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The anticipation of joining a new water is one of the most
exciting things about carp angling. That first walk around, seeing
the first carp mooching around, getting the marker out for the
first time, it's all good.
I first fished the Africa Pit late last year on a two night social
visit in early winter. I don't know what it was about the place,
but I felt like I fancied a crack at this syndicate. It seemed a
very social water with some nice people fishing and looking after
the home of some great looking carp.
That first session was a blank, but I enjoyed the sausage
sandwiches, warmed Port (cheers John) and joking about on the
first night of the session. I didn't even mind getting up at the
crack of dawn to help John with the photographing of the 18lb'er
he caught in the middle of the night.
So, my appetite whetted I always planned to get a ticket for the
next season on what is considered to be a pretty damn tough venue
by all who fish it.
Saturday 17th May I pull into the carp park at 9am (15 hours late,
bloody hell Phil! not his fault for once though), after paying my
cash, chatting to John (one of the bailiff's) and waiting for Phil
(just the 3 hours late this morning) we head off round the lake.
All morning John and I have been discussing swims, I decided I'd
like the swim called Table Top's, you can guess what happens next,
Phil decides table tops is the swim for him. So for the sake of an
easy life I drop in next door (lesson learned there though!).
A bit of work with the marker float and I'm fishing, two out in
front of me on gravel patches and one opposite the next swim to my
left. The first night, nothing. Not a single blip. The next
morning we see plenty of signs that the fish are in our area of
the lake though, so confidence is still high that we're in the
right place.
At lunchtime John turns up with his gear to go round to our left
and fish right in the teeth of the South Easterly wind, one of
Phil's clubbing mates, Glen, turns up for a bit of a social. It
starts to absolutely bucket it down.
I'm safely tucked up in my bivvy just watching the Grand Prix,
when I decide to text John to:
- Take the micky as it's blowing a howly into his swim and
chucking it down, can't be that pleasant.
- To offer my services if he needs any photography in the
morning.
I hadn't even received the delivery report when my left hand
micron emits five or so bleeps, then a steady line of beeps. I
dived out of the bivvy slinging my old rainproof poncho on (which
I used to use on bike rides when I was a kid) and pulled into what
felt like a decent fish (on the rod with my new XTE, nice!)
 Phil
and his mate Simon Wrigglesworth, who was there to bait up a bit,
turn up to see what all the commotion is all about, "it's nice and
warm in your bivvy mate", cheers Simon.
Meanwhile the carp has made a beeline for Phil's left hand line
(which is cast to the middle of the lake-ish), briefly picking it
up and then disposing of it as Phil stands at the ready to drop
the line if necessary.
As the carp comes to the bank Simon and I get our first glance at
her, "that looks a decent fish mate, do you want me to do the
honours with the net?" Thanks Simon, top lad!
Over the string she goes and Simon's gone, back into the bivvy at
a rate of knots, to join Glen, Phil and Jasper the dog. John
trundles round with Digby (dog no.2) and helps me out with the
sacking process after Simon and Phil sorted out a weight for the
fish, 23lb 13oz is the number decided upon and I'm well chuffed, a
new personal best and my first carp from the new venue!
As it's still hammering it down with rain everyone seeks shelter
in the Easy Dome, we manage 5 lads and 2 dogs in one small bivvy,
not bad eh? Quick slurp of wine to celebrate, a bit of bragging
until Simon reminds me "you can get wetter than that you know
mate" and it's time for the photo's as the rain has eased off.
With three people snapping away to get a record of the fish (which
isn't one recognised instantly) I feel like I'm at the Carpy
Oscars!! Phil's mate Glen is shocked to see how large carp get
too, his first ever carp and it's a mid twenty, bit of an eye
opener methinks!
Time to get the carp back in her home and I'm advised to "get in
to release her", maybe when it's warmed up a bit eh fella's!
My thanks go out to Phil, Simon, John, Glen, Jasper & Digby for
creating a great memory of a funny moment, one man dome my arse!
Basil
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