On a recent session, I was chatting to a couple of anglers, the conversation swung around to the fact many of the Nutrabaits anglers traveling abroad have big hits of big fish time and time again.
I explained it’s a combination of angling ability and total confidence in the bait and tactics they use. Taking quality bait abroad is just as important as when fishing the pressured waters of the U.K. Most commercial big fish waters across Europe see constant angling pressure for at least 9 months every year. This has been the case on many of the big fish venues for well over 20 years. The carp residing in these waters have grown big on a balanced diet of carp baits. Anglers traveling overseas for angling holidays tend to take more bait than they would normally use in their usual home based angling trips. A misconception that has built over the years that because the carp are bigger they need more bait ? I can categorically say with total confidence this isn’t the case, the feeding habits of carp worldwide are very similar and it’s stock density that should dictate the amount of bait you need along with time of year.
Carp in these type of waters have plenty of choice of baits with the amount thrown in on a weekly basis. Like any human or animal, carp will choose the best food that’s available if or when placed in the going areas. In most cases there will unfortunately be plenty of bait in the lake from the previous weeks that is still laid untouched. 
On asking the lads what they used on their previous overseas trips, I wasn’t surprised to hear they phone around back street rollers trying to get as much bait for the lowest costs as possible. But then they are disappointed with the results they get year on year. Why sit behind at least £3,000 of the latest fishing equipment on top of a trip abroad that comes at a cost of at least £1,000 and then gamble on the most important ingredient for success which is the bait, in many cases a bait you have never seen or used before ? Taking advice off bait companies you don’t know, with very little track record and believing that the bait on offer is the latest wonder bait!
If I had £1 for every time I’ve heard the claim of the latest wonder bait over the last 40 years of fishing, I wouldn’t smell of fishmeal and milk proteins each evening, but would be sunning myself more often on big fish overseas waters.
Like anything in life, you get what you pay for. With the constant increase of ingredients, this year alone, many ingredients rising by as much as 33%, it’s simply not possible to produce quality low cost baits. You can’t walk into a Mercedes’ dealership and walk out with the latest top of the range car for the same price of a Vauxhall, so why would you expect the same with bait ? 
We see and hear the results from anglers on a daily basis and year on year it gives a clear picture between success and failure. My personal advice would be as follows -
* Stick with the bait you have total confidence in using. Don’t risk using a bait you have never used before. Why spoil an expensive holiday on the advice of the latest pop up bait guru or marketing on social media.
If you wouldn’t risk using it in your U.K. angling why would you consider taking it abroad. 
* The amount of bait to take. Why fill your boot to the brim with bait if in the U.K. you are the type of angler that trickles bait in little and often ? Stick to your angling strengths, if you believe turning up at a foreign water, taking advice off the bailiff that the best method is fishing the 3 spots he suggests and spreading 20kg over them is the best policy, this being the same advice the previous anglers in that swim, then you cannot complain if your results don’t match up to your expectations. 
* Search for your own spots, effort = reward. Carp worldwide back off angling pressure and find new and safer dinning areas, so search these out. Stay quiet, vigilant and be willing to change tactics or move swims if it’s not happening. Don’t have any regrets on your journey home. Better to say you gave it your best than the often stated, they didn’t turn up in my swim or they weren’t having it. I can guarantee even on the slowest of weeks, the carp are feeding somewhere on the lake and it’s your job to find that spot if you’re wanting to add to your photo gallery. 
* Fish to your strengths and most importantly take the highest quality bait you can afford. Better to have 10kg of confidence than 30kg of gamble. 
* Do your research on the venue you are planning on fishing, lake depths, other species of fish in the lake, angling pressure on the lake, and most important, don’t take one piece of advice as gospel. Many of the pieces of information on lakes on social media may be many years old. Lakes change over time with angling pressure.
* If a boat is available on the lake to use, don’t be afraid to get out and search your chosen swim. I always carry a multi section prodding stick which is perfect for checking out the lake depth and more importantly the lake bed. You will be amazed what you will find over markering around. Also sat quietly in the boat and drift across your swim whilst watching the water for signs of feeding carp that wouldn’t be visible from the bank. I’ve been lucky to find several feeding spots using this tactic, looking for feeding carp or cloudy water.
Please remember to wear a life jacket and be careful.
Tight Lines on your next foreign adventure and we look forward to seeing your catch reports.
Rich Hughes
