Stu Lennox got the season off to a great start on his Cambs. syndicate water. Fishing at long range in windy conditions proved tricky but the effort paid off and Stu was rewarded with two crackers, good angling Stu!
‘This trip to a big Cambridge pit had been planned for months and as the time drew nearer I gradually got more and more excited. Apart from a few hit and run floater fishing sessions after work this was to be my first ‘proper’ carp session of the year.
The peg I chose gave me access to a big, open expanse of water with no visible features to aim at. Most of the first day was spent with the marker trying to ascertain any underwater differences that may give me a clue to the whereabouts of a fish or two. I will be the first to admit that distance fishing has and always will be my weakest skill, I rarely fish over 100yds if I can help it.
However with a little assistance from the wind off my back I was working an area about 130yds out and finding a mixture of weed types. I focused on this area but after a blank 24hrs the wind spun round 180 and was now firmly blowing in my face and forced me to drop my range.
It was at this stage that I found a nice mix of dark grey clay and light silkweed at 110yds surrounded on all sides by Canadian pondweed. Even at this reduced range I was really struggling to get my rods on the spot due to the head wind and baiting was even harder. It was taking me over 20 attempts to get each rod in place and baiting was having to wait until gaps in the wind. By nightfall I had managed to deposit 20kg of CC Moore Live System boilies, hemp, maples and maize from CarpParticles across all three rods.
My hookbaits were NS1+ pop ups, two on white and one on pink. Rigs were hinged stiffs with size 5 Stiff Rigger hooks on pre-tied Short Chods and Streamliner rig booms to keep the rig away from the lead during flight. The hookbaits were critically balanced with the tiniest amount of putty possible so they gently fluttered down and sat on top of any silkweed present.
I saw a few fish very gently show over the spots just before dark so was quietly confident of some action during the night. However I awoke the next morning after a peaceful night’s sleep. Dawn revealed very little and morale was low. I was sat on my bedchair with a table full of rig components trying to work out what I was going to do next when the left hand rod let out three beeps and the bobbin pulled up two inches and stayed there. I struck and had to instantly give line as a powerful fish bolted from the spot.
I gradually gained line as it moved between clumps of weed. About 30yds in front of me there was a shallow gravel bar with deep water on the far side. The fish burrowed down into this deep water and I could feel the devastating grate of line against gravel, luckily I had opted for 15lb Syncro XT Loaded and the fish was soon over the top and making its way towards me.
’34lb, a great way to start the season’
It was engulfed in the net at the first time of asking. It was a beautiful fish, a big deep dark beast that had me beaming from ear to ear and at 34lb was a great way to start the season. It was quickly secured in the retainer and the rod was put back on the spot, amazingly at only the second time of asking.
Photos were done and dusted and the fish returned. I was sat on my bedchair ecstatic at avoiding what I was certain was going to be a blank when suddenly the same rod was away again!
‘A really beautiful blend of browns and chestnuts’
The fight was very similar and the carp was soon mine. I thought the first fish was beautiful but this beast was an absolute stunner. A really beautiful blend of browns and chestnuts had absolutely crowned my session. At just under 33lb I couldn’t believe that I had braced a stunning pair of 30s within an hour after 47 hours of nothing. Something about busses springs to mind!’