5-4-3-2-1 Carron Row in Numbers

The day started off on lake 4. I had only fished this lake once before, without Toby, in February, catching my first ever winter tench on float fished breadflake. It was now the beginning of August and the pool looked alive and rather like glass in the still warm air. The surface was covered with a thin film of seeds, flotsam and dust from the many days of dry weather we'd had previously. The fresh green shades of spring already turning slowly darker as the summer heated the ground around and parched the plants and trees. Our plan was to stalk around the complex looking for signs of feeding fish and to angle wherever we saw a chance. As usual though, a little too much tackle was taken as we struggle to leave things at home, always thinking 'we may just need it' The only thing we had forgotten was our camera. We decided to use my mobile phone, not the best choice but better than going back home to collect the proper one.

Fishing in the corner swim by the second car park, we baited up with maggots float fished on one rod and luncheon meat ledgered on the second. With the depth checked, out went some loose feed and we sat in the warm shade of the bushes and made our first casts. I was 'in charge' of the ledger outfit and Toby was to take control of the float rod. Casting the luncheon meat to some adjacent reeds on the right of the swim allowed us room to fish the float rod out in front where we had already seen some Rudd topping. Not long did we have to wait for our first visitor to the bank. Expecting a Rudd, we were pleasantly surprised to see a small Perch come flipping towards our net. This first Perch was followed by more of the same and some Rudd, beautifully golden in the strong summer light. All the while the ledger rod remained still. Twenty minutes into our adventure the float dipped again and Toby's face lit up as the biggest Perch he had ever seen came to the net. It weighed about 12oz, not big by most peoples standards, but Toby is 8 and although he's caught many Perch, they are normally of the small, worm swallowing type. This was different. Its scales were rough to the touch, its dorsal fin stood proud and he was amazed.

And still I was yet to receive a bite! As the sun moved on its daily path across the sky, the bush that had sheltered us so willingly was now of little help. A move was on the cards. We reeled in our rods and went in search of a new challenge. Having too much tackle to carry about we decided to go looking and then when a chance was discovered, we could return and collect what tackle we needed.

Behind our swim was a path leading down through the trees to lake 3. Through long sedges and brambles we pushed, reaching the waters edge. A lovely quiet bay area filled with lilies and carp, lots of lovely carp. Some of the fish were big, very big (for us at least!) and made Toby's eyes nearly pop out. They were slowly cruising around just under the surface, mouthing at bits of fluff and debris floating on the surface. Time for some surface fishing with crust. We went back for the rod, but for some reason forgot to bring the net down with us.

After a few bits of crust had been taken by carp to well over twenty pounds my eyes were also nearly popping out! This should be fun. Casting was difficult due to the low branches so I was given the task of getting our bait out. Ten minutes passed and the carp did as they do, taking all baits except the one with the hook in. We were using Toby's new carp rod that he got for his birthday in April, coupled with 15 pound line due to the many lilly beds in this part of the lake. It seemed that they could see the line and were spooking away at the last minute so a plan was needed. Looking into the nearest lilly bed, movement could be seen. A carp was underneath taking small bits of crust delicately and almost unseen. This could be our chance. Gently, a small piece of crust was lowered into a tiny gap in the middle of the lillies and within seconds up came some big lips and off shot our line. I had not even had time to pass Toby the rod. I struck and held on as the carp dived for cover and then we realised that the net was up the track. Off Toby ran, returning within a minute and I passed him the rod with a large mirror carp attached and splashing on the surface within a few feet of the bank. I slid the net in and in she went. The whole thing, from cast to landing had taken less than three minutes.

Wow was all we could both say. The fish was smaller than most of the fish we had observed earlier, but still bigger than we could have hoped for. It was also Toby's first ever mirror carp! On the scales she went 10lb 8oz and was a really beautiful specimen. Big randomly scattered scales and a wonderful rich golden colour. Without the real camera we tried to make the best of a bad situation and took a couple of shots with my phone though they didn't cone out very well.

 

Our next job was to get the kettle on and have a bite to eat so we headed back to lake 4 and our base. I made the tea whilst Toby caught more Rudd and ate some sandwiches. We decided to make our way to lake 1 next as we hadn't fished this lake before. I had read of some of the fish there including a couple of Ghost Carp and some lovely Tench. Leaving some of the tackle in the car, we settled into a swim on the car park bank. Here, we had room to cast and could fish to a small lilly bed to our left. The ledger rod was cast to the right of the swim, towards a large overhanging tree that we had seen a Ghost Carp cruise under as we were quietly walking round choosing where to fish. We were, at least we hoped, in the right area. This lake is small, less than an acre in size and looks the least interesting one on the complex, at least from a features point of view. However, sat in our swim, it had a charm that at first sight was not so obvious.

We were completely at ease and happy with our lot already so were not too worried about catching anything. At least, I wasn't! Toby was casting close to the lillies just out in front and to the left of our position, using a combination of maggots and sweetcorn. The loose feed was slowly trickled in and it wasn't long before the first bite arrived. For the next hour or two Roach, Rudd and Perch came steadily to Toby's net but of the Carp and Tench there was no sign. We did see the Ghost Carp on several occasions, but it was cruising aimlessly about in and out of the overhanging trees to our right. I was using a Halibut boilie on the ledger rod having thrown about a dozen broken and hole baits into the area hoping that this may draw the Ghostie down to investigate. For another hour we sat, but nothing more stirred except to the float rod. At least Toby was doing well. He was having a great day and suggested we move to Lake 2 so he could catch a fish from all four lakes in one day. Who was I to say no!

Lake 2 has been good to us since we joined the club. Toby caught his first Rudd and Tench from here, as well as his first Eel and double figure Carp so to say he likes the lake would be obvious. Most swims were taken on this lake so we chose the disabled swim. We had fished this swim once before, casting to the left and along the reed line, catching a few Tench on luncheon meat so this was again the plan of attack. Toby is a very calm chap when it comes to fishing, always being positive and aware of what is around him. I like to get him to read the swim and water in front of him and get him to chose where he thinks he should cast and why. He learns quickly and takes on board what others are doing and what seems to work. However, his biggest asset seems to be luck. He just seems to have that knack. I may suggest something, a method, a swim or a feature and he knows whether or not to follow advice or make his own decisions based on how he feels

'I think I’ll cast there Dad' and he does, and catches!

This particular swim has a lot of open water in front and a lovely mini bay to the right with a large overhanging bush blocking off the next swim along, but he had seen a chap fishing the left hand margin on a previous visit and as I said, he pays attention to what is going on around him and pays attention to his surroundings. He knew that Tench like reed beds, he'd learnt from watching fishing dvd’s at home and reading the many books we have on all things fishy. And how right he was!

We settled in and lightly baited up with a few pieces of luncheon meat and he made his first cast. I was again using the ledger rod, though this time I was using luncheon meat also. He had caught fish from all three other lakes and I was still waiting for a bite. I think I shall get him to give me some advice on our next trip!

After a little more than 5 minutes his rod was bent into a hard fighting fish that we both thought might just be a Carp. Again and again it made deep runs, taking line and making the clutch on his reel click repeatedly with that wonderful sound of a hard fighting fish. After a couple of minutes a Tench surfaced, though far from beaten. And a good one it looked too. A further couple of minutes passed before I slipped the net under the biggest Tench Toby had ever caught. Weighing 3lb 12oz it was to most a small fish but to us it was a record.

Another record on a wonderful day. Posing for the photos, Toby’s kept saying 'Oh Wow, oh wow' he was one happy chap! We fished on until sunset and by the end he had caught two more slightly smaller but no less wonderful Tench and a bigger than usual Rudd, whilst I had failed to get even a bite to my rod, on four different lakes!

Whilst talking on the way home we realised that we had managed the 54321 of Carron Row.

5 Different types of fish – Mirror Carp, Tench, Roach, Rudd and Perch.

4 Lakes fished with fish caught from each.

3 New personal bests for Toby – Mirror Carp, Tench and Perch

2 Very happy fishermen

1 New species – Mirror carp

What a day!