‘Catton And An Old Friend’
I pulled into the car park at Catton Park fishery near Burton onTrent mid afternoon and was pleased to see only a few cars parkedup.
I was there for a 24 hour session and the plan was to catch a fewof Catton’s resident carp. Catton is a well stocked Midlands fisherywith lots of carp to 26lbs+ plus and other coarse fish well intospecimen size. You can fish on a day ticket for £ 6, but nightfishing is reserved for syndicate members only.
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4. 00pm – After walking around the lake (approx 10 acres) Isettled on the wind-facing bank and a tight peg known as ‘The Reeds’swim. I deposited the mountains of gear and got the plumbing rod outto explore the swim.
6. 00pm – I put two rods out. The right hand rod wasfishing a small patch of gravel at 80yards, baited with an 18mmTrigga boilie and about 50 freebies. The left hand rod fished at 30yards on a larger gravel bar, again an 18mm bottom bait – this timeSolar Club Mix with about 20 baits around it.
7. 00pm – I finally had the base camp set up and could seea few fish crashing about. Fellow member ‘Tax Man’ had caught acouple off the top from a more sheltered swim.
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8. 30pm – Tea was finished and I’d had a short drop back onmy right hand rod that looked breamy, however when I pulled up intoit I knew it was a carp. After a reasonable fight I slipped the fishinto the net and on lifting out I knew that it was a good fish(mirror) and one that I recognised! Onto the scales and I settled on23lbs 12oz. It was ‘Broken Tail’, a fish that was my first ever20lbs+ carp caught over 10 years ago – an old friend!
9. 15pm – I’d just got the rod back onto the same spot andit roared off again! This time a better fight which resulted in anice mid-double mirror which was quickly slipped back.
11. 00pm – As I turned in it was a lovely bright night dueto a near full moon and no wind, and a few fish were crashing in thearea.
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12 midnight to 5. 00am – A busy night with six more runs toall rods which resulted in four carp to mid-doubles, a big tench anda lost fish – I’m knackered!
8. 30am – I woke up to a cracking morning and got thekettle on. There were a few fish cruising on the top but due to thebird life and swirling breeze I didn’t get the floater rods out.
12 noon – All packed up and ready for home. Its scorchingnow and very little being caught on the lake. My fishing neighbourBarry informs me that he had a couple of doubles during the night toScopex – one of my favourite flavours!
Summary – A great trip with some nice fish to boot! Thebest part was renewing my acquaintance with my old friend Broken Tailafter all those years.
Graham, the owner, informed me that she had reached the dizzyheights of 25lbs-plus but has spawned twice this year. Maybe nexttime I meet her she will be back to her normal weight!
If you fancy a trip to Catton Park Fishery near Burton on Trentthen give Graham a call on 01283 716876 for further information.
Paul is editor of Angling Lines Ltd – The Largest Used Tackle Site on the Net.
