TheCarpCatcher

Under a quill float

In 1968 at the age of eleven I got my first proper float rod, it was made of whole cane with a greenheart top section (a wood with a straight grain). By the early 1970's like everyone else, I moved over to glass fibre with rods from the likes of Hardys and Bruce & Walker. When I started Carp fishing in 1980 it was Alan Brow...

In 1968 at the age of eleven I got my first proper float rod, it was made of whole cane with a greenheart top section (a wood with a straigh...

Being mobile

As I pointed out in a previous post The Gault lake is an SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) and as such cannot be altered which means it has some of the most difficult paths and swims going. Given the difficulty of terrain and the distance required to push the kit i'm not figuring on night fishing it anytime soon bu...

As I pointed out in a previous post The Gault lake is an SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) and as such cannot be altered which mean...

Living the Dream part fourteen

We arrive at the pool bright and early, it's been three days since my last visit. The weather is with us with overcast grey skies and a wind that's building from the south so my hopes are high that a run is on the cards. Once the rods are in position and three handfuls of bait spread between them I get on with the importa...

We arrive at the pool bright and early, it's been three days since my last visit. The weather is with us with overcast grey skies and a win...

The Gault lake

By mid april of this year I still hadn't sorted out a place to fish and as ever time was running out. Surprisingly after almost forty years carping there are still some waters not too far from me that for one reason or another I have never fished, The Gault lake is one of them. It was back in 1982 whilst fishing around th...

By mid april of this year I still hadn't sorted out a place to fish and as ever time was running out. Surprisingly after almost forty years ...

Living the Dream part thirteen

It's the next day and despite my misgivings about the weather I return to the pool for another short session. Anywhere that's as shallow as this pool is going to be affected by the Sun. The more sunshine the more likely the carp will migrate away from the deeper areas where they are more catchable and into the shallows wher...

It's the next day and despite my misgivings about the weather I return to the pool for another short session. Anywhere that's as shallow as ...

The sweetcorn kid strikes again

The day started at 6:10am with the intention of getting down the lake by 7:30 but one look out of the window and I got back into bed for another hour. Fog had descended and it was like pea soup, so no chance of a bite. By 11:00 however it had cleared to reveal a warm sunny spring day, perfect for a few hours by a local pon...

The day started at 6:10am with the intention of getting down the lake by 7:30 but one look out of the window and I got back into bed for ano...

Living the Dream part twelve

After the blank yesterday and with fish all over me I was hoping for better weather, less sunshine and a little wind would help enormously and so it turned out. An action packed, short targeted session on this lovely pool with three on-camera runs that'll have you jumping out of your chair and going for your rod! ...

After the blank yesterday and with fish all over me I was hoping for better weather, less sunshine and a little wind would help enormously a...

Fresh in the memory

In the summer of 1982 I stated to fish further afield having spent my first two years carping on my local ponds. The place I headed for was a small fenland village called Mepel which sits beside the Hundred Foot Drain. Here was a wealth of lakes to choose from and all had carp in them. Most of them were stocked in the 1970'...

In the summer of 1982 I stated to fish further afield having spent my first two years carping on my local ponds. The place I headed for was ...

Living the Dream part eleven

It's the last week of September and time is running out. In the last month I have been down to the pool 14 times, each time spending between 4-6 hours fishing before my shift begins for the day. This has resulted in 20 fish caught from two swims, but it's started to get tougher. Having caught possibly half of the residents...

It's the last week of September and time is running out. In the last month I have been down to the pool 14 times, each time spending betwee...

Wind Noise Reduction

So apologies first of all for those of you putting up with the bloody awful sound on some of the films, this is the reason. Wind noise Reduction or WNR as it appears in your camera settings... Turn it off ;-)...

So apologies first of all for those of you putting up with the bloody awful sound on some of the films, this is the reason. Wind noise Redu...

Living the Dream part ten

Continuing my concerted effort of short day sessions on this little pool we sit it out in a rain shower mulling over my options. This swim has produced many fish but now not so much, other areas seem to offer better chances. Choices need to be made and action taken....

Continuing my concerted effort of short day sessions on this little pool we sit it out in a rain shower mulling over my options. This swim h...

Living the Dream - Out-takes

As any blogger will tell you, you don't always get it right first time ;-)...

As any blogger will tell you, you don't always get it right first time ;-)

Helicopter/Chod rig

The main reason to use the Helicopter/Chod setup over any other is when you need to fish over weed/silt/detritus, the choice of setup depending on the depth the lead will penetrate. I use the same lead system for my Helicopter rig as I do for my Chod rig with only one difference, how I place my top bead. Both setups are d...

The main reason to use the Helicopter/Chod setup over any other is when you need to fish over weed/silt/detritus, the choice of setup depend...

Living the Dream part nine

It's the third day I have been down to the pool this week. Having had two nice fish on the previous mornings in howling winds today couldn't be more different with it being wet, overcast and without a breath of wind. This week we have two days back to back showing how presentation makes all the difference....

It's the third day I have been down to the pool this week. Having had two nice fish on the previous mornings in howling winds today couldn't...

Semi fixed lead clip

This is the lead clip system I use which as you can see has a few modifications. Like all the lead systems I use they are put together so that they can come apart safely, work efficiently and without unnecessarily dumping leads. I use this lead system over bottoms that are clean to light weed/detritus. The lead will neatly...

This is the lead clip system I use which as you can see has a few modifications. Like all the lead systems I use they are put together so th...

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Welcome to TheCarpCatcher website
38 years of carp fishing experiences, over 450 films in the last 12 years with millions of views
The original carp fishing blogger Welcome to TheCarpCatcher website
38 years of carp fishing experiences, over 450 films in the last 12 years with millions of views
The original carp fishing blogger

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Off the breeze

Sem fixed running rig - Flat lead

All on film

Living the Dream part eight

Mepel SWAC pit pictures

Taking it all in

Moments

Keeping the mud down

Floater Cake

Under a quill float

The Berry

Redhouse lake pt 7

Forgotten fish

The Woolpack lake 8 pt 4

Redhouse lake pt 1

All change for winter

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Valley Pool pt 3

Eight years on

For all the things I tend to forget

Latest films

Living the Dream part fourteen

Living the Dream part thirteen

Living the Dream part twelve

Living the Dream part eleven

Wind Noise Reduction

Living the Dream part ten

Living the Dream - Out-takes

Living the Dream part nine

Living the Dream part eight

Semi Fixed Running Rig

Ultra Sharp Hooks

Solid PVA Bags

Living the Dream part seven

Watching Carp

Living the Dream part six

Living the Dream part five

Living the Dream part four

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Bait application

Living the Dream pictures

Articles

Bait making - The Recipes

Floater Cake

Hydrating bait

River carping

Kick back

The hair rig

How much bait?

River Cam Carp Quest Pt4

River Cam Carp Quest Pt3

River Cam Carp Quest Pt2

River Cam Carp Quest Pt1

Floater rigs

Sem fixed running rig - Flat lead

Propolis - Fish care

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Living the Dream pictures

TheCarpCatcher Social 2018

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Barnwell lake pictures

Block fen B pictures

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Some of the simple rigs, lead systems and setups i use

Helicopter/Chod rig

Semi fixed lead clip

Semi Fixed Running Rig

No boilie stop

Kick back

No problems

The hair rig

Tips up!

Pushing the limits

The Multi rig

Standard bottom rig

Forget the spod!

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Sem fixed running rig - Flat lead

Little popup rig

Hookbaits

Lead systems

Silt rig

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Nick Burrage social

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Wind Noise Reduction

Semi Fixed Running Rig

Ultra Sharp Hooks

Solid PVA Bags

Watching Carp

Bubblers

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Autumn Stalking

No boilie stop

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Bait making - The Recipes

Bait application

Wrap up

Cold water carp

Watercraft

Feature finding

Practice, practice, practice

Revel in the cool

Floater Cake

Hydrating bait

Bait making

How to make your own bait

Bait making - The Recipes

Wrap up

Bait Making ~ Hookbaits

Floater Cake

Bait making ~ Recipes

Chin stroker

K-LO Re-loaded

Krill based bait

Salmon oil slick

Bait making - The Basics

Bait-making 1984

Confidence is the key

Popup tests

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Alder lake - Bait making

Cheap bait

Recipe testing

Bait making - Recipes

The spoils of bait making

The fly test

Making it personal

Hookers and popups

Hookbaits

Linford 1 bait