I love this time of year, everything is starting to wind down and the carp are looking for as much food as possible for the on set of winter.

This year has been a bit of a write-off for me as I’ve had a major knee operation, so when I got the chance to have a go on a little river with a few good carp in, I jumped at the chance!!

I arrived at the river about 3:30 after work and had a little look about. Low and behold the very first bend I came to, there were about 5 good carp drifting in and out of a weed bed. I couldn’t believe my luck. It was too coloured to see how big but they were carp alright and with a few hours left of light, this was the spot.

After watching the area they seemed to be visiting the most I started to flick a few grains of corn and super tuff S Pellets to land in the general area. Within 5 minutes they had their heads well and truly down as clouds of silt and debris started to float down stream from the spot. I was a little unsure when to put my rig in as I couldn’t see the exact position of the fish and didn’t want to spook them. Then I saw them drift back into the weed so I lowered the trap right on the money.

I opted for a 2oz lead fished helicopter style with a super tuff S pellet tipped with plastic corn. I wanted the bait to have as much scent in the water and to be as visible as possible without being too blatant. The S pellet is the perfect way to send all the little scent trails off down stream. The oil content is quite unbelievable. Just squeeze one for yourself and you will see what I am on about. With the corn tip it gives you just the right amount of visual aid if that is how they are feeding. I lowered the tip and sat just back peering over the reeds.

Almost straight away the fish moved back onto the spot. Bits of weed started to float up and I had to sink the line as it started to catch when the tip shot round. I was in after 3 minutes!!! It had so much power on the first run I only just got to the drag before the rod was ripped out of my hand!! It came in quite quickly and with no real dramas I put her up to the spreader block. What a cracker!!! Chestnut browns and little yellow flecks of much received river mirror carp. I was over the moon. It wasn’t a monster at 12lb 4oz but the reward I wanted. A few photos and she went back. It took me back to why I actually started fishing a million years ago. It wasn’t about size or target fish but actually just catching a fish. I think sometimes I can get a little complacent and preoccupied with trying to beat my pb on some of the waters I fish. So I had a little reality check (and a fag) about what had just happened. The little spot was not going to have any more carp 100 miles in each direction so I thought about having a wander up stream. I put a few more handfuls of S pellets and corn on the spot (you never know) and off I went.

I got about 100 yards away and realized my net was still in the reed!! So dropped my gear on the ground and walked back. As I picked my net up, I saw some weed floating off. What!!! I stuck my head over and sure enough the group of fish was back on the spot again!!! Now I started to put a bit of a jog on to get my gear, but then remembered my knee was shot to bits and for some strange reason I had no pain! Weird huh!!! I was back with all my gear in about 10 seconds with a fresh rig and S pellet/corn hook bait on the spot. I sat back once again.

I was up and down like a yo yo for about 5 minuets looking over the top of the reeds then the tip went round once again. This one felt a better fish as it just kept moving from weed bed to weed bed. Every time I got it out of one, it found another one. It had made its way to the reeds in front of me by now so I jumped in and somehow managed to get it moving. She came up to the top and hit the block. It was an absolutely stunner and one of the nicest fish i've seen for a while. Shame the photos will never do a fish like this justice. It weight 18lb 13oz of autumn gold in all its glory. Not bad for a few hours after work.

I know the fish were in the area but i'm convinced the S pellets made the fish come back and feed. One thing for sure, they certainly love um.

Slack lines
Lee