Open Season Success - Hatchet Pond - Tom Pothecary

Open Season Success - Hatchet Pond

Tom Pothecary


 After a season of struggling on the notorious Hatchet Pond, I was determined to be there, fishing, on the first day of the new season. The gear was packed in the car the night before and the alarm set nice and early.

I arrived at the lake early on the morning of the 16^th June, opening day of the season. I didn’t hang around, I parked the car and the gear was on the barrow as I prepared to take on the trek round the back of Hatchet. I had a very specific idea of where I wanted fish because I had spent a lot time walking around the lake during the closed season. I had seen a lot of fish show in the upper part of the lake where it is slightly shallower.

On my way round the lake I passed angler upon angler but spotted that the area of the lake I had wanted to fish was vacant. I quickly got to the swim and started to set my rods up, whilst carefully watching the water for any show of carp. With my rods sorted and rigs baited I accurately cast my rigs into areas where I had seen fish during the closed season and onto a spot, made up of firm silt, that I knew was prolific and that was likely to produce a bite. I baited my chosen area with 20mm boilies. The boilie I am currently using is a fishmeal, and food based bait Shoreline’s Black Spice. I used a fair amount of boilies, around 80-100 baits, over the top of each rod because there are known to be large numbers of bream and tench in the lake. It doesn’t help that the swans are also big fans of boilies.

As I was fishing three rods, I decided to fish my left-hand and middle rod fairly close together, within 20 yards of each other. I chose to do this because it was an area that I had seen fish show, before and during the closed season. These two rods were both armed with bottom bait rigs around 7-9 inches in length and a long hair. I had also made the mechanics of this rig very aggressive with the use of shrink tubing. This plays a key role when fishing a lake with a barbless rule because it helps to hook the fish and helps to hold the hook in. I was fishing a spot of firm silt with my right-hand rod. This rod consisted of a pop-up rig that I have had a lot of good results on and that I was very confident in using.

First fish at 18lb 4oz
 

Now, my traps were set, I sat back under the brolly and watched the rain drops hit the surface of the water. I remember thinking - “The weather is spot on for a bite today”. With this, my left-hand rod burst into life, alarm screaming I struck the rod and began to play the fish. The fish rolled around 10 yards out and I saw then that it was a common. The mid-double common put up a fairly good scrap before going in the net. This fish went 18lb 4oz.


After sorting the fish out and taking a few pictures it swam off and left me to get the rod back out on the spot, with a fresh baited rig and another 40-50 baits. After this I was confident of another bite and sat back and eagerly watched the water for showing fish. I saw two fish bosh right on my spot and 3 hours later I was starting to think that it wasn’t going to happen. Then I had a slow take off my middle rod. I struck the rod, it felt like a good fish as it was staying deep and felt heavy. After a short fight the fish came to the surface and went straight in the net. I looked into the net a saw a nice fat common that I recognised to be ‘The Big Common’. I unhooked the fish, zeroed the scales and held her up. The scales read 31lb on the dot.  




The Big Common - 31lb & New PB

After a few self-takes, it went back into the water. It recovered quickly and waddled off back into the middle of the lake. I thought to myself as she swam off - “wow, what a fish and a new PB of 31lb”. I picked up my rod and lent it against my brolly and began to put a new rig on. Then, out of nowhere my right-hand rod peeled off, I struck the rod and the fish took a lot of line. I began to play the fish after its burst of energy. After a good fight it came over the top of the net and I scooped it up. This common went a respectable 27lb 4oz.

27lb 4oz

 

What a great start to the season. I got my two fish producing rods back out onto the spots with fresh rigs and another 40-50 baits. I then sat back to review the pictures I had taken.

An hour or so later, I was beginning to wonder if the fish were still in front of me or not. I hadn’t seen a carp show since before my last fish.

 

28lb 6oz

All of a sudden, the bobbin on my right-hand rod pulled up tight and line slowly started to peel off the spool of my reel. I picked up the rod and the fish rolled on top of my spot then continued to take line. I could not stop this fish, it was very strong and would not give up. The fish then kited to my left and I followed it a good 30 yards or so down the bank with the net. I got into netting position as the fish came to the surface. The fish then turned and charged off taking a lot of line, I saw then that it was a mirror. I managed to get the fish back in close and she finally went in the net. I looked in the top of the net and a saw a lovely looking mirror carp but it wasn’t one of the big girls. Never the less, I was very pleased with this capture. I unhooked the fish and took a few pictures, it then swam off very confidently. This fish pulled the scales round to a very nice 28lb 6oz.

 



Long Lean 15lb 6oz

I put a fresh rig on and cast it back out onto the spot that had now produced two fish. I put another 50-60 odd baits over the top of the rig and sat back under the brolly. I sat and watched the water waiting for another bite.

After half an hour of waiting, I was in again. My right-hand rod had peeled off and I was playing a fish that didn’t feel very big but was very welcome all the same. The fish, thought to be a crazy common, would not give in and took me from left to right for a good 5 minutes before going in net. I put the fish on the mat, unhooked it and weighed it. The scales read 15lb 6oz. I was about to prepare myself for some self-take photographs, but I looked up and saw my good mate George ‘Geoff’ West walking down the track towards my swim. He was happy to take a few shots of the fish for me.

 

I got the rod back out on to the fish producing spot and topped it up with 50 or so baits. I sat back in the brolly with Geoff and started to discuss what a good start to the season I was having.

 

An hour later, Matt Eldridge turned up for a visit and to see how I was getting on. We sat and talked about the fish I had had so far and went through the pictures as the rain set in. The three of us were huddled under the brolly whilst the rain hammered the surface of the lake. “This weather is spot on!” said Geoff with excitement. Matt and I agreed before Matt stated - “As soon as it stops, you’ll get another bite”.

 

The pitter-patter of rain on my brolly became lighter and lighter before it eventually stopped. I ventured out of the brolly thinking about what Matt had said. With this thought, the spool on my right-hand rod went into meltdown, I had a savage take. I ran down to the rod, struck it and tightened the clutch as I commenced battle with a very heavy, strong fish. The fish boiled on the surface around 40 yards out. I could see from this that it was a good fish. Before either of the three of us had seen the fish, Geoff was wetting himself with excitement and exclaiming- “It’s The Orange! It’s The Orange!!”. I looked at him and smiled, thinking he was being ridiculous. I continued to play the fish, as I got closer in it demonstrated its power, taking line and lunging.

 

Matt readied himself with the net as the fish came to the surface. I saw it was a mirror when the fish stuck its shoulders out and put its dorsal fin up. At this point I started to feel anxious and just wanted the fish to go in the net.

After taking a couple of gulps of air she came over the net. Matt scooped her up and turned to me and laughed as he said- “Hello Mr Orange!”- Geoff danced up and down with excitement. I stayed quiet anticipating the weight of her. After unhooking the fish, which was nailed on a pop-up rig that has given me a lot of very good results, I prepared the scales and put the fish in the weigh sling. The chunky mirror, known as ‘The Orange’ tipped the scales at a whopping 40lb 2oz! Another New PB!

 

The Orange - 40lb 2oz

 

The Orange - Another New PB!

 

After getting aload photos in and out of the water I waded the beautiful 40 pounder out and let her begin her recovery before swimming off, back into the depths. I turned to Matt and Geoff with a huge smile on my face.

 

I got my rod back out on the spot that had now produced four fish. I put another 40-50 baits out over the rig and sat back in the brolly to let the days events sink in.

 

I didn’t have any more fish that day but I was there bright and early on the 17^th June to try my luck again. I wasn’t as successful, however I did manage to winkle out a little 16lb 12oz common!

 

 

 

Tom Pothecary - Noble's Fishing



Keeping The Faith! - Tom Pothecary

Broadlands Fisheries Carp Cup Qualifier

Keeping The Faith!

Tom Pothecary

 I arrived at Broadlands Fisheries nice and early, just before light. I was anxious ahead of the 2013 Carp Cup Qualifier I was about to take part in. As soon as it was light enough to see, I was off round the lake, eager to see a show of fish. After seeing a few fish move I was confident, however, it was down to the draw to decide where I was going to fish. 

Coming out fairly low in the draw I chose to fish peg 3, due to its obvious features and I had seen the marginal reeds moving to indicate a fish moving through them. I was confident of a bite in this peg and eager to get fishing. I got all my gear set up and began to lead around in search of the large gravel plateaux I’d heard was in front of the swim. After a few casts I found it, it wasn’t too difficult as it was fairly big, I pulled my lead to the front of the spot and clipped it up. One rod done. My second rod was cast towards the reeds where I had previously seen a fish move, I chose an area where I could cast very tight, I thought this would be best to produce a bite.

 

Peg 3

 

After the horn had sounded I got both traps in perfect position and introduced handfuls of Shoreline Red Bull Boilies. I sat back to watch the water, anticipating a bite.

Hours had passed and I hadn’t seen a fish show, this combined with other anglers catching fish put the pressure on a little. I re-chucked both rods after replacing the hook baits with my two favourite colours, one pink popup and one white. As the night drew in, I took refuge in my sleeping bag as it began to get cold.

After a quiet I night, I woke up as it was getting light. I sat there trying to figure out why I had not had a bite. The pressure to catch one increased as I found out that first place had now had 7 fish and there was now a second place of 14lb.

 

The secret weapon!

 

As I ventured from my bivvy I was graced with a visitor, fellow team Noble member Matt Eldridge. I explained to him where I was fishing and what had been going on. He then informed me of a little spot he knew of that was also good for a bite. As It was just one bite needed, I wound in my left hand rod and cast the reeds next to an overhanging tree. With Matt’s approval I put the rod on the rest and catapulted a handful of boilies around my trusted white pop up.

A few hours had passed before I received a strange take on my left hand rod, the bobbin slowly pulled up tight. It had bream written all over it. I picked up the rod and bent it to what was definitely not the bream I was expecting. After a short tussle, the fish was in the net. I secured the net in the edge and quickly got my rod back on the spot. I lifted the fish on to the mat and unhooked it, my combi pop up rig had done the business. Ricky, the bailiff on Broadlands, came round to weigh and photograph the fish. There was only one question to be asked as the sling was lifted onto the scales, was it big enough?

 

20lb 6oz Secured Second Place!

 

“20lb 6oz” Ricky announced, and to my delight put me in second place. I was over the moon to have caught one when the situation seemed to be against me.

Finally, after what felt like the longest hour of my life, the final horn sounded and I was going to join team mates, Matt Eldridge and the main man Martin Noble, in the final. Brilliant Result!

Tom Pothecary - Noble's Fishing

What France is all about! - George West

What France is all about - Abbey’s Fox lake

George West

 After what seemed like forever, the time was only was upon us to make our way over to Abbey’s Fox lake, which is a 2 hour drive from Calais. With the usual buzz and excitement on the ferry before a French trip, with question flying around my head like;  how’s it been fishing? Where will the fish be? Where will I come out in the draw? We finally arrived at the picturesque and big carp mecca that is Abbey lakes and our chosen lake, Fox Lake.

Size doesn’t usually bother me but I was dreaming about slipping the net under a big French Carp of 40lb+ and having only been to France once before, which didn’t exactly go to plan I was hoping this would be some improvement.

There were 11 of us in total and we all had a good look round and I could see everyone’s brains ticking away as they tried to work out where the fish would be and there were definitely a few swims I fancied. Having come out at number 5 I managed to get in my 3^rd choice swim which was due to be at the receiving end of strong wind for the next couple of days. I was more than happy with and as it happens I was next to fellow Ultima consultant Dave Fuidge so I could punish his wealthy knowledge up while waiting for the Carp to make an appearance!

The first 2 nights went without any action and I was beginning to feel like the French Carp had it in for me! The wind never came in the direction it was supposed to, so once again the weathermen got it wrong.  Due to there being 20 plus swims I had the option to move and had a good look round and settled on a swim where I’d seen a few fish show the previous evening.



First French Carp - 33lb 6oz



I located a small clearing in the weed at 50 yards range that was raised 1ft above everything else and placed 2 rods on this spot, and proceeded to place 3 kilo of Contrast on top. The other was another on a silty patch over particle. My rigs were simple combi rigs with Entity in 18lb for the boom section and Phantom in 15lb for the supple. That same day I finally slipped the net under my first French fish and at 33lb 6, I was buzzing as the pressure was now off,  this was followed by a 26lb mirror so it was evident the move had paid off.

                                                                                                  



26lb 8oz



 

After an uneventful night I was awoken to the sun slowly creeping above the trees in front and as my eyes began to focus I saw my bobbin slowly pull to the top and the clutch started slowly ticking which was a complete contrast to the savage takes the other 2 fish gave me. Instantly it weeded me up and as boats were allowed I set sail in my bright green blow up dingy and it’s fair to say I will never get in one again. The fish towed me around in circles and after a comical battle much to the amusement of the lads I finally caught a glimpse of my prize and it was a lump at that. After ripping a load of weed away from the fish that it was caught up in I eventually slipped the net under it with a  big “Get in” echoing around the lake! I then had to attempt to row the fish in my blow up dingy half way across the lake which was easier said than done!

Once on the bank I knew it was what I was after and the big dark old mirror swung the needle round to 43lb 12, happy days! That same night a couple of the other lads also caught new pb’s so there was definitely a buzz around the place. As a result we decided to reel in during the day and punish all the other lads around the lake who we bored with the stories of our fish!

 





43lb 12oz

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That night after a few of us went to the club house and the bailiff there had a rule where if you caught a pb you had no option but to be thrown in. Not being the biggest I had no choice but to accept I was going for a swim so that lads grabbed me and threw me in, but I’d take that for new pb for that any day! After a few celebratory beers we wandered back to the swims and got the rods out in anticipation for what else this lake could throw at us.
 

The fish kept coming for me after that and I finished with 7 fish overall!

 

Scaly Stunner!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I wasn’t a massive fan on France before this trip but I’ll definitely be going again. It’s not just about the fishing but  the social side of things as well and we all had a good laugh with plenty of banter.

 

George West - Noble's Fishing