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Just wanted to do a quick email to say what a great time we had on Friday - the tutorial with Ian @ Thorpe Lea. Myself and Rob were a bit unsure as to how it would go but Ian put us at ease straight away! We both thoroughly enjoyed the day and at the same time learnt a lot about fishing for Carp. Please pass our thanks on to Ian - he's a top bloke!!!! Thanks Again Gary (or Gal !!! & Rob)

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HI JUST A SHORT NOTE TO SAY THANKS FOR A GREAT WEEKEND FISHING ON OXLEASE WITH YOURSELF,YOUR TIPS AND ADVICE WILL BE USED IN MY FUTURE FISHING TO AID ME TO CATCH MORE CARP!,ALSO YOU MAKE A GREAT COFFEE!.I WOULD RECOMEND YOUR TUTORIALS TO ANYONE THAT HAS ANY DOUBT IN THEIR FISHING(ALREADY GOT 3 BLOKES WHO ARE INTERESTED) HOPEFULLY THEY WILL BOOK,ONCE AGAIN THANKS YOUR A TOP BLOKE.

Taken from Alans blog page

Saturday, April 21, 2007

Simply Awesome!
Current mood: happy

Now then kids Just got back from a 24 hr tutorial with Ian Russell. The best angling experience i have had! I learnt so much from the man and not only the stuff i asked him to go through!

As i had to be at Oxlease lake by 7am i had to leave Hull at half 3! After a 3 hr journey i pulled into the car park and waited for Ian to arrive. When i met up with him he was talking to Roy Parsons the bailiff at Linear. Its easy to see why him and his team have probably the best complex in the country! He takes no shit and does everything to ensure that his venues are run to the max, to cap it all off he's a nice bloke!

After the introductions we unloaded the gear and Ian was keen to get some rods out as he said this was the best time for a bite!

I would just like to say that i was very nervous before this sesh for two reasons, one i didn't want to make myself look a twat and two of meeting Ian.

I'd been reading this mans articles for years and didn't know what to expect form him but straight away from the very moment i met him he set me at ease.

With the rods out we set up camp and Ian put the kettle on. Over the first of many brews we talked about what i would like to gain from the session and how we would approach it.

The knowlage the man has is astounding! We went through the parts of my angling i wanted to improve, casting, markering and spodding then set about trying to catch some fish!

We tried everything that Ian knew to try and get a bite but the wind had changed and the fish had all moved down the bottom end. This gave us plenty of time to talk about different aspects of carping and tactics etc. Watching the man work is an awesome sight and he could catch fish from anywhere

He talked about people who i have read articles by and watched on telly and i even met some of these people! As we were setting up Mike Winstone popped in for a chat and a brew. I couldnt believe it! Ian rates this guy as one of the best anglers he knows so that tells you how good he is!! On the night Rob Hughes just wanderd into our swim! The man does loads of tv and video work not to mention been a bloody good angler and here i was this lad from up north chatting away with him! But thats the thing about Linear its a different world!

With the weather being the way it was we struggled and even the expected mass showing of fish never came unfourtunatly. The night passed without event and morning came round us both fishless!

The weather was baking and the wind turned and soon there were fish showing around the lake! Ian wound a rod in and whacked a zig rig at some showing fish! We were expecting the zig to roar off any minute when my right hand rod ripped off. After a fight that saw me wipe out the kid next door's rods(sorry) Ian did the job with the net. We sorted out the mess of lines and delt with the fish. 20lb 12oz she went on the scales. I don't know who was happiest me or Ian! I'd told him when i'd arrived that the catching didn't matter it was the learning i was there for but he was truely made up i'd had a fish! He was genuinely gutted i hadn't had one up that point!

About twenty minutes later Ian had a run and landed a mid-double, happy days!

There was loads I learn't on my session not just the tactics but about these "big name" anglers! There just people who go fishing! There amazing at what they do but there just anglers out there! The second most important thing was that its not just the fish that make fishing the draw it is! The company you keep on the bank is of upmost importance! Ian is one of the nicest guys i have had the pleasure of meeting and this is what made the session what it was! The company was amazing! Thank you Ian!!!

Also you never stop learning! Ian admitted he learnt something from the angler next door to us Craig! He was a very good angler who caught fish at our end when no one else did all by doing something different, a lesson in itself!

I would repeat the experience tomorrow! I had that good a time, so if you want to learn summat from a master of the trade give him a ring(01932 877577) you will learn loads and above all have a real good laugh!

Tight lines kids!