Then there is the mess they make on the bank, yuk

I sat out in the swim as the sun went down looking out over the expanse of open water, knowing that the casts were spot on and that the carp were out there lying up, it was just a matter of tempting one to move a couple of feet to eat a boilie. As the sun dipped down it turned the trees on the far bank to an orangery glow. I suddenly became aware of the diversity of birdlife on what is only a two-acre lake. The swans were there as usual paired up for life but they had been joined the week before by four canada geese. I detest these birds, not because they cause me any problems or that they look ugly but because of the horrible noise they make. Their loud honks cut through the quiet lakeside hush with all the subtlety of a kango drill. Then there is the mess they make on the bank, yuk. They have no place on an English lake surely. Fortunately two had paired up and had driven the other two off, let’s hope the swans drive the other two off as well, the last thing we want is them nesting.The mallard ducks were there, six males and two females, looking cold and forlorn, and then there were the tufted ducks, half dozen of those sitting out in the middle of the lake. They always look as if they are battery operated when they swim, as there is no sign of their legs at all, they just drift across the surface like a toy boat. Finally there was a pair of squabbling coots, such funny birds. Then, as the trees were at their most golden, something caught my eye, a vivid flash of blue. Even over the 70 odd yards the sun highlighted a tiny kingfisher darting down from a branch into the water, once, twice, three times, after its supper. I was there to catch a carp but that sight moments before the sun departed for the day put everything in perspective. If the antis want to know, that is a big part of the reason we go fishing and if there was no fishing then this lake would probably be a rubbish tip and there would be no kingfisher, no coots, no tufties, no ducks, no geese and no swans, but that perhaps is what they really want. The session as a carp fishing exercise was a no event, not a sight or sound of a fish. The frost got into everything; it was not a good night for batteries. First the torch, then the mobile phone and finally one of the buzzers failed due to batteries giving up the will to live. For myself I just kept warm under the brolly. In the morning gloom what looked like a bit of wood had drifted into the swim. Upon closer inspection though I found it was one of the male mallards. Upright but with its head slumped down under water, that last frosty night had obviously just been too much and it had lost it’s fight for life. As I packed up, it’s mates came over and surrounded it, quacking loudly as if to try and wake it up. I found the whole thing rather subduing and sad. As I drove back out of the gate I was very aware of the ordeal the wildlife we briefly share the waters with have to go through every day of their lives. Sentimentality over with, when I returned to the lake a couple of days later it was to a different scenario. The swans had indeed driven off the Canada geese and mild cloudy weather had returned. We had a pub bash at work at lunchtime so I was in a good mood and well confident, if a little worse for wear, but it was not long before the PVA bags full of trout pellets and crushed boilies, together with bottom baits, had thudded down onto the silt half way out from the open water swim. I had a chat to Geoff before he went on his way again and put the brolly up, as rain was in the air, and settled down on the bedchair. What seemed like only two minutes had passed before I was at the rods after a short sharp take. I could not remember striking but I was soon back in the world of the living with a carp thudding around in the deep water. It was soon on top and in the darkness it did not look very big but it was fighting well. However it did not do anything too dangerous so was in the net before long. Leaving it in the net I set up the scales and sling and hauled the beast out. It was mirror, one I recognised, but at 18lb 11oz. It was up in weight significantly from its summer weight. The hook was well imbedded in its bottom lip and surprisingly there were no leaches on its body so they really must be waking up. I put it back in the sling and put it in the water whilst the camera was set up. It behaved for its portrait and soon was swimming off back out into the lake, like a grey submarine. I had to set up the whole rig as somehow the line had got round the back of the reel, so it was well past 7pm before the bait was back in position. It was really mild with no wind. As I looked out from the brolly again, I was confident but as I had never had more than one take during the winter from here I guessed that was all the action. However at 10pm I was woken again by a flying take on the same rod. This was a different fight completely. From the moment the hook was set to netting the carp did not give up, fighting really hard. I was expecting a big carp and as it finally rolled into the net I could see a deep flank. Setting up scales, sling and mat again, I was pleased with the effort it took as I hauled the carp back out of the water. Again the hook was well in. I gazed down at a lovely dark brown mirror with a huge tail, no wonder if fought so hard. On the scales it was the right side of 20lb, at 21lb 3oz, a gorgeous winter carp. Again it behaved for the camera and before putting it back, I had a really good look at this fantastic looking carp. It’s a shame it was not daylight but the torchlight revealed it in its splendour anyway. Again, like a grey ghost it sauntered off into the lake. The recast was made considerably quicker this time and I was wondering if this was going to be one of those magic nights as it seemed to be getting warmer and warmer. However, such is the way of things that was the last of the action, not even a dawn take as sometimes happens at this lake, but I can not complain. A brace of winter carp, yes please. A double helping of mushrooms then, the bloke in the café thought I was mad!!

Have fun!