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Absolute perfection!

Posted in Catch Reports on 31st May 2014

Well I certainly can't complain about the past 12-months! On my no-publicity venue in Glos, I managed to bank a total of 47 carp to 48lb 12oz, of which 17 were over 30lbs. B5 doing the damage as always. Obviously I can't put the pictures up here, but one fish I can report is a fish known as 'The No9 Bus' at a weight of 42lb 10oz, that I recently caught from Stoneacres (Linch Hill Complex).

I've only recently joined the famous syndicate and 'The Bus' graced my net on just my second trip to the venue. The great fish fell to a mixture of Black & Red B5 boilies in mixed sizes and at a range of about 160-yards. I was absolutely blown away by the capture and I can only describe it as one of the most awesome carp I have ever seen! Absolutely breathtaking!

The rods are going away soon to concentrate on writing Carp Life 2, but after the season I've had, and topping it off with such a fantastic creature, the timing just couldn't have been any better.

Mike Willmott

The benefits of Pellets

Team Essential member Lee Carpenter with one of his many big fish. Underwater attraction and stimulation plays a big role in Lee's success and pellets are one of the best ways to achieve this.

The use of pellets as a carp fishing bait has been well documented over the years, but their success isn’t surprising when you begin to consider just how many young carp have been fed on them during their early years. Most carp will instantly recognise pellets as a viable food source, and the fact that they break down quicker than boilies means that they release their food signals more efficiently. This will usually encourage smaller fish into the area first, but will often trigger a feeding response from the carp shortly afterwards.

Pellets are also an extremely versatile bait, that can be introduced in a variety of different ways. One of the best methods is to use them inside mini PVA bags with a few crushed boilies. The full package is no bigger than a tea bag, but leaves a nice little pile of food perfectly presented and difficult for the carp to ignore!

Larger beds of pellets can also be very effective, particularly on heavier stocked venues when trying to create competition for food. On lower stocked venues however, a few pouch loads of pellets sparsely scattered around your baited rig will undoubtedly increase attraction and keep the carp searching for food. This method will always keep a food trace in the area and increase the chances of pulling fish into the baited zone.