I am a Carp addict!

Somehow on Sunday night I managed to get a quick session in!
I think I am a Carp addict, actually since my work timetable is almost none exsistant at this time I have got to get out and gave it go!
It was a short session arriving at 10pm and leaving at 7am. The night was calm and temperatures mild with a low of about 8 Deg C. According to the forecast a light S.W wind was to be expected and that’s what we got. I knew I would have the whole water to myself, so I choose to fish a corner swim with my face in the breeze.

I chose this spot as I had not fished it for sometime and had previously taken my best fish from this peg. On this occasion I had not pre-baited the swim, so to get things started I applied about 1.5kg of hemp, 100 x 15mm Halibut Pellets and about 50 Dynamite Baits- Shelf Life 20mm Monster Crab Boilies.

Two rods were fished to my right (on the hemp bed), the first with a 15mm Halibut Pellet and the other with a 20mm Monster Crab Boilie. The 2nd was 10ft to the right of the 1st at the same range on the edge of the hemp and pellet bed.

My 3rd rod was directly in front at 40 yards, with a Monster Crab Boilie. I had seen many fish topping on this spot. All rods were fished with PVA bags filled with a mixture of smaller Nash Pellets, Frolic, 15mm Halibut and the odd 2-4 broken up Boilies.

At about 12am one of the margin right hand rods with the Halibut Pellet signaled a slow drop back, (it’s common to get drop backs from this peg), I was on it fast, and sure when I picked up – battle would commence, how wrong I was, I struck into thin air, mmh. I checked the bait and rig then re-cast back onto the hemp bed and waited. At 1am came a screamer of a run on the rod directly in front. It was one of those runs where the ratchet on the reel makes more noise than the alarm! I took control and within about 8min. a lovely new 13lb 01oz Common Carp lay on my mat. I re-cast the rod to the same spot in-front and waited again. At 4am the same middle rod went again. The take was fast and the fish took line. I was sure the fish was bigger so I kept the pressure on and got her too me in a steady fashion. When she went in the net I was pleased to see a Mirror Carp. She was a good one at 9.5kg approx 21lbs. so I was well chuffed with that!

The Mirror Carp in this water are much rarer, so it’s extra special to see another one out. A couple of bad photos were made with my self timer on the digital camera then I sent her back. As soon as she went back fish started splashing in front of me again, actually suprisingly all night you could see and hear signs of fish, and I just kept casting the one rod to them. Normally when there’s little action on the two right (main) rods, and action on the other(test) rod, I would move one of the (main) rods to the action, but this time (for no reason), I left the two rods right as they were.
At 6.00am on the dot, one of my (main)right rods ripped off, I felt the fish for a moment then the line went limp, the fish had come off, I couldn’t really tell if it was a big fish or not as I didn’t have enough time, but you know what it’s like when you lose one!

I have now for the 2nd night in a row received action through most of the night, with runs coming after not too long, this was a change – as in the past after 2am the lake had typically gone dead, a pattern is seemingly emerging which I will keep a watchful eye on.

I will be back on the Gravel Pit this weekend for more of the same possibly fishing into the deeper water, and as ever I will report my findings. Until the next time good luck and may the fish be with you!