fishing – Page 2 – The Masterblanker

It is not the size that matters

Sometimes it is not the size that matters but sometimes the method of capture. I had wanted to catch a double figure carp on my Bruce and Walker Mk4 ever since I purchased it and now that I have a full set of Andrew Field floats I had just the chance. I quick trip down to a small commercial near where I live and 1st cast landed this beauty. She pulled the scales fown to 11lb once the sling was taken off and was well deserved.

Bait… well nothing at all. I was just testing the float at my feet to get the correct shotting on the float and the hook picked up a ball of chod from the bottom. Carp grabbed the chod ( and my hook) when I dropped it back in the water. Continue reading “It is not the size that matters”

Boilies are not the answer

Like many carp anglers I have gotten blinkered into believing that boilies are the only way, I have even written reviews of boilies here and pretty much all of my carp have been on boilies for the past few years. However all that is going to change as of now…. well last week.

Last week I was fishing a small commercial where I was told that the approach should be “anything but boilies” and having blanked there before on boilies I could well believe them. So being a boillie angler what else was there to use. In the past when I was a kid I used to use luncheon meat all the time however I remember that it was a real nightmare keeping it on the hook so I found myself looking for something else. Continue reading “Boilies are not the answer”

Hand Made Floats – the proof is in the pudding

Some of you may know that I have a thing for items of beauty and when I spotted the website by Andrew Field with his wonderful hand made floats, I was smitten. The quality was stunning and I decided then and there that I had to have a few, even though I don’t really float fish a great deal. As my birthday was fast approaching I asked my wife if she could get me a selection as a birthday present which she dully did. I expected to get a single float but what I received surpassed my wildest imaginations ( apparently I don’t have much of an imagination) as I got not only 6 floats but also a really snazzy aluminium float tube. Continue reading “Hand Made Floats – the proof is in the pudding”

The view from the swim – ThorneyWeir

Just off to thorneyweir for a few days. I much prefer fishing midweek so as i had the chance (thanks Una) i thought i would grab it with both hands. There are (or were) fish over at least 1 rod so i am hoping for my 1st thorney carp soonish. If i manage to winkle one out i will drop a message here.

Actually, hold the presses, a pike just hammered some poor roach right in my swim. At least something likes my bait.

A few thoughts on blanking and sponsored anglers

I have ( like many I suppose) been reading more about carp fishing this winter than catching or even carping its self. One thing has struck me very plainly about the magazines ( and I am not going to name names) is that if you believed everything that you read in them, some anglers never blank… Not even during the winter, not even ( it seems) when the lakes are frozen over. They are carp catching machines who never seem to suffer the pitfalls mother nature and fate throws before us mere mortals. They are the gods of carp fishing, and 99% of them were unknown 15 years ago. Continue reading “A few thoughts on blanking and sponsored anglers”

Kontrol Polar Ice Polarising sunglasses review

Polarised sunglasses are the Xray specs of the carp fishing world, they allow you to turn the harsh silvery glare of a lakes surface into a clear fish tank revealing not only our quarry but also any features that may have been lurking. As you can probably guess I am a very large fan of polarised sunglasses and take a pair with me fishing on even the most dull of days as when you need polarised sunglasses you really need them. Not only will they help you see fish they will also help cut down in eye strain ensuring that even if you are “casting at the sun” your eyes will not feel like it. Additionally if you are a lure fisherman or fly fisherman a pair of sports sunglasses will also give you basic eye protection against everything from a misplaced fly to weed and lake water flying off of your reel. Continue reading “Kontrol Polar Ice Polarising sunglasses review”

pimp your spomb

Inspired by a post on carp-forums.co.uk I decided to “pimp my spomb” I have no idea what it has done to the aerodynamics but I suspect it will work just fine… and be purple and gold spangly at the same time. Now I can Spomb in style ! and I have the perfect accompaniment to my pink marker braid.

Watch out Thorney Weir, when you see my pink and gold missile flying over head you will know that there is some serious carping about to happen… or something like that. So what have you senselessly pimped / modified in your time ? share it in a comment below.

UPDATE with quite a lot of embarrassment I have just realized that there was a pimp your spomb competition run by Spomb themselves on facebook… oh well just one of the joys of “not doing facebook” ™ – I think I will mail to them to see if mine would have won 🙂

Remember your License

Just a quick post to remind you all in the UK that your rod license will expire at the end of the month. Go here to get a new one sorted out and remember that if you fish 3 rods you need 2 licenses.You can also get your license at the post office or by calling 0844 800 5386 there is no excuse for not having one.

Considering that it is a criminal offence to fish with out a rod license, do you really want to take a chance for the sake of £27 ? Remember that whilst some of you might not exactly agree with the EA, they really do do lots of benefit to the nations rivers and if there is a disaster they will respond. Get your license now and secure the future of our sport.

If you are a river fisherman also remember that your season expires in 10 days time ( so I will be seeing you all on the lakes then 🙂 )

End of the pike season

well it is the 3rd of March and that means for most of us that the pike season ended 3 days ago. Sad really that we have abandoned closed seasons on most waters in the UK ( though not in Norfolk) but we still cling to this antiquated idea that October – March is the pike season.I think some lobbying of my local water owners may be needed.

Anyway it is time to unload the lure kit out of the car and any quick sessions will now require a whole load more planning to sure that bait is fresh before setting out. One of the huge advantages of pike fishing is that you can just “grab and go” as lures are always ready.

Now on with the carp campaign 2011, hopefully it will be better than the carp campaign 2010 as the UK has not been kind to me yet fishing wise.