Angling Articles

Welcome to this week's edition of Angling Articles by Summit Tackle

Peak fishing season is in full swing, and there’s no better time to be out on the water chasing your next great catch. As the days grow longer and conditions hit their sweet spot, we’re excited to bring you the latest from Summit Tackle.

In this issue, we’re sharing an incredible story from our very own Geoff, who recently returned from an unforgettable fishing trip in France, expect tales of new waters, hard-fighting fish, and a few lessons learned along the way. We’re also thrilled to introduce the newest addition to the Summit Tackle team, Matt, who’s already making waves and getting stuck in.

Whether you’re gearing up for your next session or just enjoying the season from afar, we’ve got plenty lined up for you. Let’s get into it.

Chateau Moulin, A Carpy French social and a couple of Big Birthdays

The plan had sounded simple enough in the pub: nine blokes, a ferry, and a week chasing big French carp. In reality, it was always going to be something far less straightforward—and far more memorable.

It started in Plymouth, where we boarded the overnight ferry to Roscoff armed with far too much luggage, questionable optimism, and enough bait to start our own fishery. Sleep was minimal—between the hum of the engines, the rolling sea, I think we had a pretty decent swell, or it certainly felt that way, pre-trip excitement, and someone snoring like a chainsaw—but by morning we were in France, bleary-eyed and already telling each other how many fifties we were going to catch.

Seven hours later, after a drive filled with bad navigation, petrol station pastries (Really good ones), and the occasional heated debate about rigs, we rolled into Chateau Moulin in Limoges. The place was everything we’d hoped for—peaceful, picturesque, and hiding a serious head of carp beneath its surface. Steve, Kim, and their son Georges (Terry -Mini- Hearn) greeted us like old friends, immediately putting us at ease with a cracking curry and a few cold beers. It didn’t take long for the stories—and exaggerations—to start flowing.

The next morning, we did the traditional lap of the lake: 43 acres of water, shimmering in the French sun, holding around 600 carp, including some absolute monsters pushing past 65 pounds. You could feel the buzz in the group. Everyone was quietly sizing up swims, pretending not to.

Then came the draw.

Naturally, the “prime” swims—Pomme de pin, and Firs—were gone before most of us had even unfolded our bits of paper. Typical. I drew third, which felt respectable until I realised my top choices had vanished. That left me heading to Platform & Sensible, a double swim. Not a bad result though—I shared it with my mate Russ, who wasn’t feeling his best. Between the two of us, we figured we’d either catch a few or at least keep each other entertained.
Tactics varied wildly across the lake. Some went heavy on spodding, putting down beds of bait big enough to feed a small village. Others opted for a more subtle approach—solid bags, single hookbaits, and quiet watercraft. As for us on Platform, we struck a balance: a bit of bait to hold fish, but nothing too aggressive. The theory sounded solid. The execution, as always, was another matter.

The action didn’t take long to kick off. Within hours, Rich—clearly having made some sort of deal with the fishing gods—landed a 54-pound mirror. Not content with that, he backed it up with a couple of forties, just to really lift morale… or crush it, depending on your perspective.

Across the lake, it became clear this was what you might politely call a “peggy” venue. The top end, near the river inlet, was producing consistently—fresh water, natural food, and carp stacked up like commuters on a Monday morning. Meanwhile, the rest of us had to work a bit harder, relying on timing, location tweaks, and more than a little stubbornness.

Personally, I managed a couple of stuning French carp—one upper thirty and one lower thirty—which, given the circumstances, felt like proper rewards. Each one hard-earned, each one celebrated like a personal best. The tactics included first finding clear areas up against the huge beds of lilly pads at range, probably 120 to 140 yards, a few kilo’s of bait deployed and topped up, with long hair rigs deployed, size 2 wide gape hooks all topped off with Parker Baits new lightweight bottom baits in the OG fish Doubled up on the end of the Hair…. Rods where locked in to my OG colosseum CB pod, which was nailed down by the Summit heavy duty T pegs… This combo did the business perfectly.

Russ, however, stole the show in our swim—though not in the way anyone expected. Instead of carp, he found himself attached to something altogether more prehistoric. The first catfish took off like a submarine, and after a prolonged battle involving equal parts skill and panic, he landed a beast well over 100 pounds. It looked less like a fish and more like something that should have its own documentary. The second one wasn’t much smaller. Safe to say, his arms—and ego—were fully tested.

Between the fishing, there was everything else that makes a trip like this unforgettable: constant banter, questionable cooking attempts, and the steady arrival of excellent food courtesy of Steve, Kim, and George. Add in French wine, warm evenings, and the occasional tall tale, and it quickly became about more than just the fishing.

By Thursday, it was time to celebrate Rod and Rich’s birthdays. The barbecue was nothing short of heroic—piles of food, cold beers flowing freely, and laughter echoing across the lake well into the night. Any thoughts of early mornings and precise baiting strategies were temporarily abandoned in favour of good company and an amazing spread of food provided and prepared by Kim, Steve and Georges.

Special thanks to Ben Parker and Adam Penning for the personal video birthday messages for Od and Rich!

By the end of the week, the tally was impressive: multiple fifties, plenty of forties, and a steady stream of thirties. More importantly, everyone had their moments—whether it was a big fish, a hard-fought battle, or just a perfectly timed bit of banter.
As we packed up to leave, tired but content, there was a shared understanding among us: it wasn’t just about the carp. It was the journey, the laughs, the unexpected catfish, and the simple joy of being lakeside with good mates.

Of course, on the drive back, the stories had already started evolving. The fish were getting bigger, the fights longer, and the tactics more “scientific” by the mile.

And somehow, despite everything, we were already planning the next trip.

New Team Member!
Well well… who do we have here then?

Let us introduce Summit Tackle’s latest recruit. After stopping by the show and getting his hands on some of the finest British-made bankware, Matt left buzzing—fully geared up and eager to get out on the bank and put it all to the test. It didn’t take long to see his enthusiasm, and it’s safe to say he’s already embracing what Summit is all about.

We’re always proud to welcome anglers who share our passion for quality, time on the water, and doing things properly, and Matt fits that mould perfectly. We’re looking forward to seeing what he gets up to over the coming months—keep an eye out, because we’ve got a feeling there’s plenty more to come.

Back in stock...and right on time.

After an incredible response to their initial launch, the Summit Tackle Bivvy Pegs have officially returned. They quickly became a firm favourite among anglers who demand reliability and solid performance on the bank, and it’s easy to see why.

We’ve worked hard to get them back on the shelves, but if the first release was anything to go by, they won’t be around for long. If you missed out the first time, now’s your chance to get your hands on a set before they’re gone again.

Don’t hang about, secure yours while you can.

https://www.summittackle.com/products/ss-bivvy-peg-bundle-of-5?_pos=14&_fid=d9bcb64db&_ss=c

Make sure you're following Summit Tackle on all social media platforms, as well as, team members Geoff & Matt to be the first to catch the action!

@summittackle