At the end of the day, the sky is the limit

There is an ever growing number of fisheries specialising in breaks for the holidaying angler in the UK but if you like to live on the wild side and have a bit of pioneering spirit then the world is your oyster. With air flights getting cheaper and cheaper you can spend your days fishing for sturgeon and muskellunge in Canada, mahseer in India, Iberian barbel, or the mighty arrowana of South America. At the end of the day, the sky is the limit! Several small companies offer all inclusive, guided trips fishing for these exotic beasts but if budgets are tight then you can always do it yourself. The more you can learn about the fishing you are likely to encounter before you leave home the better. Ask your travel agent about sporting facilities or contact the tourist board of the country you plan to visit. Specialist organisations, like the Catfish Conservation Group, can often put you in touch with anglers in the country you are planning to visit, and there is an enormous amount of information available on the internet. Make sure you have the correct permits before leaving and know any local restrictions. This is particularly important in Eastern Europe where it is often necessary to take a written and practical exam before you can purchase a permit! One of the biggest problems that you will be faced with is the dreaded baggage allowance. Unless you are fishing in Europe then you will be flying to your destination – and baggage weights are strictly enforced by most airlines. Carrying awkward loads, like rod holdalls, isn’t a problem as long as you give the airline plenty of warning but you must keep the weight down. On charter flights you are limited to 20 kilos of luggage and 5 kilos of hand luggage. This might sound like a lot but it isn’t, especially if you are carrying your own bait. When carp fishing I like to have at least a kilo of bait per day. On a fortnights holiday this will already have taken up more than half of my allowance, even before I’ve packed clothes, and tackle! Scheduled flights are a better bet if you are planning on camping out. Normally the baggage allowance is 30 kilos allowing for some of the comforts of home. It is also worth bearing in mind that some baits are best avoided. Although I have never had any problem with boilies, hemp is best avoided because of it’s drug links. After all, it might be common knowledge that it is used as bait here, but that doesn’t go for the whole world! With the current foot and mouth crisis it is probably best to try and obtain your bait at your destination. It really doesn’t matter where you go in the world, there will always be something you can catch on normal British tackle (even if the locals tell you otherwise!). There are only a limited number of ways in which fish can feed. The species might be different but they all do the same things in the end. Research is vital, try to learn as much as possible about your potential quarry. If I was limited to one rod then it would be a twelve foot two pound test curve carp rod. This will cope with anything from a pound up to fifty pounds at a push. My standard gear consists of most of the basic tackle I use in the UK. Line and hook sizes are up-rated and I normally won’t drop below fifteen pound line; braided lines of 30 pounds and upwards allow you to take on bigger quarry, should the opportunity arise. All of my gear is stored in a decent rucksack. This has a huge main compartment that will swallow fifteen kilos of bait, all of my gear and clothes for a long session, but is still manageable. One essential piece of kit for anyone travelling by plane is a KIS rod carrier. Although these aren’t cheap, they are essential for preventing damage to expensive rods. Delicate tackle, like scales, alarms and reels are carried as hand luggage in a large plastic bucket which can be used for soaking particles when you arrive. If you search the local food shops you will find a whole range of possible baits, from baked beans, to cheese, to exotic seafood. I always carry a large pot of red dye and a couple of bottles of concentrated flavouring. Even if you can only get a bland bait like wheat, you can pep it up without seriously denting the all important baggage allowance. Many foreign countries do not allow night fishing and it is essential that you check this out before travelling. If you are allowed to night fish then the weight limit means that you will have to rough it to a certain extent. Lightweight dome tents are available from specialist camping shops but the high cost is difficult to justify. Cheaper domes are heavier but do the job adequately. An in built groundsheet and mozzie net are essential for keeping the bugs out. Although you might consider a bivvy bag, don’t! They are totally unsuitable for anything, let alone fishing. Instead of a bedchair, I normally take a sleeping mat, which can double as an unhooking mat. This is essential kit as I want to return the fish in perfect condition. A lightweight sleeping bag is a worthwhile investment. My snugpack sleeping bag is good for moderate climates, doesn’t cost the earth and compresses to the size of a boot.

The best advice though is to really investigate your chosen destination before leaving home. The internet is the perfect place to meet like minded anglers from around the world, and a small amount of local knowledge can make the difference between a disaster and the trip of a life-time.