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What to Consider When Buying Line |
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On each spool of line you buy there will be a number indicating its breaking strain. This means that when that amount of pressure is placed on the line it will snap. Most lines, especially unstretched varieties, will take more strain than the stated weight, but always use the breaking strain as a guideline. When buying line you should always consider what type of fishing you will be doing as some lines are made for specific purposes and will not be suitable for general, all-round fishing. If in doubt ask at your tackle shop for advice, telling the assistant what sort of fishing you will be doing.
If you intend to be casting great distances you will want a fairly thin line, which will allow you to cast further. Use a line of around 10lb breaking strain, which will be strong enough to play fish on but thin enough to be cast long distances. Back this up with a shock leader if you want to cast extra far and also to be safe. This is a length of line of high breaking strain (1215lb), which is attached to the weaker mainline (10lb) to withstand the punishment of casting a heavy lead |
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Bivvies and Shelters |
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Being comfortable on the bank is of great importance, especially if you are likely to be fishing for long periods of time as most of us tend to do these days. Your choice of shelter obviously depends on the length of session you are going to be fishing. Based on our experience of fishing all manner of different sessions, ranging from overnight trips where we've had to walk a couple of miles, to two-week sessions out of a swim you can drive to, here are the types of shelter we opt for.
Overnight Lightweight Shelter
There is nothing as good as a simple oval umbrella for short overnight trips. These are marketed by several of the top-flight companies. Not only are they extremely light and slip easily into the rod bag, they are also very strong and very weatherproof. We have used the oval for a number of years now, in both winter and summer and cannot recommend it enough. Besides the brolly itself, you will need a couple of banksticks to prop it up. For further comfort, again at very little extra weight, you can attach a wrap to the brolly.
Long-Stay Shelter
It is becoming increasingly necessary to fish for lengthy periods |
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Carp Care Tackle, Part 1 |
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Unhooking Mats
An unhooking mat is, as the name suggests, a mat used for unhooking fish on. It should be used every time a fish comes out of the water and should be carried by the carp angler at all times. Every time you catch a fish, rather than bring the fish out of the water and unhook it on hard, rough ground, place it on a soft protective mat, such as those marketed by Rod Hutchinson Developments. The mat will cushion the weight of the fish and protect it from any unnecessary damage such as lost scales or cuts, which may lead to infection. The mat should be the right size to comfortably fit the size of the fish you are trying to catch.
When Should they be Used?
As stated above, unhooking mats should always be used when a carp comes out of its natural environment. This could be: when weighing fish, when unhooking fish, when photographing fish or when treating fish. We know for sure that some anglers do not use unhooking mats when weighing and photographing fish. It is vitally important that they are placed underneath the fish when carrying out either of these tasks. The reasons for this |
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Baiting-Up Equipment |
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One of the most important aspects of carping in the 1980s and 90s was the baiting principle - indeed, it still is today. Many beginners will be confused about the whole idea of bait as there are so many companies out there who say theirs is best. Yes, there are some very good baits on the market, but the newcomer should concern himself more with putting a bait in the right place with the correct amount of feed around it, which is far more important. Besides the more obvious ways of placing bait, such as by hand and by manually operated boat, there are many other ways of baiting up your swim.
Catapults
The next step up from baiting by hand, a catapult is useful to bait up to about 60yd maximum. Above this distance the accuracy starts to tail off and you would be better off using something else, such as a throwing stick. Apart from the distance aspect, the main disadvantage with catapults is the 'catty slap' from the elastic - when the pouch flaps back and stings the wrist - which can be very painful, especially in winter. Fox sell some very good catapults, as do Drennan and |
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Carp Care Tackle, Part 2 |
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Making an Unhooking Mat
Although you can purchase unhooking mats from most suitable angling suppliers, some are heavily priced for what they are. Neither of us are creative types, but we have managed to put together a step-by-step guide to how to make a suitable mat for a relatively low cost. This will quite easily protect your fish whilst saving you a bit of cash.
What you need:
Two 40 by 30in (100 by 75cm) sections of waterproof-backed nylon fabric.
One 36 by 26in (90 by 65 cm) section of thick foam padding.
A needle, thread and thimble or a sewing machine.
It is advisable to use good, strong cotton and a leather needle to sew with, as the fabric can be very tough. The waterproof-backed nylon can be purchased cheaply from most material traders. The foam may also be available from market traders or, if you are lucky (like us), there may be a shop in your local town centre that specializes in selling foam; for details of suppliers refer to your local directory.
Method:
1. Lay one piece of the waterproof-backed nylon fabric on the floor with the waterproof side up.
2. Place the piece of foam onto the piece of nylon fabric.
3. Place the second piece |
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