ROB HUGHES’ DIARY
Carp Team England manager and TV presenter Rob Hughes looks at some of the wider issues in the sport, as well as reporting on his fishing exploits and giving readers a few tips & tricks...
THE past month has flown by. Despite a heavy work schedule, I’ve managed to get out for nine short, hitand-run style sessions
across six different waters, some of them for only an hour’s stalking, which puts paid to the myth that you need loads of time to catch carp.
Big carp have been off the radar, and this month has all been about getting runs and catching fish.
I even managed a stalking session on a canal while working in Holland and caught my first Dutch carp, while an evening on the Trent saw me nail a river carp. All great fun, with loads of bends in the rods.
FAMILY AFFAIR
It was my daughter’s birthday recently and it was a big one. She was 18, so as well as the obligatory family meal out I asked her what she would like to do. Much to my delight she said she’d love to go fishing. Venue agreed, wife, dog, son, daughter and daughter’s boyfriend headed out for a barbecue and an evening’s fishing at a local lake called Shearwater. It’s a lovely venue - easy access, pay on the bank and a fair head of obliging fish to boot.
Connor, Eleanor‘s boyfriend, had never been fishing before and he really enjoyed catching his first carp. Although he looks a bit grumpy in the picture (moody teenager) his smile when he caught it told me that he enjoyed it. My smile seeing how my little clan did also tells me I enjoyed it too. This summer, please try to make the effort to take somebody fishing who hasn’t been before. It’s massively rewarding and is exactly what we need to boost the sport.
ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS
As anglers, often our thoughts are dominated by the prevailing wind conditions and temperatures, but to my mind atmospheric conditions at this time of year are the biggest factor governing whether we catch or not. Sometimes the pressure is so high there’s nothing we can do to change their unwillingness to feed, while on others it’s simply a case of knowing whether they want it up in the water, on the deck,
or even right in the shallows (an area readily overlooked).
At this time of year carp will come right into the bank, especially in high pressure, and when they are so close-in they are stalkable. It’s worth remembering the rule of thumb with air pressure: rising air pressure go up (surface/zig tactics); falling pressure come down (on the deck).
You can, of course, catch fish any time, but if you’re aware of which direction the pressure is travelling it may save a blank when times are tough.
My biggest fish this month was a gnarly-looking 21lb 8oz and it came on an overnighter when the lake had been fishing really tough. Interestingly, two fish were caught that same night but then nothing for another four days. I’m convinced it was air pressure-related. Remember, if nothing is happening be prepared to try something a little bit wacky – you never know...
THE HEALING POWER OF CARP FISHING
Recently I had a wonderful day out on one of Wimbourne and District AA’s waters with some war veterans as part of a H4H Band of Brothers charity event.
It’s becoming clear that fishing is a brilliant rehab approach for PTSD sufferers and injured vets. In all, 22 heroes turned up, either returning to angling or experiencing it for the first time.
I had a brilliant laugh and we caught on zigs and off the surface. We had loads of bites too. They thoroughly enjoyed it and I hope it made their struggles a little easier for a while. I also got to meet up with Chris Yates, who I haven’t seen for a while, and it was lovely to see how little he has changed. A gentleman in the truest sense.
HUGHES’ BLUES
I’m going to close with a bit of a grumble. I’m no snowflake by any stretch, but there seems to be an increasing trend of “bucketing” going on. Basically this means that when someone catches a pb, their mates lob a bucket of water over them.
Great fun, love the sentiment, but guys, can you please do it with the fish on the mat after you’ve had a photo or, better still, in the water after a returner? I’ve seen people drop fish after being smashed in the face by a bucket of water, so if you want to give your mates the good news, see to the carp first.
Have a good one all of you, and don’t forget those short sessions with the little ones now the school holidays are here!