Crafty Carp

"Water To Cold For Fishmeal" ?

Give this a try instead. Lofty.
(Its 'NOT' new its been around for 50 years +. Both John Wilson & Rod Hutchinson loved Mussels).

Mussel Meat.
It has a high-quality "Amino Acid" profile that is very similar to Fishmeal.

The Amino Acid Composition of Mussels:
Comparable to Fishmeal:
Studies show that mussel meal has a high, balanced content of "Essential Amino Acids".

Specifically High In:
Lysine.
Methionine.
Threonine.
Taurine.
Glutamic Acid.

Complete Protein:
Mussels are a complete protein source, meaning they contain all nine essential Amino Acids.

Tip 1....
Blitze / chop / mince them and use it in:
Small Hard Hook Baits.
In a Stick Mix.
Paste.
Ground Bait Ball.
(Do not "Spod" it in, be gentle & use a bit of finesse).

Tip 2....
You will attract "Crayfish & Eels" if they are in the water.

Tip 3....
Try a "Banded Whole Mussel" fished with a PVA Stick of 'Chopped Mussel'.
Simply tie "The Mussel Rig" as if you were using "The Worm Banding Method".
(It may be a game changer for you in 2026). Lofty.

Tip 4....
Find them in:
Iceland
Tesco
Asda.
Aldi
Morrisons.
All the major stores stock them.
£4 quid a bag ish.

Give the "Mussels" a go in 2026 please. Lofty.

CC.

"The Worm Zig".

Its a absolute belter at the right time of year, fished at the correct depth.

The Cry:
"I cant fish "The Zig"!

A:
1. Yes you can fish "The Zig".
2. You may not be confident fishing it.
3. Or you struggle with the casting technique.
4. Or your not certain how to tie the "Old School Rig".

Point:
Every 'Carp Angler' worth his / her / their salt, should be able to fish "The Zig Rig".
All it takes is a little patience / direction & practice.

Its not rocket science, and it 'WILL' catch you lots of "Big - Bonus - Carp" once you have mastered the method. Lofty.

Learning By Example.
Trying to explain how to fish "The Zig Rig" in a brief / in writing is a total waste of your time & ours in our humble opinion.
Its as much use a pocket in a sock or a chocolate fire guard. Lofty.

The Fix:
When you see any of our little team on the bank simply give us nudge and we will take you through it from start to finish "Gratis".
All you need to do is bury your pride and ask for help.

Important:
We will demonstrate & explain why the casting technique is of the utmost importance.

Tip 1....
Once you have got the method off to pat, and after an hour of casting the rig over and over and over again.
You will be ripping them out with total confidence, and we guarantee that your "Old School Zigs" will "NOT" tangle.

Its nice to be nice - We hope this will help you.

CC.

"Dendra-Amino".

We do not know if "TD" is still making this product.
We bought dozens of litres of it many years ago and stored it for future use.

Worm fishing for "Big Carp" was seen as a bit weird and very amateurish by many people several years ago.
(Little did people know that many of the "Biggest Carp" in the UK over the last 10 years, have been caught on "The Worm".
The method was kept very very quiet. Today the secret is well and truly out).

Composition:
Contains real "Dendrobaena Worm Extract", offering a natural Amino Acid profile.

Action:
As a "hydro" liquid, it is dense, sinking immediately to the lakebed rather than rising, making it ideal for creating a localised attraction zone.

Tip 1....
It was originally designed to work well in cooler water, however if you fish some "Slop" up in the water over a "Worm-Zig" in late spring, it can be absolutely devastating.
(Add a little 'milk' to the slop to increase the cloud effect).

You know the drill.
"Terry Dempsey" has never given 'CC' a single quid.
Bought us a pint down the local boozer, or back handed us a bag of his baits down a dark ally.

We are simply giving you a little edge, incase you are thinking about venturing out with a bag of "Willy-Worms" this spring-time. Lofty.

CC.

The best spring "Big Carp" tip that we can give you is to target shallow, sun-drenched water (2-4 ft deep) in the south facing margins of any UK Lake.
As these areas warm up first, attracting active fish, natural food, and new w**d growth.

Most Carp are very nomadic at this time of year, searching out the warmer water, and safe feeding spots which hold an abundance of new natural life.

Do not ignore the clay / mineral flanking areas at this time of year. 'ALL' Carp are mineral / salt depleted right now.
So try introducing some 'Rock Salt' into your Mesh Bag / Solid Bag / Boilie / Particle Mix.

"DO NOT FILL IT IN" !
Little & often please.
(You can always put it in. You cannot take it out)!

Remember the Biological Facts:
Over the next 12 weeks 100% of a 'Carps' attention is focused on getting ready to spawn.

On Spawning:
To spawn successfully / all Carp need to put a little a weight on and warm their bodies up.
In the female Carp this is to produce "Eggs".
In the male Carp in order to produce "Milt"(Sperm) in order to fertilise the female Carps eggs.

Tip 1....
You 'WILL' find 'Big Carp' in the warmest parts of your chosen lake right now. Lofty.

Tip 2....
Ignore the Warmest Margins / Upper Layers in open water at your peril.

CC.

"Lovely Big Warming Winds".

Over the next few days, maybe 5 days we are going to get some lovely strong S-S-W Winds dragging tropical conditions up into our part of the world.

Try very hard to go out & have a play on a nice big gravel pit in these warming - windy - conditions.

Find a peg where you have the full force of the wind banging into your margin. Lofty.
(The A1 end of Pool 5 / 6 - A1 Pits. South Muskam. If your local, is always great fun in a; 'Big Early Season Blow').

Tip 1.....
Keep your eyes peeled for the tell tale 'Head & Shoulders' number as the Carp move towards your end of the water, away from the railway line end on the wind.
(They 'WILL' follow the wind).

Tip 2....
Remember:
Spring starts on the 20th March really.
The big lake / pit is not even close to being warmed up, regardless of the air temperature feeling much nicer for us humans.
So do "NOT" go banging the feed in.

Tip 3....
Black Foam Zig.
A Smelly Single.
A Tiny Little Bag. (Caster & Crumb).
Size 8 - Small Bait.
Find A Gravel Bar. (A1 Pits Secret).
Nice & gently does it.

Try to enjoy it, its not a competition.

CC.

"Discovering Rare Old Rods".

We have managed to purchase a real old blast from the past this week.

An attic find, in unused condition.

Conoflex:
Was a renowned "British" manufacturer of high-performance, often bespoke, sea fishing rods.
Particularly popular in the 1980s and 90s for their superior, often progressive, actions.
Conoflex had a very brief entry into the 'Carp Rod Market' we think that it lasted for only 1 or 2 seasons.
You had the buy the blanks and then find a trusted rod builder to build the rods.
In this case it was "Dover Angling".

So we have a set of:
Very Rare.
Conoflex C / K Carp Rods.
Built by Dover Angling.
1988 ish.
12 ft.
3 lb t/c.

We shall take them out "Carp Fishing" in 2026, after all its what they were made for.

CC.

"Trevs of Wilmslow".

Trev's.
1990's.
Vintage V2 Carp Rods.
3-1/2 TC
12Ft.
Gloss Black Finish.
(Still in their original bags & never used).

Q.
We Are Mystified?
Does anyone out there know what blanks these rods were built on, please.
We had never seen a set, until we found & bought this set last week.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Many thanks in advance.

CC.

The Deepings Syndicate.

We would like to say a very big thank you to “Phil Gregory” for our “Deepings Syndicate Ticket”.

Every journey starts with a single footstep, we are looking forward to getting to know the place.

Hopefully we can tempt a few of the lakes residents into the landing net in 2026.

Tip 1.....
The "Deeping Syndicate" is privately owned and has been in operation since the year 2000.
Anyone can apply for a "Syndicate Membership" but there is a vetting process prior to an invitation to join.

Many thanks Phil.

CC.

"Natural Edible Potash".

Tip 1....
Add a little natural edible "Potash / Potassium Carbonate" to your 'Cured Rock Salt Baits' this springtime.

Tip 2....
(Salts & Potash = Pre-Spawning - Do Some Research).

The results may just surprise you.
Lofty.

CC

"Spring = Milk & Amino Baits".

We are 5 weeks away from the "Carp Lakes" warming up and springing into life.
Now is the time to start thinking about your "Spring Baits".

Quality Milk-Based Baits:
Highly effective in spring because they are easily digestible by all Carp.
As the Carps metabolism starts to wake up after cold winter water, Carp like an easily digestible food source.

When using a "Quality Milk Base Mix":
Milk Proteans provide high-leakage attraction in waters that are warming up, making them ideal for the shifting temperatures of early spring, specifically when using creamy / nutty or sweet flavours.

Our Top Spring Milk Baits:
You could make your own "Milk Mix Lofty".
Natural Casein / Condensed Milk / Baby Formula / Sweet Nutty (Ground - Growler - Almond - Cashew - Macadamia Nuts) / Sweet Yeasts / Malted Drink / combinations combined with a mix of quality 'Milk Proteins & Amino Acids' offers you a fantastic edge.
All the products mentioned above are a very suitable 'Home Made Mix' and highly attractive when offered to a 'Big Hungry Spring Carp'.

Notes.
Creamy & Sweet Flavour's:
Specifically, Creamy Vanilla / Ice Cream / Caramels / Baileys Irish Cream / Maple Syrup / Toffee / Type products are highly effective when mixed into a quality 'Milk Base Mix'.

High-Leakage Powders:
Ingredients like Whey Protean / Brewers Yeast Powder / Full-Fat Milk Powders / are ideal they will also create a sweet milky, cloudy in the water, boosting attraction.

Softened Baits:
Soaking boilies in Milks & Amino:
Will give you an easily digestible / palatable / soft bait which Carp simply adore.
Amino Blend 365.
DMPT.
Known as a powerful feeding stimulant.
(Dimethyl Propiothetin (DMPT) is a highly effective, natural, sulfur-containing, algae-derived compound used as a potent attractant in fishing bait).
Quality L-Amino's.

Tip 1....
(L-Amino Acids are more stimulatory than D-amino acids for the gustatory and olfactory system of fish. Gustatory and olfactory responses in Japanese Koi carp, by Philip Barnard, April 2006).

Tip 2....
Its very good stuff, and you know that we have a habit of having stuff tested.

Give "Milk Baits" a try as the weather warms up. Lofty.

(Disclaimer).
You know the drill.
John Baker has never given CC a single pound coin.
Bought us a pint down the boozer or back handed us a bag of his base mix.
We use his "Milk Base Mixes" simply because we believe that they are the best mixes available by post, for days when we are too busy to make our own blend.

CC.

"On Fenugreek".

In 2026 as the waters start to warm up.
Have a look at "Fenugreek" in all its forms.

Fenugreek Powder:
Derived from ground seeds, is a versatile, aromatic spice used in curries, spice blends (like sambhar), and pickles, offering a bitter-sweet, maple-syrup-like flavour.

Its not new, it has s been around as a "Carp Bait Additive" for ever.

Mentioned by Loeb & Kelly way back in the day 1963 ish.
https://www.bouillettes-dependance-baits.com/res/site19627/res659503_rapport-Loeb.pdf

Tip 1....
Have look at Fenugreek in 2026, it has a solid track record as a "Carp Additive / Feed Trigger".

Its very good stuff.

CC.