Diary Entry

...ught was probably a bream. But all hell broke loose.  This big carp took me all around the lake, and tested my new Shimano Classic Barbel rod to the max. I prayed my knot would hold, and bullied it out of the (many) snags. After half an hour it finally gave up and came to the surface. It was massive, and I was shaking with excitement. It was 15lbs, but looked much larger. A beautiful fish. Then, tired and happy, I did one last cast, back in the original swim, and bang, another 14lb carp. I went home exhausted and very happy.

.... Anyway, I did see something strange at the edge of the water, underneath my feet pratically. Earlier on I had caught a small branch and reeled it in. It was covered in fish spawn so I threw it back in. A short while after, white clouds of some substance came bubbling to the surface. i think it was a carp fertilizing the eggs on the branch that I threw in. Right at the end of the day I had a screaming run on my carefully placed ledger near the island, but after a short fight it came off the hook. I quickly got the lead right back on spot, and almost immediately got a...

... ponds. But you could see dozens of huge carp sunbathing all over the lake, but none of them were interested in my bait.I spent most of the day sunbathing, and enjoying watching these massive carp swim about. They seem to be almost tame down this way, not at all shy to be seen on the surface. Weird.

...emead Fisheries near Tavistock. It is a very nice fishery, with a great tackle shop, and you can fish until dusk.In the evening I caught two smallish carp and really enjoyed myself. I think this will become my local water. The carp, yet again, seemed almost tame, and sunbathed on the surface.

... medium sized carp for a few seconds before their mad dash for the reeds got them off the hook. Very frustrating. I stayed until it was nearly dark (about half six) in desperation to catch a fish, any fish, so I could try out the fish catch app. Typical. I really must get myself some surface fishing gear. I think I need to adapt and be more flexible in my approach, and try out different methods. The only thing of note to happen, was a giant rat flew out of the bushes at me. Nice. I shit myself. Try again next week !

...a couple of hours at this swim with only skimmer bites, I decided to move to the other end of the lake, to another known hot spot, on the back of the cold wind. It looked reasonably promising, and I caught three small fish. While I was sat there, I noticed a dead fish floating on the surface, and recalled that some guy had told me that the lake had an otter problem. As the light faded I started to get bites from carp, and had a couple on briefly before they spat the hook. Then I had an almighty take, the fish making a dash for the tree that I was fishing against. It felt big ...

... landed (with an audience behind me) a nice, very hard fighting, 9lb common. I almost immediately caught a big tench, by far the biggest tench I have ever caught at marsh Farm. Later on I foul hooked a 12lb common near the island, and it took for ever to get in. I need to get into surface fishing soon, as there were a lot of carp cruising on the surface. It seems that the carp have got used to the hot weather and started feeding again.

...t quite small, and was heading rapidly for the island. I managed to turn it, and then it came at me at speed. After a while it slowed down, started plodding, and then felt heavier. Eventually, it dawned on me that it was quite a big one. When it began to tire it rolled over at the surface, and I gasped. It was huge, and could even be close to 20lb. As it turned out it was just over 18lb and I was ectstatic, and shaking. I really needed a cigarette. All afternoon I was getting bites, missing them, and getting snagged by large carp. Then, at about 7pm I finally landed anothe...