Tiger Line website now up and running

The Tiger Line website with PayPal facility is now on-line click here.

Tiger Line, Armure Leader and Mirage XT

Results on our new Tiger line have been fantastic. Don’t take my word for it, have a look at the Cemex carp forum and you’ll find loads of glowing reviews from happy anglers. Tiger line really is a superb fluorocarbon main line.
We have taken the technology used in our Tiger line to produce two other fantastic fluorocarbon products: Armure Leader and Mirage XT.

Armure Leader
The Ultimate Fluorocarbon Shock leader.
Armure Leader is a 100% fluorocarbon with outstanding abrasion resistance in weed, snags and over gravel, stones and zebra mussels. Like our Tiger Line, it sinks quickly and completely and is virtually invisible on the bottom. Armure Leader is available on 50m spools in 4 different diameters/breaking strains, so you can choose the perfect leader for the conditions.
The 0.37mm and 0.43mm are perfect as shock leaders for long range fishing.
The 0.47mm and 0.60mm are incredibly strong and abrasion resistant and are perfect for fishing over the worst gravel bars and sharp snags.
All 50m spools Armure Leader
Armure Leader 50m spool 0.37mm & 0.43mm　: £12.90
Armure Leader 50m spool 0.47mm & 0.60mm　: £15.90
　
Mirage XT
The Perfect Fluorocarbon Hook Link
Mirage XT is virtually invisible in water, has exceptional knot strength and abrasion resistance and you won’t find a better fluorocarbon hook link material.
Available on 15m spools in 4 different diameters/breaking strains: 0.28mm(10lb); 0.31mm(12lb); 0.33mm(16lb); 0.37mm(20lb); 0.43mm(25lb); 0.47mm(35lb).
All Mirage XT 15m spools　: £5.90

Tiger Line

I've finally decided on a name for our fluorocarbon line and we are going to call it Tiger Line: perfectly camouflaged and very difficult to see; extremely strong; stealth; stalks its prey.....
Big Carp Tiger Line is available on 300m and 1000m spools in 10lb, 12lb, 16lb and 20lb.
I have had lots of very positive endorsements from anglers who have been using our line and feed back on the forums as been excellent.
I will post more info' about Tiger Line on my blog but in the meantime contact me by email at info@bigcarp.com, or tel' John at 01189 342123.

Big carp and cat fish

Many years ago, when I was at school, I used to regularly go fishing with three mates, Graham, his brother Steve and Mark. We’ve kept in touch over the years but we hadn’t been fishing together for a very long time, nearly 35 years in fact. I met Mark last year for a few days lure fishing and we talked about organising a week fishing with all four of us. Steve lives in America, Mark lives in Basle on the Swiss border and Graham and I live in England, so it required a lot of organisation.

We decided to fish for catfish on the river Saone for the first two days and nights and then fish for carp for three days.


Me, Graham, Mark and Steve with two monster catfish

I organised the cat fishing with two young guides, Tony and Jerome of Sensation. This was a new experience for us and it was with lots of excitement and anticipation that we met on the banks of the river Saone near Macon. Tony and Jerome organised everything and it was a fantastic two days fishing. We had a guide and boat for two anglers and we started with vertical fishing using lob worms and squid. It was fascinating to watch the reaction of the cats to the sound of the Klonk and we could clearly see the fish coming up off the bottom towards the bait.

Me wih one of our guides Jerome with a nice fish caught vertical fishing with lobworms, a very exciting method

We caught plenty of cats to 40lbs on the first day and the, in the evening we returned to the camp and set up rods with big live baits – 4lb live baits! These were attached to a big buoy anchored out in the main river, using a short length of 15lb line which would break on the take. The line was really tightened to the buoy, the rod placed upright in a beach caster type of rod rest and a simple bell clipped to the rod tip. Tony explained that when a cat fish took the bait, the 15lb linewould snap and the rod would spring back registering the take.

Once all 6 rods had been baited and set up, Tony and Jerome prepared a tasty dinner and we opened a bottle of lovely red wine.
Later that evening one of the rods pulled down hard and graham was in. After a spirited fight, Graham landed a lovely cat fish of over 40lbs. Shortly after, another rod went and Mark was attached to a much bigger fish. This was a much harder fight and when we first saw the fish in the torch light we realised why, it was massive. This one measured 2.02m and Tony estimated it at 70kgs, a massive fish.

Just before light another rod went and Steve found himself attached to a very angry cat fish that was ripping line off a very tight clutch. This was clearly another very big fish and Tony, Steve and I got in the boat as the fish continued to take line. It was a fantastic fight. Even with the powerful rod and strong braided main line the fish just towed the boat around for 25 minutes. It was a real battle and we saw the fish several times before Tony was able to grab it with his gloved hands. Back on the bank, the huge cat fish was measured and was exactly the same length as the other big one at 2.02m. A brace of 70kg + cats, what a result.

A brace of 150lb+ catfish

The following day we fished again from the boats catching several more cats with the biggest at 30kgs. It was a fantastic two days fishing and we caught 21 cats in total, ranging from the smallest at about 2lbs to the two biggest at well over 150lbs. Tony and Jerome were fantastic guides and I would recommend them to anyone interested in fishing the Saone. They are also experienced carp anglers and it is possible to organise a trip with them combining cats and carp. Have a look at their website http://www.sensationpeche.com/ or contact me by email and I’ll give you some more information.

We then went to a lake I know in the mountains not far from Lyon. The lake is only open for day fishing, so we booked into a local campsite. The fishing was fabulous and between us we caught over 30 carp with plenty of 30s and the biggest a lovely 41lb common for Mark.

It was a fantastic weeks fishing and it’s definitely something we will be organising again next year.

What a start to the year: 3 x 50s in the same night

The show at Pacific Peche in Metz with team mate Christian Zimmermann, alias 'Big Z', went really well. I've been to this show every year for the last 10 years and Big Carp is well known in the area, so we always get lots of interest. I had been asked to make a presentation in the evening and I decided to change from my usual presentation format and try a different approach. Rather than a slide show type presentation, I prepared several topics that I would present and then invite questions, hoping that it would turn into a debate. I was pleased to see that over 100 anglers had turned up and predictably, the subject of bait and attraction got the juices flowing and it turned into a lively and interesting discussion. It's definitely a format that I will be using again.

After the show I headed towards Macon to meet with Team member Thierry Seon. We had planned 3 days fishing together at a 50 acre lake near his home and I was really looking foward to a few quiet days by the water. Apart from a single night at JBs lake a couple of weeks before when I caught a nice 14lb mirror, this would be my first carp fishing trip this year.

Thierry Séon, Team Big Carp France

Weather conditions were awful. Cold north easterly and bright and sunny with high pressure. The forecast was for the wind to change to the south west on wednesday bringing low pressure, cloud and milder conditions - perfect fishing conditions - only trouble was, that was the day I was ging home. How often does that happen !

Only good news, Thierry told me the water temperature was 10 degrees, which is a good temperature for the carp to feed. The carp wouldn't be really actively munching yet but they wold be feeding regularly. In low water temperatures, the ideal base mix has a low protein content and is high in carbohydrates and fats. I combined my Winter Winner mix, which is a creamy birdfood, high energy mix, with JBs Bio Shellfish mix. To this I added a low level of JBs Plum and AlaSalar which is a fantastic flavour combination that will catch carp anywhere.

There is no night fishing on the lake we were going to fish, so we planned to fish dawn to dusk for the 3 days. By sunrise on the monday morning we were at the lake. We chose the north bank with the strong cold northerly wind behind us and an area of calm water protected from the wind in front of us. In front of us was a large gravel plateau about 3-4 feet deep, an area where Thierry had caught well in early spring the previous year.

The sun was bright and out of the wind it felt quite warm, but with the cold northerly I wasn't convinced that the carp would come up on the shallower water, certainly not in numbers. I whacked the marker well out to about 120yds and found the back of the plateau where it dropped down to about 6 feet with a hard bottom that felt like sand. That felt more like it and I spread 1kg of 20mm baits around the area and along the drop off with the throwing stick. Two rods went there and the 3rd went in slightly deeper water where I found the first signs of fresh weed.

The day was quiet with no signs of fish. I was surprised that we had seen nothing at all, not even the odd bream or roach, and I wondered if the fish were active at night. We packed everything away early evening, just leaving the rods until the very last moment, planning to wind in at 7.30, so that we could be off the lakewithin the rules by 8 o'clock. As if to confirm my thoughts, 7.25 and a slow take on my middle rod at the back of the bar. The fish was really powerful and after a long fight a beautiful mirror slipped over the net - 48lbs...

First fish of the session this fantastic 48lb mirror. Yessssssssssssssssssssssssss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We quickly packed the rods away and I sticked out 2kg of boilies to the area.

That evening, after a nice hot shower, we discussed our plans over a lovely casserole and a bottle of wine. If the carp were feeding at night, then that's when we would have to fish. So we planned to stay the next night, camouflaged up and hidden in the bushes. Not even a brolly and we would simply sleep by the rods. The temperatue was to drop below zero but there was no rain forecast. The lake is patrolled by guards at night so there would be no torches and we would have to be really quiet.

The next day was like the first. The lake appeared dead with no signs of life. Soon after dark, at around 8.30, the middle rod was away and again it was a whacker, another 48lb mirror. 50yds down the bank Thierry was also into a fish, a lovely mirror of 35lbs.

Action continued regularly throughout the night with a take roughly every hour and a half. What a night! The size of these fish was incredible. I ended up that night with carp of 50.4lb, 50.8lb, 48lb, 36lb and 52lb. It was an amazing night's fishing.

Beautiful mirrors of 50.4lb and 50.8lb

Two more beauties of 52lb and 48lb

Most takes came from the back of the bar. The line would catch in the gravel and stones on the shallow plateau and grate horribly, sawing back and forth as the fish took line, sometimes for several minutes before I was able to gain line and draw the fish a bit closer in. The line would grate over the stones and I was more than pleased with the performance of our new fluorocarbon mainline. Not only does it cast well for a fluorocarbon but it's abrasion resistance is fantastic. I'm sure that a nylon would have cut off very quickly with that abuse but the extra abrasion resistance really made a difference. I did have to pull off and lose 30yds or so of line twice during the night as it had become really chafed by the abuse but the important thing was that it didn't break. Retackling and retying the rigs in the dark without a torch - that's fun !

We packed up once the sun was up on the wednesday, after the most tiring photo session I've ever had ! I still had nearly 600 miles drive to get home. It was good to get away early but I wouldn't actually get home until nearly midnight, extremely knackered but very happy

It was a fabulous catch and what a great way to start the year.

Bye for now.

Cheers.

John

Carp shows in France and Belgium in March

With John Baker and the Italian Big Carp Team at the end of the Carpitaly show .

The beginning of the year is a really important period for us. It's the period when there are the big trade shows and lots of shops have open days. All the Big Carp Team are involved and are available to show new products and answer questions about how to get the best from our products. I went to the big Carpitaly show in Italy a few weeks ago with John Baker. There were over 10,000 visitors over the two days and our stand was mobbed continually.


John talking about bait - wherever you go in europe carp anglers love to talk about bait.



It was hard work but very enjoyable and a great opportunity to talk to the italian anglers.

Two weeks ago I was at another big show, this time in Belgium. This was with the shop Hainault Peche and I was helped by my two Belgian Team members Arnaud and Benoit. Again, a very busy worthwhile weekend.

The show at Hainaut Peche in Belgium. Our stand was mobbed for the whole weekend.

With Belgium Big Carp Team members Benoit Bruneau and Arnaud Minsart

Yesterday I was in northern France at a show called Bourbourg. It was at a venue only 30 minutes from Calais so I was able to do make it a day trip. I left home at 03.00 in the morning and was at the venue by 08.00! This time I as on a stand with a big shop called Outreman and it was a very busy day. The show closed at 19.00 and I just made it to my train through the tunnel at 20.30. I was home by 10.30. It was a very successful but VERY tiring day.

This week I'll be concentrating on completing orders but there's a couple of weeks left before the end of the season and I'm dsperate to get out and do a bit of fishing. I'll definitely set aside some time to have a go for some barbel. Next weekend Terry Edmonds is coming over for a couple of nights fishing for carp on a local water, so I'm really looking forward to that. That will be my first rip out for carp this year!

The next show is on the 20th March in Metz on the eastern side of France and I'm panning to stay on in France for 3 or 4 days fishing, so that's something to really look forward to. Hopefully the weather will be a bit more spring like by then.

Who are Big Carp Ltd

John Llewellyn with Bruno from Dinton Pastures at 52lb8oz. January 2007.

Who are Big Carp?
Big Carp has been trading for over 15 years but you probably haven't heard of us because we have been concentrating our efforts on selling our products in France, Italy and Belgium and Big Carp products haven't been available in the UK, until now. And no, we are nothing to do with the magazine with the same name! We are a small team of very experienced, well known carp anglers from England including John Llewellyn, John Baker, Dennis McFetrich and Terry Edmonds, supported by a dedicated team of some of europe's most experienced carp anglers in Italy, France and Belgium. Have a look at our website http://www.bigcarp.com/ and also the blogs listed to the left of this page. The site is currently in french or italian but we are working on an english version which will be available very soon. Learn more about Big Carp and the Team below. For more info' contact John Llwellyn at info@bigcarp.com.

I started my company Big Carp 15 years ago. I lived in France for a few years in the late 80's and at that time the modern way of carp fishing was totally alien to most of the french. I was constantly being asked about the bait and tackle I was using and where to buy it, so I decided to set up Big Carp to cater for the demand. I decided to concentrate on selling Big Carp products initially only in France and Belgium. I speak french fluently and I also write regularly for two french carp magazines, Media Carpe and Top Carpe. Big Carp products are also now well known in Italy and I write regularly for Tutto Carpa magazine in that country. My aim has always been to include and develop only the bait and tackle that I want to use for my own fishing. If I'm confident using it myself, then I am happy to include it in my Big Carp range and I am totally confident to recommend it to other anglers.

Bait specialist John Baker

Bait specialist John Baker is a good friend and lives only 5 minutes from me, so it made sense to talk about baits for Big Carp with John. We decided to combine our ideas and develop a small range of base mixes and top quality flavours based on Johns own flavours. We don't skimp on any aspect of bait and Big Carp baits rightly have a fantastic reputation as carp catchers from waters right across europe: from big european rivers like the Seine and Moselle, to huge continental lakes like St.Cassien and Orient, to hard, pressured lakes in the UK like Dinton Pastures.

I knew Steve Harrison was the man for rods. His reputation as a blank designer and rod builder is second to none, so I went to see Steve. I told him exactly the type of rod I was looking for and we based the first Big Carp rod on one of his best selling blanks. That rod is the 13' x 3.5lb Big Carp Orginale. It is a lovely rod and we still have plenty of demand for it, even now after 15 years.

Since then, we have developed the Mirage range of Big Carp rods. They are based on a superb Harrison blank that is extremely slim, light and responsive and the blanks are built exclusively for Big Carp by Harrisons. The Mirage rods are 12' or 12'6" and they are available in 3 test curves: 3lb, 3½lb and the ULR which is the most powerful version. The feel and playing action of these rods is fantastic. I love these rods and I have 2 sets that I use for all my carp fishing : the 12' 3lb and the 12'6" x 3½lb.

Terry Edmonds with french Team Big Carp member Patrice Lecot during filming of our video 'Carp Long Range' in France.

I met Terry Edmonds through Steve Harrison. Terry had been helping Steve with the development of a range of beach casters and I was keen to improve my casting. Terry's an experienced angler and an awesome caster. His input in the design and concept stage of the new XLR TE200 has been invaluable.


Terry returning a 42lb common caught whilst filming.


For tackle items such as spods, marker floats, Rattlers, Inchers and so on, the MCF range made and designed by Dennis McFetrich is still the most reliable and best on the market. I spoke to Dennis and we selected various items to include in the Big Carp range.

Dennis McFetrich with another whacker!

I sponsor a handful of some of Europes most experienced carp anglers in France, Italy, Spain and Belgium. They write regularly in the magazines and their input in develpoment of new items has been invaluable. They have all got their own blogs, so have a look at what they are up to and the monsters they are catching.



I am fortunate to have all these very experienced anglers as my friends and together they make up a truly awesome Team.

Click on the link to Team Big Carp to learn more about these anglers. You can also learn more about Big Carp on our website via the link. The website is all in french or italian but if you want to know more about Big Carp just send me an email at info@bigcarp.com and I'll send you the information in english.