| Archive for Carp Addict Forum Carp Addict Magazine - For the serious Angler. |
| Mac |
CA Interview......................CARPIOLEADSFolks, following our interview with Viv Shears we now have another from our site suppoerters, this time it's the turn of Carpioleads.Thanks for taking the time 
1) How long has Carpioleads been running? Is it a full time occupation? Carpioleads has been running approx 3yrs, yes its a fulltime occupation, I started Carpioleads because I was sick of paying silly prices for leads, at the time I was fishing a very weedy water and losing quite a few leads which started to get expensive, I started off just doing backleads and then distance and dumpies for me and my friends. Word got around through friends and before I knew it I was overloaded with orders, that is when carpioleads took off.
2) You obviously think the lead is an important set up, but how important do you think lead choice is? Do you think carp spook off of leads? I think a lead choice is important depending on the angling pressure, as for spooking off leads well again I would say it was down to the venue, I often use uncoated leads,personally I am a idle angler but also I'm confident in uncoated as once they have been in the water a while they are virtually invisible. 
3) Which is your best selling lead? Without a doubt the silkweed leads, I think they sell best because they are totally different to anything else around at the minute, they are probably the best leads around for absorbing glug too, they are definatly almost invisible in weed too. 
4) Do you think leads will ever be banned because of the material(like lead shot is) Do you have any plans in place for when/if it happens? I think lead will be banned eventually and yes i do have plans for a replacement, i will use steel and machine it once coated it wont matter about the fact that it rusts as it will be encased in plastic.
It will limit the types I can manufactuer but anglers will use them as I think supplies of anything different will be very limited I will still do the silkweeds though. 
5) What do you think of the new Glass leads? In short "terrible"they magnify everything underneath them and are too bulky and a extortionate price 
The idea itsself is brilliant but needs some work. 
6) Lead can be very harmful to humans. what measures do you take to protect your self and staff against lead poisoning. Can you talk us through the beginning to the end of producing a lead. I do these alone so it only applies to me, good ventilation, gloves and masks.
The process of making a lead from start to finish as follows: You start by melting the lead using a large pot and a propane burner, once the lead has melted the mould is warmed up to ensure they mould correctly. Insert a loop with a swivel attached into the 2 grooves in the mould and place the 2 halves together using a suitable clamp, pour the lead using a lipped ladel into the mould, the lead will set immediatly this part of the process is complete, you then need to cut off the part that was used to mould the lead. To coat the lead you need to heat up the lead in a flame, not too much so it melts though, it takes practice to do it quickly but if its not hot enough it dont matter as you can reheat it, once hot enough, dip into a plastic powder of your choice and put back into the flame to melt it on, drop into water and away you go.
7) How often do you get to fish yourself? I probably fish around half a dozen times a year due to making leads. Normally twice in France and the rest in Wales for weekends. I would like to go much more but when i have a lot of orders i find they are more important. I'll go more when im a millionaire...lol. 
8) What's your opinion on the "dumping the lead" theory, do you think in years in could pose a problem in some of our waters? Dumping the lead is good for business But i can see it causing problems to certain lakes in the long term, as was mentioned in a previous question, lead is a poisonous material, when a lake has thousands of them lying around on the bottom it must cause a reaction in the long term.
9) Do you think "global warming" is having a dramatic effect upon fishing today? Definatly, tempratures, flooding etc, I think that something needs doing to help the situation but most countries couldnt careless. 
Tackle manufacturers make me laugh, you buy some backleads and they are in a thick plastic packet, whats the point?  They get thrown into a dirty lake or river, same with most other items too, they are not alone, most things you buy are packed the same
You dont get that from me, they are in a bag and packed in a box.
10) If you could bring something from fishings past, into fishing today. What would it be and why? SBS strawberry jam flavour, awesome fish catcher, I think they still do it but its not the same.
11) 1 rig, 1 bait, 1 water which one and why? Combi rig,Tiger nuts, linch hills christchurch lake, because its the only uk venue ive caught 30s from and my P.B 32-08 mirror and 31-09 common
France common 43-02 
mirror 45-06 
12)Does the internet have a positive affect on carping? Does it help your business? The internet is the only place i advertise so yes it has helped no end. If the internet ended then I think it would affect my business but on the otherhand I have got reasonably well known so I would still have orders. I would advertise in mags and put flyers out to fisheries. 13) Would you ever consider joining a carping group? If so which one and why? If you are in one which one and why? The carp society, because they have some good waters inc horseshoe lake I have never really thought about joining groups as I cant fish enough. I keep up on whats happening in the carp world but apart from that im pretty much out of touch with things. 14) How would you go about convincing an anti that fishing is good for the environment and a worthwhile past time? I would tell them that with all the trouble with youngsters these days all the knife crime etc that fishing would be good to keep them off the streets and hopefully out of trouble, also it helps people to be at home with the countryside. 15) What, in fishing, has given you the most satisfaction? Running a business making cheap leads to help anglers out. NON FISHING 1) What's your favourite meal? Chicken curry. 2) Is allowing the pubs to open 24 hours a day a good or bad idea? I dont drink but i think its a bad idea, especially for the younger generation. 3) Should this Country bring back the death penalty? If so, for what crimes? Yes without doubt murder peadophilia rape extreme animal cruelty 4) You can have 5 people to a dinner party (alive or dead) who would you want to invite? Ozzy Osbourne, Princess Diana, Hitler, Catherine Zeta Jones, Terry Hearn. 5) What do you think of euthanasia? For or against, why? I am all for it, I think people who are very ill and in pain or have extreme disabilities should have the choice to end it. To visit Carpioleads web site have a look here http://www.freewebs.com/carpioleads/ |
| mungo |
great read that , thanks guys
might have to put an order in soon as i lose the lead on every take , unfortunatly that equates to about 5 leads a year 
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| Mac |
Few pics added of the PB's now folks 
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