Sunday 17th July

Armed with about 5kg of particles (hemp, pigeon mix, maize and a few bolies) and the rest of my gear – I was ready to go. The rain was pouring but as I had 36 hrs of fishing, I really didn’t mind.

Choosing one of my favourite swims which were already showing signs of fish movement and feeding – I felt that I would be able to get a quick bite. After boating both baits out with a good helping of particles – nice and tight to the lilies, I felt confident that the bait was in the perfect place.

Watching the water like a hawk I could see loads of movement about 6-10 feet away from the lilies but nothing tight against them. But within the hr, my left hand rod pulled tight but no line way being taken, beam on!

As the sun began to drop – the feeding and movement intensified but only resulted in the odd line bite. Just before 11 (as I was just falling asleep) the left hand rod screamed line and ran straight into the lilies. After a 10 minute tug of to get it out the littlies, the fish swam straight towards me and kited left behind a big overhanging tree! The fish was snagged – I could feel the line grating against the branches but I knew my rigs were strong enough to cope with applied pressure. One branch was all that stopped the fish coming in and I decided to get to see if a better angle was achievable. Stripping to my boxers and wading out as far as I could (just glad the water was warm) the fish suddenly lurched free from the snag and came in with ease. Totally exhausted, it turned the scales round to a 15lb but this was a scale perfect common and I doubt it had even been caught. It was a long lean machine and I’m sure it was spawned out and would have gone 18-20lb if caught a few days before! The next few hrs turned out to be a good feeding spell and within the next 2 hrs I had a total of 4 carp and one that was lost, which was the biggest, as always!!

The rest of the night went by and I woke quite tired at 6am to have a look at the lake and see what’s going on. There were a load of bubbles all over the lake and the fish were obviously on it! A spoded out the rest of the particles and sat back with a re-found confidence that I was defiantly going to catch. Much to my dismay, there were no bites until midday when a torrent of bubbles erupted all over both baited areas and both bobbins simultaneously raised into a double catch. Although both were bream, the action was constant for the next 7 hrs with a few tench showing up as well. Every few hrs I would spod another few out to keep the swim topped up and keep the fish interested with the minimum amount of disturbance.

BY 9pm, the bites had faded and the bubblers had stopped. Stringers were attached and a early night was in order if it was going to be anything like the night before. But with a few liners and the odd bream – the carp didn’t show and I was left quite refreshed in the morning.

So 4 carp, 17 bream and 2 tench were what I had taken and I would say that the fish were defiantly feeding well. But until next time – its off to work  went, but at least I had a smile on my face!!!

3 Lakes in 24hrs

So on finished work and travelling the 20 miles to Tonbridge - brimming with all sorts of thought of big fish and multiple catches, I could not wait to set eyes on the new lakes that I have just joined. I have heard and read some good things about Barden and Ballast Pit and the big fish count had made the choice easy to join.

Ballast Pit was the first lake to fish as I am not allowed to night fish Barden without a special night ticket – but at least im on the waiting list. So walking round there was no movement at all apart from the odd showing of small bream. This was discouraging and talking to the only other angler on the lake and getting the helpful response “its been fishing bad” so my confidence took a little tumble. 

Settling on peg 9 – lilies either side made an underarm cast easy. Putting rods both side and a few boilies out coupled with a small amount of pellets, I was ready to get some bites. On talking to my mate on the phone, the left rod ripped off, dropping both the phone and my tea - a small beam wet the landing net. I just hoped that this was the start of some big fish moving in! Sadly this was the start of more small fish and line bites for the rest of the night. The beam had well and truly moved in and were going to stay. At 4am – and after another 3 small bream – it was time to pack up and make the 10 minute walk to Barden Lake.

As soon as arriving on the lake the heavens opened and making sure the barrow was watertight – walked around trying to spot some fish movement. An hr went by and the rain easing off still did not show any fish movement and with a large part of the lake taken up by other night fisherman – i decided to fish close to an island and one in open water to optimise my chances of getting a run. The wind and the rain came down all day and i was unable to make out any fish movement for the duration of the afternoon – even standing out in the heavy down poor for the tale tale sigh of fish did not amount to anything. With no bites and the option of moving not really one that i wanted to take – i decided to give it will 4pm and head off to an old favourite lake which was on the way home.

Arriving at lake F – i was confronted with an odd sight, everyone fishing down the shallows and no one in the main part of the lake! I had seen fish moving and feeding in a certain swim every time I had been there and so this was going to be my target. On talking to the other anglers and a regular –he stated that there was no one up there for the last few nights and only a few pleasure fisherman during the day! Deciding that I was going to fish a few rod lengths out and put a large amount of bait in to try and feed off the bream and keep some carp in the swim.

Sitting back with a cup of tea and talking to the other anglers – i could not think that it was only a matter of time before the alarm was to sound and let me know that the fish were feeding. The hours past and my confidence slipping all the time, I didn’t have a line bit of any movement at all that the fish were in the swim. Darkness approaching and thinking that i was doing something wrong – there was a few little bleeps on the left hand rod and the bobbin pulling ever tighter to the rod. Just waiting for the line to fall back down again but it started to strip from the reel in a slow and confident manner of a carp that didn’t know that it was hooked. Once leaning into this fish, it began a 20 minute fish and believing that I was into one of the big ones i could not keep the thoughts of how big this must be. I was duly disappointed when in came a fish that must be no bigger that 12lb! The best fight of the year and it was tiny! Well at least a little confidence booster and knew that the fish were at least feeding on this lake!

Within the next few hrs I had taken a total of 5 carp all low doubles – and with the ever decreasing weather conditions I decided that enough was enough and packed up to go home. Arriving home at just before 5 and needing some well deserved sleep before starting work at 8 – I reflected on 3 lakes in 24hrs! Not a bad start but many more days to come on Barden where the monsters await.