Fishing lines: How a tiddler can land a whopper

Persuading children to attend school during half-term is usually about as easy as taking a suitcase of scissors through Heathrow as hand luggage. But Keith Napier has no trouble attracting dozens of youngsters to his lessons - because he teaches how to catch big carp.

Napier, a Yorkshire policeman, has been running his junior fishing school for the past five years. Most of the 70 kids who take part will walk away after three days (and nights) having caught a larger fish than ever before.

Naomi, aged 10, had caught a 14lb 4oz carp (still a pretty big fish) before she attended Napier's "school" on the banks of Horseshoe Lake, near Lechlade, Gloucester-shire, this week. "If you don't catch a bigger one than that, I'll eat my hat," promised Napier. His hat survived: two days later Naomi, the only girl among a group of 36, had collected the best-of-school award for a 27lb carp.

There were many similar success stories. Nick, 11, from Cumbria, told me: "I'd never caught a carp bigger than 13lb, because there's only one water round my way, and it's not very good." He recorded a 23lb 12oz fish.

Since Napier started running the junior programme, eight carp over 30lb have been caught, and dozens over 20lb. Once upon a time, carp over 20lb were considered almost uncatchable. H T Sheringham, angling editor of The Field, wrote in 1912: "I assumed that breakage was the natural sequel to hooking a fish of over 10lb. I went in terror of these fish."

Though not native to this country, carp are now the angler's most popular fish, and 40-pounders are almost commonplace. Some of this success is due to developments in tackle and equipment. But theschool's success also owes much to Napier's dedication. He is also helped by the fact that Horseshoe Lake may be the UK's best carp water.

The children have "lessons" all day, and only fish from 9pm to 6am. (Carp generally feed better at night.) During the day, top carp fishers give their time free to teach the mysteries of such things as making pop-ups and your own boilies. If that sounds dull, it clearly knocks spots off geography or maths. Ask these kids if they would rather listen to Justin Timberlake talking about himself or Danny Fairbrass on flavouring baits, and it's no contest.

Tackle companies, too, support the sessions in more than just name. It costs £75 for the three days, but the youngsters are given huge packs of tackle and bait free. "They probably walk away with more than the fishing has cost them," says Napier.

Not everybody catches. I didn't, for one. But the kids seem to have such a good time that it's tempting to put on a pair of short trousers, lie about my age and try to sneak into the next academy.

For more information: the Carp Society, 01367 253 959; www.horseshoelake.co.uk