STRATEGIC CARP FISHING BY ROB HUGHES & SIMON CROW Reviewed by David Will | |
| Strategic Carp Fishing by Rob Hughes and Simon Crow is a book I have been meaning to look at since it was first printed in 1997. I had read some of their articles and they struck me as fairly level-headed guys who concentrated on the important aspects of carp fishing rather than frivolous wonder rigs and obvious untested theory. Rather like my favourite carp author, Jim Gibbinson, most of what they say in articles makes sense to me and gets me thinking. Quite why I have left it until very recently to buy this book I am not sure, but I am glad I have. The book is a technical offering but much to my delight it concentrates on aspects such as how to approach waters and weighing up where to fish, how to fish and leaves wonder rigs and baits out altogether. For example, there are chapters devoted to the types of water you might encounter and details of what type of bait to use and where to put it without getting all technical. The bait section is obviously written by two guys who know their stuff. It is however done in a very easy to read and understand way. The tie-up to Nash bait is obvious but the only reference I could find to a specific Nash bait was to Sting in the World Carp Cup section. The message I was left with was that by applying the thoughts of these two I can find a bait from any company that would suit a set of circumstances. Rigs are covered but there are not loads, just a sensible few that with tweaking can be applied to specific situations. There is also a chapter which utilises tests on how leads perform, leaving the reader to decide which lead would suit the current lake you are fishing. Hooks and hooklink material are covered, and again a few sensible choices. Much of the book goes into the two authors proving, by way of tests, that what they use is the best tactics on any given water or day. What they do not do is state that this is the way to fish but leave their conclusions for you, the reader, to ponder. They treat the reader like a grown up. The book is stuffed with information that I, for one, had never even considered before. Such as the way different strains of carp feed. This might help you out if you have a lake full of the Italian strain, for example. It is a theory I will be testing on one lake which is predominantly occupied by commons. On the down side there is a section on their World Carp Cup victory at Fishabil that for me did not do the book any favours, and a lot of the photos are of foreign fish. I also wish they had gone more into the tactics they used on British day ticket waters that they fished on a hit and run basis a while back. There is very little mention of particles but maybe the lads do not feel they are qualified to comment. That said it is an excellent book and one I highly recommend. Published by Crowood Press ISBN 1-86-126-092-X. I got my copy through Amazon. |
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