Good Afternoon.
After a stroll along the shoreline and through the tree-lined banks, I stumbled across a cool and shady spot, set back in the cover of the forest. It seems a perfect place for a final session to end the Italian Job. My dogs seemed to like it too, and whilst we sat and stared out at the expanse of water, that contains many leviathans to do battle with, we suffered no bites from the tigers, and suddenly the excitement levels hit an all time high. Now I am buzzing about the prospect, and the buzzing is thankfully not the whining sound in my ear from a nasty mossie; it is from the prospect of possibly ending the Italian Job with a large carp or two. I am not finished yet it seems.
I am now off to the shops to get some supplies for my final session. As usual the blog won’t begin until I am set up and fishing, so fear not – there is still more tales to come from the big carp hunter!
Other good news just in…my ‘lost’ Colossus bivvy is actually sat in a warehouse thirty miles away. I will finally have my Colossus for my final session – is it a good omen?
Keep tuning in…
Jake and the dogs!
Tags: Colossus, jake langley-hobbs
July 1, 2010 at 3:49 pm |
Hi Jake,
Just thought I would you let you know I broke my duck with catching a 40lb 12oz common from Tertre in Belgium. Hope all is well.
July 1, 2010 at 3:54 pm |
Cracking…would have loved to have been there for those celebrations….I bet your head hurt the next day…!!!
Jake
July 1, 2010 at 7:23 pm |
Sounds nice, you’ll hopefully be leaving Italy on a good note!
I think Spains going to be quite a challenge, but nothing you can’t handle.
Do you know what regions you’ll be fishing yet?
I got back from Andalucia a couple of weeks ago and had permit problems that buggered my all but too short stay. Although I’d got all the correct permits and insurance etc. and was fishing on public lakes the Medio Ambiente bayliffs then told me that I had to go to the local angling federation and get permission to fish on a certain day of the week! And with that in place I could only fish the lake one day a week and a different lake another day!!
By the way, the bayliffs and other fishermen only ever appeared on Sundays
Just a word to the wise – you can never do too much preparation!
Not much cover on most of the lakes I fished. My nose and forehead burnt and peeled after just one day in early May (with a brolly up)!
Your idea of just fishing the early hours certainly makes alot of sense.
Anyway mate, good luck in your new spot. Let hope that you and the dogs are comfortable and that bigguns just a cast or two away.
Martyn
July 2, 2010 at 9:00 am |
Hi Martyn.
I am making the pilgrimege down to Extremedura to have a crack at the big resevoirs etc…I have a few contacts down there, and am just going to see what happens to be honest. Apart from the big reservoirs there is lots of other water to angle at and whilst I am there I will probably have a crack at a few other species like the thirty plus barbel!!!
Whether I finish with a really big fish in Italy, or not, I will still leave with a smile on my face. It has been an incredible six months of my life, I have caught plenty of commons (!!!), had lots of laughs, met some good folk, and I will return…one day!!
As for Spain I fancy doing plenty of investigating/pre-baiting of swims, and quick and sneaky, in and out sessions. Firstly I will need to find access to the lakes! I know this can be the trickiest part…I plan to buy a mountain bike and will do plenty of riding to work things out myself, rather than using the guides. Guides are for folk with limited time to speed up the whole fishing process. If I only had a week I would certainly use them, but I think I will enjoy sussing it all out myself.
It is a long way off…well a few months anyway, and I hope you will return to follow the adventures!!
ATB
Jake
July 1, 2010 at 10:19 pm |
I know what you are going through. Last summer my swim choice was largely dictated by shade. Tried to just tough it out once and realised that I couldnt carry enough water to cover the needs. Far better to at least enjoy where you are and spare the dogs. I hope you realise that many of us follow this blog not for the carp but for charly and flash’s appearances
July 2, 2010 at 9:15 am |
I am sure you have realised too, that my two companions are the most valuable members of the whole operation. Without them…I am nothing!
The choice for the last lake was simple..a good shady spot or end Italy. The good news is plenty of fish have been heard on that part of the lake, similar to when I fished there a couple of years ago, and it does seem to be on the carp’s patrol route. I will make sure there are plenty of dog pics, as well as a few carp pics, for the final Italian chapter!!
Cheers
Jake and the dogs!
July 2, 2010 at 8:11 am |
Morning Jake
Its been over 40 degrees here in this part of France so I wont go out in it as its just not worth boiling up inside a bivvy and besides the fish just sunbathe anyway.
If you are in any of the areas my web site has these 3 waters at your disposal. Lago Lungo is the best option and has fish to nearly 60lb.
Bracciano Lake Lazio
Lago Lungo Umbrio
Lago d’ Castel SanVincenzo Molice
Incidently which reels are you using and are they any good?
All the best
Richard Scarsbrook
July 2, 2010 at 9:22 am |
I think every single public lake in Italy has at least one carp in it to 60lbs Richard! Reels…Big Baitrunners…been using them for over two years, and apart from one of them which the baitrunner function has to be flicked off manually, they are still going strong. As for the one that got stolen, I hope that one has packed up!!
I remember 40 degrees in France at Gigantica…Tree line swim weather!!
Cheers