Ladies British Carp Cup 2015

The competition started Friday morning with registration at 9am followed shortly after with the draw of swims around 9:30am.

All the ladies competitors stood around base camp waiting intently to see what swims they would get. Debbie & I had worked out our preferred swims and then followed that with a list of others in order of preference using watercraft. This would be the first time we would be fishing against each other, but no matter what the outcome both of us would be please for each other.

The owner of the lake Richard, draw the first competitors name out to choose their swim. First out was Debbie who chose the swim we had put top of our list. Then Debbie would draw the next competitors name out, oh my!!! It was me! With shock that I was second out and it was Debbie who unknowingly picked my name out, I quickly chose our second most preferred swim. The draw continued until all the ladies had picked their swims.

We then made our way to our battle ground for the next 48hrs….

Arriving and unloading at my swim I quickly set up camp and listened for the first horn to sound. Off it went bellowing across the lake.. I grabbed some bait and a throwing stick having looked at the swim and started baiting up….(I chose not to mark out my swim, I didn’t want to cause any disturbance and had a good idea where I wanted to be).

Then the second horn sounded, I grabbed my rods, baited up and cast out to my spots. Let battle commence!

I finished setting up home and tidying a few things away. Then sat watching the lake, for any signs of fish moving or feeding.

Friday was sunny and hot; the fish were cruising the surface and just teasing me a foot from the bank under my rod tips. I tried lots of methods and had my first fish out of the lake at 7:15pm 15lb10oz. I can say I have never shaken so much… the buzz was amazing knowing I’m off the mark. That was not the only fish for me that night, just after midnight I banked another at 10lb05oz. Going to bed in second place I had the thought I wonder what the night holds, and wonder what difference the night will make on the score board.

I woke up Saturday morning having dropped to third place. My rods fell silent for the rest of Saturday, I was feeling the pressure and I knew I didn’t want to be on the downwards spiral with everyone else having the chance to over take me and pushing me lower on the scoreboard. I had to work through my action plan. What did I need to do to hold my place and make this happen.

Not content to relax and be defeated, I decided to fight back and get back to second place at least. I changed tactics and my mind was set on what I needed to do. My thoughts felt muddled at times, but when I gave myself a chance to work through them, everything seemed to be clear as to what was my next step. And I just hoped it was the right one and it was going to be enough. Going to bed Saturday with new fresh thoughts, I was happy with my choice for the night regarding bait, rig and spots. Then at 11:30pm my alarm woke me, fish on!! Not knowing if anyone was catching I was fighting blind, but I would not be giving up until the horn sounded at midday on Sunday. My alarm had given me another fish weighing in t 13lb12oz. That put me back in the running, but I had my sights on first place.

I re cast my rod once weigh in had taken place and at 3:30am I had another wake up call, 14lb11oz. That put me in first place; I was making a comeback and now had a lead of only 4lb.

I continued to push hard, I knew that at any point someone could land a fish and close the gap on me. I was pacing up and down willing the horn to sound the end of the competition but we still had 6hours to go. At 9am my alarm sprang in to life again. I couldn’t believe it; I was still landing fish in the dying hours of the comp increasing my lead further. A 12lb13oz was weighed and the hours were slowly passing. I stayed focused and re cast again, I kept saying that until the horn sounds it could be anyone’s competition due to us all battling on the score board and the changing places. With only 1 hour left to go, 11am my alarm went again!! 10lb 7oz increased my lead by 27lb.

I still recast my rod, for the last hour, I think probably so I kept myself busy and hoped the time passed quickly.

At midday the final horn bellowed across the lake signalling the end of the competition…. oh my goodness, I had won! I had worked so hard over the last 48hrs it had felt like I’d been fishing for the last week! Lack of sleep & food was in the back of my mind but I didn’t believe what I had achieved. I fished to the best of my ability and my tactics and decisions had all come together and paid off. For me the self achievement, succeeding to reach my goal was ample! I had done it!!

Debbie had come round into my swim just before the end to be there to support and congratulate me, emotions flowed and a dream had been achieved with a lot of hard work and preparation.

I used a variety of tactics during the weekend; my rig was made using Fox SSC size 6 hooks, with a hooklink for approx 8inchs made from Atomic Jel-E-Wire 15lb silt brown, stripped back 1 inch at the hook. Together with a normal lead clip set up and 2-3oz lead depending on the spot I was fishing. Although I used a variety of baits during the weekend the winning hook bait was Mainline. By Sunday morning I was running very low on my chosen hook bait that was working for me and I was down to my last handful trying to make it last and make every boilie count.