A hard but decent Carp fishing session

My final night session of the year produced some good fish. I use «final night», as I have now fished San Martine for 1 year!

To celebrate my final night it rained and rained and rained. So much so that I had a temporary river running through the base of my camp/bivy, not good.

Sometimes it’s worth getting wet, and this time I was willing to be soaked for a brace of 3 lovely plum Common Carp of 20lbs 2oz, 18lbs 7oz, 16lbs 01oz.

The first and biggest fish came in less than 1 hour, I was hard with her and supprised when I saw her bulk in the net. On the scales she went 20lbs 20z, what a great way to start my last night of the year!

Whilst my mate Angel was doing the photos for her my other alarm gave a slow drop back and bleeped. I told Angel who was nearest to «hit it», I was in again, we swapped over, he got the first fish and I got the rod again, nice. After a longer scrap another lean common of 18lbs 7oz was on the mat. Both these fish fell to a 22mm Concept for You Halibut Pellet tied to a Korda Wide Gape B size 6 and Nash Armadillo Braid.

It’s rare that you see me with two fish on a mat. I dont like Carp sacks and tend not to retain fish. The fish were caught and put straight back to the water spending no time in a sack and although it’s legal to sack fish here I just feel better for not doing it.

It was a somewhat strange session as the action came promptly and ended suddenly.

Since we were fishing a narrow canal stretch of water I can assume two things happened. The first is that the double commotion (2 fish out at the same time) spooked the fish. The other is perhaps the rain had some influence. A pattern emerged with the rain this night. All my takes and runs came only when the rain stopped. If the rain stopped for more than 20min. I would get a run or take.

It was some time before the rain stoppped and my next fish came at 5.30am. (see photo left) It was another Common Carp of 16lbs 1oz. This fish fell to the same rig but differnet bait, I caught her on a Concept for You 20mm (Liver) Stimulator Boilie. 3 Fish for more than 54lbs a nice end to my year!

Tight lines

Andy Mac