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EXCLUSIVE THE NEW FORMATS RESHAPING MATCH FISHING

June 4, 2024 - £2.75 UK’S No1 FISHING MAGAZINE SINCE 1953

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MATCHMAN
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BRITAIN’S MOST TRUSTED VOICE IN FISHING
Des Taylor enjoys a
PAGE blissful spring day’s
48 angling on an
intimate tench lake.
IS THE CARP
RECORD STILL
RELEVANT?
F
OLLOWING the capture of
Waterside Fishery’s Big
Common at a weight of 68lb, the
likelihood of the British carp record
being broken soon would be an even
safer bet than Man United having a new
manager at the start of next season.
The current record stands at 68lb 1oz, a
mirror known as The Parrot caught from
the Wasing Estate syndicate in 2016.
But has the record lost some of its
magic? Particularly among the carp
fishing fraternity?
Once upon a time the carp record was
quite a clear-cut affair. But, with changes
in the ways in which fish are stocked and
grown on in certain venues, it’s no longer
the case that the biggest carp in the
country is classed as the record.
In recent years there have been
numerous fish caught at a heavier weight
JUNE 4, 2024
than the 68lb 1oz best, only to be
rejected by the British Record Fish
Committee due to factors surrounding
the weight at which they were stocked.
The romantic purist in me agrees with
this in a way. But the realist part of me
thinks that the record list should really
be a documentation of the biggest fish
caught on rod-and-line.
Often, the simplest solution is the best
and I feel, rightly or wrongly, that the
carp record has now become overly
complicated in a bid to hang on to what
is now a bygone era.
In this respect, carp fishing has in many
ways become a victim of its own success.
Fisheries have simply responded to the
demands of anglers who want to catch
bigger and bigger carp. There are no
rules prohibiting this, and it’s most likely
not a trend that’ll change any time soon,
judging by how busy these venues are.
So where does this leave the record fish
list in the future? Or is it something that’s
just destined to become irrelevant?
James Furness
Editor
BEST CATCHES
4 TOP STORIES After a slow start to spring,
big-tench anglers are finally filling their boots!
6 NEWS EXCLUSIVE We take a look at the new
formats changing the face of match fishing
8 TOP CATCHES Your best big fish celebrated
as we round up the week’s most notable catches
10 BIG WIN Going against the grain secures
Fish O’ final place for Ben Townsend
12 GET READY WITH... Frankie Gianoncelli helps
you catch more bream on the feeder
TOP TACKLE
14 BUYERS GUIDE We review nine great whips
to suit every angling style and budget
17 SUMMER HATS Headwear to help you stay
cool and protect yourself from the sun
18 ON OUR RADAR The best new products from
Prestons hitting tackle shop shelves this week
EXPERT ADVICE
22 MARTIN BOWLER If your angling’s lacking an
element of mystery, then try targeting eels
26 IF YOU TRY ONE THING Des Shipp reveals
why you should target empty pegs with a Method
28 ASK THE EXPERTS Our dedicated team of
top anglers help you catch more this weekend
30 RINGER TO THE RESCUE Steve looks at whether
it is ever worth starting a session in the margins
32 THE EDGE This week Rob Wootton shows how he
managed to get among some moody bream!
34 BAIT CLINIC Paul Garner details the secrets to
getting more bites with meat hookbaits
CARP SKILLS EXTRA
38 TOP CATCHES Some of the very biggest
and best carp to hit the bank this month
40 ADAM PENNING Get to grips with safely
extracting carp from snaggy swims
42 RIG OF THE MONTH Learn how to tie a
banded pellet rig for stalking carp in the margins
44 ROB HUGHES How locating fish patrol
routes can seriously boost your results
YOUR WEEK
48 DES TAYLOR Size is irrelevant when you’re
catching spring tench on the float
50 KINGFISHER CLUB Kids’ top catches
51 ARTHUR’S ARCHIVE Keith harks back to
when opening day brought chaos to tackle shops
52 LETTERS What’s on your minds this week
54 LAST CAST Pellet waggler fishing for carp
proves to be a frustrating business for our man!
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THIS WEEK
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW FROM THE WORLD OF FISHING
AT LAST, TENCH
TIME IS HERE!
Pair of 11lb fish cap a productive week for
fans of the nation’s favourite species
FTER what’s been a
A wet and slightly
dreary start to spring,
the big tench in many lakes
have finally got hard on the
feed, leading to a raft of
quality fish being reported
this week.
Specialist anglers have been
made to wait longer than
usual to capitalise on the
species’ annual pre-spawning
feed-up, but with a spell of
warmer weather finally
arriving, their fortunes have
changed. One of those to take
advantage was Norfolk angler
Stephen Gibbons. He was
targeting a stillwater in his
home county when he lured
an 11lb 4oz specimen using
three fake casters as hookbait.
“It’s a distinct fish, as it has
only one eye, and I’d taken
photos of it for someone else
two years ago,” he said. “I took
it from a gap in the weed
down the side of a long gravel
bar, where I’d fed maggots,
casters and small pellets. The
fish measured 26 inches long.”
Clarissa with
Ben Jones
(right).
4 June 4, 2024
CATCHES OF
THE WEEK
2024 – 2025 SEASON
Next up was Kevin Durman,
who also landed a tench of
11lb 4oz, but this time from a
Medway Valley gravel pit – an
area with a reputation for
producing some of the
country’s largest tincas.
“I fished over two mornings
and had eight fish in total,
another highlight being a
7lb 12oz male,” Kevin told us.
“In-line Korum grub feeders
fished with short hooklinks
did the trick, alongside
‘lobworm kebab’ hookbaits.
“I cast these over the back of Geoff Aspinall’s
a gravel bar at 60 yards, where tench of 9lb.
I fed hemp and 1mm and
2mm pellets.”
Geoff Aspinall was another
to take advantage of the
feeding spell, catching a fish
of 9lb exactly on fake corn.
“I’d seen a couple of tench
moving about, one of which
looked quite large, and I
managed this one after
casting a solid bag and corn
hookbait into the low-lying
Canadian pondweed at close
range,” he told us.
WALKER’S RECORD
SET TO FETCH £40K!
N A LANDMARK event September 1952, and its
I for lovers of angling
history, Dick Walker’s
iconic British Record carp,
capture kick-started a
seismic change in the sport,
inspiring a new generation of
Clarissa, is being sold at carp anglers.
auction this summer. It’s not surprising, then, that
The fish weighed 44lb when the cased specimen has been
landed from Redmire Pool in given a staggering auction

An 11lb 4oz
Kent fish for
Kevin Durman.
guide price of £35-40K.
“We’ve had some interest in
it already,” said Ben Jones, of
Mullock Jones Auctioneers,
who’ll be overseeing the sale.
“The auction will run from
July 24-25 and will be online,
although we can accept
telephone bids.
“It’s an important specimen,
mounted in a glazed bow-
fronted case with gilt writing
and border, set in a
naturalistic reed and gravel
setting. It was restored in
Stephen Gibbons
used fake casters
for this 11lb 4oz
specimen.
CATCHES OF
THE WEEK
2024 – 2025 SEASON
2011 and, although there are
five known cast replicas, this
is the original fish.”
Dick Walker caught the carp
using a breadpaste hookbait
with added crust to balance it
out and, after being caught,
Clarissa lived out the rest of
her days at London Zoo.
The fish stood as the British
Record for 28 years before
being beaten by Chris Yates’
51lb 8oz fish, known as The
Bishop, also caught from
Redmire, in 1980.
SCOTTISH
MATCH
RECORD
SMASHED!
WHEN we think of fishing in
Scotland, big match
weights don’t automatically
spring to mind. But that’s
all set to change after the
country’s record was
obliterated by over 100lb!
Matthew Threlfall claimed
the honours after weighing
in 276lb 10oz from Broom
Fisheries, Annan.
The previous best was
161lb, also from Broom
back in 2022, and that in
turn was beaten in the
recent record-breaking
match by Mark Acton, who
put 207lb 4oz on the scales.
Both weights came from
Bruce’s Acre lake, with
Matthew’s catch consisting
of carp taken on pellets.
10LB WILD ‘BROWNIE’
LANDED ON A 4FT ROD!
CATCHING a double-figure
wild brown trout is the holy
grail for many UK fly anglers,
and Damien Roberts has just
achieved feat by landing this
10lb 2oz fish... using a dinky
little 4ft 6in rod!
The Manchester angler took
the fish from the River Tame,
where his streamer pattern
fly was nailed by the fish
before it took off, nearly
spooling him in the process!
“As I had waders on, I
jumped in but went straight
A slightly shocked
Damien with the
remarkable fish.
“After establishing in
1995, we’ve put a huge
amount of effort into the
fishery, and these weights
are testament to that,”
owner, Carole Lloyd, told
us. “People travel from all
over to fish here, and since
we’re on the Scottish
border, we’re well-placed
for visitors.”
l For more information on
Broom Fisheries, which
also offers accommodation,
please visit www.
broomfisheries.co.uk
under, unable to touch the
riverbed!” said Damien, who
thankfully was fishing with
friends who hauled him out
and helped to land the fish.
“I was shocked by what was
lying in the net. It still hasn’t
really sunk in,” he added.
Regarding his rod choice,
Damien explained that was
down to the nature of the
venues he fishes. “These
rivers are small and snaggy,
so a longer rod would make
the fishing far more difficult.”
NEWS EXCLUSIVE

FACE OF MATCH
FISHING
Despite historically
struggling to evolve,
the match scene is
now booming, with
new ideas that are
proving a sensation.
What’s going on?
TTEMPTS to broaden
A the appeal of match
fishing have been
given a boost, following the
launch of a big-money
tournament with a brand
new format.
The competitive arm of the
sport has long been accused
of being one-dimensional –
match organisers have at
times seemed reluctant to
depart from the traditional
format of contests.
But that has changed
dramatically over the last
couple of years, as new faces
on the organisational side
strive to create events with a
difference – the aim being to
encourage new blood into
match fishing.
On The Flyer TV boss Gary
Rodgers has played a big part
in this transformation, several
innovative events being less out from the bank. prebaiting window before the with new ideas to make sure
included in the packed Working in collaboration starting whistle. that interest in the sport is
schedule of his making. with top match angler Nick Early interest has been maintained and non-match
The latest is the Commercial Speed, Gary is confident the strong, and Gary told Angling anglers are tempted to
Edge Master, an event at match will prove popular. Times: “It’s a completely fresh become involved.
Nottinghamshire’s Hallcroft Pencilled in for July 3, it will concept that really will level “Some concepts won’t work,
Fishery in which entrants are be fished between 3pm and the playing field. others will work brilliantly,
restricted to fishing a metre or 6pm, with a 20-minute “Your ability to handle a 16m but I am not afraid to try new
pole or cast long distances things, regardless of how
Top three in the won’t come into it, because quirky they may appear.”
Ultimate Fishing the short format, and the big Gary’s not alone in his
Competition. carp for which Hallcroft is determination to be creative.
famous, will give anyone who Capital Catch Competitions
lands on a few fish a chance recently hit the headlines
of winning. after it paid out £30,000 to the
“Match fishing as we know it winner of the Ultimate
has evolved tremendously Fishing Competition – a
over the past few years, and match where entry was
we must continue to come up gained via a raffle.

“Traditional big-money matches

have been dominated by the elite”
6 June 4, 2024

Gary Rodgers, man behind the
Commercial Edge Master event.
Company boss Mark
Pitchers has since revealed
that a feeder fishing version of
the tournament will go ahead
and pay out the same giant
pot. He said: “The traditional
big-money matches have been
dominated by the elite for a
long time, but we feel it’s
important to give anglers who
fall outside that category the
chance to win huge prizes.
“There’s been so much
positivity for match
organisers’ innovative
approach, but it’s important
that fresh ideas that excite
all anglers keep coming to
the table.”
The consensus is that new
competitions should be able
to live side-by-side with
events that kick-started the
big-money era.
Preston Innovations-backed
star Andy May is a former
Fish O’Mania champion, and
he agrees with these
sentiments.
In Commercial Edge Master,
anglers will be restricted to
fishing just a metre or less
out from the bank.
“Events such as Fish O’Mania
and Maver Match This have
been incredibly successful,
and I don’t see their appeal
waning any time soon,”
explained Andy.
“That said, there are some
anglers who don’t want to
take part in them, so putting
on matches with a different
spin will enhance the appeal
of this side of the sport.
“I was a spectator at the
Ultimate Fishing Competition
final, and so many entrants
were amazed at the money
they were fishing for, blown
away at the chance to win
such a large sum.
“New concepts will give
anglers who don’t necessarily
fit into the superstar category
a chance to create memories
that will last a lifetime.”
OTHER
DIFFERENT
MATCH
FORMATS
TAMAR CONTINENTAL PAIRS
The event involved two anglers
sharing a swim at Cornwall’s
Tamar Lakes, and the pair
with the biggest combined
weight winning. The concept
was designed to make match
fishing more social, as the
anglers sat just a couple of
metres apart.
FISHING ASSOCIATION F30
Eight anglers took part in a
round robin-style event, in
which each competed
one-on-one with another
entrant in a 30-minute match.
No keepnets were used, as
the number of fish caught was
the deciding factor. Two points
were handed out for a win, and
one for a draw.
Points were then added up
to crown the winner, once all
eight participants had fished
against each other.
‘ALL-IN MATCHES
In contests staged at East
Bilney Lakes, in Norfolk,
entrants would pay a £25 entry
fee and receive all their bait as
part of the deal.
The aim was to stop those who
could afford copious amounts
of bait dominating, since each
entrant was given the same
bait package and was unable
to use anything else.
MOORLANDS ADULT AND
JUNIOR PAIRS
A random draw decided which
adult a junior would pair up
with, giving them a chance
to team up with top anglers
including Grant Albutt and
former Fish O’Mania
champion Pete Black.
This format was widely
praised for sparking a
renewed enthusiasm in
junior match fishing.
June 4, 2024 7
 “A SESSION
HE’LL NEVER
FORGET” “IT WAS A BIG
Greg and Henry Lane –
rudd haul SURPRISE”
Matthew Malt and Lee Slips – 8lb tench
“MY 10-year-old son, Henry,
had a great early morning “ON a trip to Farlows Lake my mate Lee landed
session with me on a this 8lb tench.
Norfolk stillwater. “He was targeting carp at the time, using a
“Waggler fishing a Cell boilie on a size 6 hook, so the tench was
prebaited spot from our a big surprise! It came from a spot tight in the
boat with maggot and corn margin, right up against the reeds.
cocktails against the lily “Even though he was set up for carp, with
pads, we enjoyed hectic strong line and a stout rod, the fish still
action from the off after managed to put up a robust fight.”
our 5am start.
“I was so busy
landing, weighing and
photographing fish for
Henry that I didn’t even get
a chance to have a
cast myself!
“He managed two tench to
6lb 14oz, two bream around
the 4lb mark, and lots of
rudd – the biggest weighing
2lb 9oz – backed up by six “IT WOULDN’T GIVE UP!”
other two-pounders!
“It was his first session
Andy Holdaway – 8lb 15oz tench
“I WAS carp fishing on my local Buckinghamshire
when he really fished for
syndicate when I had a twitchy take on a rod I’d
himself, casting and playing
positioned by an island.
big fish, and is one he’ll
“I’d fed hemp, corn and crushed boilies there and, as I
never forget and, indeed,
played the fish, it seemed to give a stereotypical ‘bouncy’
may never better!”
tench fight. It was putting a good bend in the rod and
wouldn’t give up!
Henry’s top tip: You can land “That one weighed 8lb 15oz and is a new PB. I then put
quality fish on balanced tackle. the rod back on the spot and caught two more of
I used 4lb Maxima mainline and 8lb 11oz and 8lb 10oz.
a size 14 hook. “In addition, I managed seven carp to 33lb 9oz, in what
was a cracking session!”

8 June 4, 2024
 CATCHES OF
“A FISH I’LL REMEMBER FOR LIFE”
Luke Gilman – 28lb 12oz carp
THE WEEK
2024 – 2025 SEASON
“YESTERDAY I went back to the lake, where I started off
fishing for tench. After catching a few fish up to 2lb, I
noticed some carp cruising on the surface.
“I catapulted a few dog biscuits at them, getting them
feeding, and drifted my bread hookbait slowly around the
area. After three missed bites I finally hooked a fish, and
wow, did it go! Not far off 100 yards of line were taken
before it eventually stopped, and from that moment it was a
slow and steady retrieve. The fish moved in and out of weed,
but 15 nervy minutes later, it graced my net.
“It wasn’t until I weighed the common that I realised
how big it was! At 28lb 12oz, it’s a fish that I’ll definitely
remember for the rest of my life.”

Luke’s top tip: Keep a few dog biscuits or a bit of bread

in your bag this summer. You never know when a surface
fishing opportunity might arise!

HUGE EEL GIVES ‘BRUTAL’ FIGHT

Daniel Bouskila – 6lb 2oz eel
OVER recent weeks, Daniel Bouskila has enjoyed some sensational eel
fishing, landing two four-pounders. But on a recent three-hour session even
those fish were blown out of the water when he banked this 6lb 2oz beast.

“HE ABSOLUTELY LOVES IT”
Lennox and Matthew Fernandez
– 2lb 8oz crucian
“I VENTURED to my favourite local estate lake with
my son, Lennox, to partake in our favourite pastime –
crucian fishing.
“We caught heaps of fish, and Lennox landed
the biggest of the day in the shape of this 2lb 8oz
specimen. A light pole float fished by some pads in
the margin was the tactic, using a corn hookbait over
hemp, mixed pellets and groundbait.
“He’s six years old, but has been fishing with me
since he was three. He absolutely loves it!”
He’d arrived on a misty dawn at a southern gravel pit and found the swim
fizzing with eel activity. A bolt rig was his set-up of choice – a tactic that’s
risen in popularity over recent years for eels, as it vastly reduces the
chance of a deeply-hooked fish.
Using a 3oz inline lead, a short three-inch hooklink and a size 10 hook
baited with a big lobworm, he targeted a spot by a marginal weeping willow.
Shortly after under-arming his rig out, his rod ripped off and he connected
with what he instantly knew was a very good fish indeed.
A brutal fight ensued, but eventually he bundled the eel into the net. Not
bad for a short morning session!
HOW TO ENTER THE DRENNAN CUP
1 2
CATCH a big coarse fish by design. Take a DRENNAN picks its favourites. For your first award
picture (no blurred or altered backgrounds you win £80, plus a Drennan Weekly Winner’s cap and
please), and forward it to us. badge.

3
Lennox’s top tip: Sweet flavours are great for crucians.
We use Dynamite Baits F1 corn, which certainly worked the
oracle on the day.
AT the end of the season, readers pick their Running since 1985, the Drennan Cup is Britain’s No1
favourite catches, and the winning angler weekly catch competition which rewards anglers who
scoops a cool £2,000! target big coarse fish by design.

June 4, 2024 9
 UNFANCIED
TACTIC SECURES B I G
PLACE IN FISH O’ FINAL W I N
Ben Townsend’s decision to go slightly against
the grain works a treat at Makins Fishery
Fish O’Mania Qualifier,
Makins Fishery Phases One,
Two and Three
OP COMMERCIAL
T angler Ben Townsend
is no longer the ‘Fish
O’Mania Nearly Man’, having
at last secured a place in the
prestigious final.
The Matrix-backed star took
the glory against the odds at
Warwickshire’s Makins
Fishery, placing 202lb 2oz on
to the scales from peg B19 on
Lake Two to give him a crack
at the silverware in July.
It happened after he came
agonisingly close in previous
campaigns, falling 1lb short
on two earlier occasions, but
PRE-MATCH
PLAN
TARGET SPECIES: Carp
FEED/HOOKBAITS: Casters,
6mm and 8mm pellets
TACTICS: Short pole and
pellet, waggler and bomb
TARGET WEIGHT: 150lb
CONDITIONS: Mild with
spells of heavy rain
10 June 4, 2024
THE
there was no hard luck story leading up to it and they’d hours gone, this was starting
this time around as he relied caught reasonably well, so it to look like a match to forget.”
on a tactic that rarely gets a gave me confidence that there
look in at the complex. were fish in the area. TACTICAL SWITCH
Ben takes up the story about “Two big carp on pellet short “Andy Power was within
how he topped the field from
a peg that most felt had little
chance of producing the goods.
were a good start, but that
was my lot from then on, and
a switch to the waggler
viewing distance, and I could
see that he was catching
shallow on the long pole.
produced nothing. A look on “Most anglers who fish
SHAKY START the bomb produced just one shallow at Makins use pellets,
“I’ve fished Makins quite a lot fish and, with a couple of but I have huge confidence in
recently, but I’d never been on
Lake Two before,” he said.
“Everyone said that my peg
was a bit of a no-hoper, but I
wasn’t swayed by previous
form and still went into it
positively, with the aim of at
least winning the lake.
“I know a couple of lads who
had fished it in the days Loosefeeding casters was the key... ... with a red hard pellet hookbait
BEN
DREW
HERE
“When I dropped a rig over the
top, they were there waiting...”
loosefeeding casters with a
6mm red pellet on the hook,
so I decided to go against the
grain and try that.
“I fed it for half-an-hour, and
when I dropped a rig over the
top, they were there waiting.
This was the start of a brilliant
spell, and I put around 100lb
of carp in the net in the next
90 minutes.
“The swim died off for a
while, but it came back to life
in the final hour, although the
fish were skittish, and you’d
catch only two or three before
they vanished again.
“Come the final whistle I
knew I’d done well, and I
thought I had around 180lb.
“With Andy Power admitting
to 170lb, I knew there was a
chance I’d beaten him, but
then rumours of 200lb-plus
weights began to circulate and
dampen the mood a little.”
ANXIOUS WAIT
“Once I’d weighed 202lb 2oz, I
didn’t think it was quite going
to be enough, but after what
felt like a lifetime, the results
were in, and it turned out talk
of 200lb-plus weights
elsewhere were a wind-up!
“It’s a final I’ve wanted to be
involved in for a long time,
and I’m delighted to have
finally got there. Westwood
Lakes isn’t too far from home,
and I’ll be getting plenty of
practice in before the big day.
“It’s a style of fishing that
suits me, and I’ll be working
hard to get my tactics right in
time for the big day.”
WINNING RIG
“Feeding lots of casters often
leads to the surface erupting
with carp, but I didn’t see any
fish activity at all.
“I found that fishing 2ft deep
was best, using a rig with a 3ft
length of line between
pole-tip and float so that I
could flick the rig around the
Ben with just
part of his
double ton catch.
feed zone. With the carp
averaging 7lb, I couldn’t afford
to mess around on the tackle
front. I needed them in
quickly to help build a weight.
“I used a grade 16-18 Matrix
Slik elastic and 0.23mm
mainline to a 0.20mm
hooklength and a size 14
MXC-4 hook.
“My float was a 0.3g Matrix
Carp Shallow, with a bulk of
shot at mid-depth.
“The fish have been very
cagey at most venues recently
because spawning hasn’t long
finished, and natural baits
work best when the carp are
in this type of mood.
“I’m convinced that piling
the casters in was the key to
getting me over the line and
into the final.”
THE RESULT
1 B Townsend, Matrix, 202-2-0;
2 B Richards, 181-9-0; 3 A Power,
Preston Innovations, 178-14-0;
4 D Ludgate, 169-1-0; 5 S Openshaw,
Lingmere, 159-7-0; 6 J Danby,
Dynamite Baits, 148-13-0.
IN BRIEF
PAZ TAMES TUNNEL
A FIELD of 124 anglers
fished the Tunnel Barn
Farm Over-50s Festival,
which was won by Steve
Parry. The Guru-backed
star secured a perfect
score at the Warwickshire
complex, winning his
section three days in a row
for a total of 354lb 15oz.
Another three anglers
won their section at each
attempt. Second overall
on weight countback was
Steve Daley on 345lb 8oz.
BIG WEIGHT SEALS
WESTON TITLE
THE LATEST festival at the
prolific Weston Pools was
decided on total weight, and
won by James Howarth.
Peg 16 on Canal Pool was
his home for the first day
of the Guru Weigh Master
event, and he got off to a
solid start by putting
111lb 5oz in his nets as
Niall Evans topped the pile
with 130lb 9oz.
James then sealed a
reasonably comfortable
victory with a 126lb 1oz
haul from peg 4 on Stretton,
giving him a 256lb 10oz
total. Second overall was
Mark Calvert on 219lb 13oz.
FERRY MEADOWS
ON FIRE
CAMBRIDGESHIRE bream
fishing hotspot Ferry
Meadows was in fine
form for the latest Feeder
Masters qualifier as the top
three shared over 200lb of
bream between them.
NuFish-backed angler
Sam Collett came out on
top, using cage feeder
tactics at reasonably short
range to find 74lb 14oz
of slabs from peg 4 on
Overton Lake.
Second went to Matt
Wright on 71lb 4oz, with
Phil Bardell’s 62lb 6oz
completing the frame.
All three won their 20-peg
zone too, which hands
them a place in this year’s
prestigious final.
June 4, 2024 11
G E T R E A D Y W I T H
FRANKIE
GIANONCELLI
CATCH MORE BREAM ON THE FEEDER
EEDER fishing for
F silverfish has
progressed in leaps
and bounds in recent years.
There are quite literally
dozens of types of feeder on
the market and, with an
extensive range of
groundbaits, hookbaits and
G IV E IT A G O
1KICK-START
THE SESSION
Five bait-up feeders full of
groundbait go in on each line at
the start. If I feel particles are
needed to hold the fish, I can
always introduce some later.
An even mix of Mainline Match F1
Dark and F1 Sweet groundbait
is packed with goodies that the
bream can’t resist.
12 June 4, 2024
terminal tackle items also
aimed at this style of fishing,
choosing what you need can
become a bit of a minefield.
I am a big believer in
keeping things simple,
though, and it’s often a case
of using a simple running or
helicopter rig before making
2LETDICTATE
STOCKS
TARGET ZONES
On waters where 10 quality
fish or more are likely, I aim to
concentrate them in one spot
in the deepest water. On more
challenging venues, two areas
are primed, with separation
between them. Having two lines
allows you to nick fish from one
while giving the other a rest.
tweaks throughout the session
in order to keep you in touch
with the fish.
Select a few hookbaits, and a
groundbait that has proven
form on your venue, and be
prepared to act accordingly
when any run of bites starts to
peter out.
3WINDOW
FEEDERS RULE
Window feeders let me introduce
groundbait in different ways
– sloppy, to create a cloud, or
stiffened up to ensure it gets to
the bottom and seeps out slowly.
Use a feeder heavy enough to hit
the target zone and build a bed
of bait, rather than leaving small
piles all over your peg.
GET SET FO
R
WEEKEND W THE
WINNING E ITH
DGE
FROM TOP S
ANGLERS
4SPOT EVERY
BITE WITH BRAID
Braid’s lack of stretch magnifies
bites, so every indication
registers on the tip. I use
0.08mm Guru Pulse8, which is
extremely strong and supple.
My hooklength is 2ft-2ft 6ins of
0.13mm mono to a size 14 hook,
to put the hookbait the optimum
distance away from the feeder.

FISH & STAY GUIDE
Here are a selection of fantastic venues offering
you an enjoyable fishing holiday in 2024!
FISHERY
FOCUS High Bentham, North Yorkshire LA2 7FJ
Riverside Caravan Park at High Bentham in North
Yorkshire is a magnet for fishermen. It has fishing
rights for a mile on both sides of the River Wenning,
annually stocked in the spring with all sizes of brown
trout and boasting a good run of salmon and sea
trout from the end of July to the close of season. A
well-stocked lake features a variety of carp, rudd,
roach and perch with 12 equally spaced pegs and an
T: 015242 61272 E: info@riversidecaravanpark.co.uk W: www.riversidecaravanpark.co.uk
Burton Springs Holidays / Fishing
Contact: 01278 732135
email: burtonsprings@yahoo.co.uk
www.burtonsprings.co.uk
Set at the foothills of the Quantocks in the beautiful
Somerset countryside, with plenty of wildlife. We offer
a truly relaxing holiday. ‘Alder Pool’ is perfect for some
pleasure day fishing. We also offer overnight fishing
on our specimen carp lake. Glamping pods, camping
grass pitches and caravan/motorhome hardstanding,
electric hook up and toilet /shower facilities onsite.
TO ADVERTISE
IN OUR FUTURE FEATURES
PLEASE CONTACT
VICTORIA MOORHOUSE
TEL: 01733 979452
abundance of natural foliage.
Aside from the fishing, from this one base you can
explore the Yorkshire Dales, The Lake District and
the Forest of Bowland - perfect for lovers of walking,
cycling, caving and climbing. Bentham Golf Course is
nearby for challenging golf with stunning views.
The picturesque independent family run caravan
park has a first-class reputation, offering grass, hard
Luccombes Fishery Holidays
Contact: 01392 833571 / 07510 545283
info@luccombes-fishery.co.uk
www.luccombes-fishery.co.uk
Access to 5 pleasure fishing ponds stocked with
Tench, Carp, Crucians, Bream, Perch, Roach and
Rudd. Look no further for a relaxing fishing break
or a base to explore Devon’s countryside and
Jurassic Coastline. Onsite tackle shop and cafe,
open April to October. Located just outside Exeter
and a short drive to Dawlish, Exmouth and Torquay.
ADVERTISING FEATURE
standing and fully serviced pitches with pristine
facilities for tourers as well as self-catering holiday
cottages and holiday homes for sale.
High Bentham is a 10-minute walk
from the site, offering pubs, cafes,
shops and takeaways.
Reepham Fishery and Holiday
Accommodation
Contact: Kellie & Rick Broadway
f: reephamfisheryandholidayaccommodation
www.reephamfishery.co.uk
Fishing, Self Catering Accommodation and
Touring caravan area, Toilet block inc
disabled toilet, Touring area, Dog Friendly,
Parking, Beach and various activites
within our North Norfolk Location.
Clawford Lakes
Contact: 01409 678018
www.clawfordlakes.co.uk
Clawford Lakes Resort in Holsworthy is under
half an hour from Bude and features a bar &
restaurant, luxury spa with indoor pool and free
of charge water sports. Accommodation includes
lodges, lake pods, floating lodges and more.
There are 17 lakes well-stocked with roach, rudd,
bream, perch, tench and carp up to 36½ lb.
JUNE 4, 2024 13
 TACKLE GUIDE
GET ON THE WHIP! 9 great poles to suit every style and budget

SYSTEM WHIPS
Made for use at multiple lengths with either elastic or a flick tip,
these are the most versatile whips on the market. They’re great for
catching big weights of small fish, or fishing to hand for better quality
fish when long lining on rivers.

CADENCE
CP200 WHIPS
DESIGNED mainly for
Convenient
river fishing, where elastic
longer whips are tensioning
becoming a necessity,
yet tough enough when Light and
elasticated for fishing
easy to
pole-to-hand-style.
Unusually, the entire DRENNAN ACOLYTE pack away
top-5 is telescopic.
During testing, Cadence PRO WHIPS
A GREAT value system whip that
found this resulted in a
stronger and improved
action. The whip can be
can be bought at 6m, 8m or 10m,
on its own or in packages that DAIWA AIR
bought at 6m or 9m, and
additional top-3 kits and
include an additional top-3. Each
top-3 is telescopic, and comes SYSTEM WHIPS
A VERSATILE, premium quality
top-5 kits can also be with a flick tip, and the correctly
sized bush and plugs to allow system whip, ideal for both to-hand
purchased. or semi-shortlining. Weighing just
you to elasticate the No2 section.
Price: 6m £175.99, 280g at 8m, it features a telescopic
The second kind of plug
9m £318.99, top-5 top-3 with a solid carbon flick tip and
included is adjustable, with a
£98.99, top-3 £43.99, take-apart sections below.
bead to change the tension of
www.cadencefishing. It comes with two hollow telescopic
your elastic without cutting it.
co.uk top-3 kits for light elastic set-ups up
After the top-3, all other sections
are put together and numbered. to a No6. Extensions to 9m and 10m
Price: 6m from £178.99, can be added, while maintaining a
Telescopic 8m from £268.99, 10m from slim, responsive profile. As a bonus,
all 10m of it will pack inside itself.
top-5 kit for £374.99, www.drennantackle.
Price: 8m package £635,
com
versatility 9m extension £150, 10m extension
£150, www.daiwasports.co.uk

14 June 4, 2024
 TELESCOPIC WHIPS
Less adaptable, but often giving a better
action than a system whip, these fixed
length whips are for catching large
numbers of small fish at speed without
elastic, by using the supplied flick tip.

PRESTON
INNOVATIONS
RESPONSE WHIPS
A SUPER-SLIM design matched
to a solid carbon flick tip makes
these ideal for catching high
volumes of silverfish at speed.
The top end is soft and
forgiving, while the lower end is
far stiffer, giving great balance
and control along with excellent
Great for fish-cushioning properties.
silverfish Price: 3m £64.99, 4m £79.99,
at speed 5m £94.99, www.
prestoninnovations.com

DAIWA
CONNOISSEUR PRO BUDGET WHIPS
SPEED WHIPS Great for beginners or anglers on a tight budget.

LIGHT and crisp in the hand,

this stunning range of quality DRENNAN
telescopic whips will cover
everything from short-range VERTEX
gudgeon and bleak snatching
right through to longlining for
WHIPS
TWO brand new,
roach and dace.
ready-to-fish
Each whip has a blended
telescopic whips
solid carbon flick tip, and top
in 3m and 4m
Daiwa technologies such as
lengths, ideal for
V-Joint, X45 Bias and HVF
beginners.
Nanoplus carbons.
Each whip
Available in 2m, 2.5m, 3m,
comes with a
3.5m, 4m, 4.5m, 5m and 6m.
An 8m and 10m system whip
whip connector
GURU
is also available under the
Connoisseur name.
pre-fitted, a
pole hookup for LEEDA CONCEPT GT A-CLASS
Price: 2m £49.99, 2.5m
£54.99, 3m £59.99, 3.5m
retaining the rig
when not being WHIPS
EXCEPTIONAL value, each whip WHIPS
used on the bank, THESE 3m and 4m
£64.99, 4m £74.99, 4.5m a pre-tied rig and a comes with a rig and a disgorger.
£84.99, 8m system whip £225, Choose from 3m, 4m or 5m lengths, carbon whips come
disgorger. with a ready-tied
www.daiwasports.co.uk The rig features all telescopic with a pre-attached
eye for fitting your rig. rig incorporating a
a 0.8g Carp 7 float 0.5g Mike Wilkinson
with 4lb mainline, For slightly more experienced
anglers, or those targeting larger Carbon Pinger float.
3lb hooklength and Fully telescopic,
a size 16 Silverfish fish, the longer two whips can also
be bought ready elasticated. a sliding collar
Pellet hook – connector comes
perfect for fishing Price: 3m £10.99, 4m £14.99,
5m £17.99, elasticated 4m £17.99, pre-fitted to the end
smaller baits on for quick and easy
commercials. elasticated 5m £20.99, www.leeda.
co.uk rig attachment.
Price: 3m £24.94, Price: 3m £14.99,
4m £29.95, www. 4m £16.99,
drennantackle. www.tackleguru.
com com

June 4, 2024 15
    


Fishermen’s     
    
Package 

Fishing 

HOLIDAYS  
 
In the heart of the Fens
 
HOME TO SOME OF THE BEST
KNOWN AND WELL STOCKED   
 
FISHING LAKES ON THE NORFOLK
/ CAMBRIDGESHIRE BORDER
 


­
 
• Comfortable fully furnished
holiday accommodation 
• Peaceful countryside setting
�)XOO\VWRFNHG´VKLQJODNHV
­ €‚ƒ
�PRQWK´VKLQJVHDVRQ
• Ideal base for exploring
• Dogs welcome
• Great food 5 minutes walk away

DAWN TO DUSK FISHING

INCLUDED IN
THE PRICE

01354 776233 For more information

or to book your stay
Bedford Bank West,
Welney, Wisbech
visit our website today   
Cambridgeshire, PE14 9RJ
acornholidaypark.co.uk „ † ‡ ˆ†ˆ

ROOKERY WATERS
Fen Road, Pidley, Cambs PE28 3DF

TOURING PITCHES WITH PRIVATE SWIM

• Pitches surround the lake

• All pitches come with private swim in front
• Electric, water and WiFi on Pitch
• Hard and grass pitches available
• On-site tackle shop
£24-26 • On-site café
PER
NIGHT

Fishing day tickets £9 adult £7 concessions (fish 7am-10pm)

Please call 07824 878492

to speak to our experienced staff for all enquiries
www.rookerywaters.co.uk
8 OF THE BEST SUMMER HATS Remain cool, comfortable and well protected from the sun

OMC SPLASH LEAF

BUCKET HAT
Made from a water-repellent material that
ensures liquids slide straight off it, this
fully-rimmed hat is just as great on wet
days as it is on hot sunny ones. Fitted with
an internal sweat band, it’s available in
58cm and 61cm sizes.
Price: £19.99, www.omctackle.com

PRESTON
INNOVATIONS
WHITE MESH CAP
This cap’s bright white
colour reflects light to
reduce heat, and the mesh
rear provides maximum
ventilation. There is smart
Preston branding on the
peak and front, while the
sizing is adjusted by a
Velcro strap to the rear.
Price: £10.99, www.
prestoninnovations.com
DAIWA BUCKET
CAMO HAT
A stylish bucket style hat in a
one- size-fits-all design. Subtle
Daiwa branding on the front and
label tab are the only breaks in
the exclusive camo patterning. A
semi-rigid all-round peak gives
great protection from the sun to
both the skin and eyes.
Price: £11.99,
www.daiwasports.co.uk
NASH SCOPE
MESH SNAP
BACK CAP
With cool vented rear
panels with stripped-
back camo patterning,
and Scope compass
detailing on the front, this
cap is both stylish and
comfortable when carping
in the heat. A snap-back
strip at the rear allows for
KORDA
precise size adjustment. WATERPROOF
Price: £15.99,
www.nashtackle.co.uk BOONIE HAT
A lightweight sun hat
with a classic look and
an all-round brim, with
the added bonus of being
waterproof. Available in
Digi Camo and Olive, there
is an adjustable cord for
sizing. All profits from
sales go to the Lennox
Children’s Cancer Trust.
Price: £14.99,
www.kordatackle.com

MATRIX HEX PRINT BASEBALL CAP

Sleek and stylish hex-print designs feature Matrix branding in choices
of white, grey or black. The cap has eyelet vents, and is made from 100
per cent polyester for comfort, while the hook-and-eye sizing strap at
the rear has a Matrix branded grime-resistant rubber puller.
Price: £13.99, www.fishmatrix.co.uk

FORTIS REVERSIBLE
BUCKET HAT
If you regularly find yourself
unable to decide between
a camo or olive green look,
then this reversible bucket
hat is for you! As well as
providing full protection from GURU TRUCKER CAP
the sun, there are elasticated Choose between two fetching
sunglasses retainers on each designs in white or grey. Both have
side to stop your sunnies a solid front and peak section,
falling off. It comes in two with a free-flow mesh at the sides
sizes – S/M and L/XL. and back for maximum cooling air
Price: £19.99, flow. An adjustable fit means one
www.fortiseyewear.com size will cater for all.
Price: £14.99,
www.tackleguru.com

June 4, 2024 17
 NS SPECIAL
PRESTON INNOVATIO

ON OUR
RADAR
Our pick of the latest
goodies to hit the bank

PRESTON
INNOVATIONS
LARGE DURA SLIP
CATAPULT The ideal
WHAT THEY SAY:
catapults for long-range
tactics with baits such as
pellets. Featuring a heavier
grade of Dura Slip Elastic,
this catapult is reliable
and twist-free – perfect for
continual use in matches.
It features a patented
PTFE bush anti-tangle
design, a lightweight
moulded pouch with fixed
cord, and a quick-change
elastic system.
It’s available for use
with medium/heavy and
heavy/X-heavy elastics.
WHAT WE SAY: Given
how popular the Dura Slip
catapults have been since
their release last year, it
was only a matter of time
before Preston Innovations
bought out a big version for
long-range waggler, bomb
and feeder tactics.
Price: £11.99
PRESTON
INNOVATIONS
HARDCASE ROD SAFE
The ultimate
WHAT THEY SAY:
item of luggage for storing and
transporting rods and poles, the
Rod Safe is made with a Hardcase
outer shell, providing protection
while also being easy to maintain.
On one side, EVA dividers and a
deep reel storage area allow the
angler to store up to four made-up choosing to use the Rod Safe as a It’s now possible to carry a pole
rods with ease, and the other half
of the holdall is perfect for holding
dedicated rod-only holdall.
WHAT WE SAY: There are now
and four made-up rods together –
everything you need for a match
up to three pole butt sections or several of this style of rod case on or session, all in one case.
landing net handles, distance the market, but this is the first we Price: £164.99,
sticks and spare quivertips if have seen that can take poles too. www.prestoninnovations.com
shot or Stotz placement on a taut line.
PRESTON INNOVATIONS There are also removeable pins which can be
RIG STATIONWhen it comes to rig screwed in for hook tying. This rig-making area
is ideal for use at home, or for taking to festivals
WHAT THEY SAY: where you may need to make rigs on the hoof.
preparation, this new product stores and WHAT WE SAY: A dedicated rig-making station
dispenses all the essential materials needed, complete with a ruler, foam float holder, and even
such as line, shot, floats, hooks and other small a tray for loose shot.
accessories such as silicone float attachments. Best of all, it just folds away for when the family
A ruled area down the centre has a pin and need the dining room table back!
clamp arrangement which is perfect for pinpoint Price: £59.99

Fishing Insurance
Specialist cover – choose from 3 policy types to suit you!

18 June 4, 2024
PRESTON INNOVATIONS
40L BUCKETTwo
AND 13L BUCKET SET
new buckets that make groundbait storage,
WHAT THEY SAY:
preparation and transportation simple. Smaller than standard 17-litre
buckets, the 13-litre bucket set is the perfect size for mixing smaller
quantities of groundbait and storing live baits such as maggots. The

Fishing
useful clip-on lid helps keep out any unwanted rain during the session.
A smaller bowl (included) can be used on a side tray, and can be neatly
stored inside the bucket when not in use. At the other end
of the scale, the huge two-handled 40-litre bucket is just
the ticket for mixing up the large volumes of groundbait

Insurance
sometimes required on natural waters. Both are
suitable for use with a drill and whisk.
WHAT WE SAY: Size matters when it comes to
groundbait buckets. These two fill the need anglers
have for bigger or smaller buckets better than the
standard 17-litre size.
Price: 40l £25.99,
13l set £19.99 Catch a reel deal with an
award-winning Insurer!

PRESTON INNOVATIONS DURA CARP

FEEDER AND APELLET WAGGLER RODS
range of rods designed to meet the demands of
WHAT THEY SAY:
modern commercial fishing. All models feature a progressive through
action, ideal for targeting hard-fighting fish. Four carp feeder models
in 9ft, 10ft, 11ft and 12ft cover all the distances commonly required on
commercial and natural venues.
Two float models, at 10ft and 11ft, cover short- and longer-range pellet
waggler fishing with a variety of sizes of floats.
WHAT WE SAY: A replacement for the highly popular Ignition range,
these new rods are notably crisper in their action, while still retaining
a very pleasing price point.
Price: £44.99 - £64.99

PRESTON INNOVATIONS
RIVER FLOATS
A brand-new set
WHAT THEY SAY:
of high-quality floats, designed to
cover all running line float tactics
on rivers.
The Alloy Hollow Stick Float is
stable and easy to control, best
suited to fishing close to the bank
or in a steady flow. Available in four
sizes from 4 x No4 to 12 x No4.
Designed for deep flowing
water, the Carbon Bolo has a highly visible hollow tip and a balsa body,
and comes in 2g, 3g, 4g, 5g and 6g weights.
Great for fast-flowing shallow pegs when seeking out chub and barbel,
the Dumpy Balsa Waggler can also be used when shallow fishing on SPECIAL 5% OFF
stillwaters. PROMO CODE: WHOPPER99
Last up is a set of Peacock Wagglers, available in straight and more Not available in conjunction with any other promo code,
ends 31/12/2023
sensitive insert versions, both sized from 2AAA – 6AAA.
WHAT WE SAY: A simplified set of floats that even the river novice
can quickly get their head around. Modern paints and hollow tips are
matched with traditional balsa and peacock quill materials. Visit theinsurancemporium.co.uk/AT99
Price: All £2.25
or call 03300 244 086 today!
 stillwater TA2719

Vader X RS Esox Piker Deadbait Rod

12ft Carp Rods Beast X Pike 12ft 3lb 2pc

£49 £75 £49.99

SO0652
SO0653
3lb
3.25lb £30 SP3811 PU11087 9ft 2.75lb 3pc
+ Get the rod and
a Shimano ST RB
10000 Baitrunner
£105
U126STI

Defender Carp Rods

®

Catch Carp 12ft 3lb Carp Rod stillwater

Sigma Supra Saracen Black Widow TT

JR0632 10ft 3lb 2pc £52.00
£25 PU5797
12ft 1.5lb
Barbel Rod
Pike Combo
12ft 3lb 2pc + Lineaffe
6000 Biterunner with line
DW9764 1.5lb
JR0634
JR0635
11ft 3lb 2pc
12ft 2.75lb 2pc
£56.00
£56.00 Combo Tech Carp Combo 12ft 2.75lb SP4108 U117STI
DW9765

FOR ONLY
1.75lb

JR0637 12ft 3lb 2pc £60.00

.99
JR0639
JR0640
JR0641
12ft 3.25lb 2pc
13ft 3.5lb 2pc
13ft 5.5lb Spod 2pc
£64.00
£78.00
£75.00 £50 SV16890
£34 £84
l l l l l l

Aerlex 10000 GT2 Carp Sensor Spin Combo

XTB Reels From Only Stalker Rod From Only
From Only
£65 6ft 2.75lb 1pc
£31.99
£79 SU6763 2500 FB £65
GR2740

£40
SU6764 4000 FB £70 DW11579 7ft 10-30g 2pc £34.99
SU9523 XTB £80 SU6765 6000 RB £75 DW11581 7ft 10-30g Tele £31.99
SU9524 XTB Spod £79 SU6762 10000 RB £75 DW11580 8ft 15-40g 2pc £36.99

stillwater
l l l

Specialist Jaw J2 101

Reel & Mono From Only 12ft Barbel XTND+ 12ft Left Hand
Rods 1.75lb Rod
From Only
£80
£15 SU8064 2500 FB
SO0559
1.75lb 2pc £40.00
PR8162

TA2541
TA2542
4000
6000
SU8065
SU8066
SU8067
4000 FB
6000 RB
10000 RB
SO0560
2.00lb 2pc £40.00 £35 SV22139

stillwater

Sigma Specimen Landing Net Head Cocoon 42” Day&Night Seat Box
From Only Landing Net Float Case Rucksack
£8.00
SP3774 50” £12.00
JR0344
Waggler Set
Contains
4 light sticks.
Pack
TX6243
For Only
SP3775 42” £11.00

£39.99
For Only
SP3776
SP3777
36”
30”
£9.00
£8.00 £50 £5.99 CJ0618 £29.99 MI3640

3 Rod Armour BAT Bite Sigma Match Net Omni Landing

Alarm From Only
Agility Net Handles
Rod Pod Net
£7.99 £7
£22.99 YY4944
TA2839 3x + Case
TA2840 Single
£24.99
£7.99 £15 SV18085
SP3779 60x50cm
SP3780 50x40cm
£8.00
£7.00 £14 SP3684
PU3611 Tele 2m
PU3612 Tele 3m
PU3617 Take Apart 3m

Keepnets Bundle
2.2m Tilting Iconic Rod 600D Carryalls 2x Middy Baggin’
Machine 9ft Carp-Sack

Fishing with PVC Umbrella Bag 3 Rod

Fast-Dry Keepnets

with Adj Height 1x Middy SupraDry 20”

Shelter Windows & Tilt Mechanism Holdall 1m Spoon Landing Net

1x Middy MX-Series
3NT Pro EVA Tray Bag

YY4488 YY4490 £29.99 YY3067 £15 DM3122

YY3244
YY3243
Camo
Green
£28.99
£23.99 £99 MI3843

stillwater
G E T M O R E T H A N Y O U PAY F O R

Adjustable Leg Folding T-Bar

Classic Fishing Chair Fishing Chair SO1012

£44.99 YY5053 £34.99 TA2751 £19 TA2526 £14

ZZZÀVKLQJPHJDVWRUHFRP Mail-Order Hotline: 0141 212 8880
 Mega Super Sale
Unit 1 The Point Retail Park, 29 Saracen Street, Glasgow, G22 5HT
Online & In-Store
GLASGOW: 0141 212 8880
CHECK OUT THOUSANDS
Edinburgh OF AMAZING DEALS
& SAVE ££££
Unit E Granton Retail Park, West Harbour Road, Edinburgh, EH5 1PW
EDINBURGH: 0131 202 6351
ORDER ONLINE
Mail-Order Hotline: 0141 212 8880 www.fishingmegastore.com

Omni Feeder Rods

Superteam Impact R Coarse Firebird Feeder
Pole 11.5m 7m Fishing Outfit Rod and Reel
£25
SP4081 8ft

+ 100cm Ext Putover Pole LD10350 12ft Combo SP4080 9ft SP4078 11ft
SP4079 10ft SP4077 12ft
SP4279 PU6481
For Only Omni Match Rod
.99
£140 £30 £49 £30 SP3813

l l l £22 SP4104 11ft

Sienna Front Drag Reels Omni Specialist Rods

6m Pole .99
£39 £55 For Only
DM2453 SU14146
SU14147 2500FG
SU14148
SU14149
PU10696
PU10697
PU10698
PU10699
1000S
2000S
2000SH
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 A LITTLE NIGHT
NCREASINGLY, I need
I to retain some
element of mystery in
my angling – I sorely miss
the naivety of childhood, and

FEVER WITH EELS

the wonder that came with it.
Maybe that’s why I’m drawn
more every year to species and
places that rekindle the magic
of old, and why I enjoy my
spring salmon fishing so much.
If ever you feel you are just fishing to a formula, why not Alas, this year it wasn’t to be.
try tangling with this most enigmatic of species? The west of the country

22 June 4, 2024

seemed set on returning to
Atlantis, and my beloved River
Wye overflowed with
chocolate-coloured water.
That was good for the salmon
running upriver, but bad news
for anglers. But the beauty of
being an all-rounder is that, as
one door shuts, another opens
– in my case, leading to the
pursuit of eels.
The species has grown on
me, providing I’m not fishing
THE JOY
OF FISHING
WITH MARTIN BOWLER
Eels can swim backwards,
so a big net is essential!
waters overrun with
‘bootlaces’, so I was looking
forward to my first trip. I do
wonder if spring, as is the case
with catfish, is the prime time
to catch them – when the
natural food larder is low.
Soon, the weed will be
crawling with life, and fish
spawn will be abundant, so
maybe my early offerings are
Continued over the page
June 4, 2024 23
I regard a big
eel as a thing
of beauty.

far more likely to be singled
out. At least, that’s what I was
telling myself as I loaded up
the van at 6pm.
There was no rush, as I’d be
fishing locally, but a mild night
with temperatures in double
figures was forecast, so I was
filled with anticipation by the
time I arrived by the waterside
at 6.30pm.
Barrow loaded, I headed for a
swim where I'd never before
Swan mussels
form part of
a big eel’s
natural diet.
caught an eel, but which had
always given me a good vibe.
There was a clear gravel area
straight out in front of me and
an entrance to a small bay on
my right.
The first rod I put up was for
floatfishing because, although
I had prawns as bait, I wanted
some small rudd too. I was
able to put a dozen of these
into the bucket with very little
effort.
Now it was time to tackle up.
My pair of 2½lb test curve
carp rods were armed with
reels loaded with 20lb sinking
mono. Terminal tackle
consisted of a short length of
tubing and a Nash running
lead clip, followed by a swivel
and a short six-inch
hooklength with a section of
stiff rig tubing mounted
between float stops to create a
‘twig rig’.
This was the brainchild of
legendary eel angler Barry
McConnell, and is designed to
prevent deep hooking. The
stiff plastic stops the bait being
swallowed. I’d be using either
half a lip-hooked dead rudd, or
a cooked prawn.
The best way I’ve found to
mount prawns is to thread one
on to a size 4 Nash Chod
Twister hook and whip it in
place on the shank using bait
elastic. This stops the prawn
slipping round on to the bend
during the cast, ensuring the
hookpoint always remains free
in the process.

Finally came the weight or, in
this case, a 4oz blockend
feeder – purposely heavy to
give a bolt effect, should I be
lucky enough to get a take.
As the sun dipped, my
confidence rose along with the
moon, and I imagined the eels
– hidden away in nooks and
crannies – beginning to stir as
darkness approached.
Prior to casting, I stuffed the
feeders with herring flesh,
which would ooze oil all
night… a little more exotic
than the swan mussels paving
the lakebed, but something I
“I stared into the mesh... 5lb 3oz
of eel swayed from side to side”
hoped would prove irresistible
to eels, given my quarry’s
incredible sense of smell.
The rudd head targeted a
clearing in the middle of the
lake, while the prawn would
cover the bottom of the
marginal shelf. Now I just
needed to attach the bobbins
and turn on the bite alarms.
As I was fishing off slack
clutches, it would seem to
passers-by that I was carp
fishing, but this was a far more
primeval pursuit. The eel
cannot be hunted down by a
drone, and no rig or bait can
guarantee its capture – a good
thing, in my book.
Now it was dark I could relax,
and that’s another thing I like
about eel fishing –patience
really is key. There’s no need to
be ready to leap on the rods, or
listen all night for a jumping
fish. All I had to focus on was
the call of a tawny owl and the
bark of a deer.
It was nice just being there,
occasionally thinking of what
was going on beneath the
surface and hoping the eels’
hunt for food had begun.
Down below, an eel was on
the lookout for a meal, and at
midnight it found a discarded
fish head, still fresh and full of
blood. Without hesitation it
grabbed hold of the fleshy part
and began to back off,
triggering the bite alarm.
I struck immediately, but
sadly the hook pulled out of
the deadbait, missing the eel's
mouth, and the fish made a
lucky escape and got a free
meal. I could only curse my
failure as I reeled in and
replaced the bait.
By now I was starting to feel
My ‘twig rig’,
complete with stiff
tubing to prevent
deep-hooking.
sleepy, and drifted off around
1am, only to be awakened just
before 4am when the alarm
dragged me back into
consciousness. Once again I
struck as quickly as I could,
and this time the hook took
hold in the mouth of an eel.
Judging by the violent
headshakes and the bend in
the rod, it wasn’t small!
Able to swim backwards, and
spinning like a Dervish, the eel
was testing my tackle for any
weak link, and there were
moments of stalemate when it
pulled as hard as I did.
Netting it wasn’t easy, and
twice it slipped back over the
cord, but the eel was finally
mine to admire – and what a
beautiful creature it was!
Anyone who regards eels as
fish to be avoided at all costs
has never taken the time to
watch one swimming – a
rhythmic, even majestic,
sinuosity. I stared into the
mesh, where 5lb 3oz of eel
swayed from side to side, and
reflected on how glad I was
that I’d started my campaign
so early.
June 4, 2024 25
TIPS & TACTICS FIND THE FEEDING ZONE
A little trial and error may be
needed on the day to find out
whether the fish want to sit
tight to the platform or slightly
to the side, close to marginal
cover. As a simple rule of
thumb, reeds dim the light a
little on bright days, giving the

BAG MORE fish more confidence to feed.

THIS WEEK!
l Tactics to take to your water
l Tricks & tips for bigger bags
l Trusted knowledge
l Every week

IF YOU TRY ONE THING THIS WEEK...

TARGET EMPTY PEGS

WITH THE METHOD
Des Shipp reveals why the far bank should often be your
starting point when working the feeder at commercials
S ANGLERS, we’re
Carp, like
anglers, enjoy
peace and quiet. A well programmed to
analyse the options
within our chosen swim
before settling on which
zones to target.
If there’s no island to aim at,
then spots in open water, 5m
out at the bottom of the
marginal slope or down the
edge are all favourite areas.
All have potential, but Des
Shipp believes that the most
prolific area of most swims is
rarely targeted at all. The
Preston Innovations and
SonuBaits angler relies on the
Method feeder heavily
throughout the warmer
months, maintaining that it’s
one among the deadliest
tactics out there when carp
are feeding aggressively.
“One of the best places to
plop a feeder in during
summer is tight to an empty
platform on the far bank,”
explained Des.
“It’s where a lot of anglers
don’t even consider fishing,
but once you give it a go, you’ll
realise it has the potential to
seriously boost your catches.”
SWIM SELECTION
Carp love to sit in shallow
water at this time of year, and
if the banks of a fishery were

26 June 4, 2024
 START SHORT
The marginal slope usually
drops off quite quickly, and can
change by several feet over a
short distance. Start a couple
of metres away from the
platform to put you in deeper
water, creeping up closer to it
later when the carp back away.
CUSHION THE CAST
Holding the rod high straight
after casting will make sure
that the feeder is cushioned
when it lands. It will then go
in neatly, creating a ‘plop’ as
opposed to an almighty crash
that would spook nearby fish.
constantly empty, they’d
probably spend most of their
time in the margins.
“It’s only the pressure of
anglers that prevents carp
from permanently living
down the edge,” said Des.
“Casting to an empty swim
on the far bank puts you in at
the right depth, and the carp
will also be spared all the
commotion going on around
your platform.
“Also, quiet areas in front of
pegs are regularly patrolled,
because a lot of unused bait is
dropped in there by anglers
before they go home.”
It goes without saying that
you must be able to cast to the
far bank comfortably, and that
bank should also be in an area
of the lake that is quiet.
“The fish won’t settle in front
of a peg if there are a lot of
other anglers in the vicinity,”
said Des.
“Have a look to see where
most other anglers are
fishing, and then head to a
different spot. The fish will
always push into space.”
Micros and
groundbait go
on to the feeder.
BUILD THE SWIM
Feeder fishing has always
been associated with a
relaxing day’s sport, but the
most successful Method
anglers are always on the go.
“The feeder doesn’t stay in
the water for more than three
minutes at a time, so regular
casting is vital,” said Des.
“It helps build the swim up,
and the sound of the feeder
going in acts as an attractant.
“Fish that live in commercial
venues associate noise with
food being introduced, and
will home in on it.”
Des moulds an even blend of
dampened micro pellets and
groundbait around the feeder
to try and provoke a response.
With the water now coloured,
a strong fishmeal groundbait
that leaks off plenty of flavour
GIVE IT A GO...
CREATE TWO LAYERS
Firmly press one layer of
micros and groundbait on to
the feeder, place the hookbait
on top, then squeeze another
layer on. The top one creates
a cloud, and the rest stays on
longer for lasting attraction.
DON’T WASTE BAIT
Method feeder fishing doesn’t
require much bait. Dampen a
pint of micro pellets and mix
up half a bag of groundbait
and you’ll have enough to last
you a full session, even when
casting regularly.
PERFECT PARTNER
A 4000-sized reel is ideal
for use with a 10ft or 11ft
rod. Des’s is a Preston
Innovations Centris SD 420 –
lightweight, but with enough
cranking power to beat big
fish with ease.
is important to help the carp
locate it by scent. SonuBaits
Match Method Mix is Des’s
top choice in this instance.
LAND EVERY FISH
How far you are casting will
dictate how long your rod
should be. You can use a 9ft
version for swims up to 30m
away, a 10ft rod for casting up
to 40m and an 11ft one for
distances beyond that.
Mainline should either be 6lb
SINK THE MAINLINE
Submerge your rod after
the feeder lands to sink the
mainline. This will help you
put a little tension in the
tip, while making sure that
the feeder isn’t dislodged
from where it landed.
CATAPULTING FREEBIES
A catapult can draw in more
fish. The chuck with your
feeder must be 30m or less
in order to fire 8mm pellets
there with ease. Consistent
accuracy is needed, so that
you don’t split the shoal.
MATCH THE HATCH
A 6mm hard pellet is a
great hookbait on pressured
commercials. It blends
in well with micros and
groundbait, and the fish slurp
it up as a matter of course as
they feed on the small pile.
or 8lb breaking strain– Des
relies on Preston Innovations
Sinking Feeder Mono.
He always favours using a
short 4ins hooklength so that
the fish quickly feels the
resistance of the feeder once
it has taken the hookbait,
before then bolting and
setting the hook without you
needing to strike. Des’s
preference is for 0.19mm
mono, attached to a strong
size 12 or 14 MCM-B hook.
June 4, 2024 27
ASK THE
THE ADVICE YOU NEED TO GET THE BEST FROM YOUR FISHING
HOW TO PLUMB UP TOO DEEP
Can somebody
show me the
basics of plumbing
up a swim? I’m
quite new to the
sport and I never
seem to get it right!
Carl McKimmon, email
Plumbing up is an
A essential skill to
master, as it enables
you to place your bait
precisely on the bottom,
or at any other depth you
want to fish at.
The two main types of
plummets available are
clip-on varieties or ones
with a cork or foam base
to sink the hook into.
Once you have plumbed
up the correct depth,
reel in and remove the
plummet. Fix the hook
on to the front of the reel
seat, wind line on to the
reel until it’s tight, and
hold the float against
the rod. Now, mark the
position of the float
adaptor on the rod with
white correctional fluid.
By recording the depth
like this you can easily
alter your rig during the
session to fish at any
specific depth and then
return the rig to dead
depth without having to
plumb up again.
Likewise, if your line
snaps and you need to set
up a new rig, it’s a simple
task to set the depth.
Once you have
established the depth
and marked it on your
rod ,all that’s left to do is
fine-tune the shotting of
the rig and you’re ready to
start catching.
Mark Sawyer
28 June 4, 2024
STEVE ADAM
RINGER WAKELIN
World Feeder champ and a England Feeder team member
constantly successful matchman and former World Pairs champ
What consistency
should my paste be
If it’s set too deep, the under-
shotted float will sit high in for the margins and
the water like this. In this
instance you need to reel in short pole in front?
and slide the float and locking
shot back down the line
Scott Drake, Worksop
I have three different
towards the hook. A consistencies I rely upon. Sloppy
works a treat in up to 3ft of water, but
anything deeper than that and it will
come off the hook as it sinks, so I up it
to a medium consistency. This works
in pretty much any depth.
Stiff is my other option, but I only use
this as tiny pieces if I am fishing for
silvers or F1s. A piece of paste that
size needs to be stiff. Use something
remotely wet on the small hook size
required for these species and it’s
never going to stay on.
Robbie Taylor
How should I lay
my pole rig into the
water when fishing
PERFECT!
After a few hard pellets?
re-casts and Roy Thorne, Colchester
adjustments of With hard pellets, it’s all
depth you’ll end
up with the float
A about accuracy. You are
aiming to create a tight pile of
sitting perfectly bait and place your hookbait in
with around 1cm
of the tip poking the middle. It’s similar to Method
feeder fishing in that you are
above the water.
The rig is now aiming for your hookbait to be amid
set at the precise the loosefeed so that a carp takes
TOO SHALLOW depth of water, the lot up in a single slurp.
If the float is set often called I cup in a small quantity of 4mm
at less than the ‘dead depth’. or 6mm hard pellets each time I
depth of the water ship in, and then slowly lower the
it will be instantly rig down in a straight line. Laying
pulled under the
surface. If this
it in on its side wouldn’t provide
the accuracy required to make this
happens you need
to reel in and slide approach successful.
the locking shot Matt Godfrey
and float up the
line further from
the hook, and then
re-cast.
ROBBIE PAUL MATT RYAN MARK
TAYLOR GARNER GODFREY HAYDEN SAW YER
Team Guru member, specimen Angling Times columnist, bait Match fishing ace and former Daiwa Content Creator and Angling Times tackle editor
and commercial carp specialist expert and specimen hunter World Youth champion successful specimen angler and seasoned all-rounder

What knots do you

recommend for use
with fluorocarbon
line, hooklengths
specifically?
Paul Foden
The best ‘all-rounder’ for this
A is the Palomar, especially for
hooklengths which tend to involved
lighter lines, because unlike some
knots it doesn’t ‘strangle’ the line,
or put too many twists or kinks in
it that can lead to extra pressure
being put upon it.
It’s very simple to tie, and can be
used with any form of line, and not
just fluoro. As when tying all knots,
be sure to lubricate the line well
with saliva before bedding down to
help reduce the amount of friction
put on the line.
Paul Garner

Are Method feeders any good for big tench?

I never seem to see anybody using them
Gordon Hayter, Bournemouth
They certainly are, and I’ve had some fabulous results using them in
recent seasons. A Method feeder can be fished with confidence over a
whole host of lakebeds, from clean gravel, to silkweed and silt – anything
but heavy weed really. It acts much like a carp angler’s solid PVA bag,
creating a small area of feed around the hookbait. As the feed falls
away and breaks down, it ensures your hookbait (fake maggots are my
favourite) is sat in the centre and well presented.
I use a 65g Daiwa N’ZON Method feeder, which is the heaviest in the
range and assists hooking potential. It runs on a stem so, should a fish
drag you through dense weed, the feeder can slide off.
Ryan Hayden

Is there any way of casting to the same

spot each time without using a line clip?
Simon Higginson, St Albans
Hook a big fish when clipped up and there is a chance of a
A breakage as it tries to tear off, unable to strip line.
A line marker pen enables you to be accurate without the use of
a clip. Simply cast out with a clip on, hit the spot and then use the
marker on the line by the rod ring closest to you.
Take the line out of the clip and, once you’ve had a bite and got the
fish in, cast to a random spot in your swim. Slowly wind in until you
see the white marker pen mark on the mainline close to the rod ring
closest, and clip up again. Continue to repeat the process above and
you’ll remain accurate without running the risk of breakages. WANT TO KNOW HOW TO TARGET BIG CARP FROM SNAGGY
Adam Wakelin AREAS? ADAM PENNING SHOWS YOU HOW, ON PAGE 40

June 4, 2024 29
CHAMP’S
GIVES
YOU THE

ANOTHER
FINAL
AWAITS!
THIS week I made the
300-mile round trip to
Messingham Sands, near
Scunthorpe. Peg 63 on
Hollywood Bowl was my
home for the day and, this
being a second-to-end peg, I
really fancied it.
I started fishing pellets on
a top kit in 5ft of water and
in the first half-an-hour I
had lots of carp in the 10oz
to 3lb bracket. Once that
dried up, I pushed out into
7ft of water and, again, the
fishing was brilliant.
Bizarrely, they kept
bouncing between these
two lines, and it was a case
of chasing them to try to
stay in touch.
At the halfway point I fed
my margins with pellets.
Three foul-hookers in no
time at all left me thinking
they were going to be hard
to catch in the edge, but
plumbing again and finding
a different spot worked a
treat. From that point on it

Is it ever worth
was a carp every chuck.
I weighed in 275lb to win It’s essential that you remain
the day and qualify for the quiet if you are to catch in the
Maver Match This final. margins early, as carp are
easily spooked.

starting a session
A few days later I was off
to Partridge Lakes for the To avoid this happening you
Golden Reel qualifier, where must put your keepnets in
I drew peg 170 on Covey sensibly when fishing a match.

down the margins

Canal Six. It’s not the best, Throwing them in so they
but with peg 173 not drawn, make a big splash is a definite
it gave me some space.
no-no, and sneaking them in
Pellets across was the
with minimal disturbance is

on a venue
opening gambit and, after
a good run, I caught well the way forward.
on casters on the bottom. I’d even consider pegging
Another run on pellets long them out so they can’t move,
kicked in before I finished and this is important when

down the margins.
Andy May, who I could
see from my position,
obliterated the match. He
weighed in 182lb to my
145lb for second. He was on
the ultimate flyer, but I’ll let
him have this one…!
I’m now desperate to
qualify for the Golden Reel
final, for two reasons.
One, it’s an incredible
big-money match and two,
Andy will be unbearable
with the banter if I have to
be his bank runner!
30 June 4, 2024
dominated by carp?
WAYNE OWEN, LEICESTER
HE MARGINS are
T
always regarded as
an area of the swim
where the fish will
congregate late in the day –
but there are plenty of
situations when they can
produce bites right from the
word go.
Carp love to sit close to cover
and, when the banks are
empty, they will position
themselves down the edge.
As a result of this behaviour,
there are always carp there
first thing, and they only get
pushed out by commotion on
the bank.
fishing short in the edge.
WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY
Time is of the essence when
fishing down the margins, as
the start of any match offers a
golden spell, but a short one.
You may get 30 minutes
when you can bag a few carp,
but once the commotion kicks
in, they’ll head into open water
until late in the session.
With that in mind, you need
to get these fish in quickly to

maximise the number that you
catch during this period.
For carp in the 6lb-10lb
bracket I would use a rig made
up of 0.22mm Guru N-Gauge
mainline to a 4ins hooklength
of 0.19mm, and a size 12 or 14
XS Spade hook.
This is a strong, wide gape
hook that lends itself perfectly
to margin fishing for large carp
with big hookbaits.
My shotting pattern consists
of a tightly-strung bulk of No8
shot, with the bottom one
positioned 4ins from the hook,
hence the short hooklength.
The rest of the droppers are
spaced at 0.5cm intervals
above this.
Red Daiwa Hydrolastic is my
elastic of choice, as this has
the power to quickly take the
fight out of big fish
“The start of any match offers a
golden spell, but a short one.”
DO YOU
NEED RINGER’S
HELP?
Send your ques
tion to:
askringer@angl
ingtimes.co.uk
3 STEPS TO SUCCESS
BAIT CHOICE
The best way to get a quick
bite in the margins is to use a
hookbait that stands out like a
sore thumb to the fish.
If I am feeding corn and HOPE FOR A
micros, then double corn
would by my choice. QUICK BITE
When dead maggots are in Early margin action
play, I will go with six to eight only tends to work
of them on the hook to create if the fish are
a giant bunch. already present.
If there are no
Large quantities of loosefeed carp in the area,
are often the name of the then it’s unlikely
game in the margins, but that to work until later
is an approach to avoid when in the day. With
you start the session. that in mind, I’d
Remember, you are targeting expect to get a bite,
or at least some
fish that are already in the indications, within
area, and giving them too three minutes of
much food will merely putting the rig in.
increase the time it takes for
them to find your hookbait.
For example, if I’m fishing
micros and corn, I will use a
medium Guru pole-mounted
GO FOR A FAIRLY HEAVY FLOAT
pot and feed 10 grains of corn Float choice depends on depth, but in 18ins-2ft of water
I’d rely on a 0.4g MW Margin Diamond. A reasonably heavy
and a big pinch of dampened float provides better stability and hookbait placement
micros. when carp are brushing up against your rig in shallow
water. It’s key to helping to spot the difference between
KEEP IT TIGHT liners and proper bites.
One thing that is essential
when feeding small quantities
of bait is to be very accurate
with your rig placement. Your
hookbait needs to be right in
the middle of the pile, so that
you almost get a Method
feeder-like response – a carp
takes one mouthful and takes
your hookbait in with it.
If I catch a carp, I will repeat
the process of going back in,
feeding a small quantity and COME BACK
waiting until the float buries.
If I miss a bite, then that is LATER
also my cue to feed again. That An early run down
fish will spook and waft your the margins can
bait all over the place, lead to some very
destroying the tight pile that big fish going into
the net quickly,
was in situ before. but it will almost
Reset the swim each time this certainly peter out.
happens, and you will catch The margins will
more carp during that short come alive again
but productive window of later in the session,
opportunity. but it is then back
to feeding more bait
to draw the carp
back and hold them
in your target zone.
June 4, 2024 31
 Join top match anglers Lee Kerry and Rob Wootton each week as
they unveil the tactics and techniques that really make a difference
COME IN CLOSE AND
HALVE THE AMOUNT
YOU NORMALLY FEED
THIS WEEK: Rob’s approach for fooling moody spring bream
A bream comes
to the net for
this week’s
expert, Rob.
KEY LESSONS
l Minced worms are a
brilliant bait for bream at this
time of year. They’re packed
with protein that help the fish
boost their energy levels.
Include a generous dollop in
each feederful to stimulate a
response.
l There’s no need to cast to
the horizon for bream right
now. Casting a comfortable
25m-30m is often ample,
especially if you have a
suitable depth. At Ferry
Meadows that put the anglers’
rigs into 10ft of water.
l Consider what you’d
usually feed at the start of a
session and then halve it. The
bream aren’t feeding heavily
at the moment on most
venues, and you need to make
it easy for them to pick out
your hookbait. Use a smaller
feeder than usual when
fishing, too.
LOT of species have
A just about finished
their annual
spawning routine, and it’s
made their feeding habits
very hard to predict.
The usual tactic of piling in
plenty of bait to draw and
hold a shoal goes temporarily
out of the window, and a
much more cautious attack is
now needed.
This week, Lee and I hosted
a coaching day at Ferry
Meadows in Peterborough,
and while the guys put plenty
of slabs in the net, we stressed
to all involved that now’s the
time when you must do things
a little bit differently.
By the end of the session,
we’d managed to get everyone
doing just that. Most of the
anglers added tactical ideas to
their armoury that they’d
never even considered before.
CAUTIOUS FEEDING
Bream are a very greedy
species, and can hoover up a
bed of bait in no time at all.
After spawning, that all
changes for a few weeks and
it’s hard to predict how much
they’ll want.
I believe that halving what
you would initially feed at the
beginning of a session in
summer is a sensible way
forward. For example, if you
usually pile in 10 large bait-up
feeders of grub, cut that down
to five.
It’s often a case of catching
two or three fish over that bed
before you need to add
another two or three big

You don’t need to
cast far to reach
bream at this
time of year.
bait-up feeders to refresh the
swim. Dynamite Baits Swim
Stim Feeder Green is a
brilliant groundbait for this
style of fishing. It has more
fishmeal than the original
Swim Stim, and the particle
sizes are also slightly bigger.
SHORT-RANGE ATTACK
Long-range casting isn’t
necessary when bream fishing
in summer, as the fish often
come close to the bank.
I think they are often within
metres of where we usually sit
when the banks are empty,
although they push out a little
once the commotion kicks in.
The lads we were coaching at
Minced worms, top feeder fodder.
“The tactic of piling in plenty of bait
goes temporarily out of the window”
Rocket feeders draw the shoals in.
Ferry Meadows all caught
25m-30m from the bank,
which isn’t very far out on a
venue of this size.
The bream may well push
out a little in a few weeks but,
for now, they are close to
vegetation as they recover
from spawning.
TWO FEEDER CHOICES
All the lads set up in an area
that is renowned for good
sport, but they still needed to
get a shoal congregated over
the exact spot where their rig
was presented.
I use two styles of feeder,
and my estimation of how
many fish are directly in front
of me dictates which I go with
at that stage of the session.
A 30g Nisa Rocket Feeder is
brilliant when trying to draw
fish in, as there are lots of
holes in it which release a
cloud of attraction as it
plummets to the bottom.
This is great when you are
trying to draw fish over the
top of your target zone.
Once they arrive, I don’t
want the distraction of the
cloud, as this can risk taking
the bream off the bottom at
times. I then switch to a solid
Preston Innovations Window
Feeder. This keeps the
contents tucked inside until it
hits the deck, when they
slowly start to seep out.
The rest of my set-up
consists of a 12ft rod, and
0.10mm braid mainline to a
25ft shockleader of 0.18mm
braid. This is a bulletproof
set-up that won’t wear away,
and the lack of stretch in
braid also magnifies bites at a
time when the bream are
cagey. My hooklength is 70cm
of 0.16mm mono to a size 14
Guru Pole Special hook.
CARBON COPY
The day after coaching at
Ferry Meadows I was off to
Southfield Reservoir in
Doncaster for a Feeder King
qualifier. Just like Ferry, this is
a vast expanse of water where
bream are the dominant
species. In my mind, there was
no reason why the fish
wouldn’t respond in a similar
manner to their counterparts
in Peterborough.
As I thought, there were
plenty of fish to be caught,
and those who did best caught
a good proportion of their fish
short over a smaller bed of
bait than they’d usually put in.
I finished the day sixth
overall with 26lb, just missing
out on a place in the final.
I was disappointed not to
make that final, but I felt my
tactics had put me in a place
where at least I wasn’t too far
off the pace.
JOIN THE EDGE!
The Edge is an online channel
created by Lee and Rob
to help them share their
winning tactics with viewers.
They’ve filmed hundreds of
hours of informative high-
quality content, covering a
wide range of tactics and
styles of venue.
Scan the QR code to head
over to their website to find
out more and subscribe!
www.anglingacademy.co.uk
 BAIT CLINIC
DR PAUL GARNER
Honest advice to help you to
catch more fish on every trip,
without breaking the bank
THE SECRETS TO
SUCCESS WITH MEAT
Fish of many species love the taste and texture of meaty baits,
which come in many forms and can easily be ‘customised’
ISH love meat in all its
F many forms. All of our
main coarse species
eat small invertebrates, and
the attraction given off by
meat baits probably mimics
many of the natural
chemicals that fish tune into
to find their prey.
Certainly, I have caught lots
of bream, big roach and tench
All manner of
meat baits are
readily available.
34 June 4, 2024
on meat – species that we
might not instantly associate
with it.
Carp, of course, love meat
too, and it has several other
traits that make it a
supremely effective bait.
Fortunately, the trend of
using large amounts of meat,
in the form of heavy feeding
with cubes, has waned, as this
can lead to water quality
problems. Stick to using it on
the hook, and with minimal
feed, to get the best from it.
Meat also combines really
well with other baits, and it
can be used alongside a
loosefeed of corn or pellets, or
in conjunction with
groundbait.
Each of the many different
types of meaty baits has its
own characteristics that make
it suitable for a particular type
of fishing, so let’s now have a
look at some of the more
common ones.
LUNCHEON MEAT
Tinned luncheon meat is
probably the bait that we are
most familiar with, but even
“Garlic sausage is often much
cheaper than luncheon meat”
here the quality of the meat
can vary widely from one
brand to another. Generally
speaking, the more expensive
varieties are made from pork,
which makes for a firmer bait.
These brands are best for
summer fishing, as it is easier
to keep a firm bait on the
hook. In the cooler months I
prefer a chicken-based meat,
which is noticeably softer, and
which doesn’t go hard.
If you are pole fishing, you
can get away with a much
softer bait than if you are
legering. In fact, a soft meat is
far easier to strike through if
you are burying the hook
inside the bait.
For hair-rigging for big carp
and for Method fishing, pay a

KEEP a few sticks of
Peperami in the car for a
tough, meaty bait that’s ideal
for carp and barbel.
little extra and go for tougher
brands. To make a really
tough bait I like to fry the
cubes of meat for a couple of
minutes. This helps remove
fat and puts a tough outer
skin on the bait – the ideal
offering for big carp.
GARLIC SAUSAGE
Over recent seasons, garlic
sausage has become a firm
favourite bait of mine. I have
used everything from
matchbox-sized chunks for
catfish, down to tiny punched
pieces for crucians. Being
quite tough, this bait can be
A punched garlic sausage cylinder.
QUICK TIP
hair-rigged with ease.
Garlic sausage is often much
cheaper than luncheon meat,
and it can be cut into slices
and punched or chopped into
cubes. It’s a very versatile bait
that you can find in the chilled
food section of your local
supermarket.
HOT DOGS
Luncheon meat has rocketed
in price over the last few years
so, if you are looking for a
cheaper alternative, why not
try hot dogs?
These are often quite soft,
and make a superb pole
Hot dogs can be punched as well.
10 TEN-MINUTE MAKE
Fried and Flavoured Luncheon Meat
These spicy cubes have a tough skin that makes them ideal for
bigger carp. I make them quite big and fish them on a sleeper rod
in search of those big, wary fish that often hug the margins.
1 2
Chop a small tin of meat into Measure out half a teaspoonful
approximate 10mm cubes. of turmeric and garam masala.
3 4
Warm some oil in a frying pan Add the meat and fry for four
and add the spices. minutes, turning constantly.
5 6
Tip the cooked meat out on The finished bait is pictured
to a piece of kitchen towel to on the left, with the plain meat
absorb the excess oil. being on the right.
hookbait when punched. Meat over
hemp – brilliant
Alternatively, use a whole for carp.
hair-rigged chunk as a
gobstopper-sized bait for
specimen fish. Drain off the
liquid to make the bait
easier to handle.
COLOURING AND FLAVOURING
Some anglers swear by
using ragged-shaped lumps
of meat, but personally I find combine really well with this
it makes no difference. savoury bait.
Cutting meat into neat cubes Store the bait in the fridge to
is certainly less wasteful, and keep it fresh. The porous
makes baiting up and feeding texture of meat holds flavours
easier since the baits are of a well, and both savoury and
uniform size. sweet additives are effective.
I tend to chop my bait up at
home and add any additional
flavours and colours the night
NEXT WEEK
The best baits for kicking off the
before fishing. I like to add new river season in style!
spices to meat, as these
June 4, 2024 35
 CARPSKILLS
BUMPER TIPS SECTION PACKED WITH EXPERT
ADVICE TO HELP YOU CATCH BIGGER & BETTER FISH
THIS MONTH’S HIGHLIGHTS:
l Round-up of big carp catches
l How to fish snaggy areas safely
– Adam Penning is your guide
l Rig of the Month: Banded pellet
set-up that ’s per fect for stalking
l Rob Hughes’ top tips for
identif ying carp patrol routes

GIANT COMMON JUST MISSES

OUT ON THE BRITISH RECORD
68lb – Chris Lines
THE UK’S biggest common carp has been caught from
Buckinghamshire's Waterside Fishery at 68lb, just an
ounce short of the current British record.
Chris Lines banked it halfway through a five-nighter
on Kingfisher Lake, where he Spombed in 8kg of
Mainline Essential Cell boilies in total. Over the top he
presented a combi multi-rig with an Advanced Baits
Hydrolysed Pineapple Wafter.
He said: "At 7.50am, I had a slow, deliberate take. As
the fish got closer, it turned on the top of the water,
and I thought: ‘That’s the Big Common!’"
A further five minutes passed before he slid the
biggest common in the country into his net. "The best
part about the capture is that I shared it with my dad –
it was a session and a fish I'll never forget,” he added.
The British Carp record stands at 68lb 1oz, a fish
known as The Parrot caught from Cranwell’s Lake
on the Wasing Estate in Berkshire by Dean Fletcher
in 2016. Heavier carp have been caught since, but
haven’t met the criteria required for approval by the
British Record Fish Committee.

YORKSHIRE FIFTY OFF THE TOP!

52lb 8oz – Pire Leung
NOT MANY anglers can claim to have caught a 50lb
carp off the surface, but Pire Leung can now boast
of such a feat, following the capture of this 52lb 8oz
common from a Yorkshire club water.
Heading to the local venue with his son, James,
after work for a short evening session, the pair soon
found the fish held up in a calm area created by a
couple of trees. A few spods of floating pellets were
put out in the zone, and it didn’t take long before the
fish were feeding confidently.
"We both cast out Next Level Hookbaits Pink Plum
pop-ups past the fish and, after a couple of near
misses, my dad's pop up got nailed,” said James.
“He said it felt like a good one, but we had no idea
what he was attached to.
“After stopping the initial first run, it came in like
a dog on a lead, and once it was in the net I let out a
shout, as I knew he had the big ’un.
"After hoisting it on the scales it weighed in at
52lb 8oz – a top weight for the fish and a very
memorable evening," added James.
In an extraordinary turn of events, this is the
second surface-caught ‘fifty’ the father and son duo
have landed, as James caught the fish known as
Tilly at 50lb 12oz from the Bluebell Lakes complex
in Northamptonshire a few years earlier.
38 June 4, 2024
VETERAN ‘CROC’ FINALLY TAMED
46lb 10oz – John Claridge
ONE OF Britain's oldest and most sought-after carp has been banked by
John Claridge, who landed The Croc at a weight of 46lb 10oz.
The fish lives in a challenging 70-acre venue in the Cotswolds, where
anglers have to contend with a number of obstacles including the public,
dogs, otters, boats, paddle boarders, swimmers and hordes of crayfish.
“I first started fishing the lake about four years ago. In my first season,
I caught well, landing three different forties, but there was no sign of The
Croc,” explained the manager of the Tackle Den.
"The Croc is close to 50 years-old, if not already that age, so time was of
the essence. This year, I decided to go hard and get the job done."
On his second trip this spring he targeted a shallow part of the lake and
banked three fish within the space of an hour, two of which are carp often
seen with The Croc.
Knowing he was close, John concentrated his efforts in that area over
the following sessions.
"Just 10 minutes before the speed boat came out in the morning, I had
the bite and fight I'd been waiting for, and the Croc was mine," he said.
“Ecstatic and emotional, I proudly had my moment with this stunning old
creature – the fish of a lifetime and one capture I will never forget.”

FIRST-SESSION SUCCESS!
49lb 8oz – Nathan Stewart
NATHAN Stewart got his campaign on the Northamptonshire
Mary’s syndicate off to a flying start with the capture of this
49lb 8oz mirror.
The local 29-year-old set up in an area which allowed him to
watch a large area of the water on the 60-acre gravel pit. The
first 24 hours passed without event, but the following morning he
spotted several fish rolling to his right.
After a quick move, three pop-ups were cast towards the
showing fish, and an hour later he was attached to his first-ever
carp from the venue.
“The fish was one that had been on the missing list, and it has
now been named ‘Specs’ after I broke my glasses at the start of
the session!” said Nathan.

TWO SIXTIES FROM
GROUP BOOKING
61lb 8oz & 61lb 2oz – Adam
Honeysett (below right) and
Tony Plummer (below left)
IT’S NOT often you catch a UK 60lb carp,
let alone two in the same session – but
that’s exactly what happened when Adam
Honeysett and his friends fished on the
Elphicks Complex in Tonbridge, Kent.
Booking a lake exclusive on the renowned
big fish lake, Pullens, the group drew for
swims, and Adam opted for peg one on the
road bank.
The all-important bite came to a rod fished
close in with a solid PVA bag filled with
pellets, and a Key Baits Solutions ASM wafter
as hookbait.
“I received a one-toner and, after 10
minutes, the fish surfaced and I knew it was
one of the lake’s better ones,” said Adam.
“Thankfully, it went in the net at the first
attempt, and I couldn’t believe it when the
scales spun round to 61lb 8oz.”
Also getting in on the action was Tony
Plummer who, after landing a brace of forties
weighing 47lb and 49lb, banked a huge
61lb 2oz mirror following a 25-minute fight.
During the week, the group landed more
than 25 carp including a total of 14 over 40lb,
a fifty, and the two sixties.
 CARPSKILLS
EXTRA
This type of fishing is
adrenalin-packed, but careful
thought is needed to ensure
you do it safely...
AFE and effective
S snag fishing requires
preparation, thought
and organisation if you are
to do it well. Carp are fast,
powerful and able to travel
short distances very quickly
– for these reasons, snag
fishing must be practised
sensibly to protect the fish.
Reacting to and controlling
a fast-moving carp in the
dead of night is difficult for
anybody to do well unless
they are staying awake and
sitting by the rods.
For this reason, I very rarely
leave the rods by snags
during the time I intend to be
sleeping , particularly if
40 June 4, 2024
mosquitoes or bad weather
require the door to be down.
No matter who you are, it’s
simply not possible to react
in the time needed to prevent
the carp gaining sanctuary.
This approach is sensible,
because carp tend to inhabit
snags during daytime, leaving
them to traverse the lake
under cover of darkness as
they prowl for food.
Secure the reel with a bivvy peg. Use banksticks, not rod pods!
ROD SECURITY
Along with the reel’s clutch
setting , this is the single most forwards on the bite. If you either way, you must make
important requirement. High don't have any, then you can sure the rod can’t move.
grip, locking back rests are create a secure set-up by Another effective way to
the first necessity; the rod placing the butt ring on the stop the rod moving is to
cannot be allowed to travel nearside of the alarm – but, place a bivvy peg firmly into

the ground just in front of the
spool or the reel handle – I
often use this as a secondary
back-up.
It is essential to fish single
sticks – avoid buzz bars and
pods, neither of which will
give you the locked-up
security you need. The only
viable pod choice is one that
is super low to the ground
and can be pegged into place.
Set your rods so that they
are a few degrees off the
direction the hookbait is
placed in. Pointing the rod
directly at the rig will be too
unforgiving , while having the
rod at a sharp angle to the rig
will provide too much
A big Bluebell Lakes
carp extracted from
heavy snags.
compression, which could
give the carp an extra few
feet of travel.
Adding snag ears to the
alarm, or the use of a bank
stick halfway up the blank,
(my preference) will stop the
rod being pulled from the
alarm during the bite.
CLUTCH AND BITE INDICATION
The most vital aspect of this
preparation is to ensure the
clutch is set sternly. There is
no requirement for a
“Once a rod is in place near snags
you must not leave the swim”
Set the bobbin
like this for
speedy bite
indication.
freespool system to be used
– all you need is a stiffly-set
clutch that refuses to yield
line under heavy pressure. I
cannot stress enough just
how important this single
element is.
Having set the clutch
properly we are, of course,
not going to be getting ‘runs’
in the standard sense, but we
do need enough audible
indication from the alarm in
order to react quickly.
To achieve this, I place the
bobbin on a drop of a few
inches and set the alarm on
high sensitivity. A bite will be
a quick burst of volume as
the bobbin hits the rod, then
everything will lock up and
begin to compress.
At this point the best way to
gain power over the carp is to
slowly walk backwards,
leading the fish away from
danger. Once it is clear, back
the clutch off and play the
fish in the normal manner.
NO-NONSENSE TACKLE
Naturally, for such a
demanding scenario, it’s
imperative that our tackle is
up to the job. There is zero
room for thin lines, and it is
important to look at the line’s
diameter and not the
breaking strain.
Diameter is what will
ensure your carp comes to
the bank, so do not use
anything less than 0.40mm.
I’d also strongly recommend a
barbless hook as, in the event
of a disaster, it gives the carp
a fighting chance at getting
rid of the end tackle.
Use a leader to protect the
line but avoid leadcore –
instead opt for a leadless
version or a length of tubing.
The lead needs to be
dropped on the bite, so make
sure your chosen set-up is
able to do this efficiently.
Once you have a rod in
place near snags you must
not leave the swim under any
circumstances. Ensure you
are never more than a few
feet away at any time, and be
ready to react.
If you think you aren't able
to fish snags in a responsible
manner, then please don't do
it! Losing carp is not big or
clever – in fact, unless you
are able to land at least three
out of every four fish hooked,
then it is simply not viable.
We have a duty of care to
the wonderful carp we fish
for, so please do so
intelligently and with plenty
of thought.
This type of fishing is
adrenalin-packed, and should
not be practised by pregnant
women or people with
slightly weak hearts!
Use nothing
less than
0.40mm line.
June 4, 2024 41
 RIG OF THE MONTH
BANDED PELLET
STALKING RIG
Carp can be found right under your feet at this time of year,
and this simple set-up is perfect for nailing a margin monster
N
OW that we’re
enjoying some
warmer weather, carp
will begin to visit shallow
margin spots more
frequently. This gives you
the perfect opportunity to
ambush them!
Catching carp close-in is
very satisfying. You can
watch how they are feeding
and bait up accordingly; rig
placement is much easier
than trying to land your
hookbait on a small patch of
HOOKBAIT
Fish the hookbait
in a hair-rigged
bait band.
42 June 4, 2024
gravel at 100 yards; and few
things are more exciting than
seeing a big carp pick up your
bait and hook itself!
This rig offers excellent
hooking properties. The
combination of a large inline
lead and a short hooklink of
just a few inches means that
a fish will come into contact
with the full weight of the
lead almost instantly, which
helps to set the hook.
Most anglers tend to fish a
boilie or wafter hookbait with
HOOK
You’ll need to keep
a hooked fish away
from any marginal
snags, so a strong
hook of at least
size 8 is essential.
a PVA bag of pellets. If you
want to fool warier carp,
however, try using a pellet
hookbait, because this will
blend in perfectly with the
free offerings.
To avoid having to drill a
hole in a pellet so that it can
be hair-rigged, use a bait
band instead. This will enable
you to attach a fresh hookbait
in seconds, and there’s no risk
of the bait slipping out on a
big powerful cast, as you’re
only fishing at short range.
PUTTY
A blob of tungsten putty keeps
the hooklink pinned to the deck
and reduces the chances of a
carp coming into contact with it
and spooking out of the swim.
 TOP TIP
Successful stalking is all
about observation. You’ll need
to identify a likely-looking
spot, then watch how the carp
behave when feeding over
it. Even on venues with clear
water, a pair of polarised
glasses will make these tasks
far easier, as they remove
surface glare and allow you to
see exactly what’s happening.

LEADER
Use a leader such as leadcore
or tubing to protect your
mainline from any marginal
hazards and to keep everything
behind the lead pinned nice
and flush to the deck.
TERMINAL SET-UP
The lead is set up drop-off
style. This means the leader
runs over the outside of the
lead as opposed to through
the centre. When a fish picks
up the rig, the swivel pulls out
of the base and the lead will
fall away. It’s important to lose
the lead if you’re fishing close
to snags such as reeds or
overhanging branches.

LEAD SIZE
A heavy inline lead of at least
3oz offers excellent hooking
properties and carp find them
very hard to deal with.

HOW TO HAIR-RIG A PELLET BAND

1 2 3
Pass the end of your hooklink through a Now secure it to the end of the braid using a Thread on some silicone to fix the hair in this
brown pellet latex bait band, like this. simple overhand loop knot. position, then tie a knotless knot to finish.

June 4, 2024 43
 CARPSKILLS
EXTRA
CARP ON PATROL
Understanding how and why carp move is a massive edge. If you can
suss out the routes they use and their habits, then catching them
suddenly becomes a lot easier, says Rob Hughes
HERE’S no question
T that one of the
biggest aids to
catching carp is actually
seeing them. All the best
rigs, baits and intentions
mean nothing if you are
miles away from the fish,
and ‘location location
location’ is as true in angling
as it is in house sales.
Understanding carp
movements is so important
for success, whether that’s
consistency or opportunity.
Fortunately for us, at this
time of year they are active.
Constantly moving around
the pond looking for food or
simply just socialising , they
44 June 4, 2024
do tend to give themselves
away a fair bit.
WATCH THE WATER
The single most important
thing you can do is to watch
the water. Visual sightings
are key, and if you see one
move you know for a fact that
there’s a carp there, rather
than simply hoping there
might be.
A visual sighting is fact. Try
and go a bit deeper than
simply seeing one, though.
How did you see it? Was it
rolling , crashing or cruising?
Where did it come from? Was
it on the move or static? Have
you seen it more than once
My current
syndicate bite
times are
7am-8am.
and through these beds
without you even knowing it.
Canadian pondweed is a
prime example. On my dives
I’ve seen tunnels in the weed
where the carp can swim
around the pond through an
underwater maze. Find one
of these entrances or, better
still, exit points, and you’ll be
quids in. A carp emerging
and, if so, was it in the same from a tunnel is a highly
place? All these things help to
build up a picture of
behaviour patterns.
catchable carp. Look for clear
All carp love
One individual fish crashing the edge.
doesn’t tell you much more These were up
than there is a carp there, but in the water.
a few sightings, either in the
same place or on the same
route, indicate that there is
something special out there.
BELOW THE SURFACE
Just because you can’t see
them doesn’t mean that they
aren’t there. There are
underwater patrol routes,
especially in and around
weedbeds. Very often, carp
will follow a route around

Carp patrol routes will often go
through or around weedbeds.
spots next to heavy
weedbeds, or areas where the
weed looks a little bit weaker,
especially near the surface.
IN THE EDGE
Carp hug the edge, especially
if there is a bit of depth and
no bankside disturbance, and
snags, reedbeds and deep
margins all make lovely
ambush spots for us carpers.
Charge up to the front of a
swim or through the
undergrowth into a likely
looking tree and chances are
they will have seen you
before you have seen them
and they will have “done the
off ”. Try dropping a handful
of bait on to a likely looking
patrol route and see if it gets
scoffed. There’s a chance that
you may even see the carp
tucking into your picnic.
Don’t be too keen and dive
straight in, though. The
chances are it will move off
and then come back again.
That’s the time to set your
trap and wait for its return.
VISIBLE FEATURES
Visible features such as
islands, points and reedbeds
are obvious patrol points. It’s
good to have a bait in and
around these spots, but
there’s a good chance the
person in the peg before you
fished that spot, and the one
after you will too. Unless it’s a
real goer of a spot, try to mix
it up a little and do
something different. The carp
will be conditioned to baits in
the same spot, and your
chances can increase by
fishing a bait on a different
part of their patrol route.
For reedbeds look for the
tiniest of gaps. Carp will push
through into caverns deep in
the reeds and these are
particularly good spots – you
need to be bang on with bait
placement, though!
MID-WATER MOVEMENT
Fish moving round a pond
generally cruise mid-water
or, if it’s warm, just below the
surface. There isn’t a hard
and fast rule, but if you are
not seeing anything jump or
cruise, and no one is catching
Watch the water,
especially at key times.
Carp can be at all
depths, as this echo
sounder shows.
on the deck, there’s a good
chance that they are happy in
mid-water.
They are also likely to be
moving around at that depth.
This is where zigs come in. To
prove the point, I recently
borrowed a bait boat with an
echo sounder on it.
While the boat was out in
the swim a carp crashed
nearby. It was a great
opportunity to run the boat
to where the fish had been
seen to see what it did next.
Lo and behold, we could see
that it went more or less
straight down to the bottom,
leaving a bubble trail as it
did. At the same time there
were other fish sitting both
mid-water and on the deck,
so they can be at a variety of
depths at the same time.
BITE TIMES...
Bite times are a great
indicator of patrol routes. On
a recent week-long session
bite times were consistent at
4am, 10am, and 10pm. There
was the odd out-of-the-blue
bite at a different time, but
almost every day these three
times were the best for me.
On my syndicate, fishing my
favourite regular swim, bites
are between 7am and 8am.
Others around both ponds
are caught at different times,
so there’s a good chance that
a group of fish have a regular
patrol route and only visit
certain parts of the pond at
certain times.
Other people’s captures are
a great way of helping you
put the patrol route jigsaw
pieces in place. If one side of
the pond catches in the
morning , and the other in the
afternoon, it’s fair to say a
good chunk of the fish
migrate.
Keep your eyes on the
others and build a picture.
Any pattern will soon appear,
and although you may not be
able to take advantage of it
on this session, it’s info in the
bank for the next one!
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June 4, 2024 47
 OUR MAN ON THE BANK
DES TAYLOR
When it’s tench on the float,
size really doesn’t matter!
I’m only sorry more anglers can’t experience a day like mine…
HE OTHER day I made
T a video with the
Cadence team at
Docklow Pools, and I ended
up with a dozen tench.
The biggest might have
made 1lb 8oz, and the rest
averaged no more than a
pound each. Most were
caught on the float, and after
we’d called “it’s a wrap!” I
stayed on for a bit because I
was enjoying it so much.
When it came to the overall
feel of that session I reckon it
was my most enjoyable few
hours of the year so far. The
day began with the most
wonderful of drives through
the Worcestershire and
Herefordshire countryside,
and even Ian Chapman, our
well-travelled cameraman for
the day, said: “This must be
one of the most understated
areas of the UK.” I agree!
We arrived to the most
delightful of ‘tench dawns’,
with mist rising from the
water and a chorus from the
birdlife. It was really beyond
words and, as I sat there, I
A small but
perfectly
formed tench.
wished I didn’t have the
pressure of making a video.
I’d rather have just enjoyed
the moment.
But work beckoned, and
soon after I’d introduced a
couple of balls of soaked
micro pellets into the swim,
pinhead bubbles appeared all
over the surface. It’s been a
while since I’ve seen so many
feeding tench in one place.
There are so few true tench
waters around the country
nowadays, as the angling
world has gone carp-mad.
I’m afraid tench suffer in the
survival stakes against these
much bigger fish, and it’s a
great shame that many
beginners to the sport cannot
now enjoy a tench morning
similar the one I’m writing
about without travelling long
distances for their fishing.
To be honest, had I not been
making a video to show the
versatility of those Cadence
rods, I’d have floatfished for
the whole session, because
There are too few
tench waters like
this these days.
the anticipation of watching a
float in the midst of a feeding
shoal of tench really was
something else.
Obviously, with so many of
them in the swim, the float
was doing all manner of
strange things. Tails and fins
were hitting the line before a
tench would suck in my corn
or cube of meat hookbait.
I was struggling to keep
even the smallest of these
fish out of the lily pads that
cover much of this lake. I
tried to introduce bait further
away from the pads, but they
weren’t having it, especially
when the sun rose high in the
sky. Indeed, as I sat there, I
could see the pads humping
up as tench played and fed
beneath them, something I
have witnessed far too little
of in the last few years.
As I said, I stayed on after
Ian had made his way home
up north and, although it was
midday, those tench were still
bubbling away and willing to
pull the float under.
When I finally left, the mist
had cleared, the bubbles were
starting to slow down and the
birds had shut up shop, but
the memory of that trip will
stay with me for a long time.
We anglers really are lucky
to have such days.
Advertorial

Join our Crowdfunding campaign:

securing a bright future for young anglers
Canal & River Trust is the charity that looks after over 2,000 miles of waterways. We deliver
the award-winning events programme Let’s Fish!, enabling young people and families to
connect with nature, learn new skills, and create lasting memories.

SCAN TO DONATE

Search for “Crowdfunder Let’s Fish” on Google or scan the QR code

Since 2017, Canal & River Trust has
delivered over 40,000 coaching sessions,
guiding young anglers and their families
in the art of fishing. Last year alone, our
Let’s Fish! events, supported by local
angling clubs, engaged over 9,000
youngsters across 519 sessions.
There is a massive decline in the number
of children learning to fish. Attending
a Let’s Fish! event is an effective way
of bringing young anglers into a sport
that may otherwise be lost within a few
generations. However, running these
events requires ongoing support. We
need your help to fund angling supplies
and coaching for existing events and to
bring Let’s Fish! to more young people
and their families.
Your support ensures the sustainability of
this impactful program, fostering a love for
nature and a passion for our waterways in
the next generation.
Through the crowdfunding page, you
can contribute to shaping the future of
angling, supporting young anglers in
learning skills and fostering a love for
nature. Your contribution matters!
Can you vividly remember the thrill of
seeing your first fish bite and feeling the
tug on your line? How did it feel to reel
in your first catch, surrounded by the
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Developing a keen interest in angling can
have a huge positive impact on their lives.
During lockdown, Let’s Fish! brought
hope and joy to Lorraine’s family.
Introduced via a Facebook ad, her
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discovered solace and excitement in
angling. Led by dedicated coaches Pete
and Neil, their first catches—a tench for
Daniel and a perch for Jess—illuminated
their faces with delight. For Daniel,
navigating high-functioning autism, fishing
offered a therapeutic escape, highlighting
the sport’s inclusive and transformative
essence. “What I love about the sport is
that it never discriminates. You can be
able or disabled, male or female, be of
any shape, size, colour, or background.
All that matters is the luck of the draw
when you pick your peg by the water.”
Now, reflecting on their journey, Lorraine
highlights Let’s Fish!’s irreplaceable role in
their lives and the need to safeguard its
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Join the Crowdfunding campaign by
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CELEBRATING BRITAIN’S KIDS AND THEIR CLEVER CATCHES
Ellie Morris
10lb 12oz common, private
lake, Shropshire, maggots
Ollie Jacques
11lb common, Orchard Place
Farm, Tonbridge, Kent, pellet
Frank Hall
Tench, Sinah Lake, Hayling
Island, Hampshire, sweetcorn
Finley Drew
13lb common, Anglers
Paradise, Devon, maggots
50 June 4, 2024
Matthew O’Hagan
8oz roach, Annaginny Fishery,
Northern Ireland, maggots
Eddie Richardson
Mirror carp, Tolpits Lake,
Watford, Hertfordshire
Oliver Hirst
2lb 1oz crucian, Bolton Brick
Ponds, Rotherham, maggots
Jasper Atkinson
7lb pike, Exeter Canal,
Devon, lure
Robson Wallace
21lb 3oz mirror, Woodlands
Lakes, North Yorkshire, pellet
Isabella Moores
Common carp, Moor Ponds,
Wythenshaw, mussel
Daniel Barnett
11lb common, Risby Park,
E Yorkshire, luncheon meat
Danny Hill
4lb 9oz orfe, local lake, County
Durham, caster
SEND IN YOUR
PICTURES
Email us your child’s details,
including their name, the
weight of the fish,
where and how they
caught it, along with a
photograph, to
kingfisherclub
@anglingtimes.co.uk
l Open to children up to 16.
Evie-Leigh Bott-Brown
7lb mirror, Puddledock Farm,
Upminster, Essex, maggots
Hollie Bradbury
18lb mirror, local syndicate,
Blackpool, Lancs, Method
Jake Smith
13lb 4oz ghost carp, local club
lake, Surrey, bread
 We’ll never see
such scenes
again, sadly...

OPENING DAY
MAYHEM, 1979

isn’t a tap that can simply be

ARTHUR’S turned on and off, and orders

for casters always exceeded
possible supply.
WHAT ELSE WAS
HAPPENING

ARCHIVE
So imagine what it was like
in 1979. The winter had been
poor, with river fishing
interrupted by high water, so
everyone was champing at the
Keith recalls how the start of the new river bit. But the new Conservative
season used to bring chaos to tackle shops Chancellor of the Exchequer
decided that June 18 would be
the day to virtually double the
standard rate of VAT on most
PINIONS vary about the shops in April to launch things anglers buy.
EAST MEETS WEST
In May, Elton John becomes
the first musician from the
West ever to perform live in
the Soviet Union.
THE NATION TUNES IN…
The last episode of the first
series of the BBC sitcom
To the Manor Born is
watched by 23.95 million

O the effect the closed

season has on the
tackle trade.
I worked in tackle shops for
15 years, and for all that time
a closed season was in force
on all coarse fisheries. Some
anglers who simply couldn’t
stay away from the waterside
went trout fishing — this was
the time of a big growth in fly
fishing, as the Midlands
reservoirs and some specialist
big-fish venues opened up.
Others went to the sea or
estuaries for their sport.
Still more just came into the
shop to see — and buy — new
coarse tackle that came into
“Nowadays, June 16 is no longer
that year’s range. Some
anglers would have items set
aside, and use the money
they’d usually spend on
fishing to buy their new gear.
A few of the regulars –
mostly match anglers — would
continue to pop in to see us
for their regular Friday
afternoon cuppa.
From the weekend before
opening day it became a
madhouse. Having sold
virtually no maggots for three
months, and not many for a
few months before that,
things went berserk. Maggot
farms inevitably had
shortages, as bait breeding
The news meant that from a
normal madhouse situation, it
turned into a proper Bedlam.
viewers, setting an all-
time high for a recorded
programme in the UK.
There were four tackle shops CHEAP BEER
within a mile of the one I CHAIN OPENS
managed, and every one of The first J D Wetherspoon
them, for the entire week pub is opened in the London
before, was rammed out. Borough of Haringey. The
Carbon rods were new, and chain would peak at 951
my fingers were raw from pubs in 2015, a figure which
whipping guides on to shiny now stands at just over 830.
blanks, as well as replacing
rings that had worn out in
February but only been
remembered the week before
June 16.
Nowadays, June 16 is no
longer ‘glorious’, it’s just
another day. A few exclusively
river anglers will be back, but
trade won’t have that
wonderful boost that paid off

‘glorious’, it’s just another day” stock order debts and raised
the spirits of all coarse anglers.

June 4, 2024 51
 SEND YOUR PICS
AND LETTERS TO:
ATLETTERS@BAUERMEDIA.CO.UK

HOW TO
NOTHING LIKE THE REAL THING!
NOWADAYS, if you’re unable to go fishing, a console, or the excitement of seeing one
GET IN TOUCH
all you have to do is load up your gaming finally in the net.
console and play the game. Not only is it enjoyable, but being out in
The trouble is, these games are generally nature and the fresh air is always better Media House,
more accessible than actually going fishing. than staying in bed all day. In my opinion, Lynchwood,
Often, the real thing isn’t given a chance. in order to get young people into angling Peterborough,
I am 16 years old, and I still remember my we need to encourage them to go, and Cambs PE2 6EA
joy at catching my first fish – a tiny little allow them to enjoy a moment that will
silver weighing less than an ounce. without a doubt keep them hooked for life. Editor
James Furness
Real fishing can’t be enjoyed without Luke Gilman, email james.furness@bauermedia.co.uk
experiencing it. On these games you can go Production Editor
from fishing in canals to jumping straight Stephen Stones
Luke with his stephen.stones@bauermedia.co.uk
on to the River Ebro for huge catfish. But shock 67lb Art Director
where’s the achievement in that? catfish from Peter Caulkett-McClelland
the Trent. peter.mcclelland@bauermedia.co.uk
If I knew that shortly after I turned 15 I’d Tackle Editor
catch a 67lb catfish from the River Trent I Mark Sawyer – 01733 395107
wouldn’t have believed it. mark.sawyer@bauermedia.co.uk
News Editor
Whether other kids would share my Freddie Sandford – 07707 286660
enthusiasm is something I can’t be certain freddie.sandford@bauermedia.co.uk
of. But if they can enjoy playing a fishing Content Lead
Tony Grigorjevs - 01733 395100
game, then going out to a lake would give tony.grigorjevs@bauermedia.co.uk
them a buzz like no other. Digtial Editor
Aidan Bordiuk
You can’t feel the power of fish by playing aidan.bordiuk@bauermedia.co.uk
Tackle Tester
Dan Webb
dan.webb@bauermedia.co.uk
THE ANGLER’S CROSSWORD Editorial Secretary
Stephanie Etchells – 01733 395134
stephanie.etchells@bauermedia.co.uk
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3 What the "one that got away" did (7) CEO, Bauer Publishing UK
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(* indicates an anagram) 22 Boating event e.g. at Henley in July (7) 01858 438884. For overseas call +44 01858
11 Floppy, like exhausted fish (4) 24 Type of oil found in e.g. mackerel – in 438884
ACROSS 12 Sausage __, used in making boilies (3) some garfish! (5)
1 Guru's ____, series of below-the-surface 13/18 Drennan Cup winner 2024 27 Day-off or line crack-off? (5) Syndication
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Solutions to May 28, 2024 crossword Across: 1 Controller 7 Pope 9 Tempt
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10 Body-down 11 Tees 12 Petal 13 Sark 14 Wallis 16 Rig roost 18 Skittles 21 Medley
– and kind of lynx (6) 22 Mesh 24 Wound 25 Dace 26 Overhead 28 Leven 29 Grey 30 Right angle.
10 On the inside (*Nile tarn) (8) Down: 2 On the Bank 3 Tomo's 4 Octopus 5 Lobster 6 Red flag 7 Pod 8 Power 13 Snood
15 Latch 17 Suez Canal 19 Low gear 20 Spurdog 21 Mudflat 23 Elver 25 Devon 27 Ray.
June 4, 2024 52
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 LAST CAST WITH DOM
DOM GARNETT – ONE MAN DETERMINED TO KEEP THE PLEASURE IN ANGLING

One of the ei
gh
carp that di t
dn
do my head ’t
in...

“I’ve been robbed of half my repeatedly casting, feeding

and sweating. The peace
doesn’t last, though. The next

float collection, and my mind”

hooked carp doesn’t just break
the reeds, but crunches my
rod! Once again, deep breaths
follow awful language.
OR the 18th time, I every time a carp barges go light and lose the fish. It has been a tough
F thought I’d landed the
perfect cast. ‘Perfect’,
in this case, being one inch
through them. But I’ve done
this dance before, and it’s not
a slow one but a nerve-
What the hell are these carp
playing at?
They refuse to leave cover,
afternoon for most
combatants but, in the last
hour or so, the carp seem to
from certain death. shredder – it’s the lairy track even when bribed with an be a little more enthusiastic.
‘Perfect’ being that one-in- that makes blokes shove each all-you-can-eat pellet attack. For once, they come a little
six cast where you don’t miss other and pints get spilled. Just to rub in how liberally further out from cover and
by a mile or snag up. Within There are plenty of moments I’m feeding, I hook a big once, twice, three times in
three seconds, the float has in angling when the win and skimmer hybrid thingy just succession there is that
gone and the rod pulls into a loss margins are Rizla-thin. 12ins deep. winning feeling of getting the
‘U’ shape. The reeds shake, Correct, it would be a dull In fairness, I’ve managed ‘feed, cast and strike’
everything locks solid, and I sport if it was always simple. four carp, including two sequence bang on.
fill the air with expletives. But, by God, I wish there was proper units, But I shudder to My eight carp are not
It’s the midpoint in the an easier way of extracting think how many I’ve lost, enough to trouble the top
match, and the midpoint in carp from peg 38. including one absolute places, but I manage third in
my local league season today At times it’s like trying to roll leviathan. Oh well, you win section. I can’t quite decide if
at Avalon Fishery, where I’m a double six while someone some, you lose lots! my day represents points
losing the plot trying to keeps stealing the dice. By halfway in, I’ve not only gained or points lost. I then
extract overgrown carp from a Cast short of the cover and been robbed of half my float remember that the bailiff has
similarly overgrown island. you get nothing – cast a touch collection, but my mind. a plastic boat.
At first glance, peg 38 looked tight and you get an instant To settle the nerves a little, “Excuse me, mate,” I say.
quite tempting. Twenty-five bite, followed by an I decide to sling out a bomb “Is there any chance you
yards out is an island with unstoppable trip to snagsville. for a while. It’s a mercy just to might be able to retrieve a
boards, and reeds that knock Go heavy and lose the bites, have 10 minutes when I’m not pellet waggler or five?”

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