Good evening.
I will try and write this post without spilling anymore cups of coffee or dropping my laptop on the gravel. Today has been a good day, it could have been even better, but I have now made a few changes and hopefully this will work in my favour next time! What am I talking about..read on!
I had no carp last night. I did have a knock at about 11.30pm. I sat up for a while and then felt my eyes closing so I called it a night. No sooner had I got onto my bed I had two bleeps and heard the tip pull round. Whatever it was had gone and there was no resistance on the end when I reeled in. Nothing else happened during the night or early this morning.
At 7am I was up and I went for a quick look round the back of the tree line. There did not seem to be many fish present and I now think they do move out at night to go on the hunt for food. Not all of them, but most I suspect. I decided to formulate a plan. I catapulted some tiger nuts onto my three spots, returned to my swim, and recast the rods onto these areas. If there weren’t fish present, I would hopefully get one on its return to its comfortable lair. I was on my second cup of coffee when the rod tip whacked round, one hour after being in the water. The now empty coffee cup lay on the floor as I wrestled with a strong carp. It kited in towards the bank and to my left, and slowly made its way in front of me. I knew I was out of the woods, I now just had to play and land the fish. The fight was slow and every now and then large boils hit the surface. I could see the fish under the surface but an estimate was difficult. Finally a large head appeared as I slid her over the net. My plan had worked and this was the result; a fantastic looking linear carp.
A stunning 42lb linear.
The weight was 42lbs and I put her in the retaining sling. Danny likes to get shots of all the carp over 40lbs for the Gigantica website, and carp cards that they display on the wall. There is also a very good quality super HD video recorder at Gigantica, which the head bailiff keeps for moments like this. This in fact was its first use, as my carp happens to be the biggest out since I arrived a couple of weeks ago. Is this a good sign for the week, I hope so. Don’t forget the fish known as ‘The Giant’ came out at 72lbs prior to my arrival!! We did some fishy shots and took some video footage and then got her back in the water. I stood with her in the edge, up to my neck in water, till she had fully recovered and I was totally happy to let her swim away. It has been a few weeks since I had a 40lb+ carp and as Danny shook my hand and said well done, I felt very relieved I have to say. Just two more to go for my half century of 40+ carp, could it be done this week?
Loving the tigers even more now!
The rods were back out and it was time to do a little laptop work. My new Internet card has some useful software, so I had a little play around with that, when suddenly the middle rod pulled round. As I threw the laptop on the floor, gently, the rod sprang back and the chance was gone. I am sure a carp was hooked but it obviously managed to shed the hook as it pulled away. There was nothing I could have done to prevent it, as I am sat on top of my rods the whole time. Not to worry, you win some and you lose some! I know they are enjoying the tiger nuts and pellet combo, so there will be more chances to come.
Lunchtime passed and tiredness swept over me. It was time for a little cat nap. The time was 2pm, and the weather looked like it was taking a turn for the worse. The forecast this week is very good; rain and westerly winds and generally better fishing weather than last week. I nodded off like you do, but was in and out of sleep. I heard a few bleeps and saw the tip start to pull round on the right hand rod. It is amazing how you can pull yourself out of sleep so quickly and before I knew it, the rod was in my hands and I was preventing another strong carp getting into the snags. I kept the rod to my right the whole time and kept it low, not giving an inch. The tip was bent double and the fish continued to pull hard, till it suddenly started to move to its right. It moved very slowly as the heavens typically opened and the rain fell down. This was great; playing a carp at Gigantica and getting soaked at the same time. This fish was not giving in, and the fight went on for several minutes. It stayed deep, even though the lead had ejected on the take. I got the common to the net twice and each time it turned and dived back down. What strength, what determination, it was looking at me getting soaked and laughing I expect! In the end I won the day and a 28lb common lay before me. I unhooked and released it straight away, as there was no need for a photo of this one.
Called rod savers for a reason!!!
The ATTS:I haven't had a rod pulled off one yet, thanks to the long ears.
It was time for a shower of my own, a hot one in the beautiful shower room at Gigantica. I doubt there is a better shower at any commercial venue in France, it has two shower heads and enough room in the cubicle to swing three cats! After drying off and noticing the sun was coming out, it was time to get back to the swim and dry anything that got wet, whilst I was playing the last fish. One other job I had to do was collect a rig I had noticed hanging in one of the trees. I went out in one of the boats, wearing a supplied life jacket, and untangled the mess. When there are boats available for use, there is really no excuse to pull for a break?
The calm before the storm!
Whilst I was out in the boat, I scattered some tigers and pellet to my three spots. I have caught a carp from each now, so I am very confident in all the areas. I recast the rods to the spots and started to make some late lunch/early dinner. After a sausage sandwich and a cup of coffee, I just knew a take was on the cards. It just felt right. I made another coffee and sat watching the rod tips. Every so often one of the tips would knock. I knew these were probably bream or liners. If the bream were sniffing around, then the carp could not be far away. I picked my cup of coffee off the floor to take a sip and my left hand rod slammed round so savagely. If I was not using the rod savers, my rod would have ended up taking off. The force of the carp was incredible. I am sitting one foot away from the rods and before I even got out of my seat the rod sprang back. I wound in limp line and my hook link material had snapped once again. This is 25lb coated braid I am using and the break was nowhere near a knot. Such was the ferocity of the take, and probably the size of the fish responsible it stood little chance. Naturally I was gutted, so I have adopted a new plan. The 50lb Arma-Cord I am using as a shock leader, is now being used as a hook link material too. I doubt anything could break this. I know a few people who use this as hook link material and it really is as strong as rope. It is also a fine diameter. I think this is the only way to stop a mentally strong carp that feels hooked and bolts like a bull at such close range.
Two more fish landed, one lost and one aborted take. It has been a very exciting day and my nerves are shot to pieces! I now have to think about my strategy for the nights. I know there are still fish in my area, so I may fish the rods a couple of rod lengths off the tree line, to try and catch a carp that likes to venture out, but does not like to go too far! Since I have been writing this I have seen eight fish bosh in front of me. If I fish away from the snags at night, it does mean I don’t need to fish locked up and I can use the baitrunner system on my reels. However, I will still put them on their tightest setting. It also means I have a little more time to get to the rods if I get a run whilst asleep.
Come back tomorrow to see how I am getting on as my session in the Tree Line swim continues on tiger nuts!
Cheers.
Jake Langley-Hobbs & two Doberman dogs!!
