hnv

Hi Mate,
The likely looking areas already mentioned are good places to start to locate river carp, especially any permanent boat moorings.
River carp can be somewhat nomadic in their travels but they are also creatures of habit. In my experience, most populations of river carp have a 'home' that will return to after their travels. If you are lucky enough to spot a carp in a stretch, that area is definately worth targeting. If you happen to see a feeding carp, then get a rig in there!
 

Hi Mate,
The likely looking areas already mentioned are good places to start to locate river carp, especially any permanent boat moorings.
River carp can be somewhat nomadic in their travels but they are also creatures of habit. In my experience, most populations of river carp have a 'home' that will return to after their travels. If you are lucky enough to spot a carp in a stretch, that area is definately worth targeting. If you happen to see a feeding carp, then get a rig in there!
 

Rules are put in place to keep landowners, lake owners, clubs and fish safe and happy, so as such there are no silly rules.
You may not agree with them, but they should be followed, although there is one on a well known tackle manufacturers lake that I find is a form of pollution, and is also a practice that must be stopped: 'all leads must be dropped on the take'.
As such I will never fish that manufacturers lakes, I find the rule abhorrent, a disgusting practice.
 
No plastics, brilliant rule.

I do remove it usually but left it on in the picture by accident! I have removed it in the later shot.
 
It can be useful to stick the putty onto for a pop-up but I tend to remove it.

A truly inspirational book that gives an insight into fishing for some of the most sought after UK carp from some of the country's most difficult waters. The narrative reads well (there are a few grammatical errors but on the whole is quite well written) and considering the book was written long-hand using pen and paper is testament to Terry's patience and attention to detail. One or two of the guest chapters do leave a lot to be desired however, with one in particular that perhaps should not have made the final print (at least without a total re-write) as it reads terribly. Rather like an abbreviated list of angling actions. Thankfully this chapter is quite short!
 
The book covers Terry's exploits from his early Yateley days, Wraysbury and a new British record, the "secret" mere, right up until his capture of "two tone" from Conningbrook at over fifty pounds.
Some of the Yateley chapters I found fascinating with detailed descriptions of both the historic waters and the equally historic carp that reside within (or at least used to - even rare, historic carp do not live forever!).
The chapters describing the fishing on the Mere (aka: Secret mere, Black mere, Colne mere) are excellent and really compelling reading. The lengths that Terry and Co. went to in order to catch the carp from this awesome venue are quite astounding culminating in Terry's capture of the "black mirror" a rarely caught, beautiful English carp of monstrous proportions.
 
On the whole, a good carp book and interesting read. Recommended for any "dyed in the wool" carp angler.

If making your own batch of boilies you can easily make a small, separate batch of hookbaits with elevated levels of certain attractors.
 
Take a small portion of basemix and sieve it to remove any larger particles or seeds that are present.
 
Make a 1 egg mix but add say half of the attractors and liquid foods for a 4 egg mix. So for example: 1 egg, 10ml Minamino, 5-10ml salmon oil, 2ml caviare flavour, 1g Betaine, 3 drops black pepper oil.
 
Add sieved base mix and either roll as normal or mould around cork balls for pop-ups.
 
If you require a harder hookbait (the sieving will help this) then the boiling times can be increased for these hookbaits by up to twice the normal time, largely due to the elevated levels of attractors. They sound excessive but don't forget, these are hookers only and will not be eaten.
 
You should now have a small batch of highly attractive, slightly hard hookbaits that are carrying the same smells as your free offerings...
Happy days!

I was a little disappointed with this book I must admit. Perhaps Neil should be credited as being the editor rather than the author (he writes a couple of chapters but the book is largely a compilation of guest chapters by other authors / anglers).
 
I have done a bit of river carping myself so I was expecting a really in-depth, technical "how to" type of book that would go into detail about specific river methods and techniques. What I actually got was more of an anecdotal memoir sort of book with each contributor detailing their own favourite stretch of river or big fish, river capture.
The writing skill of each contributor varies somewhat (as you would expect) with some of the chapters lacking in any real substance apart from "look what I caught". Two notable exceptions are Mark Law's chapter on the Severn and Shaun Harrison's one on the Trent - both well written.
 
Although not quite what I was expecting it is still worth reading and does make a useful addition to the carp library. There are a few decent bait recipes to be found within it's pages (and a couple of dodgy ones!).
Perhaps the most disappointing aspect of the book for me is that the River Wye (it used to be my local and holds some monstrous carp and is probably one of best "carp" rivers in the country) is not mentioned at all.
 
On the whole an "OK" carp fishing book but a little disappointing due the lack of technical detail.
Neil himself mentions in the preface that "very little has been written about river carp fishing in the past".
Well, I'm sorry to say but this statement still holds true despite the publication of this book!
 
Recommended only for the most avid carp angling reader or somebody heavily into river carping.

This is a great little rig useful in a variety of angling situations but is especially good for PVA bag and method work.
 
It utilises a soft and supple braid with a shrink tube line aligner for maximum hooking potential.
 
 
 
 
 
Choose your preferred braid, here I am using Merlin from Kryston.

 
 
 
 
Tie a simple overhand loop in the end of the braid. This will form the hair loop to keep the bait on.

 
 
 
 
 
To tie the knotless knot, first pass the end of the hooklink through the hook eye by going from the back towards the point as shown.

 
 
 
 
 
Lay the hooklink along the shank of the hook to form the hair.

 
 
 
 
 
Start whipping around the hook shank, trapping the hair against the back of the hook. I like to go around 7 times but you should continue whipping until the hair exits the hook shank opposite the point.

 
 
 
 
 
Finish the knot by keeping the whippings tight and passing the tag end back through the hook eye from the same direction as before, i.e. from the back towards the point and pull tight.

 
 
 
 
 
The finished knot.

 
 
 
 
 
Select your chosen shrink tube.

 
 
 
 
 
Cut a small section of shrink tube.

 
 
 
 
 
Thread the tube onto the link.

 
 
 
 
 
Push the tube over the knot as shown.

 
 
 
 
 
Select the method of attaching you rig, i.e. swivel, rig ring, etc. Here I am using an oval rig ring. Tie on with your preferred knot (I use a Grinner).

 
 
 
 
 
The tied rig.

 
 
 
 
 
The last stage is to steam the shrink tube in the steam of a kettle. Note how I introduce a curve / bend into the tube.
 
CAUTION: TAKE GREAT CARE WHEN USING STEAM AS SERIOUS BURNS CAN OCCUR.

 
 
 
 
 
Here is the finished rig. Ideal for using in solid PVA bags or the method feeder.

My first indicators were monkey climbers made from disposable fag lighters and my mum's knitting needles!

I have some of those exact same reels and I love them.

This morning I've been and brought myself the new trakker f-32 I've tryed this suit on all together today and it feels really warm...only time will tell.
But the best bit is I brought this from go outdoors who priced matched.. angling direct which was £75:99 and go outdoors beat that by 10% so I got my self a right bargain in my eyes! So I've posted this if anyone wants to save some pennies price match

What about centre pins..?!
 
Lol

What you describe is the incorrect use of a baitrunner, usually by novice anglers. Having the baitrunner set so loose that yards and yards of line are taken with no resistance before the rod is picked up is just daft.
Unless fishing extremely close in, the baitrunner should yeild line but not so loose as you let the carp run for miles. it should yield line 'begrudgingly'. During the day when you are sat near the rods and awake, there is no need to yield much line at all...

What you describe is the incorrect use of a baitrunner, usually by novice anglers. Having the baitrunner set so loose that yards and yards of line are taken with no resistance before the rod is picked up is just daft.
Unless fishing extremely close in, the baitrunner should yeild line but not so loose as you let the carp run for miles. it should yield line 'begrudgingly'. During the day when you are sat near the rods and awake, there is no need to yield much line at all...

I get it, they reinvented the wheel, so its a lever instead of a quarter turn or just so i can pull line off with some effort.
 
Sent from my P9000 using Tapatalk

A truly inspirational book that gives an insight into fishing for some of the most sought after UK carp from some of the country's most difficult waters. The narrative reads well (there are a few grammatical errors but on the whole is quite well written) and considering the book was written long-hand using pen and paper is testament to Terry's patience and attention to detail. One or two of the guest chapters do leave a lot to be desired however, with one in particular that perhaps should not have made the final print (at least without a total re-write) as it reads terribly. Rather like an abbreviated list of angling actions. Thankfully this chapter is quite short!
 
The book covers Terry's exploits from his early Yateley days, Wraysbury and a new British record, the "secret" mere, right up until his capture of "two tone" from Conningbrook at over fifty pounds.
Some of the Yateley chapters I found fascinating with detailed descriptions of both the historic waters and the equally historic carp that reside within (or at least used to - even rare, historic carp do not live forever!).
The chapters describing the fishing on the Mere (aka: Secret mere, Black mere, Colne mere) are excellent and really compelling reading. The lengths that Terry and Co. went to in order to catch the carp from this awesome venue are quite astounding culminating in Terry's capture of the "black mirror" a rarely caught, beautiful English carp of monstrous proportions.
 
On the whole, a good carp book and interesting read. Recommended for any "dyed in the wool" carp angler.

If making your own batch of boilies you can easily make a small, separate batch of hookbaits with elevated levels of certain attractors.
 
Take a small portion of basemix and sieve it to remove any larger particles or seeds that are present.
 
Make a 1 egg mix but add say half of the attractors and liquid foods for a 4 egg mix. So for example: 1 egg, 10ml Minamino, 5-10ml salmon oil, 2ml caviare flavour, 1g Betaine, 3 drops black pepper oil.
 
Add sieved base mix and either roll as normal or mould around cork balls for pop-ups.
 
If you require a harder hookbait (the sieving will help this) then the boiling times can be increased for these hookbaits by up to twice the normal time, largely due to the elevated levels of attractors. They sound excessive but don't forget, these are hookers only and will not be eaten.
 
You should now have a small batch of highly attractive, slightly hard hookbaits that are carrying the same smells as your free offerings...
Happy days!