The Help Files

If you ever want to start a good debate amongst a group of carp anglers, ask them about the merits of pop-ups - then just sit back and then watch the sparks fly! Some anglers swear by them, others detest them. Odd that something as simple as a floating bait can evoke such passion, ... [full story]

With all the hype surrounding carp baits and tackle, it’s sometimes easy to overlook the simple things - like leads! The irony is that choosing the wrong type of lead could see your bait sitting under a mound of silt, not hooking the carp effectively when it takes your bait, or in terms of ... [full story]

If ever there was a ‘piece of string’ topic, then how to go about carp fishing in weed could well be it! The amount of contradictory advice I’ve been given over the years for tackling weedy waters beggars’ belief. The main problem is, how weedy is weedy? Are we talking about a water that has ... [full story]

Hi, Could you please tell me what is the correct way to set-up for surface fishing with a controller float? A diagram would be great. Many Thanks, Gary.Hi Gary, thanks for the email. Surface fishing is a great way of getting amongst carp when they are in the upper layers, and I must confess, ... [full story]

Everybody raves about them, but what exactly are they, and why should you get some for your fishing? In this piece Julian Grattidge explains the benefits of polarized glasses. I’ll be honest, when I first started fishing I had no idea what all the fuss ... [full story]

Are you looking for a braid rig to catch carp? Three words of advice; ‘keep it simple!’ Without doubt there are occasions where a complicated rig might be required to overcome a particular problem you are faced with, but by and large, simple is always best. When I first ... [full story]

I often favour the use of critically balanced baits on waters where the fish are pretty clued up. Many anglers think that any carp they hook has literally just come across their baited patch, picked up the hookbait immediately and that’s it, job done. In reality, it can be very ... [full story]

The bait rocket or ‘spod’ has become a familiar tool in the specimen anglers’ armoury, providing a great platform from which to apply beds of bait at distance. With so many types and sizes available, how do you choose the right one, and how do you use them? In this ... [full story]

How to catch carp? It’s one of the most common questions asked by beginners. Sometimes the basic principles can get lost under the constant bombardment of new methods, baits and approaches. In this piece we’ve asked Julian Grattidge to highlight some of the easy mistakes made by beginners and to ... [full story]

The importance of remaining unnoticed when carp fishing can not be over estimated. Carp are creatures of habit and will bolt the second they feel something is not right, they sometimes even bolt when there is nothing wrong at all; such is their basic instinct for survival. As such, the ... [full story]