I am sat eating my lunch having just returned from walking my dog! I often take Flash in my Navara to an area with a dusty track that leads out into the open countryside. It’s a three-minute drive, and then we can walk for an hour if need be, depending on the time of day, and the burning heat of course.

He loves his bed, but loves a walk too!

The Spanish have a rather unique and direct way of describing the weather. Different regions have different accents and language patterns, but in my village it is either said as: “Que calor!” or “Que frio!” They translate to: that heat, or that cold!

The Spanish really don’t beat around the bush when it comes to their language, whereas the English like to add extra, and quite often unnecessary words into their conversation. For example: “Isn’t is hot today?” Or “The party last night was very good!” The Spanish would simply describe a similar situation as “Que bueno!”

The longer I live in Spain, the more I begin to understand about their language, and it’s beginning to make much more sense in all honesty. Is there really any need for idle chit-chat after all? Just say what you mean in a few words and be done with it!

The temperature has really climbed in the last week. It was 37 C at Sierra Brava at the weekend and 41 C in Andalucia! This kind of heat can quickly reduce water levels, and on my walk there are a few small ponds, or man-made watering holes for grazing cattle. There are two just on the outskirts of my village, and amazingly they both hold carp. The fact the larger of the two holds carp is not so surprising, but the second tiny one beggars belief really! I don’t know if an angler added some from Sierra Brava, but I spotted a carp that must be upper-double size last year, and I spotted him again just yesterday, along with a few other scamps.

Low water levels at the drinking hole.

Normally the water level is a good metre higher than what it is now, and with the very hot weather that is imminent, I can see this watering hole drying up over the summer. I can see the carp perishing as oxygen levels decrease, so I have come up with a plan, to catch the carp in the watering hole, and then move them to the larger pond up the road.

Before anyone reads this post and screams that you can’t move carp – it’s illegal! Firstly, I am not doing this for financial gain, or to boost day ticket numbers. These are two stagnant holes in the ground that cattle drink from, and no one actually fishes. I am doing this mission solely for the welfare of the carp. They will no doubt flourish and grow larger in their new environment, and I am sure their lives will be richer and extended, rather than face a certain, grim and painful death later this summer.

Carp love them!

What is my plan? To catch them on floaters of course! I have a lovely little Sonik stalker rod – 9ft 2lb/tc which I will use, and I started the exercise off today, introducing  few handfuls of Flash’s dog biscuits (much to his disgust). They soon started eating them off the top, so I don’t think catching them will be that difficult. I will keep you posted on my progress and photograph the carp as they are caught and released into their new environment.

I spotted an upper-double carp in here yesterday!

I may have my first go for one this evening at dusk, as the sun sinks.

I am off for a siesta now. It is Spain after all!

Cheers

Jake Langley-Hobbs

Second fish of the day was a new PB common.

So, I’ve just got back from a long weekend on Sierra Brava with Jake and his dog Flash. I have enjoyed it enough to want to write about it, and to let anybody else out there who is thinking about booking, to stop thinking about it, and get yourself booked! You won’t regret it.

I live in Andalucia so it was just a case of getting in the car and doing a 4 hour drive to his house. The Tomtom took me right to his door and the drive is enjoyable in itself, a truly beautiful part of the world. I left work early on the Thursday and arrived around 9 pm. A few beers were in order to get to know each other and see a bit of Zorita, a nice little pueblo where everybody knows everybody.

It was hot weekend – Flash loved it!

Friday morning started with us loading up the 4by4 after a coffee and breakfast and off we go to get a good spot for the weekend. Jakes knowledge of the lake is as impressive as the size of it and we were soon in an idyllic spot that looked full of potential for the fishing ahead. It being May the carp were spawning amongst the trees about 60 yards or so in front of us so there was no doubt that there were fish in the area.

It seems Korda has produced another clanger of a product. Remember Hybrid Stiff – this isn’t any better for sudden breakages.

Jake helped me out with the tactics for the weekend and got to work on improving my casting accuracy and distance straight away. The first day was an ok start with a lower double as a first fish, and then a lovely looking common that just tipped over the 20lb mark. I had two savage takes during the night, one at 2 am and one around 4 am. The first got off and the second managed to snap my 25lb braid Korda Super Natural hook link! The power of the fish before it managed to snap me was extremely impressive and although I was disappointed it had got off it also got me excited with the potential of the fish that were clearly out in front of us.

Barry was treated to a new PB mirror too!

The fish spent most of Saturday spawning but the takes started again just as the sun was going down. I landed a beautiful mirror, just over 27lb, after a long and enjoyable fight and just had enough light left to get plenty of bait out for the night with the Spomb. A 23lb common woke me up at 4am and then around 6 am I was into what I knew was a good fish straight away. A little while later I was holding a PB common of 29.7lb with Jake taking the photos. A perfect start to the day.

Awesome fish to begin the day with – 29lbs 7oz.

I lost a few fish after runs that were hard to stop, the carp are amazingly strong, it’s like somebody has been putting steroids in the water and the carp love it. I am sure that I will top the 30lb mark on my next visit.

Jakes food was top notch and he was good company for what was a great fishing weekend. On top of that he is very knowledgeable and patient enough to work with you to get the most out of you and improve your fishing. I have come away from the weekend happy with some good fish netted, more knowledge, and a better angler for the tuition. I still have some things to work on…..Jake will see the difference when I am back in November.

Thanks Jake!

Barry A.

I have had some great mirrors this session and I already mentioned that Craig caught a 36lb common yesterday evening. I have also been after a well sized common this session,but in fishing it doesn’t always work like that! I love fishing when the moon is in the waxing/full/waning stages, and this session has been no different. I find the time when takes arrive can be quite dependent on where the moon is in the sky, and I have noted this on several occasions.

On the eve of the full moon I caught a 25lb common. This fish was caught at approximately 2am and the moon was a quarter of the way across the sky. I find this a good time to start receiving action. Last night I was hoping for more action and it arrived, bang on cue at approximately 2am again. The moon appears in a different position in the sky every night. Once the moon is full it appears from the east after it gets dark. This appearance happens later and later each night, until the moon becomes a new moon and the phase begins all over again. Obviously I have fished more moon phases, than most other anglers on this planet, so I have noticed patterns emerging over the years.

Last night’s take was savage. The power felt from the fish was extreme to say the least, and I had to move to my left and apply side-strain to get the carp to kite away from danger. I was huffing and puffing as the fish pulled harder and harder, with my hand on the spool, and occasionally a small burst of line was pulled off the tightened baitrunner. Only when I felt the carp had eased did I disengage the baitrunner, and gradually reeled line onto the spool. It was intense!

The fish started to come towards me but not without a stubborn show of defiance. Now the fish was in front and away from danger, I allowed the fish to take line off the drag, and it did this on several occasions. I drew the fish closer, and it aggressively pulled the rod tip repeatedly down. I felt in control as I watched the rod tip from the glow of the moon, and then I caught a glimpse of the carp. I could see it was long, and I knew it was powerful, and I was pretty sure it was big too!

The fight seemed to go on for an eternity, and I estimate the battle lasted a good fifteen minutes. I finally drew the fish into the net, and let out a sigh of relief. Most other folk were asleep, or out at late night drinking dens, or in some countries with different time-zones, people were having their lunch. I was stood in the margins of Sierra Brava, looking down at my second largest common carp, I have so far caught at Sierra Brava.

My second largest common carp from Sierra Brava.

The thing I am enjoying so much about my fishing at Sierra Brava is the way I am slowly achieving my goals and bettering my weights. I certainly did it differently at Cassien when my second carp caught was 55lbs. I think a 55lb+ carp will be caught by myself, one day from here, but I am working jolly hard for them. That’s how it should be, certainly in my book. Paso a paso!

I had a proper fight on my hands with this one.

37lb 8oz was the weight of the fish and as Craig was sleeping and his rods were out of the water, I let him sleep and put the fish in a retainer. At 6am I had a take on another rod, and after dealing with a small common, Craig and I did the pictures of the large common. A cracking looking fish, I am sure you will all agree.

Craig’s 36lb common yesterday evening, was also a fine-looking carp. His carp however, was literally bursting at the seams, unlike mine; so the pictures were done very quickly, and the carp was released. Craig rarely smiles in his fish pictures by the way!

36lb common from Sierra Brava.

I have had another common today which was around the mid-double mark, and apart from that, my rods sporting the big-bait offerings have remained untouched. The thing I like about fishing with a large offering, is it means many of the smaller fish, can’t actually get the bait in their mouths, so you don’t get so many takes, but avoid the smaller fish. My plan certainly seems to be working with the number of better sized carp I have caught during this session.

I will write tomorrow’s final account from my house, as tonight is the final night of the session.

Cheers

Jake Langley-Hobbs

It is all kicking off at Sierra Brava! The fish have started spawning in and around the bay I am set up in, but fish are still feeding I am glad to say. Last night saw the full moon and what a big moon it turned out to be! I caught a welcome 25lb common at 3am and that was all the action that came my way during the night.

A morning run arrived at 9am as I read my book. A good scrap was put up by a mid double common, so after releasing him back to the water, I set about getting some breakfast. I am starting to run low on food supplies so tinned fish and tinned fruit was the order of the day; followed by two fried egg sandwiches!!

Craig Reed (a guide at Orellana) informed me he was coming down to Brava and wanted to fish alongside me. “Get yourself down here mate,” I replied on the telephone. Just before 4am I had a take as Craig was due to arrive. I had started to hear fish sounds that resembled the sound of spawning carp; on the other side of the bay. I was wondering if this was going to put them off feeding, when the take came on my nearest rod.

I was on it like a shot and like this morning’s smaller common, it quickly kited to my right. I watched the fish as it kited all the way into the margin, and boiled on the surface in shallow water. I could see it was another smallish sized carp, so I thought I would enjoy the ensuing fight as it unfolded. I could hear a vehicle approaching which I presumed would be Craig, as the carp then decided to kite back into deeper water. I was just watching my rod tip, and wasn’t forcing the issue or applying unnecessary pressure, when the hook just pulled. Nevermind!

Craig arrived and got about setting up. He was to fish to my right. It wasn’t long after I had cooked dinner for both of us (after my earlier bacon sandwich, and steak for lunch!), when he had a take within seconds of casting out. He was literally just allowing the line to sink when the rod was literally wrenched from his grasp. It wasn’t long before a good common lay in the net, after first being determined to tangle one of Craig’s other lines! Turning up and catching a 36lb common within a couple of hours can’t be bad going, and I will post the pictures tomorrow as they are on Craig’s camera.

Fish were absolutely everywhere. Hurling themselves clean from the water, head and shouldering, rolling, all over mine and Craig’s spots too, as well as being all over the bay area. It looked like carp broth! I tried to read but the anticipation was too much. I looked at Craig and we both just laughed at the activity going on in front of us. I was about to say that it wasn’t looking like they were interested in feeding, only chasing each other, when Craig’s other rod was away. He played a small common to the net which confirmed they still were on the munch, albeit slightly distracted by spawning rituals.

A rod I had put out at 11am this morning with a generous sized bait offering was suddenly away. The take was slow and the fish hadn’t even taken line off the baitrunner. I picked the rod up and it just felt like a dead weight. It was moving but felt lifeless at the same time. Not once did it turn left or right but instead just came closer and closer. I was still unsure whether I was playing a good fish or a crafty carp, and then I saw the carp break the surface. “I think this one might need a picture mate,” I said to Craig watching from his swim.

Finally I got the creature in the net after what ended up being a slow and protracted fight. I guessed it was upper thirties once I saw its frame, and this was confirmed when I carried her to the mat. Craig did the honours with the camera, after the scales had confirmed a weight of 38lb 8oz. My fourth 30lb+ mirror of the session, out of fourteen carp landed (including the repeat capture), with two more nights to go!

38lb 8oz – an absolute brute of a carp!

Stunning scale pattern and typical of the Sierra Brava mirrors.

I will leave you with the pictures and will be back tomorrow with another post from Sierra Brava.

Cheers

Jake Langley-Hobbs

The fish seem to have gone off the feed for a short while and I have received no action since my last run – a full twenty-four hours! I am not too concerned however, as I am sure the action will resume, and I have a feeling the fish are just getting used to the change in the weather. It started raining yesterday, and the rain may have lowered the water temperature slightly, which is possibly why the fish have  stopped eating. This period of year can be unpredictable when fish are spawning, as they can be feeding with gusto one minute, or trying to shag each other the next. Slight changes in water temperature can have a massive influence on the carp’s behaviour.

Nuevos amigos – Noelia, Raul, Pedro y Flash, pero donde es Manuel? jaja

I have been keeping myself busy though and enjoyed the night’s sleep I was given. I slept in my Wellington boots just in case I had to make a quick dash to the rods, but as it was a mild night I just lay on top of my sleeping bag with a cover on top. My neighbours to my left have now gone meaning I just have company to my right. I have been piggy in the middle to be honest, but it hasn’t affected my fishing, as I have been the only one receiving regular action up until yesterday evening.

Loving the rain!

The wind has been strong all day accompanied by regular patches of rain – sometimes torrential. I left my rods till I had an opportunity to recast them and likewise did my spombing when the wind had died somewhat. When the wind is strong and if your rods are in the right place you would be daft to recast them when the conditions are tricky. Likewise, leave the spombing till the conditions are more favourable so you don’t waste your bait.

Speaking of wasting things, how many of you recycle your terminal tackle? For example when you find some old rigs in your tackle box do you just chuck the whole lot in the bin or do you break the rig down and re-use some of the components? I am not tight, but with terminal tackle prices increasing, it seems silly to throw away items that can be used again.

Carefully use a splicing needle. Lubricate the sinkers with saliva first.

Then slide them back onto the wire meaning they are ready to be used again.

I have been using some tungsten sinkers by a well-known manufacturer for about two years now – the very same ones! I think I was given about five packets in 2010 and I still have about twenty little sinkers left. After removing from the old hook link, I then thread them onto a splicing needle and pop them back onto the wire, meaning they can be used again.

Discard hooks in a safe manner.

One other question? When you throw away your hooks do you just discard them or do you bend the point inwards with pliers? I carry a small pair of pliers in my tackle box and always make sure the point has been bent in fully, so animals or birds can’t get caught up in them, depending on where your rubbish bag ends up. In an incinerator or on a landfill site? It is worth thinking about.

Fresh chicken.

Cover with foil to ensure it cooks through properly, but also retaining the moisture.

A very tasty lunch! Chicken, tortellini, and asparagus, with a tomato and olive oil sauce.

I have been cooking up some fine food whilst I have been fishing this week. Today’s lunch has to go down as one of the tastiest I have cooked, whilst fishing. It was easy to make and just needed a little timing, some pots with lids, and a good non-stick frying pan. I normally carry tinfoil with me as this makes a great lid for frying pans and means you can steam things to cook food quicker. It is also a great way to ensure things like chicken and pork are cooked through properly.

The bellybuster breakfast! Bacon, egg, blackpudding sandwich!

Finally, the sharper ones among you, and longtime readers of my blog may notice that the formula one type list of sponsors has now gone from my header on my blog. They really were needed on my travels, it has to be said.  Apart from Sonik Sports Ltd whom I am still a consultant for, using their products for my business, and for my own rod requirements, I have decided to wave goodbye to my other roles. Last week I resigned from Trakker as it seemed the best/only thing to do. I live in Spain after all, so what good am I to them anyway! I don’t attend shows in the UK, and my fishing is a world away from zig rigs and small ponds. Although I do like a bit of munga mix from time to time!

That’s all for tonight folks. I’ll be back tomorrow, with hopefully a few scaly ones to show you!

Cheers

Jake & Flash

The past twenty-four hours have flown by. I have been working/fishing hard, whilst managing to relax in between (when not stuffing my face with food)! My appetite has gone through the roof since quitting the fags, but I am definately not complaining. After March, and working all month with Sierra Brava Dreams clients, my weight had dropped significantly. I am happy to have the 7kgs back!

Some of you may also remember back to October when I badly injured myself in the gym, and I blogged a painful session whilst fishing. This injury was actually very severe, and the knock-on effect of the injury caused some rather worrying problems. To cut a long story short, the muscle mass in my right pectoral muscle started vanishing – rapidly. In January of this year, and after X-rays, blood tests etc, it was confirmed that I had severely damaged the nerve that controls muscle mass in that area of my body. Oh dear! I am now doing physiotherapy to slowly try to rebuild that part of my body. I remember when I first did the injury and it wasn’t possible to spomb more than 50 yards as I just didn’t have the strength. At Orellana the other week I was spombing 120, so the strength is back, just not the mass. It will take time. I am sure the lack of cigarettes will speed up the recovery too, as the weight, as I mentioned above is coming back.

Why am I telling you all of this? Well, fishing is a sport after all, and I do believe, the fitter you are, the better you will perform; especially over a long session. I had little sleep last night due to fish, yet I have been spombing every two hours during the day, and I intend on working extremely hard for the whole session.

After I posted last night’s blog, it wasn’t long before the familiar sound of rolling carp began over my spots. It was exactly the same with my clients. This was a case of deja-vu. I was expecting a take so therefore it was no surprise when the first one came. I was reading a book, so I tossed the kindle onto my sleeping bag, and raced to the rod. After a short tussle and the hard part won, the hook then just pulled – it happens!

My spare rod.

I am using a ‘spare’ rod this session. I have an identical rod, walked out to the same distance, made-up and ready to go. I have primarily done this for when I catch a fish, and I need to recast the rod quickly. It is a really good thing to do, when speed is of the essence. It means I can land a fish, leave it in the landing net in the water, and then recast the made-up rod quickly back to the spot. After a few spombs have quickly followed, only then is the fish unhooked, carefully weighed, photographed and finally returned. It is obviously during this period when another take can quickly follow, as you can be sure there will still be fish in the vicinity. If you were to unhook the carp and deal with it; by the time you have sorted out the rod, recast to the clip mark, changed hook baits, and cast it out, the fish may well have done one. I am not fishing in a competition this week, but I want to fish as efficiently as I can, and I am sure it will catch me more fish, and maybe one of the ones I am after. Sierra Brava is a numbers game. You need to be catching consistently in order to land a big one, as all my clients know, and most fortunately capitalised on.

Spare rod terminal tackle is all made up and ready to go when a quick recast is required. I keep it in a tub to stop everything drying out.

A close up of a rig I am using. Blow-back with a 26mm bottom bait and small pop-up. Two bait stringer is added for attraction near the hook bait. Old Skool!

My next take came at 3.30am. A smallish common weighing somewhere between 16-18lbs was unhooked and released. My spare rod had already been cast back to the spot, so I made this rod back up and hopped back into the bag. I noticed how bright the sky was as the half-moon was still visible in the sky. Now fully awake, I read for a while, had some food, made some tea, and lay there watching the rod tips. In the end, I set my camera up on a tripod and took a picture of the moon, just before it disappeared for the night.

5am in the morning. Taken using delayed shutter speed, and no flash; set-up on a tripod.

Around 6am I was finally dropping off again when another rod was away. This fish pulled very hard, then came in like a dog on a lead; the dog being a greyhound! I had to wind very quickly to keep up with it, then I heard my shockleader knot rattle through the rings. The fish was literally at my feet! Fortunately my clutch was set correctly as all of a sudden the fish turned and went absolutely ballistic. In the shallow water it took off like a missile and I could see its shoulders as the line screamed off my clutch. I don’t know if this fish had a game plan, but I bet he has caught a few anglers out before if he uses this technique often! After more dramatic displays of power, the fish was finally subdued and I slipped her into the net. What a set of shoulders!

A lovely looking fish from Sierra Brava aka ‘the shallow water scrapper!’

I weighed the carp and the needle swung to 12.5kgs or 27.5lbs. I did a quick self-take and released the fish. This fish still had plenty left and literally planed across the surface as it disappeared into the depths. It was time to get the kettle on!

A simple spomb mix which works.

Throughout the day I kept topping up my spots. I like to do my recast at 11am at Sierra Brava. Once they are in position I leave them be, until they produce a take. You often find 11am is calm so everything can be done with more accuracy, and if everything is spot on, then there is no need to reel them in at 7pm, just to recast them back to the same spot. There are no nuisance species to worry about. It is a case of being confident in your rig, hook bait, and the fact that nothing is tangled etc.

Eat well – fish well!

By lunchtime I was zapped. I made a good lunch to knock me out and then had a siesta for two hours. I spombed just before sleeping, and then after a power-coffee after waking up, I topped up the spots with two more spomb loads over each spot. Little and often works very well at Brava, but you must try to be consistent. My consistency paid off when at 5.30pm the first day-time carp put in an appearance. Another 18lb’er but they are all gratefully accepted, as I treat each carp equally, and look forward to what the next one might be. That is how the numbers game works! In a public water, where the stock is not known completely, these waters do throw up surprises from time to time, and that is the reason why I love public waters so much.

Expecting rain!

I am confident of a good night so tune in tomorrow to find out what happens.

Thanks very much for reading my blog – it means a great deal after all these months of writing it, that I still have a following and it is enjoyed and greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Jake & Flash!

Well, due to demand from you lovely people on my Facebook fishing account, here is the first installment of Jake’s blog for my current session. I plan to fish for a week and by some freak chance I have managed to sneak back into the swim where my March clients had great success. The lake is absolutely rammed at the moment, as the lake has been closed for a month, and today is the first day after the closure. I am pretty sure that a few of the anglers who are set up, did not just arrive this morning, but instead, probably began their sessions at the weekend? Hey-ho! There will always be a few souls who think breaking the rules is okay, but only for them because they are special…

Spanish paddy fields now full of water and looking healthy.

As my title suggests, I have quit the ciggies - once again. It is all going well and I have not smoked one for thirteen days. I also haven’t had an alcoholic drink in that period, because I am finding the whole affair rather difficult, and a trigger like alcohol, will not aid the situation. I actually feel okay about the absence of nicotine, and already I am feeling healthier. Long may it continue (this time)!

Replacing tobacco!

Apart from Flash of course, I now have a new companion in my life – a 3G Kindle; a lovely present from my kind parents for my 41st birthday in April. I do like reading books whilst fishing, and now I can download a new one in seconds, right from the bank. How good is that! It is the same shape as a packet of cigarettes but my replacement therapy is far less damaging to my health (unless I read in the dark, then I may damage my eyes)!

Now it's my turn!

Guiding clients all March was great fun. Hard work, but very rewarding. One thing I did notice was my burning desire to fish the swim myself, so here I am. I am fishing in the swim out of the three, that produced the most fish. I do however have one rod in a new spot, just to be different you understand. I am using the same tactics I advised my clients to use, and judging by the number of fish they caught, it certainly works. I think I may be in for a good week, but I don’t want to count my chickens before they hatch. I have been steadily adding bait throughout the day, using a Spomb, delivered accurately and tightly to my spots, and I am sure it won’t be too long before one of the rods rattles off; I predict one before midnight.

Look who's popped up! Better late than never.

The rain in the last few days has had an amazing effect on the countryside. Grass has literally sprouted everywhere you look, and the flowers that should have adorned the banks in Spring, have now shot up to proudly show themselves off. The drive to get to my swim was a stark contrast to the drive in March, when the lake resembled a dusty bowl. It now looks like a different landscape altogether.

I will be back with another post tomorrow, going into more detail about my tactics, rigs, and strategy for the week. Could this be the session that produces my first Spanish 20kg+ carp. Let’s hope so!

Cheers

Jake Langley-Hobbs

I have just dragged myself through the front door after a six hour drive to Madrid and back, after dropping my very cheerful clients off at the airport. I am exhausted after a hard week’s guiding, but am determined to post a report before falling into bed. So, while the events of the last seven days are fresh in my mind, I will get my words written and published onto the world wide web.

With my first booking of the year looming after a long break, I have been fishing on and off at Brava since February, whilst putting the finishing touches to my house. The weather really has been dreadful for a painstaking duration, and rain has not fallen with any volume for months. The lake level is low, the fishing has been tough, and although you know the carp are there, they just haven’t been tempted to feed with any vigour.

Paul, Henry and the Mole!

With a trio of clients arriving for a week, and one of them, a long-time friend from Bristol, the pressure was really on to deliver the goods, and ensure they caught some carp. As a guide you must do your utmost to provide your clients with every chance, but when the conditions are ball-breaking it really can test your knowledge to the limits, and sometimes, as all good anglers know, when they aren’t having it, it can be a frustrating game.

My friend Paul, who I have known for many years is a keen carp angler. Along with his two companions, Paul and Henry, they touched down on the tarmac, slightly late, but full of fire. I have a taxi service for transfers, but as Bristol flights are late in the day, it meant they either hired a car, or I chauffeured them in my 4 x 4. Judging by their beaming smiles as they floated through the arrivals lounge, I suspected they probably weren’t in a fit state to drive, after a beverage or three on the plane, so the chauffeured option was a wise choice.

Back at my house and after a hearty meal, we got our heads down for an early start the following day. I had done a recce earlier in the week, and from previous experience, and a hunch, I knew where I was heading for at the lake. Fuelled with Spanish coffee, and secured into my Navara, we set off, towing the ‘uber’ trailer filled to the brim with tackle, bait, food, and lots of beer! Flash was obviously onboard, keeping a watchful eye over the guys luggage in the back of my truck, and after a short drive we soon approached the turn off, and neared closer to our destination.

Henry, a fishing companion of Paul back in the UK, was particularly keen, and after guiding at a lake in Gran Canaria for a few years, I was starting to feel the pressure as we made our way across the dam. Guiding is all about delivering a service, and although you can’t guarantee anything in fishing, with a friend on board, and an ex-guide, I was going to have to hope that my intended swim would come up trumps.

The lake had a few anglers present as we bumped our way along the dusty tracks, and eventually we made our way down the last part of the descent to the swim. It was free, which brought a broad smile to my face, and I felt a good omen was possibly on the cards for my first group booking of the year. This was also my first ever group of three, so in order to keep standards high, I was going to have to work very hard indeed.

I had communicated extensively with the guys through the group leader before they arrived. Once the booking is confirmed, and deposits are paid, I nominate a group leader who is responsible for passing on information to the rest of the group. With two Paul’s on the trip, Paul senior was the nominated leader, and after meeting him briefly in Ibiza last year on a stag weekend for my Irish friend Greg, and after listening to his countless tales of other fishing trips he had experienced, I was confident he would prove a good choice. My mate, the other Paul, probably only checks his email once a quarter, so he was tactfully not given the responsibility!

Communication leading up to the trip is important, and I pride myself on giving regular updates on how the lake is fishing, and also what the group need to bring with them. Yellow pop-ups are always a winner at Sierra Brava, so after parking up by the side of the lake, I was pleased to see the lads had come prepared, and they had read the SBD website thoroughly before leaving England. My new choice of boilie (Vital Baits Banana GLM) has proved succesful and Dynamite Baits fluro banana and pineapple pop-ups would certainly compliment them well, but I was given a surprise. A few years ago when I was briefly involved in selling bait, I imported Imperial Baits from Germany. When I left the UK in 2008 with half a tonne of the stuff in the back of my van, I left several boxes of sundry items with a friend. I told him to give it all to Paul a year later, so when he produced 5 year old yellow V-pops from his bag, I was intrigued to see whether the old yellow pop-ups would work. They aren’t flavoured but being bright in colour, I was confident they would, but I couldn’t help laugh at the fact that my friend had bought them with him.

The trio had been briefed on fishing tactics, so in my usual manner I told them to either listen to me, or they were free to try their own methods first. I have no problem with confident anglers who want to try their preferred methods, but I also know my method is proven, and sometimes listening to the guide can give you a head-start. All waters are different, and Sierra Brava is huge, so a few pointers in the right direction are often worth digesting. I started setting up camp as the lads prepared their rods and rigs, and as always there was an air of confidence, shadowed by nerves and uncertainty.

The two Pauls took the left hand side of the swim and Henry opted for the last peg to the right. I am always fascinated to watch other anglers and listen to their ideas, and Henry was certainly sure of his tactics. I always recommend areas to fish to, and then like to hear the views of the angler concerned. Where to fish can be a hunch, a feeling, or gut instinct, and reading your swim is half the battle. Sierra Brava is a beautiful water to fish as it always offers plenty of options and although anglers may have different ideas about where to place a bait, I have recognised a formula at Brava, as the carp are creatures of habit and can usually be relied upon to turn up on cue. The weather was the only niggling problem though and creatures of habit can sometimes play hard to get when conditions look bleak.

As dinner was served hopes were high, and friendly banter was dished up for dessert. The lads had decided on a few bets between themselves on the flight, and a competitive atmosphere was clearly evident. I have never seen my friend Paul fish but his skills were evident. His casting was adequate, and after tuition with the throwing stick, baiting up was soon achieved with modest accuracy. However, as always, I am always keen to see how anglers deliver a spomb, and how consistent they are. Only time would tell how precise they had been, but after keeping a watchful eye on them all as I got everything arranged, I already had a fair idea who had paid most attention to my advice.

Paul's first carp of the session.

With every booking carp have been caught on the first night and this night was to be no different. The first run came and Paul carefully played his first Brava carp into the net. I looked at his first carp and told him he may very well have a new personal best common with his first carp. There are lots of big carp in Brava but it isn’t often that an angler starts his account with a cracker. The common was hoisted off the ground and 29lb 12oz was recorded. Missing his personal best by a few ounces he got the rod back out, using his line clip on the reel. This was just the start of things for Paul as he went on to pull a few more strokes.

I am always tired on the first night after much planning and preparation, but when the alarm sounds, I am as excited as the angler concerned. His second carp of the session put up a great fight and we stood quietly as he played the carp like an expert. I netted the fish as it admitted defeat and couldn’t quite believe what I was witnessing. Two good commons on the trot and this one was definately a new PB. I don’t think Paul could quite take in what had just occurred either, as 34lb 7oz was read out. After shaking hands with my long-time friend, who had put his faith in me to deliver a good holiday, this was then followed by photos of the carp in question. “You can relax now”, I said, and realised that I too could breathe a sigh of relief. Fish were here and they were being caught.

Paul's new PB!

By the morning four had been caught by Paul. You sometimes have to establish a swim but at Brava it usually isn’t the case. If the conditions are right then bait is usually found along with your hook bait. Paul’s friends were aware that they maybe needed to tighten up their baiting and important cast, so as the second night approached, extra work had been done during the day to tempt success.

Group leader Paul got off the mark with a pretty mirror and ‘tother Paul added a couple more to his belt. Henry on the other hand was scratching his head and although there was nothing at fault with his angling ability, it just wasn’t happening where it mattered.

Moving swims is an anglers choice first and foremost, but giving the swim a chance to build is sometimes the key. The conditions on the second night were a stark contrast to night one, and although carp were caught by good fishing, it couldn’t have looked less inviting. Henry decided a move was on the cards so by mid-afternoon he was set up in his new stall to the left of Top Rod Paul. A new wave of confidence was showering Henry and we all hoped his strategic plan would pay off.

Group leader Paul had now acquired a new name or nickname rather – Mole. For the purposes of the write-up it will make life easier, and happy with his new label, he was equally happy with his carp he had caught. Mole has fished for many species all over the world and has held some big fish in his arms but I could see some areas in his angling that could be improved. I took the Mole under my wing for a day or so, and we worked on his accuracy with his casting and baiting up. I can’t stress enough how important this aspect is at Sierra Brava, and over the next few nights his tally of carp grew, as did his confidence and smile for the camera. The other thing you could always rely on with both Paul’s was their staggering snoring skills, so much so that they were named the ‘Chain-saw Brothers’ by Henry which aptly described the noise made by both sleepers!

First PB for Paul senior!

Paul was cracking on with things and apart from a stop-start run, he was catching every night. Mole was steadily creeping along, and his third carp was a new personal best common. His fish playing skills were second to none, and I took pleasure in watching him gently coax the carp towards the net without so much as a splash. It made guessing what he was playing more difficult, but I guess with the number of species he has landed over the years, he has a natural gift for staying calm and finishing the job in hand. With a new PB common already added to his portfolio, I was supremely confident that his previous best weight of 11kg would also be beaten. This was a mirror carp, and as he had already sneaked the only two mirrors of the session into his net, I knew a big mirror had his name on it.

A stunning Brava mirror.

Paul was next to shine as he experienced another night of action. His stamp of fish was impressive, backed up by his thirty four pound common, but eventually a Brava mirror ended up in his net and it was an awesome looking carp too. I teach anglers how to deal with lively fish when doing photographs, and holding them firmly and with confidence is key. Their pectoral fin and anal fin can be used as handles when picking them up, and for balancing them for trophy shots, but attention needs to be paid in case the fish starts to wriggle. I provide great unhooking mats, but quickly turning the fish upside down and holding it in your arms, can soon calm the fish and make it more manageable for photos. All the guys left with new tips and skills and it was a pleasure to teach them things I have learnt over the years, partly because they were willing to listen.

Henry found his groove!

Henry was, to put it bluntly, struggling. It is never nice to be in that position and it puts a true angler to the test. Also an ex-teacher, we never like to be told what to do, and he held his corner, as I would have stubbornly done, determined to bank one on his own terms. After the swim move did not meet his hopes, and after witnessing his two friends with regular bends in their rods, he opted to move back to his original swim. It was a cunning plan and I am sure a part of him wished he had stayed there all along as the following morning he finally got what he had come for – a Sierra Brava carp. There are many strains in Brava and his prize was an odd-looking shape, but it was a carp and it counted, and Henry was finally off the mark. The carp count had now risen to 16 and during that Saturday night, the Mole sneaked out another personal best, as a long warrior-like mirror was beaten and 28lb 12oz was his new biggest ever carp. I have seen people smile when they achieve their goals but his face was a picture!

I knew he would catch a big mirror!

Paul kept hauling - a fine common!

The weather was poor all week and the lads fished their socks off. Sunny days were ended with cold nights and although the carp are seeking out warm water to begin spawning, it just isn’t being allowed to warm up. I had chosen a holding area deliberately as I hoped the carp would be wallowing around in the distant trees in the daytime, and then moving to feed as darkness fell. Daytime takes are frequent at Brava but only when the conditions are in your favour. We sat it out every day, hoping for a daytime take, but apart from an early morning take on Henry’s rods at 8am, that was all that materialised. It would have been easy to write-off the nights as each one looked bleak, but the full moon that joined us for the week, probably played a part in the guys success. One very interesting thing we noticed was the takes only started once the moon had actually climbed into the sky. This happened later each night after the actual full moon had passed, but reliable as clock-work – the carp came, they fed, and were caught.

The last night beckoned and a good mood was echoing round the camp. The boys enjoyed the food that was served up by myself and pork chop, saute potatoes and carrots were wolfed down as darkness enveloped the water. The place was now empty after the weekend anglers had departed and with the thought of packing up the following morning, all three anglers were wishing for their hopeful targets.

As it turned out the night could not have gone better. An hour after the moon had appeared in the sky, Paul had his first fish. Mole was next as he dealt with a 20lb common. Mole was soon weighing another Brava carp and this one was rather special – another mirror and another personal best at 29lb 5oz. The fish looked stunning and is a classic example of the quality of the Brava carp.

Paul was next to add to his list of fish and a fine common was hooked and landed; it was now all down to Henry, and I had joked with him that he also needed a PB as he was letting the side down. The carp must have heard me, and Henry’s prayers were met as a plump, deep common, was successfully defeated, and I had a great deal of admiration for Henry as his joy became apparent. He had a tough week and admitted he should have done things differently from the start, but he turned it around at the final whistle, and also returns to Bristol with a new PB in his fishing log – a 27.5lb common. Well done Henry!

A fitting end for the guys!

The tea-guzzling team ended up with a total of 21 carp between them, with many upper twenties and four personal bests to boast about. For myself as a guide I couldn’t have been happier for them as they fished well, they worked incredibly hard, and they were consistent once they found their groove To top it all off they were a real pleasure to have on the bank.

Apart from their impressive three carp a day catch they also made a few new records.180 cans of drink were consumed, several gallons of tea was drunk, they did not lose a fish whilst playing, no fish were snagged, and they only lost a single set of terminal tackle during the whole week.

Repeat bookings are something I strive for and I have my Dutch clients returning at the end of the month. I am also thrilled to say that Paul, Mole, and Henry have already booked a return week in November, such was their satisfaction from the trip. I have devised an offer for clients during their trip to secure return bookings, as all of my clients to date have hinted at returning.

As from today if you want a return booking you will be given 5kg of boilies each if you pay the deposit within a week of returning home, a free case of lager per person is also included if you pay your deposit before returning home. That will save you 74 Euros per person and once the deposit is received you can then relax till your holiday dates arrives.

The yellow V-pops did work in case you are wondering? Any yellow bait seems to get a pick up, and most of the fish fell to single 20mm or trimmed yellow pop-ups and also to snowmen arrangements using blow-back rigs.  I supply 15 and 20mm boilies and either size can be used as a bottom bait. The fact there are no nuisance species to bother you means the bait stays on the hair.

It just remains me to say thanks guys – it was one hell of a week!

Cheers

Jake Langley-Hobbs

Sunrise.

Well, I have finally made it out onto the banks of Sierra Brava since my short Christmas session. There have been a few times since that session when the desire to go fishing has crept into my mind, but I have been quite busy with other things in January, such as my trip to Prague, and working on my house. These things were priorities. I also go fishing when I want to these days and not because I have to. I think you should fish on these terms to get the most from the sport and when I feel I am just going through the motions and enduring it, rather than enjoying it, I don’t want to be on the bank.

I am fishing a new swim. I have decided that over the next month I will try to get on the bank at least once a week to explore some new territory. I have favoured areas but the water level is really low at the moment and not how it was at this time last year. This has advantages and disadvantages. The advantage is the fish are easier to find as there is less water for them to hide in, but the disadvantage is the access around the lake is very easy with a normal car meaning areas that were quiet last year, might not be this year. Last year there were some great areas that could only be reached if you had a good 4 x 4 and you basically had this certain section of the lake to yourself. However, this certain area would not be the same at the moment as the water levels are low, so I suppose it doesn’t matter anyway!

The plan therefore is to do some homework and find some swims that offer really good fishing for myself and my clients, and fortunately on Sierra Brava that is never hard to do. For example I have only been fishing 24 hours and I have caught two carp already, from a brand new swim I have never wet a line in before. This is what I love about Sierra Brava – the whole lake fishes well to be honest and if the conditions are right and the carp are having it, most people stand a good chance of getting a bend in their rods.

Vital Bait's new creation.

I am using the new boilie I mentioned in my last post. Vital Baits Banana GLM (green lipped mussel). Banana flavoured boilies seem to work very well at Brava and many Spanish anglers use a banana boilie that isn’t exactly high in nutritional value, but it works well all the same. The Vital Baits boilie is packed full of NV. GLM, birdseed, and a subtle, smooth, banana flavour. I knew this bait would work and I have always been a huge fan of baits with GLM; now we have a great combination. I will be buying this boilie for my clients to use as I think they will have very good results with it.

Halibut stick mix - ready to use straight from the bag!

Hemp & halibut mix, ideals for pva bags, spomb mixes etc..

Krill glug - it stinks!

Nicky Hedin at VB has also launched some new products for the angler who likes to use little tricks up his sleeve. A stick mix containing halibut, and another product containing crushed hemp and halibut. Extra attraction is sometimes needed, especially at certain times of the year, and when the water is cold, I think extra attraction can be very beneficial in drawing in some fish to your hook bait.

Playing around with the products, and creating halibut paste coated boilies, caught me my first 20 of 2012.

I have been playing around with the new products today and one of the things I did was to roll some of the boilies in the sticky krill glug. I then rolled these in some of the halibut stick mix powder and made sure they got a good coating. You can repeat the process several times if you like and effectively build up a thick layer of paste. I have seen this technique done before many times before and it has already worked for me, as I had a take at long-range at 5pm this afternoon. I was having a siesta and was woken by the run and the carp put up a nice account of itself. It came in straight as a die to begin with, like a dog on a lead, and then began to kite a little as I got it near the bank. A bit of side-strain turned it and I soon had my first twenty pounder of the year in my net. This fish would probably have weighed about 15lb last summer, but it was incredibly fat, and the extra weight pushed the needle to 20lb. First twenty of the year always deserves a photo.

A Plump 20lb'er

My other carp was caught at 4am this morning. I caught this one using a single VB Banana GLM 20mm boilie. Yesterday when I arrived at 4pm I got the rods sorted immediately and two were put near a tree sticking out of the water at about 40 yards range; the depth is about 25 foot. I then put a kilo of the boilie around the general tree area with my throwing stick. I wanted to see if the bait would work without a stringer or any other hook bait attraction aid, and I am pleased to say it did. I think that is good proof of a good bait.

My favourite weather - windy!

It was hellish windy when I was setting up, which made everything more difficult than normal. I had to set up my bivvy using my Navara for shelter. It was a peg by peg erection that took some patience and technique to stop the whole thing taking off. The weather is how I like it at the moment, in the fact we are getting some really strong winds in the daytime. North westerly’s blowing up to 25km/ph, which on a big lake like Brava is enough to get a really good chop on the water and white horses racing across the lake. The days are sunny and the nights are chilly and I have timed my session in accordance with the full moon, the wind, and the fact that last night, tonight, and possibly tomorrow night are milder.  2+ as opposed to minus 4-6. It is still winter and I know ‘real’ winter has arrived in many parts of Europe, so Spain is going to get some of the knock on effects!

That is all for my first session blog. Till the next one, take care.

Jake Langley-Hobbs

I mentioned a while back that it was my intention to fish over Christmas – well here I am. The weather forecast has been monitored over the last couple of weeks, but as the days grew closer to my planned session, and as the weather was not looking ideal, I have still decided to give it a go. After all, you can’t catch unless you’re fishing, and hopefully I will be rewarded for my efforts as a gesture of goodwill to all anglers on earth!

Driving over the dam at Sierra Brava through fog.

Flash loves running alongside me as I drive to my swim.

When cattle are present - he isn't allowed!

As I left my house yesterday morning, loaded to the hilt with tackle and Christmas fayre, I made my way to the lake through thick fog. Was this a good omen? I have just purchased four new tyres for my Navara and my Cooper Discoverer S/T Maxx’s did me proud as I drove around the perimeter of the lake; sometimes through water-logged, deep, and muddy stretches of track. These tyres have incredible grip and are an aggressive looking model and not once did I have to drop into 4 wheel mode.

My Navara's Christmas present - 4 new tyres.

I have decided to fish a new swim. I could have gone to my usual spot at this time of year but as it is a Christmas trip, I figured I would add to the excitement of the session by fishing new territories. The swim itself is snag heaven and relatively shallow with fishing depths of 14-17ft out in front. I am hoping the forecast sunny days will bring fish to these wooded hides, and the margins will provide the odd passing shoal. At this time of year and with cold nights it’s all about windows of opportunities. Having a bait in the right place at the right time should see a carp on the bank.

Fully loaded complete with a Christmas Jamon!!

Seven ★ camping underway!

I could fish lightly and with a small bivvy but, as it’s a luxury session during a renowned period of festivity, I have decided to go all out. My colossus sits proud on the side of the lake filled with gadgets and technology to help the long nights pass me by. My Spanish friends in my village just can’t comprehend why on earth I would want to go fishing over Christmas. I know many anglers who would love to be on the bank right now and I know some who already are. If fishing is in your blood then you do it because you want to, not because you have to. My family is in the UK and I have a planned UK visit in July for a month so nipping back for turkey, socks, and a satsuma is something I just can’t afford to do with increased fuel/ferry prices. Having a dog also means I can’t fly. I could but it would mean leaving my companion behind – I couldn’t do that to him!

What a breathtaking view!

Fishing wise I am fishing to the visible trees in front of me. It is relatively medium range tactics ranging from 50 to 90 yards and I have prepared some ground-bait using maize flour, maize and tigers, with liquid attractor to increase the flavour notes. The water is cold and this is proper winter carp fishing. It can be tough going but I have a week’s session planned so I am hoping I can encourage some fish to my spots during that time. I saw fish rolling this morning. They were further out in amongst the snags so I have been given encouragement from those sightings.

One Jamon, one salivating Doberhuman, and fortunately one generous owner who is prepared to share the joy!

It leaves me to say Happy Christmas to one and all. Have a great day tomorrow, wherever you are.

Best Wishes

Jake Langley-Hobbs & Flash.