Forty five minutes drive down the A10, and nearly the same waiting at the rail crossing, I finally walk on to the lake only to find eight anglers having a go.  Now this might not seem like a lot of anglers to some, but this lake normally doesn’t see eight anglers in a week.  After speaking to some of them it sounded like a few fish had been out including the big common at just over 40lb, and what was interesting was all the bites were coming from the one end of the lake.

The weather was very warm and most of the fish were being seen in the snags sunning themselves or passing over the shallow water.  Leaving my gear with one of the members I set off to see if I could find any fish and more importantly try and find somewhere I could fit in around the other anglers.  On my second lap of the lake I came across a couple of fish in some lily pads so decided to sit down and watch them for a while, after five minutes or so it became apparent that there was more than just a couple in there.  In the short time I sat there I must have seen over a dozen fish and at least two of these were in the mid thirty bracket, so like a shot I was off to retrieve my gear and get it round to the swim.

Back in the swim and the rods are ready to go out. Only two rods were to be used as the swim is very tight with two large bushes on either side, and a clear area in front about thirty yards out before you reach the very thick and very large lily bed.  So both rods are flicked out to the edge of the lilies and a few pouches of maggots are fired over the top for good measure.  For the rest of the day I sat and watched fish cruising through the swim but the indicators remained motionless.

The following morning I am awake quite early and put the kettle on.  As I do so I glance over at the lilies and see a massive patch of bubbles on the edge of them.  I watch for a while but eventually they die off and all looks quiet again, or so I thought.  I am sitting in the bivvy doorway drinking my tea thinking of trying some different tactics when my right hand rod is away, no warning no nothing just one angry carp flying into the lily bed.  I am on the rod in seconds and straight away it’s bent double trying to turn the fish and stop it going deeper in the lilies.  Luckily after a few lily stems breaking, and my heart stopping a couple of times, it starts to turn and make its way towards me.  The fish keeps swimming up and down the margin using its weight to keep down deep, but eventually she breaks the surface showing me how big she is.  After a few more half hearted lunges she comes up, glides over the net cord and in she goes.

What a fish!  37lb 8oz of stunning mirror carp and still another three nights to go (or so I thought).  After taking some pictures (thanks Lee) and getting myself sorted, I get the rods back out but only after jarring my back on a step in the swim.  The day gets very hot and goes by without anything else happening, but the fish are still in the pads so I think there is every chance of another bite at least.  The next day arrives and all is quiet but I have a problem, my back is agony and it takes me at least twenty minutes to get off the bed chair.  After god knows how many painkillers it is clear that I have to give in and call it a day.

I would like to say a big thanks to my good friend Pete for coming down, packing my gear up and taking it back to the car for me.  Although being signed off work for four weeks sounds good its not much fun when your flat on your back and cant even pick a rod up let alone use it.  Not long to go now and I will be back having another go for our scaly friends.