I quickly whacked out a single hookbait again and got back under shelter

However the weather plotted against me and as the rain fell in buckets, I stayed in the pub. As daylight began to fade I arrived at the lake in a drier patch of weather, enough time to ponder and then get round to a swim that I had done well from when all else was failing. As I got the gear from the car though rain started to fall again so I hastily set up and cast single hook baits only out to two areas I knew were free of weed and had produced for me before. Then, up with the oval shelter and I sat back listening to the rainfall as the last light faded. The rain continued to fall spasmodically all night and not much moved but around 3am I was woken by a short take on the rod that was cast to the centre of the lake just off a small island. When I reached the rod the indicator had dropped back but as I watched it jerked up again so I struck immediately. There was something on the end and after a few moments it took a bit of line. Definitely a carp, so I took it easy trying to gauge where it was in the blackness, drizzle still pouring down. Finally I saw it break surface out in the gloom just beyond the surface weed about 15 yards out. I let off a bit of pressure as it was close to the weed but all it did was kite round to the right and surged through the other line. To avoid a commotion I took the other rod off the rest and threw into a nearby bush well out of the way.The carp by now was in the weed and solid, so I took the opportunity to clear the two lines which in the end was easier than I thought and wound down to the carp expecting it to have gone. However with the rod under full compression I felt a kick through the rod and the carp broke through the weed on my side. It was just a matter of keeping it on top now and forcing it into the net. The best laid plans often fail but this time despite it coming in with a ton of weed the carp was soon in the net. With a sigh of relief I left it in the net in the margins and got the mat and sling/scales ready. Back at the carp I tore the weed out to find a flank of a common carp. Now I like common carp, especially big ones but on this lake I had caught them all before, big and small so I knew I would not be gazing at a new fish to me. On the mat I could see it was a fish with a bump on its nose, one I had caught twice before, once last summer and once back in February, this time it weighed 21lb 12oz. The smallest weight of the three captures, but all the carp in the lake were well down in weight so I was not surprised.The drizzle was still falling so I took just a couple of quick photos before taking it up the bank to clearer water where it powered back out. I quickly whacked out a single hookbait again and got back under shelter. The next thing I remember was waking to a strange looking lake, it was still dark but the vegetation was sparkling as a bright moon shone down, at last the rain had cleared. A glance at the watch revealed it was nearly time for work so I sat back and reflected on how many good fish I had caught from just whacking out a single hookbait to an area that was fished by most. The carp had become used to finding food there but had become suspicious of beds of bait so a single bait there was a good bet, the carp would think it was just one that had been left behind. It does not always or often work, but when scratching time is here it’s worth a go, it was this time anyway. Before long I was back out into the big wide world with a capture behind me at last. Two days later it was still raining but by the time I arrived things had dried up and I found a quiet lake, so I looked around. I found the carp all over the place drifting around as they do when the water level rises a bit with the introduction of loads of rainwater. It was a matter of finding spots for them to feed on to get the best from this situation but the margins were still not being visited. I fancied the same area I had caught the common from last time out so I went round the other side of the lake and cast to it from there. The other rod went out into the silt, more a winter spot so I put a pop-up on. This time I did not risk the single hookbait idea but went back to PVA bags. All night long carp moved over to my right in amongst the thick pads but when I had cast around there the evening before all I found was thick bottom weed so I decided not to fish there despite remembering the numerous captures that had come from the area during previous Octobers. It would though be an area I would be looking closely at over the next couple of months. The night was quiet and clear and not a lot happened but when I packed up I was looking forward not back. With October and November stretching out ahead of me it was a feeling of anticipation not dread that accompanied me. Winter carp fishing, I love it!

Have fun!