Colin Davidson’s CARP WORLD


WEEK AHEAD


wo of fresh high attract pop- ups so it’s out with the mixing bowl. Maybe the kids can help me now they’re a bit older, although that


t“Time to make a batch or


means confectionary flavours not crab or squid I guess…


”


hear every bleep. If you can stretch to them get a set of alarms with a remote – winter takes are also much less enthusiastic and a few bleeps might be all you get. There are several options to add a


remote to alarms using small dongle style transmitters that fit into jack plug sockets even on very basic alarms – those from ATT are excellent.


The night shift I


’VE only ever fished two swims that have got the luxury of heated accommodation next to the rods, one abroad


and once at Wildmoor, so night trips at this time of year still inevitably mean pushing those bivvy pegs in and making sure you’re kitted out to stay warm and comfortable. Bivvies are bigger, sturdier and better designed than


ever. Pram hood styles are most popular, offering loads of usable room and needing a bulldozer to knock them down. A second winter skin or canopy improves warmth and eliminates condensation. From what I see, a huge number of carpers use groundsheets, full fill panels and winter skins all year so winter night trips are just business as usual.


I prefer flexi rib shelters to pram hoods because they are


lighter and, unless in absolutely vile weather, prefer to keep a shelter open fronted so I can see as much of the swim as possible. Many shorter session shelters can be left open fronted but you can still add a skin or wrap for improved warmth and space and still see plenty going on. Groundsheets are a pet hate. Yes, they insulate you from


cold ground, but they get filthy and then need folding or rolling up and carrying about - and I’ve got better things to do than wash a groundsheet at home. You choose – I’m well aware I’m in the minority not wanting to carry and set up a rigid metal framed palace.


Just add water FOR some, the camping side of carping


is as much part and parcel of the whole experience as anything, and winter means fry ups with their mates or the wok coming out and communal eating. I fish on my own and would rather


get on with trying to catch a few than carry a bundle of cookery kit, so for me, it’s anything that involves adding hot water just to make hot food quick and easy – various types of pots and instant snacks plus lots of coffee or instant soups. Again, your choice. I eat well and


enjoy food a lot but I’m not going down the Jamie Oliver route on the bank, I’d rather have hot, quick food without all of the fuss of preparation.


Cooking on gas GAS stoves are the best choice by far for


boiling water or cooking on the bank. Petrol stoves like the Coleman models


have widely fallen from favour. They are quicker and cheaper than gas cylinders but they have always been hopeless for anything other than boiling kettles, the heat just isn’t variable and manageable. Gas canisters lose pressure in cold


weather which reduces performance, but if you’re there all day or for 24 hours does an extra couple of minutes really matter? Use the small canisters as they don’t


lose pressure as readily as large ones that run low. You can also turn the canister upside down to give a stove a boost on cold days. The tiny nozzle that the jet of gas


comes through can be prone to partially blocking with soot deposits which can hamper performance. Some stoves are supplied with


cleaning tools – if you haven’t got one snip a length of fine wire from a pack of rubber float stops and give it a poke through occasionally between sessions to keep your stove roaring not whimpering.


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Got no bottle? WEIGHING next to nothing, and taking


just two minutes and one kettle full of boiling water to fill, a small hot water bottle is one of those items that everybody who has got one will tell you is one of the best things they ever added to their kit. The hardcore boys who like to suffer


and share stories of suffering don’t need one. If you like to have a deliciously warm sleeping bag and never want to suffer cold feet ever again they come well recommended. Mine’s from the Tackle Box, Dartford,


and comes with a camo cover, essential in case a bright bottle spooks any carp feeding close to my socks!


Double bagger THERE’S no shortage of quality, warm


sleeping bags available in tackle shops. You’ll get a smaller, lighter and higher performance bag from an outdoor specialist, but the zips aren’t designed for fast exits and you won’t be able to roll or move around so freely. Look for a four or five season bag from a reputable company. Mine’s the Nash


Remote reaction I’M a big fan of remote receivers for


alarms to keep invasive buzzer noise on the bank to a minimum. Winter nights can often throw up much more severe weather than the rest of the year and even with buzzers jacked up you can miss a pull or two thanks to howling wind, the sound of a stove or flapping nylon. With a receiver in the bivvy you


Frostbite Minus 20 which is luxurious. There are two top layers, allowing you to sleep under a thinner cover or both together for super warmth. For winter work invest in a throw over thermal sleeping bag cover. They are cheap, roll up to nothing or fold inside your bed and give an additional layer that adds warmth far beyond what you expect.


Lighting up time DURING the colder months you’ll be


doing jobs like rebaiting, tying bags and sticks and recasting in the dark regularly! A quality LED head torch is a must.


I like those that have options for different light levels. Make sure you have at least one


spare head torch rather than just spare batteries. If you lose things as often as me it’s also a precaution to have another spare in the car or take a Gardner’s wind up torch so you’ve got light even if it’s all going terribly wrong! Head torches with a single


elasticated strap can be left around your neck inside your sleeping bag, so when you get up to play fish you always have light at hand for easier netting.


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