EPISODE SYNOPSIS
EPISODE 1 – FRANCE, THURSDAY JULY 12, 8PM, ITV4
Ali, Tom and Neil really immerse themselves in rural French culture as they try their hand at a variety of things – including finding themselves in a patisserie where they will have to impress the owner with their baking skills. Doing so could help them to catch the fish of their dreams, as it will decide the order in which they get to pick their fishing spots for the rest of the trip!
They then head off to the Gigantica Lakes complex, a venue all three are very familiar with, having fished it a number of times in the past. It has also produced personal best carp for each of them as well.
This is a holiday venue, and they will have to compete with the other paying customers fishing at this lake, which has a reputation for being difficult, as the carp have seen it all before. The prizes are definitely there to be had, as it is home to some huge carp, but will the trio be lucky enough to hook and land one of the monsters?
EPISODE 2 – BOSNIA, THURSDAY JULY 19, 8PM, ITV4
Our intrepid trio of presenters hear of a lake in Bosnia which is home
to some very big fish and contains good numbers of them, so they can’t resist going to check it out.
First stop, though, is a bit of predator fishing in neighbouring Serbia, before a long drive gives them a chance to see parts of both countries, and how they have recovered after the conflict.
Once they are installed at the lake they set about catching some carp, and it soon becomes apparent that large numbers of them are grouped up in one part of the lake, which leaves the other two having to work really hard for a bite.
But they have plenty of days ahead of them, and are confident that at some point the fish will move around.
In the meantime there is always the chance of a bite out of the blue from a really big one. Failing that, they can at least watch their mate hauling them in.
There are plenty of laughs and jokes throughout the show, not to mention lots of fish action, and Ali makes some furry friends.
They also get involved in trying and preparing the local cuisine, as well as seeing where some of it originates from!
EPISODE 3 – THAILAND, THURSDAY JULY 26, 8PM, ITV4
Thailand is actually home to the largest carp species in the world – the Siamese carp – and although it is now almost impossible to catch one of these monsters in the wild, there are plenty of fishing resorts which have them. The best known of all is Gillhams, near Krabi. To get a feel for the country and its culture, Ali, Tom and Neil spend a few days amid the hustle and bustle of Bangkok when they first arrive and, after doing a bit of sightseeing, soon find themselves at a lake on the outskirts of the city, seeing what they can catch on some locally sourced baits.
They are all itching to get on with the main event, though, as Gillhams is home to a good number of Siamese carp topping 100lb, and there is even a chance of a 200-pounder!
The fishing turns out to be beyond their wildest dreams, especially for Nei,l who is in Thailand for the first time and can’t believe the size of some of the fish swimming around in front of him, let alone imagine what he is going to do if he actually hooks one!
EPISODE 4 – SPAIN, THURSDAY AUGUST 2, 8PM, ITV4
A sporting injury means that Ali is unable to join Tom and Neil as they embark on one of their greatest adventures yet, which will see them pitting their wits against the fish in one of the largest waters that they have ever fished – the famous Embalse de Orellana, which is more than 60km long!
The water is home to carp to around the 80lb mark, but with weather conditions decidedly against them, they will need to use all of their skill and knowledge if they are to stand a chance of catching.
Along the way they make friends with some of the local anglers, one of whom mentions a nearby stretch of the Guadiana River. Having seen some photos of the stunning looking carp that have been caught
there, they decide that they just have to fit it into their plans, even if it means going their own separate ways for a few days.
The trip definitely doesn’t go to plan, and at times the odds are stacked against them and they are left wondering if they have taken on more than they can handle – but will they ultimately succeed in their quest for a big Spanish carp?