So as planned I managed to sneak out the door for a nights angling on the “lake next door” for a bit of R&R before the impending house move. It was a warm, muggy evening and I could see that the large head of Catfish were in full feeding mode with tail slaps and huge plumes of bubbles being sent up from the silty areas.

With this in mind I opted to edge my bets and have one rod set up for carp and one set up for the cats. On the carp rod I fished my usual 15mm Code Red wafter over 30 or so 15mm freebies tight to the snags and for the cats I put out 3 kilos of 18mm code reds and fished an 18mm snowman, blowback style on a size 4 Avid curve hook at about 50 yards out.

I was sat there having a cuppa when a huge eruption of bubbles came up over the heavily baited area and the Delkim started singing its song. The culprit was a small 10lb catfish who made a very good account of himself but was soon tamed and on the mat.

I cast the rod back out with a huge bag of 4mm code red pellets attached and sat back to enjoy the peace and quiet whilst watching the fish putting on a display for me. I was just admiring a picture of Jennifer Aniston (the future Mrs P) that a friend had texted to me when the right hand rod was away again. The fight was again hard, so you can imagine my surprise when a mid double mirror carp popped up and splashed its way to the waiting net. A quick “arty” photo and I slipped her back.

I got into my sleeping bag at about 10 o clock and was soon pushing out the Z’s as it had been a busy week both at home with the house move and at work. At 1am I was rudely awoken just as Jennifer was about to demonstrate her twerking by a very violent take on the locked up snag rod. I picked up the rod and was immediately force to give out line which was then followed by what seemed an age of give an inch take an inch, then it all went solid….bugger! I put the rod back down on the rest, loosened the clutch and made a cup of tea. I was about two sips into my tea when the clutch started ticking away, I move ten yards to my right to change the angle of the pull, kissed the guns and gave it the biggun. The fish came out and five minutes later she was in the net, all 24lb of her. Not huge in catfish terms but I was chuffed even if it was on the rod I had set out for carp!

I had one more catfish of about 13lb at 4am and then went off for a bit of floater fishing. They were taking very cautiously but I managed to hook one and then expertly managed to lose it! Ah well, as a good friend once told me “It’s only a fish mate”.

Cheers,

Poults