Lancashire-based Ian Huntington and Pete Holehouse, who have performed well together with their rods for England prior to the Korda backing, will be in charge.

They take the reigns after long-time manager Mitch Smith stood down last summer following another battering at the hands of the awesome South Africans, who have won the past four World titles.

Ian takes the position of team manager and Pete becomes team coach. They will no longer fish for the team.

Ian and Pete will now organise three trials, in which a pool of pairs will be whittled down to the final squad that will compete for gold at the World Championships in Romania this September.

For the full amazing story, grab this week’s Angler’s Mail magazine.

And get the magazine every week for top tips, big news, best products, and venues that are in form.

That’s exactly what Bedfordshire’s Steve Cliff did during an amazing four-night session on Brasenose One lake on the Richworth Linear complex, Oxfordshire.

For the full amazing story, grab this week’s Angler’s Mail magazine.

And get the magazine every week for top tips, big news, best products, and venues that are in form.

Carper Neil Spooner uses a stick float fixed to the line conventionally like this.

NEIL SPOONER, of Korda, finds an unusual use for an old fashioned stick float. He catches big carp on them – as revealed in Angler’s Mail magazine (issue cover-dated November 1, 2011).

He reads what is happening on the bottom on lakes – fishing close in with a carp rig down the line – by using a stick float lying flat on the surface.

Here, with clear photos to help you if you’re unsure how to rig up, Neil explains the stages in making his rig.

It brought him a giant result at Layer Pits, Essex, when we joined him for Angler’s Mail magazine! So why not give it a go…

Slide two float bands onto your mainline...and push in the float. Easy!

This is exactly how your float should sit, laying flat and set just overdepth.

1. PUTTING ON THE FLOAT…

This could not be easier! Simply slide two float rubbers up your line, attach your float (see pictures above).

2. NOW ON GOES THE LEAD…

I like to use the lightest lead I can get away with to avoid any unnecessary disturbance. This is a 1/3 oz GURU lead.

I removed the swivel and attached a Kwik link to a Big Eye swivel instead. I fish it free running to increase sensitivity.

Lastly, a shok bead is placed over the swivel for the lead to safely sit against.

Neil's complete set-up looks like this - subtle and ready for action. Note the end of the rig... a running lead and a carp fishing hook link.

3.NEIL’S END RIG…

I use one of my tried and tested carp rigs. This consists of a size 8 Wide Gape-X, an Xtra Small Rig Ring, a 10mm length of Shrink Tube, 5 inches of Supernatural finished off with a size 8 swivel. Follow the photo sequence below if you would like to make a rig just like mine…

Components for the hook link end of the rig.

Slide a Micro Rig Ring onto the hook.

Take a length of 18 lb Supernatural.

Now whip a knotless knot using 18lb Supernatural braid, be sure to leave a couple of inches for the hair.

Tie the hair length to the rig ring using an overhand knot.

Form a loop in the end of the braid to which you can attach your bait.

Slide a 10mm length of shrink tube over the eye of the hook.

Shrink the tubing using the steam from a kettle, be careful not to burn your fingers.

Tie the braid to a size 8 swivel, you want the rig to be around six inches long

The rig is now complete and should look like this.

ANGLER’S Mail

Sponsors Dynamite Baits’ stable mates Advanced Carp Equipment will take over the reigns by backing our annual super-popular big carp competition.

The move came immediately after the presentation of Dynamite’s mega £2,500 cheque and huge trophy to 2010/11 winner Duncan Arrandale.

Duncan gets his name etched in history on the Mail’s famous silver bowl trophy alongside some of the biggest names to have graced the carp fishing world.

Duncan’s fine run of 30s topped by a stunning 46 lb common carp from the Carp Society’s Farriers Lake, Gloucestershire, caught the judges’ eyes especially as he juggles carping with work commitments and six-year-old twins. A worthy winner – and cover star of the Angler’s Mail issue (right).

Angler's Mail now includes the ACE Carp Cup!

What YOU can now win in the ACE CARP CUP

Weekly winners

ALL carp pictured in Angler’s Mail will win captors a money-cannot-buy new ACE Carp Cup badge plus a spool of Camo-Core Hooklink material worth £11.99.

Monthly stars

EVERY month one stand out catch will win £250 worth of ACE product and £100 cheque. Our foreign catch winner gets £50 worth of product.

Annual champ and runners-up

TOP catch or best overall display, circumstances such as Duncan’s will be taken into account, will win £2,500 plus the coveted trophy. Four runners-up will receive £250.

REPORT YOUR CATCHES TO US. Email photos and details including your daytime tel to: anglersmail@ipcmedia.com

With several giants having died in recent years, it’s a fish to watch!

Here is the full story as told to Angler’s Mail… in the latest captor, Ben Hewer’s own words.

Big carp and all coarse species can be seen in the mag every week.

Ben Hewer admires the mighty 57 lb 14 oz mirror carp.

“MYSELF and friends Paul Field, Ollie Webb and brothers Barry and Tony James exclusively booked the North Lake down at Elphicks for five days.

We chose our swims and I had open water with Fieldy on my right, fishing left of the island and in front. So as not to have too much bait spread out, we fished two rods in the same local area with a heavily baited approach and one roaming rod.

I chose to feed an area at 50 yards with a depth of 5ft with a upcoming slope to 4ft on my left which I thought would be a good patrol route.

I baited up a area of 20 square feet, placing two marked up rods both on the spot, Fieldy aiming a little towards the island but more spread out. The bait consisted of 60 balls of pellet with mixed particle and 2kg of Mainline Cell 15 mm, all catapulted out at 6pm.

The weather was glorious but not so good for fishing. Fish were basking down one end of the lake with a few showing to the far margins where I put my roamer rod fishing pop-ups on a 360 rig.

Ben fished the North Lake at Elphicks, the bottom one in this picture. For the best venues coverage, including Where to Fish This Weekend, read Angler's Mail every week.

Sunday night and nothing to show for any of us. By Monday afternoon I snatched a 12 lb common from the pop up and Barry smashed his PB of 18 lb with a chunky mirror of 34 lb 11 oz.

To be worried I had overfed the swim was the opposite of what I have heard about Elphicks… so blamed the weather for the the lack of action from the baited area as I fed another 60 balls and 2kgs of Cell before dark.

Monday night and at last a fish off the spot in the shape of a 21 lb 4 oz linear. Meanwhile Tony had two 28-pounders, adding PBs twice to his CV, the biggest of the two 28lb 13oz. My night was finished of by a 33 lb 10 oz and went quiet after 4.30 am.

Tuesday and it was sunny, relaxing in the day, to fish between 12 and 4am, confident I had sussed the fish! I upped the bait as I saw a cat tail breach the baited area and was concerned I was getting hoovered up by the early morning. I started to spod particle mix (10kg) with the pellet and the Cell staying the same, and on time around midnight a 29 lb mirror fell to twin Cell. Fieldy does his PB with a 31lb 3 oz common just after.

Then as we both got to sleep an almighty run from my rods left me in a panic as I tried to unzip the blasted bivvy. All the runs up to this point were “riggy” but this was a beauty.

The fish ran 25 to 30 yards towards a snag and I began bullyboy tactics to tease it towards the open water, it was heavy but came in relatively easy towards the bank. It then started to make ten-yard runs and picked up my second slack line so I put a little on the fish to get it up – but it was ‘avin none of it!

Finally Fieldy was ready to net it, and she was in. We both had flashbacks from France where you try and lift the net out of the water and it’s too heavy! Giggles broke out and as she lay on the bank I was in denial it was the big girl.

I am quite understated but knew it was big, and the 40 I was hoping for. As the Reubens went round past 40 then bouncing at 60 we both shouted “it’s her!”

The scales settled at her biggest size of 57 lb 14 oz, a new lake record and of course my English PB – which was held by a respectable 35 lb Yateley mirror.

She swam back strong after a little reviving, as she likes to burn herself out, but behaved on the mat which helped get her back in quickly.

Morning came and we were all buzzing from seeing the biggest day ticket carp in the UK.

To cap it all, Ollie across the lake had done his PB of low 20 lb to a 26 lb common. So that’s five mates all breaking their PBs… and the biggest in the lake!”

ANGLER’S MAIL FACT FILE

57 lb 14 oz carp by Ben Hewer

Occupation: Red Bull Racing formula 1 team composite assembler.

Age and home town: 33 from Milton Keynes, Bucks.

Rod: custom-made Torrix TE by Vic Gibson.

Reel: Daiwa Basia QDX.

Line: 12lb Ultima Carp.

Rig: 3.5 in. hinged, stiff Hybrid hooklink, size 6 Nash Twister barbless, lead clip set up with kwik link.

Hook bait: double 15mm Mainline Cell.

Feed: 20kg of mixed pellets, 10kg of Mainline Cell, 10kg chilli hemp, 15kg of maize,10kg of barley and oat mix over five days. Thanks to Giles at NSA Baits, for delivering bait to the lake!

Angler's Mail now includes the ACE Carp Cup!

Report YOUR big fish to Angler’s Mail magazine, best for top catches, news, tackle and advice, and now featuring the ACE Carp Cup. The email address is: anglersmail@ipcmedia.com

RELATED ANGLER’S MAIL ONLINE STORIES >>

• World record carp
• British record carp

• Best affordable carp rods

STOP PRESS! Elphicks giant caught at a much bigger weight – full story in the latest Angler’s Mail issue (cover-dated October 18). Brief story – click here

Angler's Mail - No.1 for product news - reveals new Nash custom rods.

ANGLER’S MAIL – your No.1 magazine for product news – has revealed how custom-built carp rods are on the way from a major manufacturer.

This summer saw the launch of the original trio of NR rods from Nash.

But very soon, as reported in the Mail’s authoritative coverage of trade shows, you can get your own NR blank built.

The move is part of an innovative custom build service.

If you order rods through a special website, which the Mail understands is due to go live before Christmas, then you collect it at a Nash tackle shop in your area.

You choose the NR blank you want (12 ft 3 lb or 3.5 lb, or 13 ft 3.5 lb) and then decide on how you want it finished, selecting the handle, line clip, whipping tipping, even personalized stuff like your own name.

Top Kent-based rod builder Nick Buss will be making up each rod to order.

Prices will range from £349.99 to £429.99.

VIDEO>> To watch an Angler’s Mail exclusive video on the creation of NR rods, with Nash consultants Terry Edmonds and Mike Hall, click HERE

Read Angler's Mail magazine every week for the full story on latest gear and our own unbiased reviews.

Over £5,000 was raised for Shane Oliver and his friends at Chapel Road School.

The Fox-backed Shane and Friends Charity event at the Nunnery fishing lakes in Norfolk has been hailed as a major success by event organizer Mark Taylor.

The event involved a match on Bobs Lake (which was won by Brian Harper) plus casting competitions, bivvy erection competitions and rig demonstrations.

There was also an auction and a huge raffle and in total £5,385 was raised for Chapel Road School, in Attenborough, Norfolk, which looks after kids with special needs.

The event was very well attended.

Mark Taylor was obviously delighted to have raised so much money for local lad Shane Oliver and his friends at Chapel Road School commenting: ‘It is such a worthy cause and I cannot thank everyone who got involved enough.

‘In addition to all of the competitors and visitors I would also like to thank JRC, Mainline Baits, Dynamite Baits, Richworth, Korda, Kryston, Carpology, Rig Marole, Solar Tackle, Frank Warwick Baits, and Free Spirit for their kind donations.

‘I have to say a special thanks to Fox International who donated in excess of £4,000 worth of prizes as well as donating a weekend’s fishing on their exclusive Essex syndicate lake to the auction, which fetched £600!

‘I would also like to thank Shane the baker, Warburtons, Tescos, Ian the butcher, Nigel Winters and all of the people that helped with the cooking and the general running around throughout the event. Together everyone made it a weekend to remember!”

• Editor’s comment – see Angler’s Mail magazine (September 20 issue).

Just like his capture of the Snake Pit Common at 45 lb 12 oz in 1991 which was then an UK best, only this time in the form of an 88 lb common carp from La Saussaie, France.

The fish is just ounces off the world record and is one of the biggest commons in the world.

Korda operations director Damian’s full story appeared in our September 13 issue (pictured below). Be sure to get Angler’s Mail every week to see the best catches and top advice.

Damian's huge common starred on the Angler's Mail cover. Be sure to get your copy of the mag each week for the best coarse and carp coverage.

With the introduction of flat-bed feeders and moulds it has never been easier!

Anglers of all ages and abilities can achieve massive catches using this devastating Method in a matter of hours.

New moulds, like this superb Guru model, make fishing "The Method" neater and easier. The hookbait, presented with a short hook link, is perfectly concealed inside this mix of groundbait and pellets.

Big hauls come to the Method - and you don't have to be top matchman like Adam to do it these days!

The Method feeder and mould creates a great way of presenting a hook bait surrounded by some attractive free helpings which prove irresistible to feeding carp and other species.

As results in Angler’s Mail prove, Method feeder fishing plays a huge role on the match circuit – it is responsible for some massive catches and some big-money wins. With the simplicity of the mould coupled with the simple-to-attach feeders it’s a great part of a match angler’s armoury.

The introduction of the mould has really helped even out the competition because every angler can now present their bait so easily and quickly. And as revealed in Angler’s Mail magazine (August 6, 2011 issue), Adam Rooney, the midlands match ace, is a convert to Guru’s new X-Press moulds.

‘As a match angler, I am always searching for that little edge that makes the difference to come out on top,’ said Adam, who is sponsored by Guru, Shimano and Dynamite Baits.

‘Now that the Method feeder plays such a significant role on the commercial match scene, improving the technique is a must for success.’

Here, Angler’s Mail fans, Adam Rooney shares some of his top tips for Method feeder success…

• An important factor of Method fishing is making sure you have the right tackle to get that Method feeder to that all important spot in the lake where the fish are feeding.

• 

  The right tackle is important, as Adam explains here.

  I use a number of different rods and reels to achieve this. For a short chuck of about 40 yards to an island, for instance, I will use an 11ft Shimano Beastmaster commercial feeder rod with a Shimano Rarenium C14FA 4000 reel filled with 6 lb Guru Drag line.

• I use X-Safe Guru Method feeders with a 4-inch 0.22 (9 lb) Guru N-Gauge hook length to the awesome QM1 size 14 hook, finished with a pellet band tied to the hair.

• As you may notice, my hooklength for the Method has a higher breaking strain than my mainline, this is because it is such a small length of line it has very little stretch which makes it weaker, so by stepping it up helps prevent getting broken on the typical savage Method bites.

• Another tip when choosing the area you wish to fish, I always use a bomb of similar weight to a loaded Method feeder. This is so that when you cast to your clip you get the same amount of stretch in your line and get to feel the force in which you need to cast the feeder. This will help keep your feeder in a tighter area, which is essential especially when fishing to islands.

• When fishing the Method to islands I like to fish very tight to the bank. On most venues the bank is very undercut and this is where the carp will take cover and feel safe.

• It is important that once you have cast the Method to the required spot not to move it when you tighten your line up. Once I have cast, I dip the tip of my rod under the water and watch the line sink without moving the reel.

• Once it’s all sunk I leave the line quite slack as I like the line to lay flat on the bottom by the feeder to avoid as many liners and fish moving the feeder.

• At the start of a match I like to cast the Method regularly whether I’m catching or not. I do this to build the swim up with the idea that when the fish arrive they will stay because there will be plenty of food in the swim.

• 

  Job's a good 'un... getting it right from baiting up to netting the fish.

  I will usually cast every two minutes in the first hour of the match to achieve this. After that I will leave the Method in up to 15 minutes between casts. This way I can get an idea on how the fish are responding. For example, if I get bites very quickly after casting it shows me that the fish are feeding well and are confident to feed off the ball of food straight away.

• If it takes ten to 15 mins to get a bite it shows the fish are more shy or there are not as many fish in the swim so they don’t have to compete for the food. So waiting that extra time can result in more fish.

Be sure to read Angler’s Mail magazine every week for the latest top tackle and expert advice!

1 It’s possible to Superglue floating pellets and biscuits to the hook. First, create a shallow groove in the pellet with a junior hacksaw blade or use the serrated blade on your braid scissors. Don’t cut the groove too deep so the hook is buried.

2 Squeeze a drop of superglue into the groove. Grip the bend of the hook and press the shank firmly into the groove. Hold it in position for a few seconds to allow the glue to set. Gel superglues take longer to dry and often leave a white residue.

3 Elasticated bait bands are the simplest way of attaching hard, floating pellets. The band must be a tight fit to prevent it slipping during casting. Make sure the bait doesn’t twist around the hook masking the point.

4 Pop-up boilies are too expensive to pile in as freebies – but stand out well from other floaters on the hook. Hair-rigging with a small, strong hook is recommended. Fish the boilie tight against the hook for effective penetration. ]]> http://www.anglersmail.co.uk/fishing-tips/hooking-floater-baits/feed/ 4