With fewer gardening jobs at this time of the year, I’m out on the club lake today in the hope of my first carp of 2022.

Conditions are certainly better than last week, until the middle of the week and there’s another change in the weather due.

I arrived just before 9 am to find that I was the only person here. I stood on the path and looked directly up the lake for some time, I was hoping for a sign. I then had a look in a few swims the car park side, in the end I opted for the other bank; before the island and in the wider part of the lake. This was an area I had caught from before. I still haven’t seen anything yet, however, this area is a good starting point. 

With only four hours free, it was more about watching and looking for my next trip to get an idea of where they may be hiding out. In the past, they’ve not been shy at showing themselves.

I cast my middle rod across to the far margins and the other two (with small mesh bags), along the margins to my left and right, over where the lilly pads are in the summertime.

After 2 hours of no signs, it was time to move swim. I felt the island was my best option. Within 10 minutes of casting out, the middle rod twitched and then pulled up. The carp was straight into a snag, which I thought they’d removed, as the big old stump was on the bank. Unfortunately, there must be something else hidden down there. I put the rod on the pod, in the hope the fish where as still on and would move off at some point. In the meantime, made up a new rig, the inevitable was coming and I would need to pull for a break, this is something I hate doing.

After 45 minutes, I gave up, pulled for that break, put on a new rig, and cast it back out. It was about 6 foot away from the first spot, I can’t have that happening again.

Just before 1 pm and with only 30 minutes to go, the left-hand rod rattled off, with a very unhappy, head shaking carp. It was soon being played out in the margins and in the net, I’m not sure if it knew it was hooked, a Spotted Fin Mirrcle berry pop up doing the job.

I was over the moon – after losing one earlier, and it’s now time to get myself packed away and in the car.

Until next time

Richard

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