Fed up with banging my head against a rock-hard venue, Neil and I visited Pandys' Puddle. It's a good size, classed as a commercial, but you have to work at it. No catching on bare hooks here.
I arrived during a heavy shower and circled the lake in my car, leering at a swim that appealed, but put off by the chap opposite who was fishing like a plonker. I briefly spoke to him and soon realised that he was lonely, so I had to make my excuses to avoid yet another "And I'll tell you something else...."
My swim had shallow water to the right, but was slightly deeper to the left once you cast thirty yards or so. I've previously seen plenty of carp showing in this area and deduced it's the edge of a central bowl that the fish circle during the day. I was proved correct.
I recently invested too much money on some 'Squeez Ready' Method Mix by Fjuka. It's a dry mix that holds as you squeeze it. I just wrapped a lead in it and put a short hooklength with a boilie and a small pop-up to balance the bait so that it just sank. With that one out, I faffed about trying to get organised. I was all over the place and felt the critical eye of my late angling friend, Bunny. He was so slow to set up and pack away his kit, something I may have ribbed him about once ot twice. There I was doing my best Bunny impression, but without a hot drink on the go.
I was further distracted when my rod flew into action. I tightened into a hard-running fish that put up a very good scrap, considering its size. Duly landed, with Neil sniggering at its appearance, I awarded it 10/10 for scale pattern and 2/10 for attractiveness. I've had carp that seem to be growing in stages, and this one looked like it took the short bus to and from school.
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| 'The bells, the bells' |
At least I hadn't blanked. Out went both rods, and I was, at long last, fishing. Then Neil turned up again, looking to borrow some forceps. I went with him to his swim, and he lifted his landing net to reveal a nice perch. Whilst he started his dental work, I checked the fish's tail. Yup, there it was, that little nick in the upper lobe just like his last fish. It was the same fish - I did laugh.
Back in my spot, the left rod roared off again. This one felt heavy as it bored deep across the lake one way, then another. I passed a commentary to Neil, who ambled around. The fish had secured itself in some nearside weeds to my left. As it lifted in the water, it revealed its flank, just as Neil was there to witness its lack of size. Okay, it may have been a double, but I wouldn't bet on it. But for a relatively small fish, it was solid muscle and had fought a mighty battle. I have landed carp to over 26lbs, and plenty of double-figure barbel on this rod that is rated at 1lb 6oz. test curve. This was right up there, scrap-wise.
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| Fighting well above its weight |
I had my sandwich and a drink, then went to recover some tackle from my car. I heard an alarm. Hurrying back, I could see that the bobbin was slack and wound down to pick up the line. There was a resistance, albeit a comparatively small one. As it got nearer, I was puzzled what it might be, but I was not disappointed. A very tatty roach of 1lb 11oz was still a cracking fish, if only it had come to my lighter outfit, or better still, when I am float fishing. One last run brought a scappy little carp that had been impersonating a bream as it flapped about. I hit some branches as I attempted to handline it to be quickly unhooked. It came off, and my lead went into the canopy.
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| Again, not pretty but memorable |
So, this is how it feels when you catch a few. Yes, I could get used to this.
