Category: Reviews

Posted on 25th May 202215th May 2023 by George Callingham — Leave a comment

Crowborough & District Anglers Association – Review

Happy Wednesday everyone and welcome to this weeks installment on my blog! Last week I spoke about the importance of a good pair of polarized sunglasses which will help you spot carp easier and protect your eyes from the harmful UV rays. If you are interested and haven’t read this yet then you can do so here!

This week I am going to speak about a club I am a member of and review the waters that they hold! I have been a member of Crowborough & District Anglers Association on and off for the past 18 years having joined as a young angler with my Dad when we first moved to the area! I learnt most of my fishing on these waters and know most like the back of my hand! They hold the right to many different lakes and streches of river which will tickle many different anglers appetite!

In this review I will speak about my knowledge of the lakes, what each lake holds and a few hints and tips along the way!

Pennybridge

This was a water that the club developed itself in the mid 1990’s under the guidance of our former webmaster Roger Funnell, with the help of the National Lottery. At the time we believed we were the first club in the country to undertake such a project.

It opened to members in the summer of 1997. Since then it has proved to be a very popular water. With two very accessible disabled swims, a large car park, toilet, and as the location of the clubs’ annual Junior Day, this really is a water that appeals to everyone.

Crucian Carp – 2lb 2oz
Tench – 6lb 6oz
Bream – 2lb+
Perch 2lb 15oz
Roach – 1lb 10oz
Gudgeon – 3oz

This is one of my favourite pleasure waters held by this club. I have spent many afternoons here on this beautiful lake fishing for its larger residents; Crucian and Tench. Back in the day this use to be the place to go for a 4lb + Tench but these seem to have died out but I will not give up! My tip is simple fishing with a whip or a ledgered luncheon meat on a feeder rod for the larger species.

Scaland Wood

The club has enjoyed the rights to this water since 1978.

Since then the water has gone from strength to strength and in 2009 the club had the chance to purchase the water, which it did. In 2010 a wind break was constructed behind the dam and the roadside bank treeline was thinned out during 2012-13.

Soon after this the car park was reinstated, a short hard path made down to the lake and a compost toilet constructed. This water has now had further improvements during 2017 with defined raised pegs, improved path ways and an extension to the car park. It is a water all members should feel proud of.

Common Carp – 10lbs 12oz
Crucian Carp – 2lbs 1oz
Ghost Carp – 10lbs 3oz
Mirror Carp – 12lbs 11oz
Goldfish – 1lbs 10oz
Perch – 4lbs
Roach – 1lb 4oz

This lake is where I self taught myself alot of what I know about carp fishing. This is the perfect place to go if you want a variety of captures from carp to roach and bream. Recently an airator has been installed to introduce more oxygen into the water and increase the carps appetite! HOPEFULLY!

Oast Farm

The club negotiated the rights to this water during November 2017 with it having previously been a day ticket water for many years. Some members will already know of it as a prolific Carp water!

There is plenty of onsite parking and a farm shop, cafe and toilets, the owners are offering members a deal on take out food of a sausage or bacon sandwich, tea, coffee or apple juice and a slice of flapjack for £5.

The lake is approximately half an acre with depths to 6ft.

Mirror Carp – 19lb
Common Carp – 15lb
Crucian Carp – 2lb
Tench – 2lb
Roach 1lb 8oz
Rudd – 1lb 8oz

This lake proves to be popular for those wanting a bend in the rod. Large hauls can be had on this lake when feeding including some of the lakes larger relatives!

Wirgol

When the club first gained the opportunity to fish this water it was little more than the iron age work hole from where it gained its’ name. Under the leadership of the then Water Management Officer Henry Russell the lower Wirgol I was opened in 1985. A year later and after much work by Henry and his merry band the upper Wirgol II was opened. Members from the 1990’s will remember that each summer a bale of barley straw would be seen floating around as it helped to remedy the problems caused by algal blooms.

In 2005 the dam on Wirgol I was reconstructed, which also helped increase the volume of water.

Both waters have always been popular with Carp anglers although there are many other treasures swimming around beneath the surface.

Common Carp – 12lbs 4oz
Crucian Carp – 2lbs 5oz
Leather Carp – 5lbs 0oz
Mirror Carp – 15lb 10oz
Perch – 2lbs 10oz
Roach – 2lbs 1oz
Rudd – 8oz
Tench – 2lb 4oz

Here there are two waters Wirgol I and Wirgol II. Both hold stocks of carp and other species if you don’t mind a little walk with your gear! In my opinion I would fish here more often but the walk puts me off!

Underhill

The club has been fishing this one acre lake since 1991. Back in those days the water was plagued with lilies and weedgrowth. But over the years, the club has worked hard to enhance the fishery and improve the bankside environment. It has now evolved into an excellent general fishery and co-hosts the summer series of Junior matches.

Common Carp – 10lbs 0oz
Mirror Carp – 18lb 1oz
Eel – 2lb 0oz
Pumpkinseed – 6oz
Roach – 1lb 0oz
Rudd – 1lb 1oz
Tench 4lb 4oz
Brown Trout – 2lb 7oz

This lake is very picturesque and holds a good stock of loads of different varieties of fish! During my younger years this used to be one of the Junior Matches favourite venue due to the variety and the sizes!

Mill House Farm

This water first caught the eye of a Committee member while out dog walking in September 2012. It was finally opened to the members in August 2015. During the intervening period the water was transformed under the guidance of project leader Dave Flint. Several trees were removed from the water. Areas of inaccessible bankside were transformed and new swims were established. The water quality was tested, the lilies were thinned out and the stock was assessed. We believe it is a water with an interesting shape and plenty of different swims that will suit different styles of angling.
The access to this water was greatly improved in 2017 with a hard road now going all the way from the entrance to the car park and some new gates, there is also now a hard path from the car park almost to the waters edge.

Common Carp – 23lb 9oz
Mirror Carp – 28lb 8oz
Bream – 1lb 8oz
Crucian Carp – 1lb 3oz
Eel – 1lb 0oz
Perch – 1lb 2oz
Roach – 1lb 5oz
Rudd – 1lb 0oz
Tench – 4lb 9oz

This is a very interesting lake. I have only recently started to fish this but it holds a few gems. With only 4 known carp (possibly 5 but not confirmed) this lake provides an interesting challenge for those experienced carpers. I am on the hunt for one myself and will continue to pursue!

More House Farm

The Club acquired this three water complex in the Spring of 2016. Each water has a unique personality and offers something different to the other two.

Mirror Carp – 40lbs+
Common Carp – 37lb 8oz
Catfish – 69lb
Tench – 1lb 8oz

There are many lakes on this complex which CDAA members have some right too!

Gabriels

The club first acquired fishing rights here in the autumn of 2012. Members are allowed to fish with one rod on Oak Lake (Monday to Friday only), Silver Lake, Swallow Lake and Hare Lake. In addition there is one and a quarter miles of the River Eden to fish.

Mirror Carp – 40lb
Common Carp – 44lb 6oz
Grass Carp – 29lb 5oz
Tench – 5lb
Bream – 5lb
Chub – 5lb
Rudd – 2lb
Roach – 2lb
Perch – 4lb
Dace – 10oz
Gudgeon – 2oz

Like previous this fishery has a few lakes open to CDAA members but please check their website before attending.

Danesfield Wood

This is a pretty little water hidden away in the woods which the club first acquired it in 2007.

Despite a collapse in the dam in 2010 the water has gone from strength to strength. After the dam was rebuilt the club restocked the water with 453 Common, Leather and Mirror Carp between 1 and 2lbs in June 2011. It’s about an acre in size and up to five feet deep and it is a wonderful stalking water.

Various works have taken place here over the past couple of years with new swims created and the one on the dam made safer.

Mirror Carp – 4lb
Common Carp – 16lb
Ghost Carp – 6lb

This lake is great for a bit of stalking. This lake is jam packed with carp so is great for anyone looking to get a bend in their rod

Claygate Lakes

The club secured the rights to fish here as of the 2nd January 2019.
CDAA members can fish the two match lakes (Sophie & Eva) with a single pole or rod as part of their membership,

if you wish to use a second rod there is a £2 charge.
The fishery advise that you contact them before travelling to fish on a weekend as they hold a lot of matches at the venue and there may not be any pegs available.
To fish the specimen lake (Amy) you MUST prebook with the fishery who will apply a £2 discount to any ticket you purchase, provided you make them aware that you are a CDAA member.

Mirror Carp – 20lb
Common Carp – 39lb
Barbel – 6lb
Tench – 9lb
Bream – 11lb
Chub – 5lb

I have never fished this lake but I have heard good reviews from match fisherman with the hauls that can be had. Worth a go if your a on the hunt for species or to get a bend in the rod!

Weir Wood Reservoir

The Club first gained the rights to this one and a half mile long, 280 acre reservoir in 2001.

Since then it has proved to be a popular water with match anglers, Trout anglers and Pike anglers in particular.

Mirror Carp – 34lb
Common Carp – 34lb
Crucian Carp – 2lb 9oz
Tench – 4lb
Bream – 14lb
Rudd – 2lb
Roach – 2lb
Perch – 4lb
Pike – 34lb
Eel – 8lb 8oz

The RFA

The Club has been a member of the Rother Fisheries Association since the early 1980’s. The Association was formed in 1872 and has the rights to twelve miles of the River Rother and a stretch of the Royal Military Canal. There are several sections of river that are detailed below.

Robertsbridge to Udiuam
Udiam to Bodiam
Newenden (Downstream)
Potmans Heath to Blackwall Bridge
The Royal Military Canal (Iden Lock to Appledore Dam)

Eridge Stream

The club first acquired the rights to this pretty stream in 1976 thanks to our former Water Management Officer, Henry Russell. Our stretch of this stream goes on for about a mile. For those who enjoy chasing Trout and Chub, this is the perfect getaway.

Overview

CDAA is a great platform for all different types of anglers. It holds waters suitable for different types of fishermen from your seasoned carpers to your match fisherman. Young, Old, Disabled, Roamer or Like to sit tight, then they have something for everyone! I would reccomend this club to anyone as it is only £55 for the year! What a BARGAIN.

The club is run by some great people who I have met on the bank alot of times. They are always willing to pass on their knowledge and happy to help anyone that wants to improve!

If you would like to know anything else about CDAA then you can check them out here!

I have alot of knowledge on their waters so if there is anything from this blog or any other blog for that matter then please don’t hesitate in getting in contact. I am ALWAYS happy to help! You can DM me on Facebook or Insta, Email me or fill out the form below!

Wet nets and tight lines all! Till next time!

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Posted on 20th April 202215th May 2023 by George Callingham — 1 Comment

PVA Pellet Balls – Why I Chose the Brands?

Happy Wednesday Everyone and hope you are having a cracking week! Last week I did a review on Hastingford Fishery where I rated the owners, accomodation, fishing and the general location! If you are looking for a fishing holiday and haven’t read this yet then go check it out here!

It has been a MANIC week for me as I have been adding loads of new products to my online store including glugged boilies, stringers and crushed boilie PVA. In this blog I am going to be looking at one of my original products; The PVA Pellet Balls. When I first introduced these to my online store I had to decide on what Pellets I had all faith in selling. I am going to walk you through why I chose these 10 brands and why these can help improve your carp fishing but most importantly improve your catch rate!

1, CC Moore

CC Moore PVA Mesh Balls — CC Moore PVA Pellet Balls

At CC Moore, we have a passion for quality. With decades of experience and knowledge within animal nutrition and feed formulation, you can be assured that every single bait developed within the walls of CC Moore has been created with skill, experience and optimum attention to detail. With established products including Live System, Odyssey XXX and Northern Specials catching the huge number of carp now, decades on, you can be sure the products you are using are designed to deliver optimum attraction and performance time and time again. Every bait here at CCMoore is quality controlled. We have an extensive, knowledgeable testing team, from anglers to bait scientists who put every product through its paces.

Pellets In my Range: Live System 3mm, Pacific Tuna 2mm, Odyssey XXX 3mm, Squid 2mm, Belachan 2mm, Betaine HNV 4mm, Krill 2mm, Bloodworm 2mm, Mini Ultramix 1-3mm, Mini Halibut Mixed, Trout 3mm and 4mm.

CC Moore are one of the more well known brands in the carp fishing world. I have always used their boiles and pellet in all my fishing as each bait leaks attraction into the water column and are packed with lots of attraction. The pellets in particular break down fairly quickly and release a huge scent into the water. I always tend to find that a little PVA mesh of CC Moore pellets is often enough to create a mouthful of highly attractive food. Sometimes less is more!

CC Moore PVA Mesh Balls

2, Dynamite

The name Dynamite is instantly recognisable all around Europe for producing quality bait, in fact your success with our products is at the heart of everything we do – it’s that simple! Our fundamental concept ‘bait made by anglers for anglers’ has served us well for many years and stands true today even though our output and market have grown considerably since our arrival on the bait scene in the mid 90’s.

Pellets In my Range: Robin Red 2mm and 4mm, Marine Halibut 3mm and 4mm, Red Krill 2mm and 3mm, The Source 4mm, Carp Pellets 2mm and 4mm, Betaine Green 3mm and 4mm, Amino Original 2mm and 3mm, Tiger Nut 4mm and Complex-T 4mm.

Anyone that is into any sort of fishing will have heard of dynamite as they cover all sorts of fishing bait. In terms of carp fishing they have boilies, pellets, additives, particles, spod/bag mixes, accessories and merchandise. They have a huge range of pellets which have proven success hence why it was a no brainer to include in my range.

Dynamite PVA Mesh Balls

3, Hinders

Hinders are a fourth generation family business that has been trading for over 90 years. We have been dedicated to Fishing Bait and Tackle for the last 15 of those building a reputation for producing quality bait that catches and gives you the angler total confidence. We now focus entirely on making and distributing the Hinders Brand of Baits through our own website and bait store located in Swindon as well as supplying an ever increasing number of retailers in the UK and beyond.

Pellets In my Range: Ultimate PVA Mixed, Pellet Combo Mixed and Elips 4mm.

Now this comapny were very new to me and I only found out about them through my local tackle shop. The owner is actually a hinders consultant so I decided to do a little digging. Having read some of his catch reports on various lakes it was plainly obvious that the pellet mixes were smashing hard waters with multipe large carp in a session!

4, Mainline

Talk Carp Bait and before long the name Mainline Baits will be mentioned. This is because since Mainline Baits was founded it has been synonymous with the highest quality carp baits possible, and the capture of carp from all over the world. Mainline’s concept of offering the angler a fantastic bait whilst at the same time offering the carp a valuable food source ensures that all our baits stand the test of …time when used on any water, so much so in fact that repeat captures on the same bait are normal as the carp just can’t get enough; summer or winter makes little difference.

Pellets In my Range: Cell 5mm, Essential Cell 5mm, Activ-8 5mm, Hybrid 5mm, Fuzion 5mm, New Grange 5mm and The Link 5mm.

Mainline have played a huge part in my carp fishing over the years. Their Cell range has caught me bag fulls of 20lb carp and even my FIRST 30lb carp was caught on Cell! There pellets really compliment their frozen boilie range due to the matching flavours. Mainline are one of the leading brands in carp fishing and will continue to be into the future!

Mainline PVA Mesh Balls

5, Munch Baits

Proud manufacturers of the most unique bait ranges on the planet… With us, baits means two things;
SUPERIOR QUALITY – If it’s not the best, it’s not going in! We purchase fresh, raw ingredients direct from suppliers around the world to guarantee our products remain unrivaled.
UNIQUENESS – Use the same, get the same results. Every single product we supply is made from scratch, by us! Meaning you will never find another variation of our products under any other brand. Choosing us WILL make you stand out!

Pellets In my Range: Citrus Nut 4mm, Cream Seed 4mm, Bio Marine 6mm, Salmon Micro 2mm and Hydro Fish Mixed.

Telling the truth I knew nothing about Munch Baits when I first launched my website but it was suggested by a good friend of mine. I did some research on Munch Baits finding multiple reviews online of catch reports where carp were caught on waters that hadn’t produced fish in weeks! This is why I decided to give it a chance in my range of pre-tied pellet balls.

https://callyscarpycustoms.co.uk/product/munch-baits-pva-mesh-balls/

6, Nash

Established by carp fishing legend Kevin Nash, and dedicated to providing the very best in tackle and bait for modern carp anglers and specimen hunters. Nash Tackle has developed a market leading position based on their innovative cutting edge carp fishing tackle design.

Pellets In my Range: Citruz 2mm, Scopex Squid 2mm, Instant Action 2mm and the Key Feed 2mm.

Nash are one of the leading carp fishing brands out there! I mean who hasn’t read the story of Kevin Nash! Nash seem to have different ideas and release alot of innovative products. For example the Citruz range they have released is different to anything I have seen on the market!

Nash PVA Mesh Balls

7, Nutrabaits

Nutrabaits was established in 1986 with an ethos based on quality, where every ingredient used within the product range has been painstakingly researched and included solely for meaningful reasons. That ethos still exists today, the end result being a range of baits that continues to set the standard in both quality and effectiveness. It is no exaggeration to say that Nutrabaits was instrumental in changing the view of commercially available carp baits forever and we continue to be proud of our record of producing baits that anglers across the globe can fish with total confidence…

Pellets In my Range: Trigga 2mm and 4mm, CO-DE 2mm and 4mm, Trigga Ice 2mm and 4mm, BFM Krill & Cranberry 4mm and BFM Salmon Caviar & Black Pepper.

Nutrabaits is another brand that I didn’t know alot about although I had heard of them before. Reading up on their flavours I thought they were very innovative and didn’t follow the trend of the carp fishing world. They had created their own unique flavours which were very interesting and is the reason why I chose to put them in this range!

https://callyscarpycustoms.co.uk/product/nutrabaits-pva-mesh-balls/

8, RG Baits

Established in 2010 by Ryan Heaton and Greg Myles, RGBaits initially started out as more of a hobby than a business, with plans to roll bait for a small group of angling friends only, a single machine set up in a parents garage is where it all began. With both partners in full time employment away from the angling industry back then, occasional evenings and weekends were spent stood behind the machine rolling the odd kilo here and there, a somewhat far cry from a major scale bait manufacturing outfit. With time, word spread about the services RG had to offer and after receiving numerous enquiries over the possible supply of bait, it was decided the sale of bait was to be made public.

Pellets In my Range: The Formula 6mm, Vita-Lac 3mm, Prime 3mm, Hot Shrimp & Liver Mixed and The Formula & Arctic Crab 3mm.

RG baits are one of the newer carp fishing bait brands having only opened its doors in 2011. Since then they are growing into quite a unique brand having created their own flavours which are smashing waters. On instagram I quite regularly see large carp landed on their baits!

https://callyscarpycustoms.co.uk/product/rg-baits-pva-mesh-balls/

9 Sonubaits

Welcome to Sonubaits, the bait brand at the very forefront of modern bait design, delivering innovative ranges of baits with the help of a world class team of match, carp and specimen anglers. Our enviable line-up of consultants has the very highest demands from the bait they use and have all been involved in the ongoing development of our bait ranges. Our ingenious and irresistible baits continue to dominate venues around the World.

Pellets In my Range: Fin Perfect 2mm and 4mm, Bloodworm Fishmeal 2mm and 4mm, S-Pellet 2mm and 4mm, Pro Feed 2mm and 4mm, Halibut 3mm and 4mm plus Robin Red 2mm and 4mm.

Mainly known as a match carp fishing brand, sonubaits have also produced loads of UK’s bigger carp! Their standard pellets are the best around leaking loads of attraction into the water column!

Sonubaits PVA Mesh Balls

10, Sticky Baits

Here at Sticky Baits our primary focus is, and always has been, to produce high quality products – so take a look around our new look site, the home to endless quality content, quality pictures and of course more importantly, quality bait that really speaks for itself.

Pellets In my Range: Bloodworm 2.3mm and 4mm, The Krill 2.3mm and 4mm and Manilla 2.3mm and 4mm.

I love Sticky baits because of the simplicity of their range. They have 3 main types in their range and they concentrate all their efforts into making these the best available. In particular, I like their boilies because they are 16mm and slightly larger than others on the market! The pellet flavours fully match any of their range!

Sticky Baits PVA Mesh Balls

All PVA Mesh Bags are available in quantities 10, 25 and 50. For alternative pellet or quantities please fill out the contact form on the product pages.

If you have any questions about my PVA mesh bags or any other products I offer then please feel free to contact me via email, facebook or Instagram. Alternatively you can use the form below and I will get back to you within 24 hours.

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Posted on 13th April 202215th May 2023 by George Callingham — 1 Comment

Hastingford Fishery – Review

Welcome to the next installment of my Blog. Thank you to everyone that read the last blog on ‘Why I Use CC Moore‘, if you haven’t read it then you can here! This turned out to be my most successful blog to date! Since writing this blog, I have been speaking to CC Moore and I am now a CC MOORE TEAM MEMBER! I am very much looking forward to continue using this wonderful bait!

Anyway onto this weeks blog! A few weeks back I visited Hastingford Fishery in Sussex where me, my partner and parents spent a weekend in their lodges where I fished for 48 hours! In this blog I am going to review the owners, accomodation, fishing and surrounding areas to give anyone looking for a lodge fishing holiday in sussex an idea of what to expect!

Owners

The owners Geraldine and Mark were very helpful through the whole stay and prior to arriving when making the booking. When we arrived we were greeted by Mark who showed us to our lodges and explained how everything in the lodges worked! Mark himself built these lodges and manually put all the mod cons in which is absolutely amazing work. This used to be a working farm but since retiring he has built this complex, however he has kept some cattle and sheep. Even one of the cabin’s was insulated with his own sheeps coats!

They both were so helpful throughout our stay and as they live on the complex they were always willing to help to make our stay as comfortable as possible. Mark would reguraly come and check in whilst we were outside to see if everything was ok! You can see and feel the passion for making their guests welcome!

In summary I would rate the owners 5/5 having done everything for us to make our stay one of the nicest fishing holidays we have been on!

Accomodation

Both my partner, parents and I stayed in these fishermans lodges right on the side of the lake. There are 4 huts on the complex named Roach, Carp, Tench and Perch. The Fisherman’s huts have a minimum 2 night booking (3 nights Jun, Jul and Aug), and has everything you need although with Carp and Roach huts there is a short walk to your private shower and toilet unit. (There is also a small ‘portaloo’ hut right outside those 2 huts for those ‘caught short’ moments). Perch and Tench huts (overlooking top lake) are slightly larger, have full kitchens and ensuite facilities. The lodges on the bottom lake are lake side and can be fished from right outside your lodge!

As stated above the lodges have all the mod cons you need including fridge, freezer, hob, table and chairs, bed, tv, log burner, wifi and plenty of space! Upon arrival we had a welcome basket which contained croissants, bread roles, fresh milk and orange juice, butter, tea and coffee! It was just what we needed to get started and feel comfortable.

The lodges on the bottom lake have a balcony overlooking the lake where you can see the carp and goldfish cruising on the top! The balconys come with a external log burner, barbeque, table and chairs plus some stunning views!

In summary I would rate the accomodation a 4.5/5. It was all you needed for a wekend getaway, It was great to be in the outdoors! If you like a soft comfy bed then this is your place! The bed was very soft however for someone who likes a harder bed it felt slightly uncomfortable but you can’t moan at that can you!

Fishing

There are 4 lakes (all spring fed). One is the original fishing lake, with large common and mirror carp plus perch and grass carp, The second is their newly built (2018/19) large lake, which has more breeds of fish and has matured nicely. This is stocked with common and mirror carp, golden and blue orfe, perch, green and golden tench, chub, roach, rudd and gudgeon. Their 3rd lake is about a year old and has Carp and Orfe. Plus at the very top is a natural ‘wild swimming’ pool for those adventurous enough. Fabulous views to the South Downs from here.

Fishing is available by the day from 8am – 8pm/dusk and by night (hut residents only) – 8pm/dusk to 8am. Visiting anglers please see fees list. For day ticket anglers there is a unit with toilet/shower and kitchen facilities. All anglers must show a current fishing licence and abide by their rules.

As me and my partner were in roach I was lucky enough to be able to fish right outside our lodge. I started off with my tried and trusted Ronnie Rigs which I quickly found out was not the right choice if i wanted to get through to the larger carp. There are alot of carp between 1lb and 3lb in the lake which proved to be difficult to get past!

The first evening I started to think about how I could potentially get past the smaller carp. I tied some Snowman Rigs to hopefully fish more effectively with a larger hookbait. I used a Stick Baits Krill Boilie with a Nash Key Cray pop up and a bag of mixed pellet to attract the carp into the area. The reason I used these are the Sticky baits boilies are slightly larger than other bottom baits at 16mm which gave me a larger hookbait.

Snowman Rig w/ Sticky Baits Krill Boilie and Nash Key Cray Pop Up

This proved to be incredibly successful as I managed to get through to the larger carp and landed 2 mirrors which were in immaculate condition.

In summary I would rate the fishing a 4/5. I don’t think the larger stock is huge in either lake but the fish were in immaculate condition and the lakes were kept in tip top shape.

If you would like to see my video about fishing at hastingford then please go check out my youtube channel!

Surrounding Areas

There is plenty to do out in the countryside here at Hastingford Fishery. There are four other accessible lakes for walking around and which are away from the rest. Perfect for a wander round with or without your dog, with places to sit and enjoy the space and tranquillity with lovely views as well.

Dogs are welcomed but must be kept on leads around the lakes and farm. There is always an empty field (shown on arrival) for excercising. In addition, and for ramblers and hikers, there are several public footpaths leading to Buxted, Rotherfield and beyond.

For outside refreshment, Hadlow Down has a very good ‘locals’ drinking type pub, and Buxted has 2 very good pub/restaurants, (The White Hart and The Buxted Inn) as does High Hurstwood (The Hurstwood). In 5 Ash Down there is The Pig and Butcher and in Blackboys The Blackboys Inn. In Crowborough the nearest is The Wheatsheaf in Mount Pleasant which does good food. For those wanting ‘posh’ or just to walk, there is Buxted Park, on the outskirts of Buxted, off the A272. The Kings Arms in Rotherfield is very good. In Crowborough you have The White Hart, The Blue Anchor and The Cross (Wetherspoons), plus The Bricklayers Arms. The Crow and Gate on the edge of Ashdown Forest is excellent for dog walkers.

Lewes is just a 20 min drive; Brighton 35 mins; Eastbourne 35-40 mins and Tunbridge Wells 20 mins. For local shopping Crowborough (10 mins drive) Uckfield (10 mins) and Heathfield (10 mins) are very good. London is around 1 hour by train from Crowborough or Buxted or 45 mins from Tunbridge Wells main line station.

Summary

Overall I would rate our experience of Hastingford Fishery a 4.5/5. We really enjoyed our weekend in this peaceful complex. It was everything we needed to kick back and relax! The accomodation had everything we needed, the owners were very helpful, the fishing was good and the views were AMAZING! We liked it that much that we have booked to go back for my birthday in June.

Make sure you go and check out Hastingford Fishery!

Posted on 4th April 202215th May 2023 by George Callingham — 1 Comment

Why I Use CC MOORE

Welcome to this weeks installment in my blog. I hope you enjoyed last weeks blog on ‘My 5 Favourite Rigs‘. If you haven’t checked out last weeks blog then check it out here.

This week we are doing a product review on a few of my favourite CC Moore products. When it comes to Carp Fishing CC Moore are considered one of the leading brands in bait production. They create top quality and innovative products. I will be taking a look and reviewing their liquid additives, PVA bag mixes and their session packs.

Liquid Additives

Now, in my opinion CC Moore are the leading brand in liquid additives. These have made a huge impact in my own carp fishing! I will not leave the house without having these in my bait bag. These liquid additives not only enhance your bait but due to the salt content they also preserve your baits making this additive perfect for multiple uses. CC Moore currently have 30 different liquid additives to choose from! However I am going to talk about my 3 favourite, Hot Chorizo Compound, Amino Blend 365 and Marine Amino 365.

Hot Chorizo Compound

“This spicy smoky sausage liquid is a highly attractive, peppery liquid food that adds essential amino acids, vitamins and trace elements to the baits as well as a punchy, deep aroma and taste that triggers a strong feeding response from Carp, Barbel, Chub & other species”

Usage Tip: Use up to 30ml/kg in boilie, stick, PVA bag and spod mixes; also superb for adding into particles to give them a smoky, spicy profile that fish just love! Great in PVA bags, for dipping PVA sticks, boosting pellets and glugging hookbaits.

This product was the first I used from the CC Moore range. One of my many waters was doing very well one spring on pepperami and I began to look for a additive that I could use to enhance the taste of my boilies to suit how the water was fishing. I came across this compound and I can agree that it is VERY pungent! When you open the container you are hit with a strong smell just like it states in the description above!

As mentioned above I use this to enhance my boilies. However, I have now started to use this in my spring spod mix to give it an irresitable pungent smell and taste which any carp would be attracted too!

Amino Blend 365

“This highly soluble compound containing amino acids has a sweet, creamy taste and aroma and emits a constant stream of powerful feeding triggers in all water temperatures”

Usage Tip: Use up to 30ml/kg in boilie, stick, bag and spod mixes; also superb as a boilie soak prior to dusting baits in CC Moore’s pure betaine or liver powder.

I use this product in one way only and that is to pre soak my boilies to give them that added attractant. This liquid attractant is amazing with the CC Moore Live System boilies as the 2 flavours match perfectly and will give you an edge on any water you fish! The sweet creamy taste and aroma of the liquid attractant compliment the smell and taste of the boilies which makes these an inseperable match.

The reason I like this so much on my boilies is that it gives off a milky white cloud of attraction! This draws in the carp and creates a strong feeding response. I have found in my own fishing that this method works all year round. Probably given away by the name ‘Amino Blend 365‘.

Marine Amino 365

“This thick, savoury marine-based liquid compound is a highly effective year-round bait additive with exceptional fish attracting properties. It has a smooth, yeasty aroma and rich, developing salty taste which stimulates fish to feed time and time again in even the most unfavourable angling conditions. Extremely effective on hookbaits“

Usage Tip: Use up to 30ml/kg in boilie, spod and PVA bag mixes. Also use it to coat your boilies and hookbaits before drying them and repeating the process as many times as you wish. Each application may reduce your baits buoyancy.

This is the newest of the liquid additives that I have started to use in my own fishing. I particularly like using these as a boilie enhancement on the CC Moore Pacific Tuna boilies as these match perfectly. This marine savoury taste and smell of the liquid additive I believe matches the deep, salty marine taste of the Pacific Tuna Boilies making them irresistable to carp!

Like the Amino Blend 365 this can be used all year round as the name highlights making this liquid attractant one of the best in the game for fishmeal/marine baits.

Common caught on Liquid Attractants from CC Moore

In summary I use these 3 liquid attractants because I have all confidence these have improved my catch rate. In brief I use the Hot Chorizo Compound in my spod mixes, Amino Blend 365 with the Live System Boilies and Marine Amino 365 with the Pacific Tuna Boilies.

PVA Bag Mix

PVA Bags are fast becoming one of the UK’s most used and effective methods of fishing. With PVA bags your hookbait, loose feed, rig and weight are all in one solid compacted bag. The bag is aerodynamic so you can cast a fair distance compared to other PVA mesh methods. Upon impact with the lakebed a PVA bag literally explodes shooting your loose feed upwards causing a larger area of bait in more of the water column compared to other methods like method feeding or PVA sticks.

CC Moore have a vast range of PVA Bag mixes but I am going to take a closer look into two of the more popular mixes and the reasons why you should look into using these.

Mini Ultramix

“Outstanding bag mix comprising our most successful mini pellets and fry crumb – bursting with powerful attractors such as soluble fish proteins, oils and amino acids”

Usage Tip: Add 30ml/kg Amino Blend 365, Corn Steep Liquor or Marine Amino 365 to 1kg of Mini Ultramix the night before a session. Allow this to soak into the mix before using it in PVA bags or as a stalking or carpet feed.

This mix contains a variety of pellets from 2mm-4mm including micro and mini betaine, krill, trout and halibut pellets. Due to the different sizes of pellet the breakdown time varies which gives this mix a constant flow of attraction. The 2mm pellets breakdown in between 1-3 hours in cold water and the 4mm pellets breakdown in 30 minutes to 4 hours in cold water. CC Moore recommened that it can be further boosted with their Feedstim XP and a dusting of Betaine or Belachan powder.

In my own fishing I use this in my solid PVA bags as my main mix. Due to the different sizes ranging from micro to 4mm, this mix really fills up the gaps in your bags making them very solid and castable at range! I like to be consistent on my lakes throughout the year and due to the soluble attractors in this mix they stimulate feeding in all temperatures as well as having a high protein content which is also a plus for use all year round!

Oily PVA Bag Mix

“This highly effective bag/stick mix has a rich ‘fishy’ profile derived from protein and oil-rich pellets, salmon fry crumb, krill meal and soluble fish protein.

Usage Tip: Summer/Autumn: A blend of oil-based and soluble liquids added to Oily Bag mix will give you the best response in warm water. We recommend 30+ml/kg Liquid Crab Compound, Liquid Tuna Compound or Whole Krill Compound. Winter/Spring: Just a 20mm diameter PVA bag of Oily Bag Mix may be enough in cold water. Lace the mix with Feedstim XP liquid before using it. This gives it maximum solubility in even the most icy-cold water.

This mix contains 1-2mm meals/pellets including betaine, halibut, trout and krill pellets which is boosted by the addition of salmon micro feed and pure krill meal. This mix has powders which form a natural particle cloud around your bait which is a excellent attractant for pulling carp into your swim. Unlike the other mix this one has similar sizes of pellets which leads you to believe the breakdown time is pretty much the same, however due to the different ingredients they actually breakdown at different rates feeding a constant flow of attraction in your swim.

Once again I use this in my PVA bag mixes where I know I’m fishing over a harder lakebed. The small pellets get the carp grubbing around keeping them in your swim for longer meaning you have more opportunities to improve your catch rate. This mix is packed with ingredients including pellets, powders and crumb which gives it ultimate attraction when you are fishing on difficult waters! When I first used this mix I managed to catch on a hard club water which hadn’t produced in a week! Although it was only a low double, it was a welcome addition to the bank after a hard winter on this water!

10lb 2oz Mirror Carp – CC Moore Oily PVA Bag Mix

Session Packs

These sessions packs from CC Moore are a serious game changer when it comes to getting all the bait together in one purchase. Each pack contains boilies, pellets, hookbaits and liquid bait booster which is all you need to get you fishing effectively on the bank. CC Moore also have a variety of quality and cost effective session and bundle packs which have a variety of options from PVA bag mixes to bulk buy boilie deals! These session packs are available in 15mm and 18mm.

Live System Session Pack 15mm

Contents:

“This great value pack contains all the products required to present fish with an irresistable bait package which can be used in many different angling situations”

Live System Air Ball Pop Ups: These pop ups are very buoyant and durable and are colour and smell matched to the well known CC Moore Live System range. These pop ups are tough so that you can get past those nuisance fish as they have a fish-proof skin. These can also be trimmed so that you can critically balance your rigs to achieve perfect performance in your rigs.

100ml Live System Bait Booster: This booster was made to enhance any of the live system products from CC Moore. It is rich and creamy and is a perfect combination with the Live System Boilies. This is also PVA friendly and adding this liquid to your baits will incredibly increase your chances of catching and boosts the flavours in them all year round!

2kg Live System Pellets: These pellets are a light beige/yellow collour that are highly attractive and designed to be used with the Live System boilies. They have been infused with Live System liquid which makes them have high leakage which quickly disperse in all temperatures.

Live System Shelf-Life Boilies: These boilies are highly attractive, sweet and creamy. They are a milk protein and bird food based boilie which makes these intensely attractive and ideal for use all year! Live System releases powerful, water-soluble feeding stimulants in all water temperatures!

Pacific Tuna Session Pack 15mm

Contents:

“This great value pack contains all the products required to present fish with an irresistible Pacific Tuna bait package which can be used in many different angling situations”

Pacific Tuna Air Ball Pop Ups: These pop ups are very buoyant and durable and are colour and smell matched to the well known CC Moore Pacific Tuna range. These pop ups are tough so that you can get past those nuisance fish as they have a fish-proof skin. These can also be trimmed so that you can critically balance your rigs to achieve perfect performance in your rigs.

100ml Pacific Tuna Bait Booster: This booster was made to enhance any of the Pacific Tuna products from CC Moore. It is a pungent, fishy and slightly meaty liquid that contains many ingredients found in their highly successful Pacific Tuna boilies. This liquid is PVA friendly and the rich fishy boost is designed to enhance any Pacific Tuna products

2kg Pacific Tuna Pellets: These pellets are a deep red, high attract pellet designed for use with Pacific Tuna boilies. They are enhanced with Pacific Tuna liquid which makes these high leakage and packed with soluble attractors which quickly disperse in all water temperatures.

Pacific Tuna Shelf Life Boilies: These boilies are a rust red, intensely attractive boilie that combines soluble milk, vegetable and fish proteins with powerful natural stimulants. This makes these boilies a superb all year round bait! Pacific Tuna releases a salty fish taste and powerful shellfish aroma which makes this a great attractor package!

In summary these Session Packs contain a huge variety of products which are full of great ingredients that can improve your catch rate! They have all you need for a session and give you the best chance of achieving your goals! Not only do they offer these two amazing bundles which I use in my own carp fishing, they offer many more on their website!

If you want to see these in action, I will be using the Live System session pack this weekend so make sure you check out my YouTube for the video which will be released later this month!

Conclusion

CC Moore are a fantastic company selling premium carp fishing baits that really can improve your methods.

The liquid attractants are a must have in any bait bag as they can be used in so many different aspects of carp fishing from glugging baits to liquid food in spod mixes. The liquid attractants in my eyes are the best on the market at the moment. Make sure you have a look into the 30 different liquid attractants in their range.

The PVA mixes are great for building compact bags for ease of casting. The content in these mixes is packed with carpy goodness! This can really stimulate your swim and improve your catch rate. You can find many more varities and bundle deals of PVA mix on their website.

Lastly, the session packs are really taking the carp fishing scene by storm. In one cost effective purchase you can have all the items you need for a highly effective session. These are great for building a perfect swim by using the highly attractive baits to attract feeding carp into the area!

Make sure you go on over and check out CC Moore website where you can find out more information on the products above and many many more!

Tight lines and Wet Nets everyone!

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