Holiday hauling – The tonne up trip

 

No doubt like many of us planning a trip abroad can take many weeks, if not months of preparation, with this years trip this was no exception!!

Upon the lads hearing of my previous success over the channel and my thoughts about booking for July conversations soon turned to ‘you should organise a social’!! Naturally having organised trips previously for others I knew then that trying to cater for a number of anglers was going to be a headache as indeed in previous socials managing individuals expectations can be a fruitless tasks not least as people tend to leave you to even bring along the kitchen sink!

What started, as a simple trip has now become a major mission with 10mates all jumping on the bandwagon and happily agreeing that this is going to happen but yes you got it, myself having to do the entire organising etc….  In the following few days the phone calls didn’t stop, one after the other with friends wanting a place on the social, but as yet the venue hadn’t even been agreed yet alone booked!!!

Fortunately with my previous experience a lake came to mind and whilst I shan’t name it for obvious reasons, those that know of my exploits will have a clear idea of the lakes in question. Numerous phone calls to the owners finally resulted in the venue finally being booked, price and numbers agreed, it was just down to getting people to commit by means of putting their hand in their pockets to confirm their place. Naturally as you would expect, this is the moment that sorts the boys from the men so to speak as to then get the usual excuses upon excuses as to why is not convenient at this time, yes excuse after excuse for one or two!! Foot down, two anglers unfortunately lost their places, as it was clear that whilst they had good intentions at the time, they couldn’t walk the walk!!!
The lake itself, is around 25 acres and without doubt is a jewel in the crown, only 2 and half hours from Calais situated in the Oise valley,

“I have personally had over 300 forties in just over two years along with numerous 50’s 60’s and even a 76lb”….

the lake is packed with features, bars, Gully’s, silt, drop offs and plateau’s margins and of course the buoys which define each of the swims.

 

Being French owned, It is drive and survive with basic Eco toilets and sheds in each swim for cooking and storing of equipment, with local supermarkets within a fifteen minute drive. Naturally this is not everyone’s cup of tea, but my view has always been to book lakes based on fish stocks, previous experience and recommendations, any deficiency in amenities etc can quickly be overcome by a trip to your local camping shop for mobile showers etc, yes you get the picture!!

 

Baits boats are a must on this water and having a feature finder is an invaluable aid in mapping out the likely areas to place rigs and set the traps. Fishing is often at range dependent on the time of year, wind direction, weather conditions and timing can be critical to success or failure! Personally for me, July would be a month that I would avoid mainly due to the increasing temperatures, long hot sunny days, high pressure and naturally the carps reluctance to feed given these conditions, this said many of the group agreed the date based on prior commitments elsewhere and many, rightly or wrongly, rather than looked upon this for not what it is, a fishing trip, treated this as a holiday or social excuse just to socialise irrespective of time of year!

 

In the lead up to the impending date, you can only imagine the number of conversations that took place with all booked on the trip. Particular discussions around equipment, preparation, bait etc were discussed to untold lengths based on previous experience and results, thus ensuring that those who paid attention hopefully would be sufficiently prepared for what could lay ahead.

 

I don’t know about others views but mine irrespective of group bookings or individual basis is to do my own homework on the venues I fish. Call it what you wish, but without doubt doing the groundwork without exception ensures you are set up to hopefully to reap the rewards that may lay ahead.  With social media, forums and blogs, it’s easy to locate this information and I’m shocked just at the number of conversations that I have had on various venues here and abroad where anglers just don’t prepare!! Frankly, I’m not surprised as too many anglers expect this to be handed on a plate and do nothing but whinge and complain when things don’t turnout in their favour!  How many times have you had a conversation with other capers that say the previous venue they fished was totally crap and then go in to slate it for all the wrong reasons! Probably in truth, it wasn’t the venue, stocks of fish etc, it’s probably more likely their ignorance or laziness to find out in advance of the best approach to the chosen venue. Considering the costs these days for a week’s session here or abroad, I find it incredible that these anglers are still in abundance!!

 

I’m the type of angler that leaves nothing to chance; I view my time in France as a means to exploit the potential to catch fish, big fish and fish in numbers! My set up, approach, bait type and quantities, yes I can go on, all ensue I’m there to catch fish!! Naturally it’s called fishing and not catching for a reason, as sometimes despite all you do and prepare for, there are occasions where ‘it just doesn’t happen’ this said how often do you change your approach, tactics etc, too induce takes or change your luck? Me personally I question everything, if it’s not working, try something different! Often a simple rig change, change of spot or indeed taking stock of the current situation can turn things around in your favour.

Without doubt, I’ll do this time and time again until it comes right, if in the event however, it doesn’t, at least I can go away knowing that it just wasn’t my time!! Don’t get me wrong; there have been a number of failing in the past and no doubt in the future too! That’s fishing!!

 

The experience level within our party was quite mixed with a number of the group used to fishing abroad and handling big fish, whilst a few needed to experience it first hand by themselves with support from others. To ensure fairness, a swim draw by individuals and swim took place this ensuring there was no preferential treatment given to either angler or swim!! Effectively whilst there were 5 double swims on the lake two each of the numbers were placed in a hat, which upon drawing determined both swim and partner for the week in hand! Naturally if individuals decided thereafter to change its in agreement with those involved!!

 

After what seems an age, the kick off date is upon us, delays at Dover and Folkestone lead to a frantic change of set off time and the phone goes mental with some of the group panicking as to whether we are going to meet the departure time for the train!! Several hours later, the journey proves relatively uneventful, just the usual border checks to go through and the vans randomly searched by yes you guessed, Mr bloody jobs worth who is hell bent on tipping out the entire contents of the van!! Only to say on you’re way and leaving you to frantically finding sum way of bundling everything back within the van without thought or logic!

 

With a slight delay on the train journey we were off arriving some 45 minutes later in France, no doubt all weary of the early start time. With a convoy of several vans all in tow the usual pit stops for those with a weak disposition to relieve their bladders was comical given that several no doubt had a few too many prior to leaving…ffs the bloody phone didn’t stop ringing with call after call, need a stop!! Got to stop! And Christ stopping now!!!

 

Arriving at the lake sum three hours later the previously freshen faced party resembled the aftermath of a stag party gone into meltdown with weary faces literally falling out of the vans in some cases! Clearly comical for those watching but without doubt painful in the extreme for one or two.

 

I can only imagine the look from other anglers who were departing as to what the hell had just descended upon them and no doubt thinking thank Christ we’re off!!!

 

A quick check with several Belgium lads still packing away indicated that several swims fished well within their week, the faces of one or two within our party was a picture as news of sum number of catches were had and going to the opposite end of the scale, sheer disappointment for those placed in the respective swims that for one reason or other fished poorly.

 

The group all agreed to locate to their swims and commence the set up for what hopefully was going to be a scream, both my m8 Jay and myself agreed upon setting up ourselves we would be around to help others who had not fished the venue prior and to give them a starting point on where best to locate and set the traps for the week ahead, sum naturally keen to wet a line went straight for cast out placing rigs in all major of locations, comically, I shan’t name the individual, but despite spending several prior hours tying up new rigs, line etc, yeah you get the picture! You could only hear a mouthful of B’s, C’s and W’s being herded across the lake as crack off after crack off resulted in all his hard work going to ruin in around 30 seconds flat!!

 

With my base camp set up, the first thought turned to a cold beer and a quick bite to eat!! Fatigue is now truly set in and quite frankly I’m bushed!! Despite this a quick catch up with those in need of help locating spots etc is completed and it’s back to my swim for a couple of hours rest bite prior to getting the rods sorted.

 

Despite good intentions of resting, my mind goes into ‘warp mode’ thus ensuring that I get no kip; despite prior preparation there is so much to do in the sense of bait preparation etc and also helping my partner with the tasks at hand.

 

Amazing really, despite spending weeks if not months discussing bait, equipment and tackle requirements, there is always one or two who for whatever reason just don’t take notice!! These are the type of anglers I previously eluded too earlier who thinks that it’s all going to come to them without putting in the effort in the first place, I cannot begin to describe my feelings on this and this is supposed to be a team effort to maximise fish on the bank!!

 

Frustration over, a number of rigs are tied, I use a simple approach favouring the blow back rig with a line aligner to help set the hook and provide a mean of anti eject. These are all tied to a size 4 hook, sharp as you can get them. The rig itself is based on a multi rig, where I can easily adjust the length of the hair to suit bait type and set up but also ensure that after every fish I can rapidly change the hook and get the rig back out onto the spot with the minimal time out the water, leads every time are drop off, and I have been putting vardis heavy duty clips to the test!  This is tied to a fluorocarbon snag leader, not only does this ensure that four 3 rod lengths are pinned to the deck, due to the mussel beds and step margins that can with a second result in a break and resulting in losing fish.

 

 

Bait wise, I feed heavy!! I’m fortunate enough to be with ‘mainline baits’ and bait quantity is not an issue if you place your order sufficiently in advance!! For this trip I have in excess of 170 kilos of Hybrid, pop-ups and wafters sling with the respective dips and glugs to play around with, additionally this is supplemented with 4 sacks of hemp, sack of mini tigers and two sacks of pellets!! Christ you might say, that can feed my lake for the whole year if not two!! Yes I agree, but then again on a lake that carp love bait and to hold them to have to feed them!! All too often this can mean the difference in catching huge numbers or a just a few!!! Have you seen what a 40-pound can eat within minutes, you will be shocked!! Imagine a shoal of 40 pounders can devour in minutes!!! Bloody frightening…. Boilie wise I never just take out of the bag and use. I have this thought process that being different from others on the bank gives me total confidence and I will always do something to them such as chops, half’s, gluts, etc etc. The first job is to chop 20 kilo of Hybrid into buckets and add the required bait soak or particle soak to them. I lightly cost them, give the bucket a good shake up and reapply accordingly until I’m happy that all of the chops are coated, I’ll do exactly the same to whole baits and then mix the buckets up with whole, chops and halves! I believe this makes one hell of a difference and enables you to switch bait presentation as required.  Fortunately whilst one company make a bait chopper, I favour one made for me by my good pal Jay, as one it’s longer and can accept more baits, the simple design ensures my hands don’t get sore and feel the pain of what’s available on the market.

 

Right lets get fishing!!  

 

My swim in question has numerous plateaus, drop offs, gullies and mussel beds out in front, you can fish at range or indeed closer in dependent on year and weather conditions, and naturally not ignoring the obvious signs of fish activity within the swim!! Whilst fishing four rods, I tend to favour two rods on one baited spot, with the other two rods in different areas to cover as much water as possible. I will chop and change according to the fishing situation but always without exception mark my lines accordingly. If bites come in certain areas within the swim I’ll often end up with 4 rods fishing ‘two’ spots to maximise takes but also to ensure that I can minimise the baited area. This allows for you to feed the swim and introduce a regular top up of bait following each run. For this lake it works particularly well and more often than not when you get it right multiple takes do occur on a frequent basis.

 

The weather naturally plays an important factor and can determine success or failure!! The start of the week whilst around 28 degrees has been consistent against the two previous week, although a pressure front moving in could be a turnaround needed, firstly to boost confidence and secondly get the fish moving. From the initial reports from the Belgium guys it was clear that my draw number in swim 1 failed miserably last week with only 4 fish banked for the week, and yes they were frequent anglers to the venue, naturally whilst this gave me concern, the weather change relayed those fears to some degree.

 

Sunday night and the week begins with the setting of the traps, fatigue without question has kicked in and I have no doubt that I have placed the traps half heartedly, my priority is to get me head down and recoup as previous sessions have taught me to sleep whenever possible!!

I use a bait boat with an echo and this allows me to place the rigs with accuracy onto the spots, once chosen I’ll send the boat out and place around 8 kilos of bait consisting of Bollie, hemp tigers etc per rod, this may seem initially heavy but depths in the swim and past experience has taught me that this is about right, this is done for all four rods ensuring the I have enough goodies within the areas to attract the carp. Bearing in mind also, that most lakes have so called nuisance species in the form of roach, Rudd, bream etc and believe me they can wipe out your baited areas in no time at all!  I’ll repeat this process both day and night, although I’ll often take my rods out of the swim during the day to allow the fish a free feed, gaining their confidence to come back later in the day or evening. Upon every take, I always feed more, however I tend to reduce the amount to around 1 kilo of boilie with 3 Kilo of particle per rod per take when the runs begin to come.

 

Given that the lake is primarily a night water, runs tend to come around 2 hours after sunset, I have learned by experience that if the rods are not producing takes I will reel in one or two rods at a time and replenish hook baits and again too up the swim, I truest believe when taking steps like this it not only introduces flavours and attractant back into the swim it also again rings the dinner bell once more, the number of times this has proved successful I have lost count, all I know is that it puts fish in the bank.

 

Given that I have already given you all a good insight as to what can be achieved with prior preparation, research and applying your own little tricks, one thing to remember is always be willing to change your approach if things aren’t going the way that you either expect or through others who are banking fish. One major learning curve I can give other than the research, is never be afraid to ask others on the bank what they are doing, you will be surprised that all anglers want to catch and help others along to catch also.

 

Into night one, the right hand rips with the one toner if the ATT and results in s mid thirty into the net, my partner in question out fm for the count. Weighed and put straight back without even a thought to a photo, I rebait and settle back into the bed chair, crocs just off and the bloody same rod is off again! Frantically rushing to the rod. What seemed moments later a scrapper thirty mirror grazes the net!

 

Two fish in probably 10 minutes feels me with confidence! Yet now I’m fully awake and tea and a fag are on the menu. In short Sunday night produced 7 takes to 6 fish and whilst none of them monsters that I prayed for it proved once again that my approach was working!

 

Now rather than bore you all with day by day catches which I’m sure you will switch off, if you haven’t done so already!! Here is a summary of the week in hand

 

Total of 83 takes to 72 carp 

1 x 60,  

3 x fifties to 58lb, 

5 x forties to 48lb,  

41 x 30’s 

Stacks of mid 20’s 

 

Now you’re probably say that hang about this was a social and yet you have failed to mention others within the group, yes you are correct!! This blog without question can run into many paragraphs of the trails and tribulations of all involved, what I can do is best summarise their results for you….

 

In total, out of ten anglers, no less than around 250 carp were caught for the week, this number excluded catfish, sturgeon and grass carp!!

 

No fewer than 5 of the team caught personal bests ranging from 40lb through to 75lb, with two 70’s being banked for the week.

All anglers caught which without exception made for a great social, although naturally some struggled to hit fish in multiple numbers!!

 

I dread to think what the total weight in carp caught that week, but it is estimated over 3 tonne to 10 anglers!! Now in my book, that is an exceptional weeks fishing!