Soaked at Soake

With a week off work looking after and enjoying my time immensely with Jessica, the wife was back and Sunday was my day of rest. A day pool side angling for roach at one of my favourite local haunts, what could be better? Well, the weather couldn’t have been a bit kinder for a start!

Yes, rain was forecast for pretty much the whole day. Now I’m one of those anglers who can quite happily sit in the armchair and watch the weather report, see a few rain drops over the area and think “Yeah, they probably have it wrong. Besides, I’ll have my brolly”. So with everyone telling me I’d be better off staying in I ignore all the good advice and go anyway.

The morning came, I had all the kit ready the night before, all I had to do was make the sarnies, fill the flask and load the car. Brolly, don’t forget the brolly, and once in the car double check I’ve packed the brolly, we might get some rain. It was dry when I left, in fact, it looked like the perfect summer morning, slightly overcast, warm and very fishy.

I arrived just after 5am, there were no other cars in the car park, unusual as it’s a popular carp venue, I thought at least there’d have been a few overnight anglers still there, nut I was all alone. I carted my gear to the swim, set everything up, including the brolly just in case, and began feeding the swim. 3 or 4 rod lengths out I found a clear area amongst weed and with a depth of around 5 feet I was confident that one of these big roach would at some point through the day pay me a visit.

It has been an ongoing campaign that I am yet to realise, a 2lb roach. Ideally there are 2 targets, firstly to catch one from a Stillwater, and then flowing water. Obviously a 2lb river roach is the Holy Grail, but for me, a 2lb roach is a 2lb roach. I started angling just as the first of the drizzle came. The water’s surface remained flat calm making float fishing a joy. The bites were coming thick and fast and roach in the 8 – 10oz bracket were plentiful.

 

 

As the morning wore on so the rain increased its intensity. Although the pool as peppered with raindrops I could still fish effectively, see the bites and hit most of them. I even saw the bubbles rise, tench bubbles scattering the swim rising all around, and then the first of the day was hooked. The surrounding weed posed little problem, even with a 2lb bottom, and after a spirited tussle I slipped the net under a magnificent male tench, all fit and angry with find sticking out all over the place.

 

 

The roach action continued with a smattering of better fish thrown into the mix. The first fish that looked over a pound was unfortunately attacked by a pike just before gliding into the net. The pike hung on for a while but let go once it got caught up in some pads. It looked somewhat bedraggled after that, had a few wounds but I felt sure it would pull through, if it managed to vacate the swim that was. A few times I released roach into the margins, only for a violent swirl to appear. Such is the circle of life I guess.

 

 

The next better roach landed was a fish I weighed at 1lb 6oz. A big roach in my book and one that made me smile through the raindrops, which by now were coming straight down and bouncing back up some. Just before lunch I caught my second tench and after releasing it and whilst tucking into a sarnie the rain stopped. The clouds broke up and even a patch of blue appeared. I ate my lunch, drunk a few cups of tea from the flask and just as I made my first cast the sky darkened and the rain returned. This time it brought wind with it, and this caused the swirling effect that makes everything get wet, whether under the brolly or not. Couple this with the fact that my tea towel was wet and slimy now, the brolly being old was starting to drip on me, and the chilly wind as well…I was beginning to get ever so slightly fed up.

 

 

Having said all that, the fishing was excellent. The best roach of the day was safely brought to shore and weighed 1lb 12oz, and a few more tench were caught too. It was really superb fishing, I ended the day on 6 tench, countless fin perfect roach and a single rudd. I was soaked to the skin and moaned and cursed whilst packing away and driving home, but once everything was put away and I had changed it was rosy again. I finished my dinner, looked outside and saw blue skies; it remained dry for the remainder of the day too. Typical.

 

 

Carpathia Unleashed!!

With a couple of hours to kill and another gorgeous evening I had to grab Carpathia and head towards Fareham, just 15 minutes drive I have access to 9 great stalking waters all within a stone's throw of each other. Spoilt for choice, yet, sometimes that can prove to be an issue. My recent run of fish from Funtley almost saw me head there, but being a Saturday night I swerved it due to it more than likely being busy.

Instead I headed for Sultan, hardly fished and with recent sightings and captures. I could be in my element with the weed and, hopefully, the place to myself. I arrived soon after tea, had a quick batter with Mark and began my search for something old, dark and chunky. The moat was looking unbelievably pretty, all overgrown and very carpy.

I spotted a couple of carp along the 30s stretch but they were moving through with pace, obviously needing to get somewhere and certainly not on the lookout for grub. Along the 20s stretch I spotted a fish acting oddly, swimming high in the water angled upwards, it was most peculiar. After a few minutes I continued on my jaunt and completed the tour of the moat without seeing any more carp. I left the 40s alone as there was a match on till 7.

I opted for a gentle crawl along the far wall, just to see if anything was lurking tight to the far bank cover. One fish spooked off as I got there, but it was a good sign. Further along past the pads a found a small common amongst some bream, but after a few minutes it appeared to lose interest in the bread I was feeding it and left the scene.

I sat on the bank a little further along, flicked a few mixers into a gap between some pads and some bushes and prayed a group of decent carp off to the right would venture my way and find them before the ducks and swans did. As they drew closer I realised there were 2 small commons and a bigger mirror. As they reached the spot they started troughing, sucking in the free offerings with gusto. I swung out my double mixer hook-bait and got the line caught on a branch!!

With the fish still clooping below me I threw some more free baits in and set about untangling the line. Next cast got caught on the brambles below me, I was having no luck. I managed to keep the fish there regardless of my inability to get a hook-bait in the water, I finally did just that. Up came a pair of lips and over went Carpathia, we were in.

Conscious of the pads and snags close by I applied a little more pressure than usual, and was stunned when the beautiful mirror splashed around on a tight line and flipped straight into the net. It was over in seconds, man and rod working as one. I couldn't believe it was actually the mirror, and after all the false starts. It was the dark, old, chunk I hoped for, ever so dark.

Next up I visited the 20s bank, flicked out some mixers and sat once more. Out to the left I saw the odd mirror coming my way. As it approached it tipped upwards and began feeding. Intrigued I flicked my hook-bait out which was soon scoffed and a strange but still feisty battle took place. One of, if not the oddest carp I've caught. I'm told its been that way for a couple of years, so is obviously none the worst for its oddities.

I returned to where I caught the dark mirror but all was clear. I crept along a little further and deposited some mixers near a spot I've caught from in the past. I retreated and sat on my hands. Sure enough a few minutes later swirls appeared under the baits as carp began to schlurp mixers off the surface. It was past 9pm by now and getting dusky, but I could still make out the hook-bait and when it was taken.

Another short intense fight took place and I was equally stunned to find yet another drop dead gorgeous dark mirror in the bottom of my net. I took a quick self take and left for home absolutely buzzing. Carpathia had really shown her true colours as a versatile all round carp tamer. I simply cannot wait to flex her muscles again.

Beauty and the beast....

Last evening I arranged to meet Rhys at Tithe barn at dusk, there is a night fishing curfew on there right now and it needs regular patrols to ensure everyone is sticking to the rules. I managed to get away around 6:30 so thought I’d stop off and grab a rod on the way, with a couple of hours till dusk there was more than enough time to look for a cheeky opportunity to bend Carpathia again.

I did my rounds at Tithe and once happy began looking for fish. There were one or two at the top end of the top pond among the weed, but after catapulting out some bread and being destroyed by a flock of gulls, I decided not to pursue them. As I waited for duck Jock arrived and said he’d hang on till dusk, so I left Tithe and wandered over to Carron Row.

Carpathia Rises - A Pictorial View

This weekend I planned a visit to Vale Farm, the perfect venue to see exactly what Carpathia has to offer. I asked Johnny if he’d like to come along, very handy with a camera is Johnny, and what’s more, he offered not to fish, but to hone his camera skills and pictorially document the day from start to finish. So, with this in mind, I’ll let the photos do most of the talking. 

I picked Johnny up at 7am and after a quick stop for supplies we hit the road and arrived at the venue an hour later. He particularly enjoyed the final mile or so, weaving through narrow country lanes, which of course are compulsory when nearing fishing lakes.

FLE Madness

This weekend was my second attempt at the FLE Fishery 24hr Carp match. Not so much of a match in the general sense, there is little or no money involved, the social aspect is excellent, and the only real gain is the awarding of points in a league. The last round saw me catching 2 carp, which at one point put me in second place, but as the match is fished with the heaviest single fish taking top prize (10 points), the second biggest taking second (8 points) and down to 4th place (4 points), I ended in 5th and with zero points, I hoped this week to get myself on that podium. Thundery showers were forecast, so a late scramble saw me throw my army issue DPM waterproofs into the car along with everything else, Carpathia was present, and I dearly hoped I could catch my first carp on her. With the car ready and everything packed I left for work early on Friday, stayed until midday and then headed for Romsey. I arrived with Graham after a short 30 minute journey and after a chinwag and a cuppa we awaited the first of the Catch Club Crew. The Catch Club is an event held at FLE every Friday and is where disabled anglers get to sample the delightful facilities FLE has to offer. Graham has recently obtained some lovely new kit too, Maver seat boxes, poles and other quality kit that ensures these events go as well as they possibly can and that entrants have just what they need. With everyone present we headed off to canal 4 and fished long poles with surface baits for the carp. It was great fun and a joy to help out; smiles were abundant throughout the afternoon as were the obliging carp. With the event over and high fives and handshakes done we said goodbye to the Catch Club and hello to the first of the arriving 24 hour carp match attendees. At the previous match I only knew Graham, but by the end of it I had ten new friends and have kept in touch with them through Facebook, so this weekend it was lovely to see them all again, and hear all about their very successful recent trip to France.

Carpathia Arrives...

Carpathia has arrived, and as promised I’ll attempt to put down a few words with reference to my first thoughts, but you’ll have to bear with me, words aren’t coming very easily right now, there just aren’t enough superlatives to describe what I’ve just unwrapped.



The colour struck me first, the most perfect dark cane, without being too dark, like sun tanned honey. Then, as I slide more from the beautifully crafted bag, I marvelled at just how slender the rod is, slim yet sturdy. I admired the whippings, the glass like finish, and realised that everything said about this super talented rob builder is true.

Summer Stalking Begins....

Having started work at 3am and finished at 10:30, most sensible people would have gone home to catch up on some sleep, but no, not I, I had to grab the essentials for an afternoon’s stalking, besides, the sun was shining, and on my local pools I knew just where the carp would be. Plus, the added bonus that most folk would be at work.

I got to Tithe Barn and began trotting around the perimeter of each pool, there were anglers present, but only a couple on the top pools, and nobody on the bottom. The middle looked very quiet, the water was coloured, not much weed was present and without the snags which were recently removed, it was tricky to locate the fish. They’d obviously be amongst the pads, but they were in their prime, and there was no way I’d be trying to extract a carp from them bad boys. They’d also be on the bottom, but fishing blind on these trips isn’t my game.

The top pool, however, showed signs, the same signs I saw a few weeks back, great carp, twenties swimming around in and out of the weed, pausing to nudge the fronds of willow, following each other out into the centre channel and then to repeat the process. They were playing, busy frolicking and certainly not feeding, at least not strongly. I did think though that they might just snatch at a single piece of crust, so toured the lake looking for fish, watching their directions and trying to cast baits a few metres beyond their path.

I gave this a good hour, and in between visited the middle pool also in the hope of seeing something; it only takes that one opportunity to show itself to make a blank day a memorable one. By 2pm I sat with my back against a large oak, ate my sausage bap and drunk some water. It was warm and although I saw plenty of fish, they just wouldn’t play ball. I could have actually fallen asleep against that tree, but I had a job to do, so soon enough I was up and back on my travels. The bottom pool was worth a look.

I was glad to did; the surface was electric, lots of fish moving, and mostly carp. Upon closer inspection is was clear that most of these were small commons in the 2 – 4lb bracket, but I felt sure that with a little searching I could find something a little more worthwhile. Having said that, a fish under my belt would have been a good start, so I selected one of the better commons, gently made a cast and tricked the little blighter into taking it. Minutes later I had a perfect little carp on the matt posing for a photo. It felt good.

 

 

With the little fish released I continued my stroll of the bottom pond, without tackle, just a look. At the far end I stumbled upon a slightly better common, but then caught sight of something larger and darker. It looked as though it could be a mirror, nestled head first into some weed, but the final two thirds of the fish looked very nice. I fetched my gear and made a cast gently just beyond the fish, drew it back carefully and allowed it to settle among some weed a few inches away.

The fish must have smelt it straight away, its tail flicked and as it swam out from the weed backwards it came parallel with the crust. Another fish, a smaller common, came over to inspect too, which could well have spelt danger, but the mirror clocked his advisory and quickly sucked in the crust before the other one had a chance I struck and the fun and games began.

The weed here is much less dense these days but still dense enough for a fish to get wedged in. But, by keeping the carp moving I managed to avoid said disaster and safely netted a gorgeous looking fish. It was a fish I’d caught before, but when they look this good, and things are a little tough, they really can brighten your day. I took a quick self-shot and was back off to the top pools, brimming with confidence.

 

 

Things were pretty much the same as before on the top and middle pools, carp were there, but either inaccessible or just not up for it. I had fun for half an hour watching a shoal of bream try to eat a large lump of crust, but that soon got old. Finally I decided to call it a day of Tithe Barn, but that doesn’t mean going home, it was only 6pm, more than enough day left to tempt one from Carron Row. Just down the road Carron Row was another venue with multiple lakes to wander, and with more familiar spots to search out.

I arrived to find only 2 other cars in the car park, always a bonus. I had a quick look at the first two pools, but it was the third I was really interested in, that’s where the real gems live. I figured that with the hot weather they’d be up at the shallow end, which means a stealthy approach, the amount of times I’ve crept up quietly only to find massive bow waves leaving just as I arrive. This time was no different, I couldn’t have been any softer, but still they knew I was there.

 

 

I sat beside the lake, still as stone and ready to be called into action at the drop of a hat. The fish came back after half an hour, but upon close inspection I realised it was two small common so I upped sticks and went in search their friends. A good stroll looking into all the likely spots releaved nothing, I’ve seen it before where they just melt away and become invisible, but I guess it keep things interesting. If they were easy to locate every time I suppose it would get boring and no longer a challenge.

I ended on lake two, mostly containing small commons but I was sure there was likely to be a surprise or two still lurking. I fished the disabled swim; the right hand margin is very overgrown, and culminates in a submerged tree that usually holds a few small commons. I made a cast with double mixer and immediately small fish came up to investigate. The issue was that most of the fish were too small to take in the double hook-bait, and it being thrown about all over the place I watched the line instead of the bait.

Sure enough, the line tightened and started to take off across the surface, I struck and wound down, but I just wasn’t quite quick enough, the fish made the sanctuary of the underwater branches and broke me. It’s always a sad affair to leave a hook in a fish, but they were barbless, and sometimes it’s just unavoidable. From then I fished slightly closer to my own position, and tightened the clutch a touch more. It didn’t matter though; two mallards came in and ruined the spot shortly after.

I was stood there, line out of the water swinging in the breeze with just one mixer left on the hook when I spotted a common cruise through just under the surface a rod length out. I crouched down, gently laid the bit on the surface and watched as it rose higher, broke the surface with its quite large shoulders and made no hesitation in sucking in the mixer. I struck and half expected to bundle the fish in the net quite quickly, oh how wrong I was. The water erupted, the tail slapped the surface and I had made a fairly substantial carp very angry indeed.

It ploughed around for what seemed an age, this way and that, out then back in, it was immensely powerful, and the few occasions I did see it I understood exactly why, it wasn’t the longest fish, but it was very deep, chunky and had an abundance of brute strength. It governed the fight from the off, the Elite gave line in a stuttering fashion, not the smoothest of clutches so I used the backwind as well, just as some added security, I didn’t want this one to get away.

It seemed like forever, a friend across the pond came round to see what was happening, my arm was aching and this carp just would not give up. Finally and with both of us beaten I slid the net under a glorious fish, a real bruiser and an excellent way to end the afternoon session. My friend snapped away while I held aloft my prize. Possibly one of the heaviest fish left in pool two, and certainly one to remember. I gave the fish a little peck on the head before returning it to the depths. Session over and mission accomplished.

 

 

The Secret...

After watching and re-watching the videos of the Secret Lake, recently seeing Carl and Alex boasting yet more special fish from this marvellous little haven, dreaming about my ideal venue, a place hidden far away from prying eyes where small, perfect commons massively outnumber the few stunning wood carved mirrors that reside there, with reed fringed bays, lily beds, snaggy islands, sheer perfection, I just had to contact them and ask when I could tag along. “How does this Saturday sound?” came the reply.

My palms began to form beads of sweat; my knees trembled, could this be for real? Am I going to visit the lake of my dreams? I took a step back to take it all in, ok it’s the FA Cup final that day, and as an avid Gunner I really should be watching, cheering my team towards a second successive title. But no, this is more special than that, this I simply cannot pass up. A hidden pool finally discovered is usually the downfall of the mystery that surrounds it, but to visit and then to retract, to keep the location undisclosed is to keep that mystery intact.

I tweaked a few engagements and paved the way for my visit. I was told I’d have to make my way to their place, then transfer my stuff the back of their van, including myself, the location of paradise was set to remain a mystery, but I didn’t care, at least I could spend a day there with the guys who opened my eyes to it. And even if I managed to catch or not, I still called it an early birthday present, I Just couldn’t wait.  The secret location, the dreamy atmosphere, the chance of one of those mouth-watering carp, these things all add up to create the ideal setting, the elements that make this little piece of water so very special.

I arrived around 10am, the lads had fished the night previous on another water so wouldn’t be back and ready for a dawn start. After a cuppa and a chat we loaded the back of the van leaving enough room for me. We headed off, it was a touch bumpy, I’m sure they took a few wrong turns just to throw me even further off scent, but it mattered not, I never once peered through the windshield, being presented with a secret paradise was the major part of this for me.

The van stopped, I waited a few moments then the van door opened. Alex told me we were close, but not there yet, there were still a couple of fields to traipse across.  “Just beyond those trees” said Carl which of course prompted my mind to go into overdrive, there it is, I’m actually here, all I need now is that first glimpse of water through the trees. Through the trees we crossed a little stream and before I knew it we were there, the water was coloured, pads and a small island greeted me first, I wanted to see more, a need for exploration shot through me. It should have been the guys leading me around, but I led the way eager to discover.

We had a tour of the lake and Alex pointed out various spots, features and places where memorable captures occurred. There was even a boathouse; all special lakes have a boathouse. I remembered a lot of it from the videos; it didn’t quite sink in that I was actually walking the banks looking for my own fishing spot, not until I found it. We settled on an area behind some pads with a channel our side and a larger channel between the pads and the large island to our left. Carl began floater fishing the other side of the island, Alex and I free-lined bread using a banded twig as a float/controller close to the pads.

Alex was first into a fish, a glorious little common that pulled him all over the place. It was so exciting to see my first Secret lake fish in the flesh. It was scale perfect and sparkled in the sunlight, as we released the pretty fish I quietly prayed that I too would get to catch one. But before I did Alex was into another fish, but this time it was one of those fabled mirror carp, a fully scaled carp which had the most incredible large scales all over its flanks on either side. A true gem of the lake, and we got to see one so early on. Alex was so pleased, and so was I.

My own swim had fish in it, but they were proving tricky to catch, the twig trembling and darting away a few times but I somehow happened to miss every strike.  Next up it was Carl’s turn to catch, he’d got them going on the surface and after missing a few takes connected with what turned out to be yet another bar of gold, a gorgeous scaly mirror. They warned me that due to the sheer numbers of the small commons, the mirrors were few and far between, so if we managed to see one, we’d be doing well, so two on the bank already was really quite something.

Just left of my position I spotted a couple of carp under some foliage on the leading edge of the island. I flicked out a few dog biscuits and after a short while they began to disappear. I moved closer and watched a while, that’s when I spotted the ghost linear, a fish that featured in the guys’ videos. It was a fascinating looking fish, not big but insanely beautiful and very long, a real character. It cruised about among the snags a while before vanishing out of sight. The snags looked very carpy, but not so snaggy that extracting a fish would have been out of the question, it was certainly worth a go.

I made my cast towards some rhododendrons, and as luck had it my cast was inch perfect with my line draping over a weak twig allowing the hook-bait to fall into the water with no trailing line on the surface, perfect. I waited a while for the fish to return, and few minutes later one did. I watched it appear from the right, cruise along the edge of the bush and slow down as it approached the bait. It rose in the water, opened its mouth and sucked in the bait, I struck snapping the weak twig and connected, I’d hooked my first Secret lake carp. The water erupted alerting Carl and Alex and soon they were by my side cheering me on and waiting to net the fish.

There were a few hairy moments and the fish go close to the underwater obstacles, but the Mark IV handled things very well and I managed to steer the fish clear and eventually into awaiting net. For its size it scrapped very well, and that little common meant a lot more than any other small common I’ve caught in the past. The guys congratulated me and took a couple of snaps. I released the fish into the margins, smiled and thanked Carl and Alex for bringing me. I treated us to a Tunnock’s Tea Cake each, which seemed to go down very well indeed.

Alex went on went on to catch two more commons, including a chunky one, very different too the regular commons in appearance, most notably in its shape. These fish had humped backs and long barbules, they were utterly delightful and I wanted one, apparently the mirrors are of the same strain. That is one of the interesting things about the Secret, you never really know what will pull your string next, it keeps things exciting and interesting and makes for a day of wonderment and uncertainty.

Soon it was lunchtime; I asked myself where the morning went. I sat back and tucked into cheese and ham sandwiches and a hot cross bun, my two hosts were far too busy trying to catch fish to worry about a little thing like eating, I remember when I was that keen. It really is infectious how enthusiastic these two are about their angling. It comes across beautifully in their films, that they are just as happy catching minnows on a stream, small commons from the Secret or gudgeon from a river as they are chasing 40lb park lake commons and, more recently, stunning huge reservoir carp. Just as long as they are angling they are happy, and I think the message they put across is inspirational to others, especially the younger generation of anglers.

After lunch I returned to my original position, but this time concentrated more on the large island. There were a series of snags at the tip and it was obvious that this area was not only where the carp liked to hang out, but they also fed confidently here too. It was a tricky cast, to land a free-lined crust close to the snags, not too close, but close enough that they will find it. Couple this with low lying branches from the island trees and you have yourself a difficult cast, but one that, as the day wears on, you simply have to attempt.

The cast started low and ended low, an overhead cast would have only ended up nestled among the branches, and there were no carp up there. It landed perfectly, probably more fluke than skill, but I was happy nonetheless. The carp gathered closer by the second, as they got parallel we all got excited thinking it would happen right away, but they made us wait until finally the bread disappeared and the line tightened. My second fish of the session was hooked and heading for the cover of the snags, I wound down, lifted the rod back over my shoulder and pulled for all I was worth. A swirl a metre our side of the snags made me sigh with relief, the immediate danger had thankfully passed.

I played the fish towards me gently, with the island snags not too far to the left and the pads to the right I wasn’t completely in the clear, and with 5lbs line I knew I couldn’t exert too much pressure if called for so I just kept things coming steady and as central as possible. The fish swam nicely into Carl’s awaiting net, at which point he called out that it looked really big for a common. On the bank we realised that it was another of the chunky ones, beautifully coloured and really quite heavy. Carl snapped away with the camera while the fish and I smiled. It was my second from the lake and a really nice one. After Carl told me that it was quite possibly the largest common he’d seen from the lake, and one he hadn’t seen caught before.

With teatime looming we realised that there was little time left to angle, soon it would be a trek across the fields back to the car, into the boot and back to my own car. But before that I still thought there might just be one more fish in it for me. The area I caught the common from was still showing signs, and if there’s a sign, there’s always a chance. I attached a crust corner to my hook, dipped it once in the water and swung it out. It landed short, I left it for a few seconds but realised I had to get it closer to get a bite. The next attempt landed as sweet as it possibly could, directly under a parallel branch off the island.

Within seconds there were fish around it, but then I lost sight of the crust as it drifted into a patch of bright water. Carl told me he could still see it from his angle and that he’d let me know when it went. I was half trying to regain sight of my bait and half listening for the call when it came. I heard the shout of “He’s got it” then struck and felt an almighty lunge. I wound up the slack as quickly as I could with my 1930’s reel, and pulled hard over my shoulder to ensure the fish stayed away from those submerged branches. It worked too, sure enough I began playing the fish out in open water and at that point I think we all breathed a sigh of relief.

Half way in and Carl revealed that I was, in fact, attached to the ghost linear. That’s when my legs turned to jelly, the ghost lin, a video fish, one of three or four fish I dreamt about catching, there on the end of my line. I hoped the battle would be a smooth one, but it wasn’t, it kited right on what was still a fairly long line and towards the pads. It swam adjacent to 30 or so feet of pads, then just managed to swim into the final clump where it wedged itself and sat there sulking. I was distraught, with 5lb line I didn’t want to pull too hard, that’s when Carl came to the rescue.

With his shoes and socks off and his trouser legs rolled up he jumped in and reached out with the net. I thought for a minute the fish might bolt when it saw him coming and break the line in a final dash for freedom, but Carl reached out gently, slid the net underneath it and scooped up my prize. I was overjoyed, he waded back the short distance to shore, passed me the net and we all cheered as the third mirror of the day was safely landed.

On the bank it looked awesome, every bit as impressive as in all the photos I’d seen of it. This fish boasts wicked colours, a neat row of linear scaling, big head and under slung mouth, a proper character fish. The day couldn’t have ended any better; we finished on an absolute high. I simply could not have been happier. With all the things packed away rods broken down and nets unscrewed we headed back over the stream, through the trees, across the fields and into the van. As I left in my own car I thanked my friends for a marvellous day, a day I’ll remember for a very long day, and sincerely hope I get another invite someday.

Carl and Alex are two incredible lads who deserve all the praise they receive. It baffles me how they manage to fit all that fishing in with their work, school and editing. For those of you who've yet to see their films, grab a cup of tea and check out the link below. Enjoy....I did.

https://www.youtube.com/user/CarlandAlexFishing