Maiden French fishing trip...lessons learned.

It was packing up morning and nothing else  happened on the other 2 rods. Fenlon woke up at 6.45am to find me watching the water once again. With the middle rod left out after my loss he asked if I was packing them up not realising what had happened. It had passed over me already and I was back on cloud 9 after the week I'd had. The beds were packed down and loaded into the van. Bivvy was soon following along with the rods. 2 cups of tea polished off and we were venturing round the lake to meet the others. No one caught on the last night and I was the only 1 to get a bite. Karl asked if I knew what I had lost and I quickly said it was a 40lb carp. Andy wondered how I knew it was a 40lb considering it was no where near to netting and I said "I had a 30, 50, 60 and a 70....40 was the missing number in the sequence". We all laughed and took 1 last look at the lake and headed off in the vans. What a week we had encountered. A truly special place and the return trip is already booked for 2020. The weather was seasonal with cold winds, hot sun and heavy downpours. Snow and ice were the only experiences we did not fish through. The company was on top form and there were plenty of laughs. A good group of blokes to go with. A week away from my son was hard but keeping in touch with him daily made it easier. I couldn't wait to get home and see him.

The journey seemed to take forever. On the way to Island lakes we were on motorway after motorway. The home journey was for some reason travelled parallel to motorways give or take a mile in between us. The sat nav me and Fenlon were using kept asking us to make many U-turns yet Andy, convoy leader, continued driving the scenic route as best described. I started to feel sorry for Fenlon who was once again driving as his clutch foot was in full use. A lot of roundabouts and a lot of gear changing every few hundred yards must have been tiring but he didn't make a fuss about it. A couple of hours passed and we pulled over at a service station for food and a break. It gave us all a chance to sit and talk about the week. Unfortunately Alan never got to land a carp or even go into battle for that matter. I wish he would have made the move sooner and I could have pinpointed where the carp socialise during the morning hours. He was probably in 2 minds whether to move or stay put. My little blue book has positions written down to look at should swim 6 be fished in the future. We were soon back on the road after McDonald's and toilet break.
Fenlon was still beaming with excitement and we chatted about what we had learned over the week. Neither of us had ever had the opportunity to go out in a boat to view a fishing spot. I was personally pleased with the knowledge of feature finding with my marker rod. The feeling of casting a rod and landing a lead on gravel is the easy part. Knowing you are dragging a lead up, over and down a gravel bar has only ever been described and I suppose guess work when using a marker rod. Having the chance to look down from a boat clarified I am capable of finding spots. Presenting rigs that I use in England were effective and no tweaks were made. A lot of anglers go to France and use new rigs or make many changes to their rigs with the mindset that French carp are harder to catch. This can result in lost fish and not knowing which difference hindered the rig mechanics can ruin the chance of landing that fish of a lifetime. Both Fenlon and I stuck to what we know and it paid off. The biggest challenge we both had was how weedy the lake was. Weed is daunting at the best of times and in places Island lake looked like a flooded football pitch. We have both fished weedy lakes but the weed at Island Lakes was on another level. Fenlons biggest accomplishment was changing swims. This is a guy who likes to setup in a swim and wait for the fish to come to him. But he knew that staying in swim 10+11 was a bait and wait swim and not what he wanted this week. The move would have to be done and early in the week was perfect excuse. That and the fact I ran off with his rods probably. When fishing I try and watch the water a lot. This week though I took this to another level. Either in my swim or standing in other anglers swims I was fully concentrating on the water. Another milestone was playing and landing such big creatures and doing so with no one to help me. There is 1 thing that really put the cherry on top of our achievements. Bailiff Mick spoke to Andy soon after Fenlon caught his 29lb. All lakes have rules and at Island lakes there is a rule that any angler that has never fished France must fish as a pair. We were not aware of this rule and we chatted to Mick about people saying we were heading to such a hard lake for our 1st trip to France. Mick never mentioned to us and went to see Andy. He said that if this information should have been brought up on arrival day. Andy had visited this lake a few times and didn't think about the rule. He apologised and said they would all help me and Fenlon pack down and move. Mick was quick to say that there was no need. He had watched us both setting up, finding spots, helping each other, moving Fenlon together and catching the biggest carp caught that week on our own. He had 100% confidence in our ability and said we were both good anglers. That comment was amazing to hear and be passed on. A truly proud moment in my fishing journey to date!!

The time flew by and all of a sudden the road ended and we parked up at the channel tunnel. We didn't have long until boarding the train so a quick toilet break and coffee purchased. Sitting in the van we were directed to our carriage and it was time to say Bon Voyage to France. 35 minutes later we said goodbye to our fellow anglers and we were home bound. We were on the home stretch and already planning the next outing. After catching the 69lb and 59lb carp we were both told that our English fishing was ruined. Neither me or Fenlon go fishing for target fish or big fish only. Being on the bank next to a lake is what we personally enjoy. The surroundings, the peace and quiet, the time to relax and get away from day to day life is what we go fishing for. A bend in the rod is always the fun part and landing a fish no matter the size is the prize. But the biggest quest of each session is to learn lessons and the week in France taught us some of the most valuable lessons to use in the future outings.

'till next time...

Carper Dee

Maiden French fishing trip...missed opportunities

3.30am and the bite alarm was stuttering. Heart beat racing hoping the now silent receiver started singing a continuous tone. Walking down to the rods the middle bobbing was sitting tight against the alarm. Looking across the water my thought was loose weed drifting through the water and had collected the fishing line. A few minutes passed and the odd single tone was all the receiver played. Slackening the line was my only option. I could have reeled in and recast the rod but disturbing the swim seemed the wrong thing to do. In hindsight I should have brought the rig in for confirmation. Around 9am I reeled in and on inspection of the rig it was clarified that a carp had picked it up and ejected it. For future reference this lesson taught me to know my rig is fishing effectively not think it is.
It was now Friday and only 24hours left on the lake. The sun was beaming down and the hottest day of the week. A bucket of bait to prepare for the evening feed time was produced and the decision to pack up items that wouldn't be required was my plan. Speaking to Fenlon he was ready for home. He had no intention of fishing and felt he had achieved all he wished for. All tackle was to be packed up and loaded in the van leaving only his bed and bivvy to pack up the following morning. As I had my 2 man bivvy I thought it would be better for him to put his bed in mine for the night and it was 1 less item to pack on departure day. Suggestion agreed I left him alone for a slow pack up. Once back in my swim I took the time to enjoy the surroundings. The lake is a truly stunning environment and the water was flat calm. I've never seen perfectly mirrored reflections everywhere you looked.

The day went by at a slow pace which suited me as I was thinking back over the moments from the week. It seemed surreal knowing all the lessons I have taught myself over the 7 years of fishing had worked to my advantage and helped with the huge achievements. I had said to the other anglers before we arrived that my main goal was to learn lessons. If I was able to get a bend in the rod it would be a bonus. I never go fishing 'expecting' to catch. In a way if a blank happens (and they happen to everyone) I am not leaving a lake disheartened. If you have high hopes and the plan isn't playing out, you go through the thought process that something is broke and too many changes follow. I would have been 100% happy if I did leave Island Lakes with dry nets and sling. 

Late afternoon Fenlon was packed up and drove the van round to load items I wouldn't need. A few beers each and a belly full of BBQ food saw us into darkness. My rods were in position and bait was waiting for carp to munch on. With the clock ticking by we were soon ready for sleep. 

1.20am and I woke up to my left-hand alarm bursting into tune. All was quiet again once at the rods and the waiting game began. My bobbing had dropped and I was in decision mode again. Hit the rod or leave it. The alarm let out 2 more beeps and the bobbing headed South. Instantly I grabbed the rod, tightened the clutch and started reeling. As I pulled the rod tip into the air a weight could be felt. With no indication of a carp trying to escape I knew I was attached to a ball of weed. Once at the bank I untangled my rig and again realised the rig had been picked up and ejected. Rod clipped up and fresh rig attached, I cast to the spot and scattered a handful of boilies. 

My receiver flat lined at 5.15am and there was no argument that this was a bite. The middle rod tip was trying to exit stage left and the line was leaving the spool like a bullet train. I instantly felt a powerful carp charging through the water and then hiding in solid weed. Holding on tight for a while the carp shook its head and swam into open water. Gaining back some line the carp suddenly headed to another weed bed. Locked up once again I kept the pressure on. A short while later the carp was free and I was pulling my prize towards me. Thinking I was winning the battle the carp fought back and was soon in another weed bed. 40 minutes had gone by and the carp had found its last hiding place. In a slow motion action the carp shook its head sending the feeling through the line and to my fingers and the sensation of an ejected hook point soon followed. Battle wounded I just stood holding my rod looking across the lake. I was gutted to say the least. The sky was grey and fog had filled the lake. Kind of matched my feelings. I didn't recast the rod, just lay back on my sleeping bag looking through the bivvy door.

'till next time...

Carper Dee

Maiden French fishing trip...time to feast.

After another night of intermittent sleep I felt tired. Unfortunately it wasn't the carp keeping me awake this time. The thunder storm that passed over the lake was like no storm I've ever experienced. It felt really low in the sky and the thunder was so loud that it could be felt through the bed. If my Mrs was with me she would have referred it as "angry" and "cross thunder". Morning was breaking and the sun started to rise over the trees. The lake surface once again had mist rolling across. I stood at the front of the swim sipping a hot coffee watching the water. The carp were on their early morning routes and giving up their whereabouts to the eagle eyed angler I try to be. I've watched many YouTube and dvds on carp fishing and the saying "it looks good for a bite" is often used. Both myself and Fenlon have looked across ponds and said the same but all of a sudden stood in that moment looking at my view it really did look good for a bite. With a chill in the air, clouds amongst the sky and the activity the carp seemed to be in, it felt like the carp god's were looking down putting the final puzzle pieces together. My mind was made and giving the carp a good serving of grub today was set in stone.

Between Fenlon and I we had brought 60kgs Blakes baits nutmix maple boilie for the week. My daily plan was to make a 3kg bucket of chopped, crushed and crumbed boilie with a dose of matching glug. I had also brought Sticky baits Manilla glug which was also put in the mix. Throughout each day I used a throwing stick to put out whole boilies. With today's baiting plan I checked how much bait I still had. 12kg still frozen in the freezer with 2 nights before departing for home. More than expected 7kg was quickly deposited into an air dry bag so the boilies could thaw. Looking for signs of carp it was clear they had left the spot so the rods were reeled in. A rusty shower was needed and a visit to Fenlon as I hadn't heard from him.

Music was playing from Fenlon's hut and his kettle was boiling. Perfect timing for a brew I said. We sat and chatted for a while and spoke about ours plan of attack. After Tuesday's sleep catch-up he still looked exhausted and asked me to help him with bait preparation and possibly baiting up later that day. The week had seen hot sun and heavy rain but the humidity was the same throughout....sweaty!! A lot of effort and hard work had been put in by the pair of us but my good mate was visibly feeling it. I left him to relax and agreed I would be back at 5pm for baiting. 

The day was quiet again. Rob and Alan in swims 3 + 4 had chosen to move into 5 + 6. This was a good move as every morning the carp were queuing up in front of 6. Personally I thought the move came 1 day too late but there was still 40hours to go and Alan was the only angler yet to catch. Fingers crossed he could create a meal that would stop the carp to feed and trick 1 into taking the hook bait. The sky opened up around 1pm and I jumped in the boat to view the area I was baiting up. Earlier in the week the clear patch was big enough to fish 2 rods. However, with the sun shining it was an unexpected sight. The carp clearly enjoyed the bait and had torn through the surrounding weed to get every last crumb. The area was around 2.5 times bigger and easily enough to place all 3 traps.

An hour of baiting using my spomb and I got all 3 rods clipped up to their distance. Hook baits attached to rigs ready for the night ahead and extras on standby for recasting should I get a bite. Fenlon baited his swim from his boat as did the other anglers. Dinner being cooked and my rods were cast. I had good feelings as the sun was setting and made sure my slings were ready, nets were in close contact and life jacket in position should I need to get in the boat. It was now up to the carp to do the rest.

9.45pm the alarm screamed carp and I was bent into a hard charging carp. I was attached to a warrior that had no plans on making this easy for me. Deep into a weed bed it headed. Once free it took me into another and another. My adrenaline was rushing but each weed bed it took me had me praying not to eject the hook. 45minutes of beating me up and I lifted the net to another mirror carp. Battered I was but I quickly clipped the rod up and recast to the spot. A  few spombs cast out to entice the carp back and Fenlon unexpectedly entered my swim. He had woken up and could hear I was into a fish. He then realised he had nodded off and hadn't cast his rods. The carp weighed 52lb 4oz and photos were taken. Fenlon headed off with me having to persuade him to cast out.

Feeling confident of more bites I used the throwing stick to scatter 0.5kg boilie over the area and I got back in the sleeping bag. I woke up at 1am in desperate need of emptying my bladder. Through the trees I could see head torches shining from Andy and Karl. Karl was playing a carp and also enduring a proper work out. Back in bed for 20 minutes before I was again rushing for trainers and down to the rods. The left hand rod was being stripped of line and I was again playing a carp. What felt like a torpedo racing through the water I enjoyed another battle. 15 minutes of fun and the carp was in the net. With the knowledge of Andy and Karl being awake surely I didn't have to feel guilty about radioing Fenlon did I? Andy answered the radio and ventured round. I got into my waders, grabbed the camera ready for photos and Andy arrived. Not wanting to get in the way he stood by my bivvy watching my procedure. I cut the line at the net then threaded on another lead clip and tubing. Next I clipped the rod using the distance sticks and cast 5 spombs over the spot. Rod then recast and I was ready to lift the carp to the cradle. Each angler has their own routine and Andy said he enjoyed watching mine. Fish care applied and I lifted the sling to a 33lb 7oz mirror carp. Photos taken, another hand shake from Andy and he headed for his bivvy. 

                  
Another scattering of boilie and I was back in the bed waiting for more action.

'till next time...

Carper Dee

Maiden French fishing trip....A storm's brewing.

Another morning, another enjoyable sleepless night. I sat on my bed smiling with the previous nights achievement. 69lb was a huge weight and to catch a bigger carp the following night is unbelievable. After a coffee I reeled in and baited the swim with a scattering of boilies. The sky was looking miserable so I grabbed my coat and camera and set off to visit Fenlon. Parked at the swim was Mick's van. He was doing his daily round visiting each angler and getting the nights news. Walking into the swim I see Mick and Fenlon down by the rods and noticed Fenlon holding 1 high in the air with rod tip buckled over. He was deep in battle!! The left hand spot had paid off and something was putting up a fight. With a thick band of weed in close this fish knew where to head. For 45 minutes Fenlon was locked into something that was buried in weed no more than 5ft from him. Keeping the pressure on  Mick was saying "let the fish know who's guv'nor" and "don't give him an inch, keep the rod held tight". 30 seconds later he changed and the words "right what's this bladdy fish doing except making a mug of you" blurted out his mouth. All of a sudden the weed broke from its roots and the carp was surface bound and swam into the net. It definitely put Fenlon through his paces. Mick hung around to see the scales read 29lb 1oz and then headed off to see the other anglers.

Carp back to its home safely and the kettle was fired up. My good friend looked shattered. The heat and humidity was taking its toll on Mr Fenlon and I suggested he reeled in and tried catching up on sleep. It didn't take much persuading and he was tucked up. I walked the short trip to my swim and prepared a bucket of bait for later that evening. The rest of day was spent watching the water and baiting the spot with boilies and throwing stick. With rain coming down at times throughout the day the carp were crashing everywhere. All the fresh oxygenated water was hopefully playing to our advantage and the carp were using a lot of energy. From past sessions the rain has always provided me with bites so I was high in hopes the carp needed to feed.  

Evening was fast approaching so I baited the spots with the bucket of bait and cast the hook baits for the night. My dinner was cooked and the rain came down again. This was another heavy downpour followed by thunder and lightning. A phone call home to speak to the Mrs and my son got me a bit emotional. I always take him fishing and the longest I've fished for without him was 2 nights. Talking with him about school and the things he was doing after school made me realise how much I was missing father n son time. Finishing the phone call with good night, I had a quick tidy up in the bivvy and put myself into the sleeping bag. My phone received a WhatsApp message that made me smile and laugh. 

Wednesday morning came round with no action on the carp front. The weather had brightened up and the plan for the day was to all visit the next town for beers, food and chat about the trip so far. A 15 minute drive and we were parked up and looking for somewhere. We found a restaurant and entered to order beer. A lady greeted us and she had 8 anglers looking at her with stunned faces. Her attire was simply high heeled shoes and a short blue dress. On a 20, 30 or maybe even a 40yr old this would be normal. At a guess the woman behind the bar was close to 60 and her suntan was so dark that DFS could add a new colour to their brown leather range. Beer going down well and the atmosphere amongst us was lively and we needed some food. The restaurant we were sat outside had stopped serving food. And the restaurant next door had also stopped serving. In fact everywhere was closing and it was only 1pm. Heading back towards the vans and Karl asked a shop owner where we could get food. It turns out that on a Wednesday between and 1 and 5pm, the French have a siesta. Hungry and disappointed we headed back towards the lake. Driving through a small village we noticed a bar and pulled up. We all walked in asking for beer and the land lady was quickly pulling pints. After another 4 pints the land lady knew she was on to a winner and offered us omelette and pomme frites. Give that woman a medal. It wasn't long and she right footed her husband out of bed and was serving up food. Bellies fed and a couple more beers and it was time to get back to the lake. 

Driving in yet another rain storm we quickly got back to the swims to sort the rods out. By the time everyone had baited up the rain was really heavy and the thunder was back. This was the loudest thunder I had heard and seemed really low. Another epic lightning storm mixed with lake filling rain pour had everyone sat in their bivvys. Laying in my sleeping bag trying to get an early night was going to be impossible. I had the cover over my face and the lightning was so bright I could still see the flashes. My only thought now was "please don't get a bite. I don't fancy holding the fishing rod ready to get struck by lightning".

'till next time...

Carper Dee