06/09/11 - Eliburn Reservoir

21 inch Common Carp (est 6lbs)

Time - 12.30-19.30
Water - OK, visibility 18-24 inches, a bit choppy, no film

Where - Second Peg on the arm, then Middle Peg

Weather - Very windy, nice to start with, drizzle increasing to really miserable at times

Methods - Rod 1 - Maggots, float, 3lb trace size 18 pre-tied hook link, Rod 2 - Meat
Total - 17
Species - Gudgeon, Perch, Common Carp
Size - 4 - 21 inches

If ever a day rewarded perseverance, this was it. Six Perch to 5.5 inches, ten Gudgeon to 5 inches in 6 hours until the meat rod finally paid off big time.

Started on The Arm, another gentleman started just before me on the First Peg using a pole. I began on the next peg along. Chucked the meat in near the lilies on the right, tried a few different lies, but nothing at all. The chunk had been quite well nibbled, but not by anything substantial and not enough to show any signs of a bite on the rod.

Extracted three Perch (including the 5.5 incher) & a fat 5 inch Gudgeon on varying amount of maggots. Started quite shallow (a foot or so) and got enough interest. Went deep and interest dropped off, although not altogether. Got stuck on the bottom a bit too often, although didn't lose any tackle so moved up to 1.5-2 foot and had most interest. Possibly the odd bite from an Ide, probably the odd bite from a Roach. A carp splurged in front of me about 15 feet out and despite the wave on the water, there were enough skimmer type fish louping out now and again to keep my interest up.

Decided to shift positions and see what was doing at the dam end. Spoke to Pole Guy. He'd had a small roach and a Crucian of about a pound and a half on pellet. Also spoke to guy on next peg round. He was using bread/float but had no joy. Observing plenty bubbles near the weed bed.

Happily the middle peg was free. I'd been thinking about a Dam end peg as it looked the most sheltered from the wind but the Middle Peg proved too tempting (another couple of guys were moving pegs too and were in Dam Outflow Corner Peg).

Lobbed some meat out in the usual spot and began efforts to connect with something other than Perch on the mags. A 5lb or so carp half splatted out of the water in front of me as I was re-setting up. However the wind was dragging the float right to left and into the shore too quickly. No chance of spotting surface fish and there were a few drizzly showers too. So I tended to fish no more than a rod length out with varying amounts of maggots and was able to get loads of attention mostly from Gudgeon and some Perch.

Gudgeon 4.5 inch (not the fat one)

The weather really closed in meaning a huddle under the brolly and a few missed bites on the mags. Another Carp flapped right out of the water about 20 feet in front startling me somewhat. Nothing happened for ages on the meat rod. Thought I had a wee bounce at one point, then eventually got a definite tap. But offers/attention were few and far between and I was missing anything that did show. There was one probable line bite too.

During a drizzle break I decided to move to the Dam Wall Peg. I collapsed the net and lay it on the fence and it was at this point that my meat line screamed off and up the lake. Turned, tightened and struck only to feel the hook and fish part company. No idea of size, but defo not a minnow!!! So had to stay put. I suspected it may have been a carp. Usually its more of a bounce than a run when the meat is taken. But as the day wore on I became a bit more convinced it was a Barbel (about 60/40).

One of the Perch I caught came off with the (pre-tied) hook and line disconnecting so started using a size 16 with the mags to no obvious slowing up in offers.

Was varying the distance from the bank with the meat rod (not too far, but sometimes quite close) and had another couple of bounces but couldnt connect. Meat often showed nibble marks. Noticed the barb of the hook was a little turned in, so straightened it in the hope it would help.

Then at about 6.45 the meat rod screamed off again (very satisfying sound) and this time the hook set nicely. I was able to turn it and exert a modicum of control. It didn't try to go too far (maybe just my increasing ability and composure in these circumstances). I'd been re-baiting the mag rod when this kicked off, so the water was clear in front to play it. Tried to get it up into the top of the water to get a look but it stayed quite low, and the fact it wasn't haring off uncontrollably meant I was happy it was a decent Barbel, confirming my earlier hypothesis. Eventually got it into view and was rather delighted to discover it was a friggin carp!!!

It might not have been uncontrollable, but it was still well heavy and difficult to get near the net. When it turned away it was also doing a good job of flapping its tail on the line. After 10-15 mins I was able to get it into the net without too many frights. The hook was securely in the top lip and no prob to disgorge.  Measured it, got a couple of photos and released it back.

It might be a sign of madness, but the fish seemed to be a reasonably chilled individual. It didn't scrap any harder than a 17 inch Barbel and felt less weighty by far in the water than my previous Common. It didn't flap about at all on the bank either, almost as if he knew the script and was waiting to be released. A very nice specimen. I didn't consider it's weight on the bank, but estimate it was about 6lbs for its 21 inches in length.

Although I continued on for another half hour, there were no more bites and I packed up.