Good Afternoon Everyone.
The events in Haiti are very tragic and it puts the fact I have not yet caught a carp into little significance. My life may be very simple, yet for most of these Haiti folk, their homes have been wiped out, many lives have been lost and it will takes months, if not years, for normal life to resume. Tonight’s post is dedicated to anyone affected by the terrible earthquake in Haiti.
No carp...no problem!!
It has to be said that I generally don’t look at news or events that take place around the world. I have internet access and it is possible to look each day but as a carp angler I try to stay focussed on what is happening around me and I might look at the weather from time to time. I am not really interested in the latest goings on between Peter Andre and Katie Price nor am I interested in the soaring crime rate in the UK. It was good to hear that Martin Lockes’ remarkeable Rainbow Lake 94lb World Record mirror carp made the news headlines and it finally seems that the press have got their priorities right at last!! Well done Martin. I mentioned this to someone earlier and I am so pleased he now holds the record and not a first timer to Rainbow. Martin fishes there religiously and if anyone deserves the World Record – he does.
Peach Iced Tea...great for a relaxing drink!
The all important Italian coffee maker!
Last night I was so tired that I decided not to write a blog. It would have been short and probably rather dull and I don’t want to write just for the sake of it. I learnt a lesson at the river in October and that was this: I have to look after myself and in Italy I am eating very well and getting plenty of sleep. I am not going to let the carp beat me up again and if I decide I need a night off and a good night’s sleep, then that is what I shall get. It is quite often nights like these that produce a run as you are least expecting one but it did not happen.
The reason for my tiredness was due to the fact that yesterday I spent a couple of hours out in the boat looking for a new spot. I eventually found a nice looking area that slopes away gradually off a shallow plateau area. I placed a bait carefully on this slope and returned to place the rod on its rests. It is my longest range rod and is about 300m from shore to the drop. One other thing I did yesterday was I upped the quantity of bait slightly. Now this is normally not something I would do in the depths of winter but I have been watching the birdlife and I have been thinking about the small fish activity. The occasional bird has been diving down and scoffing my baits, as I saw them through my binoculars, plus what if the small fish are eating everything else I put down. For this reason I put a kilo or so over each rod’s position and I am confident that enough of this will last for a carp to find some. I suppose the problem when you are not catching is you start thinking, am I doing anything wrong, should I move my rods, should I put in more bait/less bait etc… I do have to resign myself to the fact that it is winter carping and it will be a waiting game without a doubt.
Now we are talking!!
Enough wood for a few night's warmth.
The essential small stuff...
The all important chair!!
The fire is restored and burning.
My friend Gerry delivered his chainsaw to me last night. Today I got busy cutting and I now have a log pile to be proud of. There was a dead fallen tree about fifty yards from my swim so half an hour’s careful cutting soon had this chopped and sorted. I do have some chainsaw skills as I used to own one in England and I wear eye protection and I am extremely respectful of the obvious dangers. The upside of my hard work is I now have about a fortnight’s supply of wood. Last night was the first night I did not have a fire and I was rather lost without it!
A shovel is handy!
....as are this pair!
What essential tools should you take with you on a big trip? A shovel is always handy, as is a bowsaw, an axe, some grips, a good knife, a club hammer and whatever else you like the look of! My style of fishing is more than just catching carp. I live on the bank, it becomes my home, and I like to make it a good place to be. I have turned my style of fishing into a lifestyle and it might not be everyone’s cup of tea but the dogs and I certainly love it. I am not completely self-sufficient as I have to buy food and get fresh water, I need fuel for my cooker and the dogs need their food; apart from that I am almost there! Friends play their part too and it is great to know that I have some locally that will help where they can. My leisure battery I use to charge my laptop has just dropped below the required voltage to run my inverter for the first time since I started writing the blog this session. That is not bad really for almost three weeks blogging and the reason it has dropped in voltage is down to the lack of sun today. My solar panels work very well but sun is an important factor. Fortunately I have back up batteries and it gives the other one a chance to recharge.
Charley is herself again...having a good sniff!
The weather in this region is about to get very cold again. The temperature in the day is about 2 degrees and at night it is about minus 4. Snow is forecast next week but that is a long way off and things could change. On a positive note a fat carp in the crisp snow is the obvious target!
A solution to my bait issue.
I did a quick check on one of my shrink tubed baits yesterday. They look okay and I will stick with these for the time being. I have tried pop ups but with no success. I am tipping my hookbaits with some plastic colour to try to attract a carp and I have different colours on two rods. I could get a take at any moment so that keeps me going and the fact that big carp still need to eat, is my main focal point. I am fishing, a big carp is my target and you have to have a bait in the water to stand a chance!
Shortened landing net at the ready!
It is time to start thinking about my evening meal. I will be back tomorrow with a new post and more news from Italy.
Cheers
Jake and the dogs.
