Every year, anglers from all over Europe and the UK travel in their pursuit of carp, with some even heading to the USA in search of new challenges. It can be a daunting prospect traveling hundreds, if not thousands of miles to try and catch fish but it needn't be, and the fresh perspective and different style of fishing can be the breathe of fresh air your angling has been craving!
We asked carp ace Rob Hughes about how he manages to catch carp from all over the world, drawing on his experience from both for his own personal fishing and once managing the England Carp Team in competition, to help you catch more holiday carp!
Whether you’re a hardened Continental carper or a French first-timer, there are some amazing venues overseas that offer some incredible fishing. These trips offer something completely different, and give us something really special to look forward to. I’ve been lucky enough to go on plenty of “trips of a lifetime” and they’re all very achievable.
One of the key things you must do, though, is make sure you know where you’re going and be equipped for that venue. Some things are easily found out before you go, and you can fail before you’re across the Channel if you don’t have with you what you need, and that goes for skills too.
MAKE SURE YOU HAVE EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO GO NIGHT FISHING WITH OUR HELPFUL GUIDE.
Open your mind!
Don’t treat any of these venues as easy, as very often they’re not, they just happen to hold bigger fish. If anything, these are some of the most pressured fish in the world, being fished for every day, month after month, year after year so fishing the same as everyone else will get you the same results.
While preconceived ideas about swims, baiting strategies, and tactics can be useful, they can also work against you. So, don’t put all your eggs in one basket right at the start of your stay, it can work much better to feel your way in or do something completely different to the norm to catch the carp unaware!
WHY NOT TRY THESE FORGOTTEN TACTICS TO HELP FOOL EVEN THE WARIEST OF CARP!
Fish to your strengths
If you’re booking a venue for the first time, choose one that suits your strengths as an angler. If you can’t cast particularly far, there’s little point in heading to a venue where the fish hold at range unless you own and can use a bait boat.
Alternatively, if you’ve been invited on a trip to a lake that requires long-range fishing, learn before you go, not at the venue. With such a wide variety of venues across Europe, finding one that allows you to fish in your preferred style while giving you a realistic chance of catching carp is more than possible!
THE BEST CARP RODS ARE DESIGNED TO HELP YOU HIT DISTANCES WELL OVER 100 YARDS.
Listen to the owner
Very often, the owner or bailiffs will be present at the start of your trip, offering continued support throughout your stay. They want you to catch, believe me, so don’t be afraid to ask for hints or specific spots that might be worth investigating. Don’t let your ego get in the way, you’re usually there for a week, but they’re there every day, so it makes sense to get a head start by using their knowledge.
IF YOU STRUGGLE TO FIND SPOTS TO FISH ON, THIS HELPFUL GUIDE IS FOR YOU!
Temper your expectations
While we all dream of a proper tear up catching loads of big fish, that very often isn’t how it goes. Depending on your swim choice, landing just one or two fish might be a great result and so it’s much better to set yourself a realistic target when you’re set up and fishing. Don’t overdo it either, if you go in expecting ten 50-pounders, you may well end up disappointed.
THE BEST FISHING BEDCHAIRS ARE ESSENTIAL FOR STAYING COMFORTABLE DURING LONGER SESSIONS!
Always give yourself options
You never know how the lake will respond to bait or tactics in any given week, so give yourself the option to make changes. It’s easy to fall into the trap of setting up, putting out a load of bait into the swim, and waiting, but I guarantee that’s what 99% of other anglers have done before your visit, you may even be putting bait on top of their bait!
Fishing with singles can be highly effective, as carp are far less used to seeing individual baits while travelling around the lake and will often pick them up with confidence. You can always add more bait if others start catching, but a more cautious approach usually wins! Also, always remember to bring a tin of tiger nuts—trust me, they often save the session!
THE BEST CARP REELS DON'T NEED TO COST A FORTUNE AS OUR BUYER'S GUIDE PROVES!
