September Ton Up!
After weeks of planning the day for the off was finally here. Jason and I loaded the car and set off to Dover to meet up with the others. After a bit of banter we moved off onto the ferry where the banter continued and our plans for the week were discussed. We were going to start by fishing in three pairs and see how things went. Jason and I had decided to give it the big one and bait heavy from the start taking around 60kg of boiles, 75kg of pellet and 50kg of parti-blend. We thought this would give us enough options for the week. I would like to say a special thanks to the boys at ‘Premier Baits’ for helping out at the last minute as a few of the lads were let down with their bait and the premier boys stepped in and did a great job as always.
After a good drive down and a couple of quick stops, we arrived at Ian’s house. We were greeted with a cup of tea and a quick run down with what had happened on the lake the previous week. We made our way round the corner to view the lake for the first time, it looked spot on and already a few fish were showing themselves for us. Jason and I decided to fish a big double peg on the far bank which gave us plenty of water to work with. Up with the bivvy’s then the rods came out. Now to start with the baiting up; we decided to put pellet and parti-blend out and keep topping up with bolie so after a couple of hours spodding we could finally sit back and start to relax. Almost straight away fish were crashing over our baited spots and it wasn’t long before I had the first fish of the week. It was a nice twenty and a welcoming start. Jason started catching a few next and by the first night we had about 6 fish between us. The biggest being a 35lb mirror off Jason’s rods. After more baiting up and a couple of beers we got our heads down but not for long; the fish had returned to our baited spots ad were getting their heads down big time. After two nights in this swim we had a total of 22fish, 11 doubles, 8 twenty’s and 3 thirty’s all of the thirty’s going to Jason; the biggest being 38lb 4oz, a fish with lots of growing room which am sure will grow much bigger. We decided to move further down the lake and fish a couple of swims towards the dam wall end. I wasn’t getting amongst the bigger fish which I wanted and Jason wanted to catch more consistently which Nick and Jim were doing down at the dam wall end on the opposite bank.
We helped each other move the kit to our chosen swims. I put out 3 baits with P.V.A sticks of pellets to different areas to see if I could find a few spots before baiting up. Jason was able to walk along the dam bank and bait by spoon the tree line and margins. He started catching from the off which lead me to get the spod back out and give it the big one at 60yards and fish all 3 rods on a large baited area. I started catching but was well behind Jason and Nick opposite for numbers of fish obviously they had an edge being able to bait up from the bank but both were fishing on the top form and going fish for fish. After a couple of days of this I knew I had to up my game. I started baiting every hour day and night the spod rod was smoking from the hammer I was giving it. If I had a fish I would bait up straight away then on the hour again I made up spare rigs so I could quickly get bait straight out to the mark..
On the Thursday morning Jason came over to tell me he had 4 fish during the night. It was hammering it down with rain so we had a quick cup of tea and he went back to his rods. I started the baiting campaign again which was staring to work for me and a steady steam of fish was now staring to grace my net. Jason was back in my swim to tell me he was having it off big style and had another 5 fish since our cup of tea. We went back to his swim where we stayed for the next few hours getting soaking wet through drinking tea watching his rods rattle off one after another; fantastic fishing which I will never forget, he was really on the money and deserved all his fish. This spurred me on to give it the big on again 10kg of bait was spodded out to my 60yards spot. All three rods dispatched and I waited for action. After half an hour fish were fizzing right over my baited spot. Game on again. I started catching fish regular again whilst it was slowing for the others. The large amount of bait and regular baiting was paying off. Friday morning arrived and it was my birthday, I was going to have a good day, I just knew it. I was up early baiting again on the hour, every hour and after every fish I was starting to feel knackered but I knew I had to continue. The runs started almost straight away 20 after 20 were coming my way then at last my first French 30. 35lb 4oz. I was well pleased with my self and everybody shared my joy. Cheers lad’s it ment a lot. Then just like buses I had another 30; it really was a good birthday. I was very tired by the end of the day but equally happy. I had taken 2 thirty’s and 7 twenty’s in a day and was well happy. During our last night/morning I took another thirty and three twenty’s. What a week of fishing great lake and even better company. I was shattered but well worth all the hard work. Can’t wait till next year when we give it the proper big one. Jason and I had hit a ton of fish.
Totals – 111
Phil – 50 Fish
Jason – 61 Fish
11x30’s 51x20’s
49xdoubles
TOTAL WEIGHT – 2386lb
Thanks to Ian the lake owner and the other 5 lads that made this a trip of a lifetime!
Phil the birthday boy!
