Welcome to this weeks blog on the basics of Carp Fishing; The Rods, Reels and Alarms. Last week I reviewed alot of different types of Bivvies on the market and gave you my opinion on what the best bivvies are on the market at the moment! If you haven’t seen this yet then check it out here!
Now onto this weeks blog. Rods, Reels and Alarms are your most important bits of kit when it comes to carp fishing, your not going to catch without them! Selecting the right equipment for you is important to be fishing effectively and feel comfortable.
I’m going to start with my set up and what I use as I have 2 different set up depending on what water I am fishing.
These reason I have 2 different set ups is because my main Syndicate set up is too overkill for little intimate day ticket and club waters. I like to travel with light gear to day ticket waters to allow me to move but to fish effectively in different situations.
I will go into a little more details about what I would advise to look for when selecting your equipment.
Rods
Your rods as i previously mentioned need to match the sort of fishing you are looking to do. A good start is rods that have a 2.75lb test curve and something between 10ft and 12ft in length. These will suit most venues and types of fishing in the UK!
For young anglers, or for those who are vertically challenged then a shorter rod of 10ft would be alot easier to handle without affecting your carp fishing.
Your reels are the most important as these will control your fight and stoore your line. They need to hold the right amount of line for your venue. 90% of carp fishing venues in the UK you will not be casting over 50-60 yards so a 6000 or 8000 baitrunner or a mini pit reel will be plenty!
In my opinion, baitrunner reels are very good for beginner anglers as you can just flip the back lever and the line can run freely when a fish picks up your rig. To kick in the reel just simply lift your rod, half turn the reel and the baitrunner disengages. How simple is that!?
For these sorts of reels I would recommend the Shimano Baitrunner range. Shimano have been around for years and provide very good baitrunner reels at affordable prices.
Alarms are not such a necessity and only need to make a noise when a fish picks up your rig. For me you don’t need anything fancy or with loads of features, just an alarm that is realiable and can withstand the elements.
Some alarms come with a reciever but you don’t really need one. However they are a nice addition when it comes to fishing nights as you can have it in your bivvy with you!
As you can see from my set up you do not need to break the bank to start carp fishing. Just select a reliable rod, reel and alarm set up and you’re off!
What I have advised is just a tiny percentage of what is available in the carp fishing world and you must suit your set up to you! But I will briefly recap the key features i believe you should be looking for when purchasing these items:
Rods: Test Curve: 2.75lb Length: 10ft – 12ft
Reels Type: Baitrunner Spool: 6000-8000 Line: Must hold atleast 100 yards of line
Alarms Tone: Make sure they are not annoying! Volume: Changing the volume helps
Hope you enjoyed this blog and if you have any further questions about anything I have spoke about in this blog then please let me know via the contact form below or alternatively email me at info@callyscarpycustoms.co.uk!
Happy Wednesday, I hope everyone is well! Last weeks blog was talking about why I chose the brands I use for my PVA Pellet Balls, if you haven’t read that yet then click here! I go into each brand in detail so you know what you can expect from my products.
In this weeks blog I am going to talk about something a bit different. We are now coming into prime carp fishing season where 24hr + sessions are common when you will require a shelter of some sort. What bivvy you require largely depends on the type of angler you are. Whether your looking for a lightweight shelter so you can move between swims and onto the fish or a ‘home-like’ shelter where you can set up like home then this guide will run you through EVERYTHING!
What to look for when buying a bivvy
When you look at the market for bivvies there are never ending options from a huge range of brands which can make deciding a difficult decision. Most people ask what to look for in a bivvy and now I am going to run you through what I look for when deciding on a bivvy.
Set Up Speed
When carp fishing you do not want to spend hours on the bank setting up your bivvy, you want to get fishing effectively as soon as possible especially on short overnight sessions. I prefer something that is quick to set up and is lightweight so I can move onto the fish when I see signs of fish feeding. Nowadays most bivvies on the market are designed for quick erection and the times of threading poles is long gone! The trend now seems to be the brolly style bivvies as they are extremely fast to erect.
Most brands now have YouTube channels where they show how quick you can put up their shelters. I tend to watch CARPologyTV on youtube as they give you a detailed in depth review on all product carp fishing! If you haven’t checked them out then I suggest you do! Honest Reviews!
Bivvy Size
When selecting the right bivvy for you it is really important to take into account the size of the bivvy to give you plenty of space and a comfortable night on the bank. I would suggest if you are looking for space or there could be 2 of you then a two man bivvy would be ideal. If you travel with minimum gear then a one man bivvy would be your best option. This option is the one i tend to go for as these are normally more leightweight which means I can move easily.
REMEMBER take into consideration the size of your bedchair if you already have one. Nothing worse than buying a bivvy to small for your bed!
Height of Bivvy
The height of a bivvy can make your night stay on the bank more comfortable. The standard height for bivvies on the market is 125cm which for most people takes a bit of bending to get in and out. For those less able in movement I would suggest a higher bivvy, this just makes for easier entrance and exit from those long nights on the bank.
Overwrap / Skin
Some bivvies come with a overwrap and others come as an additional extra. If you are looking to continue fishing throughout the coldest days in winter I would suggest checking if an overwrap is available. Overwraps work in two ways, they keep you warmer and prevent condensation. It’s sort of like wearing more clothes by improving insulation and warmth within.
Vents
Most of the newer bivvies on the market contains meshed vents, but some don’t, so make sure you check before buying. The vents provide air circulation which is vital both in summer and winter. In the summer it provides needed circulation to keep cool and in the winter it prevents condensation.
Types of Bivvy
In simple terms there are really only three types of bivvy, Central Block, Pram Hood and Brolly Systems. Below I will go into a little more detail on each one and when and where you would use them so you can make the right decision for you!
Bivvies that are built around a central block are the most popular in the market right now! This is because they have a quick set up time and can be packed down easily whilst remaining very stable. The central block has the rods pre attached that fan out to create a dome like structure which are easy to use and time effective.
These Bivvies are perfect for 365 day use and come with all the attributes you need to fish in the different months comfortably. They suit different types of angling from day sessions with the front zip off to the longer sessions where you need more space.
Sometimes these bivvies are free standing which means you can pitch up on the hardest of grounds!
These are the longest serving bivvies in the market. They remain a popular choice for anglers who are looking for a comfortable and spacious bivvy for nights on the bank. These bivvies are simple to put up but do take a little more time than the central block bivvies which I talked about above.
To erect these bivvies you simply connect all the poles then pull from the front putting tension poles in between to fan the sections.
Like most other bivvies on the market, almost all of the pram hoods come with optional overwraps too. Like the others this helps insulate the bivvy and provides an extra layer to prevent condensation.
These systems are very popular with carp anglers who fish shorter sessions. As these are more open they offer less protection than the other 2 types but they are very adaptable to various fishing situations. For example a quick overnighter or day sessions.
As you can gather by the name they are based on a umbrella design which features rods that open up through the use of a simple pole. The traditional size of these are 60 inches which gives you more than enough rooom to fit your kit and bedchair in. These sometimes come with storm sides which gives you a little more protection from the elements.
1 man tent: the carp fishing tent is very spacious and also holds king size beds and offers an internal height of 137 cm.
Waterproof: the 10,000 mm hydrostatic head provides absolute protection against water even in heavy rain and keeps you completely dry.
Lightweight: only 9.2 kg transport weight make this lightweight fishing bivvy stand out. The weight has been achieved by the intelligent construction and the use of aluminium.
Quick to set up: in under a minute, the bivvy stands without any problems and then only requires installation of the groundsheet and the front.
Full features: groundsheet, mosquito net and lockable front are also included, as the side storm poles, transport bag and ground spikes.
I hope this advice and buying guide helps you select the PERFECT bivvy for you! There are many factors you should take into consideration when selecting your bivvy to make it perfect for yourself! If you do require anymore advice then you can contact me through the form below! Or simply email me!
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!
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!
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.
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!
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!
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.
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!
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!
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!
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!
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!
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.
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!
Me, My Partner and Parents
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!
Farmers SheepFarmers Cattle
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
Entrance to Roach Lodge
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!
View over the complex
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.
Inside the Fishermens Hut – Roach
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
Bottom LakeTop LakeThird Lake
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.
View from my swim
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.
15lb 5oz Mirror10lb Mirror
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.
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.
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.
“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!
“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‘.
“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.
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.
“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”
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!
“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!
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.
“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!
“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!
Deciding on which carp rig and bait to use on a session is always a hard task. The modern-day carping has introduced a huge variety of different rigs which sometimes makes things a little overwhelming when deciding what rigs to settle on. Especially for those young anglers coming through!
In my opinion what rig you use depends on what lake bed you are fishing over, and picking the right rigs can really improve your chances of catching. I have 5 rigs I use in all my carp fishing which suit a variety of baits to give me the best presentation possible when I find out what the lake bed is like on arrival to a swim.
The Ronnie rig is my number 1 go to rig and probably the most used pop-up rig in UK carp fishing. I use this a lot in my own fishing, and have caught carp on difficult waters on this rig!
The Ronnie rig offers precise positioning for pop up baits on the bottom of the lake and is aimed at giving you a good strong hook hold.
The goal of the Ronnie rig is to have your hookbait so it can freely rotate through 360 degrees so that when a carp sucks it in it will give you a strong hook hold around the bottom lip.
I like to mount my hookbaits on bait screws for Ronnie’s as this presentation gets the hookbait close to the curve of the shank meaning you are more likely to get a good hook hold.
From the QC swivel up to the eye of the hook you should use shrink tubing to give you the stiff presentation that is so iconic with the Ronnie rig! Make sure you use the same colour tubing to match the lakebed you’re fishing over!
Suitable over: Silt, Gravel, Clay, Clear spots in weed
A snowman rig is one of the most unused carp rigs in UK carp fishing in my opinion. For me I use it when there are a lot of nuisance fish as this gives you a larger hookbait to get through to the larger carp.
A snowman rig is a 2 boilie setup with a standard boilie at the bottom and a smaller pop up at the top. It makes the presentation stand up odd at the bottom and looks just like a snowman, hence the name.
I have had many of my 30lb UK carp on this method like below…
In my opinion the snowman rig works great in situations where you are fishing over beds of standard carp baits because the added topper to a normal boilie really gives you the edge and makes your bait stand out against the loose feed
This rig also allows you to combine savoury/fishmeal baits with bright high attractive, typically sweet, pop ups.
You can buy ready made from my website here: Snowman Rig
OR… if you want to try yourself these are the materials you’ll need:
Hookbaits Used: Pop-Ups, Wafters, Bottom baits tipped with Artificial corn
Suitable over: Silt, Gravel, Clay, Clear spots in weed
The KD Rig is very similar to a standard hair rig which is used by all carp anglers. The key difference is in the whipping of the hooklink around the shank of the hook. With the KD rig, the hair protrudes from the hook closer to the eye.
For my KD rigs I do 2 whips as normal, move the hair to 90 degrees and do 4 whips below.
I have caught many UK carp on this rig including this monster below:
KD Rigs are especially lethal when paired with a solid PVA bag. The PVA bag creates a tight compact spread of bait with the hook and bait in perfect position nearly every time. The supreme hook hold achieved by KD rigs makes them a very useful tool to have when fishing in waters where barbed hooks are prohibited.
A lot of my waters I fish are Barbless only hooks which makes this an option for when I am out on the bank.
You can buy ready made from my website here: KD Rig
OR… if you want to try yourself these are the materials you’ll need:
Suitable over: Silt, Gravel, Clay, Clear spots in weed
The Blowback rig is an often-used presentation incorporating a small sliding ring on the shank of the hook, with the ring attached to the hair as a simple extension of the hooklink running up the back of the hook.
Now I have only started using this rig within the last few months after a few anglers I know were talking about it and it possessed some qualities that I was looking for in my rigs.
A blowback rig goes perfectly in a solid bag setup which is something I’ve also introduced into my fishing lately.
Also not only will this rig hook the cleverest of carp, it can also be used with both bottom baits and pop ups but still provide the excellent hooking potential which allows you to swap methods quickly.
But the main advantage is the fact that the hair rarely tangles and if the rig is ejected it can reset itself, due to the sliding rig ring that runs along the hooks shank.
So if your looking for a rig that resets itself, can try the wariest of carp and you can use any hookbait you want then this is the rig for you!
You can buy ready made from my website here: Blowback Rig
OR… if you want to try yourself these are the materials you’ll need:
Suitable over: Silt, Gravel, Clay, Clear spots in Weed
Now in my eyes this is the most under rated carp rig in fishing. The simplicity of a standard hair rig is often over looked by the modern day angler who follow all the big names in fishing making their rigs extremely over complicated.
Sometimes just getting the basics right is far better than fishing ineffectively.
I have had some of my biggest carp on this simple method, check out below:
The standard hair rig can be fished in nearly every presentation whether it would be over particle, boilie or pellets. By changing the length of the rig it can also be fished over every lake bed apart from weed.
I hope you have enjoyed this read into what rigs I use and what material you would need to make them yourself.
All rigs above can be adapted and changed to suit different scenarios like softer silt or thicker weed; such as varying the hooklength and changing the hook size. These changes CAN and WILL make the difference in banking more carp!
Don’t forget I can tie all carp rigs to order from my shop! Make sure you check it out!
Do you have any questions about the rigs above?
Then please fill out the form below and I would be happy to answer any questions. I aim to reply as soon as possible but please allow 24hrs.
