MAGAZINE ARTICLES

UK CARP

  • The Great Hookbait Experiment – Ricky Thomas

    Three rods, three different hookbait presentations, one baited area. Which one catches the most fish – pop-up, wafter or bottom bait? Ricky Thomas investigates... MOST anglers today use three rods and quite often they opt to fish all three in a tight area, especially when looking to get the fish feeding well. With that in mind...

  • Up Close and Personal – Lewis Read

    “All my target fish are special” He’s caught some of the most desired carp in the land. Here’s what Gardner’s Lewis Read has to say. LEWIS Read has fished many of the country’s toughest waters, including the tricky Car Park Lake, where he caught his personal best – the famous Heather the Leather at 47lb 12oz. UK Carp spoke to him...

  • Super Singles – Ricky Thomas

    Ricky Thomas demonstrates the effectiveness of keeping your rods active and finding the fish during a session on a large winter reservoir WINTER carp fishing is a challenge. Fish will usually be lethargic, so I find a mobile approach gives me the best shot at locating them. Durleigh Reservoir is an 80-acre venue with a good...

  • Simple and Tangle-Free – Calum Kletta

    Calum Kletta’s take on a favourite rig means he can fish it anywhere from right under the rod-tip to extreme range. I AM not an angler that spends sleepless nights over minute changes that I could make to my rigs – I would much rather they were simple and effective. For this reason, my favourite is the snowman rig, but I do make...

  • No Escape with This – Ian Lewis

    “This is a rig I have a lot of faith in. Ist ’fairly simple to tie, almost tangle-free and offers superb hook holds with great anti-eject properties,” says Gardner’s Ian Lewis. I USE this rig over most substrates, and the broken colour of the Disruption coated braid blends in nicely, especially when you've got a mixture of...

  • Little Baits Big Carp – Ricky Thomas

    Gardner Tackle’s Ricky Thomas looks at how smaller baits can catch wary specimens. WITH the modern big-fish scene now dominated by boilies, it’s not surprising to see how many anglers arrive at their chosen venue, get the throwing stick out and fire out 18mm baits. With their aerodynamic shape and different application methods, it makes...

  • Into Iktus – Nick Burrage

    Nick Burrage finds there’s something special brewing at this crystal-clear venue in the far south of France... MOST people book their French trips well in advance, but my trip to Iktus Lake came round rather quickly to say the least. After speaking to Robert Watts from carpfishingtrips.co.uk who takes bookings for...

  • Digger Lakes – Ricky Thomas

    Gardner Tackle’s Ricky Thomas fishes Digger Lakes in Devon for the first time and reveals the tactics he uses for a successful debut... YOUR first session on a venue is always exciting as you plan how to get that first fish in the net. There are some simple rules I always follow to give me an edge, and they certainly served me...

  • Close Encounters – Ian Lewis

    There's an instant cure for insect bites, sunburn and hay fever that exists only to anglers. All the unwanted by-products of a summer’s day on the bank are banished in a flash by a screaming clutch. Ian Lewis’s single rod, lying in the freshly trampled grass of a tucked-away margin spot, is shaking and bouncing as a fleeing...

  • Does Boilie Colour Matter – Tom Oliver

    Gardner-sponsored angling coach Tom Oliver discusses the role that both bright and dull hookbaits play throughout the seasons. I'm often asked why I use certain hookbait colours in particular fishing situations at different times of the year. Through experience, my decisions now come as second nature, but it was...

CARP TALK

  • Making The Most Of It – Tony Welch

    I was watching the telly when my wife said, “You haven’t been night fishing for a few weeks. Why don’t you go for a couple of nights?” She was correct; I had only done a single night’s fishing in each of the previous three months. Of course, I had done plenty of day sessions, but that’s the way I like to go in the winter…

  • A Great Year – Kai Richards

    I have had a great year’s fishing, catching 10 thirties and my first UK forty. I have been concentrating on a syndicate water in Ringwood and this is currently my second year on there, but this year I have managed a few special ones. My first memorable session was during the middle of March. I decided to set up on the Woods…

  • Up Close and Personal – Calum Kletta

    There can’t be a more exciting way of catching a big carp (or any carp for that matter) than watching it feed close into the bank, planning your approach and then watching the moment the fish is hooked! It is an easy and effective way of fishing, but too many anglers get caught up in the three-rods-on-a-spot-and-sit-back-and-wait…

  • Back to France – Calum Kletta

    In the early spring last year Tom Oliver, Andy Loble and I had a brilliant long weekend trip to France, visiting a lake called Lac de Laneuville. We all managed bites, which was a result given the freezing cold conditions, and I managed three thirties topped by a 36lb common. At the end of March 2014 I was lucky enough…

  • Abbey Adventures – Calum Kletta

    In 2012 I was lucky enough to get a winter trip to the famous Abbey Lakes complex in France with the purpose of doing some filming for the Gardner Tackle website and YouTube channel. We did really well with all three of us catching new PBs and even two fifties between us. We had been keen to get back ever since…

  • Ambition Achieved – Chewy French

    Understandably, I was full of excitement and anticipation as I arrived for my first session on Horton Church Lake. With the carp barrow loaded, I headed off on to the banks. I’d never even seen the Lake before and came to an abrupt stop when I first gazed across the water, almost pulling a muscle in my cheeks with…

  • Snag Fishing – Lewis Clayton

    Since the start of the year I've been doing one night a week on a local water near me called Winterley Pool in Sandbach. I've been so busy with work that travelling and fishing longer sessions has just not been feasible. It’s a shallow lake, only averaging four feet, so it has good cold-water form. I have enjoyed my time on…

  • Creeping Up on a Margin Monster – Nick Burrage

    Margin fishing and stalking have always been a big passion of mine, even from the early days in my carping career. I would often use paste baits to outwit my quarry, only being able to fish a few yards from the bank. This was more due to the soft bait really, but this close range carping has always stayed in my blood…

  • Perfecting a Rig – Nick Burrage

    It can take years of personal findings to perfect a rig. Despite all the rigs shown in magazines or websites for you to try, I notice there’s always something missing: you’re own confidence and understanding! As I take you through my findings from over the years, I will try my best to rub off some of my confidence on to you…

CRAFTY CARPER

  • Trilakes Red Letter Day – Brandon Butler

    Young Brandon Butler is this month’s Under-21s writer, and not only has he got a great story to tell about catching lots of fish, they are also absolute stunners. I decided on a 48hr-session at Trilakes Country Park because I have been trying to get amongst the bigger residents which I have seen there. The weather was spot on...

  • The Multi-Recoil – Paul Hatton

    After experiencing problems with pest species, Paul Hatton makes a few tweaks to get around the little blighters, and has come up with a Multi-Rig approach which incorporates a nifty little recoil effect. I’m a firm believer in not fixing what isn’t broken when it comes to my rigs, but now and again you find yourself in a...

  • The Good Old Bag and Stick – Paul Hatton

    We’ve all seen features about using PVA, but Paul Hatton has gone one step further. His aim is to get you more bites by letting you in on his most successful mixes which have accounted for plenty of fish over the years. The good old PVA bag – I’m sure that pretty much every carp angler uses PVA on a regular basis. A simple mesh...

  • Stories of Success – Kai Richards

    This time, young Kai Richards tells the story of quite possibly the best month’s carp angling anyone could ever wish for. Prepare to be amazed! March was quite possibly my best month of angling since I can remember. It started with a 48-hour session in a swim where I had seen a fish bosh out while I was walking around the pit...

  • Rig Concealment – Rich Adams

    This month we catch up with Rich Adams to get the lowdown on the business end of his rods, and how he likes his rigs to be as stealthy as possible on the lakebed. How important is rig concealment for you? When it comes to rigs, I have always liked to keep things as simple as possible; if something is working I stick...

  • Particle Power – Paul Hatton

    Much is written about boilie fishing and getting the best from your boilies, but don’t forget the magical particles. We go in-session with Paul Hatton to find out how he makes the most of the humble particle. I’ve been using particles in my carp fishing for years and years. I imagine that many of you have too, but have you..

  • Get on Top – Rich Adams

    This month we catch up with Rich Adams and head off on a floater fishing adventure to see if he can bag a couple on the top. It’s a lovely warm afternoon and he’s only got his surfacefishing gear to hand, so the challenge is on. It was a lovely afternoon when I arrived at my syndicate lake to fi nd a warm, light southwesterly...

  • Stories of Success – Calum Kletta

    Hauling machine Calum Kletta relives his autumn campaign, when he joined a new syndicate and seemed to get amongst the fish pretty quickly. If you want to read about catching chunks and lots of them, you’ll love this one. 64 Crafty Carper “This one felt like a big fish through the whole battle, and 15 minutes later, with great...

  • Backleads – Lewis Read

    If you like to stay discreet and keep your lines away from your cautious prey, then using backleads can give you a definite edge. Lewis Read gives you the low-down on what, where, how and why. With the increase in popularity of fluorocarbon line, you could be forgiven for thinking that the days of the good old-fashioned backlead...

CFA

  • Fake It on Three Levels – Alan Stagg

    Imitations, or fake baits as they are called, have a big advantage over natural baits in that they are less likely to suffer from the attentions of nuisance fish. Plus they have the advantage of being buoyant, so they can be fished at any depth. Plastic imitations like corn and grubs have been around for ages, and in the…

  • The Rig That Did It – Alan Stagg

    Coarse Fishing Answers expert Alan Stagg is one of the best and most well-known big-fish anglers in the country. He’s captured a number of monster fish over the years and has a PB list to make even the best of us green with envy. His latest capture, though, is one of his best, rocking the big-fish world with one of the biggest…

  • Carp Rigs 101 – Alan Stagg

    Since the evolution of modern carp fishing began way back in the last century, anglers have devised and developed ever-more elaborate rigs to fool ever-more clever fish. Some have come and gone, others are so complicated you need a PhD in design and knot tying to build then, but there are three that every aspiring big-fish…

  • Bag a Big Carp – Alan Stagg

    The PVA bag has become a bit of a go-to presentation for carpers over recent years. In terms of bait presentation it’s pretty much unbeatable. You’re essentially placing your hook bait slap bang on top of a pile of feed, meaning that once a carp comes across your bait and starts feeding the chances of you getting a take are massively…

PREVIOUS ARTICLES

https://gardnertackle.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/pdfs/Guide To Hooks – Part 1.pdf
In one of most fascinating features ever, LEWIS READ reveals everything you will ever need to know about carp hooks.

https://gardnertackle.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/pdfs/Guide To Hooks – Part 2.pdf
LEWIS READ concludes his enthralling two-part feature, exposing myths about common carp hooks.

https://gardnertackle.co.uk/wp-content/pdfs/previous/10 Tips for Tackling Tricky Venues 08-09.pdf
Circuit-waer veteran LEWIS READ reveals how to go about tackling tricky venues and wily carp.

https://gardnertackle.co.uk/wp-content/pdfs/previous/An Introduction to PVA.pdf
In the early 1980’s Gardner launched the first PVA product specifically for use in carp fishing.

https://gardnertackle.co.uk/wp-content/pdfs/previous/Bait From Another Angle.pdf
One of the most crucial aspects of any type of angling is the bait you use…

https://gardnertackle.co.uk/wp-content/pdfs/previous/Barbel Rigs – The Art of Simplicity.pdf
We were delighted when Neil Wayte joined our development Team to work on the new Barbel Range…

https://gardnertackle.co.uk/wp-content/pdfs/previous/Its Time For Big Perch.pdf
CF contributor Alan Stagg knows that big perch are waiting to be caught right now, at a commercial fishery near you. And here are his top tips for super spring action with the ‘Striped Sergeant Major’.

https://gardnertackle.co.uk/wp-content/pdfs/previous/Winter Barbel Fishing.pdf
When it comes to netting his share of winter barbel, Alan Stagg is the kiddie. Here he gives you an insight into how he does what he does. And there’s no smoke and mirrors, whistles and bells. It’s simple and it’s straightforward.

https://gardnertackle.co.uk/wp-content/pdfs/previous/Small River Perching.pdf
Alan Stagg loves to get among some big stripeys and he reckons the time has never been better as this beautiful predator gorges on crayfish and mitten crabs.

https://gardnertackle.co.uk/wp-content/pdfs/previous/The Maggot Attack.pdf
Lewis Read looks at two different ways of presenting one of the greatest winter baits of all time – MAGGOTS!

https://gardnertackle.co.uk/wp-content/pdfs/previous/The Fine Line.pdf
Thinking angler Lewis Read shows you how fining down the approach in winter can help to achieve more cold water bites.

https://gardnertackle.co.uk/wp-content/pdfs/previous/The Waiting Game – Part 1.pdf
In the first part of a new series, Gardner Tackle’s Neil Wayte reveals how it’s possible to catch chub in the harshest of conditions. All you need is a little patience…

https://gardnertackle.co.uk/wp-content/pdfs/previous/The Waiting Game – Part 2.pdf
The best Top specialist Neil Wayte has been enjoying great sport with big perch this winter and we’ve persuaded him to reveal the rig that’s been doing the business.

https://gardnertackle.co.uk/wp-content/pdfs/previous/The Waiting Game – Part 3.pdf
Tough early spring conditions mean you need to think very carefully about your bream approach. Gardner Tackle’s Neil Wayte provides some timely pointers.

https://gardnertackle.co.uk/wp-content/pdfs/previous/Up close for deep-water Bream.pdf
In the first instalment of a short series, top southern specialist Sam Meeuwissen explains how the rarely used fl oat leger can give you an edge on deep-water venues.

https://gardnertackle.co.uk/wp-content/pdfs/previous/Be Prepared for Tench.pdf
Southern specialist Sam Meeuwissen looks at what it takes to ensure you enjoy a great day’s tench
fishing on the feeder.

https://gardnertackle.co.uk/wp-content/pdfs/previous/Catch on Every Session.pdf
Big Fishing Expert LEWIS READ slips a sizeable carp into his net as he demonstrates how you can enjoy success on day-ticket venues, even unfamiliar ones.

https://gardnertackle.co.uk/wp-content/pdfs/previous/The Ultimate Carp Trap.pdf
Innovative Big-Fish angler Chris Felton has developed a lead to nail the wariest carp. He reveals all right here.

https://gardnertackle.co.uk/wp-content/pdfs/previous/Critical Mass.pdf
Gardner Tackle product-development manager LEWIS READ believes that choosing the right lead can be the difference between failure and success.

https://gardnertackle.co.uk/wp-content/pdfs/previous/Keepin it Real.pdf
In a brand-new series, noted big-fish anglers reveal how they approach waters that us lesser mortals face on a regular basis. First up it’s JOHN ELMER…

https://gardnertackle.co.uk/wp-content/pdfs/previous/Catch Carp On The Float.pdf
Using a float can be a great tactic for tackling pressured carp. PHIL KINGSBURY explains how he has used it to bank fish to over 50lb.

https://gardnertackle.co.uk/wp-content/pdfs/previous/Top Ten Zig Tips.pdf
Master the neglected art of zig rigging and you will catch more carp this spring. Luckily, our expert, Lewis Read, is on hand to show you his best zig edges.

https://gardnertackle.co.uk/wp-content/pdfs/previous/The Essential Guide to Fluorocarbon.pdf
LEWIS READ explains how to incorporate fluorocarbon into your approach so that you can slip the net under more carp on your next session.

https://gardnertackle.co.uk/wp-content/pdfs/previous/Drop Zone.pdf
Do your rigs eject the lead unnecessarily and our your lead systems the right ones for the job? According to Lewis Read it’s an often overlooked problem.

https://gardnertackle.co.uk/wp-content/pdfs/previous/Flying the Flag.pdf
I think it’s fair to say that the fishing is pretty good here in the UK. We’ve always been blessed with excellent condidtions for angling so it’s no suprise that pur sport has blossomed here.

https://gardnertackle.co.uk/wp-content/pdfs/previous/From The Surface.pdf
Like many angling disciplines; surface fishing is an art form all of it’s own; perfect for targeting individual fish but equally suitable for a day’s fun fishing on a more prolific venue.

https://gardnertackle.co.uk/wp-content/pdfs/previous/Over The Moon.pdf
Lewis Read goes to the heart of the Berkshire countryside to see if CEMEX Angling’s Theale Two will surrender any of its mythical monsters.

https://gardnertackle.co.uk/wp-content/pdfs/previous/Prime Time Perching.pdf
Ah, the Striped Sergeant Major, more commonly known as the perch. A big, splendid fish, bold of stripe, and full of indignation should you catch one. Alan Stagg loves this fierce-looking predator and here he explains how you can catch your share in the coldest months of the year.

https://gardnertackle.co.uk/wp-content/pdfs/previous/A Guide to Autumn Barbel.pdf
Alan Stagg reveals why he thinks the autumn is best for barbel and advises that a short session “hit and run” approach is often the one to go for.

https://gardnertackle.co.uk/wp-content/pdfs/previous/Give Em Some Groundbait.pdf
Ever thought about incorporating groundbait into your basic barbel approach? Big fish ace Alan Stagg has been experimenting for several months and he insists it could be the way to some bigger, better catches in the future.

https://gardnertackle.co.uk/wp-content/pdfs/previous/Big Prizes From Small Waters.pdf
Alan Stagg loves his piking in the winter and this month he recalls a couple of glorious days chasing the freshwater shark on a tiny river pool.

https://gardnertackle.co.uk/wp-content/pdfs/previous/Fun Along The Way.pdf
Alan Stagg loves his fishing, whether it is the studied pursuit of a monster or time spent on the bank with a mate or two, with fun top of the agenda. This month he describes a day out on a shallow council-owned lake with pal Matt Ekins.

https://gardnertackle.co.uk/wp-content/pdfs/previous/Big Summer Barbel.pdf
Targeting big barbel from small rivers is one of Alan Stagg’s favourite types of fishing. Here he points you in the right direction if you want to pick the cream of the crop from your local river.

https://gardnertackle.co.uk/wp-content/pdfs/previous/Big Pit Tench.pdf
Alan Stagg reveals how he gets to grips with big pit tench. The waters can be daunting but that’s no reason to stay clear. Here’s how to fish them.

https://gardnertackle.co.uk/wp-content/pdfs/previous/Springing On The Summer Pit.pdf
I always look forward as the temperature begins to rise signalling spring is on its way. This means one thing to me, it is time to dust off my light gear and head for the nearest lake with crucian carp in it.

https://gardnertackle.co.uk/wp-content/pdfs/previous/Muscular Purr-Fection.pdf
Alan Stagg is a man who loves to target catfish from time to time. This mysterious, hard-fighting foreign species is now finding its way into more and more British waters. Absorb the expert advice given here and you could soon find yourself in pussy heaven!

https://gardnertackle.co.uk/wp-content/pdfs/previous/Floodwater Barbel.pdf
When the forecast is for persistent rain in the autumn and winter, Gardner and Sonubaits-backed Alan Stagg rubs his hands in glee. It’s time for barbel, if you don’t mind a little bit of mud underfoot.

https://gardnertackle.co.uk/wp-content/pdfs/previous/Try Small Baits for Big Chub.pdf
ALAN STAGG looks at chub fishing in the autumn and winter using small baits like maggots in a feeder or PVA bag. Both methods have their advantages and disadvantages – here’s what he uses and why.

https://gardnertackle.co.uk/wp-content/pdfs/previous/The Bounty Hunter.pdf
A certain Thames tributary had fascinated CF regular Alan Stagg for some time – but little did he know what lay in store for him when he finally bought a ticket.

https://gardnertackle.co.uk/wp-content/pdfs/previous/Rudd On The Radar.pdf
Scardinius erythrophthalmus – better known as the rudd, was Alan Stagg’s new target species for his latest Coarse Fisherman assignment. Soggy sleeping bags and heavy rain ensued … but he succeeded in his quest.

https://gardnertackle.co.uk/wp-content/pdfs/previous/The Perch Experiments.pdf

https://gardnertackle.co.uk/wp-content/pdfs/previous/The Ultimate Field Test.pdf

https://gardnertackle.co.uk/wp-content/pdfs/previous/Throwing Sticks.pdf

https://gardnertackle.co.uk/wp-content/pdfs/previous/In The Silt.pdf
Silt! Who would want to put a hookbait in that? Well I would, for one simple reason: it is often full of bloodworms!

https://gardnertackle.co.uk/wp-content/pdfs/previous/Winter Blues.pdf
It’s that time of year again, and here’s me thinking the planet is supposed to be warming up! After the last few years let’s see what happens this winter. It’s been reasonably mild up to now, fingers crossed, and long may it continue.

https://gardnertackle.co.uk/wp-content/pdfs/previous/Get Ready for France.pdf
Fancy some of that French carping? Tony has a few tips to make your trip a success.

https://gardnertackle.co.uk/wp-content/pdfs/previous/Welcome to the Jungle.pdf
Tony describes how he tackles thick weed and deep silt.

https://gardnertackle.co.uk/wp-content/pdfs/previous/Winter Price Freeze.pdf
Last time I wrote about the benefits of a bulk bait deal, but there are other options available if you can’t afford to take advantage of a bulk offer. One such option would be to roll your own bait at home.

https://gardnertackle.co.uk/wp-content/pdfs/previous/Chods Away.pdf
It’s nearly over; winter, that is! The evenings are already starting to push on with darkness here in Cornwall falling around 6pm. Surely we have seen the worst of it now? (he asks, looking at the sleet on the window…).

https://gardnertackle.co.uk/wp-content/pdfs/previous/Hanging Tough.pdf
Winter is on its way and you need to be prepared for it, says Tony Welch!

https://gardnertackle.co.uk/wp-content/pdfs/previous/Spring into summer.pdf
Now spring is over we move into the summer. Indeed spawning may already be over and done with where you are. Tony gives uyou a few things to consider as we move into the summer months.

https://gardnertackle.co.uk/wp-content/pdfs/previous/Winter Baits.pdf
LEWIS READ explains how to suit the baits you use to the cold conditions and catch more carp as a result.

https://gardnertackle.co.uk/wp-content/pdfs/previous/Winter Rigs.pdf
With the onset of the cold weather, LEWIS READ reveals how to adapt your rigs to ensure that this winter is one to remember.

https://gardnertackle.co.uk/wp-content/pdfs/previous/Winter Tactics.pdf
Even when the conditions are against you there are plenty of carp to be caught. Now’s the time to use the quieter banks and shorter daylight hours to your advantage.