Good Evening.

Ben-Lux seem to be the only team that can pose any threat to England in the closing stages of the competition. Arjen is being consistent down in the Tree Line swim, and caught a 41lb near leather this morning. This fish was very empty and could easily reach a 50+ weight later on in the year. More interesting is the fact this fish is not a ‘known’ fish. How many other surprises could turn up in the future at Gigantica?

England have also caught a couple more; one for Fairbrass and one for Tong! Ben-Lux’s total weight is now over 120lbs and England are now up to around the 250lb figure. They do seem to be sailing ahead but if each member of the Ben-Lux team catch a couple tonight that could all change. Bart from the Ben-Lux team did lose a fish last night which after five days was very disappointing for him. And what about Germany? Etienne is in the ‘big’ fish swim, so a surprise could turn up at any moment, and Jens and Carsten must try to pull something out of the bag to get Germany off the mark.

Tomorrow I will post some pictures of some of the carp that have been caught during the competition. Tong had a gorgeous fully scaled carp yesterday, and the lake is literally teeming with heavily scaled mirrors and linears. They really are very pretty fish!

My day has been spent finishing an article and arranging and organising the pictures for it. In between I have been on the small pond waiting for my opportunity to catch my target fish. I have been focusing on a lovely dark corner where the carp obviously feel quite safe. It is the perfect spot to stalk them. This is the area I fished from yesterday and the large tree and trunk makes an ideal place to stand and observe them without being seen; if you stay very still and move slowly of course!

I kept introducing a handful of biscuits every so often, and then would return half an hour later to creep up and see if they were mooching about. Each time I stopped and peered into the water I could just make out the odd fish milling around in the edge. I then spotted my target carp. It generally swims about on its own, and she kept appearing from some bushes and cautiously moved forward to take a biscuit, before swimming back to the bush and disappearing. I knew I now had my chance, but I would have to wait for the perfect opportunity to catch her.

The first chance came about one hour later. Every time I left the water for twenty minutes it seemed to increase the carp’s confidence. I saw it ambling around the egde sucking on debris and taking the odd floater and I took my chance to intercept it on the way back to the bush. I quietly climbed onto the trunk and lowered my floater onto the surface. She turned and made a beeline for the bait. Suddenly, out of nowhere, came a copper coloured common and gulped down the hook bait! Whoosh! The hooked carp turned and bolted towards the bushes scaring everything else in its wake. I stood up and applied side strain and pulled it back towards me.I already had the net ready, hidden in the edge, and quickly bundled the rascal into the net. It is a fish I have seen many times in the last few days, very distinctive looking under the surface and although it scuppered my chances, I did not mind one bit!

After a quick photo I gave the swim a rest for a while. I was sure my target might return after a couple of hours and I was right. At about 6pm this evening I spotted her again, and this time she was being mega cautious. I could make out a dark shape swimming under the surface, but she seemed very reluctant to take any floaters. She needed more time, so I flicked some biscuits into the bushes and dropped a few into the margin, and left her alone for a while.

Standing on a tree trunk, on one leg, with a rod in your hand and in the searing heat, isn’t everyones cup of tea! It was getting to the point when I really thought it wasn’t going to happen. Maybe this carp was never going to take a floater again? Perhaps it was just toying with me! Occasionally a couple of other fish came into view and took the odd mixer and this seemed to get the target carp a little interested again. She took one, then the small carp spooked each other and they all fled! I was left with a few ripples and some soggy biscuits bobbing in the debris at the edge!

At 8pm I decided to have one last look. I nearly didn’t, but I thought what the hell! I am very glad I did. As I crept along I could see her swimming confidently around and mouthing objects on the surface. Now was the chance I had waited for. I lowered my bait, just as the copper common (the one I caught earlier) came into view. Not again, surely? I moved the hook bait by lifting it gently off the surface and waited till my coppery friend had passed by. The target was to my right making her way towards the tree trunk. I lowered the hookbait and watched as she made her way past. She swam underneath it and then turned and came back. My heart was going like the clappers as she then rose up and opened her mouth and took the bait. I struck and she moved away quite slowly but gaining momentum as she realised her mistake. This was hit and hold and I couldn’t let her get her head down, or get into the bushes. I grabbed the net as she tried desperately to reach sanctuary. It was too late. I literally dragged her over the net cord and said out loudly “I’ve got you!” I had stalked my target and that is why I love this kind of fishing. The feeling of satisfaction you get is second to none.

Danny the baliff took a couple of pictures and I asked him if it was the fish he had tried to catch last winter. He was unsure at first as the fish is very empty looking and well down in weight. He then inspected it closely and noticed a small lump on its left hand jaw. It was her alright and the fact the weight was down did not matter. I had got my target and that was all that mattered. It also happens to be my largest carp caught off the top to date, so in a way it is a personal best too!

As of Saturday I will actually be fishing Gigantica. The pictures of the big fish that have all been printed up onto cards have tempted me. I want one!

That is all for tonight.

Tight lines to you all and catch you soon!

Jake Langley-Hobbs & two Doberman dogs!
Team Imperial Fishing-We love to fish!!…..
www.carp-gps.com

 

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