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 Scobie

Getting away from it all

St Cassien / St Croix / Salagou  

Sometimes you just have to have a break!
My favourite pastime is to travel down to remote areas throughout Europe,
the South of France and Italy, out in the wilds fishing for Large Carp and Catfish.
Trips like these can take a lot of planning, because I usually work all through
Christmas & the new year and the summer is busy with weddings so I
don't get to take normal holidays like most people.

I will usually go for about two weeks to a month so there is much to sort out,
having travelled extensively abroad over the past 15 years I have accumulated
a lot of experience, each trip will can be 2 - 3,000 miles of driving
 in order to get to the best of the remote areas, this includes travelling
through some rough mountain terrain, it is important to make sure that
the transport and boat trailer is well maintained and in good serviceable order.

I also have to pack food and organize some kind of basic week to week menu although
when abroad frequent trips are made to local villages and towns to purchase many
different types of local tasty fresh food, these are also often moments of sightseeing and
sampling local customs and traditions not to mention breathtaking scenery along the way.

I usually start with maps and planning driving routes sometimes to get to unknown areas
then come the unending long lists of spares, provisions, bait, I could write a book
on carp fishing so when it comes to food for the fish you will have to wait until I write it!
Basically I will take with me some 100kgs of Tiger nuts, 100 kgs of Hemp
and approximately 50 or 60 kgs of boillies both home made and purchased add
to this list the boat and trailer, the electric engine, the generator, the sonar, 2 heavy
duty deep cycle batteries, the fishing tackle all the camping and cooking equipment
 I can tell you it is a lot of gear to sort out, Why bother?

It seems like all work and no play I hear you say!
Well, it's not just the fishing! I am never worried even if I don't catch anything and
I can tell you I have had those trips! it is all about the planning, the travelling there,
the scenery, the isolation, being next to nature and all that stuff, travelling takes around
a day and a half or two at each end of the trip and
the three and a bit weeks in the middle is just a magical experience!

Apart from the water! - Sometimes you can't get it fresh

Water Water Everywhere, and Gallons for you to drink!

I installed a Nature Pure Water filtration system in my motorhome and
to be honest I won't go anywhere without it, I am able to take water directly
 from the lake and pump it via my onboard water tanks through the
Nature Pure Filter.

I have purified water from any source available at ANY time ANY where.

If you have a motorhome and have a questionable source of water this
system even makes dirty water clean, takes all the bugs out of lake water
You can't survive with out fresh water and I recommend it for everyone!

It is even available in a hand operated design for your backpack
and you can obtain one here  wwww.purewateronline.co.uk

Now to some of the Lakes

Le Lac du St Cassien

This lake is situated in the South of France in Provence some 1200 miles driving
just off the A8 Autoroute which if followed would lead you to Nice.
The lake itself, although one, is split into three arms, North, South and West
and was formed by the placement of a dam in the North arm,
By English standards it is HUGE, the North arm is the most remote and
camping and fishing here is best reached by boat.
I am lucky enough to have been here many times over the years and have
fished all three of it's great arms at different times of the year, my advice
here is not to forget the margins and tiny baiting areas will produce.

Some success on Lac du St Cassien in the south of France

The camp - North arm St Cassien

The Calm over Christians point

 Fire planes on St Cassien

A very famous Catfish !

SALAGOU
(My last visit was 2005 i'll upload more photos soon)

This HUGE lake is situated in central deep south of France
Not too far away from the town of Clermont L'Herault
it is also very close to other villages such as Octon and Lodeve to name but two,
it is of volcanic structure and again it is a flooded valley, notoriously snaggy
and all around are grape vines, when you are fishing look behind you because
that is probably what it's like in front of you.
Salagou is a fabulous area of France.

1" dia hailstones in a storm on Salagou - Before and Stonehenge After !

John - Jo & me                              Success!

Salagou ( Octon end )                       Philippe and me

Ine and me                           Philippe and Ine

Shimon and me                                Shimon

Le Lac du St Croix

Again, situated in Provence, this lake is MASSIVE! not for the fainthearted!
Camping is not allowed and any fishing done here was
achieved by "guesting" on the island, There are some HUGE Carp in here!

2 Views over St Croix

Woodchester (Stroud valley) Priory lakes

Pictures to come - AWAITING PERMISSION

Chew Valley Lakes

Sunset down on Chew Valley

Henleaze

A pike of 25lbs from Henleaze at night