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