Consistency, despite some challenging weather and a huge thunderstorm halfway through the week, was the key to the success in this year’s World Carp Classic and a changeable wind did nothing to stop the fabulously consistent Lake Bolsena from producing a host of fin-perfect specimens.
In total 253 fish were weighed in with an average weight of 11.1Kg (24.5lb) totalling 2,819.10Kg (6,215lb) plus a new tournament record of 23. Kg (52.7lb) was landed by Brit Terry Houghton.
With the lead changing from day to day – and hour to hour – there was no runaway winning team and until the final hours of the competition there were six teams in contention. Fish were landed from all over the lake, with seven different sections represented in the top ten placings, keeping the betting on the winners in the balance right up to the final morning.
In the end the 2014 World Carp Classic trophy went to the Polish team of Andrzej Walczak, Gabriel Starzec and Krzysztof Charmuszko, who proved to be masters of the conditions after a week of building tension in the picturesque Italian countryside managing to land fish on every day of the competition.
Drawing a peg in the south west corner of the lake they landed a total of 20 fish for a combined weight of 204.10Kg (450lb) beating a highly competitive Dutch trio who landed 16 carp, by just 17Kg (37.5lb). Third to sixth places, featuring two teams from Belgium, one from the Netherlands and a Slovenian team were separated by only 0.80Kg (1.75lb) going into the last night of competition.
The winners commented:
“We just tried to be consistent and knew we were in with a chance as fish were being reported from all over the lake, with a water like this, the wind changes can make all the difference, and once it swung round into our faces, we began to pick up fish regularly.”
The team fished in 25ft of water in the south west of the of the 43 kilometre shoreline using 12ft, 3.25lb rods and 25lb Power Pro braid on Shimano Technetium 12000 XTB reels. The trio fished a selection of hook baits after baiting up with a concoction of particles, chopped boilies, pellets and groundbait.
Ross Honey, founder of the event, commented:
“This has been a fantastic week in the history of the event, even down to the astonishing thunderstorm when one competitor saw his rods broken by a tree falling on them after being struck by lightning! So, to say the conditions were changeable is a bit of an understatement!
Despite that, this year’s event has been marked by one thing, and that is the really relaxed and friendly atmosphere amongst the competitors. It really is the most international angling event in the calendar, and I am really proud of what has been built over the last 16 years.
As always, an event like this is down to a dedicated team who put in many, many hours of work. Along with the management team, volunteers, bailiffs and the townsfolk of Bolsena and the surrounding towns and villages, we also have to thank all of our principal, section and support sponsors, who make this event possible.
Once again Lake Bolsena has produced a massive haul of fish with over 250 of its sensational carp being weighed in. It is a fitting swansong for the venue, this being our last year here for a while, but I have no doubt we will be back. I would like to pay tribute to the residents and local community who have been tireless in their efforts to welcome us and all of the competitors to this beautiful area of Italy.
Next year sees a change of country, venue and format. The 2015 World Carp Classic will be returning to what many see as its spiritual home, Lake Medine in France. Reaction to this news has been nothing short of incredible with teams already entered for next year’s event than ever before. So my advice is not to wait, but get your entries in early! We look forward to seeing all of our competitors, sponsors and audience again at next year’s even bigger and even better event.”
