The Lake in the Forest

This month I visit one of the most stunning carp waters I've ever been to, a remote gravel pit of 40 acres located in the middle of a forest. Joining me on the five-day session is one of the finest big carp anglers of all-time, a man who's caught more than one hundred carp weighing over 66lb (30kg), the legendary Frank Schmidt. Frank has a very unique style of fishing for big carp that works wherever he goes, and true to form he goes on to land the biggest common in the lake weighing 71lb in front of the camera! In an exclusive interview, we get inside the mind of Frank and talk about his big fish tactics. I chip in with a couple of nice carp myself to almost 50lb, and there's loads of great footage from the trip. Also joining us are Frank's son Nico and my great friend Nermin Caro.

[@mv7110]

Beautiful place, absolutely untouched by the looks of it

[@kriscook6830]

OMG! A European insight to Carp fishing. Enjoyed that Simon, but sure you enjoyed it more, being there hey. Cheers for sharing. 👌

[@SimonCrow]

I loved it mate, such a fantastic lake 🙌

[@laurentiustanica5296]

Great movie Simon! The lake is amazing! and the fish...😳😳😳

[@SimonCrow]

Thank you mate 🙌

[@robertpaulnaeff5230]

Enjoying this brilliant video, showing a fantastic lake with some very impressive carp. Well done Simon! Greetings from France

[@SimonCrow]

Many thanks Robert, best regards mate

[@stephenforster4937]

Stunning place... Amazing carp 😍 thank you so much for continuing to post these videos during this tough time Simon... Your videos have definitely gotten me through these lockdowns 👍🏻 much love buddy! Stay safe

[@SimonCrow]

No problem buddy, thanks for watching 🙌

[@MarkSexton887]

Really enjoyed watching this video. On Christmas Day. Thanks for that.👍🏻🎣

[@SimonCrow]

All the best Mark 🙌

[@vincentmaree9782]

Brilliant 👍 another epic one from Crowy...

[@SimonCrow]

Cheers pal 🙌

[@MrDorsetD]

What a great way to spend Christmas morning 😁🎅🤔👍

[@SimonCrow]

All the best pal 🙌

[@martinmullen71]

Once again Simon, a fantastic video, some awesome fish. If you think back 25/30 years we used to use 30 mm baits as standard, but as times gone on our hook baits have got smaller and smaller. I love the principles of baiting a big area and waiting for the big fish to come in. Can’t wait for the next video.

[@SimonCrow]

Thanks mate, yeh carp fishing is full of fashions rather than principles these days 🙌

[@steffenschmidt5339]

Awesome film as always, and som very Nice fish

[@SimonCrow]

Thanks Steffen 🙌

[@robeden5257]

Merry Christmas Simon, another good watch and what a great guy Frank is 👍

[@SimonCrow]

Merry Christmas Rob 🙌

[@philipjones2833]

Just wow sy what a vlog and the opening scenery was out of this world beautiful and what a place. That place must of been amazing the guys you was fishing with legends mate as always its been a pleasure to watch and you managed to nick a bite too and a lovely mirror to well done fella. Merry Christmas mate hope you have a good one 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@SimonCrow]

Merry Christmas Philip 🙌

[@beirie666]

What a stunning location

[@davidshaw442]

Merry Christmas si and all the best followed you from the beginning love your vids always an excellent watch keep it up mate ❤🎣🐟🐟👍

[@SimonCrow]

All the very best David 🙌

[@lokaworld6307]

Great adventure Simon I do love the same what you are. Marry Christmas enjoy for your holiday

[@SimonCrow]

Merry Christmas mate 🙌

[@pmbomnia]

Merry Christmas 🎄 to Simon, team and all. Keep up the great work - love it!!

[@SimonCrow]

Merry Christmas mate 🙌

[@SussexCarpers]

An excellent watch as always and always find your vlogs super informative so thank you 🙏 Merry Christmas and good luck for 2021

[@SimonCrow]

Thanks for the lovely message mate, Merry Christmas 🙌

[@robgood719]

Merry Christmas pal thanks for all the blogs 👍🏻✌🏻

[@SimonCrow]

Merry Christmas mate 🙌

[@adamlivingston5079]

Geronimo ! Great watch as always 👌 Merry Christmas 🎅 🎄 ❤

[@SimonCrow]

All the best Adam 🙌

[@Retirement_Life]

Great video, Simon. Keep them coming and happy Christmas

[@SimonCrow]

Merry Christmas mate 🙌

[@garagelrd1991]

Great video editing bud loved it ,

[@SimonCrow]

Cheers pal

[@ChristianD1992]

Merry Christmas Simon keep up your work it’s top quality!!

[@SimonCrow]

Many thanks mate, merry Christmas 🙌

[@Pauljay65]

Wow amazing video Simon that place looks stunning and with carp that size you’re second fish was beautiful Merry Christmas to you Mr Crowe and the avid crew 🎄👍🏻

[@SimonCrow]

Merry Christmas Paul 🙌

[@jasonelles6121]

Great insight into the German angling, really enjoyable! Great video Simon 👍

[@SimonCrow]

Hope you’re keeping well Jase, Merry Christmas mate 🙌

[@jasonelles6121]

@@SimonCrow and yourself mate! Again thanks for the memories 🙏

[@royclose946]

Merry Christmas 🎅 Simon and hope you have a good carpin 2021 tight lines mate 👍

[@SimonCrow]

Happy Christmas Roy 🙌

[@leecallaghan5294]

wow, that was amazing. merry Christmas Si..

[@SimonCrow]

Merry Christmas Lee 🙌

[@johnlee2230]

Very interesting watch, especially Frank's big fish tactics & in particular the size & amount of bait he uses, been a tough year on my syndicate but everyone seems to be using tiny pop ups or wafters, maybe a 30mm bottom bait might be worth a go when the weather improves 👍

[@SimonCrow]

Definitely worth a try mate if everyone is using tiny stuff 👍

[@spencerwright8177]

Great film Si. Some incredible fish and lake. Happy Xmas to you and yours mate. 👍🎣

[@SimonCrow]

Merry Christmas Spence 🙌

[@twincarpNL]

Lovely video!

[@SimonCrow]

Thanks pal 🙌

[@chucky1golf]

Brilliant insight into how other anglers overseas do things differently. 50kgs, no slack lines

[@SimonCrow]

Nice one Martin

[@slgcarphuntermargintactics3055]

What a place

[@stephenlivesley1267]

Great adventure....

[@SimonCrow]

Cheers pal

[@grzegorzbitner2848]

Fantastic :)

[@SimonCrow]

Thank you mate 🙌

[@UrbanCarpCollective]

Brilliant

[@SimonCrow]

Thanks bro x

[@lukeframpton3671]

Merry Christmas mr crow all the best

[@SimonCrow]

All the very best Luke 🙌

[@helmutthielen5947]

Merry Christmas Simon all the best 🎅 🍹 🍺 stay healthy

[@SimonCrow]

Merry Christmas mate 🙌

[@garethdavies9367]

Awesome

[@SimonCrow]

Thanks pal

[@viktorskozirkovs2789]

Great stuff as always, pleasure to watch! Have a quick question, looking to buy avid ARC1200 reel, did you have any issues with this reel over the years?

[@SimonCrow]

I’ve never had a problem with them mate, great reels for the price 👌

[@viktorskozirkovs2789]

@@SimonCrow Thank you Simon much appreciate you feedback. I just got a new apmlify rods, so looking for budget set of reel reels to match the rods :)

[@leeemery9796]

Merry Christmas 🎣

[@SimonCrow]

Merry Christmas Lee 🙌

[@dieterw.6013]

Hey Simon, great Video. Don't you have any problems with tangles using a soft hook link and soft leader without any rig tube or leadcore? Or do you have any special technique for your casting? Greatings from Germany

[@SimonCrow]

Hey mate, if you feather the cast or hit the clip the hooklink kicks out and doesn’t tangle. You can also use a PVA bag or stringer to stop it tangling 👍

[@Ranger82]

@@SimonCrow Great Video! How long was your casting distance at the left Swim?

[@Mylo831]

Do you always strip the hook link coating off or when would you choose to and how do you prevent tangles?

[@SimonCrow]

Yes I always do mate. I prefer the waxy feel to braid that’s been coated compared to uncoated braid. It doesn’t tangle as much as uncoated. But I still always feather the cast, hit the clip or use bags/stringers to minimise tangles also 👍

[@Mylo831]

@@SimonCrow thank you

[@james6495]

Simon, back when you made your own line aligners did you shrink the tubing after you put it on or did you just leave it? Thanks mate I'm new to this

[@SimonCrow]

It depended if I used shrink tube or just 0.5mm tubing. With the shrink tube yes I did shrink it down but with the 0.5mm no I didn’t. The later just fitted nicely but it was fiddly especially in winter 👍

[@james6495]

@@SimonCrow One more question, when you're fishing at distance do you always use a shock leader?

[@SimonCrow]

No mate, depends if I’m casting or boating and what features are around the area I’m fishing to 👍

[@attilaadam7497]

Very nice video ! Marry Christmas !! Which lake is that ?

[@SimonCrow]

Merry Christmas mate 🙌

[@tomfolkes5894]

Another great video, do you use SLK all year round?

[@SimonCrow]

Cheers mate, it depends on the venue but mostly I do, I just don’t put much out in the winter 👍

[@tomfolkes5894]

@@SimonCrow thanks for the reply, hope you have a great new year!

[@johnstevens5042]

🍺🦈🍺

[@Bozmoedee]

Great video as always mate,50k of boilies for a week session,I don’t even use that many in a year 😄,just as a matter of interest how many kilos of boilies would you use on a week session in a similar scenario?

[@SimonCrow]

Depends on the venue mate. This summer I went over to Germany for two weeks armed with 100kg but only used 20kg as the fishing was slow. I agree it sounds like a lot of bait and expense but there’s no denying that using lots of bait works wherever Frank goes. The way forward is to have enough with you to cover all eventualities.

[@Bozmoedee]

@@SimonCrow totally agree,there’s nothing worse than running out of bait when they’re having it👍

[@tinabates542]

I wish I was there 😪

[@HarryGSArchie]

Great vid but all the adverts are annoying AF

[@zorks2012]

50kg :o in winter wow

[@englishfam9675]

Where is this Germany ??

[@justintaylor8137]

Dinner on the go with a bit of carp porn, who needs santa when you have a down to earth decent angler

[@SimonCrow]

All the very best Justin 🙌

[@pascalstolz2901]

Frank, you have to work on your th

[@robertmccarron1039]

What a rong with the UK fishing I think it's better then yours

[@SimonCrow]

Not sure what you’re on about Robert...