An Interview, with Nash Tackles Tom Forman.

An Interview, with Tom Forman.

            Where I have been a student at Shuttleworth College for 3 years now, through my tutors I have got to know some names of people that have moved onto good career paths, one of them being Nash Tackles very own Tom Forman. I have read a lot of his work in the magazines and other bits and pieces and he’s a good lad. I’d just like to take this opportunity to thank him for taking part in this short interview and I hope it benefits a lot of people into how to get into the industry and what’s the best route to getting a job along with how to adapt your angling and to take on different methods and how its beneficial for you. 

            What lead you into going into Shuttleworth College to do fishery management and how did you manage to get yourself into Nash Tackle?

Well I left school at 16 not really knowing which direction to take. I initially enrolled in a 2 year countryside management course at Moulton College in Northamptonshire but soon realised it wasn’t the course for me. At the time good friend Alan Blair was teaching at Shuttleworth and told me about the Fishery management course. I didn’t need telling twice and had soon switched college’s and courses and literally a few days later I met up with the main man Mr Chris Vaughan. ( I owe this man a great deal ).

I first got involved with Nash through my work experience. Our fisheries class spent a week at Lac Cavagnac in France which was Kevin’s fishery at the time conducting a work party. After working hard for a week I decided this was a bit of me so quickly got in touch with Kevin and asked if I could get back out there during the summer holidays, which he thankfully obliged. As you will know, in the second year of the course you have to complete a 7 week period of work experience which again I done out at Cavagnac. Again I worked my n*tz off , which paid off as I ended up working out for 3 seasons after completing my diploma at Shuttleworth. 

            I’m sure you may be aware of how many people ask this very similar question, how do you recommend people try to get into the industry; I recommend through colleges and shows what do you think is the best route to take?

For sure if I hadn’t decided to go to college and complete my diploma I wouldn’t have got the links into the industry, Nash being a prime example.  When I started college I told myself to make of the most of these two years and make it worth my while. Don’t get me wrong we had a good laugh at college, probably my most memorable two years to date in fact. We had a great time socially meeting a lot of new friends along the way, however when it comes down to it  I got my head down, grafted and was eventually rewarded. That would be my best piece of advice. A bit of brown nosing goes along way as well…. Ha.



A 26lb Church Pool Stunner 

            I understand that you enjoy the job that you do, what sort of things does your job include from a day to day basis?

Since working for Nash ( almost 7 years now ) I have had a few different job titles you could say. Like I’ve already mentioned I spent 3 incredible years out in France working at Nash Resort’s Lac Chateau Cavagnac. I was only 18 when I started so it was incredibly daunting at first, however it definitely changed me for the good and the friends and contacts I made along the way steadied me for the coming years. When I returned to the UK I move down to Essex and started working at Nash HQ. Im now part of the marketing and media team at Nash and loving every minute. I looked after the media side of things, website , facebook etc as well as the majority of the in house photography. 

            Onto the angling side of things, I have seen numerous questions people asking like, how do I get sponsored? How can I become a field tester? What sort of things do you think people should be doing to get them noticed?

Again, just get you name out there. It sounds incredibly big headed, but you simply have to promote yourself as much as possible, Promote everything !! With facebook and twitter alike being at the forefront of most things these days, it makes things so much easier and is the easiest form of free promotion out there. Again, a bit of brown nosing goes a long way and catching a few fish also helps obviously ! 

            During the fishing seasons is there any sort of fishing you like to do? Going to get a few bites on a weekly basis or sitting on the bank in hunt for something bigger?

Believe it or not my time on the bank is very limited. I’m one of these people who struggle to sit behind static rods for days on end awaiting a bite, I struggle to keep still so much prefer fishing for a fair few bites whereby I’m kept busy and always doing something.

hat is your favourite tactic in fishing from standard safety bolt bead setups, zigs and floater fishing and why is this affective in your fishing?

My favourite method by far is floater fishing, I just love it! The stalking element, the buzz and the mobile style of approach for me cannot be beaten. Like I said, I struggle to sit behind static rods for days on end so any approach that allows me to keep on the move I will always favour. 

            Nash offer a good range of hook patterns, my favourite patterns to date are the Fang Twisters for bottom bait presentations and also the Fang Gapers for my Zig rig fishing, what is your favourite hook pattern(s) plus what sort of situations do you tend to use them?

I’m very similar to be fair, I love the twister. Its aggressive nature and versatility for me cannot be beaten. Floater fishing I will use a Fang Uni and for my zigs I will again opt for a Uni with a little kicker. 

Toms Preferred Method of Floater Fishing.

            Many anglers have the favourite venues across the country, what are your favourite venues be it syndicate or day ticket also how highly do you rate them to anglers spread across the country?

I have a couple of of syndicate waters in Essex , however Essex is full of carp anglers meaning most syndicates are generally always rammed out, and that’s not for me. I love visiting day ticket waters for the first time, the challenge of trying to get a bite from an unknown water on a limited time is something that gets me going. This will be me for the up and coming winter anyway, however come March I will get my syndicate fishing head back on.

As other anglers have said to me that the best approach when getting to a lake is to walk around, look for bubblers or anything showing or some sort of disturbance, do you agree with this and is there anything else you do when you arrive at a lake? 

I follow the same rules mate to be honest. However I also do my homework prior to my session. Websites, facebook, and the forums offer a world of information on most venue’s these days so doing your homework with regards to favoured swims, favoured baits, and general tactics prior to your session will save you an incredible amount of time when your actually on the bank.

I understand you sometimes get to Chestnut Pool in Langford in the early stages of the winter, something that I can adopt into my own fishing and to benefit others, how do you make the most out of a session on high stocked venues like Chestnut Pool?

As I just mentioned above, doing your homework prior to your session is key. Chestnut pool is a prime example, I know Pete Wilson quite well so a few phone calls to him prior to your session to see where’s fishing and what’s working will give you a plan of attack for your session. In winter I only really fish short sessions, e.g -  day sessions. This means I’m only really getting 8 hours of fishing time meaning you have to be prepared and equipped ready to fish. Chestnut is frantic at times so it’s vital to have plenty of rigs, bait, and PVA bags ready to go. Doing this on the bank will cost you time and fish, so being prepared as well as organised in winter is vital.  Also you have to fish hard, for example I recently done a 24 hour session on Chestnut for Maximum carp magazine. If I remembered right I had 25 fish but during that session I think I made 88 casts and went through nearly 10 metres of PVA mesh. Basically what I’m saying is you have to fish hard and make the most of the small amount of time you have. 

            Onto memorable captures, taking a step out of carp fishing tactics for the moment, which is your most memorable capture throughout your years of carp fishing?

It would have to be finally banking the famous Single scale from Lac Cavagnac in France. I witnessed and photographed the fish on the bank several times during my time there and always wanted to catch her. I finally did 2 years down the line at 59lb 6oz, It was a great moment that will stay with me forever.

A 37lb 12oz Two Tone Mirror, Beauty!

I enjoy fishing for Roach on the quiver just as much as carp fishing especially when the conditions are right, what is your next favourite species to hunt for?

Hands down it would be Perch, I just love them. I think there an awesome fish to look at and a true predator. Growing up in Milton Keynes I had the great Ouse quite literally on my doorstep and spent much of my childhood down there fishing for them. That will be me this winter as well, catching a 4lb + plus stripey is the target……. I’ll let you know ;)  

            What are your plans for the New Year in terms of carp angling and what venues will you be targeting?

To be honest Im not entirely sure just yet. I have my name down for a few tickets close to Nash HQ so if one of them were to come through I would be a happy man.  Im also keen to continue to improve my match carp fishing skills so will no doubt be spending some time on a variety of day ticket waters up and down the county, hopefully bagging up ! 

Tom, I hope you have a good Christmas and a good new year, I hope to read some articles and features in the future, as always Tom it’s a pleasure to have you taking part in this interview. Hope to do another one again soon, all the best mate.

Follow myself and Tom on twitter - @Rosst93 & @forman_tom

 

 

The Height of a Busy Couple of Weeks.

The Height of a Busy Couple of Weeks.

          Well here we are again, after an amount of busy weeks I finally make it on the bank for a proper session. When I say I have been busy I had been to Billingsgate fish market at silly o’clock in the morning, working most days of the past few weeks and also doing some bits and pieces for Alan at Nash. After being with a mate last weekend he received a phone call to go down and help out in the warehouse. We went down to Nash HQ and helped out, also at the same time I managed to seal the deal on my work experience, that has now got me buzzing for next spring for my 2 months of work experience.

Extra Weights on the Stows for Better Indication.

            After spending a day down at Nah HQ this week and getting over my birthday, I made a visit to Johnson Ross Tackle in Hoddesdon. It is an amazing tackle shop catering for all side of angling. I could have spent a fortune, all I bought was a couple of bank stick and the Fox Black Label stage stands with the pennies I had got for my birthday, it is money well spent as it’ll make my fishing easier especially fishing on the reservoir on the wooden stands, considering I’m not a raving fan of rod pods, pretty much becoming an established tackle tart.

Slack Lines During Winter, Real Big Edge.

            I’m getting on the bank this weekend as I am back down at Nash HQ on Monday and Tuesday helping Alan and the other lads out in the tackle warehouse. On the course I’m on at college I can’t urge enough that if you want to get into the industry get out there and get networking, after all you won’t get a sponsorship deal just sat in your arm chair at home, get on the bank and talk to the right people and get recognised through shows, another one day which was taken up over the past few weeks, networking at the Sandown Carp Society show.

My Preferred Components for Chod Rigs.

            Anyway onto the session ahead and what I’m hoping to achieve. This winter is most certainly going to be difficult; I have read numerous articles in Total Carp and my new favourite for research purposes, Carp Talk. Reading article I find can help when fishing in the winter as you can take the anglers tactics and adapting it into your own fishing, I have read in the magazines that if you keep bait going in i.e. taking up a low key prebaiting strategy can pay off big time, it’s all about getting the fish interested and moving about, if they know there’s food there, they have nothing to lose and you really will keep the, hunting around for more bait. On the flip side, if you don’t like using a bed of bait in the winter to get them active, you can use single hook baits either on a hook link or my newly adopted tactic a choddy fished low to the lake bed. Also another fact, people say that zigs aren’t a winter tactic but after studying water in the winter, they are a deadly tactic as fish rarely glue themselves to the lake bed throughout the winter so a pre-tied zig is definitely worth a try.

            I have had a lot of difficult decisions to make throughout the past couple of weeks so the blogs may be lacking as I need to make these choices and being so busy with college nettings throughout the winter it could become difficult although if I get the chance I may even do a write up of the netting we have done that day.

The Best Winter Pop-up Selection!

            This session I am back down to the reservoir in hope to get my new Sirens screaming and to make good use of the stage stands, I shall be keeping my options open with bait, I shall have a sack of 3kg of Velocity Baits ZUB-0, a good winter bait and I have heard these fish appreciate a boilie or two whatever the weather. I shall be using choddys and zigs in hope to search out the lake and hopefully get a take and at the same time casting to showing fish to get a quick bite, after all I work Sunday evenings so staying at the lake late as I like won’t be happening as xmas is usually a “busy period” for us delivery drivers.

            A small bed of boilies will be used along with a small single cast around to showing fish will be the tactics I will be using this session, I really hope this pays off and we’ll see what’s around the lake throughout the day, I’m hoping to find some fish from the off and hopefully stay on the but if not I shall be moving around throughout the day to search one out as I’m eager to catch a nice winter carp before xmas and it will certainly be a good well respected present for my belated birthday and certainly early xmas.

Hemp Attack Insider, This Was Put Into Mesh Bags.

            I managed to make it to the lake at just before 10 o’clock Sunday morning, the sun was shining and it looked beautiful outside. I have a wonder round and have a chat with some of the anglers that were dotted around the lake, but to be honest I’m not overly surprised it is busy as this is the best weather for fishing we’ve had for weeks. I wonder round with a bag of boilies and a throwing stick to put some bait out before I go and grab my gear from the car, I find one swim which takes my fancy sitting with my back to the wind, was it a good option?  I spread out 40-50 boilies in front of the swim and trot back to the car to retrieve my gear to get to the swim. When I got to the swim the first plan of action was to get the rods out and lay them on the deck until I have all my other gear sorted out. One of the rods was dispatched on a choddy just inside the baited area on a white chocolate pop-up; I completely slackened off and laid the rod with a loose clutch on the stage. The next rod had a simple pop-up rig, again with a white chocolate pop-up on the hair, this was cast off to the right hand side of the baited spot the two rods were put out along with another spread of 20 boilies over the top.

            I am really loving the Nash Zero Tolerance range as it was keeping me really warm and is real good quality, definitely a purchase that won’t waste your money!

15 Boilies Isn't Alot.

            As it was my birthday on Friday I went to Johnson ross and finally got my Fox Black Label Stage Stands, without the stage stands my setup wasn’t really functional as I really hate using rod pods. Anyway they were really easy to set up and screw onto the stage and held the rods in rock solid, the perfect combination. I have another few tricks up my sleeve in hope to get a bite in hope that it works, that is using choddys and bags in conjunction with the Velocity Baits V Cloud. After using this throughout summer and getting some good results on it, throughout the winter it won’t go a miss as there’s no scent to it like the Goo just a simple Smokey cloud.

            At the moment it is between 7 and 8 degrees and compared to the minus weather we have had it feels lovely and warm to be sat on the bank, albeit I am sat on my unhooking matt. The lake was dotted with anglers which made swim choice difficult for me, on this occasion like the others I had chosen this swim down to water craft, fishing on the back of the wind seemed to pay off a few sessions ago. After an hour or so gone by I clip up and bring both rods in and re-do the baits and put a fresh rig on so that everything’s fresh, I notice on the right rod cast to the right of the baited spot it was tangled, this could have happened on the cast although I was adamant that it was sitting cleanly on the bottom, the other reason that makes me think that the rig had been ejected by a fish is that the silicone on the bend on the hook was up by the knot, another tell-tale sign of the rig being ejected by a fish. Rods are re-done and another 15 boilies go over the top, you may think why so much bait but 15 boilies in the lake that I’m fishing would seem like nothing. 

The Rods Are Finally Out, Also With the Lines Very Slack.

            A few more re-casts during the session but nothing unfolds unfortunately, a good spread of bait was out there with functional rigs on the lake bed, so something wasn’t happening, a guy up the bank had a high double figure common, maybe the fish were up the top end although I didn’t have any room up the top end of the lake to barrow the gear round and get on the move like I first mentioned, I shall be back down in a week or so in hope to bag an early xmas present along with re-visited rigs and baiting strategy, lastly very sneakily before I left I deposited around a kilo of boilies in front of the peg I was fishing in hope that the fish may move in, if I can’t get down there regularly to bait up then I may be able to hold some fish or keep them coming back for more and familiarising themselves with the bait I am putting out there. 

            I hope you enjoyed what I managed to knock up on this session, along with more pictures as I have acquired a decent camera, I hope to be back on the bank soon, most definitely back at the reservoir and possibly to Chestnut Pool in Langford in hope to get some action before xmas and to get them sirens into meltdown before the new year.

Follow me on twitter on - @Rosst93.

The Week Where Things Went Right.

After a slow trip last time I got down to the new reservoir, my chosen venue for the winter, the lake is incredibly deep and full of fish with a few lumps in there as well.

I have always wanted to fish the grand union canal, so if all fails this will become my last resort. After a tiring Monday morning planning to get up early and fish till late, I failed to wake up, what an idiot! That morning I received a phone call and got invited to a local lake to fish for pike, which I have never caught before. Myself and Big Rich from college set off to the tackle shop and got some dead bait and proceeded to the lake. We arrived at around 3:00pm, I flicked a mackerel dead bait down the margin but this rod didn't produce, unfortunately. I then under armed it a bit further off the bank and the rod eventually tore off like a carp, I was into my first pike, 9lb 6oz, not massive but a lovely fish for my first Pike!

What a Creature, All 9lb 6oz of Her!

            Anyway, onto this session. It is lovely and bright outside so chod rigs and flouro baits are cast out whilst I set up my gear. I have all the amenities out on the stand and begin to tie up some bags, and trim down a few popups. In the bag mix I’m using something new, NV-R Stick Mix, Hemp Attack S-S (fine ground hemp), C2-R pellet and some Gremlin pellet to get the fish rooting around. This is tied up in a small stick, an easy mouthful for any Carp. I have had countless fish from high stocked waters on a similar mix but in solid bags! Could that approach be enrolled? The chod is left on the left rod, and the stick mix with a trimmed down white chocolate flouro popup is dispatched on the right rod, the rods are out!

The Awesome V-Cloud!

An hour or so later, the left bobbin springs up and settles down. I lifted into it and the fish bangs its head once and came off, I fear I may have done the wrong thing! The rod is soon dispatched back out to where I had it before. The right rod is sat motionless for the whole time, another bag is threaded on with a good soaking in the Velocity Baits V-Cloud glug, I have caught a lot of fish on the range of V-Clouds especially Roach and Bream when feeder fishing on the quiver tip!The fish are getting more active, topping left front and centre, one lad has had one opposite me; let’s hope they will swing round my way! With a few hours of no action and after that occurrence on the choddy, I have recast the rods and packed down the gear so I only have my rods and a net out on the stand. The fish are still crashing but nothing has taken my bait as of yet.

My Favored Winter Hook-baits!

The weather has become over cast and still remains quite warm. The wind had picked up but it’s just a light northerly breeze pushing across the lake. Both rods are incredibly slack as I believe fishing slack lines are the way forward. I am expecting a bait delivery of boilies and dumbells which I shall have with me on my next session to try and get the fish a bit more active. If all pans out I shall hopefully be doing a night over the next couple of weeks, a night on the reservoir will hopefully increase my chances of a better bite.

The light levels have dropped since earlier on today but it hasn't stopped the fish poking their heads out on the spots. The lake is still a bit busy with the odd angler slowly packing up but I’m aiming to stay on the lake until 5:00pm, just hope we’re not busy at work!

My Preferred Choddy Hook.

Just as I came off the phone, things finally started to unfold, the choddy let out a flurry of beeps and the bobbin settled down to the original position. The fish are still in the area; I had been waiting a couple of hours and watching the rods this is looking ever so promising. Eventually that rod screamed off minutes later, a short lived fight because of the sheer drop in water temperature I am sat cradling a beautiful Autumn coloured 12lb 10oz Common on the choddy! The pressure is now off from bagging my first fish from the new lake.

I would love to stay the rest of the evening but it is getting dark very gradually, so I’m packing down and setting off home in the next 20 minutes or so. A short while after that fish they are back on the ball so I couldn’t help but put the rod back out again. The fish are back in numbers over my rods once again. It’s looking pukka for another bite! The fish stayed active but unfortunately I couldn't trip another one up before I decided to reel in and make tracks home.

Here She is in All Her Autumn Glory - 12lb 10oz.

I have really enjoyed this session so I packed the barrow and made my way home, first fish from the lake C’MON! This week I’m busy with college for the rest of the week and out at the weekend so we’ll see where the weather takes me over the next couple of weeks. Thank you for reading I hope to be back very soon!

Follow Me on Titter - @Rosst93 and have a view of the matching video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvaS7SE25Gs.

First Session on the Winter Venue

The View as I was Leaving the Previous Sunday!
Stunning! 

I finally made it to the lake at 8:00am, after a quick fuel stop as the tank was low. I am then greeted with the sight of an angler playing a very nice fish. I help the angler land the fish and have a chat; the fish are on the feed!!

I set up in a peg which has a lot of water at its disposal. A couple of pouches of boilies are dispatched along with both rods, one on a running rig using a 14mm Velocity Baits white chocolate malt pop up (perfect for winter if you ask me) tied up with a size 6 Nash Fang Twister and some D-Cam shrink tubing. The other rod I chose to use a Choddy with a Velocity Baits Pineapple Popup with a size 6 Fang Twister tied onto 15lb ESP Stiff Rigger, a perfect combination.

My Favorite Winter Baits!

I finished sorting my gear and waited for the lines to go slack. I unloaded the unhooking mat and other bits and pieces when I had noticed a sodden chair. My flask of warm tea had leaked so I’m perched on a bucket until my chair dries out. It isn’t very busy at the lake with only 4 anglers fishing.

Due to having Mondays off work, it is prime time to get on the bank and get some fishing   done although I’m fishing on a Tuesday! I’m going to leave the rods alone until around lunchtime, I’m doing this deliberately to let the swim settle down after casting to clip up. 

My Favorite Choddy Hooks!

After waking up in pitch black this morning, and tossing and turning in bed I was greeted with temperatures of 2.5 degrees. I sat in the sun and it was lovely, wearing my thermals was a good choice as it is only 4 degrees with a 9 mph North easterly wind. Hopefully the fish will be moving into the deeper water. It was uneventful in the last swim so I reeled in and went for a walk. Some water craft came in as I reckoned the fish were in the deeper water, two rigs were quickly dispatched. Just as I’m doing a bit for my short video, a fish decides to show itself barely 15 yards off the bank so the choddy was under armed out. 

          It’s just started raining to put it politely and to stay light as possible there is no brolly for me! I took a short walk along the bank whilst peering into the margins; I put in a few handfuls of bait in a marginal hole to see if I can interest some fish.

And so the rain began to pour! Brolly less so I could move about easier, I was getting a soaking, on my first session I have learnt a lot and hope that I can put something on the bank soon, oh how I miss summer fishing but it is my goal to try and bank a winter carp! The gear is barrowed back to the car and time to head home ready for work, oh the life of a delivery driver!

       Another thing to make things even more interesting, I will be recording a short video to make things better for you to picture the situations I am faced with, until next time, see you in my next blog. 

Q&A With Nash Tackles Nick Burrage

Nash Tackles Very Own Nick Burrage an Incredibly
Acknowledged Angler!

 Questions and Answers!

     So the last interview situation I did was with another Nash Consultant, Julian Cundiff which can also be found on the same page, it was a real big hit and rolled in the reviews, here it is something i have wanted to publicize on Facebook and Twitter but i held back the excitement, here it is, this isn't just for the benefit of myself but yourself too, i hope you can pick up some tips and transfer them into your own fishing, Enjoy!   

     Q. I have seen you on the Nash DVDs, How do you get the most out of your fishing when your on the bank? 

Immaculate Presentation on the Lake Bed.

     A. By being stealthy, keeping my eyes wide open and most of all by being sensible in how I bait up! I suppose thinking and taking on board the weather, along with other factors that may upset the carps feeding habits.

     Q. What is you all time favourite rig(s) that you have caught on and what situations have they proved better than other rigs? 

     A. I do favour a supple Blow-back rig, with a supple braid it will sit on any lake bed I care to fish on. But where this really comes into its own is in Silt, even if the lead drops into the silt 3 inches; my hook bait will still sit correct!

     Q. Each angler has their own favourite pattern of hook, which is your favourite and how did that decision come about?

     A. Nash Fang X in a size 6, that’s the hook for me. After many years of trial and error with hooks, I soon found a curve shank style hooks, fish holding properties, were well above most patterns on the market. And proof of this is that while on the Fang X I have never lost a carp to a hook pull; let me touch some wood quick!!

Supple Rig As Explained Above.

     Q. Most of my fishing is more successful during the summer, as the winter is now looming how do you recommend people approach their venues during the winter to still bank fish? 

     A. Well to start with on this one, they need to cut right down on their baiting up. I find a good way to keep bites coming is to feed no more than 10 baits when you leave and almost just fish stringers or bags when I’m down fishing again; then bait again when I leave, (fishing the same peg) This will work best on quiet lakes/syndicate waters, as a day ticket you never know who’s been down really. You will always have an option of using a single fruity or spicy pop-up cast at showing fish too. But keep the bait very light and I work on a fish may eat only 2 baits a day; don’t forget to use proper winter boilies, this has more bird food and less oils… It will attract the carp twice as well in the end!

     Q. What are your favourite components that you use on every session you go fishing? What sort of spots do you use them on? 

     A.  Rig components Mmmm?  Fang X hooks size 6, Missing link 20lb, a 2mm rig ring and a little Cling-on putty to help it down… jobs a good UN! I also like using our Nash lead clips, as you know I have spent far too long fishing in Silt, the clips act as a silt break and stop the lead pulling in too far. Along with a flat pear lead and a Diffusion leader, that’s my set up for 90% of my carp angling. Very simple, but catches me lots of carp; so with my supple hook link and maybe a back lead that’s my favourite set-up!

Nice Scaly Mirror!

     Q. Usually some anglers just turn up at a lake and make a bee line for a swim nearest the car park or where ever is easiest to get to, what simple steps do you take when you arrive at a lake to ensure you make the most of the time that you have on the lake? 

     A. Unless its winter and I have a baiting plan going, I never pick a peg before I get to the lake. OK sometimes I will think if there is a big S/W wind blowing, the carp will be in X peg!  But as a rule I get down to the lake and have a good luck, if I still haven’t seen anything I go on a bit f gut feeling/watercraft of where I would be in the lake if I was a carp. Taking into account of the angling pressure, weather/wind/sun or even where the hot peg might be. A Bit like if a hot peg has been fished hard, I would go in a quiet area maybe on the back of the wind; just trying to catch my own fish.

   Q. Is there any lake or fish you would happily go back to or catch again and why? 

     A. Every lake I choose to fish I would go back to, I would need a 20 year gap though before going back; as I do try my best to catch most of the carp when I’m first there fishing!!

Q. How often do you get on the bank and do you usually do nights rather than days or do you get out on the bank when ever you can? 

     A. Time has been tight this year, and yeah I do nights never really just days. I do try and get out as much as I can, but with my family and other commitments sometimes it can be hard.

     Q. Pick a method from - Solid Bags, Bottom Baits, Zigs or Chod Rigs.. Suggest why this is a good tactic and how people can make the most of their session using this tactic.

Nash Black Squid, A Favored Bait
 for Nick!

     A. Bottom baits because the method can be used everywhere, from margins to baited areas. Even in the summer my bottom baits will fish the top 2 feet of water where the carp are swimming… two feet of water around the margins!! Find where the fish are and place the hook baits quietly, I’m a bit old school and it looks more natural to me. 

     Q. I am personally quite a basic angler, I keep things simple, some anglers say that staying basic is the best way to put fish on the bank, do you think this is true and using complicated rigs overcomplicates fishing itself? 

     A. As you can see from my approach, I’m also a simple angler in my approach; even if everything is well thought out else where.

I try and put thought where it’s needed really!

Q. What 3 items of tackle would you never go fishing without? 

     A. 2oz flat pear leads, supple braid, Fang X hooks.

    Well as long as I had my Bedchair, cooker and frying pan! Lol!

     Q. How long have you been angling and how long did it take to put the building blocks in place to get to where you are now in the angling world?

Lovely Big Commons, Always Look Good In All
There Colours!

     A. I’ve been angling for around 36 years, and to be honest… I’ve loved every day on the bank! Every day spent on the river or pool, has helped me get to be the lucky angler I am today. From feeding Roach to baggin Barbel or stalking Carp in the early days, it all has given a small piece that been added to my watercraft skills, that in turn helps me today.

     Q. People within angling have there pet hates, what is your biggest pet hates in fishing and how did it become apparent? 

     A. One of my pet hates is, when some try to catch a carp at any cost; Whether it’s at the expense of the other anglers, or at the expense of the carps well being.

At the end of the day we do it for fun!!

     Q. I love float and feeder fishing for big Roach as well as carp fishing, is there any other species that you like angling for and what particular lakes or rivers do you fish for them on? 

     A. I have spent all my life living in Bridgnorth on the River Severn, all of my childhood I was seen on the river bank catching all sorts really. These days I only fish for Carp as my time is limited, but there will soon come a day when I will make the river carp jump a little; after spending a long time fishing river I’m hoping it will be as fun as the lakes.

     Q. Nash tackle development has come some way over the past few years, what is your favourite item of tackle, luggage or bait that you have got your hands on and would you recommend it to carp anglers? 

     A. Nash tackle?? Well everything has its good points but if I had to narrow it down, I would say the new NR rods 3lb test, Fang X hooks and the Monster Squid… Each one of these items is a joy to use and helped me bag no end of carp over the past couple of seasons. The Monster Squid should be tried by everyone!

Cheers

Nick Burrage. (Nash)

First Night on the New Lake!



A Sight That May Become a Regular Occurance.





 

First Night on the New Lake!

 

       This is the first of many blogs on the new lake as described in a previous blog, I have learnt from my first mistake and not getting on the bank last week when we had that spell of real overcast weather which I'd say was

good for a bite, that's an error of my own.

     This is my first session and from speaking to an old member I have been given the lowdown on where the fish visit and how to approach it. I have taken those points into account but I am approaching it in my own way.
     I will be using a multitude of rigs that I would usually use, hair rigs, combi rigs and helicopter rigs. I am also adopting chods into that as well, with the possibility of solid bags.
     When I go to a new lake I always walk around for an hour or so to find some fish or to drop into likely looking swims that I like the look of. The lake isn't very big so it will take me no time at all to walk around and have a look, also taking into account where I have seen signs of fish when I went up to have a look around a few weeks ago.

     Onto the session:-
I aimed to get to the lake at around lunch time, have a walk around, put some bait in and get everything sorted for the evening. The 25 minute drive is definitely worth it for the stamp of fish I have swimming around in the four acre lake in front of me.
     The fish in here may be fish that are easily spooked so light baiting strategies until I know what I can do when they are on the feed.
     Just quickly I am going to run you through the components of my chod rigs and how I tie them up:-
● Size 6 Nash Fang Twister
● ESP Stiff Rigger
● Ring Swivel
● Rig Ring
● Putty

     To tie up my preferred version of the chod rig, I take around 7 inches of stiff rigger and a Fang Twister hook. I begin to tie a 12 turn knotless knot, I then leave around 3 inches and tie a ring swivel on with a loop knot, I use 2 pulla tools, one on the hook and one threaded throughout the loop and steam it straight. This removes the kinks and defects out of the rig. I then bend the hooklink to my favoured "aggressive curve" and slowly tease the rig so it's sitting flush(so the shank of the hook sits parallel with the swivel.
     I then thread on a rig ring onto the D of the rig and blob down the tag to hold the rig ring on the D of the rig. I then tie on my preferred hookbait, I use small pop ups around 14mm and drill them out and insert a piece of cork into the bait. That is the way I prefer to tie my chods.

     I have been watching the Internet a bit more recently with a few decent fish from around 17lb to 31lb being caught around the lake. This is my incentive to get on and fish the lake!
     I pull up at the gate and begin to walk round to discover where anglers are fishing and also to see if I can find a swim where there are fish present. I will be carrying a bag of air dried boilies with me so that if I find a swim I can put some bait in and hopefully get a quick bite early on in the session.
     I finally found a swim at the bottom end of the lake after a quick wander round. There was only myself and another angler who was going to be on for 2 nights.
     I am quick to get the rods out. One rod is on the described chod rig, and the other one is on a combi rig over a bed of the Velocity Baits RE-AKT boilies. The day was really slow and nothing showing on the spots. At 18:00 I swapped the chod rig for a hinged soft rig. The reason I call it that is because I tie on a soft boom as I'm not a fan of the stiff boom. I use an AK-4R popup cored out 3/4 of the way to insert an 8mm cork stick to keep it buoyant.
     This presentation allows the bait to sink really slowly and makes it incredibly sensitive. I put a small piece of putty on the boom to make sure it's not sitting up and laying flush against the bottom.
     I'll be using the same tactics, bait and rigs on every session on this lake unless I feel that a change is necessary.
     After a quick cup of tea and a chat with Steve the bailiff, I reposition my left rod a bit tighter to the far margin just before the bay. A fluorocarbon rig with a soft hair tied onto the bend of the hook with a pineapple popup with an AA shot to help it sink. These pop ups are incredibly buoyant and sink slowly.
     The night was unproductive. I saw 6 fish crash out on different spot throughout the night. The fish were on me but they weren't where I wanted them. Maybe I should have put a zig rig on with a piece of black foam as zigs in the right place are a killer in the dark! Who says they’re just for daytime fishing?
     Next time i’ll be back with the same strategy and bait although next time I won't put all my eggs into one basket and use a different bait as well. Follow me on twitter - @Rosst93 and like my Facebook page for more updates -

www.facebook.com/RossTierneyBlogPage. I hope over the next few months that a fish will be nicely on my landing mat! Until next time..  

The Moment I Hoped for the Rod to Scream Off!