratti"ge
Gui"e To #ait 6ockets : Spo""ing
#& Julian Gratti"ge
Fin"ing The 6ight Shelter;#i''&
#& Julian Gratti"ge
2hich Carp 6o"s<
#& Garth #arnar"
6igs For Carp Fishing
4air 6ig : Knotless Knot
#& Garth #arnar"
The mo"ern "a& 4air8rig was "e'ise" & Ke'in %a""ocks an" 1en %i""leton in the late J.0s. 3t was
while con"ucting tank tests that the& conclu"e" that Carp were actuall& frightene" & the effect of the hook
an" hooklength passing o'er their lips.
The wa& roun" this was to mount the ait on a 'er& light! supple! two8inch 4air ?"onate" & Ke'in0s
wifeE@! which was attache" to the lower en" of the hook.
The long supple 4air allowe" the Carp to confi"entl& pick up the ait an" pass it ack to the )har&ngeal
teeth without feeling the effect of the hook or hooklength o'er it0s lips.
The 4air8rig has change" a lot since then in that there is less emphasis eing place" on the Carp0s fear of
the effect of the hook an" hooklength o'er its lips. Nowa"a&s the emphasis is on the hook eing ale to
turn an" fin" a goo" hook8hol" as the hookait is eing eLecte" & the Carp.
The easiest an" most effecti'e metho" of pro"ucing a 4air8rig is to use the Knotless8knot.
.he >notless >not
The Knotless8knot is 'er& simple an" eas& to tie. The knot simpl& utiliAes the hooklength material to
firml& tie on the hook an" pro"uce the hair of a "esire" length.
.ieing .he >notless >not
*. Tie a small loop using an 9'er8han" knot at one en" of &our selecte" hooklength material! 30'e use" a
*- inch length of rai" in this instance. This loop for &our oilie stop to secure the oilie in place.
-. Using a #oilie Nee"le threa" the oilie ?or whate'er &ou0re using as a 4ookait@ on to what will e the
4air.
G. 9nce the #oilie has een threa"e" on to the 4air a #oilie Stop is pushe" through the loop to secure the
#oilie in place. Threa" a small piece of Silicone tuing on to the hooklength an" then on to hook! efore
threa"ing the hooklength through the e&e of the hook.
H. A"Lust the length of the 4air to &our "esire" length! aout Gmm from the en" of the hook to the
hookait is m& "esire" length of hair. 2hip up the shank of the hook using a minimum of I turns.
I. Threa" the hooklength once more ack through the e&e of the hook an" pull tight.
/. Tie a swi'el on to the en" of the hooklength an" &ou0re rea"& to goE
3 alwa&s put a small "ap of Super Glue on the knots Lust for piece of min"! ut it isn0t necessar&.
?sing the @#ir:Aig
9nce the 4air8rig has een tie" a #oilie or ait of the same siAe can e use" on the same 4air time an"
time again as the 4air length has een set for that particular siAe of ait.
The piece of Silicone tuing that 3 use is to "etermine the position of where the 4air lea'es the Shank of
the hook! which is le'el with the hookpoint. This also allows the hook to turn an" the rig to work! in a
sense! as an anti8eLect N#low8#ack0 rig. 3n other wor"s! once the hook has penetrate" the lip of the fish! the
fish won0t e ale to low out the ait an" hook! Lust the ait.
9ther anglers prefer not to use a small piece of Silicone tuing! ut instea" whip all of the wa& up the
shank of the hook until the& are le'el with the hook point! which is fine.
@#ir Length
3n m& e7perience! an" whilst "iscussing 4air length with other anglers! 30'e foun" that there is no ultimate
4air length! though a gap of etween -mm to *.mm from the en" of the hook to the hookait is fa'oure"
& most.
3t0s a case of trial an" error in fin"ing a 4air length that works for the siAe an" pattern of hook eing use"!
the siAe of ait eing use"! the hooklength material an" the wa& in which the carp are fee"ing. 3f &ou are
missing runs or &ou feel the fish are picking up an" successfull& eLecting &our hook an" hookait then a
a"Lust the length of the 4air! which coul" make all the "ifference.
#olt 6ig
#& Garth #arnar"
=ig86ig
#& Garth #arnar"
)op8up 6igs
#& Garth #arnar" ; Julian Gratti"ge
4elicopter 6ig
#& Garth #arnar"
Silt 6ig
#& Garth #arnar"
Semi8Fi7e" 6unning 6ig
3nline Safet& 6ig
6unning 6ig
#rai" 6ig
#& Julian Gratti"ge
Carp 4ooks > Getting right to the )oint
#& Julian Gratti"ge
Safet& Clips
#& Garth #arnar"
%ono Facts
#& Jim Giinson
#ait : #aiting Techni5ues
The #oilie ?#oile" #aits@
#& Julian Gratti"ge
2e0'e all hear" it... O2hat fla'our oilie "i" &ou ha'e it on %ister<P As if the selection of a certain ait is
somehow guarantee" to ring success. #ait is un"oute"l& a maLor factor in carp fishing ut it0s not the e
all an" en" all > the where! when an" how are all Lust as important. %ost magaAines carr& a"'erts that
might gi'e the impression that & selecting their own particular Nrew0! anking the 'enues largest resi"ent
is then somehow ine'itale! ecause their particular concoction is Ntaking waters apart0 up an" "own the
countr& an" features the Nest ingre"ients e'er0. (on0t get me wrong! it might e a goo" ait 8 it might e a
'er& goo" ait > ut how "o &ou know efore &ou part with &our har"8earne"< Shoul" &ou elie'e
e'er&thing &ou rea"<
#ait is such a comple7 suLect that it0s not as simple as sa&ing N70 ait is goo"! or N&0 ait is not! an" 3 "on0t
profess to know it all. 4owe'er! 3 know enough to a"'ise that &ou will ha'e etter Slong8termS success &
offering a constant suppl& of a high nutritional 'alue ait! as appose" to a Ncrap0 aitF so terme" ecause it
offers little in the wa& of nutrition ut is loa"e" with fla'our : attractants.
A fish will soon get to recognise a foo" source an" its nutritional 'alue > %& own results with $ssential
#aits Shellfish #I on Capesthorne are a goo" in"icator of what a 5ualit& ait can "o when applie"
correctl&. The fish soon learnt that it fulfille" much of their nutritional re5uirements an" the& got on it ig8
time. At one point it was accounting for o'er ,.Q of the fish that were coming offE The opposite applies
with a so calle" Ncrap0 ait. There will e an initial flurr& of acti'it& as it tastes;smells nice! ut the& will
soon wise up to the fact that the& will get little enefit from eating it an" more often than not will mo'e on
to fill up on a foo" source that the& know "oes them goo". Bou will continue to pick up fish here an" there
ut &ou won0t "o as well as those offering a etter ait.
.(o #t once6 Chris >n#pper BleftC sho(s ="st (h#t # 8"#lity !#it c#n do (hen #pplied correctly.
2hen selecting a ait m& a"'ice woul" e to look the actual ingre"ients! rather than the packaging. That
sai"! ait is much to "o with confi"ence 8 if &ou can0t stop catching on the one &ou are using then "on0t
change > ut the moment &ou see other people fishing in the same manner an" catching more! &ou shoul"
alwa&s ask &ourself wh&. 4owe'er! confi"ence is one thing! lin"l& following the Nmasses0 an" Nnames0 is
another entirel&. Bou onl& ha'e to take a look at some of the current high profile anglers an" see how man&
times the&0'e switche" allegiances within the last few &ears to know that for some! it0s har"8cash that
woul" seem to "ictate which Lacket the& wear on their ack! rather than the effecti'eness of a particular
ait. As with an& in"ustr&! there are goo" companies an" a" > the trick is in making sure &ou select
pro"ucts from one of the etter suppliers. #ut how "o &ou pick out the est! as it0s sometimes "ifficult to
cut through the a"'ertising lur an" get right "own to the facts< There0s no eas& answer 8 if &ou want to
e a reall& successful angler! then &ou nee" to take the time to work things out for &ourself. 3 guess it0s
nothing new! ut the maLorit& of anglers are alwa&s happ& to e le" than to lea" 8 until a few hun"re" &ears
ago most people thought the worl" was flatM get m& "rift<
To e lunt! asi"e from what &ou ha'e rea" in the magaAines! what "o &ou actuall& know aout the
$TACT ingre"ients that are in the ait &ou are using< An" & that 3 "on0t mean what it sa&s on the
packaging > 3 mean the ACTUA11 ingre"ients in that specific ag &ou ha'e picke" up of the shelf< 3
woul" sa& that J.Q of anglers "on0t reall& know the specific make8up of the ait the& are using 8 no matter
how much the& wa7 l&rical aout how goo" it is an" how man& waters its Ntaken apart0. Bawn.
The simple truth of the matter is that if &ou want to go forwar"s &ou must first go ack. 1earn all &ou can
aout ingre"ients an" what effect the& ha'e on a ait > "o &ou know what "ifferent t&pes of fishmeal are
out there! an" what each t&pe will "o to a ait< An" what the a""ition of ir"foo"s! milks! or proteins will
"o< 3f &ou "on0t! then how can &ou claim to ha'e superior knowle"ge aout which is the est ait to use<
The maLorit& of anglers will claim to e on the est ait possile ut once &ou proe more "eepl& an" get
past the a"'ertising h&pe written in the angling press! most can a"" 'er& little to the con'ersation. For me!
that0s simpl& not goo" enough > en" off.
The point 30m making is that 3 woul" ne'er u& an& ait without first taking a great "eal of time to research
the compan&! ingre"ients! an" manufacturing processes. $'en then 3 woul" still want to ?an" "o@ speak to
the person ehin" the ait efore using it. Some &ears ago efore making the switch to #I 3 spent no small
amount of time talking to %ike 2illmott at $ssential! oth aout how an" where he sources his ingre"ients
an" then aout his manufacturing processes an" onl& when 3 ha" a "eep un"erstan"ing of it! "i" 3 make the
switch. (o &ou seriousl& think that all Green 1ippe" %ussel $7tract comes from the same supplier! in the
same tin! at the same cost< 9f course it "oesn0tE There is goo" stuff an" there is a" stuff > an" 3 know the
G1% in the ait 30m u&ing is of the highest 5ualit& a'ailale an" 3 e'en know which Countr& it comes
from > an" &es! that "oes make a "ifference tooE 4ow aout &our ait< (o &ou know what gra"e it is an"
which supplier it comes from<
Bou ma& think 3 take things to the e7treme! ut what 3 "o is ensure that when 3 ha'e chosen a ait! there is
then no nee" to "ale with others > 3 ha'e ultimate confi"ence. 3 see anglers constantl& tr&ing ait after
ait! comparing one ro" fishe" to another! a "ifferent ait on each rig! or mi7tures on allE All of which will
onl& take &our e&e of the all. %ost ha'e this rose8tinte" 'ision of a nice 5ualit& assure" factor& with a
sponsore" high8profile angler sitting at the en" of a con'e&or checking that each ait is up to the re5uire"
stan"ar" > wake upE
3 know where man& aits are ma"e! an" some "on0t e'en get their han"s "irt&E %an& outsource much if not
all of their rolling! an" some ma& e'en re"uce the 5ualit& of ingre"ients to impro'e cost effecti'eness >
an" who keeps a check on what the rolling companies are "oing an" how accurate their facilities are for
getting the optimum alance of ingre"ients< Again! 30'e hear" stories that woul" make &our toes curl > an"
people are pa&ing goo" mone& for this stuffE
Some might ask what happens after a few seasons when the ait N"ries8up<0 2ell! if it0s a goo" ait! it
shoul"n0t! simple as that. 3n relation to #I N"r&ing up0 it0s simpl& ne'er happene" for us. 1ong term results
on man& waters showe" that 5uite the opposite happene"! the more that went in! the etter the results got
as the fish realise" here was a foo" source that ga'e them much of their re5uire" intake of nutrients > to a
certain e7tent the& can0t help ut eat itE That sai"! the& will soon wise up to areas it is offere" to them in
regularit& an" so swims fishe" in the same wa& using the same spots ma& "rop off in effecti'eness! ut to
e honest! in m& e&es much of that is "own to watercraft as the same ait offere" elsewhere will e
gole" up Lust as rea"il& > outwitting specimen carp is a constant en"ea'our an" a ne'er en"ing attle of
wills.
&elect the right !oilie #nd #pply it correctly' #nd the fish (ill come : the first time on the 0en"e (ith
+ic,s &n#il D &hell #nd I m#n#ged fi0e more ="st #s nice #s this one6
3 make no claims or allegations aout an& manufacturer or supplier! it0s for &ou to go out an" "o &our own
homework. 4owe'er! as 30'e sai" to man& in the past! there are 'er& few suppliers in the UK who 3 woul"
trust han" on heart to gi'e me e7actl& what 3 ha'e aske" forF an" two at the top of that list woul" e %ike
2illmott ?$ssential #aits@ an" %ick #all ?%# #aits@. #efore &ou ask! &es! 3 ha'e ties to oth ?not
financiall&@ 8 an" there0s a goo" reason for that > 3 trust them implicitl&. Bou see! 3 take m& angling 'er&
seriousl&! so 3 feel it0s onl& right that 3 shoul" gi'e serious consi"eration to the ait 3 put on m& hook. That
sai"! 3 onl& use oilies for aout fifteen percent of m& carp fishing! so Lust imagine how much thought goes
into m& naturalsE
Shelf 1ife 9r Fresh FroAen #oilies<
#& Julian Gratti"ge
%aking &our own #oilies
#& Garth #arnar"
(ips An" Soaks
#& Garth #arnar"
The %etho"
#& Garth #arnar"
Tiger Nuts
#& Julian Gratti"ge
4aliut )ellets
#& Julian Gratti"ge
The Secret Success of #alachan Shrimp )aste
#& Julian Gratti"ge
2orms For Carp
#& Julian Gratti"ge
)article %i7es
#& Julian Gratti"ge
4emp See"
#& Julian Gratti"ge
%aiAe
#& Julian Gratti"ge
Sweetcorn
#& Julian Gratti"ge
)ellets
#& Julian Gratti"ge
Artificial #aits
#& Julian Gratti"ge

Surface #aits
#& Julian Gratti"ge
Criticall& #alance" #aits For Carp
#& Julian Gratti"ge
4ow To Use ).C.A. #ags For (istance 2ork
#& Garth #arnar"
Stringers
#& Garth #arnar"
Caring For Bour Duarr&
Carp Care an" Fish 4an"ling
#& Julian Gratti"ge
For me! care for the 5uarr& shoul" start long efore the fish is actuall& on the ank. 9n man& occasions 3
ha'e witnesse" so calle" specimen anglers ?not Lust carp anglers@ casting aits to what at est coul" e
"escrie" as Na"'enturous0 positions! at worst! "ownright stupi". Bes! there is a high proailit& &ou will
get the take &ou are after if &ou place &our ait si7 inches off those snags or right up against that
sumerge" tree. 4owe'er! there is also a high proailit& that &ou will lose it efore &ou0'e e'en picke" up
&our ro". 2hat0s worse! the fish coul" e left tethere". 30m not going to get ogge" "own with safe rigs in
this piece as there is plent& of content co'ering suitale set8ups in the rig chapter. The point 30m making is
that &ou shoul" think of fish welfare long efore &ou hook one. Use &our common sense. Take into account
the pro7imit& of features that ma& cause a prolem if &ou hook a fish. Think aout &our own ailit& to
o'ercome these ostacles. This applies to all sectors of the sport! not Lust carp angling.
/ish c#re sho"ld st#rt long !efore its "p on the sc#les6
3n a""ition! the ro" &ou use an" the wa& &ou use it shoul" e carefull& consi"ere". After rea"ing man&
articles! newcomers to the sport coul" e forgi'en for thinking the& nee" Gl test cur'e ro"s an" GoA lea"s
for all their fishing. 3f &ou are fishing small an" me"ium siAe" waters nothing coul" e further from the
truthE The strength or test cur'e of the ro" shoul" e matche" to the "istances an" weights &ou will e
casting for the maLorit& of &our fishing > in essence! the igger the "istance! the larger the test cur'e.
4owe'er! if &ou learn how to use a fishing ro" correctl&! an" perhaps more importantl&! learn how to cast!
&ou can achie'e ig "istances with small test cur'e ro"s. Nearl& all m& fishing is "one with m& trust& han"
uilt Sporte7 two an" a 5uarter poun" test cur'e ro"s > an" &es! 3 can easil& chuck a ig lump well o'er
one hun"re" &ar"s. The enefit of large test cur'e ro"s is that at "istance &ou can appl& pressure 5uicker
an" gain control of the situation faster! ut what &ou ha'e to ear in min" is that at short range! almost the
opposite can appl&. The ro" can e less sensiti'e an" therefore more "ifficult to use at close 5uarters
lea"ing to hook pulls! etc. Thus! if most of &our fishing is "one on small waters &ou woul" e etter suite"
to a smaller test cur'e ro". As 3 sa&! it0s aout matching &our tackle to &our inten"e" use so gi'e it some
thought.
2ith that out of the wa&! how "o we look after a ig fish once we0'e hooke" it< The first thing to ensure is
that &ou ha'e all the right gear in the right place at the right time. 9nce a fish picks up &our ait it0s no
goo" if the lan"ing net is still in &our ag an" the unhooking mat is in the car. #efore &ou cast a ait &ou
shoul" alwa&s ensure that &our lan"ing net is set up! near to &our ro"s an" rea"& to go. Also! make sure
that the net is the correct siAe for the t&pe of fish &ou are targeting. 3f &ou are fishing for carp! an" the
water contains specimen fish! then &ou shoul" e prepare" for the e'entualit& of actuall& catching oneE 3n
m& e&es there is no e7cuse for ha'ing the wrong tackle an" e5uipment for the fish &ou are tr&ing to target.
3n"ee" on the water 3 run we e7pel memers who turn up with ina"e5uate tackle! as "o man& others 8 so
think onE 3 appreciate that tackle can sometimes e costl&! ut e'en the most e7pensi'e of ran"s ha'e
ecome much more affor"ale 'ia e#a& an" alike so there reall& is no e7cuse.
3ns"re yo" h#0e the right e8"ipment for the =o!.
9nce the fish is in the net "on0t e in too much of a rush to pull &our priAe straight out. 3 know it0s a 'er&
e7citing time! ut Lust take a moment to ensure e'er&thing is rea"& an" that all the items &ou nee" are
alrea"& in place so that once the fish is lifte" out of the water &ou "on0t then nee" to keep running to an"
from &our i''& looking for 'arious its of paraphernalia! an" if &ou "o nee" to sort out a few its efore
lifting the fish make sure the net is full& secure"E Bou shoul" alwa&s fish with some sort of unhooking mat
to protect the carp while it is out of the water! so make sure this is rea"& an" positione" awa& from the
waters e"ge an"! if possile! on a flat surface ?This ensures the fish can0t flap its wa& ack "own the ank
an" into the water > 30'e seen it happen so man& timesE@. Also! if &ou inten" to weigh &our fish &ou will
nee" a weigh sling. Again this shoul" e rea"& in a"'ance. Bou will also nee" to ha'e a pair of forceps to
han" in case &our fish is "eepl& hooke". Again! all this shoul" e rea"& eforehan" so that when &ou "o
ha'e a fishF it0s out of the water for the minimum amount of time. 3 alwa&s keep m& sling wrappe" up in
m& unhooking mat an" also keep a pair of long8nose" forceps clippe" to m& unhooking mat! this ensures
that the three main items 3 nee" are alwa&s together an" in one place. Also! to minimise time on the ank! it
helps to wet &our sling an" ha'e scales Aeroe" efore &ou lift the fish.
9K! so with e'er&thing in place &ou are rea"& to lift the net an" ha'e a look at &our priAe. 4owe'er! "o e
C$6B careful here! as &ou ha'e to ear in min" that the fish is still hooke". 3f &ou Lust gra aroun" the
mesh of the net an" hea'e e'er&thing up onto the ank there is a goo" chance &ou will pull the line an"
actuall& pull the hook out of the mouth. 3t0s m& opinion that more mouth "amage occurs to fish when the&
are eing lifte" than at an& other time so please! "o e careful. Just make sure that when &ou lift the net!
that the line is not in &our grip > if it is! make sure it0s slack enough elow so that it won0t pull on the fish0s
mouth when &ou lift. Also! ensure that the fish is positione" neatl& in the centre an" ottom of the net
efore &ou lift! this wa& it won0t su""enl& get trappe" in an awkwar" position or tumle to the ottom of
the net when &ou gather the mesh an" lift it. Bou shoul" ne'er lift a fish & using the net pole or han"le as
either coul" easil& gi'e wa& un"er the weight of a specimen fish. Bou shoul" alwa&s gather the mesh in
&our han"s Lust ao'e the fish ?a it like &ou woul" if &ou were aout to low up a paper ag@ an" the lift
carefull& with the fish in one han" an" &our ro" an" net pole in the other.
Al(#ys tre#t fish (ith the c#re #nd respect they deser0e.
9nce &ou ha'e carefull& transferre" the fish from the water to &our unhooking mat &ou shoul" go aout
&our usiness with care ut with promptness. The i"ea is to keep the fish out of the water for the minimum
amount of time necessar&. Bes! it is a fact that carp can sur'i'e for a long time out of waterF 3 once rea"
that the (utch were well known for their fon"ness of carp ?to eat! that isE@ an" woul" often wrap large carp
in "amp 4essian sacks in their cellars. The& woul" keep the sacks wet at all times an" fee" the carp rea"
an" milk for a couple of "a&s prior to eatingE 4owe'er! Lust ecause the& can sur'i'e out of water for a
long time "oes not necessaril& mean the& want toE So Lust ear the time factor in min".
Now &ou nee" to unhook the fish. 3 fin" the easiest wa& is to first check where an" how the hook has een
set an" then! manoeu're it so that it comes out in e7actl& the same manner in which it went in. 3 position
the e&e an" shank with m& thum an" forefinger! then when the ar an" angle of the shank is at e7actl&
the same angle as when it went in! appl& a small sharp La of pressure on the e&e of the hook an" it will
simpl& pop out. 3t0s a little trick& to put "own on paper so if &ou are unsure aout the est wa& to unhook a
fish! go an" ha'e a look at an e7perience" carp angler with a fish on the ank an" ask them to show &ou >
that0s how 3 learnt. 3t0s a 'er& simple process once &ou0'e learnt an" takes Lust a secon" to "o. 4owe'er! if
the fish is "eep hooke" "on0t waste time fi""ling! Lust reach for the forceps > it0s much 5uicker. A 5uick tip
here is to remo'e the ro" an" line as soon as &ou ha'e remo'e" the hook. Just place the hook in &our ro"
e&e! win" in the slack line an" place the ro" to one si"e. 3f &ou "on0t &ou can guarantee that when &ou "o
come to sort e'er&thing out later the line will e tangle" e'er&where an" the hook will e firml& eme""e"
an" immo'ale from the ottom of &our lan"ing netE 9nce &ou ha'e unhooke" the fish! it0s a goo" time to
perform a 5uick health check. 3 alwa&s in'estigate oth flanks of the fish an" ha'e a look at all the fins! tail
an" "orsal ri"ge to check for an& "amage or inLuries. 3 also check the gill co'ers! hea" an" also ha'e a
check insi"e the mouth. 3f &ou "o fin" an& "amage it is a goo" i"ea to ha'e some antiseptic treatment
han"& ?Klinik is a goo" one! as is the Nash Tackle
%e"i Carp@. Just appl& a small amount to the effecte"
area.
-erforming # 8"ic, he#lth chec,
9n transferring the fish from net to sling! make sure &ou are not wearing an&thing that coul" "amage the
fish! like a ring with sharp e"ges or a set stone or a watch with a sharp strap 8 3 ma"e sure m& we""ing ring
was a simple flat an" so that 3 woul" not ha'e to take it off e'er& time 3 han"le" a fishE 3 alwa&s tr& to
remo'e m& watch when han"ling a specimen for photos! etc. Also! as with an& fish! make sure &our han"s
are wet an" that an& slings an" sacks &ou are using are alrea"& wet efore han"ling as the o"& of a fish
has a mucus co'ering which protects the fish from infection so itKs important not to "amage this memrane
when han"ling. 2hen &ou transfer the fish to a sling! again make sure that the fish is in the ottom centre
of the sling an" that its pectoral fins are tucke" into the o"& so that it won0t "amage itself when &ou lift it
up.
9k! &ou0'e weighe" &our fish an" congratulations! it0s a ig0unE Time for a photograph to capture the
moment 8 There are two schools of thought here! either taking a photo there an" then whate'er time of "a&
or night! or! if its at night! sacking the fish until its light enough to take some photos. Sacking fish is a
suLect which causes a goo" "eal of "eate. )ersonall& 30m not a ig fan of sacking fish an" prefer
where'er possile to take photos there an" then an" to return the fish imme"iatel&. 3f &ou prepare for &our
shot properl& m& feeling is that &ou can get some stunning images at night which can reall& capture the
moment.
4owe'er! if &ou wish to sack a fish an" the 'enue permits it! then &ou shoul" alwa&s rememer not to sack
a fish in shallow water or imme"iatel& after a prolonge" attle. Carp otain their o7&gen & wafting water
through their gills an" in some cases a sack can re"uce the free8flow of water re5uire" to necessitate this
process so &ou shoul" ne'er place a worn out fish into a sack > in simple terms it coul" "ie through
e7haustion.
Also! & the same token! shallow water has less "issol'e" o7&gen for the fish to utilise so ear this in min"
for the same reasons. 3t goes without sa&ing that &ou shoul" ensure the sack is properl& secure" > the
thought of a specimen fish set a"rift in a seale" sack "oes not ear thinking aout! so make sure &ou secure
it properl& an" it won0t e a situation &ou0re e'er face" with.
If yo" #re going to s#c, # fish' m#,e s"re yo" chec, it #t reg"l#r inter0#ls to ens"re firstly th#t the
fish is 5> #nd secondly th#t e0erything is sec"re.
So! either wa& it0s now time to get a photo an" the fish is on the mat. A few asic rules appl& hereF
rea"iness eing the first. The camera gear shoul" ha'e een set up prior to lifting the fish from the water.
9nce &ou0re competent at han"ling oth fish an" camera! self8take is an option ut for now we0ll assume
that &ou ha'e someo"& to take the picture for &ou. Firstl&! ensure the photographer is rea"& with the
camera efore &ou attempt to lift the fish. 2hen lifting &ou shoul" tr& not to hol" the fish against &our
o"& as clothing can "amage the skin of the fish an" remo'e its protecti'e memrane. Also &ou shoul" tr&
not to lift the fish from un"er its ell&. %an& of the "elicate organs inclu"ing the heart are locate" on the
un"ersi"e of the o"&! an" whilst in the water there is little pressure on such areas! once out of the water
?thus effecte" & gra'it&@ the pressure is greatl& increase". The est wa& to lift a carp is to ha'e one han"
un"er its hea"! Lust in front of the pectoral fins! an" one han" un"er its o"&! Lust past the stomach & its
anal fin.
2ith the photographer in front of &ou! &ou want to ha'e the fish on its si"e with ack towar"s &ou an"
ell& towar"s camera. Then! carefull& scoop &our han"s un"er the fish from ehin" an" ring them roun"
to the front of the o"&. Scoop one han" un"er the hea" an" sli"e the pectoral fin etween &our fingers.
Then scoop the other han" un"er the rear section aroun" to the anal fin area ?see photo elow@. Then!
slowl& lift an" le'el the fish. #e prepare" for the fish to kick an" e rea"& to cushion it when it "oesE 30'e
foun" this metho" of lifting to e & far the most effecti'e gi'ing goo" stailit& to counter the fish when it
"eci"es to kick. Keep the fish low to the mat an" hol" it stea"&. #ig fish can e har" to hol" still so it helps
to race the fishF 3 ten" to keep m& elows on m& knees which gi'es a more rigi" frame. A 5uick
photograph& tip hereF it helps for the photographer to e at the same le'el as &ou! i.e. close to the groun" 8
either kneeling "own or! e'en etter! l&ing "own. This gi'es a great perspecti'e rather than if &ou are on
the floor an" the photographer is stan"ing up "irectl& in front of &ou! the sharp angle when taken from
ao'e will make &our capture look much smaller than it actuall& isE
Ae#dy to lift7

@old ste#dy #nd ,eep the fish close to the m#t
9nce &ou ha'e the shot it0s time to get the fish ack in the water. )lace it ack in the centre an" ottom of
the sling as efore an" again make sure the pectoral fins are tucke" into the o"&! an" then carefull& lift the
fish an" place ack into the water. (o not make the mistake of thinking that Lust ecause the fish has
eha'e" for the photo that &ou can return it without the sling! &ou can e guarantee" it will ha'e a flap at
some point efore &ou get it ack in the water > alwa&s safer to put it ack in the sling for transport. The
fish shoul" e returne" with great care! keep the o"& position upright an" allow the fish to gain its
composure efore letting it swim off. 9nce ack in the water 3 remo'e the sling an" gentl& support the fish
upright & loosel& hol"ing aroun" the wrist of its tail. This allows the fish to waft all its fins! get some
water mo'ing through its gills again an" after a short time it will regain its composure! gi'e a kick of the
tail an" shoot off ack to the "eep > often soaking &ou in the process! ut that0s all part of the e7perienceE
.#,e c#re on ret"rning the fish #nd #llo( it to reco0er
9nce the fish has een returne" it0s eas& to get caught up in the moment ut &ou Lust nee" to spen" a few
minutes getting e'er&thing sorte" an" rea"& for the ne7t oneE Gi'e &our lan"ing net a 5uick rinse an" place
ack & &our ro"s! make sure the sling an" mat are ack where the& shoul" e an" an& implements use"
"uring unhooking! weighing an" photographing are ack in there rightful positions! that wa&! when the
ne7t fish comes along &ou are rea"& to repeat the process all o'er again with the minimum amount of fuss.
Jo! 9one6 No( yo" c#n rel#x sort yo"r ge#r o"t #nd c#tch #nother6
1ike most things in fishing! it0s aout common sense. 3t0s simpl& a case of ha'ing e'er&thing rea"& an" in
the right place at the right time! an" when &ou "o lan" a specimen! make sure &ou treat it with the care an"
respect it "eser'es.
6ules 6ule! 9KE
#& Jim Giinson
Angling $thics
#& Jim Giinson
Application $7amples
-ref#ce
#& $lton %urph&
3t0s often the case with written material that what seems relati'el& straight forwar" on paper can often e
much har"er to work out in realit&. As so much of the content in this ook relates to the theories!
e7periences! results an" oser'ations of the authors! we ha'e "eci"e" to pulish e7tracts from one of our
feature" authors Fishing Journals.
9ur main purpose for pulishing such material is to tr& an" gi'e the rea"er some real insight into how the
author uses all of the techni5ues written aout in pre'ious chapters in or"er to ring aout results when
targeting specimen carp.
The following e7tracts are taken from the "iaries of long8time carp angler Julian Gratti"ge! an" follow the
highs an" lows! thoughts an" e7periences! of his time spent fishing for carp on 'arious waters aroun" the
UK.
)art * ?3ntro"uction an" $7tracts from Jul& -..-@
#& Julian Gratti"ge
Bou know how it isF &ou0'e spent a few seasons on a water! ha" a few fish! an" mo'e" on. 2ell that was
the stor& with the Top )ool! %art an" 3 "i" a couple of seasons on there a few &ears ack! an" 'er& har" it
was too 8 one of those places that reall& "i" &our hea" in! ut for some reason &ou kept going ack for
moreE
The water is classic estate lake stuff! set in the heart of the Cheshire countr&si"e. 3t0s surroun"e" & a few
other goo" waters on the same estate! ut for some reason the Top )ool has alwa&s een o'erlooke"! &ou
coul" often go for weeks without seeing an&one on there! partl& ecause the other waters ha'e a igger
hea" of fish! ut mainl& "ue to the fact that it0s so har" going.

+ore m#rgin fe#t"res th#n yo" c#n sh#,e # stic, #t6
3t0s the kin" of enchante" carp water &ou "ream of fin"ing! enclose" aroun" most of its anks & hea'&
woo"lan"! co'ere" in thick sets of pa"s with o'ergrown ank si"e 'egetation! ol" ewe trees fanning out
o'er the margins! an" massi'e rho"o"en"rons which o'er the &ears ha'e grown out into the lake to pro'i"e
fantastic margin features. The "ownsi"e is the wee".
9'er the &ears the lake has ecome hea'il& silte"! an" the thick Cana"ian pon" wee" has 5uite literall&
taken o'er! growing right up to the surface throughout the whole of the lake! a"" to that the thick algal
scum that forms across the surface right through the summer months an" it ecomes a nightmare to fish.
That sai"! it has a strange a""icti'e 5ualit&! an" after each lank session when &ou0re telling &ourself
One'er againP &ou somehow fin" &ourself planning &our ne7t trip whilst still on the "ri'e homeE The main
attraction for me! esi"es the fact that 30m alwa&s up for a challenge! was the fish stocks. 9nl& a han"ful of
the carp were less than twent& poun"s! an" as for the iggest! well that was an&o"&0s guessE
The fact that it was har"l& fishe" meant that noo"& reall& knew what was in there! whilst one or two mi"8
twent& fish ha" een taken o'er the &ears! much igger fish ha" often een seen ut ne'er outwitte".
.he mid:sh#llo(s.
After a fair amount of research we reckone" that thirties coul" e a realistic possiilit&! an" that was goo"
enough for us! the thought of anking a ig lunker which ma& not ha'e grace" the ank for &ears ?rare in
our neck of the woo"s@ ha" me "rooling 8 tickets were purchase" an" the lo'e hate relationship egan...
3f onl& we knew then what we know now! what a season that was. 2e fishe" 'irtuall& e'er& weeken" from
June to Septemer without so much as a leepE 2e trie" e'er&thingF clear spots! rake" spots! in wee"! on
top! on ottom! an" "on0t e'en get me starte" on aits..EE
The fish were certainl& in thereF the& took great pleasure in taunting us on a regular asis. The& woul" oat
up on top "uring the "a& sen"ing huge ow wa'es out ehin" them! when 'iewing the lake from up in the
trees it looke" like it was an open "a& for the local oat cluE The fish were cute! 'er& cute! we often saw
them come in o'er aite" patches an" mo'e off without so much as sniffing the ait! then after a few hours
the& woul" return! sample a freeie an" mo'e off again. The& woul" keep repeating the process until all
that remaine" was the hook ait! the&0" then ugger off an" lea'e it with &ou. 3f it wasn0t for the tran5uil
surroun"ings an" the i"&llic nature of the place 30m sure we0" ha'e committe" suici"e long efore! ut we
kept going ack! time an" time again! we ha"n0t gi'en up on a water efore an" we weren0t aout to start
now 8 although it now ecame all to clear wh& we rarel& saw an&o"& else fishing itE 2e kept telling
oursel'es that no fish were uncatchale! an" it was onl& a matter of time 8 an" we ha" plent&.
+#rt (#iting for #ction in the %o#tho"se s(im.
Through process of elimination we ma"e sutle changes to approach! tactics! an" ait! in the hope of
fin"ing the ke& to success! after all we were catching plent& of other specimensF ream to Jl! an" lots of
tench to near "oule figures! all of which were ma"e welcome whilst we waite" for the elusi'e carp to
make an appearance. $arl& Septemer an" the unthinkale happene" 8 we caught oneE
3 rememer waking to the soun" of a (elkim ite alarm at full8chat! a proper one8toner. The onl& prolem
was that it wasn0t mineE Somehow 3 knew it was a carp! an" on arri'al at %art0s swim saw him ent "oule
into a goo" fish that was "oing it0s est to make it into the nearest set of pa"s.
%art0s face was a picture! not least ecause he ne'er looke" too cle'er when he first woke! ut ecause he
looke" scare" to "eath. 4e nee" not ha'e worrie"! after a goo" tussle 3 slippe" the net un"er the fish! an"
%art let out a attle cr&E The fish was a perfect mirror! which went -.l -oA on the scales. After a 5uick
photo the fish was returne" an" a grin appeare" on %art0s face that sta&e" firml& in place for o'er a weekE
3t was 5uite strange reall&! all that wait an" it was o'er in a matter of minutes. 3t was onl& aout fi'e in the
morning! ut it seeme" as goo" a time as an& to open a couple of ottles! an" we Lust sat for a while
sa'ouring the moment! eer in han". The sessions o'er the following weeks ga'e no sign that our luck was
aout to change! as we went ack to a series of lanks! ut our moo" was lifte" when 3 hit into a goo" carp
earl& in 9ctoer! onl& for the hook to pull ?Grrrrrr@. 2e onl& manage" a few sessions etween 9ctoer an"
(ecemer as we "eci"e" to take part in a winter carp league arrange" & a mate on another water ?seeme"
like a goo" i"ea at the time@! which ran e'er& other week.
%& thoughts were ne'er too far awa& from the Top )ool o'er the Christmas perio" an" come Januar& 3 was
full of "etermination an" enthusiasm for the New Bear ahea". 3 was us& with work for the first few weeks
in Januar& ut saw that unseasonal& warm weather was forecast for the last weeken" in the month so we
"eci"e" to "o the Satur"a& night.
Bou know how it is when &ou can feel something0s change" on a water! &ou Lust ha'e that confi"ence
when &ou arri'e an" &ou can0t wait to get the ro"s in! well that was me. 2e arri'e" Lust in time to get set
up efore "arkness fell. 2e fishe" two swims ne7t to each other in the a&! an" place" the aits out in the
usual wa&. #oilies on fluro links! agge" up with a little crume" oilie an" fresh maggots.
Although warm for the time of &ear it was still loo"& col"! so as e'ening approache" we ha" a few sips of
Scotlan"0s finest to keep us warm. 3t was a full moon an" a clear night an" the place looke" fantastic
athe" in moonlight. There was no win" whatsoe'er! an" onl& topping fish roke the surface as we chatte"
for se'eral hours! topping up with coffee an" spirits! whilst e'er& hour or so 30" put a couple of pouches of
maggots o'er m& aite" spots.
2e retire" to our respecti'e i''&0s at aroun" mi"night an" after a 5uick warm o'er the Coleman! 3 tucke"
up in e". 3 awoke to the soun" of an alarm an" looke" out of m& i''& "oor to see the tip of m& left han"
ro" wagging awa& as line was strippe" from the reel. 3 was on it in a flash an" the imme"iate attle cur'e
signalle" that a "ecent carp was on the other en" 8 at lastE
The fish ma"e a hea"long sprint through the wee" for the sunken punt wa& to the left of m& swim. 3 ease"
the "rag a touch as 3 was keen to a'oi" another hook pull! then gentl& firme" "own on the spool to slow its
run. 3 turne" the fish at aroun" twent&8fi'e &ar"s an" it erupte" on the surface out to m& left.
%art appeare" at m& si"e! offering wor"s of encouragement as the attle unfol"e". After a while 3 got the
fish ack to the margin! an" after a couple of final lunges %art slippe" the net un"er a goo" common 8
2ehe&E The scales umpe" roun" to -*l *oA 8 resultE
ECrin,le:.#ilE 21l! of (inter common : res"lt6
3 was ma"e up! all the effort ha" finall& pai" off! an" the result wriggle" aout in m& han"s as %art reele"
of a couple of shots on the camera. The fish went straight ack! an" as 3 release" it into the water it ga'e
one massi'e flick of its tail! co'ering me in water! an" was gone.
For a while 3 Lust sat on m& swim soaking up the moment efore aiting up an" casting ack out. 3 was
well happ&! ut the est was &et to comeE
Two hours later an" m& right han" ro" was awa&! 3 was still not o'er the first fish reall& an" kin" of
assume" that this one must e a tench! on striking the ro" it ent "oule an" 3 su""enl& awoke to the fact 3
was into another goo" carpE
After a short initial run the fish Lust hel" ottom an" woul"n0t mo'e. For a while 3 thought it ha" wee"e"
me! ut after some gentle persuasion 3 manage" to get it mo'ing again. 3 was tr&ing not to get carrie" awa&
ut in the ack of m& min" 3 coul" not help ut won"er if this was a iggie.
After what seeme" like an age 3 got the fish near the net! ut each time the fish saw the net a powerful
lunge woul" prolong the tension as she went off "own the margin again on another run. $'entuall&! thanks
to a full8stretch affair & %art! the fish went into the net! an" 3 was finall& ale to reathe outE
%art lifte" the net onto the unhooking mat an" uttere" soun"s as if to sa& it were a "ecent fish! an" after
remo'ing half a ton of pon"wee" from the net! a stunning "ark mirror came into 'iew 8 a proper ol"
warrior.
#& now the weight seeme" insignificant! &et 3 still raise" a smile when the scales went Lust sh& of -Jl.
T&pical isn0t it! &ou wait all &ear to catch one fish from a water! then take a race of twenties in a couple of
hours 8 that0s the Top )ool for &ouE
4orth the (#it) Not h#lf..66
After that! work kept me awa& from the ank till the en" of the season prett& much! 3 manage" a couple of
trips! taking one goo" common. All that Lust ma"e the wait till the following season all that more "ifficult
to ear. Not helpe" & the fact that there was a 'er& strict polic& of no entr& onto the estate "uring the
close" season! so &ou coul"n0t e'en go up for a look aroun" 8 gutte"E The (rinks factor& 3 was running at
the time ha" release" a loa" of new pro"ucts which egan selling reall& well! so come weeken"s 3 was
alwa&s o'erseeing e7tra shifts or awa& 'isiting clients 8 not goo" for fishing. Thus! 3 change" m& approach
o'er the following season! rather than "oing weeken"ers! 3 "i" a mi"week o'ernighter e'er& 2e"nes"a&!
getting there at aroun" +pm! an" lea'ing at aroun" /am the following morning to get home! showere"!
change"! an" off to work for ,.G.E
A st"nning .op -ool ne#r:le#ther #t 2Fl! .
The mi"week sessions certainl& seeme" to pa& off. 2hilst %art still struggle" at weeken"s! 3 was ale to
a'erage a fish perhaps e'er& four sessions! which for the Top )ool was goo" goingE %ore twenties grace"
the net! although none igger than the mirror from the pre'ious season! not that it othere" me! each fish
was asolutel& mint an" a pleasure to catch! m& fa'ourite of the season was a -Hl near8leather taken earl&
in August! a stunning fish.
The other fish of note was a "oule figure common that 3 must ha'e caught fi'e times throughout the
season! a cracking fish that ga'e me the fight of m& life each time 3 ha" it 8 far etter than an& of the
twentiesE 8 3ts takes were so 'iolent that it rippe" the ro" of the uAAer8ar on two separate occasionsE 2e
nickname" it N%ental the Common0 for o'ious reasons! an" it was a Lo& to ank on each occasion. The
funn& thing with %ental was that he woul" onl& show on a ro" that ha" alrea"& anke" a fish "uring that
particular session > weir"E
$+ent#l the Common on one of his reg"l#r #ppe#r#nces
There0s nothing 5uite like taking a goo" fish in the night then going straight off to work in the morning 8
&ou feel on top of the worl" all "a&! especiall& if some of the la"s in the factor& are into carping an" "uring
the coffee reak &ou can casuall& "rop in the fact that &ou ha" a nice twent& earlier that morningE
2ork ease" a little as 9ctoer neare"! so 3 was ale to "o a few weeken" sessions with %art.
Unfortunatel&! he0" not ha" a fish out since his -. the pre'ious Septemer! an" things were starting to get
to him.
1uckil& though! a few weeks later he fishe" #irch Gro'e an" took a couple of lo'el& thirties! which
seeme" to ease the pain somewhat.
Well it would wouldnt it!
A !r#ce of %irch G0s seemed to lift +#rts spirits' this one #t G1l! 6o;.
9ur ne7t session on the Top )ool was a it of a nightmare! after a fruitless first night an" no action "uring
the following "a&! 30" hea'il& aite" a margin swim for the secon" night. Just after "awn 3 ha" an asolute
screamer from the aite" patch an" struck into a #3G lump that Lust kept going! an" onl& egan to slow
after taking me through two sets of pa"s. 3t took an eternit& to get the fish ack near the ank! ut finall& 3
was ale to make out a ig common Lust a couple of &ar"s out! it was the ig common we0" spotte" on
se'eral occasions "uring the season an" reckone" it to e aroun" -,8-+l. 3t "i"n0t like the net one it! an"
3 cautiousl& ha" to keep turning the fish as it attempte" another lunge awa& from the net! then! Lust as it0s
hea" came o'er the top of the net it ma"e one final i" for free"om! lunge" to m& right an" slippe" the
hook 8 o&! "i" 3 swearE
3 was trul& gutte"! an" it pla&e" on m& min" for weeks. 3 kept reli'ing the moment constantl& going
through the Owhat8ifs<P 3n retrospect! 3 suppose 3 shoul" ha'e Ngot straight ack on0 so to speak! ut for one
reason or another we "i"n0t go ack on for a while! an" efore we new it! we0" fishe" a few new waters
an" Loine" a new s&n"icateE
2e "i" well for the ne7t two seasons on the new s&n"icate water! mi7e" with a few outings to #irch Gro'e
an" a se'eral weeks spent "eep in 97for"shire. Also! & that time 30" left m& ol" Lo at the "rinks factor&
an" ha" starte" working as $"itor for a new fisheries "irector&! so it seeme" there was alwa&s a new water
to 'isit Lust aroun" the corner. 2e "roppe" out of the s&n"icate at the eginning of this &earF the tra'elling
was getting too much. So a new challenge ha" to e foun". 2e0" "one plent& of scouting aroun" since the
eginning of the &ear ut nothing ha" reall& appeale" to us. There are plent& of holes in the groun" with
-.0s a chuck! ut to e honest! the&0re Lust not our ag. Throughout all this! 3 alwa&s knew 30" e ack on
the Top )ool one "a&! 3 sa& it aout a lot of waters! ut with the Top )ool it was personalE
Time was marching on an" we were still no nearer to fin"ing a sutle 'enue for the -..-;.G season. %&
goo" la"& ha" mentione" a craft fair she wante" to go to! which! it turne" out! was to e hel" on the same
estate that the Top )ool was situate" on 8 4mmmM Fate<
After an hour or so mooching aroun" the craft fair 3 think 1isa ha" ha" enough of me! as 3 was itching to
get "own to the lake to ha'e a look aroun". As 3 won"ere" "own to the lake 3 ha" a strange feeling come
o'er me! as if the Top )ool was reeling me in again.
As 3 ma"e m& wa& aroun" the ol" oathouse 3 coul"n0t help smiling as the water came into full 'iew 8 it
was still as reathtaking as e'er. 3 ma"e m& wa& up one of the ol" climing trees & the stile8swim to get a
etter look o'er the a& area! an" what was the first sight that greete" me< 8 The ig fat common 30" lost
"uring m& last session there some two &ears pre'iousE
Nee" 3 sa& more<
The seasons not long kicke" off! an" where ha'e we een e'er& weeken" since<
Bou guesse" it > ack on The Top )oolE
@ome s(eet home6
Just a couple of sessions in an" it seems as if we0'e ne'er een awa& from the place. The wee" prolem
has worsene" ?if that were at all possileE@ an" it0s still Lust a "ifficult as it alwa&s was. That sai"! we0'e
alrea"& ha" some promising earl& results! more in the ne7t piece.
)art - ?6eturn to the Top )ool! Septemer -..-@
#& Julian Gratti"ge
)art G ?Thoughts on #ait! Jul& -..G@
#& Julian Gratti"ge
)art H ?Top )ool Triumph an" #ack to #irch Gro'e! Septemer -..G@
#& Julian Gratti"ge
)art I ?2inter on Top )ool! April -..H@
#& Julian Gratti"ge
)art / ?The Top )oolF %ission Accomplishe"! August -..H@
#& Julian Gratti"ge
)art J ?6eturn to #irch an" Short Session Tactics! 9ctoer -..H@
#& Julian Gratti"ge
)art , ?Top )ool Swansong an" )astures New! Januar& -..I@
#& Julian Gratti"ge
)art + ?Surface Fishing A"'entures! %ackerel Skies an" %aresK Tails! Aug -..I@
#& Julian Gratti"ge
)art *. ?Surface Fishing A"'entures! New )ersonal #est > 3n 9ctoerEE! 9ctoer -..I@
#& Julian Gratti"ge
)art ** ?Surface Fishing A"'entures! 1ast Chance Saloon! %a& -../@
#& Julian Gratti"ge
Appendix
9nline 6etailers 9f Carp Fishing Tackle
www.fish&tec.co.uk > /ishtec 4ith +#tt @#yes2 $'er& ig name ran" going! with e7tremel&
competiti'e prices an" "eals all the time.
www.tre's8tackle.com > .re0s .#c,le2 1arge range of carp fishing tackle. The Fishrite range is especiall&
goo" for those starting out! or on a u"get.
www.tackleargain.com 8 .#c,le %#rg#ins2 Specialists in selling clearance lines! ulk an" one8off items.
Some real argains here.
www.fishing8"irect.com > @oo,ed .#c,le D %#it2 Specialist carp fishing shop carr&ing the est ran"s!
incl"ding !#it. Supplies to the UK onl&.
www.spe78H8less.com > &pexFLess2 )roal& the UK0s cheapest optician. %ost importantl&! the& suppl&
prescription pol#rised fishing gl#sses.
Visit our Discount Carp Fishing Equipment Pages
Copyright Anglers Net Ltd. 2006 www.AnglersNet.co.uk info@anglersnet.co.uk
The rights of James Giinson! Julian Gratti"ge! Garth #arnar" an" $lton %urph& to e i"entifie" as the
author of their respecti'e articles within this work ha'e een asserte" in accor"ance with the Cop&right!
(esigns an" )atents Act! *+,,.
First pulishe" in Great #ritain in -../ & Anglers0 Net 1t"! /+ The Thoroughfare! 2oo"ri"ge! Suffolk
3)*- *A4.
All rights reser'e". Apart from an& fair "ealing for the purposes of research or pri'ate stu"&! or criticism or
re'iew! as permitte" un"er the Cop&right! (esigns an" )atents Act *+,,! this pulication ma& not e
repro"uce"! store" or transmitte"! in an& forms or & an& means! onl& with the prior permission of the
pulishers or in the case of reprographic repro"uction in accor"ance with the terms an" licences issue" &
the Cop&right 1icensing Agenc&.
$n5uiries concerning repro"uction outsi"e these terms shoul" e sent to the pulisher at the ao'e email
a""ress.

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