Since Sunday’s stunning common, there has been more action, but unfortunately it seems the lake’s population of catfish have moved onto my spot. This is probably down to the amount of small species the Halibut Pellet has attracted, but it does not have to be seen as a negative. I have fish out there, and as the catfish in this lake are not of a size to threaten the carp, I don’t think the carp will get pushed out of the way. I now just need to use a bait that the cats won’t eat or try to pick up before the carp have a chance to find it, so it has to be the humble tiger nut. That’s exactly what I have done.
Three cats have so far been banked and they took a liking to my pink Squid and Octopus pop-ups, and my orange Tutti Frutti pop-ups. I have also had the rock lead ejected a few times as the aquatic feline species attacks my bait without getting hooked. This has been rather annoying, especially when fishing at such ranges, and it was definitely time to come up with another game plan. The biggest cat has been about 10kg and they don’t really go much bigger in here. They are what you might call an irritating nuisance!
I suppose I could move all of my rods to a brand new area but it seems a shame to have to move after finding some fish. Today I went and fed some more bait, but I put this several metres behind my line of markers to keep the fish activity to the other side of my actual drop positions. I still want to draw in fish of all species as I think the continued activity will keep the carp coming back. I have now dropped three rods all sporting three corked tiger nuts from the Frenzied range, and I have sprinkled tiger nuts of various sizes around each drop position. One thing I did was to make up some tiger nut stringers after first drying out some nuts in the sun. I then looped this over a PVA nugget wrapped around the hook, and tied it off with an additional nugget at the end of the stringer. This extra nugget conveniently pops up to the surface so accurate baiting up can be carried out.
I have a little writing to finish in the next couple of days so I am hoping the switch to tigers will allow me to get on with it, apart from, hopefully, only being interrupted for a carp or two. I am about to start my last ‘No Fixed Abode’ feature, for International Carper, as after two years of contribution, I feel I now need a break from that magazine; plus I have run out of material for the time being. I need a fresh country, some new water, and a new scene. I may return to International Carper – that will remain to be seen. My writing for European magazines, and the blog, will continue in earnest, as they are both things that I still really enjoy doing.
I have just finished off a cold cup of coffee and am wearing my waders as I write tonight’s post. Two commons have just been landed in the last thirty minutes and that makes six more since yesterday’s post. I am hoping to catch a couple more before the session ends to make my total a nice round number – forty. Wouldn’t it be amazing if my fortieth carp was a forty too!
By Jove...I do believe it's a mirror!
Last night’s action started off quickly and I had a savage take on the long-range rod while it was still light. A great scrap took place and eventually I netted a long…wait for it…mirror carp! At last I have caught one and what a great looking carp too! As I returned to shore, after first dropping the rod back in position, I noticed I had received a take on the 11pm rod. “Not a problem,” I thought. I have two landing nets set up for moments like this, so I left the mirror in the first net, draped over a pole in the water, took the other rod and my spare net, and went out and successfully landed a small common. It kind of made up for the time when I had two takes at once, when my petrol outboard had packed up, and I was helpless as I made my way to the first fish which had shed the hook, and then when I finally got to the second rod, that one had also done a runner. Sweet revenge was now mine!
The long-range rod produced another small common in the wee hours at 3am, and after replacing the hook and hook bait out in the boat, and dropping the rod back in position, I returned to my bed. A drop back occurred on the same rod at first light and after legging it to the rod, there was nothing there when I wound down; however, the fish had ejected the lead! I left that rod where it was till later, and went back to bed to carry on my beauty sleep for another hour!
Once up I started making dents into the packing up and after one trip to the van, I had a take as I reached the swim. The long-range rod which I had put back in place, shortly after waking up, was off again! The strong fish managed to kite into a weed bed by the time I reached it, and after a lot of untangling, and feeling around, I managed to handline the 20lb common into the net. I don’t know who was more surprised – me or the carp!
I could hear the dogs barking as I made my way back in the boat. I could see two people near my van and on closer inspection they turned out to be the mega-keen Romanian fisherman who have been angling to my left, on and off, since I arrived. They had just arrived for another session, and as anglers go, they are as enthusiastic as myself. They often turn up just as it’s getting dark, do a quick night, and then disappear in the morning. They are fishing for any species so I showed them the carp I had just caught and asked if they would kill and eat it. “Yes,” they replied. “For us carp are food.”
Now some people may frown at that and I imagine carp anglers would get very annoyed. I am a carp angler and I would never kill a carp. I think this all comes down to culture, education, and tradition. The Polish eat carp on Christmas Day for example, and I do believe one of the major supermarkets in the UK have actually started selling carp on the fish counter. Whatever you may think on the subject, we have to respect people’s different views in Europe. I can completely understand UK carp anglers getting very agitated when carp are killed and taken from their lakes, and I wholeheartedly agree that this practice is wrong. The UK has always had a catch and release policy when it comes to coarse fish, and game fish have to be a certain size, to be knocked on the head for the table. However, in Europe it is quite different and some people just see fish as fish, and they are food for the family and table. Carp anglers and the average angler generally follow the catch and release policy, but you try telling an old Italian or Romanian fisherman, who was taught to fish by his father and grandfather, that it is wrong to kill a fish. I suppose in a funny reverse kind of way it comes back to the mouse incident the other day…I set traps and kill them, and some people wouldn’t dream of doing such a thing.
"Come out of that weed bed!!"
Anyway…back to my story! My battery on my remote control device for my camera has finally faded, so I asked one of the Romanian lads to press the shutter release button on my camera, once I had set it up on the tripod. They both happily obliged and after I had weighed the fish, we admired it, and I let her go. In case you are wondering, they didn’t try to jump in after it, or shake their heads in disgust as I released the fish. They understand that I return my fish and for myself it is purely a sport that I undertake, albeit rather seriously!
Ciprian, Flash, and Avras!!
I continued with the packing up and had a single beep on my ATT receiver whilst I was putting a bivvy in the van. I could see the rod tip pulling forwards so I ran the twenty yards back to my swim and grabbed the rod. It was the 11pm rod and the fish came away easily from the edge. This one started kiting to my left, so after about twenty seconds of winding I took to the boat. The line was caught around a branch under the water, so I had to free that first. The fish seeing his chance, found another snag, and after I finally got in direct contact, I could feel the carp pulling, but could also feel that grating sensation coming up the line. The fish suddenly pulled harder and it was gone! The hook was left in a small branch which I managed to pull up off the bottom, so I quickly checked everything, got it back on the spot, rebaited, and returned to my swim.
Pippo arrived for a quick coffee late afternoon as I was finishing the packing for the day. I have decided tonight to launch a full-on Dynamite Bait’s Chocolate Malt attack, as the nuisance species have started getting more active, and the Mussel and Oyster pop-ups are getting hen-pecked! The Choccy Malts are harder baits after drying, and slightly more visible on the lakebed, and as they have done me proud on my ‘naughty’ long-range rod for the entire session, I figured it a good time to change for the final night.
A child's drawing of where I am fishing!!
As I said at the beginning of the post, so far this evening I have had two commons already from the 11pm spot, both on the Choccy Malts. The second take came within seconds of sitting back down, and I certainly think there will be more to come this evening. As I was editing this post, I have just experienced a take from my farthest spot. A small common was the result. Carp number 39 is mine and I don’t think I will have to wait long for number 40 to be honest!
Ready and waiting!
That’s all for this evening. Final update tomorrow night!
Oh and if you are a UK reader – have a good Bank Holiday weekend!
Before I copy and paste my diary piece below I will just add my thoughts over the last two nights. Last night was surprisingly quiet. I did not mind one bit as it meant I got a solid eleven hours kip. I really needed it and I felt full of beans this morning. I decided not to retrieve the rods, instead I would see if anything occurred during the first part of the day. I was on lookout duty for pikeys, and boats full of birdwatchers, and spent the first part of the day relaxing in the morning sun.
The last two days has seen a change in the weather. The sun and heat has now returned, and I am wondering if the carp exited the bay during the change in temperature as overcast weather moved in on Friday and moved off this morning. I know there are carp here today because I have seen some whilst out in the boat, and whilst I was out I put some bait down at lunchtime; I would check later when I redid the rods to see if it had gone. I left it till about 3pm and I started retrieving the rods one by one. I made a few changes that I mention in the diary piece, and the bait I put down, has been eaten by all accounts. The water clarity has gone crystal clear in the last 24 hours and the water level has dropped a little since I have been here. The change in water clarity is either due to the fact the feeding carp have gone and it was them who clouded up the water, or it was down to the rain on Friday, and the sudden return of the sun today. Tonight is going to be a test to see what happens. I have made one change to one rod and have put a meshed 26mm Spicy Tuna bottom bait on, instead of a double pop-up offering; the other rods remain unchanged.
What do I do if tonight produces nothing? Another move may be on the cards, or I stop my session and go to another lake where the chance of a really big common is much smaller. I am going to do a 24 hour poll tonight to see what you think I should do, and whatever the outcome I will react to it on Tuesday morning.
Thank you for taking part, the poll is now closed!!!
The Korda diary piece of the last 36 hours.
I have decided to change my format for this month’s diary piece. I will give you a full blown account of what happens in the next thirty-six hours, rather than recall the last month’s events. I am set up and the rods are out as I write, and as things have started to warm up and I have caught fifteen carp in the last five nights; I thought it would be a cool way to do the diary this month.
It is 5.26am at this precise moment and it is still dark outside. My dogs are asleep on their beds on the floor and apart from their sighs as they sleep, I can hear birds in the woods and fish topping, as dawn is about to break. The reason I am up at this time is I have just suffered from a hook pull at mega long range. I am fishing locked-up and tight to some reeds and when I get a take, it is normally just one or two beeps as the rod tip violently pulls forwards. I was sleeping, rather heavily I might add, but got to the rod and expected an immediate strong tug of war to pull the carp away from the snags, yet after feeling some resistance, the hook pinged free. I shot out in my boat and redropped the rod, and by using a red flashing light in my swim, I can return in a straight line in the dark. On my boat I am using a petrol outboard engine as it gets me around quicker and as they are allowed on this lake, it makes no difference to the carp as they are used to the sound.
6.00am after going to bed for a lie down, I suddenly get a take on a rod placed at 200m range. The end result was a small common about 12lbs. The carp aren’t all huge in here as they successfully breed every year, so small ones are quite often caught. I released it from the boat, re dropped the hook bait back onto my spot using my eyes, and after returning to my swim – it’s back to bed. I am so tired!
8.30am a boat containing birdwatchers arrives in the bay area. I wave at them to avoid my lines and they pick up one with the rudder of their craft. I wave and shout at them to stop but the braid snaps. I go out to challenge them and the braid is still trailing off the back of their boat. I was not best pleased with them! I tied the two loose ends together, found where my rig had been dragged to, and then checked everything before redropping and returning to my swim. It’s time for a cup of tea. F&%£*”# birdwatchers!!
11.00am just had some breakfast, cornflakes, toast and coffee! On Saturdays I generally have a little tidy up and it is normally my day off from writing, apart from the blog, of course! The sun is now shining and it is going to be like this for the next ten days. Things should really pick up now. The smaller carp have actually started spawning (or practising) in the reeds. My plan today with the rods is to leave them out till mid afternoon, then I will go and check them all in turn and bait up. I am only baiting up with a few handfuls of boilies, scattered along the reed line.
1.00pm a pike angler entered the bay fishing the edges of the reeds. He avoided all of my lines till he got near to my swim and then the problems began! I tried to explain to him to bring his boat under my lines, as they are very high up on my pod to avoid the reeds in front. He decided to do it his own way and caught one of my lines. After some choice words from me, he dropped his outboard motor on full power, and sped out of the bay. This is normal life on these big European lakes and pike and carp anglers don’t mix well!!
1.27pm just watching seven gliders skilfully piloted as they circle round each other high in the skies. There is a glider base situated at the lake which provides daily visual entertainment.
2.30pm I have just had a sudden take on a long range rod, and after a real tug of war, as the fish was in the reeds, my hook sadly pulled. On reaching the spot in the boat it transpires my Hybrid lead clip had not dumped the lead which is the reason I could not extract the fish out of the reeds. I can only put this down to the fact it was probably a small fish, as I have had several carp using this very lead clip and the lead has been dumped each time! You win some you lose some, but at least it is turning into an eventful day for my diary!
3.15pm I am now repairing a seat I have and I have just repaired my laptop screen which had gone psychedelic! I accidentally sat on it at the last lake, causing a small dent in the casing. I undid the screen components, pushed out the dent, relieving the pressure on the LCD display, and happily it’s back to normal. My life does not revolve just sitting behind rods!
4.45pm I have now finished doing the rods for tonight. I redid two as I am happy with the other pair. I am now getting settled as dusk approaches with more feeding carp hopefully!
8.00pm just written my daily blog and it is about an hour away from darkness. It is a lovely evening, slightly overcast, and I am expecting a take at any moment if the last few nights are anything to go on!
8.30am I have just woken up after an amazing night’s sleep, which I really wanted I might add! We all like to be up catching carp, but I am not in a competition and I needed a night off to be honest. The carp have been very considerate! Just having a cup of tea and I am going to sit and watch out for pike anglers in boats, so they don’t catch my lines.
2.00pm I am now just doing some video work for Korda’s website. This is the second one I am compiling and today I did some rig footage showing my 360 rig that I am currently using.
4.00pm I have just been to get my rods and I have changed the mono shockleaders to the 50lb Arma-Kord leaders so they don’t have any stretch in them. This may help win some more of the tug of war battles I keep having with the carp, as the slight stretch in the mono leaders may be giving the carp a slight advantage. I have won most of them to date, but the last few have gone in the carp’s favour! Carp fishing seems to be all about peaks and troughs of success and overcoming certain problems.
6.00pm I have just successfully put my rods out and now it is time to sit and enjoy the balmy evening. It does seem after last night’s unexpected quiet that the carp may have done one, but I saw one earlier by my swim, so it seems either the hot day has brought them back, or the cloudy weather the last day or so, switched them off the feed a little. Tonight will be an interesting test.
7.30pm I now have my dinner on the go. Tonight I am having some pasta which is nice and quick to prepare, but filling and full of energy. After last night’s good sleep I am hoping to stay awake till about 11pm, as I am hoping my 11pm rod will produce a take as it has done the last few nights. Two red kites have just flown over my head, and the bird life at this lake is fabulous – the downfall is the birdwatchers in boats they seem to attract!!
