A couple of hours fun with a bit of crumpet

[Vagabond]

It is some time since I last fished for carp, and I thought if I was going to catch one it might be nice to catch it by some unconventional means.

The bolt rig and boilie approach doesn’t appeal to me one bit, and I’ve had more than my share of carp on float tackle whilst after other species. Floaters are my preferred method, but I wanted to try something different from dog biscuits, floating pellets or pop-ups, marshmallows or floating crust. I’ve had carp on all of those.

So why not try something I have not heard of others using? Something that floats and yet is tough enough to stay on the hook?

With my afternoon tea came a crisp brown-toasted buttered crumpet on a china plate and there was the answer!

A quick test on the buoyancy and resistance to break-up of a piece of raw crumpet on a hook followed, and plans were laid for the field test the next morning. Travelling light (rod, reel, line, hook, forceps, mat, landing net and camera were all I carried) - some spare hooks and a packet of flavoured crumpets in one pocket completed the outfit.

Down to the Old Duck Decoy and a stealthy approach to the dam end. I chose a swim where the water was about three feet deep close to the bank, put my mat down, sat on it, and flipped a few bits in – “what could possibly resist free crumpet”, I asked myself.




I had flavoured two crumpets with Marmite, two with Bisto gravy, and left two unflavoured. I thought there might be a difference in the carps’ responses, but no, they ate them all! Carp were coming to the freebies within ten minutes of putting some in.

Out went a hook bait, all of six inches from the bank and after only five minutes…. CRASHSHSH ! as a carp gulped the bait, hooked itself and crash-dived all in the same instance. The fish went for the other side of the decoy at top speed, but I had set a light clutch for this first vigorous rush, and now began to progressively tighten it. This was a strong fish though, and gave an excellent account of itself before netting.



The commotion meant it was unlikely I would get another fish soon, so I moved swim. Four times the scenario was repeated as I caught another fish and moved on. There was one other angler fishing opposite, and after I had caught and moved on for the third time, he actually moved into the swim I had just vacated!

“Fishing with crumpet” was a first for me, as I had not used it before, and like any new bait, there are things to learn and improvements to make. I did find that when wet it tended to break up if carp nosed and blew at the bait, so will look to make it a bit more waterproof next time with a bi’o’bu’er.

[Catfish Virgin (Still!)]

Damn, I thought I'd kept that little dodge to myself!

Raw and toasted crumpet works (although toasted tend to break up a bit more quickly). Puffed Wheat, Sugar Puffs, Cheerios, cork balls, foam balls, shrink wrapped polystyrene have all caught (I used to experiment an awful lot!)

My favourite dodge with floating crust was to hook the crust as normal followed by a piece of flake around the hook shank. Once the carp had battered the crust to pieces the flake would sink with all the other bits...just wait for the line to tighten and hey presto...well, sometimes anyway!

Great report and what's more, all on a "proper" rod as well! Very jealous.

[Fishing Forum Admin]

Cracking read mate thanks

[KABBYCHRIS]

Well done, just goes to show that something different works. Keep up the experiments and let us know how they get on Cracking report.

[pingu]

cant beat a bit of moist crumpet

top read vagabond


dave

[BoldBear]

Nice when you find a good bait that not many around you have thought about using.
Great read.
In the mid 70s no-one seemed to use peeled Prawns (except salmon anglers who used whole prawns) and I used to catch some huge Chub on them when others struggled, nowerdays everyone seems to use them.

By the way; excuse my ignorance but what is a bi’o’bu’er?

I did find that when wet it tended to break up if carp nosed and blew at the bait, so will look to make it a bit more waterproof next time with a bi’o’bu’er

[Vagabond]

Originally Posted by BoldBear

By the way; excuse my ignorance but what is a bi’o’bu’er?

Sussex for a bit of butter.

Those that have seen "The Last Tango in Paris" might draw more salicious comparisons.........