Just like to start this off by say hello and that I’m really pleased to part of the catch and release team. Thanks

Right I’m going to start this about 6 years ago, I was fishing a little club water and got chatting to one of the members and we went through various things as you do but during one of them he mentioned a lake he had been fishing and showed me a few of the fish he had caught, big black and lovely looking carp and even more intriguing I hadn’t heard of the lake and I pride myself of sniffing out all the good lakes in my area.

I went home and googled the name and there wasn’t a lot to go on apart from loads of people saying you can’t get a ticket , so it went into my “deadmans shoes” pile and I forgot all about till about 3 years later when a friend was catching some awesome carp through the autumn and a quick call conformed it was the lake, I now knew a bit more and as luck would have it I was getting a ticket for the lake opposite that coming June, whilst fishing the lake over the road I got my name down on the waiting list and as I knew a few members I thought I’d be in with a good chance of a ticket pretty soon , well 3 years on and I wasn’t a member !!! I did a job for friend, Terry and he was a member of the lake he mentioned he might be able to get us a guest session, I jumped at the chance to fish the lake!, the dates were set and I was like an excited little kid, the lakes not easy so it was always going to be challenge but I felt up to it

As the date got closer work got busier and I just didn’t prepare very well but with rods in the van and bait in the bucket I knew I could fish and that’s what matters! The lake hadn’t done a lot of fish but terry had a rep to protect, he has a good guest record with his last guest catching a 50lber, I’d be happy just being there so a fish would be a bonus

We arrived at about 2 pm and had 48 hours to catch a fish , first thing we did was start to have a walk and see if we could find the fish , there were a few guys already fishing but nothing had been out , we walked and looked and walked and looked some more but didn’t see much at all , as we sat in the carp park trying to decide where to go a fish showed about 20 yards out , then again and again , terry is an absolute gent and insisted I go in the swim he wouldn’t even contemplate rock paper scissors !!!! So all that looking and they were in a swim closest to the van RESULT

Terry pointed me in the right direction of the spots but got the leading rod out and had a feel about anyway ,I use a 2oz lead on this rod as I feel a 4oz ploughs through the weed to easy giving you a false reading , I did find a spot where the fish showed and put two rods on it  using multi rigs and prototype lead clips I make , DNA baits candy sticks being the hookbaits and a handful of secret 7 boilies over the top my right hand rod was placed about 90 yards to a margin spot under some trees again a handful of bait chucked in

By the time I had the brolly up it was nearly dark so dinner was consumed along with a couple of beers and the snore box was calling and shut eye was needed , 3 am the right hand rod lets out a bleep and bleary eyed lent into a heavy weight , well heavy for a poxy bream !! with that and a ton of weed dragged in and removed and the bream un hooked and put back I decided to leave that rod out till sunrise , at first light I did see a few fish in the area but nothing happened and I decided to leave the rods in place till midday , after inspecting the rigs and baits they were all performing perfectly , I got the marker rod out and had a proper fell of the spot , I found it was softer on the left of the spot so I raised the pop up but half an inch and tied fresh hookbaits on

Rods went back bang on the money but this time I put out 3kg of secret 7 over the area and about a kilo over the right hand rod thrown in by hand as I could walk round and bait up with ease ,at about 6 the gaffer turned up we had a nice dinner of fish and chips ( cheers Tel) and chatted for ages before he had to get off home and leave us to settle down for the night in hope of a bite from one of the monsters that swim in the lake , the night was very quiet apart from my snoring, no fish were caught at all I had kind of resigned myself to A blank but was more than happy to just soak up the atmosphere and enjoy but time on the lake ,

Midday arrived and I started to pack away , then my left hand buzzer let out a few bleeps and my eyes were fixed on the tip as it started to hoop over I was on it like a shot and lent into a heavy slow plodding weight on the end , it ploughed through weed bed after weed bed before I got to see it , a lovely dark mirror twisting and turning in the clear margins but after a very spirited and nerve racking fight I landed her making me a very happy lad and terry even happier as his guest record was now back on track

We hoisted her up and did the weighing and although not one of the monsters at 26lb she was very welcome and a stunner to boot, my time at the lake was now over and promises of more guest sessions etc were exchanged and I left the lake with a big grin on face, I’m pleased to say a few days ago I got a call from the gaffer telling me my spot is secured on the syndicate come May!!!

So keep your eyes peeled as I’ll be back soon doing a blog on my fishing and hopefully be showing you some of the carp I catch

Tight lines

Mungo