LATEST ADDITIONS

Echo Pools in France has been producing some whoppers in the last few weeks, with 'Colin' being caught over the bank holiday and on Wednesday, Lawrence (pictured below) banked the 52lb 8oz Silver Common to add to his already impressive catch list. Timmy Argent has been on them again over in France this morning adding to his already impressive tally. He can now add 'Wendy' to his photo album and at a very impressive 58lb 10oz's we wonder if he has had his quota for this visit. Not a gambling man but I wouldn't bet against it.

The Learn to Fish Carp Academy in association with Angling Direct will launch at a lake in the London Borough of Havering in an attempt to get children from London, Essex, Herts & Kent away from the computer screens and back into the great outdoors during the School holidays with one of the nations favourite pass times fishing. Concentrating on the fast growing carp fishing scene, children will learn the basics of fishing from qualified coaches with the chance at landing a big fish to show their friends. The first bookable sessions are starting from the 28th of May 2016 and are open to children aged 7-15 at Tylers Common Fishery in Upminster. Although this is a paid event it does include free Membership to the Academy, free fishing equipment hire supplied by Angling Direct whilst all bait for the session is provided free by Baitcraft.

I was looking for new rods that would not only suit my price range but have everything I needed from a rod – strength, 50mm butt rings to ensure my distance casting and look stylish because I’m a bit of a tackle tart. I also wanted something that was slim and lightweight but with enough push to be able to reach my required distances. I was lucky enough to get sponsored by Free Spirit and was given three CTX in 3. 25lb-test-curve rods with 50mm butt ring and a spod rod and stalker rod.

Solar Tackle field tester Gunther De Vos has kicked his season off nicely with this 38lb 8oz mirror landed landed on an overnighter on his Belgian syndicate, which is a section of The Schelde river that was dammed off 200 years ago. Gunther explains: "I fished my home syndicate for an overnighter in an area that I'd pre-baited with some of Solar Tackle’s Pink & White test baits. "I'd stuck the baits in my freezer on receiving them, taking them out after 12 hours, shaking off the excess ice and then covering them in rock salt. As the baits thawed they soaked in some of the salt, which is a tactic I've used to great success in previous spring seasons (always before the carp spawn).