7 Carp to 28lb, Berkshire
11/08/2010
Since my last article, I have managed to squeeze in a few more mid-week overnighters in my pre-baited swim. As the weather had been warm and the banks getting busy, I knew my chances of getting in there at the weekend would be low. The area I had been fishing until now would easily be cut off by anglers in nearby swims, so mid-week nights still seem to be the best option.
I knew I would only have a few nights left to extract some more of the lake’s jewels as I was due to go on holiday (a non-fishing one, I hasten to add). I knew I would not be returning for some months as my main syndicate fishery was due to open from 16th June. I had managed to catch a further six fish, all mid to late doubles, topped off with a common of 24lb (see pic). I had to hand line this stunning specimen in from 20 yards out due to the catkins on the lake clogging up my tip ring! I did manage to squeeze in one more night before my flight was due though and what a mad night it turned out to be!
I arrived at the lake after work full of the joys of knowing I could fish the night without worrying about being up and out ready for work the next day – it was my holiday and I could enjoy the night without any pressure. I had the lake to myself again plus it was a very warm afternoon so the sun beat into the point I was fishing. I left my gear on my barrow, sat in the shade at the back of my swim for a few hours and scattered out 2kg of SSRR 15mm boilies in one final assault on the water. My lines were marked up from my previous visits and I also put stickers on my rods to indicate left, right and centre as they were all at slightly differing ranges. I cast out around 8pm with only one single cast per rod and, as I have been used to my marks over the last few weeks, they all “donked” down with a reassuring thud on my spots.
My first bit of action came around 10pm with a truly huge tench, I estimate at nearly double figures! I would have weighed it if it hadn’t got up on the bar in front of my rods and conducted a merry old dance; knitting itself perfectly through my other lines goodness knows how many times! It was a right old mess! I had to cut about 40 yards of line off all 3 rods, re-tie all my rigs then try and get back to my spots without marks to assist me. Luckily, it was a clear still night and I could just make out the rings as the leads splashed down. I was fairly confident of my casts so I marked them all back up.
The tench had wreaked its havoc and it wasn’t until about midnight that things had reached their former calm. I had another run at around 1pm and that was a mirror of 15lb. I had a further two mid-doubles, neither of which I took the time to photograph as I was on my own. Just as I thought I would finally get some sleep, I had an absolute “belter” which nearly ripped the rod out of the rest. I ran to save the rod just in time and after a very hard fight, I banked a mirror of 28lb.
When I had her safely in the net, I transferred her to a recovery sling as I could hear one of the other club members awake on the adjacent lake. He had just lost a fish so I took the opportunity to ask him to take some photographs for me. However, as we left his swim, he also had a “belter” of a run and we ran back the few yards to his rods and banked his 29lb common. Once we had dealt with that, we marched off to my swim and took some photographs of my catch.
The action continued for me until around 9am. With a total of SEVEN fish under my belt, mostly mid to late doubles, topped off by the 28lb mirror, I was absolutely chuffed, totally exhausted, and very glad to be flying off on my holidays to relax after my sleepless night. It was a good result for one night’s angling. My run of success using fairly heavy and very regular baiting with SSRR had worked a treat.
That morning when I left the lake behind me, I was sad to know I would not be returning for a few months to do any real time there. I know these good runs of fish don’t last for long – they would have wised up sooner or later and it would have come to an end anyway so for me, the timing was just right.
Tight Lines and Happy Holidays, Folks!
Spencer Lunn