There were mixed expectations on the 300 mile journey from Manchester to Whiteacres fishing park near Newquay in Cornwall. As soon as we arrived, Steve my fishing bud and I, with wives and kids in tow, headed straight for the tackle lodge for some advice from Clint the fisheries manager, who was only too keen to give us advice and a personal tour of the two specimen lakes they have.
On the first session we decided to fish Pat’s pool, the more established of the two lakes, thinking it would be the easiest option, being closer to the caravan. 
We arrived early, keen to land some reputedly big fish (!) but it wasn’t to be. I cast in around 7.30am and got my one and only run at 3 o’clock in the afternoon, landing a 12lb 10oz ghost carp, no reason to complain, though I was one of a few that caught, with reasons I’ll come to shortly.
With only two day sessions and one 24hr allocated by our nearest and dearest, Steve and I decided to concentrate our efforts on the new and less crowded specimen lake, only dug in the winter and fish introduced in February this year comprising of carp between 15lb and 25lb. It didn’t look easy.
We arrived early morning to find a deserted lake, the only noise being crashing and swirling from the weeds and the margins around the lake. We were allowed to fish three rods because of the lack of interest with the new water where other anglers had repeatedly blanked on the previous days who had moved onto Pat’s pool, the safer bet of the two. With a prize for the largest specimen of the week this was the place to win it.
Unfortunately, as the day went on we realised that all the splashing and swirling was the carp spawning, and as we all know the last thing on a fish’s mind when they’re having fun is food shoved in their face!
We were advised on the first day to fish a popped up bait over a PVA bag of pellets cast into the weeds, but the fish were not interested. So I decided to change tactics, partly because I depleted my stock of PVA bags and that the ducks took a liking to Tutti Frutti pellets because I was fishing in such shallow water.
I decided to fish a single popped up boilie about four inches from the bottom at a point away from the weed but where they were coming in and cruising after their nuptials.
It was a tactic that worked, giving me second place and a trophy for the biggest specimen of the week, a mirror of 19lb, including four other ghost carp all in double figures. Not forgetting Steve who landed two 17lb ghost carp.
A single hook bait placed in the right place at the right time can make all the difference!
