“IN THE SPRING I LIKE TO FOCUS THE MAIN PART OF MY ENERGY ON LOCATION, BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW, IF THEY AREN'T THERE YOU WONT CATCH THEM”

I tend to stay up late and wake up extra early as this gives me the extra hours of listening and watching time that could nail down the location and leads to that end goal of a capture.

This particular session I was on Redmire pool for the first time, so I read the book in the lodge to see what had been going on and if any activity had been noted. I always take others information with a pinch of salt because I believe seeing is believing. The book wasn’t very helpful so I set off climbing a few trees on Bramble Island and Wasp Island to get a good overall view of the shallows and some of the middle part in front of what's known as Pitchford's and the Stumps. The shallows were devoid of any activity at all but I noticed a group of fish maybe 10 or 12 carp sat a couple of foot below the surface just slowly cruising around. So that was the location sorted for a starting point.

Redmire is a small intimate venue and the carp know you are there as soon as you walk through that gate, so staying well back from the water and keeping the disturbance to a minimum is key. After seeing that group of fish I set up two zigs at roughly the height I thought the fish were at, it was all guess work as I didn’t want to spook the fish off straight away. As the day went along and I changed my set up for the night fishing single pop ups. I done a bit of lead work to find the firmest spots I could, being a silty farm pool, it was imperative to find these “hard” spots for the night so I was sat there confident knowing I was on the money.

I put out three Stiff hinge rigs out on helicopter set ups with 3 oz leads and the bead set about 2 feet up just for the added security that I knew I would be 100% presented. I stayed up into the early hours listening and I heard three clear “boshes” down to my left towards the famous dam, this was it I knew I needed to move the next day. Again, like I've emphasized location is key for that end goal capture.

The next morning, I was up and out with the barrow loaded and the boots on, I pushed my way around to Walkers Pitch next to the Boathouse where I felt this would give me the best line lay and angle to fish to what I'd heard the night previous. After settling into the swim and setting up well back from the water I started to look for some firm spots, I committed an hour or so to finding 3 spots and with that done I set out tying some rigs up for my last night on the pool.

I felt the Stiff Hinge rig would suit my approach best and offer me the best presentation on what was infront of me, sticking with my helicopter leader of 8 foot and constructed from the camflex material in muddy silt. My Stiff Hinge rig is tied with movement in mind from all angles, I tied my boom section with 25lb Invisi-Link with one end tied with a figure of eight loop and attached to a ring swivel, the other end being attached to my helicopter leader. The hinge section is tied with 25lb Tripwire roughly 4 inches long and tied to a size 4 sharpened Covert Dark Chod hook, I like to fish this critically balanced with a boosted  hook bait. My boosted specials normally entail a mix of proven flavors which I've used and then overdosed them for my special Pop ups. I was using a very small amount of bait in the form of some very attractive PVA sticks which I cast out to each spot. It's not so much about the bait its more about the attraction it pumps out, so less bait but more attraction.

I woke on my last morning of Redmire fishless and not really a care in the world as after all I was fishing the pool of all pools and walking the footsteps of angling icons. The dawn chorus had brought the pool alive and not long after I saw a carp slosh out not far away from one of my spots, and then another, and another. I was sat there rubbing my hands hoping I would get a pickup before leaving this hallowed place. Doing all I could to calm the nerve's I drank endless cups of tea and messed about with the camera taking some stills.

"THE BITE I HAD BEEN DREAMING OF FINALY CAME, MY SLACK LINE PICKING UP EVER SO SOFTLY, IT WAS ALMOST HARD TO BELIEVE WHAT WAS HAPPENING"

The fish gave a spirited fight and got caught on one of my other lines to the point where it was stuck and just sat there on the surface out of reach, I threw caution to the wind and with no waders on I walked into the pool up to my waist and netted the fish!

I wasn’t having the old story of the one that got away especially on Redmire Pool. I was fishing the Gardner GT-HD 18lb which I've used for all my monofilament angling the last four or five seasons and I'm glad I was as it performed flawlessly and gives me total confidence.

My very good friend Pete and Lord Bamford celebrated the capture with me....along with a cuppa. Photos of the 25lb 14oz Redmire Pool original common were done and. my Redmire Pool spring session was sadly over. I vividly remember driving home with my head buzzing - reliving the Redmore experience. I'll be back at the pool this spring so hopefully I'll get the chance to hold another of Redmire's ancient stock.

Written By Levi Rees