Broadlands Record - 'Henry Cooper' - George West

Broadlands Record
George West

I had a couple of weeks available for a work placement from my university and as I’m current doing a Fishery Management course I decided to do it down Broadlands lakes. Broadlands is arguably the most popular day ticket fishery in the country, with the final of BCAC (British Carp Angling Championships) being held here. They had also been badly affected by the high levels of rainfall received recently and the majority of the lake was flooded, so there would be plenty of work to do once my placement started.

With the work being based directly next to the lake and hearing of a few fish  being caught, I thought I might as well make the most of it and fish a couple of nights in between work. With the lake still badly flooded, a lot of the swims were inaccessible but as I had a pair of waders I could still fish the majority of the lake. For the first night I decided to fish in an area known as carp alley as it has always had good winter form. I got the rods out around 3pm after managing to wing an early finish to get a bit of extra fishing in.

 I was fishing tight to an island and was made up when the bobbing pulled up tight about an hour later and the first fish was landed after a lively battle , which was a lovely 20lb 8 common.


20lb 8oz

Before dark I took a further 3 fish to around 18lb but as soon as darkness fell everything went quiet. As the temperature had dropped dramatically I had a feeling the fish weren’t patrolling the shelf of the island anymore due to the shallow water and cold temperatures. I decided to bring the rods back about 10 yards and instantly the action started again. I banked another 5 fish to 19lb 14 during the night and it was fair to say I was tired for work the next day!



19lb 12oz

I had all my fish on white pop ups over 3 kilos of freebie boilies, making sure the swim was topped up after every fish.

I still had another 10 days left of work but it wasn’t until the following week that I was able to get the rods out again. While I had a good result in carp alley, I had a feeling there weren’t many big fish present, as I only had one over 20lb from the 8 fish caught. While I was working along a fence line clearing debris caused from the floods I noticed a couple of fish stick their heads out and good ones at that, so maybe this was where the bigger fish were holding up.

I was planning to fish that night and as the swim was free I set all my gear up during my lunch break, with the intention of fishing their after work. Once again I made it clear I was keen to get fishing and finished earlier than usual so that I could get plenty of fishing time in.  My mate Gareth Birch was fishing in the swim next door as well so luckily I had a cameraman for what turned out to be a hectic couple of nights.

Again the same presentation as before was used, with my multi rigs and white pop ups used on all 3 rods. The marginal bush I’d seen the action on was around 80 yards away and I placed all three rods towards it around 12ft apart. I was expecting a few fish but it took me by surprise when my delkim roared off only 5 minutes after getting the rods out. It felt like a much better fish as well and my thoughts were confirmed when a 23lb 5 common was in the net, not a bad start!



23lb 6oz

The action again was hectic and I even had a double hook up before I reeled in at mid night to get some sleep for work. I had 9 that night along with 3 20s which was a decent result when not a lot else was getting caught.

I was speaking to the boss about my result that night and he seemed pretty impressed but he kept mentioning one particular fish known as “Henry Cooper” which hadn’t been caught for over a year now. It was last out at 34lb+ and I jokingly said to him she’s mine tonight, in which he laughed and said “not a chance”. 

 



20lb 12oz



 

 

Although I had a few bigger fish the previous night, the so called “a team” were eluding me. Again I fished to the same spots as the night before and the action was mental yet again but the biggest was only just over 20. I then hooked into a fish that got me caught up in a snag and me and my mate could clearly see it was a better fish (25+ at least). Just as I managed to coax her out the snag the line parted and I threw the rod on the floor in anger. It was around 10pm and it had wiped out one of my other rods and I didn’t have the buzz to get the rods back out after the earlier loss, so was fishing with just one rod at the time.

It was 3 hours later when my last remaining rod signalled out a few beeps and I was into another fish.  This time the fish came in nice and easy until it got near the net and it shot off on a number of deep heavy lunges peeling line from my spool every  time. I told my mate it was another small one but deep down I knew I was attached to something better. I caught a glimpse of a big pale shape in the moon light and instantly recognised it as the big one known as “Henry Cooper”, as there is simply nothing else like it in the lake. Luckily, before I had time to panic my mate slipped the net under her and I looked down in awe at how big she actually was. She was last out at around 34lb and I was expecting her to be the same sort of weight but when she swung the needle round to 37lb 3oz, I was buzzing! 


'Henry Cooper' 37lb 3oz

She was in mint condition and the fact she hadn’t been caught for over a year is saying something considering how busy Broadlands gets. She was the finale of my 27 fish caught over the 4 work nights and set a new venue record. What a way to finish!

Back She Goes!

George West - Noble's Fishing

Catching ‘One Eye’ - Mopley Pond - Martin Noble

Catching ‘One Eye’

Martin Noble

 

Like all my recent sessions I’ve been leaving work Saturday evening & getting straight out fishing doing Saturday nights & Sunday days. With all the gear in the van I was down the lake & setting up in the dark by around 6.30pm. The skies were clear & temperature fairly mild considering. Fellow team member Reuben Hoon was already at the lake & set up. I moved in a swim just down the bank from him where I’ve had some recent success so I know what spots to hit even in the dark.

By about 8pm I was all set up with my oval brolly & bad chair tucked in underneath with all my gear. Looking at the forecast the weather looked to be fine through the night so I didn’t bother setting up my bivvy. The sky was gin clear with no moon & the stars were out in abundance.

 

I had 3 rods out, my left rod just up the bank tucked tight in my own margins to a little overhanging bush, the middle rod to an over hanging branch on island margins to which I had had success from over a NYE session & the right hand rod cast tight to island margins just in front of some dying reeds.



Combi Rig

Each rod was set up with a Combi Rig presented with a 16mm Red Bull boilie & pink 6mm tipper. Around each spot I put about 20 freebies and each line was cast out with a small PVA bag of crushed Red Bull boilies.

With the traps set it was time to sit back quietly and wait for a take. Reuben & I sat back & spoke of fishing stories & about the fish that we would like to catch from the lake which we had seen in past photographs.

Around 11pm my middles rods swinger slowly started to rise up to the rod, with no time to waste I struck straight into it & instantly knew what was on the other end…a bream! I quickly got a fresh rig on & got the rod back out to the spot after a couple of casts. It was getting on for 11.30pm & we decided to call it a day & retired to our sleeping bags. I must have been tired because I slept like a log through the night with nothing happening on the rods.



Scaly Mirror in the net!



I was still in deep sleep when I was awoken by a screaming run at 6am on my left hand margin rod which was bend right round as the fish powered off up the back. I quickly was out the sleeping back & into what was definitely a carp this time!

After about a 10 minute battled & taking out the lines on my 2 other rods I slipped the net under a beautiful scaly Mirror carp that looked around the 20lb mark! Reuben was awoken by the commotion & came over to take a look & get some snaps!

 

As we lifted it in the sling the scales went to 19lb 4oz! Not quite 20lb but didn’t matted as it was a beauty! After a few snaps I gently slipped it back & started to get the rods sorted after being wiped out. By this time it was starting to get light which made getting to my spot perfect this time round. With all 3 rods recast I put about another 20 freebies around each spot & put the kettle on!

19lb 4oz Mirror taken in the margins a few yards up from my swim!

 

The sky was starting to rapidly cloud over & it looked like it wouldn’t be long before the rain was going to set in. Around 10am the heavens opened and the rain started coming down along with gale force winds. Throughout the day the rain didn’t give up and a couple of times my umbrella took off in the winds even though it was pegged firmly down. In the end I found a length of rope in my van & tied it down to a fence post in the swim to try & stop loosing it completely.

 

There was not much happened through the day & it was hard to see for signs of fish with the winds battering the water, trees & reeds. I spent most of the day tucked up in my sleeping bag trying to stay warm & out of the never ending rain.

Finally around 3pm the rain finally eased off and the sun started trying to break through the clouds. Finally I could get out from under the brolly & stretch my legs. I considered recasting with fresh baits for the last couple of hours before dark came in again, but I knew I was bang on my spots & decided to leave them as they were, which was a good thing because around  4pm my right hand rod on the island margins went tearing off. I struck straight into it & it instantly embedded itself deep down in a clump of reeds. I kept the pressure on and moved to different spots to try to try & ease it out. After a few minutes it suddenly came free, along with a clump or reeds attached. It stayed down deep but it felt fairly good. Finally after about 10 minutes it came to the surface, a solid bar of gold common & one I didn’t recognise. I manage to slip the net under it along with the clump of reeds, it was a stunning looking fish.

Once I got it onto the mat realised that it only had 1 eye, its missing eye had completely healed over so must have lost it a long time ago.

 

One Eye Common

I got in the sling & it went 18lb 14oz on the scales. I was over the moon with this fish, not only was it a beautiful fish but it also looked like it wasn’t caught very often & was also one I had never seen before in past photos.

I gently slipped her back & got the rod straight back out but by this time the light was already starting to fade.

 



 

18lb 14oz of pure gold common! - 'One Eye'

 

 

Around 6pm we decided to call it a day as the darkness fell. It was a nice little session even though the weather was terrible. These short little over nighters have proved to be very productive over the last couple of weeks although I’m looking forward to the summer months again with the long light evenings & early sunrises!

 

Martin Noble – Noble’s Fishing

In pursuit of a 40! - Lakeside - Matt Eldridge

In pursuit of a 40!

Matt Eldridge

 

This is my first session of the year and I decided to do a 24 hour session on Broadlands Lakes, van loaded and off I went. On arrival I realised there was a problem as the gates were locked shut. After speaking to the bailiff & being told it had been shut due to flooding I decided to head over to Lakeside in Eastleigh. A lake I’ve fished in the past & wanted to wait until the winter months to fish when I knew the fish are at there heaviest weights.

After a short drive I arrived at the lake only to meet lots of cars & vans in the car park so decided to have a walk around the lake first expecting every swim to be taken but to my surprise the bottom bank of the lake was empty.

I quickly got back to the van, unloaded onto my barrow & was off to a swim before anyone else jumped in. On my way round I stopped to chat to a couple of lads to see how there were getting on. After being told they had done a couple of nights and had nothing my confidence wasn’t great.

 

My rig presentation

 

Got to my chosen swim and got the rods straight out & home was set up for the night. After leading around a little I found a harder area between silt beds, I placed both rods 50 yards out 10ft apart and scattered a kilo of Shorelines Red Bull boilies over the spot. I have great confidence in the Shoreline bait as ever since we have been using it we have had some excellent results!

My swin on the bottom bank

Not long after settling down & watching the water for any signs to my surprise my left hand rod was away. After a short battle she was in the net. A 17lb+ Common was more than welcome after having it in my head it might be a bit of a struggle!

I got the rod straight back out on the spot & topped the area up with another ½ kilo of Red Bull and sat back watching the black clouds & bad weather roll in.

After a couple of heavy showers had passed and the evening light was fading away my swinger suddenly buried itself onto the alarm, unfortunately this was only a bream.

I got the rod straight back out and was about to topped up again with a bit of bait when my left hand rod was away again. A little common carp rolled in over the net so I wanted to quickly release it & to get my rod back out on the spot before it was to dark to see where I was casting.  Just as I was letting it go I looked up as my right hand rod tore off. As soon as I connected into this I realised it was a good fish. The fight was immense, every time I gained line it just powered off melting line off my spool. By this time it was dark which didn’t make things any easier.

After about a 25 minute battle the fish was beaten and as she came to the surface I realised I was connected to my target fish ‘Seven Scales’ the nerves kicked in but luckily she swam straight into the net! I peered in the net and rolled her on her side & she laid there showing how beautiful 7 scales, I couldn’t believe it, she looked huge!

 

40lb 4oz & New UK PB

 

I was fishing with my friend Stu and he shouted out with joy ‘you’ve got her!’ A few other lads on the lake could hear what was going on & came round to have a look & congratulate me.

So the moment of truth, was she going to break the 40lb mark?! We knew it was close! I zeroed the scales & lifted her as the needle went round to 40lb 4oz & my new English PB. Over the moon! After getting some photos I released her back. After everyone had gone I sat down and couldn’t believe Id just caught my first UK 40. After sorting myself out I got the rod back out & no longer than 10 minutes later it was off again, this time another small common.

I had 3 more that night including a lovely 22lb 8oz Common. What a brilliant start of 2014, hopefully it will be the first of many monsters this year for myself & Team Noble’s!

 

22lb 8oz Common

 

 Matt Eldridge - Noble's Fishing

NYE - Carping in the storm - Mopley Pond - Martin Noble

New Years Eve
Carping in the storm - Mopley Pond

Martin Noble

I arrived at the lake around 4pm NYE straight from work, the light was fading fast & I wanted to get the bivvy up & rods out  so I could see what I was doing before darkness & the forecasted storm hit! I put 3 rods out, one to my left tight against an over-hanging branch & reeds, my middle rod straight out in front of me tight up against island margins & my right rod up against some dying of reeds from the summer.

I was using a KD ring on all rods with a critically balanced Shoreline Red Bull tipped with a little Quest Baits fluoro Pimple Pop. Each rod also cast with a tiny PVA bag containing 3 crushed boilies & a small quantity of pellet in each mesh bag. I also catapulted about 10 freebie boilies around each spot.



KD Rig with Fluoro Tipper

I quickly got the rest of my gear sorted & quickly made way into my bivvy as the rain was already coming down & getting heavier by the minute also with gusts of winds.

I tucked up into my sleeping bag and cracked open a nice cold beer…it was NYE after all!

The wind was becoming stronger & stronger, the forecast predicated 60mph winds & I was becoming a little concerned about the 2 tall pine trees behind my swim coming down on top of me hoping that I wouldn’t be crushed to death during the night.

Tall Pines behind my swim

An old large oak tree had fallen in winds just a few nights before in a couple of swims up from where I was which didn’t help my nerves!

I must have dozed off as I was awoken by the sound of fireworks in the distance, 12.00am – 2014! I was led in my sleeping bag thinking about everyone in the pubs & parties having a nice time & wondered what I was doing down hear all on my own when suddenly my right hand rod screamed off…fish on!

It didn’t fight particularly hard but when a nice little scaly mirror slipped over the net I was chuffed, not a monster but didn’t matter, it was a beautiful fish & I was off the mark plus my first fish of 2014!

Off the mark! Beautiful scaly Mirror

This put me more in the zone now, at least the fish were feeding & being drunk down the pub didn’t seem to matter anymore.

The gale force wind & rain made it impossible to get a photo so I just got a quick snap of it in the carp mat & got it back.

I recast the best I could in the 60 mph winds, put another handful of freebies out and got back into the bivvy quick. The rest of the night was pretty quiet fish wise, had a few knocks here & there but never led to anything.

Next morning I waited until it was light enough to see & recast all 3 rods with fresh baits & PVA bags along with a handful of freebies around each spot.

The storm was certainly hitting hard now with the rain was coming down hard & the wind nearly taking my bivvy away.

Around 12.30pm my left hand rod swinger slowly raised up to the rod & stopped, line bite I was thinking when suddenly it tore off & the alarm burst into life. I was straight out the bivvy & into something that felt a little better this time.

With the wind & rain battering me in all directions the fish was kiting to my left & right staying down in the deep water.

Eventually it broke the surface and I gently slipped the net under a nice looking mirror. It went 20lb 8oz on the scaled, not a bad start to the year! I managed to get a few self timer pics & slipped her back into the depths.

20lb 8oz Chunky Mirror

Felling very happy I got the rod straight back out on the spot again with a small pva bag and another handful of freebies.

Time for a cuppa & to dry off after getting completely soaked through. As the day was slowly slipping away I decided to do another night even though the conditions were terrible. I don’t get much time out on the bank these days running Noble’s Fishing Store so I thought I would make the most of my limited time, plus I was enjoying some peace & quiet after a manic Christmas. I also had the whole lake to myself which was an added bonus.

Around 3.30pm I had a similar bite on my left hand rod as earlier on, I was out the bivvy in a shot as the rod tip bent round & I hit into another fish. After a short battle a lovely big scaled mirror rolled into the net, a lovely looking carp weighing 16lb 6oz!

16lb 6oz Scaly Mirror

After a few self timer pics I slipped her back & quickly got a fresh rig, bait & pva on & cast straight back on the spot, then back into the bivvy to get shelter.

By the time Id got everything sorted it was already starting to get dark again. I hate the short days & long dark winter nights, it didn’t help with a think layer of dark black clouds.

At 10.20pm I was awoken with my middle rod tearing off, I was straight out the bivvy & struck into another carp. After a 10 minute battle in the darkness a nearly leather looking carp was in the net. It didn’t look to bad in size & when I got it in the sling & on the scales it went round to 17lb 8oz, happy days! Got a few self timer pics & slipped it back to fight another day.

17lb 8oz Leathery Mirror

I got the rod back out to as near to my spot as I could see as it was so dark with another handful of freebies and quickly got back into the warmth of my bivvy as the rain lashed down.

I tied up a few spare rigs and made up a few more PVA bags & was back in the sleeping bag for a bit of kip.

I woke at around 3am to find the clouds had completely cleared away to reveal a sky full of stars, with this also came a sudden drop in the temperature. I made a quick brew & enjoyed the stars for a while before cocooning myself back into my sleeping bag. With the temperature drop it wasn’t looking hopeful for another bite.

No more fish came and I soon had to pack up my gear to be at work for 8am – back to reality. Not a bad start to the year & for time of year! Can’t wait to get back out on the bank.

 

Martin Noble - Noble's Fishing

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