INSIDE THE JULY ISSUE:

ON SALE FRIDAY JULY 29TH

It’s that time of year where the weed in many lakes is at its highest. However, according to KARL PITCHER, it’s easier to overcome than you might think.

Weed! It can be your worst nightmare, but as the water warms up and the summer fast approaches it can be unavoidable at times on certain lakes. With many types often present, it makes knowing where to start a head-banger to say the least. Is my rig presented? What’s my line angle like?

Despite thinking his bad luck had passed, a rooky error costs DAN MURRELL dearly. However, in true style, it all balanced itself out come the end of the month.

As I sat writing last month’s instalment gazing over my rods, I was wishing for one of them to give me another chance to redeem myself. As luck would have it, it just so happened.
It was the rod I had lost the previous fish from and with a different game plan I struck the rod, refrained from getting in the boat, buried my rod tip and began pumping the carp towards me. I must have gained a good 30 yards on the carp before it knew what was happening. However, now safely out of harm’s way I was in the boat so that I could get over the top of it. My heart was beating frantically and I knew this would make or break me; it had to go in the net.

It’s that time of year again and MARK PITCHERS makes the most of it with some surface fishing action at a stunning complex of Bedfordshire lakes.

This month my Roamer series saw me make the 200-mile journey from my home in the northeast down to Manor Farm Fisheries in Bedfordshire. Lying just a stone’s throw from the A1 the complex comprises seven day-ticket lakes, plus a stretch of the River Ivel, as well as a superbly stocked tackle shop on site. While all the lakes boast an impressive stock, Winters Lake is regarded as the specimen water and is where I have come to try and tempt one of the complex’s larger residents.  

An opportunistic angler, NICK HELLEUR backs away from session fishing. Here he gives a real surface fishing masterclass.
I had a date booked in to meet with the Wychwood cameras for a couple of days and, with filming and photography plans afoot, I knew we needed a good chance of catching fish. We were due to meet on the Monday so I headed out on Saturday to scout a few venues.
By the time Monday arrived it was an easy decision to drop onto a local club pool first and take it from there.

Keen to begin his new campaign, KARL WHITE headed down to the banks of Cleverly Mere where a truly special session unfolded.
The start of the season is always an exciting time of year for me. Having recently moved to Essex from the Lea Valley, I thought it would be rude not to have a go for some of the characters that Essex has to offer, so I joined Cleverly Mere syndicate and couldn’t wait to get started.
With the van packed, I set off to the lake on the first day of the season ready for the draw and was greeted in the car park by the bailiff team and only a handful of members. Result!

Consistent carp catcher CRAIG MORTIMER demonstrates the tactics he employs to deter nuisance species and keep the carp coming.

With the increasing popularity of carp fishing in the last 15 years, it is fair to say that many other species have been left neglected. Nevertheless, that doesn’t mean they aren’t still in abundance and thriving. They have enjoyed the lack of pressure and are happy to feast on the goodies we use to try and tempt a carp. On the vast majority of commercial fisheries and small club waters large shoals of tench and bream can be a problem when targeting carp. With so much artificial feed being introduced, from pellets, boilies to groundbaits and more, it’s clear to see why these so-called nuisance species turn their noses up at naturals and seek out these quick and easy food sources, just as carp so commonly do.

Thanks to those generous guys from Hainault, we’re delighted to have two pairs of stunning FX9 reels, complete with line, to give away.
Few can argue with the success of Fox’s FX11 big-pit reel and on our travels we see lots of them being used on gravel pits and similar all over the UK.
In response to requests for a compact version of the popular reel, Fox launched the FX9 to critical acclaim. Built on the same principle as the FX11 but with everything scaled down in terms of size, it offers brilliant performance but without the bulk of a classic-style big-pit reel.

ON SALE FRIDAY JULY 29TH