Hi Folks.

I am chomping at the bit at the moment and am desperate to go fishing, but unfortunately it is not as simple as just throwing my gear in the back of the van and driving to the river Po with my boat. I have organised with a friend to go to a certain area that he knows and sadly now this is not happening till Monday. On speaking with a few Italian anglers I know you do have be rather careful on parts of this river if you are not a ‘local’ in the actual stretch you choose to fish; as if you happen to fish someone elses patch or a swim that someone else has been prebaiting for example – you could return to your van/vehicle after your session and find no windows, no wheels or a completely burnt out vehicle and I am not joking either! I have been given these wise words of advice by people who fish the Po. It is sometimes a case of knowing someone who can ensure you are introduced to the right people and they will make sure that nothing untoward happens whilst you fish.It all sounds rather cloak and dagger and I am sure it is not as bad as it sounds but without my van and trailer I would be stuffed as I am sure you all appreciate! I can’t afford to take any chances.

In the mean time I have called someone else I know and we are trying to find somewhere else to fish for a few days. The absence of fishing is starting to do my head in; I need to catch a carp, I need to get the rods out, I need to write the blog. Can you feel my frustration? Part of me now wishes I was set up in Aviron at Cassien!! However, I am thoroughly enjoying Italy and I am really positive that the silver lining to my cloud is close by – I just need to fish in order to find it!

Please be patient for a little while longer.

Jake and the dogs.

Latest Update.

The van is now loaded up and I am off tomorrow morning, nice and early, to look at two small lakes not too far from where I am currently based. I will fish at one of them till the Po happens next week.

A final update for the day

It is now 21.30pm Italian time. I have just been out for a few evening tipples with my new friends, as tomorrow I leave for a couple of weeks fishing. Such is the hospitality of the Italians, they felt it was only right to throw a small party as I am leaving for a short while. I joked with them that if the lake wasn’t up to much, would they throw a party if I returned tomorrow evening – to which they replied: “Yes Jake, of course!”

Joking aside, I am very excited about the prospect of leaving tomorrow morning to meet my friend Nicholas at a secret location, not too far away. I will fish for a few days at either one of the two lakes, and then on Sunday I shall depart and drive to meet my good friend Danilo, to fish at the Po for a week or so, or until my bait and food supllies runs out. I have about 100kg of boilies on board and about 30kg of pellet, and although I don’t expect to use too much at the lake, with river fishing you can never quite tell how much you might need. The plan when I return from the Po is to revert back to my original plan and go and fish the big lake that was frozen over when I looked at it earlier this week. Then a real long spring session will begin and as “Time Brings Fish” I am sure I will catch plenty!!

Catch you all tomorrow evening.

Jake and the dogs!