The Carpy Couple, Chasing Carp: The Big Blank

Swan Lake, Bluebell #1

Finally Friday the 26th of May was here, a day that had been marked on the calendar for a long time. I was so excited as we loaded up the car, I couldn't wait to get to Swan Lake on the Bluebell complex and wet a line. It was a two-hour drive to the complex and on the way, my mind would wonder with expectation, the hope of hooking one of the famous fish that reside in the lake. But at the same time reality would wake me from my day dreaming. I was heading to one of the country's toughest day ticket waters, on a bank holiday. The weather was scorching and venues up and down the country had been reporting that the fish had been spawning. I was just hoping they would hold off a bit longer on Swan. It was a straight drive there with no complications, as we arrived at the lake, the first sight we were greeted with was Sandmartin Lake to the left-hand side of the road, that led to the office and Mallard Lake on the right-hand side. The place was clean and beautiful, we reported to the office to get our tickets for our stay.

This was the view from the car on arriving

at the Bluebell complex.

Mallard Lake photo was taken from phone sorry camera

was in a bag.

After getting our tickets we made our way around to Swan Lake. After the drive around and a quick walk around the busy pit, we choose to fish the south-west end of Swan, not quite where we wanted to be but four pegs down, from the swim I had in mind. I had done some research as anyone should if going to a new venue for the first time. This corner seemed to do a good deal of fish, although to be honest, they do get caught all over the lake. The swim I wanted was taken so as I said I opted for the fourth peg down from it. I got out my marker rod and started to lead around without the marker float on first of all. I cast around trying to find a clear spot in the weed somewhere I would be able to present a rig clearly. Whilst I was doing this Lloyd got on with setting up the bivvy, Lloyd is not really into his spot fishing, he likes to be able to see the fish feeding and try and catch them that way but I on the over hand have made it my business to know all things carpy, I love the sport and want to be able to catch them at whatever venue I visit. It took me a good hour or so until I had finally found two spots that were nice, clear and free of weed. Although the lake looked clear, the bottom was full of Canadian pond weed, but I had managed to find two clear spots among the weed. The right spot was about 18 wraps out and 14 foot deep, and the left spot was 16 wraps out and about 12 foot deep. Lloyd had finished setting up base camp just as I started to put bait out over the spots I had found. I clipped the spod at 18 wraps first then reeled the braid back on, I then went back round the marker sticks to 16 wraps and clipped up again, I would put bait over this spot first. Once I had finished spomming over the first spot I moved on to the next unclipping on my last spom, I moved straight on to the second spot without having to return to the distance stick as I had already clipped up to this spot prior.

I finally got round to putting the rigs on the spots. I went to the distance sticks and wrapped two of the rods at 18 wraps, I then moved on to the last two rods and wrapped and clipped up at 16-rod lengths. I decided that I would put the rods to the right out first, I carefully checked the rigs in the margins adding and taking away rig putty from the stiff hinges I would be presenting over the spots when I was finally happy with the rig, I cast the first rod out hitting the clip and feeling the lead down. I was happy as the lead went down with a thud I was finally fishing. I continued this process with the other three rods. They all went down perfect except the last one that took me two attempts to get the drop right on it. By the time the fourth rod was out, it was starting to get dark, I was finally able to sit back and chill for a while and watch the water.

I stayed up late just sitting there looking and listen to the water. By the time I got to sleep it was about midnight and I was back up by 5 o'clock in the morning. The lake looked amazing, I sat there and watched the red kite in the sky looking for its pray its early morning meal. I stuck the kettle on and had a cup of coffee, I noticed some sprats jumping from the water, I made my way over to the edge of the bank to see what the commotion was all about, it was a pike causing the trouble, every now and then it would zoom out the reeds going for one of the small fry swimming around, the Pike was trying to get his morning meal too.

Bite time came and went, other than a couple of liners nothing really happened. Later that day the wind picked up, it was strong enough to make small whites on the water. I waited to midday then spommed some bait over the spots, the wind was still strong so I opted for the large impact spod this time round, I put another couple of kg over both spots.

By the time night come the fish were splashing over our spots, I sat there hoping and willing for a run, but nothing came other than a couple of liners. I woke up the next morning to the fish spawning, my heart sunk as I knew the chance of a bite now was slim. I went through the remainder of the time at swan lake repeating the same routines. Maybe I could have done things a bit different, but I do believe that if it had been a week later I would have had one of the beautiful creatures that live in the water to show you. The last day came around far too fast and I didn't want to leave, the fish had finally stopped spawning and the weather had gone overcast and mild with a nice breeze. I noticed an oil slick and fizzing coming from my spots but time had run out I had to reel in, pack up the car and head home to the kids. Swan is a beautiful lake but not for the faint hearted I will be back there very soon. Next time I'm pretty positive I will have a monster to show you.