Good Morning!
Carp Italy was a fantastic event. It was held at a venue in Gonzaga and there was a really good turn out. Apart from myself, Frank Warwick, Ardy VeltKamp and Pete Castle were also in attendance and the Dynamite Bait’s stand was incredibly busy. The boilies proved very popular, so much in fact that the sample dishes had to be refilled every hour as the baits kept disappearing into people’s bags! The new Rod Hutchinson Peach and Mango boilie seemed very desirable as did Terry’s Banana Nut Crunch offering. The most popular pop up seemed to be the new violet/purple Mulberry flavoured beauty. People just could not keep their hands off these!!
The calm before the storm!
Mick, Myself and Pete Castle.
The smellathon began!
Such was the busy nature of the show I did not have time to actually walk round the whole event. There were several halls and many stands and simply hoards of people. It was great to catch up with some of the old and new Italian friends that I have made over the last two years fishing around Europe. I managed to do my bit for Trakker each day and their small display in the Big Fish section was very impressive. They had interpreters available and it was great to be able to talk freely to potential customers about the displayed products, without the obvious language barrier!
Ardy with the Rod Pod Experts!!
I did have a chance to catch up with my good friend Daniele Palillo at the Nick ’95 stand where they had a very nice selection from the range of Meccanica Vadese rod pods. I think these pods have to be one of the best in Europe/World for their quality engineering, stability, durability and weight, and fantastic looks, and I certainly look forward to using mine later in the year. Cheers Guys!!
On Tuesday I drove North to have a look at my next venue. I went with my friend Emmanuele and the plan was to find a swim that offered shallow and deep water and a place that fishes well in the spring. On arriving at the lake with my inflatable and a petrol outboard motor we were surprised to see that the 1800 acre lake was frozen over. The ice looked quite thick in places and there was no way we could launch the boat. It wasn’t a completely wasted exercise as it saved me a disappointing trip with all my equipment in a few days time. possibly have also found myself a very secure place to park my van and trailer when I am able to fish the lake in a couple of weeks time. Sometimes trying to find out information like this can save you valuable time in the future, rather than flapping and stressing after you have unloaded all your equipment and you then can’t find anywhere safe to park for the duration of your trip. I think there is nothing worse than fishing a long session when you are constantly worrying about whether your van is still there or it has a broken window from a vandal/thief.
Oh Dear!!
Fortunately I have a back-up plan!
I have decided that as a back-up I am going to go and fish the river Po for approximately ten days to a couple of weeks. The plan is to leave after the weekend and drive the 3-400km required to reach the area I plan to fish. I spoke to a friend at Carp Italy who has been fishing there since the New Year and he has had some success taking carp to 21kg. I also asked him which he would rather fish at the moment, my frozen lake of choice or the Po…he laughed at me and said I was crazy and answered with the Po!!
The weather in Italy is still quite severe and more snow is forecast in this region in the next 24 hours. The Po is further south however and although this does not guarantee warmer weather at this time of year, it may be slightly more comfortable fishing conditions and there will certainly be more chance of banking a carp.
See you soon.
Jake and the dogs.
Tags: Ardy VeltKamp, boilies, Carp Italy, Dynamite Baits, Frank Warwick, jake langley-hobbs, Meccanica Vadese, Pete Castle, River Po, trakker
February 11, 2010 at 3:32 pm |
Hi jeke i’massimo
February 11, 2010 at 3:32 pm |
Jake,scuse me but my english is not very good, was a pleasure to’ talk with you ans Massimo at the Carpitaly in saturday morning.WiLl not fail to’ meet ypu ehen in june or kilt you fishing un my and Massimo beat water in Bolsena. I gole that you register a nick in my forum of Black Carp Arezzo to talk with you to Carpfishing http://blackcarp.forumcommunity.net/
February 11, 2010 at 4:44 pm |
Hi Andrea/Massimo.
Great to meet you both. I don’t join forums unfortunately. I just don’t have the time. I have my own website and that is enough for me with my schedule, otherwise I would never be off the computer. I will see you at Bolsena later in the year.
Cheers
Jake
February 11, 2010 at 6:16 pm |
Hey Jake your Back!!?!
Have missed the blogs mate..Good to hear the show went well, but not so good about the new venue. Im glad you have a back up plan and am looking forward t reading the next installment….
Regards
Geoff
February 13, 2010 at 5:58 am |
Yeah I am back Geoff!
I made the decision not to write the blog when I am not fishing as it just does not have the same im pact and I dont enjoy it so much. I am eager to get river Po fishing next week and I think it could be a wise choice for the time being. I have to budget everything and the drive is the cost factor but I have always dreamed of fishing the Po and now I have the chance to do it. There are monsters in there, they are very spread out, but I am due a biggie. Wait and see eh!!
Jake
February 11, 2010 at 7:47 pm |
Hey Jake good to hear from you.
Shame about the new lake but hey spring is on the way. Hope you manage to get some blog out about the river looking forward to it cheers.
All the best
george
February 13, 2010 at 5:55 am |
Hey George.
I have to admit I have been enjoying the Italian way and although I am still keen to cast a line, I fully understand that a good plan has to be put into operation. The river po seems a good bet, it is a long drive but I will try for a couple of weeks to fill in before returning to the frozen lake for my intended long session. Tell your wife that I love the Italian way of life and I have fitted in perfectly! I have to keep reminding myself why I am here – to catch carp and not girls and I will hopefully have some fishy news on the blog next week!!
Cheers
Jake and the dogs
February 11, 2010 at 8:02 pm |
Jake,
it was a pleasure for me to meet you and shake hands: we saw saturday in trakker zone and now here i am following your blog again as promise!
The weather this year is much more cold than usual…but river PO could make you a big (common) present!
Good luck!
Cheers, Francesco.
February 13, 2010 at 5:50 am |
Francesco.
It was a plaesure to meet you ate the Trakker stand. You are right, it is cold at the moment in Italy but I think the Po could be very good.
The blog begins next week…log in and follow me and the dogs.
Cheers
February 12, 2010 at 10:42 pm |
Good to be reading your blog again.Good luck on the Po
I think it is wise to fish a river because of the flow it will keep
the fish on the move and hungre.
Good luck and have a lump out soon.
ps How are the doggies doing ?
February 13, 2010 at 5:48 am |
Hi Franky.
I have had a little break after my winter session and I am now ready to go river fishing! I plan to return to the lake that was frozen afterwards and continue with my plans but fortunately my back up plan might produce a carp or five!
The dogs are well and also refreshed and ready to go.
Cheers Jake
February 13, 2010 at 12:18 am |
Hi Jake
You is my hero. I loves the blog and knowing you is lookin for the Big one in that there lake. You tells that fish when you find its that Pedro will be coming after it too.
Happy hunting my friend x
February 13, 2010 at 5:46 am |
Thank you Pedro!
I am resuming the fishing next week…read the blog and follow my progress.
Jake & the dogs
February 13, 2010 at 1:19 pm |
Hello Jake good luck for the next great adventure in the great Po’s river, but I’ll try the river for next 2/3 months in river Arno’s dams will be a pleasure to exchange some views with you on the river near future now that I follow your blog frequently.
Whenever possible I’ll keep you updated on the conditions and catches of the great Bolsena’s lake.
Hello Jake & dogs
Andrea
February 14, 2010 at 5:54 pm |
Glad you enjoyed the Carp Show……………………….now get some lines in the water mate lol.
Fishing here in Germany is a no go at the moment, due to the ice, trying to get on Tetrer/Rue in Belgium for the first comp of the year, but bad news this morning…………..it’s frozen! Oh well it has 2 weeks to defrost. Dee and another lad are on Gigantica this week, weather there looks bloody cold at the mo, so hopefully they are baiting up for us on the 6th of March. Now get fishing my man and get a mahoosive Po common!
Big lick to the dogs mate.
February 14, 2010 at 8:42 pm |
the show looks to have been superb, it was a shame that it was so close to the one in NL ( Zwolle) as I understood from some of the stands that the lads had to split their resources 50:50 to cover both.
All the lakes still largely frozen here in NL and it has been snowing all day. Roll on spring
Good luck on the river Po !
February 15, 2010 at 6:38 pm |
Bring on the PO!