Stories from the continent
Since the beginning of the year the weather has been very strange in France. The carp are being difficult but some anglers have caught some very nice ones. At the moment Michel, a Wychwood team friend, has caught the most carp. In only one month he caught 10 carp weighing more than 35lb and 2 more than 45lb: one Mirror and one Common more than 50lb, absolutely wonderful! For the last year Michel has been using Wychwood products and is very happy and confident in the Wychwood tackle he is using.
All these carp were caught with rigs using Hidden Deception hook-length material, the ideal material to fish for carp whatever the conditions.
Laurent's favourite tackle: Equinox Reel
I have used this reel since the beginning of the year and feel that this is the perfect all-round reel to use in any conditions. It has a very sensitive clutch and is capable of tackling the biggest carp on any sort of venue.
Laurent
Laurent is a member of France’s most famous carp fishing association which has more than 60 members. He lives in the Vendée region and mainly fishes small and medium river in this area, but is also willing to travel to target some of France’s big lakes in search of the huge carp that inhabit them.
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Manu's favourite tackle: Maximiser Bait bag
In the last couple of years I have tried to reduce my tackle because I like to be mobile, being able to chase the carp when conditions change and I need to move. The Wychwood Maximiser bait bag allows me to do this as I can have all the tackle and bait I need in one bag.
Manu
Emmanuel (Manu) comes from Toulouse in southern France. He is a very experienced carp angler who has targetted big lakes from the beginning of the ’90s. In May of last year he had a double hit landing two 50lb-plus carp in a 24 hour session.
Due to the really wet weather at the beginning of the year Manu has only fished a few sessions but still managed to land plenty of carp to over 40lb.
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Jerome's favourite tackle: Epic rod
It’s a really nice rod with a good action and is a pleasure to use in all situations! The blank is powerful enough to control the biggest fish but still retains plenty of action when smaller fish are encountered. He has great confidence when using the product.
Jérome
Jérome lives in the centre of France, near to the Dordogne. He likes fishing wild lakes and rivers with only one objective: to catch the biggest carp he can! Last year he spent over a hundred nights on the lakes and rivers landing carp to over 50lb.
Since January, the rainy conditions in the centre and southern part of France have kept the water too dirty and the temperature too cold for him to target river fish. But, like Laurent, he is not afraid to travel long distances and at the beginning of June he went to some of the largest French lakes in the southern part of the country and caught some nice carp.
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Johan's favourite tackle: Grand Tourer boat rod
I’m totally in love with this short rod. For the last two months I have carried it with me at all times in my car along with a short landing net. This means I am able to fish at a moment’s notice.
Johan
Johan is the youngest French team member. He loves to fish small wild lakes, old gravel pits and other such waters. Last year he discovered a lake with lots of natural food, crayfish, dressen etc. He spent the winter months visiting the lake, prebaiting and observing the fish. He began fishing the lake in April and managed several carp of just over 30lb but observed some bigger fish close to overhanging trees and underwater snags. Using a small boat, a Wychwood Grand Tourer boat rod and a minimum amount of tackle Johan has managed to land a 50lb Mirror carp. He continues to target this area and hopes to send news about even bigger fish in the very near future.
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