The new lake is great full of big fish and it was a shock when i got down there for my first trip on the main lake. The last time i had seen the lakes was back in January when the trees was empty of leaves and things was looking a bit bleak. It was now june and my god things had grown the swim i last fished was covered right over by over hanging branches full of color the grass was 8 inches in height it looked so inviting.
The first trip was a bank holiday just to get a feel for the place and meet other members There is only 20 members on it and 10 was fishing that weekend so a few was met and we chatted about the coming year and how we was all looking forward to catching the carp that swam in the lake. All though i blanked it was good just to soak up the feel for the surroundings It was after a couple of trips that i had my first folly carp out a cracking 24lb linear nice and dark with a lovely off white belly.
Over the coming few weeks the fish was coming nice a steady with one or two gracing the net every weekend Most was just doubles commons and mirrors Here is a nice common one of a three fish i had that weekend.
I had walked round the lake to find the fish held up in one of the corners of the lake they seem to like this area when its a nice hot day
I set up about 30 yards down the bank away from where they was i put 2 rods out in the margins a rod length out in 8 foot of water the lake is like tap water so i went naked no leadcore and fluro hook links size 8 hooks and 2 enigma bottom baits on the hair with a good scattering of hemp and groats no bolies only the hook baits then sat back waiting for them to come down the margin and find the bait. In between where i had placed the 2 rigs was a tree in which i could climb and watch for the carp coming and going i spent hours up that tree as the fish came in had a little bit of the bait then swam off only to come in again and repeat it all over again it was only a matter of time before one of them slipped up and took the rig. I watched as 6 carp was on it feeding on the baited hemp and groats 3 of them was well over the 30lb plus mark. I climbed down out of the tree as if i had a run i new i would end up falling out of it trying to rush to get to the rods.
Within seconds of walking round to the rods the one that the carp was over ripped into life then all hell was unleashed as this carp went on a rampage. Having made a good attempt at escape i slipped it into the net at first look i could see it was a good upper 20lb. The scales told the truth though and the needle stopped dead on 31lb Happy days my first 30lb carp from the lake. They had just been spawning that week so i had 3 photos took and slipped it back as i did not want to stress the fish too much ( it was caught 2 weeks later at 29-05 )
Well that brings us up to date and i hope i keep catching so i have something to write about so till then tight lines
Russ
