Good Evening.

Well I have managed to catch two more carp since yesterday and the biggest of the competition so far! I started the evening off early with a small common and then suddenly the weather seemed to change a little – it got cold. At 9pm I had a strange occurrence on the shallow hump rod and reeled in to find my white pop up corn gone, and my lead had released but the swivel remained on the clip. The wire had been pulled completely straight and what happened I don’t know. I went and redropped the rod in the dark and then Danilo returned from his house with his boilie supply. He uses Mistral by the way and fishes for the Italian distributor – Outdoor International.

The night got colder and I commented to Danilo that I didn’t think it was going to happen. The change in weather seemed to turn the fish off and possibly that was why nothing had happened in the day. Figuring I would have a good night’s sleep I was surprised when a few beeps woke me at 4am. The wind was blowing hard so I opted to go out in my inflatable boat; I think it was a good decision. A great fight took place for fifteen minutes and I was freezing cold and desperate to get the carp in the net. Finally, after it had swam round in circles very powerfully for what seemed like ages, I slipped the mirror into the net.

An Italian Stunner!

Loving the bait!

Twelve kilos was the weightbut I was more pleased that I had caught a mirror carp. It is an immaculate looking fish and what a tail and wrist it possesses. We took the photos at first light after the bad weather had subdued a little and the fish swam off strongly. During the photos the carp was excreting the bait everywhere – what an encouraging sign!

More drama happened today when Danilo had a powerful take. After fifteen minutes out in the choppy lake we presumed it was a catfish. It was, and after I took the rod off him to play the fish for a while, because Danilo was exhausted, a big cat rose to the surface. We unhooked it in the water and watched it disappear, it was a great combat.

My dogs taking over Danilo's bed!!

The rain is now tumbling down and unfortunately because of the high winds Danilo has not had a chance to put his rods out. I have mine in the water – things could get rather interesting in the next twelve hours!

The score is now fairly even and I may just be a few grammes in front. It is turning into quite a battle!

Back tomorrow.

Jake and the dogs.