LATEST ADDITIONS

Two days fishing on Lac De Villedon for Norwegian Solar Tackle field tester Hallvard Pedersen has seen him land two carp, the biggest of which was this 51lb mirror. The experienced angler presented one of Solar’s 4th Rod Special Top Banana pop-ups over a small bed of Top Banana Up & Down Mix, keeping baiting to a minimum due to low water temperatures. . .

Quick-hit carping expert Ian Russell explains why you should be using solid PVA bags and shows you how to get the most from them. Often perceived as a cast it anywhere rig, I would slightly disagree, although it is probably as close as any I have encountered. I have spoken to a fully licensed scuba diver, who has been underwater to investigate how this presentation fairs in deep silt. He has had to dig anywhere up to two feet into the soft substrate to get these rigs out, and although carp do like to root around this is not an effective method and will often remain engulfed in the stinky black stuff until you decide to reel it in and cast out once more.

Carp Lake has come into early form here at Manor Farm. Dell Ryder banked 5 fish to 21-8 on Manilla pop up and fake corn with a solid bag of Manilla pellets. Marek fished the weekend and bagged 9 fish to 24-8 and his friend Gary had 5 to 22-8. Mark and Wayne Johnson landed a 19lb and 18lb respectively.

Although the weather is being indecisive with warm winds, double figure temperatures one moment and ice covered rods the next, I am starting to see more and more signs that the fish are slowly getting back on the move. On Pit 5 of the hollybush lakes complex its been a very slow winter for me having just ended a near four-month blank, like a lot of lakes around the country the lake completely shut up shop at what seemed like flick of a switch. Ending the long blank was not a complete success as it ended up being an upper double common which was actually a repeat from the summer. With the blank behind me, it's time to start focusing on my spring approach which starts with emptying the contents of my rucksack onto the living room floor and having a good old sort out.