Summertime Angling – With Ade Kiddell

This entry was posted on 28th August, 2020 by Anna Cooper

This year has been a strange one for all of us, I am not sure life will ever be the same again after the upheavals of the last few months. Hopefully, we can return to as normal a life as possible as soon as is possible. I think we have all suffered some very difficult moments during the pandemic and that is why I am so glad I have fishing to turn to in difficult times.

Why I Love Fishing…

Time spent fishing on my own or with friends or family is time I can relax and recharge my batteries.  From facts and figures, it's also evident that many more people are turning to angling in one form or another as a way of relaxation in these testing times. Hopefully, many of those will choose to take up the sport on a more long-term basis.

Best Time to Fish in the Summer

Since my last piece, a lot of travel restrictions have been lifted here in France, so we had a few visitors to the house with some good fish being caught. We mainly caught Barbel but also some other species of decent size were landed.

With daytime temperatures getting into the mid-30s over here in France, fishing has been best at first light, early evening and right through until around midnight. The carp have done a complete disappearing act during the day, leading my good mates, Bob and Doug, who were visiting in pursuit of carp, going home carp-less. However, they did catch plenty of barbel and chub! Doug had a misfortunate incident of his fishing rod being pulled in after a savage run, but luckily after a bit of searching around with a big hook and lead he managed to snag and recover the rod, minus the could have been carp.

Summer Fishing in France

My own fishing has through choice been restricted to late sessions as I always have enjoyed fishing in the evenings and the first couple of hours of darkness at this time of year. I am not a sun worshiper and find the heat of the day too much, so prefer to get jobs done in the day and make sure everything is ready for a few hours prime time fishing.

The norm has been catching half a dozen or so barbel per evening session on maize and 8 mm Sonubait Robin Red pellets as they are the most effective bait. Plenty of fish in the 4 to 6lb range with a few better specimens including a few over the magic 10lb!

Upon reading other anglers posts, I have noticed that some very big roach have been caught on pellet. Often where big fish are the target anglers using pellets as an attractor are picking up some specimen roach on baits meant for big fish. I decided to target the roach with a rig with a strong hook and braid hooklink using a bait band to mount a single 6 mm pellet for bait. The idea was to try to sort out some better roach but by using a robust hook and braid hooklink. This meant that if a barbel picked up the bait, I stood a good chance of getting it out on the stepped-up gear.

My plan worked well with some nice roach in absolutely stunning condition with beautiful colours glistening in the evening sun. As I suspected a few barbels also found the bait irresistible including a season-best so far of exactly 11lb.

Fish Care in the Summer Heat

Fish care is important at all times but especially in the warm months when oxygen levels are low. As I have said before, a good unhooking mat and a large spoon net are essential items for a barbel angler and Angling Direct stock a wide variety with Advanta and Korum being among my favourite fish care and net brands.

Fishing with Youth

Whilst my Granddaughter Florence was visiting, she always asks “Grandad, when can we go fishing?”, so every day for a few hours we both have been making the most of our time together and of the lake. By fishing together, I see that every year her understanding and ability improves with fishing. Florence can now bait her own hook and feeder and in many cases unhook the fish. We are still working on the casting but it's coming along well. Fishing with a young one is made easier when they are catching plenty, keeping their attention held of the sport and not wanting more when it is time to pack the tackle up.

Planning a Fishing Trip in Northern France

I am now busy preparing for a trip to a large French lake in search of some big carp, a couple of friends have invited me to join them on their annual trip to a lake in Northern France where the carp run to over 70lb. After the difficult year we have had it will be a good chance to relax and hopefully find myself a few carp!

Stay safe and enjoy your fishing!