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Carp Bivvies
I remember when I was a lad
At the risk of being called
a boring old whatsaname, when I was a lad,
I had a stall to sit on which was about the
size of a pocket handkerchief, all of my fishing
tackle fitted in a carrier bag and small rucksack,
and the only other thing to carry was my rod.
The whole lot fitted on my push bike, over
one handlebar, two for a night trip, with
the rod tied to the cross bar. After I had
been fishing for a few years I was bought
an umbrella for Xmas. I thought that this
was the height of luxury. No longer did I
have to sit in the rain or shelter under a
tree, I could carry on fishing whatever the
weather. Well, as long as it wasn't raining
too hard. Or too windy. Or too cold. And as
long as I could get the umbrella pole into
the ground, and it would stay there and not
blow away. The umbrella served its purpose
for years of course, but as I started to fish
more night sessions, I realised I needed something
better.
 Temporary
Measures
A couple
of storm poles and brolly side infill panels
were the first choice. Coupled with a nu-lock
brolly, which meant that the pole wasn't
stuck in the back of my head, I could get
right underneath it and stay dry. As long
as it wasn't windy. And as long as the tackle
stayed out in the rain. For a while I made
do by using the old brolly to keep the tackle
dry, but my swim began to look like a shanty
town and I needed a better solution.
Decision Time
Time for a bivvy. Easy, take a look in the
tackle shops, decide which one and buy it.
Ah! Not so easy, loads to choose from and
everyone recommends a different one. "Buy
a pop up bivvy, they are easy to assemble
in seconds and not too heavy or bulky".
"Buy a heavy bivvy, they are more robust
and won't blow away or rip". "Buy
a one man, they fit in most swims".
"Buy a two man, you'll have more room".
Stop. Enough advice. I need to see them
for myself.
Phone a Friend
There are two ways to
do this. One is to visit a few local waters
where there are plenty of anglers fishing
for the night. If they don't object, take
a look at their bivvies and ask what they
think of them. Also phone friends and ask
what they use. Alternatively, go to a large
tackle show room or fishing exhibition where
you can view as many different bivvies as
possible. Remember though, they will look
a lot different on the bank, and may be
a lot wetter and colder. Bivvies come in
every conceivable shape and size and you
must decide which one is right for you.
Consider the following points when choosing
a bivvy.
· Is it the right size
bivvy for me and all of my gear?
· Will it fit in the swims I intend
to fish?
· Is it tall or large enough for
me to sit upright in and move around in?
· Will it be warm enough in winter?
· Does it have a door which I can
get out of quickly?
· Does it have a sturdy frame which
will stand up to high winds?
· Will it be waterproof? Can water
get in at ground level?
· Is it easy to assemble or erect?
How long does it take?
· Is it light enough to carry?
· Will the groundsheet last?
· Will the zips and fittings last?
· Do I need a winter skin?
· Does it have a storm porch?
· Are any of these included in the
price?
· What type of pegs does it come
with?
· How many pegs will I need to secure
it?
· How small does it fold up?
· Will it fit in my rod bag and/or
car?
· What can I do if I am not happy
with it or if there is a problem with it?
· Can I obtain spare replacement
parts?
· Is a repair service offered?
I am sure I must have
missed a few out, but hopefully the above
points are food for thought and will make
you start thinking about the considerations
you need to make. If you can, do ask other
anglers what they are using and whether
they are happy with it. You will probably
get all sorts of mixed advice, but at least
they may highlight some of the good and
bad points of their particular model and
it may help you reach a decision. After
all, a bivvy is not a cheap addition to
your tackle, and getting wrong can be an
expensive and uncomfortable mistake.
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