Both were returned double quick to allow them to continue their journey up to the head waters to spawn and as I was angling with a friend on the second capture I got this quick picture (see above) well pleased or what.
I know this blog has not been about carp angling as most of mine usually are but if you take one thing from this then I hope I can encourage some of you to get out and try your luck for whatever specie’s you want to catch and for as much time as you have available, no matter how pushed for time you are. Never forget it only takes a second to catch any type of fish including the fish of of your dreams..
Happy angling
Ellis Brazier.

Our own gulp red crustacean and the ever dependant spicy tuna doing the business as usual. A good time with a collection of good anglers, although most of them you would not want to take home to meet your mum.
Back on this side of the channel things have been a little slower to get going this spring but it has been nice to see a few of the carp start to wake up in my own syndicate water that I run in Shropshire. Sometimes it’s not all about the actual fishing it’s the whole package and after all the hard work that has gone into this venue over the last few years it just puts a smile on my face to see things starting to come to fruition. I have not had time to wet a line on this water yet myself but a few of the more intrepid anglers that have been braving the cold winds have been out and caught a few nice carp. In fact the seemingly ever increasing average weight of these fish is testimony its self as at the moment this young stock of fast growing spawned on fish are flying through the doubles and already starting to push the early twenties which is great news indeed.

Right that’s my round up of what has been going on so I’m off to do what I do best and actually go and try to catch something for myself, although it’s tough to choose what species to fish for at the moment as although I dearly want to have a go at the carp in my water I have that other itch that irritates me every year at this time, the cause being a spring river Severn salmon. I was brought up by my father enjoying many a day with him seeking out these hard won jewels of the river Severn in and around the Welsh boarder. Each year I try to resist the urge but the temptation of latching on to one of these silver sea fed torpedoes is all so often far too much to bare. I must admit a pocket full of sundry items and a net, rod and reel is all that is required and like stalking carp the feeling of achievement I get from finding and stalking my quarry is to me the pinicle of angling.
So its decisions decisions, rest assured whatever happens I’ll be back to tell you all about it soon. Until then happy hunting and tight lines
Ellis Brazier.

The caddis crawls across the bottom of the lake from their safe haven towards any reed or stage leg that will when the temperature dictates help them to make their final journey up into the outside world. Carp are masters of their environment and know this only too well and cash in on the bounty of easy food. Also as we get the first few wet and mild nights of this month the margins will become flooded with the frogs and toads that come to reproduce. Both these natural blooms of food take part in the margins next to and in amongst reeds and structures, hence my recent interest in baiting these areas in an attempt to replicate the carp’s natural food.” Match the hatch” a fly angler might say or more correctly match the area the food will be readily available in.
I see this as style of baiting almost as a reaction to the natural environment and I must say each time over the last week even in the coldest of winds I have seen evidence of carp mooching and feeding in these shallow areas. Of course much of their time they will still be retreating into the open water to hang motion less and see out the last of the cold a place where the zig advocate can score well.
Anyway although its cold the sun has now come out again so I’m off up the shed to collect my bag of Red Crustacean and go as see if any more signs of spring are pointing me in the carps direction.

Tight lines
Ellis Brazier.

Ok so what’s been happening with the weather? I don’t know about anyone else but that mild spell we had over Christmas was for me was a carp anglers winter dream. Many people say that lakes fished better when we had proper cold and frosty winters, but for me the mild weather that gets the water temperature up above 6 degrees is the best winter feeding conditions you can get.  The action may not happen every time you go out in the winter but when it does it can be thick and fast. This mild spell was no different for me and with close observation of a few local waters I was able to keep the bobbins moving and land some real winter jems. Over the course of a few weeks fishing only a day or so a week with the odd night thrown in I was able to put over twenty five carp on the bank up to high twenties, which in my book at this time of year is not bad going. Red crustacean, chilli hemp and casters has been the combination that has been doing the damage and I have felt that this very natural combination has mimicked to some extent the carps natural food. Fished in small mesh PVA bags this mix has everything that a cold water carp is looking for, plus the small particles of hemp and caster give the fish something to keep rooting about for in search of that one more mouthful of crunch. This prolonged feeding activity over a small area must give the hook bait that all important extra time to get sucked in and sampled, something I feel has helped with my chances of pickups. Hook baits have been balanced snow men incorporating a 12mm red crustacean and a little “special” pop up I picked up off that most devious of hook bait purveyors Mr Day, I know I keep on about the red C at the moment but it just keeps on working.

Anyway that was when it was warm and nice, now it has gone cold and snowy. I have been out in the snow once and although it was only on an easy water I managed to winkle a few out which for me was a first. I’ve caught carp before at night before snow and I’ve caught them when it’s been sleeting but this week I managed one when the road to the lake was closed due to snow so we had to walk into the fishery in over six inches of white freezing powder. Not a big fish but worth the effort and better than sitting at home moping that the lakes are unfishable.

Well time to get on again, I’ve got a new boat to pick up for the lads on my syndicate water and then it’s back to work again for another week. I can’t help thinking about when the thaw will come though and which water will fish first. As with the mild spell over Christmas one by one the waters woke up and gave us a chance at their prizes and after this little ice age it will all happen again. I will be watching and listening intently and as soon as some of those lakes look good for a bite Ill be fighting to get down and have a go.

You never know I might see you there!

All the best

Ellis.

Well I started off this year moaning that it was all too much work and not enough fishing and it looks like I’m going to finish in much the same way. This month has been nuts, like most of you work and family come first and then there is this thing called Christmas that seem to sap both money and time. But I imagine much like myself none of you would change this time of year for the world.

So how’s the fishing been? Well I’ve got to say I have found it excellent. Rain , frost , work  it’s all tried its best to keep me off the bank but when I have managed to get out it’s been good. Carp have found their way into my net each and every time I have been out and to prove this just check out some of the features in the mags that I have recently fished. Carpworld, crafty, Uk Carp I’ve been out fishing with them all this month and I must say it’s been hectic. If you get chance check out some of the features in the January issues all the tips and tricks is exactly what I used to catch the fish so hopefully some of it might be of relevance to your own winter angling. I know myself I like nothing more than to read about other angler’s techniques and thoughts on carp angling and at this time of year when the lake can be slow at giving feedback, I find a little stimulation of the grey matter can spark me into action and keep me keen and trying. That’s all its about really at this time of year, just keep trying and in the end the results will come to you. I’ve been lucky so far this winter and the results have come straight away but as we move into January I know only too well that this can be a harsh time to carp fish and any edge you can get is worth its weight in gold. If I was put on the spot though and asked what has been my winter edge this year I would have to say red crustacean. Forgive me for being slow but I have only just this autumn found this wonderful bait as I’ve been a disciple to the squid and liver for years. This winter I have changed and the result is awesome. I must admit my good friend Nigel Warner who joined the gulp army this year told me that this bait was special and I should have known when you have been carp angling as long as he has you should recognise a good bait  when you see one. Sorry squires Ill pay more attention in future.

Anyway I’m starting to rattle on and that was not the point of this blog, the intention was to wish everyone a happy Christmas and a net full of a new year.

I hope this mid winter break gives you all chance to get out on the bank and remember don’t forget the crustacean.

Tight lines

Ellis.

Well after last month’s dower look at my results over the autumn period it was with a little trepidation that I made the journey over to France. Was my run of bad luck going to continue? No absolutely not I was determined that there was no ways I was going to let that happen.

The journey over was good and made that much easier by the humour of my angling partner for the week Steve Egerton  pure fishing’s very capable marketing manager. We have been friends for a while and the banter was great. On arrival at the fishery well I was truly blown away, I have read a lot about Fishabil over the years and also talked too many who have fished it but this did not prepare me for the sight of this beautiful lake. Set in some of the most outstanding country side I have been to this place looked awesome and had both of us chomping at the bit to get some baits in the water and try for a bite. A walk around this 85 acre lake made picking a swim no easier as they all looked good so we opted for the dam wall and to watch as much water as possible for a few days.

Well I am not going to tell the whole story here as it goes on for a while but over the course of the week we both managed to bag a few in what was at times some extreme weather. The new JRC rods were put through their paces and due to distance solid bagging being the tactic of choice that week we triumphed where other s may have failed. I will put a piece together over the next few weeks detailing the methods and techniques used as they were as extreme as the weather but I can honestly say that with the help of the new JRC extreme XLR  and the fantastic nano fill super line ,I was able to put solid bags a very nuclear 150yrds plus.

So in brief my autumn although starting slow has improved no end with the help of some new and dynamic equipment from the masters of angling at PF. Join me in the next few weeks and Ill put you all in the picture of how nuclear science is now capable with a rod and line

Tight lines

Ellis.

Did I enjoy it? You bet, it was ace just me and the fish and time to check out what gear I needed for the next weeks trip to France. Yes I’m off to the carp mega land for a whole week in early November. I’ve got new JRC rods that have not been released yet but I saw at the trade show last month, they look and feel the nuts and if you follow me for the next few weeks then I hope to bring you some pics of how good they were and how well they work (hopefully), I guarantee you will be impressed with or without my success.
So with my recent capture under my belt, all be it rather small and my new kit to try out I’m off to do hopeful battle with some foreign carp but most of all to soak in the atmosphere of this wonderful time of year for carp angling.
I wish you all good luck, see you soon.
Ellis.

Me and my daughter in the fishing canoe.

On return from the sea side it was time to get some carp action and with limited time and a bite the priority it was time to do some spodding over zigs while we still had the hot weather. This style of carping is not for everyone but I love it and within a few hours of hard work we had over twenty fish for two of us. Great fun and I will try to cover this subject in more detail at a later date with rigs tips and bait application.

Working hard over the zigs.

So back to reality and it is this time of year that I start to think about my autumn and winter campaigns. Now I know this is a horrible thought but I like to be prepared and ready to take advantage of any situation that presents itself over the next few months. This is a hard learned lessons from years gone by, as it’s very easy to get left behind by the switched on as the first frosts and cold weather come upon us.
What I am talking about here is bait and the long term application of it. Now you could be one of the anglers that just drops onto waters as the weather gets colder and uses the going bait, safe in the knowledge that others have baited for you and the carp will want what you are offering and why not. It’s a cheap easy option that will at the end of each season produce results and if time is tight and funds are low I can understand anyone who takes this approach. But the problem with this approach is you will only achieve the same results at best, as others who are using this bait. The thinking angler on the other hand can have a massive head start over everyone else by simply starting over the next few months to apply bait ready for the colder weather. I have very successfully applied this approach for a number of years now and the results can be devastating. What I do is tend to feed bait different to that which people are using on the water through September, say once every two to three days and then start to fish it through October and into the winter. Every year I have applied this technique my catches have kept coming into the colder weather and been well above average for the waters in question. This year will be no different except instead of my trusty squid and liver I’m going in with the red crustacean a bait that has been doing the business ever since its release.

I think more a testimony to the lure itself rather than that of the boys angling skill! On a serious note if you get chance to check this range out and you enjoy a bit of lure fishing then these are the plugs to use.
Well that’s it for now I’m off as my daughter has just gone swimming with her cousins so I’ve got a couple of hours free and the sun is out, now where is that floater rod?
Tight lines
Ellis Brazier

With this mix the carp are addicted to on my side you wouldn’t think you could get it wrong would you. What I did was on arriving for my latest quick session I noticed the margins in the swim next to where I had set up were coloured. You know that sort of dirty river colour that made you think what had caused that. I looked closely and expected to see a few tails sticking out or some water movement but nothing it was all quiet. Due to me wanting to get on as I only had a few hours I left the area after giving it a handful of the mix just in case and put the colouration of the water down to swans or some other bird like coots, it had to be the water was so shallow here that I would have seen carp moving around. Any way I fished the session and blanked and as I was packing away another angler turned up . We chatted and just as I left I told him that the water had been coloured in the next swim so we both looked at it quickly before I went. It was clear now but where there had been silk weed was cleaned off and shinning, you know that polished look.
I thought nothing else of this as I went home and the angler who I know set up in my swim as this offers better water vision of a greater area. The next morning he rang me just to let me know he had put his third rod down in that swim and fished it in just a foot of water on one of the clear patches. Shortly after dark he had the first of nine fish off that spot, yes nine fish. Bare in mind that last year this guy fished the season on this water for only a handful of carp. So as you can see sometimes that initial gut feeling is the right one and not the logical thought out approach that you come to when you consider things too long. I was a fool and as I said before paid the price.
Tight lines
Ellis Brazier.