As carp anglers we can easily get caught up in the big fish ‘ratrace’ and lose sight of what fishing is all about. However a fewrecent trips with my 9 year old nephew Josh has certainly put myfishing into perspective!
As Josh lives near Gloucester we normally travel down fromDerbyshire for the weekend. Josh and I go fishing for the day onSaturday and then we enjoy the rest of the weekend with the rest ofthe Pole family. (mainly eating and drinking far too much!)
This trip was no different when Josh and I headed towards ourchosen venue Chad Lakes near Stow on the Wold early on Saturdaymorning. As ever, Josh was excited and hardly stopped talking all theway there whilst I did my best not to run over the hundreds ofsuicidal rabbits which lined the country lanes!
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We arrived at the lakes at 8am to find the car park fairly quiet,a good sign. The gear was loaded onto our backs (God, I’m getting tooold for this lark!) and after dipping our nets, we walked quietlyalong the syndicate lake. Being a carper I had to have a gossip to acouple of the members who told me that plenty of big fish were comingout, including a 40lber just a few weeks ago – Josh’s eyes lit upbut I had to calm him down a bit as we were fishing the Day Ticketlake next door!!
The Day Ticket Lake is about 3-4 acres with a large island bang inthe middle. It contains most coarse fish with carp to mid 20’s butmost are 7-10lbs. In addition is full of smaller fish which makes itand ideal venue for a new or young angler – plenty of bites!
We chose our pegs and set about getting the gear ready. The planof attack was for us both to set up float rods plus to chuck out acarp rod each towards the island for a biggie or two!
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Just before his first cast – Josh informed me that his target fortoday was to catch 2 carp with one over 10lbs – over to you UnclePaul!!!
It was soon business as normal for Josh as he started to catchlots of small roach and perch on double maggot. For saying it wasonly his 3rd fishing trip he is becoming an accomplished angler andhe can consistently well.
By now I had set up the other rods and was float fishing myself.Its great to get the float rod out and to flick out a small float -then sit back and relax!!
I began on double caster and soon caught a few nice roach andskimmers gently swinging the fish into hand.
Then suddenly my buzzer sounded, I jumped up and lifted into aslightly bigger fish. As soon as it was away from the island willowsI passed the rod to Josh who expertly played in the 2lbs bream.
A few photos to record the capture and it was back to business! Nosooner had I sat down when my buzzer screamed off again and this timeis was a bit more powerful – a carp. I decided to play this onemyself and coaxed it towards the net…………… then I went andlost it ………… the hook pulled!!! Josh just looked up at me. Hedidn’t have to say a word (but he did!) – I was gutted! “You shouldhave let me play it Uncle Paul, I wouldn’t have lost it!” was hisunwelcome comment.
The wind had now picked up and Josh was started to get a fewtangles so I decided on a move to the end of the pool which was moresheltered by the island.
We soon carried our gear around and I carefully cast the carp rodsout towards some likely looking spots. Our set up was as follows-
Paul’s Carp rod – 10lbs Daiwa Line, 3 foot Fox leadcore leader, 11/2 oz Fox inline lead, 7 inches 15lb Korda Fluorocarbon to a size 8Gardner Talon Tip hook.
Josh’s Carp Rod – same as above but with Fox Method Feeder insteadof inline lead.
Bait – Hookbaits 14mm Nutrabaits TRIGGA + Caviar boilies. (Rolledby Kieron at Lakeside Services) & my own Method Mix consisting offishmeals, crushed hemp and various other bits and bobs!
I’ve been messing about with my baits again this season – I tendto drive my mates mad but so far I’ve had some good results on bothmy method mix and the Trigga + Caviar.
Meanwhile, Josh was catching steadily again whilst I tidied up thebomb site he had created whilst setting up camp again!
We started to get some liners on the Method rod which made thingsexciting. I had to keep stopping Josh from striking, explaining howit was the carp attacking the groundbait – “Sit on your hands Joshand wait for the buzzer to scream!”
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Sure enough it did and Josh jumped up and pulled firmly into agood fish. The fish kited left towards the overhanging bushes butwith steady pressure Josh managed to steer the carp towards the net.Uncle Paul was giving him a running commentary on what to do but Joshwas deaf to this as he cranked the fish towards the waiting net! Infirst time and I turned to see one happy young angler – a great sightfor any teacher!!
We carefully unhooked the fish (a mirror carp) and placed it intothe weight sling for the magical moment of truth. It pulled thescales around to 7lbs 8oz but Josh didn’t care about this he was justhappy to have caught such a great fish!
A few photos to show everyone at school and we gently slipped itback!
Back out again with the feeder and it didn’t take too long for theliners to start again, then bleeeeeeeeeeeeepppp……..it was offagain!
It was a similar fight and the fish was soon into the waiting net,another mirror which looked of similar size. It turned out to be just8oz lighter but again Josh didn’t care, he had accomplished part ofhis goal – 2 carp – now for the double!
Meanwhile I was enjoying my float fishing and was catching somenice roach on caster and feeding hempseed. Then I noticed one thing,the fish were taking the loosefeed close to the surface causing boilsjust under the surface. I quickly removed my drop shot and cast outagain poised to strike at the fast biting fish. This proved to be agood tactical decision and I was soon connected to a nice roach ofjust under a pound.
Then it was my turn to have a screamer and I jumped up and pulledinto what felt like a better fish. My plan was to steer this powerfulfish away from the snaggy area then pass the rod to John WilsonJunior! However Uncle Paul’s luck was as bad as ever and the hookpulled again – oh dear! Josh gave me a another look of disapproval soI quickly cast out again, back to fish more my size – 4ozroach!!!
Josh’s buzzer went next and he showed me how to do it and soonloaned a smaller carp of 4lbs. It may have been small but it was avery pretty fully scaled mirror – imagine that as a 20!!
I was back to my ‘bit bashing’ and was enjoying every cast, then Istruck into a better fish which led me a merry dance on my 2.1lbhooklength and size 14 hook. It came to the surface and we saw it wasa big roach “Careful with the net Josh!” I said.
We got it in there first time and it pulled the scales around to1lbs 13oz and on light gear – my turn to be happy!!! A few photos forUncle Paul and we carefully slipped it back into the depths.
I had just sat down when my carp rod roared off. This time I letJosh have it from the start and he showed me how to do it! I couldsee it was a nice common which might just break double figures -“Please hold firm hook” I said to myself! Hold it did, and I nettedthe prize first time – Josh was overjoyed I had to quieten him down alittle!!
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We placed it into the sling and I lifted up the scales………..YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS……10LBS 2OZ – The icing on the cake. Joshwas smiling from ear to ear, a great site and very satisfying for thetutor!
A few photos and we put Josh’s new ‘Personal Best’ back into thelake followed by the customary handshake “Well done mate” I saidhappily.
But the excitement wasn’t over yet. Even though we had said thatwe would leave the lakes at 3pm to get back for tea, I decided thatan extra half an hour was in order!
By now I had some good fish eagerly taking my casters just underthe surface and was confident of another big roach. It was a case ofcatapulting the casters, casting beyond them, rod tip under thewater, quick wind and then wait! Once again the float zipped away andI struck into a good fish. This one felt a little better and Icarefully played it towards Josh and the waiting net – yes, it wasanother good fish and my heart was pumping as it slid into thenet.
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Onto the scales again and Josh was saying that it was bigger thanthe last one. This was confirmed when the scales pulled around to2lbs 3oz – a new PB for Uncle Paul as well!!
I was well happy and Josh took a few shots on both the SLR and theDigital camera. On checking the Digi I was pleased to see that notonly can he catch fish but he can take photos – nice one Josh!!
We were now an hour behind schedule so it really was time to packup. Josh continued to fish on as I rushed around furiously packingthe gear away and imagining what an ear-bashing we were in for!!
After chatting to the Syndicate Lads of the way back (Drumming upsome Angling Lines business!) we jumped into the car and headed backto Gloucester.
A great day and we spent the whole journey home discussing ournext trip – a pike fishing day at the end of October – I can’t wait!!
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