Magic! by ‘Chewy’ French

There’s a very special little pit I have been interested in having a serious go at for some time so I did a few nights in the winter, just to get the feel of the place ready for spring.

Well as you all know spring took forever to arrive this year, but when it finally came round I was itching to get over there. Being a tricky one to tame I knew it wasn’t going to be easy, mainly due to intense angling pressure and a booking on system. This was the main snag as I’d been ringing for three months and just couldn’t get on. I told you it was busy didn’t I!

I finally managed to get my first three night session there this season, with the thought firmly embedded in my mind that it could be a while before I could get on again. This meant that I needed to get this trip right.

When I arrived to fish it was rather busy as expected, and the only place I could find fish was in one corner of the lake. After doing my first night I just felt I was missing something. After a little tree climbing and sneaking about in the bushes the following morning I found that I needed to move down a swim. I’d seen some fish extremely close in the margins and a stealthy approach was definitely required – so for the next two nights I was kipping under the stars…

I’d slowly lowered my rigs in on a patch of silt around half a metre from the bank. The rig components were size 5 Covert Chod hook 8 inches of Brown 15lb Sly Skin with half an inch of 25Ib Trip Wire 25lb at the hook end tied up with a D on the back with a Covert Rig Ring (in a similar style to a hinged stiff or chod rig). The addition of some Critical Mass tungsten rig putty and a Convert Flexi Ring Swivel and a Convert Anti-Tangle Sleeve fished in conjunction with a Convert Tail Rubber and Lead Clip and a Mirage Fluorocarbon leader.

Bait wise the choice was an easy one – Carp Company Natural Impact 16mm pop up with a hand full of freebies around each rod. With the hookbaits and freebies positioned traps were now set.

As soon as I got the kettle on and was sitting there quietly I took the opportunity to watch the fish in my margin. They were all over me and as the day went on and the light started to fade and I decided to get to bed early hoping that by tucking myself away and staying quiet (not shuffling around in the swim) so the fish wouldn’t suss my presence.

I awoke at 5am and with tea in hand sat watching the water. I noticed there was the odd bubble popping on the surface over my rigs and these subtle signs – which was shortly followed by the shrill tone of my Neville bursting into life. Grabbing the rod I made contact with the fish and it charged around trying to do me in the bushes around the swim, but thankfully it gave in to steady pressure and slipped over the landing net cord.

Epic first session! First fish from the lake and at 42lb 5oz fingers crossed I can return for another trip very soon…