Choose life. Choose a lake. Choose a swim. Choose a bait. Choose a rig. Choose sleepless nights under the stars. Choose the nocturnal music of branches creaking in the wind, leaves whispering, and the eerie night-calls of owls and wildfowl. Choose bright moons shattered in the rippling surface of lakes, and purple skies at sunset perfectly mirrored. Choose silent mist-shrouded pools at dawn. Choose visions of white-flowering waterlilies turning green-gold in the half-light. Choose the flashing bronze flanks of carp, twisting below the surface, on the edge of visibility. Choose a heightened heart-rate. Choose an emotional rollercoaster. Choose the psychological assault-course of planning, watching, locating, preparing, casting and waiting. Choose the endless hours of strung-out anticipation. Choose the rush of striking, hooking, fighting, and landing (or losing) the fish. Choose to walk the tightrope between desperate failure and the adrenaline-inducing, life-enhancing triumphant high of success. Choose life. Choose obsession. Choose Carp Fishing.
"Greg Freestone, Carpspotting 2011"

Sunday 30 September 2012

Beginning of autumn

Autumn or fall this is the start to my favourite time of year with the transition from summer into winter. The dark nights draw in and the temperatures start to drop and the flip flop boys start to pack their gear away till next year.




It was a cold and windy weekend and i had two nights planned for some fishing, Quite a few fish had come out in the week so i knew i had a good chance of bagging one or two.
I got to the lake after work on the Friday around six, The lake was quite busy and not many swims was left so i just jumped in the swim next to bob the bailiff for more of a social.
Bivvy went up and all my gear chucked into it and off i went to see how the lads have been getting on. Bob had been down a night already and not had a thing but across the lake Andy had been down for most of the week and started really well bagging a 35lb+ and a 36lb+ on his first night then had a few mid 20's the next day.

Plenty of chat and banter and the odd few beers helped us pass the night, even got to see a few of Andy's dance moves and that was worth me not fishing for the night

Bob was the only one to get some action that night with a stunning mid 20 mirror, he also had another one in the early hours weighing in at 28lb+ common, Dan also caught early morning so i was a bit gutted i didn't fish that night as i was in the middle of both of them.


Out went my rods for a few hours to see if i could bag one with no joy.
Curry time i thought so the rods came in and the tandoori chicken and lamb biryani was ordered..

The time now was 18:20 the dark was drawing in so i got my rod back out on the spots.

19:27  Screamer time - right hand rod was off

Struck into it and it felt a good fish, after a good fight for 10 Min's the carp was ready for the net.
Didn't think it was that big when i first looked at it, thought it may be a 30lb at a push.
I went to get my scales and i couldn't believe it they had broke - wasn't a happy man but help was here as i had rang Russ to pop over to come take some pictures for me. We weighed the fish and i could believe my eyes when i sore 37lb something on them i said you need to read this as i want it to be right so we span the scales round so he could see them and lifted the carp. 37lb 7oz he said  Happy days
We slipped the carp back into the water wile i was getting my stuff ready for a photo.
What a lump i was over the moon...



This stunning carp was caught on 3 15mm Nash white choc boilies on a bolt rig fished in 21ft of water