The Carpy Couple, Chasing Carp: Breaking The Blank

On The Wind

So what can I say, pulled a blank at Swan Lake on the Bluebell complex. Lesson learnt mistakes were made but I will be back there very soon, to catch one of the beauty's that hunt the waters there.

On arriving home I had the bit in between my teeth, I needed to get out on the bank as soon as possible and catch. I really needed my fix and needed to know if I still could catch. After any blank, most anglers start to question their methods and tactics. What happened next made me start doubting even more. I managed to get out for a few hours one evening over my local and to my own disbelieve I blanked it again, what was happing, had I really lost it, or was it just a run of bad luck.
I sat at home for a few days sulking to myself, it was not until I started speaking to a few people on social media... one person, in particular, he pretty much told me how it is I needed to get up and get out there and try harder. I took it on the chin, it was exactly what I needed to here they couldn't have put it better. I spoke to Lloyd and asked if he would be ok if I went fishing Monday as he had the day off work, he was fine as always and enjoyed spending time with the kids. I wanted to test myself and had just the venue for it. This would be a new challenge for me, a weedy lake with Lilly pads dotted around,
I had walked around the venue a few times in the past and had always planned on fishing it but never really got round to it.

Monday morning came, I was awoken by the alarm on my phone, there would be no snoozing for me this morning, it was 04;30 and already light outside. I got myself dressed and crept downstairs doing my best not to wake anyone, I made a strong coffee and got my stuff together, I was off.
I travelled light with a small amount of tackle a pair of waders and my bait in my oversized rucksack. in my left hand two rods and hanging over my shoulder down the right side of my body the tracker unhooking matt along with my landing net. The venue I was heading to was a 40-minute walk away, It was pleasant to walk though as I had to cut across some fields. The weather was warm with a nice southwesterly wind cutting across every now and then, the poppies in the field were out on show and looked amazing. As I walked to the lake I kept reminding myself of the previous blanks, I kept telling myself it wasn't going to happen this time.

I arrived at the lake at about 05:30 or just gone. It was already starting to get warm, I was in no rush to hurry and get the rods out, I wanted a good walk around the lake first. I put my stuff down, stuck my polarised glasses on and walked around to the shallows first looking for signs of carp feeding, bubbling and silt clouds, something that would give away their whereabouts. After checking the shallows and not noticing much to go on I continued my walk around the lake, every now and then catching a glimpse of a carps back breaking the surfaces of the water. I headed back to my stuff, I had a plan in my head and knew if I got it right I would end up with a result.

I had chosen my swim and got set up. I would be using a lead-free leader from The Last Yard I set this up helicopter style, the rig I used was a combi slightly longer than I would normally, I would mount this with an RBA bait Spicy Krill snowman style. I was sure this would give a good presentation, over the weed. Just to make sure this was so, I moved the buffer bead 4 inches up the leader away from the lead and stuck to bits of PVA foam each side of the hook, trapping the hair and bait in place. This would stop the hair tangling around the hook on the cast and also help with the bait laying softly over the weed. I cast one rod between some bull rush-reed and a group of Lilly pads where the wind was pushing into, I had noticed carp swimming in and out of the channel between them, I stopped the lead just before it hit the water and felt it down, it was soft landing but I knew I was fishing. I had faith in my setup, I watched the PVA foam come to the surface I chucked half a kg of Spicy Krill over the area, not tight but spread out in the hope the carp would move from one bait to the next, actively seeking the bait out until they would stumble upon mine. The second rod I cast to a pad of Lilly's were I had noticed some dark shadows lurking below the surface with the odd set of bubbles erupting, telltale signs of carp feeding. I would fish this rod as a single, taking any inquisitive carp by surprise.

I sat and watched the fizzing appear over my baited spot, as I did this the wind started to get stronger and the sky turned grey. It started to rain lightly as I knew it would, weather apps are amazing tools for fishing. I sat there gazing at the baited spot through the drizzle that was coming down. Then it happened, at last, the left buzzer sounding off, at the same time the stow falling off the line, I was away. I grabbed the rod and slowly brought the carp towards me, she was putting up a fight, kiting left trying to make it for the reed bed, I pulled left and low on the rod, it had an awesome battle curve in it. I turned the fish away from the weed bed and gained line, I was winning the fight but at the same time praying that the hook would not pull. As the rain got heavier I slowly pulled her head over the net cord, she was mine I was so chuffed, my confidence repaired.