As the session progressed I wondered what secrets this lake holds. We are in search of huge mirrors and colossal commons that haunts our dreams and is every specimen anglers craving to hold a carp of a life time. Sadly as with many things in life very few anglers get to realise their dream. Yet persistence pays off.
I had already landed two upper doubles and was hoping for a bigger fish - These days I'm only fishing for one big fish, I no longer chase PB's though it would be most welcome. I've been there and tasted the sweetness of huge carp gracing my landing net. To be out there, living, fishing and enjoying the expanses with no roads and what solitude it offers me is enough. the night passed with little to show for it and dawn broke. Sipping on a cup of coffee the Fox Micron gave a beep, and another. The line parted the water cutting a clear line through weed and I knew I was in for a better fight as I lifted the rod into a good fish.
The fish kited to the right and kited with careless abandon. I wondered what this thing was up to when I managed to turn it's head but it would give me no quarter and made me work for every ounce of what it weighed. The fish came closer and closer and closer to the net it came the harder it fought. My knots held, my nerves held but I was shaking the minute I saw it's flank. it just about gave another burst of power that stripped line off the spool as if to say - "All ANGLERS ARE EQUAL IN THE SIGHT OF FISH - and I AM NO DIFFERENT"
After a few bursts and a rod bent double I finally landed the 'Hooligun' of a fish. Looking down into the net I realised it was what I came for - Just one fish over 20lb. This one topped the scale at 27lb, a welcome fish indeed.
Released unharmed to fight another day.
That's carp fishing - for me anyway, fishing hard through the night, thinking, baiting up every so often, changing distance and re-casting at midnight with a two bait stringer into the darkness.
That's carp fishing.
Get out there - and do the same.
I had already landed two upper doubles and was hoping for a bigger fish - These days I'm only fishing for one big fish, I no longer chase PB's though it would be most welcome. I've been there and tasted the sweetness of huge carp gracing my landing net. To be out there, living, fishing and enjoying the expanses with no roads and what solitude it offers me is enough. the night passed with little to show for it and dawn broke. Sipping on a cup of coffee the Fox Micron gave a beep, and another. The line parted the water cutting a clear line through weed and I knew I was in for a better fight as I lifted the rod into a good fish.
The fish kited to the right and kited with careless abandon. I wondered what this thing was up to when I managed to turn it's head but it would give me no quarter and made me work for every ounce of what it weighed. The fish came closer and closer and closer to the net it came the harder it fought. My knots held, my nerves held but I was shaking the minute I saw it's flank. it just about gave another burst of power that stripped line off the spool as if to say - "All ANGLERS ARE EQUAL IN THE SIGHT OF FISH - and I AM NO DIFFERENT"
After a few bursts and a rod bent double I finally landed the 'Hooligun' of a fish. Looking down into the net I realised it was what I came for - Just one fish over 20lb. This one topped the scale at 27lb, a welcome fish indeed.
Released unharmed to fight another day.
That's carp fishing - for me anyway, fishing hard through the night, thinking, baiting up every so often, changing distance and re-casting at midnight with a two bait stringer into the darkness.
That's carp fishing.
Get out there - and do the same.