ROB HUGHES’ DIARY Carp Team England manager reflects on his last filming session
As the lockdown continues, the Carp Team England manager looks back at a successful filming session before the restrictions were put in place...
MY SYMPATHIES go out to anyone out there, either battling this horrendous virus or supporting their loved ones through troubled waters.
For those concerned about work, and finances too, it’s a worrying existence. Here’s to the good times ahead, when we can return to some level of sanity.
In the early part of March I was putting the finishing touches to the late-winter On The Bank TV show, and the last two episodes involved chasing grayling and having a species hunt competition at the brilliant Viaduct fishery. If you’ve got BT Sport you can watch these on catch-up and we’ve got a series of event repeats on at the moment. Don’t forget, On The Bank is on Mondays on BT Sport at 9pm.
On the Dynamite/Carp Spirit front we have started a new day-ticket carp fishing series involving myself and the amazing Ian Russell. For the first one we went to Willow Park in Hampshire.
Despite it being March, it was freezing, with a really big wind blowing. I arrived just before dark and spent a bit of time watching the water for signs, not seeing anything at all. All the plum swims were taken, so I pitched up in an area that gave me a large amount of water and a really good view of the lake. That’s the trick – put yourself in the best position to see ’em when they do show.
Eventually I saw one, but it was miles away from where I was sat. Then I saw another fish within casting distance, but about four swims down to my right.
There was no-one in the swims, so I banged out a couple of single white Hit-and-Run pop-ups and during the night I nabbed three fish. Ian and Steve, the cameraman, turned up at first light and Ian jumped into the area where the fish had been seen. I stayed put, hoping that they would move into the shallows.
Looking back, that was a mistake and I should have moved earlier, but that’s one of the things about this film series. It’s real, and you see it warts and all. It was pretty tricky going, despite a good head of fish in Willow. We really had to work for them. The bites had been coming primarily at night, but I only had the daylight left, so I had to make it count. Trying various tactics, including a move and a lot of graft, we both managed to catch carp for the cameras, which always adds a bit of pressure.
Ian only managed to snare the biggest fish in the lake, didn’t he, and the film is an absolute cracker! Elsewhere around the pond it was quiet, so it showed that what we were doing was working.
I had to leave at dusk for a charity fundraising bash for Second Chance - a kids’ fishing charity that I am a patron of - so I left Ian to it for the night-time feed and yet more action.
The film is now out, so I won’t spoil things other than to say if you haven’t seen it yet, have a look at CarpSpirit YouTube channel.
Stay safe out there, people. The carp will be there waiting for us when we come back out, and for the time being spend time with your families and get ready for the big push once we are allowed out again.