World Known

Including another two thirties and two more over 29lb. We were losing a few fish here and there, it’s rarely possible to land everything and most of the losses incurred were down to hook pulls. But there were certainly some good fish lost too. I took a wide variety of bits and pieces with me just in case, including several different hook patterns. I think I tried all of them while I was there and while I lost at least one or two on all patterns it was definitely the size 2 Solar Long Shank hooks that came out on top. It was a good test for many things although things were kept fairly basic on the rig front. 80lb braid mainline was doing the job 45lb Quick Silver for the hook lengths was as reliable as ever. The first day fishing from the Island produced seventeen fish with all but five of them over 20lb so it was a lot more manageable and with a better stamp of fish so I was keen for another go the following day. But although conditions seemed very similar, we seemed to have a different group in front of us that day as there were more doubles with a few twenties thrown in. The other guys up the bank were getting some better fish so it could have been that they had just moved upstream. However right on last knockings as we were about to pack up I did latch in to a much better fish of 33lb 8oz, which kept the run of thirties going as I’d caught at least one thirty every day and I was keen to see if I could keep it going. Saturday was a short days fishing as it’s normal practice for everyone to go out for a meal in the evening. But there were no worries as the first fish of the day was a clonking fish of 36lb. The big fish were back and the first ten fish were all decent ones apart from a couple of nineteen’s. But then I hooked another one of the big ‘chuggers’ that stayed down deep and when we saw it go in to the net we were all convinced that I had finally cracked the 40lb mark. It was a lovely deep-bodied fish, but the needle wouldn’t go past 38lb 4oz. It was brilliant fishing and there were still other fish of 29lb 12oz, 32lb and 32lb 4oz to come before the end of the day! The final tally for me after six days fishing was 117 fish with thirteen thirties and a further fifty-four twenties – amazing fishing by any stretch of the imagination! Perhaps the only thing I missed out on was getting a 40 and I’m sure there must have been one or two about, but that’s always something to go back for. Thanks certainly go to Paul Hunt at CCH for a fantastic week and to all the other guys on the trip. All in all it only reinforced the feelings that I already had for the St. Lawrence, it is a very unique and special place and one that has so much to offer.

Arriving at Montreal Airport in time to meet up with the other UK anglers who were to fish the same week. We sat eating late that evening. With thoughts of those amazing St. Lawrence carp slowly revolving around my mind punctuated by Paul Hunt words, “We’re off at 6am sharp” registering a distant drowsy thought as sleep took hold. We dropped off a further two pairs of anglers onto the remaining swims then it was on the Lighthouse Swim on the Rollin Rock Island. This swim has been created since I last visited and has proved to be a winner - and did so during the week. Then we came back downstream to the famous Rollin Rock swim which is situated at downstream end of the Island. In 1999 I fished with the infamous Derek Ritchie in this spot and it was Derek who gave the swim it’s name after standing on a large rock a little way out from the swim which provided an excellent platform to play and land fish. Derek’s cry of ‘Get on the Rock - the Rollin Rock’ (after the beer of the same name) stuck. Can you believe it after ten minutes the rod violently lurched downwards as line exited the reel in double quick time and I found myself attached to a fish that went storming off into the mighty St. Lawrence flow and kept going against a fair bit of pressure before stopping abruptly. This allowed me to draw breath and get it on the move towards me. Rolling in the clear close in I could see it was another really good fish. Once landed I shouted out to Paul, “You better come and have a look at this.” It was another flawless specimen that tipped over the 30-pound mark by 8oz. Paul reported that Shaun & Bob were having a superb time on swim two veryone had walkie-talkies as standard issued, Paul’s current models were in tasteful Realtree camo finish.) Later when Paul journeyed out to pick up every one I waited to see their smiling face. The biggest smiles without doubt belonged to Shaun & Bob, they’d had 36 runs landing 32 fish including a couple of rare twenty pound plus mirrors, Again Mike & Matt were hauling and Dave & Ritchie had a good day too. Rollin Rock, the swim where Paul and many of the customers have enjoyed outstanding catches over the years. Paul’s favourite spot was at extreme range right out in the main channel that’s used by the vast ships that navigate the St. Lawrence seaway everyday. Paul’s beautiful fluid casting action combined with maximum tip speed meant the rig simply flew out far beyond the 120 yard mark. In fact several times he was left being able to see the backing on the spool meaning nearly 150 yards had been cast! But this was the spot to be and Paul’s ‘workrate’ that day had to be seen to be fully appreciated, he simply didn’t stay still for the next 10-hours. If he wasn’t playing fish, he was spodding and if he was doing neither I was talking pictures of him with his catch. This included a fabulous brace of 30-pounders, the best a 35lb beauty, plus a string of others. Still I wasn’t complaining managing several fish to 25lb that day. Paul your guide was supreme at it in the UK way before he set-up shop in Canada.

Platform One …. anything happening”?

 “Hi Paul” … Two takes so far, landed one, the other set off like an express train and shed the hook, the current all over the place, one minute going left the next going right. “Any size”? “1/30+” "OK …keep in touch” “Platform Two” …. “Hi Paul … “Nothing yet, but we’ve have carp topping left and right of the platform.” “Have you tried boilie to your left, did some big fish last week” “Not yet we’ll give it a try” “Platform Three” … “Hi Paul … We’re seeing fish, a couple topped close in, just had our first fish.” “Keep at it all, the peg fished really well yesterday especially in the afternoon”. “Hi Bank… anything” “Four so far, and we’ve both got fish on at the moment …. talk to you later” I put the walkie talkie down, having listened in to everyone’s replies, and turned my attention back to the mighty St Lawrence. We were on platform three, one hour into day three of our weeks holiday, and we were gradually coming to terms with the excitement of the take and the sheer power of a hooked Canadian carp . We’d been dropped off by boat onto platform three, soon after first light, by Paul who own and run Canadian Carping Holidays. We had just had our first fish of the day, and had the full day in front of us. one, on platform one, we’d had a brilliant day with 14 fish to 32lb plus. On day two, on platform two, we’d had ten, to mid twenties, and we were already off and running on day three. For many years I’d followed the stories about the carp fishing on the St Lawrence. For many years it had been one of my dreams to fish it myself, and here I was, with my son Martyn, living that dream.The daily routine was not designed for a relaxing, restful holiday, but it was perfect to maximise our fishing time. Up before first light, a quick shower, into the kitchen to make a flask, have a bit of breakfast, and pack our cool box with the delicious sandwiches and snacks left ready for us. Outside a quick check of the gear and filling the bait bucket from the ready prepared bait bins. As the day-light spread across the sky, onto the boat, and off to our allotted pre-baited swim. A quick farewell and good luck to the other anglers, as the boat backed away, then it was time to get the rods sorted, the swim organised, and then settle into the days fishing routine. A full days fishing, then at a pre arranged time, pack up and wait for the boat pick up. Back to the house, a beer or two, a chat with the other anglers sharing results etc. then a shower, a fabulous meal (Lisa did reassure me that the fabulous deserts were low calorie!), a couple more beers, a few more fishy stories, then collapse into bed for a few hours sleep, before the alarm goes and you do it all again. “River carp fishing doesn’t get any better than this”

The fishing on the St. Lawrence River and all the varied wildlife, I love it! I must love it for I have been there 6 times now and once lucky enough to be out at the same time as Steve Briggs and his really lovely wife Joan. Joan is extremely funny and always laughing and Steve, well I felt really privileged to fish with the best. Paul as you can see on his website has had some really well known carp anglers out with him, so if you book up you never know, you may be fishing next to your hero. Going back to when I had first read Chris Balls article, I had mentioned to my lovely wife (she may read this HA HA) that I  would really love to go out there, and lucky for me I did as she then  told my mate Peter and they proceeded  book it up as a  surprise for my birthday. My best day was on the High Bank swim,  I had 54 carp from 17lb to 30lb+ all in one day time session and my arms where falling off and couldn’t manage doing the night as well!! you just cant do that in England in one day!! 99.9 % are big commons, very few under 17lb  loads of 20lb+ carp every day  and you would be very unlucky if you did not go home without one 30lb+ at the end of the week. But keep in mind these are hard fighting lean wild river carp much unlike lake fed carp in their appearance and brute strength. Mirrors are few and far between but I have been lucky and had some very lovely heavily plated mirrors up to 28lb. St. Lawrence river is really a lovely place to fish, the wildlife is abundant with sightings of beavers, otters, lovely fox’s feeding from your hands and I even had a skunk sleeping under my bed-chair!!! Luckily for me it turned out to be a very friendly animal…I must of smelt like him after a 24 hour session! The bird life, well they take my breath away, peregrine falcons, hawks and eagles… the list is endless. Well I could go on and on, just let me say if you are thinking of going out to Canada, trust me you wont get better than Paul at Canadian Carpin Holidays, Paul knows the St Lawrence like the back of his hand, he’s a great guide  Don’t  think about it, if you have read this fare you know you want to go to so just BOOK IT! You will love it and remember it forever; you will no doubt go back again and again for some TOP carpin.