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Chris Woodrow’s World News – August 2002
by Chris Woodrow
 | | Chris with his Raduta fifty! |
Plenty of news again this month!
Features on Italy, Spain, the usual stuff from France, my recent fifty from Raduta in Romania, a world record mandarin catfish, an awesome shark from the coastal waters of Namibia…and much more!
Please remember to e mail me any snippets, pictures, rumours or gossip on your overseas fishing trips, chrisw7@hotmail.com
Romania
As promised in the last World News, here’s the picture of the recent fifty pound mirror I had in Romania. Although I had several forties on my last trip to Raduta, this is my first Romanian fifty and was the result of a trek of “African Queen proportions,” to quote Tim Paisley. I won’t bore you with all the details!
I was fortunate enough to wangle a second trip to Raduta earlier this year, my previous trip being the previous October. For those of you that don't know, Raduta is near Bucharest in Romania, it is also home to the world record carp at over 82lbs. Sunken villages, graveyards, horrendous snags, I'm sure you've all heard the stories!
The tackle we use to deal with a venue like Raduta is as follows, to give you a quick idea, 8 & 6oz flat sea leads, 80lb Kryston Ton-Up leaders, 65lb Power Pro braid and 35lb Suffix Titanium main lines. Size 4 Kamasan Power Carp Hooks, 25lb Kryston Mantis and 25 lb Korda IQ hooklinks. 4lb TC Harrison Rods and Daiwa Infinity X 5500 BR reels.
 | | Chris Robson and party with monster cats! |
In October I’d fished the main body of the 2500-acre lake, in an area known as the Gypsy Village, but for this trip I fancied a different area. As we are fishing for England in the September World Cup, I wanted as much exposure to different areas of the lake as possible, so opted to start in World Record Bay. Tim Paisley and Crowy were fishing to our left, and a couple of northern lads a mile away to our right.
We struggled a bit in World Record Bay, lost a load of fish in the snags, and experienced horrendous weed on the lines etc. Rene had landed a 42lb'er and we'd had plenty of action, but we just didn't feel confident of a lump. So, after a week, we decided a move was on the cards. We finally settled in an area known as 'The Islands', it looked carpy and the wind was hammering our way...had we made the right choice?
We caught from the off, and in the middle of the day towards the end of our stay, my middle rod rattled off! The result was a cracking mirror of just over 50lb - an awesome fish in pristine condition. We landed commons of thirty plus, forty plus and the fifty.
I'll be back!
The World Carp Cup
With the World Carp Cup (to be held at Raduta in Romania) only a few months away in mid-September, we are starting to get the England team preparations under way. There have been a few recent rule changes too, including the banning of braided mainlines. I’ll include a full update in the next World News.
Spain
Chris Robson has been in touch again recently; this guy does more travelling the globe in pursuit of fish than Tony Davies–Patrick! Here is his account of their assault on Mequinenza in Spain..
 | | Sandrine with her record mandarin catfish. |
“As promised, please find attached some photos from the Mequinenza carp and catfish trip guided by Claude Valette. Claude was an inspiration with his professionalism and generosity and is an ideal choice if you anyone is considering a trip to Spain after catfish. We experienced a seriously big thunderstorm on the Tuesday night which we later learnt is good news for the cat fishing, and true to his word, several fish were had in the following 24hours, including my very rare 1.9metre mandarin and the other fish pictured. Both myself and my cousin Kev Herbert went out not really knowing what to expect, and came back with so many great memories, including a 2-hour video shoot I took of the trip! These fish are awesome; their immense power just HAS to be experienced. Whilst I am an out and out carp angler, I have to say these kiddos really do leave you open mouthed and begging for more!
Suffice to say we will be going for the return trip next year!
A big thanks needs to be said to Si Horton for being such good company and for managing the trip (I felt guilty being waited on so much!!) and to Claude Valette who made sure all of our party went home VERY reluctantly! The food was superb and so was the company. 10 out of 10!”
If you fancy a trip to Mequinenza in Spain, remember that Essex Angling are UK booking agents, they can be e-mailed info@essexangling.com or call direct on 01708 438220 for availability, bookings, updates or just a chat.
World Record!
Staying with Mequinenza, here is a picture of Sandrine (lucky Mr. Horton’s partner!) with her record breaking mandarin catfish 2m 36, 176lb (80kg)! Absolutely awesome, well-done Sandrine from everyone at Fishingwarehouse!
Italy
I get loads of e-mails on fishing in Europe and the rest of the World, here’s a nice one and a couple of great pictures too from Sergio in Italy...
 | | Sergio with a winter 26.5kg mirror. |
“Hi, my name's Sergio. I am writing you from north of Italy (near Venice). I am member of Carp Dimension staff; I want to tell you that we have wonderful waters (lakes, rivers and canals) plenty of virgin carp! Carp fishing started its Italian history in 1987 by Duncan Key. Veneto (my region) has a lot of anglers, but others Italian regions (like Friuli or Lombardia) have no carp angler! If someone is interest to Italian carp fishing, I will be happy to tell or give a hand to our English teachers! I send you my two bests of last year. The mirror 26,5 kg in December at -13°C (air) and 4°C water. The common 23 kg caught in October with water at 20°C. Italian fishes are very hungry in autumn and winter. Best boilies in autumn is made by peanut mix or fishmeal mix, in winter lighter version of fishmeal mix are very good too! Bye.”
Thanks Sergio, if you are interested in getting in touch or need a little more info on Italy then please e-mail me direct, chrisw7@hotmail.com and I’ll pass on / reply to your requests.
Thailand
 | | Bruce Dale with a 32kg Mekong cat. |
Bruce Dale has been in touch, so if you fancy a trip to Thailand in February, then please e-mail me and I’ll put you in touch. Bruce is organizing a trip to a very well stocked lake near Bangkok this coming February.
I’ll let Bruce take over from here, as you can see he’s caught a few lumps out there too!!! Cheers Bruce!
“Hi Chris, I hope you don't mind me contacting you but I was given you address by my good friend Francois. I have now fished three times in Thailand with Francois while over there buying furniture for my business, he suggested that it would be cheaper if I could get a group of anglers together. I have a date in mind for the third week in February 2003 and one friend already interested in joining me.
I have had some success with the carp though like carp fishing anywhere it can be very slow but the rewards great one of 24 kgs on my first trip and 45kgs on my second, the last trip one very large fish avoided the net snapping the line between bungalows. But like always the Mekong cats are very obliging along with many other species if you want to fish for them. So if you know any one interested in fishing in Thailand I would be grateful if you would forward there names to me. If I can be of any use regarding info fishing Thailand don't hesitate, thanks for your time. Tight lines, Bruce Dale.”
Sounds interesting, the pictures are mouth-watering as always!
Isn’t Paul Bax aka ‘Roto’ from the forum doing something out there too? Paul, any news mate?
 | | Namibian shark! |
Sharks in Namibia …
Just a little something to whet your taste buds. I went shark fishing a few years ago off the coast of Australia, mind-blowing stuff. I’ve had some spectacular pictures and a write up on shark fishing from Steve McGuire on the coast of Namibia, so watch out for the full details next month!
France
Well, after sharks in Namibia and Mekong cats in Thailand, France sounds a bit tame! Even tamer when I tell you that I’m just back from a 5 day blank at the mighty Foret D’Orient. We had a good trip, met up with some old friends, but that’s about it. The fishing was tough, water levels mega mega high and some pretty fierce winds to boot. I’ll fill you in on the details next month.
Here are a few snippets from across the Channel, and as always some tasty pictures!
Boux
 | | Mike with his Boux 48lb mirror. |
Mike has been in touch, regarding a week at the Horton Boux venue recently, and what a week it was! Great picture too, thanks Mike.
“After a week on Domain de Boux we were packing up to leave. We were planning on going at 4pm so it was the usual trudge back and to with our toys to the van, god knows why we take so much gear. Anyway, the bivvy was down & everything was away except the rods when…I get two takes at once….”
I hit the middle rod and pick up my right rod and put my foot on the butt handle, I was playing the middle rod when I began to beware of the rod on the floor doing some strange antics. I picked it up as you do and I felt a sack of spuds on the end. You know the feeling - there is something there but it’s about to leave the station & you can't stop it! I still had the middle rod going so I quickly netted it a 22lb mirror - not bad eh?
However, when I picked up the rod that had been on the floor for about 8 minutes with my size nines on it I thought ‘Christ, this is not on a snag it’s a donkey!’ It was still chugging away from me. It picked up my left hand rod too. Eventually I netted it & I was in such a trauma with rods all over the bank & one in the net I was just concentrating on climbing back up the Dam Wall and not crushing a rod or two or three.
Bearing in mind I had packed up most of my toys, I found my scales when my mate said this was bigger than all my fish so far, I'd had 18 twenties & 3 thirties! When the Avon scales went round we looked at it & thought bloody hell it looks bigger than 38lb! I was about to re-set the scales when I realized they had bottomed out. Oh shit, get the Nash monster scales out. Yep a 48lb 4oz mirror oh & a nice 22 lb mirror!
Ironic really, the last fish I had wiped my 3 other rods out & it was a forty. Mustn’t grumble! Not a bad end to a great week the biggest fish I had ever caught and the most chaotic 25 minutes fishing I have ever had.”
Cheers Chris! Mike.”
Boux can be booked through Essex Angling, info@essexangling.com or by phone 01708 438220.
Maurepaire
I caught up with Dave Payne recently in France; we had the usual hours of gossiping about the current goings on in France and the Champagne region in particular.
I spent a morning at Maurepaire with Dave looking at all the work that’s been done and discussing recent captures. If you’ve not seen the water it really is gorgeous, straight off a picture postcard. Plenty of big lumps every week too, to around the 48lb mark. I’ll being doing a ‘Fishery Focus’ on Maurepaire for the next World News, so watch out for it. There are some awesome pictures too!
Etoile
Crowy has been in touch too, seems Etoile has been fishing well, early reports detail six anglers in 6 nights fishing caught “six 30s (3 over 34lb), twenty two 20s (9 over 26lb) and five doubles.” I understand that there has been plenty of decent catches too in more recent weeks, I’ll talk to Crowy and get an update by the next World News. So watch this space!
A new fishery in France, ‘L’Etourneau’
“Dear Mr. Woodrow, I would like to inform you of a new fishery opening this year in the Limousin area of France.
 | | Vaumigny 18kg mirror. |
L'Etourneau is a series of three lakes set in 50 acres of mature woodland. The estate is totally private and owned by us. During the winter of 2001 two of the lakes where drained down and all fish were removed. After refilling lake one was stocked with young fast growing fish to over 40lb. Lake two was stocked to a lesser degree and these fish will be utilized to supplement lake one. Lake two will undergo development next year as a separate fishery. At this time lake one which is 9 acres in size has received 2 and a half tons of carp. The vast majority of which are over 20lb and the current average weight stands at 24lb. There are around 30 thirty-pound fish and several more approaching that mark which we expect to make 30lb by the end of the summer. There are a number of fish over 40lb and we expect some of the larger 30lb fish to attain 40lb by the end of this summer also. Full facilities are will be on site within the next few weeks and initial angler efforts are being rewarded with large catches (up to 40 fish in a week, it has not been uncommon to have two fish on at once). Lake three (11/2 acres) has had all the original stock from lakes one and two placed into it and is being utilized as a fun water with float fishing tactics being the norm.”
Looks interesting, let’s see if I can get a few pictures for next months news. E-mail the World news and we’ll pass on the contact details, chrisw7@hotmail.com
Horton Venues
In addition to the write up on Boux and Mequinenza above, there’s been the usual frenzy of action at the Horton venues. Margot, Saules, Vaumigny and the rest have all been fishing really well. Too much to detail, so some great photo’s of Vaumigny this month!!
If you fancy a bash at any of the Horton Venues, you can book using Essex Angling on 01708 438220 or info@essexangling.com
Etangs De Breton
 | | Graham Hughes with a Breton 37lb plus. |
Paul Selman’s lovely small lakes in Brittany have produced lots of personal bests for recent visitors.
With 30lb plus carp showing virtually every week, and 40lb plus catfish commonplace, this isn’t surprising. Thirty pound plus carp recently to Laurie Wright, Russell Kenyon, David French, John Crouch (ouch!), Graham Hughes and Brian Stanway, with 40lb plus cats to John Crouch (ouch again!) and Dean Scanlon.
Melvyn McWatt’s party from Beverley, Yorkshire, had an excellent week in very hot weather, landing over thirty good fish. Thirties, plus big 20’s from both lakes, with the best being a mirror of 35lb to a first-time ever angler who also had a 35lb catfish on borrowed rods from Birch! Biggest fish of the week was a 55lb catfish from Poplars for Melvyn, whilst Birch also produced a 48lb catfish in the same week.
Paul is looking for the first 40lb plus carp from the lakes to be landed before too much longer. More information on the lakes can be found at www.etangsdebreton.co.uk
Summary
OK, that’ll do for this month!! Hope you enjoyed the news and as always please e-mail me direct chrisw7@hotmail.com with any news, gossip or reports from around the globe.
Tight Lines, ‘till next time!
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