The Carp Angler

On Sunday the 25th of March I found myself at home with nothing planned, this was a perfect opportunity to get the rods out and head down to my local syndicate for my last session on there. I arrived at the lake in the evening sunshine and set about finding some carp, within 5 minutes I found most of the lakes stock at one end of the lake, near two islands. I unloaded the car and began the mission round to the furthest away swim on the water. Once I arrived at the swim, I fished one rod to a gravel bar just off of one of the islands at 6ft deep. On this rod I fished a 14mm Crustaceans Boilie and used the throwing stick to put about 15 freebees around the spot. On the other rod I fished a 14mm G-Nut Dumbbell and cast 5 metres up my left hand margin to a small gravel spot, I then decorated the spot with around 15 freebees and 2 handfuls of Celtic Baits Pellets. Within 15 minutes the left hand rod rattled off and I connected with an angry fish, another 15 minutes later and the fish was worn out and lay in the confines of the net.

17lb Common caught on a 14mm Crustaceans Boilie After a few photos and weighing the fish, it was slipped back to safety, for another angler to enjoy sometime. I placed the bait back on the spot 5 metres away and topped the spot up with a few free baits. No longer than 10 minutes after, the right hand rod had a belter and the fish seemed to just swim in towards me on the bank, when the fish realised what was happening it began to fight back, while playing the small mirror carp the left hand rod I had just cast out was off again, line peeling from the spool while I played another fish, luckily the mirror was ready for the net so I scooped it in and lifted into the other rod. As I lifted into the fish, I struggled to stop the surging run and after steering the carp around the island it put up a good account of itself in the deep margin, ploughing up and down for a good while. When the fish rolled on the surface I saw the orange flank of a fish I have caught before, I then had to net the Koi in the same net that the small mirror was in, which thankfully was a successful move.

2 in the net! Get in! After grabbing a quick breather, I took some snaps of the fish and returned them back to the lake with no fuss.

11lb Mirror caught on a 14mm Crustaceans Boilie.

17lb Koi caught on a 14mm G-Nut Dumbbell (And I’ve got my eyes shut!) Once the rods were placed back on the spots with some bait around them I set about putting the bivvy up, I unzipped the bag and lifted the bivvy out, as I did this the right hand rod had a drop back, the rod had been out for 5 minutes and was once again in on the action. I tightened down to the fish and began the scrap in the evening sunset, I kept steady pressure and eventually got the better of the common.

16lb Common caught on a 14mm Crustaceans Boilie After the fourth fish the temperature suddenly dropped and the night time weather was freezing, the bites had slowed down but faith was restored when I had a slow take on my left hand rod, the fight was strange as the carp didn’t move much but it wouldn’t stop shaking its head, luckily the lead clip system had worked a treat so I was in direct contact with the fish and within ten minutes the fish was on the landing mat.

14lb Ghostie caught on a 14mm G-Nut Dumbbell After this, I returned to the warmth of my sleeping bag, but comfort was soon interrupted but a one toner which unfortunately ended in a lost carp due to a hook pull. I placed the bait back on the spot and got my head down for a bit, 2 hours later the rod cast towards the island was off, I had cast the rod slightly past the gravel bar I was fishing earlier as the water is a little deeper at around 9ft. I landed the common with no problems and after weighing I slipped it straight back as my phone was out of battery….no photos…. typical! The common registered at 14lb on the scales. The morning came and as I took my first sip of a nice warm brew the right hand rod had another drop back, I clambered out of my bivvy and reeled into a fish, the fight was short but spirited and resulted in a 12lb Common.

12lb Common caught on a 14mm Crustaceans Boilie This fish drew the session to a close, I was chuffed to bits with the results as only one other carp had been caught all weekend and as this was my last session on the lake, it made it all the more special and certainly one to remember. The night temperature was ridiculous, even my sleeping bag frosted over! I packed up and left for home knowing once again that Celtic Baits had done the business! Get on the Celtics!