CCH Articles

Article by Andy Hazeldine

 Article 8: CRAZY CANADIAN CARPIN!!

I have visited Paul and Lisa at CCH on 5 occasions and all I can say that each one was absolutely awesome. The fishing is incredible to put it mildly and the sheer numbers of fish present has to be seen to be believed. Paul and Lisa hospitality is 2^nd to none and as I often travel alone they have always made me feel very welcome, do not be afraid to go there on your own as you will easily make good friends! The social side in the evening is great and many a laugh is had over a beer and don’t miss out on Lisa food you won't go hungry or be disappointed – although you will need to go on a diet when you get home. Some of my adventures and photos are below – please just go you cannot fail to enjoy!

June 2007

I arrived with a group of 5 other anglers and was blown over by the River Manor setting! Tremendous House, with beautiful views and garden. The weather was glorious and Paul informed me that the fish had finished spawning in the bays and were moving back into the main river and were ravenous! He wasn’t wrong!

 I spent one morning in the Celebrity Swim in the Parks and the shallow bay was totally black with carp  which were crashing and feeding everywhere . Paul spodded maize over the top of them whilst were put baits amongst them – the rods were barely in the rests when they both roared off and we were both into angry hard fighting Canadian Carp which were both 20s. This non stop action continued all morning until lunchtime when the fish had made their way into the main river in the heat of the day.

We were constantly visited by a friendly Racoon and her babies and even managed to hand feed her Lisa's sandwiches! Paul then told us to pack up as we were heading back to the Manor House Garden Swim .  Here the action was unbelievable, even though were were casting less than 20 yards out, the 3 of us fishing were getting take after take. Nearly all of the fish were mid to high 20s topped off by the 32lb fish below.

We all fished the garden swim for the next few days and at the end of the 7 day holiday I ended up with 106 carp with 48 over 20lb and 3 x 30s. Lisa even joined in on the furious action I left totally knackered but exhilarated.

 May 2008

I arrived in Mid May on my own again, ready to take on the challenge once more! Once again the sport was absolutely amazing but a few of the highlights were as follows:

Snag Bay

For anyone who has not fished snag bay – you must give it a go – there are some truly huge fish that get in there! When I was playing my 38lb a much bigger fish spooked off – I would not have liked to put a weight on that one. The fish come in very close and even between your legs when you are wading in chest waders! My biggest fish was a 38lb caught on a hot afternoon and the fish managed to transfer the size 2 Solar Strong hold into my thumb and we could not get it out. That explains why I don’t look too happy in the photo – the hook in still in my thumb!

 Back at Paul and Lisa's the hook was eventually removed with the aid of a bucket of ice, bolt croppers and a large glass of whisky! During this trip I caught over 70 fish up to 38lb with 3 other 30s and the others mainly 20s! We even managed a quick session on the Commons lake the morning we were going out and knocked out a few! 

October 2009

I returned in October to give the main river a bash ! The water was still warm even though the air was cooling and the days shorter . The fish were on the munch ready for the long cold winter ahead. This was a different type of fishing , fishing in 30 or 40 feet of crystal clear water – to see the fish fighting in these deep waters is an incredible sight.

Much of the fishing is done close in off platforms and on islands and the rods literally bend double on the ferocity of the takes - make sure the baitrunners are on otherwise the rods are going in!

All we needed to do was to spod corn upstream and wait for the shoals of carp to move through – when they did we often got 2 takes together. Between takes we amused ourselves by feeding the resident foxes, chipmunks and Red Squirrels! Many a decent fish were caught including a 32lb common and a 28lb fully scaled, we caught less fish than the Spring but the average size was bigger! During this trip I made good friends with Robin, Gary, Pete and Ray and I will be returning to Paul and Lisa with them in 2011!

May 2010

I returned with my good friend Dougie to get some serious action and once again the St Lawrence did not disappoint. We were joined by Lee and “Flesh”, a crazy couple of Northerners who certainly livened things up – we even saw them drinking Jack Daniels at 7am on the bank! The weather was hot and warm but the fish still fed in earnest. A few days were spent in snag bay and we averaged 15 to 20 fish per day from here, topped by a cracking 36 ½ lb immaculate common.

To illustrate the number of takes were getting, the 4 of us had a “ match “ in Wayne's Bay one day – the match finished 38 fish all , and this was despite a 2 hour dead spot in the heat of the middle of the day. Several thirties were had during the match and at one point we had 3 fish on at once, which weighed 32lb, 29lb and 28lb – these all went in the net together! Doug and I finished the week with over 140 fish between us even with the heat.

Another week of Crazy Canadian Carpin

 For anyone who wants to get a bend in the rod, catch some immaculate hard fighting fish I cannot recommend Paul and Lisa place highly enough, and don’t forget have a laugh and a crack in the evening – you won't regret it ! I have also been on a Sturgeon trip to British Columbia organised by Paul and Lisa but that is another good story!