Angling Lines Blog

I found a really informative set of posts on the Fox Blog today. The series of four pieces called “Safety Zone” by Stéphane Hanff offers some really useful information about Carp Fishing safety that is relevant to both UK and Continental fishing.

The piece that caught my eye was the article on SAFE AND EFFECTIVE RIGS.

Reading this I find myself agreeing with most of what is written. I find the pattern of long shank hook very effective indeed, and have used it with great success, both with a bottom bait and a pop up presentation. I find it gives a secure hookhold also and I agree absolutely that this is the key to minimum mouth damage.

continue reading…

When I first started out carp fishing in the late 70’s, most of today’s gear didn’t exist, I used to walk around the lake with every bit of carp gear I owned in a green army surplus rucksack, with my rods & brolly in a roll-up holdall and a sun-lounger to sit & sleep on. If I planned to stay a night I’d add a blanket. How things have changed these days! I see guys bringing so much gear if defies belief. 

I spend a lot of my time travelling around France. Every summer I’m out on the road shooting the lake videos for three months or so solid. The amount of gear I have to cart around both photographic and fishing is ridiculous. Over the last couple of years I have made a concerted effort to reduce the amount of fishing tackle I take with me. It all started when I had to go to the Canaries to fish on Lake Chira. I hadn’t planed to night fish, and my rods & landing net were supplied

As many people will know your luggage weight is severely restricted, so with my clothes and personal effects, I basically had room for my tackle box, two reels, two buzzers, a light pod and a couple of kilos of bait. When you actually do a stock check and look at what we take fishing, you soon realise that you don’t use half of it. The Chira trip saw me catch fish to over 30lb on next to no gear at all.

So what have I done to take less with me but still be operational? continue reading…

February & March can be unpredictable months for the fishing in France. Some anglers feel the weathers too dodgy to warrant spending hard earned cash and risk blanking.

But February bookings this year have had some great results – 1 angler caught around 30 carp at Vaux the first week of February and we’ve a couple of anglers on Grosley at the moment having a great session, including 2 x 30’s.

With the weather forecasters already predicting a mild latter half of February & early March, it’s very much worth taking a look to see what’s available.

Regards, Bridget

As carp fishing gets ever more popular each year so more anglers look to Europe for their fishing and in particular – France. Most of the waters in the UK which hold fish over 35lb are either exclusive syndicate waters or cost a small fortune to fish. France then, can offer the chance of large carp for everybody.

A word of caution however, not all French lakes hold giant carp, many struggle to produce a 20 and they are not all easy either. The photos in the UK Carp Magazines give the false impression that you just have to turn up and cast out and you’ll haul in 40 pounders, this just isn’t the case.

So how does you go about booking that first trip to France or Spain?

All Inclusive Organised Trips;

For the less adventurous or for those with limited time, Organised trips are a good place to start. These are basically divided into two categories the All-inclusive and the Guided trips. The former will generally pick you up in the UK, usually at a ferry port, and transport you to a private day ticket water. They will also supply your food and bait as well.

These are the simplest options, as everything is taken care of; all you have to do is concentrate on your fishing. Once you step aboard the coach you can sit back and enjoy your week without having to worry about a thing.  They offer a fun and convivial way to go on holiday, and if you go with a group of friends they can be extremely enjoyable. Eating together and sharing in the capture of the fish throughout the week is a fantastic experience. Certain anglers enjoy it so much they often come back year after year.

Using a Booking Agent; continue reading…

Choosing the Type and Quantity of Bait for a Carp Fishing trip to France…

I get asked the question on a regular basis, “I’m going to France, what sort, and how much bait should I take ? ”

Which Bait should I take?
The first thing to decide is which boilie you want to take and go with that. I’ve never been one to chop and change. I like to pick a proven carp catcher and stick with it. I don’t necessarily believe the claims of some lakes, Oh if you’re not on such-and-such a bait you won’t catch! My advice is to take a bait you know works and you have confidence in. I wouldn’t say don’t enquire about which bait has been doing well, but I wouldn’t rely solely on that info. continue reading…