Bigger Mirror Carp my target and Grandad!

It’s been a lifetime since I wrote here hasnt it? Really it’s not been that long, it’s just that recently I have been away in Iceland. So other than enjoying time with Vikings, what’s been going on?

Some of the larger Mirror Carp from my local lake. I had previously only seen these fish from my favourite water in San Martine de la Vega, Madrid. It seems the Mirrors have gone tails up and heads down. Perhaps it’s my change of tactic that has brought them on, id like to think so!

In my last 3 sessions on San Martine I have caught a better head of fish; in 3 nights I have had 11 fish. Three of those have been mirror Carp falling for either Frolic or Pellet. OK, these fish have not been monsters just 15lb, 17.5lb and 20.9lb, but when you consider the fish are normally low doubles at 10-12lb this recent batch represents a welcomed climb in weight.

So what’s new?

Cebederos or carpets, having just read an article by Ken Townley, I wanted to put the bait bed into practice. One advantage of being in England whilst fishing is the information you get, if you’re in the know you could expect to hear things through the grapevine. In Spain however this is not the case. Actually quite the opposite, whilst few Anglers Carp fish, even less of them use a strategy; which means you’re fishing can be as wild and free as you wish, basically what get’s results is a winner. This in itself has advantages and disadvantages.

I have had success in my frist year on San Martine, by now I have amassed something near 80 Carp from the water, 4×20’s 1×19 1×17, 3×15 and many low doubles, not to forget the monster Crucian Carp that come regular. I am content with my work, I have absorbed much and gained info’s about this small and precious water, but as the final days close (me end of season 30th Oct), I am trying to up the anti and surpass the magical 30lbs mark. It’s one thing talking and trying tactics for bigger fish, it’s another thing fishing for a target fish you dont even know exsists, but that’s exactly what I am doing on San Martine.

Over the year I have met so many people on this water, and all of them have told me the same story. Apparently 10 years ago a man from the village of San Martine De la Vega caught a Carp of 19kg. When too many different people tell the same story detailing a fish of the same weight you have to consider it’s true! Last night I met a boy who claimed it was his Grandfather that caught this fish, the boy made evident that his family are fishermen, he showed me a photo album with monster Bass he, his brother and father had caught over the years, the photo album was impressive and can only help confirm the likelihood that this 19kg fish, is or was real. I use is or was as we don’t know if the fish is dead.

In my mind ,this 19kg fish let’s call it «Grandad:, is my target. As silly as it is I mean we dont have photos, we just have many a rumor, but I am fishing for him. Caro it’s a sort of illusionary fish, a dream fish, the Grandfather of all fish in San Martine and defiantly a legend. If ever there was a fish in San Martine with a bounty on his head them this is the boy.

We live in times where target fishing is common, with the likes of Benson being on top of the UK hit list, Grandad is my local water equivalent of Benson.

Do I feel lucky?

Over time the weights of my fish are rising, I like to think this is logical progression, but actually perhaps the weights are rising because the temperatures are dropping, and the bigger fish are coming on. I prefer to think fish are falling because of tactis as this will credit me for my change of location and approach recently but with Carp fishing do we ever really know 100%?
All I know is the end of my first season on San Martine is upon me and I want break my benchmark for the water which I have set to a 30lb plus fish. To catch that illusive fish, the Granddad, would be great, but maybe for me it’s too soon to catch him, he is a target but id prefer to do my break the 30 plus mark first, then next year go for the biggy, Granddad.

As the colder months move in, my quest moves on and the bait application and beds continue to yield bigger and bigger Mirrors.

Let’s see what the dog drags in…

ARRRRGH