Angling Lines blog

Izaak Walton’s famous book ‘The Complete Angler’ was a celebration of our sport, based on the central theme that angling is an art that transcends the objective of catching fish.

Angling then is the technique of catching fish using a rod and line; it is called “angling” because of the angle formed by the two. It has been suggested that the quintessential step of making fishing into a sport, rather than just a means of catching fish for food, was the invention of the rod.  It is considered a sport, then when practised for enjoyment. Anglers sometimes attempt to catch only one type of fish, in our case the Carp, often limiting their equipment to increase the sport - Sports commonly refer to activities where the physical capabilities of the competitor are the sole or primary determiner of the outcome.

Since the beginning then, angling’s rules and traditions have been laid down to provide sport by imposing a certain level of difficulty. I think everyone would agree that there are far easier and swifter ways of extracting fish from a lake or river than by rod and line.  Nets, deadlines, multiple hooked lines and explosives would all be far more effective than a simple hook,rod and line. (Admittedly the latter suggestion makes catch and release somewhat difficult!!) continue reading…

In modern carp fishing the ability to cast further is a definite advantage in the anglers armoury. The fact is, that despite what their estimated casting range is, most anglers will struggle to better 100 yards by any great margin.

Not all waters allow boats or bait boats, so being able to cast is a real plus, and can make the difference between catching and not catching. I remember all too well blanking on a lake in France because the fish were at 150 yards and I couldn’t reach them. The Dutch guy in the next peg was casting there easily. Needless to say he bagged up… much to my frustration.

We can’t all afford to go out and buy top of the range gear, which is what you ‘ll need to compete with the top casters.. that and loads of tuition and a modicum of talent. For us mere mortals a few hints and tips can get us up to the 140-150 yards range. I’ve done it measured, so as an average caster I can tell you it works. These tips were picked up from Mark Hutchinson and Mehdi Daho, but if you really want to get into the big league. I suggest you take lessons with someone like Mark.

Ok so here are 10 tips that will help you cast further with your regular carp gear. continue reading…

By Jamie Simpson

Ever heard of a disease called – Leptospirosis?

No? … didn’t think so! How about Weil’s disease?

What is Leptospirosis?

Leptospira interrogans are a microscopic corkscrew-shaped bacterium which causes the disease leptospirosis. This is carried in the urine of rodents and transmitted to lakes, rivers, canals, and soft damp ground during the act of urination. Humans can then contract this through open cuts, sores, eyes, or through swallowing contaminated water. Leptospirosis is often referred to as Weils disease in the case of contaminated humans.

What has this got to do with carp angling? EVERYTHING!

Every time we go fishing we are potentially exposing ourselves to Weil’s disease. We all mix our Method mixes with lake water and we all wash our hands in the margins. Anything from a broken blister created after sticking bait out, to a cut from casting or knot-tying can leave us exposed to possible infection and just because you can’t see any evidence of rats – it doesn’t mean they aren’t there. Remember, rats are largely a nocturnal animal. Leaving cans and bottles of beer in your landing net to keep cool might seem the right thing to do in the hot summer days, but this is a sure-fire way of risking exposure. Just rubbing your shirt around the top of the can or bottle will not kill off the bacteria. Leaving your kettle and pans outside your bivvy door is not safe either. Rats are incontinent therefore they will urinate on the move, so anything they come into contact with could become contaminated.

What Are The Chances Of Catching It? continue reading…

Generally speaking the bulk of tackle used for UK carp angling is perfectly adequate for the continent, but it is worth bearing in mind that many of the French waters are much larger than the UK and more importantly, you will be faced with bigger fish for the most part. Here then I propose a list here of my recommendations, drawn on the experience of over 15 years Carping in France.

Rods:

The tendency has been for more and more powerful rods. A few years ago a 3lb test was a very powerful rods. But as carbon fibre compounds from the top rods manufacturers have improved so has the responsiveness of these blanks. A 3lb rods is no longer a stiff broom handle. While 2.5lb or 2.75lb rods are fine for many waters I personally prefer the 3lb to 3.5lb category for their versatility. I’ve used these rods, in my case Bruce Ashby Mirage’s in every type of situation, from the mighty Orient to small two acre pools. I find a rod of this test curve excellent for PVA bags and Method Feeders as well as fishing at ‘mega’ long range. The extra clout certainly helps when you have a bigger kipper on…

continue reading…

Are you ready to go to Carping in France…

Steve Guy over on the Quest Baits Blog submitted and interesting piece about making the most of this time of the year to prepare for the coming season. Well what he says here makes a lot of sense. But his points about checking your equipment and replacing bits and pieces is not only relevant to the coming season in the UK, but equally true for those going abroad.

In fact I think the post is even more crucial if you are venturing out to France this Spring, because many of the pieces of gear you use in the UK are simply not available readily in France. The tackle shops here are getting better, but the influx of cheap ‘own brand’ copies of the proper tackle has taken France by storm. Shops like ‘Mondial Pêche’ or Pacific Pêche’ often only carry their own brand of a certain piece of tackle. They will do the job but I prefer the items made by Kord, Drennan etc.

So as well as the checks suggested by Steve:

• A check of the condition of your main line wouldn’t go amiss

• How about tying up some new rigs and checking your stock of terminal tackle at the same time

• What’s your stock of bait and pellet like

• How’s your PVA supplies looking after a damp few weeks in the shed

• Are your digital camera batteries charged

What else should you look at for France? continue reading…