Many thanks
Tom

Although I have never been one for really recording all my captures, Tom has asked me to keep a small diary of my fishing days and ways for the Cotswold Rods website.

Although I am a practical minded kind of chap, academia has never been my strongest point. But with a little persuasion from Tom, I have agreed, for better or worse, for the first time to add my catches and blanks to internet history!

Firstly I’d like to introduce myself. My names Colin Court, I’m a 45 year old grandfather, and a ground working contractor by trade. Like most keen fishermen, I work full time and snatch my fishing whenever I can.
I live on the beautiful Sussex coast, just outside of Brighton and I like to fish for anything and everything. I am lucky in that where I live, I have a plethora of venues locally, so whatever the season may be, there are feeding fish to be found.
If I were pushed to label myself as a specific type of angler, I guess I would label myself a specialist angler. I like to fish for different species seasonally, in the traditional season for each one.
In the summer, generally I’ll fish for carp, tench and bream in the Sussex meres and estate lakes. Occasionally, I’ll chase mullet from the local Sussex River Ouse. However, when the leaves turn golden and start to fall in the autumn, then I like to turn my attentions to barbel and chub in the milder weather, and perch and roach when first the frosts arrive leading into winter.

As I previously mentioned, my past records of captures have not been committed to pen and paper, or keyboard and screen, but are stored in the old grey matter. With middle age well set in, these memories are becoming ever increasingly vague . So with that in mind (or not! ) I decided that I am not going to start my blog with stories of personal bests or previous catches, but too look forward to dreaming about, and hoping for, future catches.
This coming season I will be pursuing a wily 40lb+ carp from an extremely difficult local mere. I will also be chasing my first Sussex barbel, a 4lb perch and with work allowing me too, a few impromptu spur of the moment sessions, for whatever condition dictate!
I hope that when I’m adding to this blog over the coming season that I am able to not only add my captures, but in an articulate manner also convey the laughs and tears together with my observations and thoughts along the way……. here’s hoping !

Cheers, and all the best for the 2012 season
Colin

First of all I’d like to introduce myself.
I’m Robby Malfliet, 36 years old, and I live in Haasdonk / Belgium.
I’ve got a 10 year old son Niek, and I work in a chemical plant in Antwerp as process operator.
I’m fishing since the age of 6, but I started concentrating on car specifically when I was around 12 years old.
I still do other aspects of the fishing sport (match angling with the long pole and also quiver tip rods), but carp fishing is by far my most favourite thing!
Since the spring of 2010 I have been connected to Cotswold Rods as their European Consultant and Sales Agent, and I just love that job!
Being involved in a young, forward thinking company in the angling trade is very exciting!
And with a team consisting of guys like Dan and Tom, who give you loads of room to do your thing, it’s very pleasant work!
So when Tom asked me if i was interested in doing a regular blog on the Cotswold Rods forum, I didn’t have to think long.
Of course I would!
In the future I’ll keep you all updated on my latest exploits over here in Belgium, but also from trips to both the UK and France.
I hope you’ll enjoy it!

Rob.

JANUARY BLOG:

Winter… A time of year that always brings up mixed feelings for me personally.
First of all, I don’t like the cold… I’m a “warm weather person” if you know what I mean.
On the other hand i love the view of the winter landscape and most of all the deserted banks on the local venues that time of year!
But to be honest, when it comes down to winter fishing I’m not as enthusiastic nowadays as I was say 10 years ago!
That time I went right through winter doing at least 2 nights, and an extra 2-3 baiting-up sessions per week!
But with my body getting a bit older and fragile, I’ve slowed down my winter fishing a bit, and reduced it to fishing instantly when i think it’s the right time to go, instead of doing the “sitting it out”-job I did in the past.

I’m writing this piece on the bank as we speak (Fri. 13 January), and i hope I’m here at the right time.
I’m fishing a calm sunny shallower corner at the back of the wind, in the hope the fish will be attracted by the sunlight.
Still no sign of fish though, so it’s maybe not a bad idea to look back at my 2011 season, and also look forward a bit to what my plans for the coming season are.
2011 has been a year of ups and downs for me, both on the fishing front and personally.
Fishing wise I started somewhere near the end of March/early April, and straight away I was on the money!
The first couple of sessions saw me land a dozen or so 20s with a couple of 30s thrown in as well!
That was simply great!
The fish loved my bait (Baitworks Atlantic Heat) everywhere I went, and I didn’t blank for weeks in a row.
Then in May I changed my full time job, and my busy work schedule limited my fishing time seriously!
I was really peed-off by this, as I saw the locals taking over what I started and reaping the rewards of my previously done work!
A few guys had seen what I had been doing, and switched to the same tactics using a similar bait to the Heat (spicy red fishmeal).
Their results were good, but you could see the action slowing down as the time went on, as i could experience myself when i did get the time to do some fishing eventually.
So some changes had to be done, because I’m the last person to wait till the odds change to my benefit.
I want to force it myself!
I decided to change my bait, because more or less everyone else on the 2 venues I fished were using a red fishmeal bait.
So after a quick visit to the Cotswolds and the Baitworks unit in July, I returned home with a boot full of KingFish baits and a big bag full of confidence!
I don’t know why, but straight away I felt that the new bait was going to make the difference.
And how right could i have been…
Within 2 weeks after changing to the new bait, I had managed many 20s and a handful of good 30s!
But when I was actually at the high of my season (end of August), I had to stop fishing for a while due to problems in my relationship.
Partners (or at least many of them) and carp angling simply don’t match in my opinion, so early September I returned to the status of being single again.
Straight away I decided to hammer my local syndicate for at least 4-6 weeks again!
The KingFish baits kept on delivering the goods, with more 20s, some 30s, and also my first 40 of the season (40.04 common) finding the way to my R1 landing net.
But the highlight of the season happened somewhere late September, when I landed a brace of upper 40s (47 common and a 48.02 mirror) in a quick overnighter!
That was really an emotional moment after weeks of walking around with a troubled mind…
But that mist in my head suddenly disappeared after that brace of big fish!
What carp fishing can do to a person…
After that result I slowed down my fishing, and started concentrating on my personal and professional life again.
I still did the occasional overnighter with mixed results, but i didn’t bother putting too much effort in it really, as i was happy with my season seeing the circumstances.
In October we did have a great social weekend on a private Belgium lake with my friends and colleagues from Cotswold Rods and Baitworks though, with a couple of good fish (30s as well) seeing the inside of our nets!
This social will become a yearly thing in the future i think, and I hope to see you all again in October lads!

So, that was more or less my 2011 season in a nutshell.
What’s 2012 going to bring? I don’t have a clue!
Myself and a couple of friends have some plans to take on a canal in the western part of the country, and also a big river in the French part of Belgium.
Both waters hold big, to VERY big fish, so i can’t wait to get on it!
I’ve also planned a couple of trips to both the UK and France, which i always enjoy thoroughly!
So ROLL ON 2012, and see you all in the next part, as today is going to turn out blank I think.

Tight lines!

Rob.

Here are a few pictures from 2011

2012 is going to be exciting, I know that for sure, just from what we have planned.
It will see some exceptional new products and materials in the market place, the Angler has never had it so good!

Short and sweet, but a Happy New Year to all our customers, past and present.

Be Lucky

Tom

Like it or loathe it, information we give out is measured constantly. As someone who has access to our website statistics, I can see whos online and when, and even more interestingly for me, where in the world the viewer is from.

Looking through our website statistics over the last month or two, more and more of our hits are coming from outside of the UK, nearly 50% of our hits now come from mainland Europe.

I can see from statistics that many potential customers who view our site from other countries get to the contact form then leave, I beleive due to the language barrier.

Due to this, most of the Cotswold Rods website will be soon be available in a selection of languages….watch this space! We are keen to expand, both through private and trade customers, in all European countries.

If you are an overseas visitor to our site and English is not your primary spoken language, all is not lost.
Our Consulatant, Robby Malfliet can speak a variety of European languages. He can be contacted on robby@cotswoldrods.co.uk, and can answer any questions you may have.

Firstly from Harrison

The Torrix MR

Based on the awesome and well renowned Torrix, these are a super slim, slightly more progressive version of them. Available in 12ft, 2.5, 2.75 and 3lb test curves, these are superb for 95% of carp fishing applications.
Due to their awesome curve and progressive power they are lovely to use.

Full pictures of these to come soon

The Player Special

A full on ultimate players rod! 12ft, 2.75lb, slim in diameter and bends through to the butt!
If most of your fishing is close in, and you want the most pleasurable and involving rod possible, these are for you!!

Harrison also have a great range of ‘under the counter specials’.
If there is a rod you really want, let us know, we can probably source it!

We have also just received a batch of test blanks from a new manufacturing company, PACE.

We are the first to receive these new blanks, and have to say, we are VERY impressed. I wont say too much here, but will keep you updated on further developments.

An easy to use set, that will clean, restore and protect your valuable fishing rods.
These kits contain products to thoroughly clean all areas of your rods, remove baked on mud and dirt, give them a deep restorative polish and bring them back to a factory (or better!) finish.
A full information tab will be available on the site soon.

First up, I would just like to give you guys the heads up on a superb tackle shop, The Carp Den, based in Quedgely, Glos. The team here have just moved to a seriously large new shop, and they have a great selection of products from all manufacturers, including the full Cotswold Rods range.

One of the main reasons we have decided to work with The Carp Den is their exceptional customer service. Friendly, informative, not pushy and some of fastest mail order in this business sector, they have got it right on every level.

The Carp Den will have lots of our products on display and in stock. It is a great shop to go and test our rods before buying, as they have the R1, the R1 light, the XX range, stalking rods and nets all in store.

The Carp Den also have examples of different build options, and you can order your full custom rods from The Carp Den at no extra cost.

Check out their website at www.thecarpden.co.uk for more information