LATEST ADDITIONS

The make-up of Carp Team England will move a step closer to completion as the second trial takes place at Wyreside’s Wyre Lake this weekend, May 25th-27th. The first trial at the prolific Drayton Reservoir saw Kev Hewitt and Mark Bartlett take the field apart, but this second event will be an altogether different proposition at the much bigger northern venue, which boasts a stock of just 130-or so carp. The smart money will still be on Hewitt and Bartlett to make the team, but managerial duo Ian Huntingdon and Pete Holehouse remain adamant that no selections will be made until the trial process has been completed. Other pairs who must stand a great chance of selection include Billy Flowers and Jamie Londors, father-and-son duo Andy and Tom Maker and Total Carp’s own Dan Wildbore and his brother Jake.

Leading bait manufacturer Bait-Tech has recently put out the first in its Advanced Bait Solutions DVD series and it’s an absolute cracker. Although many of the featured products and footage have a match/coarse fishing slant, there is a fair bit in here for the carp angler, especially the fascinating segments filmed at Sparsholt College. In these, carp are routinely fed different baits so that you, the viewer, can see exactly how they react to each. It’s fascinating stuff and several bits will have you constantly thumbing the rewind, play and pause buttons.

Big mirror so close to 50lb breaks its own best weight to reset venue record. The venue record at one of Kent’s most picturesque big fish venues has fallen following the capture of a 49lb 12oz mirror. Captured from Wingham Lakes’ carp water near Canterbury, the fish was achingly close to the magic 50lb mark when it was brought to the bank by Croyden carper Matt Jones. Joined by several other fish during Matt’s 48hour session – including a 39lb 12oz common – the mighty mirror carp breaks its own best weight by just 4oz.

Not to be missed event sees two of carping's big stars visit Norfolk tackle super store. Fox-backed carp stars Tom Maker and Mark Pitchers are to host a not-to-be-missed open day in Norfolk this weekend. 

The guys will be at the Angling Direct tackle store in Norwich for a superb day that will see the two big fish gurus reveal tactics, thinking and tackle that will help you put more fish on the bank. 

Running from around 10am through until the store closes at 6pm, the angling master class will see detailed rig construction, advice on bait and a question and answer session.