On TheCover
COMPETITION
48 CC MO OR E
He re ’s yo ur ch an ce to wi na Pr o- St im Li ve r ba it bu nd le to th ev al ue of £2 50 !
REGULARS
JULY
2025
52 CA RP SC EN E
If yo u’ ve ca ug ht ab ig ca rp ,a PB ca rp ,y ou r fi rs tc ar po rj us ta ni ce ca rp –w ew an t to se ei t, an dy ou co ul dw in ap ri ze fr om St ic ky Ba it s!
112 HO WT O…
…t ie th eG er ma nr ig ,a be lt in gb al an ce d ba it pr es en ta ti on
12 8 HAVE YO UR SAY
Vi ta lii Kr em ne ts ,t he fo un de ro fK at ra n, ha s hi ss ay on lin et es ti ng an dh ow we ch oos e ou rm ai nl in es ! REVIEWS
68 TH EG EA RPAG ES
It ’s ag re at ti me of ye ar to be ch as in gc ar p –h er e’sp le nt yo fn ew ta ck le to do it wi th
31 EV ER YS EC ON DC OU NT S Ol iD av ie st ra ve ls to Ho lla nd wh er eh e se ek sl oc al ad vi ce an dq ui et ly dr op si nf or af ew ca rp be tw een wo rk co mm it me nt s.
44 TA LK IN GP OI NT
We as ke df iv et op an gl er sh ow he av y an gl in gp re ss ur ea ff ec ts fi sh mo ve me nt an df ee di ng pa tt er ns in th ew ar me r mo nt hs
62 Q& A
Yo us up pl yt he qu es ti on sa bo ut yo ur ca rp fi sh in g, ou re xp er ts su pp ly th e an sw er s, an dD yn am it e, Ca rp Sp ir it an d Ok um as up pl yt he pr iz es !
66 JU LE S’ MO NT HLYM US IN GS
Ju st wh en yo ut hi nk yo u’eg ot it cr ac ke d, yo uh av en ’t ,a sJ ul ia nC un di ff ha sf ou nd re ce nt ly.S ti ll, th er e’sa lw ay ss om et hi ng to le ar n…
10 0 VE NU EF IL ES
Th re em or eg re at ve nu es to tr y, in as so ci at io nw it hC at ch ,t he bo ok in g we bs it ea nd ap p.
10 2 RI GA NA TO MY
Le ar nh ow to ti eI an Ru ss el l’ sm on oD ri g fo rf is hi ng ti gh to nt he de ck
10 6 AM ON TH IN TH EL IF E
Jo hn Fl ew in re co un ts ag ol ds ta nd ar d we ek in Fr an ce ,w he re ab ig co mm on th ou gh tt ob em is si ng tu rn ed ou tt ob e ve ry mu ch al iv e!
114 IN SI DE TH EM IN D
Ke ep it si mp le ,s tu pi d! At er mw eh ea ra lo t an dM at tE at on ha st he pr oof of th e pu dd in go nw hy ke ep in gi tt ha tw ay ke ep s th eb it es co mi ng
12 0 TA LE S, ED GE S& RE FL EC TI ON S
As we ar ee ve rl ea rn in gm or ea nd mo re ab ou tt he cr af to fc ar pf is hi ng ,O zH ol ne ss ta lk sa bo ut lo ng lin ks an du nd er wa te r ca me ra s.
12 6 IC ON S
Th is mo nt hw el ook at th eh is to ry of Ho rt on ’s Sh ou ld er s, an ob se ss io nf or ma ny ca rp an gl er s.
13 0 QU IC KQ UE ST IO NS In th eh ot se at th is mo nt hi sC lu bC ar p ow ne rG eo rg eTre ad we ll.
FEATURES
12
Col:Black
18
24
HOODY
T-SHIRT
AL LB ASES CO VERED
epic compac ttac tical bivvy FULL SYSTE M
epic tactic al bivvy FULL SYS TEM
OCCUPATION: Business owner& firefighter
SPONSORS: CC Moore, CommandoTackle
INSTAGRAM: @george_treaderz
success
Seting up distance sticks at thecorrect one-rodlength.
Theheadbailifshows me theswim.
Wit ho nl y2 4h ou rs at my di sp os al an da we lc om e ri se in te mp er at ur eo nt he fo re ca st ,I se tm ys ig ht so n av en ue Ih ad n’ tv is it ed in qu it es om e ti me –T ho rp eL ea Fi sh er yn ea rS ta in esup on -T ha me s.
Th is ti me of ye ar al wa ys fi lls me wi th ex ci te me nt –a ss pr in gb eg in st ot ake ho ld an dd ay lig ht ho ur ss tr et ch th at bi t lo ng er,c ar pb ec om ei nc re as in gl ya ct iv e, mo vi ng in to wa rm er la ye rs an df ee di ng zo ne s. It ’s pr im et im ef or as ho rt ,f oc us ed se ss io n, an dT ho rp eL ea ,w it hi ts he al th y st oc ko fb ig ,h ar d- fi gh ti ng fi sh ,w as th e pe rf ec tc an di da te
Id id n’ th es it at ei nb ook in gm ys wi m.
Th el aker un sa si mp le an de ffi ci en t te le ph on eb ook in gs ys te m, so af te r aq ui ck ca ll, Iw as lo cked in to Pe g43.
Fr om th em ap an dm yp as te xp er ie nc e, I kn ew th is pe gg av em ed ir ec ta cce ss to a pr om in en tg ra ve lb ar at ra ng e– ex ac tl y th es or to ff ea tu re Iw as ho pi ng to fi sh Wi th sh al lo ww at er an dg ra ve lb ei ng ke y th is ti me of ye ar,i ts eem ed an o- br ai ne r.
Load up with ReconSpodMarkerBraid Zero Stretch.
Pull theleaduntil theknotbecomes tight.
Pull therod tipbackclose to thewater to feel forvibrations.
Sett wo distance sticks onerod length apar t.
Tiet wo figure-of-eightloops.Threadthe line throughthe ring swivel of theleadand pass past both theloops.
Youshouldhavethe smallerloop as a tag(makesiteasytopullthe knot apar t)
When therod pullsbackwitheaseand hasa vibration, clip thebraid usingthe line clip on thespool
Placeyourleadbyone of thes ticks.
Ar ri vi ng at th ef is he ry,I wa sg re et ed by th ef ri en dl yo n- si te ba ilif f, wh ow as ha pp yt op oi nt ou ta fe wp ro du ct iv e ar ea so nt he ma pa nd sh ar es om er ec en t ca tc hi nf o. Wi th so me ti me to sp ar e be fo re my de si gn at ed st ar t, Is et ab ou t pr ep pi ng my ba it in th ec ar pa rk .T ho rp e
Le ah as as tr ai gh tf or wa rd ba it po lic y: bo ilie sa nd pe lle ts on ly.T ha tm ea nt no pa rt ic le s, no ma iz e, no sw eet co rn .R at he r th an se et ha ta sa lim it at io n, Iu se di ta sa ch al le ng et og et cr ea ti ve
Im ad eu pa sp od mi xu si ng fi ne ly
Pick your horizonmarkerand beginto cast at distance
Drop theleadthrough thelargerofthe twoholes
Keep thelinetight as theleadfalls throughthe watertofeelfor adrop.
Retrieve theleadand inspectfor damage.Swapovertoa prongedleadtoconfirm theareaisclear of weed
Begintowrapthe line around each stick, counting thelapsuntil youhit theclip.
cr um be dC CM oor eb oi lie s, mi xe d- si ze d pe lle ts ,a nd ag en er ou sd os eo fF eed st im XP –a hi gh ly so lu bl el iq ui da tt ra ct or Th ec ru mb an dp el le ts ab so rb th el iq ui d be au ti fu lly,a llo wi ng th em ix to le ak a tt ra ct io ns te ad ily th ro ug ht he wa te r co lu mn .T hi sc om bi na ti on do es n’ tj us t pu ll fi sh in ;i tkeep st he ms ea rc hi ng th e ar ea fo rm or e, en co ur ag in gp ro lo ng ed fe ed in gw it ho ut ov er fe ed in gt he m– a ke yc on si de ra ti on on ap re ss ur ed ve nu e liket hi s, es pe ci al ly on as ho rt se ss io n. On ce I’dm ad ei tt ot he sw im ,I wa st ed
Nowmatch your fishingrodstothe same distance,wrappingthemup. Youwillbe fishingthe same distance to your desired spot
no ti me ge tt in gs et up an dm ap pi ng ou t th ew at er in fr on to fm e. Ia lw ay sb eg in wi th as tr on g, ob vi ou sh or iz on ma rker –a ta ll tr ee, py lo n, or bu ild in g, so me th in g fi xe da nd vi si bl ea tn ig ht –g iv in gm ea co ns is te nt lin et oc as ta lo ng .I nt hi sc as e, at al lt re ed ir ec tl yo pp os it ew as id ea l. Ic lip pe du pm ym ar ke rr od wi th a4 oz ca st in gl ea da nd us ed my Co mm an do
Ta ck le Re co nb ra id to be gi nt he pr oc es s of fe at ur ef in di ng
Ca st in gt ot he ho ri zo nm ar ke r, Il et th e le ad dr op an ds lo wl yd ra gg ed it ba ck ,
fe el in gf or ch an ge si nr es is ta nc ea nd th os es ub tl ev ib ra ti on st ha ti nd ic at e di ff er en ts ub st ra te s. Gr av el ty pi ca lly gi ve sa sh ar p, gr it ty fe ed ba ck th ro ug h th er od ti p, wh ile we ed fe el sm uc hs of te r an da lm os te la st ic on th ed ra gb ac k. By re pe at ed ly ca st in ga cr os sd if fe re nt zo ne s in th es wi m, Ib eg an to bu ild am en ta l pi ct ur eo ft he la ke be d.
On et hi ng Il iket od o, es pe ci al ly on ve nu es wi th si gn if ic an tg ra ve lf ea tu re s, is us ea ne wd is ta nc el ea dw it he ac h ca st .W he nI re tr ie ve th el ea d, Ii ns pe ct it fo rs cr at ch es ,n ic ks ,a nd ch ip s. Sh ar p sc ra pe so ft en co nf ir mI ’m pu llin ga cr os s st on es ,a nd if Is po ts he ll fr ag me nt so r sh ar pa br as io ns ,I kn ow I’ ve fo un da n ar ea wh er ec ar pa re likel yf eed in g. Af te r ah an df ul of ca st s, If ou nd al ov el yf ir m sp ot th at ga ve ac le an dr op an dt he gr it ty pu ll Iw as af te r– al mo st ce rt ai nl y th et op of th eg ra ve lb ar.I cl ip pe du pa t th at di st an ce an dm ea su re di to ut us in g di st an ce st ic ks –2 2w ra ps ,o rr ou gh ly 88 ya rd s.
To co nf ir mI wa si nd eed on ac le an pa tc h, Is wa pp ed ov er to ap ro ng ed le ad Th is al lo we dm et oc he ck fo rl ow -l yi ng we ed or de br is .A ft er ac ou pl eo fc as ts an dc om pl et el yc le an re tr ie ve s, Iw as co nf id en tI ’d fo un dt he zo ne .N ow eed , no si lt –j us tc le an gr av el ,i de al fo r pr es en ti ng as ol id ba ge ff ec ti ve ly
Wi th th es po tl oc ke di na t2 2w ra ps ,I re pe at ed th es am ep ro ce ss fo rm yt hr ee fi sh in gr od s, cl ip pi ng an dw ra pp in ge ac h on et om at ch th em ar ke rd is ta nc e. Fo r th is se ss io n, I’da lr ea dy de ci de dt of is h so lid PVAb ag s, at ac ti ct ha t’sw or ke d we ll fo rm eo nt hi sl akei nt he pa st .E ac h ba gw as pa cked wi th ab le nd of sm al l mi xe dp el le ts an da tr im me d- do wn ho ok ba it to ma tc ht he fr ee of fe ri ng s.
So lid ba gs of fe re ds ev er al ad va nt ag es he re .F ir st ,t he yd el iv er ap er fe ct ly pr es en te dr ig ev er yt im e. Se co nd ,t he y of fe re no ug hf ood at tr ac ti on to pu ll in a bi te wi th ou to ve rf eed in g. An dt hi rd ,o n ab ir d- he av yl akel iket hi s, th ey ’r el es s vi su al ly ob vi ou s, he lp in gkeep th es po t fi sh in ge ve nw he nb ir ds ar ed iv in go ve r it
Ea ch ro dw en to ut wi th as at is fy in g th um po nt ot he sp ot .O nc ea ll th re e we re po si ti on ed ,I co nn ec te dm yS po mb to th eR ec on br ai du si ng aq ui ck -c ha ng e lo op sy st em –a nu nd er ra te dt im es av er, es pe ci al ly wh en sw it ch in gb et we en le ad sa nd Sp om bs fr eq ue nt ly.M yb ai ti ng ap pr oa ch wa sd el ib er at el yr es tr ai ne d. Is ta rt ed wi th ju st 10 Sp om bs ov er th e ar ea –e no ug ht ol ay al ig ht ca rp et of at tr ac ti on bu tn ot en ou gh to fi ll th e fi sh up .M yp la nw as to to pu pw it h tw oa dd it io na lS po mb sa ft er ev er yf is h or on ce an ho ur,w hi ch ev er ca me fi rs t. Th is st ra te gy ke ep sb ai tt ri ck lin gi na nd en co ur ag es fi sh to ke ep re tu rn in gt ot he ar ea
As th el ig ht fa de d, ag en tl ee ve ni ng ca lm se tt le do ve rt he la ke .O ne fi sh sh ow ed di re ct ly ov er th eb ai te ds po t–
TheCommandotackle ReconBraid fies of the spool
Geting thesolid bags outonthe spot
Threerodsonthe spot forthe night.
Keep diferent sizesof PVAbagswithyou for diferent applications andfishing distances.
Keep it alltogether in adedicated PVA bucket
Topupwithbait, a mixofCCMooreboilie crumband pellets
PVAbagsworkbest with smallitems anda mixofdiferentpellets andpowders
Firstcarp, amid-20 stunning mirror
no ta ma ss iv ee ru pt io n, ju st as ub tl er ol l, bu te no ug ht og et my he ar tr at eu p. Th at mo me nt ga ve me re al co nf id en ce .S ur e en ou gh ,j us ta ft er da rk ,t he mi dd le ro d ri pp ed of fi nc la ss ic Th or pe Le af as hi on
Af te ra liv el yb at tl ea nd af ew he ar t- inmo ut hl un ge su nd er th er od ti p, Is lip pe d th en et un de ra st un ni ng mi d- 20 lb mi rr or ca rp .T he sc al ep at te rn ru nn in g do wn it sf la nk wa si mma cu la te –l ike so me th in go ut of ap ai nt in g. Af te ra fe w qu ic kp ho to s, Ia pp lie da bi to fC ar pF ie ld
Dr es si ng (C om ma nd oTac kl e’sa ll- na tu ra l pr op ol is -b as ed ca re so lu ti on )t ot he
ho ok -h ol da nd sl ip pe dt he fi sh ba ck in to th ed ar kw at er
Be fo re I’de ve nh ad ti me to pr op er ly
ti dy up ,t he sa me ro dw as aw ay ag ai n –t hi st im ea sm al le rm ir ro rt ha td id n’ t re qu ir ep ho to s, ju st ar es pe ct fu lr et ur n an da qu ic kr eb ai t. Th en ig ht pa ss ed qu ie tl ya ft er th at ,t ho ug ht he od dl in er ke pt me aw akee no ug ht os ta ya le rt Th en ,j us tb ef or ed aw n, th el ef t- ha nd ro dt or eo ff.W it ht he ea rl ym or ni ng lig ht ju st cr eep in go ve rt he ho ri zo n, Ip la ye d in wh at wo ul dt ur no ut to be th em os t vi su al ly st ri ki ng fi sh of th es es si on –a fu lly sc al ed mi rr or,a bs ol ut el yf la wl es s. It wa sn ’t th eb ig ge st at ju st ov er 20 lb ,b ut th es ca le s, th ec on di ti on ,t he co lo ur s– it wa sp er fe ct .T ha to ne ma de th et ri p.
As th es un lif te da nd th eo th er an gl er s ar ou nd th el akeb eg an to st ir,I kn ew my
sh or ts es si on wa sd ra wi ng to ac lo se
Wi th th re ef is hb an ke d, al lo nc ar ef ul ly pr es en te ds ol id ba gs ov er am ea su re d, co ns is te nt ba it in ga pp ro ac h, If el t ge nu in el ys at is fi ed .S ho rt se ss io ns like th es ea re
TC ed it or Ja ke Ad di so nc au gh tu pw it h DA VI DS EA MA N th is mo nt hf or ac ar py re la te dc ha ti nt he le ad -u pt oh is Wi llo wF ou nd at io nC ha ri ty Da y.
Ho wd id yo uf ir st ge ti nt oc ar pf is hi ng ?
Da vi dS ea ma n: Iu se dt op la ya lo t of go lf on my da ys of fw he nI wa sa t Bi rm in gh am Ci ty,b ut so me ti me sI ’d wa lk of ft he co ur se mo re fr us tr at ed th an wh en Is ta rt ed .M ye x- br ot he r- in -l aw sa id : “C om eo n, le t’sg of is hi ng ,” an dw ew en t to Cu tt le Mi ll ne ar Bi rm in gh am –n ot th e ma in la ke ,j us ta lit tl ef lo at fi sh in gl ake. Is ta rt ed ca tc hi ng af ew lit tl ec ar p, an d Iw as in st an tl yt aken by it .T he nI sa wa 25 lb co mmo no nt he ba nk ,a nd Ic ou ld n’ t be lie ve th es iz eo fi t. Th at ’s wh en th e pa ss io ns ta rt ed
Si nc et he n, I’ ve fi sh ed al ls or ts of pl ac es an dc au gh ta ll so rt so ff is h, bu tI st ill re me mb er th os ee ar ly da ys likei t wa sy es te rd ay.J us tt he fe el in go fs ee in g af lo at di sa pp ea ra nd co nn ec ti ng wi th a fi sh wa se no ug ht og et me ho oked
Do yo ug et th es am eb uz zf ro mf is hi ng as yo ud id fr om fo ot ba ll?
It ’s at ot al ly di ff er en tk in do fb uz z. Wi th fo ot ba ll, th er ew as ad re na lin e, pr es su re , ex pe ct at io n– it wa si nt en se .F is hi ng is ca lm ,i t’sm ye sc ap e. Ev en if Ib la nk ,i t’s st ill aw in be ca us eI ’m ou td oor s, wa tc hi ng th ew at er,t ak in gi nt he sc en er y. Ia lw ay s ta ke my bi no cu la rs an dI ’m co ns ta nt ly wa tc hi ng th ew il dl if e. Th el akeI fi sh no w ha sm or ek in gf is he rs th an I’ ve ev er se en be fo re .I t’sa di ff er en tb uz z, mo re in te rn al Bu tI ’l la dm it ,w he nt ha tb ob bi nh it st he bl an ka nd th ea la rm sc re am so ff –y ou r he ar tr at ed ef in it el yg oe su p.
Do yo uf eel an yp re ss ur et oc at ch du et oy ou rs po ns or sh ip so ri nd us tr y co mmi tm en ts ?
Al it tl e, ye ah .I do so me bi ts wi th Fi sh in g Re pu bl ic ,t hr ou gh Go Ou td oor s, so I wa nt to ca tc hf or co nt en ta nd sh ar e pi ct ur es fo rt he m. Bu tI ’m no tc ha si ng a sp ec if ic fi sh un de rp re ss ur e. Id on ’t ha ve al is t. If is hl akes wh er eI kn ow th er e’s so me th in gb ig ge rt ha nm yP B. Th at ’s my mo ti va ti on .I liket ha ts en se of po ss ib ilit y, no tt he pr es su re of ha vi ng to ca tc ha ce rt ai no ne .I t’sm or er el ax ed ,b ut ye ah , Is ti ll wa nt to do we ll fo rt he br an ds I wo rk wi th .I th in ki t’sa bo ut sh ow in gr ea l se ss io ns –t he up sa nd do wn s– an dn ot pr et en di ng it ’s al la ct io na ll th et im e.
Do yo ue nj oy ta rg et in gs pe ci fi cf is h, or ar ey ou mo re ab ou tt he ve nu ea nd ex pe ri en ce ?
Ij us tl ikek no wi ng th er e’sa go od fi sh in th el ake. Th at ’s en ou gh fo rm e. Id on ’t si tb eh in dr od sf or we ek st ry in gt oc at ch on ef is h. Il iket om ov e, to st ay in te re st ed So me la ds th ri ve on th ep re ss ur eo f ch as in ga ta rg et .T ha t’sn ev er be en me .I liket of is hd if fe re nt sp ot s, re ac tt ow ha t Is ee, an de nj oy th ep ro ce ss .I do n’ tw an t my fi sh in gt of eel likew or k.
DavidwithTom Maker.
Yo ul iv eo nt he ri ve r. Ha ve yo uh ad ma ny un ex pe ct ed ca tc he s?
Lo ad s! Th at ’s wh at Il ov ea bo ut it .O ne ye ar Ih ad fo ur di ff er en tt hi rt ie sf ro mt he ri ve r in on es ea so n. Iw as n’ te xp ec ti ng th at a t al l. My fi rs tn ig ht af te rp re ba it in g, Ih ad a 30 lb lin ea r. Ia ls ol os ts om et hi ng re al ly bi g. Th at st re tc ha ls og av em eb ar be lt o1 3.5l b, p er ch to 4l b, pi ke ju st un de r2 0, an de ve n so me de ce nt ch ub .I tw as ju st ex ci ti ng ,n ot kn ow in gw ha tw as in th er e. Th at fe el in go f th eu nk no wn is so me th in gy ou do n’ tg et on he av ily st oc ke dd ay ti cket s.
Do yo ut hi nk an gl er ss ho ul ds ta rt ou tw it h fl oa tf is hi ng fo rs il ve rs li ke yo ud id ?
On eh un dr ed pe rc en t. It te ac he sy ou ho w to fi sh in it sp ur es tf or m. Pe op le ju mp in g st ra ig ht to bu zz er sa nd bi vvi es mi ss ou t. Ca tc hi ng si lv er s, wa tc hi ng af lo at ,l ea rn in g ho wf is hb eh av e– th at ’s th ef ou nd at io n. Is ti ll en jo yi t. Th er e’sa lit tl el aken ea rb y wh er eI ta ke fr ie nd s, st ic kt wo ma gg ot so n, an dy ou ’l lc at ch al ld ay.I t’ss im pl e, bu ti t re mi nd sy ou wh yw ea ll st ar te d. Ia lw ay s te ll pe op le to ta ke ki ds so me wh er ew he re th ey ’l ld ef in it el yc at ch ,o th er wi se th ey lo se in te re st qu ic kl y.
Wh at ar ey ou rt ho ug ht so nb ai tb oa ts an d te ch no lo gy in an gl in g?
Iw as an ti -b ai tb oa ta tf ir st ,b ut no wI us eo ne .E sp ec ia lly at pl ac es lik eW as in g wh er et he we ed ca nb et ou gh .A ba it bo at le ts yo ug et yo ur ri ga nd ba it ex ac tl y wh er ey ou wa nt it .B ut Is ti ll lik et oc as t wh en Ic an .I lik et of eel th el ea dd ow n. Th eG PS is n’ ta lw ay sb an go n– af ew me tr es ou ta nd it ma ke sa ll di ff er en ce .I st ill us ea ma rk er fl oa t, st ill ex pl or et he sw im pr op er ly.T he bo at ju st gi ve sy ou an ot he rt oo l, es pe ci al ly wh en ti me is sh or t. It ’s no ta ch ea tc od e– yo u’ ve st ill go tt oa ng le wi th it
Ho wm uc ht im ed oy ou ge tt os pe nd on th eb an k?
It ry to ge to ne ni gh ta we ek .M or ei fI ca n. No wm yp od ca st is on ab re ak ,I sh ou ld ge tm or et im e. I’ ve go ta va ns et up fo r fi sh in g– kh ak ig re en ,f ul ly so rt ed .M yw if e bo ug ht me it fo rm y6 0t h. It ’s sp ot on Ev er yt hi ng liv es in th ev an so Ic an ju st gr ab fo od ,l oa du pa nd go .I t’ sm ad et hi ng s ea si er
FishingRepublic's gifbagsfromthe previous event.
