Norfolk’s greatest Carp Lakes, Part 3
The next week the wind was due to blow southerly which would be perfect for fishing in the other corner of the lake. I decided to stock up on some cheap fishing tackle and go down to the lake the day before I was going to fish just to put down a couple of kilograms of boilies in the margin. When I turned up the next day after work, the wind was blowing in there nicely and the bait was completely gone. I flicked my rod out to silty spot that was two rod length out at the bottom of the marginal shelf, baiting with one kilogram of carp fishing tackle.
The rod was down for less than an hour when it tore off. I slid down the bank and picked it up; it was bending right round the rest. The fish didn’t really do much, just a few short, fast runs before rolling on the surface, where I could see it was a good-sized common. I left it in the net and rang Dave who promised to come down to take pictures. Some 15 minutes after Dave turned up with his fancy camera and started to take pictures. We took the fish out of water and weighted it. It was the Big Common, in immaculate condition, and weighing 39lb 14oz.
During the week leading up to my annual leave I started priming up a second spot in that swim. About 20 yards to the left there were a couple of humps and over the course of the week I baited a couple of times with some cheap fishing tackle. I knew that no-one had fished there before because it was impossible to cast.
The day I fished it I removed the branches that prevented casting. I arrived at first light and had my carp rods out by 8am. The wind was blowing a hooligan and I took shelter under my fishing brolly. The air felt quite dump so it was a good job I had my diem clothing on to keep me warm. I drifted off to sleep, waking to a screaming take from the new spot. The rain was pelting down at this point, but this fish fought doggedly, staying deep and ensuring that I got pretty wet. Slipping the net under it I could see that it was a big, chunky mirror, definitely not the 28 pounder caught last year. I rang Dave and he came over to take the photos. On lifting the net out of the water I couldn’t believe how heavy it was. The big mirror weighed in at 41lb 10oz. Incredible.
The next day the weather improved, turning warm and sunny. At least it gave me an opportunity to dry up my fishing gear and my diem clothing. I looked at the water and could see that the bait had all been eaten. I baited the water again with some carp and sea fishing tackle again and settled down for another night. I had to be up early to go to work the next day. With five minutes until I really had to be off I dragged myself out of bed. I couldn’t see the rods from my bed chair and as I went to reel in I noticed that the left-hand rod had been pulled off the buzzer. The line was still in the rest. Fishing round to the left, the rod must have jumped off on the take. I picked it up and the line was going out into the lake towards a weed bed 40yards out. It felt solid initially, but as I applied a bit more pressure I felt a kick from the fish as it popped out of the weed. I played it in the bright morning sunshine and a few yards out I could see that it was the one that I wanted – the one with the very distinctive tail. I could hardly believe how lucky I was to catch him. I safely netted this beauty, but did not have much time to celebrate as I was running really late for work. I had to quickly pack up my gear and started to make a move.
The next week my leave had started and I was going to go back down to the lake for three days. So I got my gear ready, stocked up on some carp fishing tackle, wore my best diem fishing clothing and left. I had fish all over me, but they just cruised over the bait, reluctant to go down. They were obviously wary and I think that area had blown.
On the last morning I saw a fish jump in the far corner of the lake. I had been keeping the sea and carp fishing tackle going in there so I went to investigate. From the tree I could see the Big Common and a Crinkle Tail. They were going down and eating the tackle before swimming 20 yards out and then returning for more. I have seen that on a number of occasions on different lakes, where fish do not show over the spot they are feeding on. I filled in the area with a bucket of hemp, about three kilograms of boilies and some other cheap tackle before leaving.
Two days later I was back for another three days session. I turned up at dusk and got my rod out on the spot that I had baited heavily. A couple of fish rolled closely by in the night and once again I was woken in the morning by the sound of my bite alarm screaming. It was another Big Common. It fought hard. I knew it was going to be over 40 lb. And it was. 40lb 02oz. It was stunning.
That was the last time I fished in that lake. Five bites in ten nights was a pretty good result and I knew that I would probably just keep catching the same once over again, so it is time to leave them carp in peace.
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