Avid Carpers Vol.8 January/February 2014

AVID CARPERSVolume 8 FREE avidcarp.com

January/February 2014

FREEBI-MONTHLY

MAGAZINE

R I G C L I N I C W I T H N I G E L W I L L I A M ST O P T I P S F O R C O L D W AT E R C A R P I N G

T H E M E T H O D C H O DJon ‘Shoes’ Jones lifts the lid on his innovative Method Chod Rig

PLUS:

Find out how Ian Russell consistently catches carp through the colder months

SECRETSWINTER

I N S I D E : T H E R M A L S U I T F I V E S E AS O N S L E E P I N G B A G A I R R A N G E S P O D R E E L D S K R O D S

The last 12 months have been absolutely incredible and I’ve got to start by thanking you for your continued support and great feedback regarding our products. It appears we’re continuing to get a lot of things right and our innovative and well-designed tackle is proving popular with anglers across the UK and Europe. As a brand, we’re going from strength to strength and I’d like to thank you guys, the anglers using our gear, for all your support.

Looking forward, we’re going to be continuing our quest to help you catch more carp. As well as releasing more innovative products that will improve your success, we’re going to do everything we can to make Avid Carpers magazine bigger, better and more feature-packed than ever. Over the coming months expect to see more features and tips than ever before.

In this issue there’s a feature with me about the advantages of using tubing, a PVA article with Ian Russell and a neat rig piece with Nigel Williams. What’s more, there’s the full story behind Ed Matthews’ 80lb Hungarian monster from Euro Aqua.

Jon ‘Shoes’ Jones

Hello and welcome to the first Avid Carpers magazine of 2014. I hope you had a great Christmas and I’d like to wish everybody a Happy New Year. Hopefully, the year ahead will be full of screaming runs, epic battles and lots of big, fat carp for all of us.

Shoes@jon_AvidCarp @jason_AvidCarp @chemo_AvidCarp @nigel_AvidCarp

FOLLOW our anglers on twitter . . .

January / February 2014 avidcarp.com02

I N T R O J O N J O N E S

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Like us onfacebook/avidcarppage

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0 4 . W I N T E R P VAIan Russell explains everything you need to know about PVA.

1 0 T H E M E T H O D C H O D Jon ‘Shoes’ Jones reveals his revolutionary Method Chod presentation.

1 4 T H E R M A L S U I T

1 5 D O U B L E U PJason Allaway lifts the lid on his favorite pres-sured-water rig.

1 8 D S K R O D S

2 0 T O P T I P S F O R J A N / F E B

2 2 R I G C L I N I CNigel Williams reveals a slight tweak on the popular Hinge Stiff Rig.

2 6 F I V E S E A S O N B A G

2 8 A I R R A N G E S P O D R E E L

3 0 H U N G A R I A N M O N S T E RThe full story behind Ed Matthews’ colossal 80lb mirror.

2 2R I G

C L I N I C

3 0 H U N G A R I A N

M O N S T E R

1 0T H E

M E T H O DC H O D

2 0T O P

T I P S

0 4W I N T E R

P VA

www.carpcrossing.com

http://www.maximumcarp.net

http://https://www.carpology.net

http://www.craftycarper.co

http://www.gofishing.co.uk/Angling-Times/Section/UK-Carp-magazine/

http://www.carptalk-online.co.uk

http://www.gofishing.co.uk/Angling-Times

http://www.totalcarpmagazine.com

FOR MORE ARTICLES AND VIDEOS CHECK OUT THE FOLLOWING. . .

KEEP UP-TO-DATE. . .

avidcarpers.tv January / February 2014 03

C O N T E N T S A V I D C A R P E R S

W I N T E RCarp-catching machine Ian Russell reveals everything you need to know about using PVA through the colder months.

P V A

facebook.com/avidcarppage January / February 2014 05

W I N T E R P VA I A N R U S S E L L

The Avid PVA systems are available in two

diameters.

Small PVA bags work great during the winter months.

PVA in one form or another plays a major part in my carp fishing all-year round, but never more so than in winter. At this time of year, my carp fishing revolves around trying to nick a bite and not feeding loads of freebies in the hope that a large shoal of marauding carp will turn up in front of me. So lets look at the various types of PVA available and how they can benefit our fishing.

First up, I’d like to talk about solid PVA bags. Considering these are one of the most effective PVA presentations available to the modern-day carp angler, I rarely see them being used on the bank, which is no surprise because they can be a little bit fiddly to tie. That said, with a little bit of practice it won’t take you long to start constructing super-compact solid bags, especially if you take advantage of our game changing

Bag Loading Kit. The biggest advantage to using solid bags is the fact that you can drop your lead, rig and hookbait inside the bag, ensuring that there are no tangles and your terminal tackle will be disguised by the contents of the bag when it dissolves. This means they lend themselves to venues where the carp see a lot of pressure and they work brilliantly when fished in weed or over debris on the lake bed. My favourite bag mix for this kind of fishing is a blend of Sonubaits 2mm S-Pellets, Hemp & Hali Crush and, just before casting, I will inject some Hemp & Cheesy Garlic liquid into the bag. The attraction released from this unique combination is astounding and has bagged me loads of large


Mesh bags containing pop-ups are great for fishing over the top of weed or debris.

carp from a whole host of venues during the winter months.

If you’re looking for a simpler solution to solid bags then PVA stocking mesh could certainly be the answer. This has to be the number one choice for most carp anglers because of the ease of use and how quickly mesh bags can be tied. There are a variety of different diameter systems available, but I generally use the Avid Pocket Stick System at this time of year because it’s nice and narrow, allowing me to knock up small, compact bags. There’s no need to use large bags, so I generally tie them the size of a twenty pence coin. Attaching a PVA bag to your rig is extremely simple and you can either nick it onto the hook, or thread you

H O W T O . . .T I E A S O L I D P V A B A G

0 1 . When using solid PVA bags, Ian favours Bag Stems with In-Line Safety Leads.

0 4 . Place your lead inside the bag and three quarters fill it with pellets like this.

0 2 . A supple hooklink and super-short rig is absolutely essential.

0 5 . Carefully twist and compact the bag ensuring that it’s super-tight.

0 3 . Add a layer of pellets to a Solid PVA bag and drop your hookbait inside.

0 6 . Tie the bag off using PVA tape and lick and stick the corners as shown above.

twitter.com/avidcarpers January / February 2014 07


The Bag Loading Kit allows you to create compact solid bags quickly and easily.

hooklink through the bag and bury your hook point inside it. One of my favourite tricks with PVA mesh when fishing over debris in winter is to tie up a small PVA mesh bag containing two bright pop-ups. When your lead hits the bottom, the hookbait will be suspended off the deck for a couple of seconds, until the PVA dissolves, before slowly fluttering down to the lakebed and sitting over the top of any debris. This tactic also makes it extremely easy to bait up around your hookbait because you can use the pop-ups as floating markers when they reach the surface. The sheer convenience of mesh PVA

H O W T O . . .T I E A M E S H P V A B A G

0 1 . Using the built-in scoop, add some of your chosen bait to the PVA tube.

0 4 . Ensuring that the bag is nice and tight, tie two knots in the PVA mesh.

0 2 . Cover the end of the tube with your hand and compress the bait using the plunger.

0 5 . Using a pair of sharp scissors, snip between the two knots as shown above.

0 3 . To get the PVA bag compact, twist the end of the mesh like this.

0 6 . Finally, simply nick the bag onto the hook and it’s ready to cast.


This stunning 30lb-plus mirror was

caught using a tiny mesh bag of pellets.

@ c h e m o _ a v i d c a r p

A N G L E R P R O F I L E :

Ian Rus s e l l A g e: 51

U K P B : 57lb 8o z

O c c u p a t i o n : Full Time Angler

Stringers are great for fishing over a scattering of boilies.

and the fact that you can use anything from maggots to boilies inside it means that it’s by far the most readily used PVA product on the market.

If we’re discussing PVA, we have to talk about dissolving tape. Although most anglers consider the main use for this stuff is tying off your solid PVA bags, it does give anglers the choice of another great presentation. The humble stringer is a fantastic way to trick wary carp and one that I rarely see anglers employing on the bank these days. When I’m using an out-and-out boilie approach stringers are a major edge and

on one that the carp simply aren’t used to encountering on the lake bed. You don’t have to fish stringers over a spread of boilies either, I’ve done extremely well casting two and three-bait stringers onto showing carp, especially on waters that see a lot of boilies.

I’ve talked you through the main types of PVA and how best to use them in your own fishing during the winter. Regardless of where I’m fishing, you can guarantee I’ll be using the dissolving stuff in one form or another. Sometimes, it’s the simplest things that can make all the difference.



T H EM E T H O D

Product design genious Jon ‘Shoes’ Jones reveals his incredibly effective Method Chod presentation. C H O D


T H E M E T H O D C H O D J O N J O N E S

Anybody who has fished with me will know that I’m constantly thinking outside the box to try and come up with presentations that are a little bit different than the norm. Sometimes these slightly whacky presentations work and other times they don’t. Since the release of the new Avid Method Feeders, I’ve been using them to great success on a variety of different venues. Like match anglers, I love the idea of casting regularly, building the swim and getting the carp competing for the contents of the feeder. Although this tactic is primarily associated with smaller carp, I’ve also caught my fair share of good’uns on it recently, and the likes of Chris Lowe and Ian Russell have been doing extremely well too.

Although the method is undoubtedly a brilliant tactic for targeting large carp, it does have

one major drawback. This is the fact that, due to the fine particles and pellets that make up the contents of the feeder, you can get pestered by small fish and nuisance species. To be honest, I don’t mind getting attention from smaller fish because I’m certain it attracts the carp, I just don’t like the fact that they can meddle with my hookbait, cause tangles and potentially hook themselves.

H O W T O . . .C R E A T E T H E M E T H O D C H O D R I G

0 1 . Start by sliding a Flying Chod Bead onto your leader.

0 2 . Slide your Chod rig onto the leader like this.

0 3 . Now attach a rubber Stopper Bead onto your leader.

0 4 . Finally tie on a Method Feeder of your choice.

Bright hookbaits work great with this presentation.

A Chod tied using Captive Stiff Rig Filament and CHD hooks is Jon’s first choice.


One of the many carp Jon has caught using

the Method Chod.

@ j o n _ a v i d c a r p

A N G L E R P R O F I L E : J on J ones A g e: 43 U K P B : 47 lb O c c u p a t i o n : Brand Manager of Avid Carp

So, what’s the answer? Well after a little bit of thought, I came up with what I like to call the Method Feeder Chod. At first, I discussed it with a few of the Avid lads as a joke but, the more I thought about it, the more the idea actually made sense. It allowed me to present a hookbait within a few feet of my feeder, and on my baited patch, safe in the knowledge that it wasn’t going to get hammered by smaller fish.

The rig couldn’t be simpler to set up and it’s exactly the same as a Chod rig, but you simply have a method feeder attached instead of a lead. When I’m using the tactic, I generally use bright hookbaits attached to the chod rig and damp pellet on the feeder. Don’t forget, due

to the unique nature of the rig, you can use baits that small fish find extremely appealing, like maggots, safe in the knowledge that aren’t going to cause you any problems.

When I’m fishing the presentation, depending on the lake bed, I like to fish my Chod hookbait as close to the feeder as I can get away with. As you can imagine, when fished close to the feeder, the bites tend to be quick and much more aggressive.

I’ve fished the presentation in a variety of different situations over the past couple of months and I’ve done extremely well. It can certainly give you an edge and allow you to combat nuisance fish.

Proof that the tactic works!


T H E M E T H O D C H O D J O N J O N E S

WATERPROOF THERMAL

thermal

suitDesigned with warmth in mind, this Thermal Suit is totally waterproof and seriously hot. With top quality materials used throughout, the extremely durable suit is designed for fishing in the coldest conditions. The thermal lining traps your body heat with maximum efficiency, yet doesn’t impede movement. Combining the jacket and trousers, you have the ultimate combination for cold-water carping.

thermal

suit

REINFORCED KNEE PADS

ADJUSTABLE TROUSER BOT TOMS

STORM SEALED Z IPS

FOUR POCKETS

ADJUSTABLE WAIST

TWO L ARGE OUTER POCKETS

AND ONE INTERNAL POCKET

VELCRO STORM CUFFS

ZIP AWAY HOOD

J A C K E T F E AT U R E S : • Zip away hood • Velcro storm cuffs • Adjustable waist • Two large outer pockets

and one internal pocket

T R O U S E R S F E AT U R E : • Storm sealed zips • Four pockets • Reinforced seat panel • Reinforced knee pads • Adjustable trouser bottoms


T H E R M A L S U I T P R O D U C T

D O U B L E U PD O U B L E U PCarp match ace Jason Allaway reveals a simple rig for pressured waters that could literally double your catch rate!


D O U B L E U P J A S O N A L L A W A Y

I’ve always been a fan of keeping things simple, and as most of my fishing is all about speed, you won’t find anything remotely complicated in my rig wallet. I want to be able to get rigs out there quickly and effectively, because if carp are feeding in the area, I want to make the most of those opportunities.

Most of my fishing is done with a supple material like the Captive Braided Hooklink, using the super-shank LSK hooks. These hooks grab hold of their own accord – such is the nature of the shape – but that effect is surprisingly pronounced when you use a heavier bait. Especially if you encourage the ‘flipping’ motion by putting some silicone

tubing right around the bend of these hooks, to take the hair around the end and encourage the point to pull in a downward fashion.

I’m not a fan of large hookbaits because I feel that pressured carp are far more likely to take a smaller bait, so I prefer to use double bottom baits. Think about the last time you saw somebody using double bottom baits. It’s just not fashionable, I suppose, but I have caught literally thousands of carp this way from waters all over the country. Either on my travels in the British Carp Angling Championships, or just in my own fishing around the Notts area, this setup seems to work no matter what fish I’m fishing for.

H O W T O T I E . . .J A S O N ’ S D O U B L E H O O K B A I T R I G

0 1 . Tie a loop in the end of a length of Captive Braided Hooklink.

0 4 . Now fix the hookbaits in position by tying a simple knotless knot.

0 2 . Slide a small piece of silicone tubing onto the shank of an LSK hook.

0 5 . Finally, attach a swivel to the end of your hooklink using a Grinner knot.

0 3 . Attach your hookbait to the hooklink and pass the braid through the silicone tubing.

0 6 . The finished rig should look like this. It’s perfect for pressured waters.


The principles of a double bait are more to do with the mechanics of the rig, because it’s much more of a mouthful for carp. It sort of rattles around clumsily in their mouth, which in turn encourages that super sharp hook to grab somewhere.

The braid hooklink increases this effect even more, and because

I use the awesome Thread & Go Anti-Tangle Tubing from Avid for all my fishing, I don’t suffer with the usual tangles associated with braid. I tend to hook a bag on most of the time anyway, so it’s ideal, really.

Double baits are something I’d recommend to any angler who is suffering with fish crashing

in their swim but no bites. The arrangements works over spodded areas, boilie-baited patches, or just when casting bags to showing fish. It’s a universal approach that I have total confidence in. Give it a try and see how you get on. I’ll be interested to hear the results!

This 47lb French lump was caught from a heavily-pressured

venue using Jason’s double hookbait rig.


Ja s on A l l away A g e: 40 U K P B : 39 lb 8o z O c c u p a t i o n : Ma n u f a c t u r i n g Ma n a ge r

instagram @avidcarp January / February 2014 17

D O U B L E U P J A S O N A L L A W A Y

Chr i s Lowe

“ I T ’ S L I K E F I S H I N G W I T H T W O

R O D S A T O N C E . T H E Y H A V E L O A D S

O F P O W E R I N T H E B L A N K F O R B L A S T I N G

S O L I D P V A B A G S H U G E D I S T A N C E S , Y E T

H A V E A L O V E L Y A C T I O N F O R P L A Y I N G

S M A L L C A R P A T C L O S E R A N G E .

T H E Y A R E T H E B E S T R O D S I

H A V E E V E R U S E D . ”


T W O R O D S

When we first started developing the DSK rods, we had one very simple goal. The aim was to create a carp fishing rod that was capable of casting leads enormous distances with very little compromise. The very nature of most out-and-out chucking rods often means that they can be very unforgiving when playing fish under the rod, which often results in hook pulls and lost fish. Since trends have changed and fishing at range has become an integral part of the modern-day sport, it’s been very rare to find a rod that can cast a lead huge distances, yet still maintain a beautiful fish-playing action.

We’ve spent approximately four years developing the DSK rods and, although it may seem hard to believe, they were actually one of the first products we started developing when the brand started. It’s taken countless hours testing on the bank by our consultants, but we have finally achieved exactly what we set out to do. We can proudly say we’ve developed a rod that does it all.

Built using the finest carbon available, the DSKS are at the forefront of modern day rod technology. Boasting Fuji K Series rings, which totally eliminate frap ups and crack offs during the cast, these rods are sure to find favour with anglers that are serious about fishing at range. Available in 12’ and 13’, they sport a sleek Fuji reel seat, a 50mm butt ting and an abbreviated handle for improved comfort.

As you would expect from a rod of this quality, they are extremely strong, incredible reliable and, with a little bite of practice, there’s no reason why you won’t be achieving distances you’ve never cast before.

I N O N E


D S K R O D S P R O D U C T

Top tipsfor JANUARY/FEBRUARY

Chris Lowe reveals his top tips for catching more carp through the months of January and February.

W A T C H T H E W A T E RAlthough it’s essential to watch the water all-year round, it becomes more important at the beginning of the year, when the water temperature starts to rise and the carp slowly become more active. Look out for bubbles, cloudy water or crashing and rolling carp. Remember carp do show frequently through the hours of darkness too, so it’s well worth staying up a little big longer if you’re doing the night.

S L I N G S I N G L E S Just because the carp are starting to move around more frequently doesn’t mean they are necessarily going to be interested in gorging themselves on large beds of bait. Therefore, at this time of year, I like to fish with single hookbaits. A bright coloured pop-up rammed with attraction is usually all that’s needed to tempt a cold-water whacker, as long as it’s cast in the the right place of course.

I N C R E A S E A T T R A C T I O N Whether you’re choosing to use singles or fish with small PVA bags, always try and increase the attraction of your hookbait and free offerings. If I’m using solid PVA bags, I will inject them using a syringe with high-attract liquids and flavours. Plus, I always glug my hookbaits with liquids, like the Sonubaits Booster Clouds, to give them some attraction.


A N G L E R P R O F I L E : Chr i s Lowe A g e: 42 U K P B : 56 lb O c c u p a t i o n : A n g l i n g T u t o r

C A S T , C A S T A N D C A S T A G A I N If you’ve not seen signs of carp or any fish showing, it pays to keep casting on a regular basis. Although the carp may be moving around more frequently, they can still be relatively localized and held up in small pockets in the lake. The more often you cast, the more chance there is you will land on a group or shoal of fish. Once you’ve caught from an area, mark up your lines and keep fishing the same area. If there’s one fish there, there’s bound to me more.

S H O R T E N Y O U R H O O K L I N K S At this time of year I’ve found that carp can be sometimes difficult to catch because they feed very cautiously. Pickups can be very delicate and takes can be finicky. My biggest piece of advice for angler angler is to employ short rigs, so the fish comes into contact with your lead as soon as it picks up your hookbait. I’ve also found fishing with tight lines to be incredibly effective, because you will receive positive indication as soon as you get a pick up.


T O P T I P S C H R I S L O W E

R I GC L I N I C

Nigel Williams reveals how, contrary to popular belief, longshank hooks can be used to great effect when fished D-Rig style on a Chod or Hinge Stiff Rig.


When people first see me using longshank hooks for my Chod Rigs and Hinge Stiff Rigs, they look at me like I’m a little bit strange. I can totally understand this though because, in most magazines these days, nearly all big-fish anglers are encouraging anglers to use a hook pattern that boasts an out-turned eye. Although I totally understand the concept and idea behind their hook choice, I’ve found that my trusty longshank hooks have a lot more applications than most anglers give them credit for. Now I’ve never been one of those anglers who thinks up weird and wonderful presentations just to be different than the next bloke, but I can honestly say that I think longshank hooks are one of the most effective hook patterns out there for Chod Rigs and Hinge-Stiff Rigs.

One of main reason anglers use a hook with an out-turned eye for rigs with a stiff section is because they don’t want to reduce the gape of the hook. I totally get this and couldn’t agree with the idea more, so I’d

never use a swept-shank hook or conventional wide gape hook with a Chod because the combination with the stiff material would most certainly reduce the gape and hinder the hooking capabilities of the rig. That said though, due to the length of the shank on a longshank hook, you can get away with using a super-stiff material, without reducing the gape of the hook. In fact, as far as I’m concerned, a longshank hook fished on a Chod Rig actually creates a much larger gape and one that I’m certain will hook more carp.

For me, the main advantage of using a longshank hook on a Chod Rig or Hinge-Stiff Rigs is the fact that it allows you to create a presentation similar to the old bent hook rig. As some of you may probably remember, the bent hook rig was an extremely effective presentation for large carp, but it did cause a little bit of controversy when it came to hooking smaller fish. For that reason alone, lots of venues banned the rig and anglers simply don’t get the chance to

use this devastating presentation anymore. Fortunately though, when using longshank hooks like I’ve described, anglers can now create a rig that boasts all the great attributes of the old bent hook rig, but the presentation is extremely safe and isn’t going to pose any danger to the fish.

As well as this, I’ve found that the hook holds are much better with longshank rigs than conventional style hooks with an out-turned eye because, when a fish picks up the hookbait, the hook travels much further into the carp’s mouth. I’ve lost count of the amount of anglers that have told me how they regularly loose fish on chods and I’m certain this can sometimes happen because the rig doesn’t travel far enough into the carp’s mouth to obtain a good hook hold. Have you ever experienced a hook pull when using a chod seconds after lifting into the fish? This is a common occurrence for most anglers and I’m convinced a longshank hook could eliminate this completely.


R I G C L I N I C N I G E L W I L L I A M S

0 1 . Attach an LSK hook to a length of Captive Stiff Rig Filament using a knotless knot.

0 4 . Now create a small loop in the Stiff Rig Filament as shown above.

0 7 . Now pass the Pin Down hooklink through the loop in the stiff material.

1 0 . Pass a quick-change Bait Screw through the D on the rig like this.

0 2 . Now pass the tag end of the knot through the back of the eye on the hook.

0 5 . Pass a length of 20lb Pin Down hooklink through the loop like this.

0 8 . Moisten the hooklinks with some saliva and gently pull the knot tight.

1 1 . Now attach the hookbait of your choice. Super-buoyant pop-ups are essential.

0 3 . Carefully blob the tag end with a lighter so that it can’t pass back through.

0 6 . Carefully whip the Pin Down hooklink down the length of the loop six times.

0 9 . To ensure the hooklink sinks and to tidy the rig, mould some putty around the knot.

1 2 . Finally attach the finished rig to a lead clip and it’s ready to use.

H O W T O . . .T I E N I G E L ’ S L O N G S H A N K D - R I G


This stunning 25lb-plus mirror was bagged on a Chod rig tied using a longshank hook.

As well as aid hook holds, I’m certain that the nature of the hook means that it spins quicker when a carp picks it up. If you look at the shape of the rig tied with a longshank compared to a conventional hook, you can see that it sits at a slightly more prone angle, which I’m certain will aid the spin factor. I’ve watched how the rig performs in the margins and the smallest bit of movement under the water causes the hook to turn extremely quickly. Perfect!

I’ve tried a variety of different pattern longshank hook over the years but, nowadays, I’m completely sold on the Avid Carp Reaction Range LSK hooks. Although it doesn’t really matter when using Chod rigs,

I absolutely love the fact that they boast a green non-glare coloration that makes them much more unobtrusive on the bottom. As well as this, I simply cannot fault how sharp and strong they are. I’ve always been a fan of sharpening hooks for many years but, if I’m honest, I’m happy to use these ones straight out of the packet. They’re that good!

Using longshank hooks may not be everybody’s cup of tea and I totally understand that. If you’re experiencing hook pulls or dodgy hook holds with standard hooks, give a longshank a try. On venues that are getting hammered on Chods and the carp are starting to approach them with more caution, I genuinely believe longshanks could catch you more carp.

Longshank hooks sit at a more

aggresive angle.

LSK hook are Nigel’s first choice.

@ n i g e l _ a v i d c a r p

A N G L E R P R O F I L E : N ige l Wi l l i ams A g e: 37 U K P B : 41 lb 10o z O c c u p a t i o n : Se l f Emp l o yed


R I G C L I N I C N I G E L W I L L I A M S

Designed to be used all-year round, the Arctic Series 5 Season Sleeping Bag is one of the most versatile sleep systems on the market. Knowing that anglers don’t want to swap their sleeping bags over depending on the time of year, or even buy two sleeping bags, we’ve designed one system that really does do it all.

Boasting a unique Extreme Layer, which can be added or removed depending on the temperature, this bag can be customised to suit the time of year. So, during the winter the Extreme Layer adds extra warmth, but it can be removed in the summer to make the bag a little cooler. Alternatively, when the temperature soars during the summer months, you can actually sleep outside the main bag, underneath the Extreme Layer, for a comfortable night sleep. There’s even a small gap at the foot end of the bag that increases airflow and keeps you cool regardless of the temperature.

As well as being versatile, the bag is obviously very comfortable. It’s made using a soft-feel fabric which, as well as retaining heat, also provides unrivalled comfort. We purposely avoided fleece lining because this can stick your body when you’re moving in the night and can be extremely uncomfortable to sleep inside during the summer months. Knowing that most carp like the freedom to move in their bag, it’s extremely spacious and boasts an enlarged foot end for improved comfort.

If you’re looking for a top-end bag that can be used all-year round, this could well be the system for you. It’s designed with carp fishing in mind and is made using the same high quality materials you would expect to find on sleeping bags used by mountaineers.

f o r A L L S E A S O N S

The bag is designed to fit the Avid Restbite bedchairs.

A removable layer makes this an extremely versatile bag.

An enlarged foot end ensures there’s plenty of room to move.

A B A G

Unique baffles on the zips totally eliminate drafts.

Top quality crash zips are used on the bag.


F E AT U R E S I N C L U D E :l Boasts a removable extreme layer l Elasticated hoods at top and bottom to secure bag to bedchair

l Quick-release YKK zips on both sides of the bag l Folds inside Restbite bedchairsl Draft baffles prevent cold getting through zips l Supplied with stuff sack

Season SizeWeight

3.2kg

CompressedBag Size

45cm x 30cm


5 S E A S O N S L E E P I N G B A G P R O D U C T

R E E LR E V O L U T I O N

When we first started designing the Air Range reel we had one very simple goal. We wanted to develop a dedicated spod reel that would make a difference.

Unlike some other dedicated spod reels on the market, which also double up as marker reels, this one has no clutch system, meaning that it’s designed with one job in mind. Some anglers may think it a little strange to completely remove the clutch system from the reel, but there’s a very good reason for it. By removing the clutch facility, we have totally eliminated the chance of spool slip, which is a common problem that can occur on all other reels on the market. As well as inhabiting casting, spool slip can also cause tangles and bird’s nest in your braid. It’s far from ideal!

As well as stopping the spool from slipping, removing the clutch also dramatically reduces the weight of the reel

to a mere 680 grams. Unlike your fishing reels, you maybe holding your spod reel for long periods of time, so a lightweight body is a huge benefit.

Knowing how tedious spodding can be, we were determined to make a reel that retrieved your spod quickly and effortless. The Air Range features an increased gear ratio of 5.7:1, so you should be introducing bait quicker than ever before.

When spodding, accuracy is absolutely vital so the Air Range features a sprung line-friendly clip to ensure you hit the same spot every time. Lots of anglers have asked us why we’ve only included one line clip on the reel and the answer is simple. You can only use one line clip at a time when spodding.

As well as all these great features, the reel is supplied with a shallow spool, so you’re not going to have to have to mess around with backing line to fill the spool. The Avid Carp Depth Gauge Marker Braid will easily fill the shallow spool with a little bit of braid left over to spare.

For anglers that are serious about spodding, we believe this is the best reel on the market. We’ve taken into account all the gripes that anglers have with spodding reels, solved them and produced a reel that will transform your bait application.

Knowing how demanding spodding can be, one of our main objectives was to create a strong, durable reel that wasn’t going to let you down. Made from top-quality materials, the Air Range is built to last and will take everything you throw at it.


A I R R A N G E R E E L P R O D U C T

Over the last couple of years I’ve made a conscious effort to spend a week fishing every year on some of the incredible venues that can be found on the Continent. So, when my good friend Rob Hales phoned to see if I’d like to join him on the world record-breaking Euro Aqua in Hungary, I jumped at the chance immediately.

To make the trip even more exciting and appealing, we were going to be the first group of English anglers to grace the banks of the magnificent venue. Very little was readily known about the lake and the rumours of colossal carp and the world record fish was enough to keep me excited for a couple of months before the trip. The time soon came around and all my tackle was packed and ready to go. Simon Crow, who had organised the trip, had arranged for somebody to drive our kit over while we had the easier task of jumping on a plane and flying straight to Hungary. This was a real luxury and by the time we arrived at the lake, all

our gear was waiting in the car park safe and sound.

Our host for the week was Alexandra, the Austrian owner of the lake and a real character, who made us feel like part of his family as soon as we arrived. To begin with, he showed us around his property, the clubhouse and all the wonderful photos of the incredibly large carp that reside in his lake. After a beer and a draw for swims, we made our away around the lake and inspected the peg we had drawn.

When fishing for such big fish I like to know the tackle I’m using is up to the task should I need to put it through its paces. Fortunately, I was fully prepared for the lake’s monsters and had already loaded my 12000CC reels with 15lb Trap Line. This stuff is seriously tough and I knew there was nothing better for taming the lake’s numerous beasts. I attached a 4ft length of 45lb Pin Down leader material to my main line and attached a simple lead-clip arrangement. I opted for a simple blow-back rig tied using 35cm of 25lb Pin Down hooklink.

H U N G A R I A NM O N S T E R

Ed Matthews reflects on one of his most memorable captures of all time.


H U N G A R I A N M O N S T E R E D M AT T H E W S

Knowing that I could be bent into one of the world’s largest carp at some point during the session, I opted for a size 4 LSK hook. These are super-sharp, super strong and, from using them lots in the UK over the last few months, I knew they were more than up to the job.

The week started slowly for me and, while others around me were catching, my bobbins remained motionless. I wasn’t too worried though, because I saw fishing crashing and rolling in front of me every day. Eventually, after a couple of days without any action, I decided to move where my rods were fishing and try large mesh PVA bags containing Sonubaits

0 1 . Here are the components you will need to tie Ed’s blow-back rig.

0 3 . Tie a rig ring onto the hooklink and fix it in position on the hook using a knotless knot.

0 5 . Thread a short Korum Rig Aligner onto the Pin Down hooklink...

0 7 . Tie a loop in the end of the hooklink so it can be attached to your lead clip quickly.

0 2 . Pass some Pin Down hooklink through the eye of an LSK hook.

0 4 . Now tie a Super Hair Stop onto the end of the hooklink like this.

0 6 . ... and carefully push it over the eye of the hook as shown above.

0 8 . The finished rig should look like this. It’s strong, simple and brilliant for large carp.

H O W T O T I E . . .E D ’ S S U C C E S S F U L B L O W - B A C K R I G


Krill pellets and groundbait. As well as adding loads of attraction around my hookbait, they also reduced the chances of my long hooklinks tangling.

The change in tactics certainly worked because the following day I managed an awesome 41lb mirror which put up an incredible scrap under the rod tips. After landing a couple more smaller carp it was obvious that my tactics were working, so on the final night I decided to introduce some method balls made from the same bait that could be found inside my mesh bags.

On the final morning I received a slow drop back on my right-

hand rod. I leisurely strolled out to the rod, fully expecting the occurrence to be a line bite, when line started ticking from the reel. I lifted into the rod straight away and within a couple of seconds I knew I was playing some very big. Within minutes, it had wiped out one of my other rods, which was far from ideal because I was using barbless hooks. I decided to take no prisoners and not give the carp any line, so applied the pressure and frantically pumped the fish towards the bank. After what could be described as a dogged fight, a large shape emerged from the depths a few yards from the bank. I’ve caught some carp in my time, but nothing could have prepared me

for this beast.

Fortunately, my fishing neighbour Chris was on hand with the net and did a sterling job scooping her. With all the lads present, we hoisted the fish onto the scales and waited eagerly with anticipation. When the needles eventually stopped bouncing, a record of 80lb 12oz was agreed. After a couple of catch pictures and a kiss goodbye, the fish returned to the depth of the truly incredible lake in resides. It then started to sink in. I’d caught the fish of a lifetime. This one will take some beating, but I’ll certainly enjoy trying.

T U R N O V E R T O S E E E D ’ S C A R P >

Ed’s base camp for the duration

of his session.


H U N G A R I A N M O N S T E R E D M AT T H E W S


Ed Matthews A g e: 33 U K P B : 41 lb O c c u p a t i o n : F i s he ry Man a ge r

What an absolute unit! 80lb 2oz of Hungarian carp.

15lb Trap Line Main Line

Size 4 LSK barbless hook 20lb

PinDown Hooklink

45lb Pin Down Unleaded Leader

T A C K L E U S E D T O T A M E T H E B E A S T . . .


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September/October 2013

Chris Lowe reveals everything you need to know about fishing at range

NEW PRODUCTS: RODS SUPER HAIR STOPS ZIG BOX REACTION HOOKS MARKER BRAID

MICRO CHODSWhy scaling down your rigs can make a huge difference

FEATURE FINDINGCarp-catching machine Ian Russell lifts the lid on feature finding

JAMIE SIMPSON’S RIG CLINICTOP TIPS FOR PRESSURED VENUES

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Avid Carpers Vol.8 January/February 2014

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