Lucky me, I am back out on Holbrook millpond fishing with Rob again. I have not been able to get back here since last year, which is a great shame as it’s a stunning place to fish.
When I arrived Rob was just setting up his last rod, he suggested that I take walk round the lake. He did point me in the direction of the swim next door to him, he was not wrong. There must have been five or six fishing digging around on the lake bed. They had stirred up a cloud of mud. Forget looking around, I was going to set up here (it would be nice for a bit of a social as well).
My right hand rod was cast out just off the small set of pads, where the fish had been digging up the bottom.
My middle rod was cast just to the side of these reeds, Rob had redirect the water from the inlet, so the part which was behind the reeds was oxygenated, and we all know that Mr Carp loves this.
My left hand rod was cast between the Willow tree and the pads, I had seen the fish bubbling around this area.
All the rods were baited with the new Bait-tech Boilles, which Rob had kindly provided.
All set up and time to get the kettle on.
NIGHT/DAY 1
At around 1945, my right hand rod had ripped off and I was attached to my first hard fighting Holbrook carp. After it made an attempt to get into the pads in front of me, and had ploughed through a weed bed, a stunning dark mirror was in the net.
A Nice 18-8 Mirror
With night falling fast, I was looking forward to a night full of action. I was not expecting the action to come from eels and by the end of the night a had landed some nice eels! If that floats your boat, not me I am afraid to say. I was compleatly shattered in the morning and I would plenty of carp naps in the day to catch up.
This was my only visiter all day (other than a Tench early on in the evening). I was looking forward to the second night as I had seen a lot of fish showing on the other side of the willow tree, not too far off my left hand rod.
On the second morning, I was shocked that I had not had a single fish all night and was not a happy bunny (to say the least). I put the kettle on, Rob came down for a brew, there was the odd fish moving about, but considering Rob had 8 fish by now to my one, I was well and truly in the wrong swim.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JwNxpUFEsU
Rob suggested that I might like to move to the swim at the right of him. He said he had heard fish there, this was very kind, I would not of considered this swim as they were very close together.
I had plenty of options in this swim and for some reason I always end up fishing in there!
My right hand rod was placed under a nice over hanging tree.
The middle rod was put in a gap between the lily pads, I had previously walked round to the other side of the lake to put out some ground bait. I checked for clean spots and then put out a load of ground bait out, as it attracts the fish.
My left had rod was going to be to the left of an overhanging tree and in front of a small set of reeds.
The day was very hot and there were no real signs of any carp.
At 1900 hrs, my middle rod was off and so was the fish, straight into the pads and very stuck. The only option was to put the rod back on the buzzer and hope the fish would find its own way out. Otherwise, I would be out in the boat, which I didn’t fancy as it would disturb other fish. I was just walking up to call Rob over (just in case I needed some help), and would you believe it my right hand rod was off and also managed to go in the pads and shed the hook? Can you believe it, 2 runs at the same time and both go in the pads? These fish do know how to fight very hard. Anyway, I picked the middle rod up, in the hope the fish had started to work its way through the pads.
Lucky me, I had tightened up and the fish hit the surface with a huge splash. It dived behind the pads, this time I kept the fish’s head up and got it finally in the net. Boy, I was happy but also sad, I hate to loose a fish. Unfortunately, it turned out to be a smaller fish.
Later on in the evening I also had a bream. I was doing well on catching fish other than carp (joy).
At about 0300 hrs, the right had rod was off again and this time I was not letting the fish anywhere near the pads. I kept the pressure on and walk back up the path. Once the fish was round the end of the pads, I started to reel in and walk back to the swim and netted another nice Holbrook fish.
That was the action over, it was time to think about packing up and head off home.
A nice misty morning soon turned into a fantastic sunny day.
Oh well, with the sun out and the car loaded, that was that for my Holbrook trip and most probably for this year, due to work and family commitments. A great time was had by all and plenty of rum drunk and a good few laughs. Especially the rat being catapulted into the lake (say no more)!
Till next time
Richard
