Carp Centre

Everything you need to know, all in one place. Touch up on the essentials or learn about a new technique to add to your carp game, it’s all here.

The Essentials

Everything you need to know to get started catching carp. Baits, rigs, techniques and more all explained.

Angling Photography: A Basic Guide to Taking Better Shots

I want to start by saying I am by no means an expert in the world of photography, I guess you might call me a keen amateur. My interest in photography stemmed from wanting to take great catch shots and from being around anglers who really knew their stuff, seeing...

Five Tips to Improve Your Carp Fishing Game

When I sat down to write something on top tips for carp fishing, it became apparent to me that it was not going to be an easy task. The truth is that there aren’t really any secrets to help you catch more, so instead I am going to talk about elements of my approach...

Surface Fishing for Carp: The Basics You Need to Know

Floater fishing… It’s a very different way to experience a day's fishing. If you’ve never tried it out, it may seem foreign and a bit unusual at first, but if you’re considering giving it a go, this article may act as a useful starting point. I love surface fishing,...

Five Great Carp Rigs

When it comes to carp fishing, it can be all too easy to get caught up in the myriad of different ‘rigs’ that are talked about across social media, YouTube and in magazines. As a beginner, it is highly likely that you will be starting out on easier commercial waters…

Lengthen the Life of Your Bait

Air-drying boilies… What’s it all about and why do anglers swear by the value it provides? There are a number of different reasons why air-drying your baits can be of benefit, let me begin with the most important of them all. To put it simply, air-dried boilies are...

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Canal Carping: An Overview

When looking across all age demographics, it’s no secret that carp fishing is one of the most popular outdoor activities. However, with a finite amount of carp lakes out there, where should you as an angler turn when you don’t want to fish overcrowded waters, a common...

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Advanced

If you’re a seasoned carp angler looking to improve in specific areas, this is for you.

Opinion: Carp Sacking

Sacking is a contentious subject that is often discussed by carp anglers. In my opinion, when done correctly and when several different factors have all been appropriately considered, sacking is a useful technique which is beneficial for the carp. First of all, you...

The Big Carp Paradox

Last year I started fishing a brand new lake… Unfortunately, this article isn’t the one I was intending to write when I first set out my new fishing adventure, as I sit down to write this it feels as though this venue has well and truly kicked me in the proverbials....

How I Use Solid PVA Bags to Catch More Big Carp

I’ve been carp fishing now for over 30 years, and in all that time I’ve kept my rigs reasonably simple. Just a braided hook length, a strong wide gape hook, a kicker and a small piece of silicone to hold the hair in place. Nothing too exciting or complicated. I’ve...

Trout Pellets for Carp Fishing: What’s It All About?

As with any other branch of angling, in carp angling there are particular items of tackle and bait that get discussed more than others. Often this is because there are conflicting opinions that surround such items on how, if it all, they should be used. I’m sure that...

A Basic Guide to Freelining for Carp

Like many, my fishing is frequently governed by a limited amount of time. Plenty of us have busy lives and simply slot in fishing where we can. For me, this means travelling light, staying mobile and moving around lakes and rivers trying to find fish and only then...

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Catching Carp in the Margins

Catching carp in the margins is one of the most exciting and productive methods, perfect for the short session fisherman. I've arrived at lakes in the past, carefully baited up a few marginal spots before catching some fantastic fish in a relatively short space of...

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The Big Carp Paradox

Last year I started fishing a brand new lake… Unfortunately, this article isn’t the one I was intending to write when I first set out my new fishing adventure, as I sit down to write this it feels as though this venue has well and truly kicked me in the proverbials....

read more

Seasonal

As the seasons change, so should your carp fishing tactics.

Spring

Spring can provide some fantastic sport, particularly as angling pressure is relatively low. Get out there and take advantage of it!

Seasonal Carp Angling: The Best Rigs for Spring

Spring is my favourite time of year to be fishing; I am always incredibly keen following the winter period, which coincides perfectly with improving weather and the carp being at their most catchable. In this article I will cover my rig approach to the spring period,...

Surface Fishing for Carp: Spring Fishing

At the time of writing this, we’re witnessing the very first signs of spring. It’s early March, and a mild spell of weather has made everything happen sooner than expected. Each year mother nature decides exactly when the season starts and ends but one thing you can...

Carp Angling in Early Spring: Some Great Advice

Spring is my favourite angling season, as the long awaited thaw begins and snow drops start to pop up through the frozen ground, bringing with them a sense of optimism and excitement at the year ahead. Days get progressively longer as the sun’s angle increases across...

Locating Carp Through Spring: Top Tips & Tricks

As the spring season develops the changes are dramatic both above and below the surface, the world comes alive before your eyes and swims that were open and barren become lush and green. The fish’s activity levels begin to increase significantly, as the water...

Surface Fishing for Carp: Spring Fishing

At the time of writing this, we’re witnessing the very first signs of spring. It’s early March, and a mild spell of weather has made everything happen sooner than expected. Each year mother nature decides exactly when the season starts and ends but one thing you can...

read more

Seasonal

As the seasons change, so should your carp fishing tactics.

Winter

Don’t be a fair weather fisherman. Get out there with our tips and enjoy some of the best sport possible, even if it is a little chilly!

A Basic Guide to Day Ticket Waters in Winter

As summer turns to winter, most day ticket fisheries find far fewer anglers flocking to their waters. This is a result of both the weather and the theory that carp do not feed in the winter or the cold. However, this is not to be believed. Admittedly, carp do not feed...

Fishing Winter Edges: Clear Winter Waters, Pop Ups & More

Last week I was online taking a look at some catch reports and the number of UK forties that exist and were being really caught me off guard. It seems as though forty-pound carp are coming through all over the place, even in my local area there are one or two very...

My Winter Thoughts: Take Advantage of Winter Carp Fishing

In anything I do in life, goals are a must. Perhaps it’s a character flaw, but if you too have this desire to measure everything, you’ll understand that achievable goals are important and that carp fishing is no exception. This winter I’ve decided to target a new...

Liven up Your Winter Fishing by Using Maggots

Maggots make for an exceptionally effective carp bait in winter. Here we run through exactly how to make the most out of them. As the temperature drops, the carp’s metabolism starts to slow. This has two consequences; they eat less and are far less active. Despite...