Danny & Danny's Viver Adventure!
Part 1 - Danny's Story - 55 Carp - 7 x 30lb, 20 x 20lb, 28 Doubles
We arrived at Vivier right on time at 10am Saturday 20th September after Leaving Manchester at 3pm the day before. The journey seemed to fly by even though we were both extremely exited about the week ahead. I have been carp fishing for approx 9 years and have fished Vivier twice before. However Danny 2 - aka Bassy has only been carp fishing for approx 6 months!
The plan for the week was for Bassy to break his very respectable uk p.b of 20lb and for me - well having fished vivier before I knew what to expect so just being there was enough for me!!!
Having met Ian at the house for a brew and a reminisce of the last time I saw him (the week United won the european cup!) we filled the boot with Ultraplex Boilies and pellets and were on track for the lake.
A quick walk round and we settled into the middle peg and dam end peg of the far side of the lake. I knew the dam end would fish well so I sneaked in there and put Bassy in the middle of the lake - just incase the fish were on the move I wanted to give him the best chance of consitently catching (honest) Anyway I think he will thank me for the rest of his life for nicking the best peg!!
We couln't get set up quick enough and with rods in I only had to wait about half an hour for the first run - a small mirror of around 12lb. By the end of the Saturday I finished with 7 fish and even managed a 31lb mirror to get the trip off to a great start!
Sunday and Monday prooved difficult for me to hold the fish and I only caught 3 more - it may have been the weather or that I didnt put enough bait in - or simply just that I'm rubbish! I started to do the old trick of going through the motions - have i got the right rig? should i try another bait? is my hair to long?- no jokes please bassy! But I really should've had more faith in the lake and the sound advice that Ian always gives!
A change of wind, and plenty more bait along the margin saw me catch 10 fish on Tuesday, including 5 over 20lb and what would be my biggest of the week at 36lb - well chuffed! I could relax again!
Wednesday was similar again and I had another 8 fish including 2 over 20lb and 2 more thirties at 31lb and 34lb.
By Thursday morning I'd got into a good rythym of feeding the swin, letting it rest then fishing it hard, regular casts and staying up at all hours to make sure I was onto the fish whenever they moved in. I finished thursday with another 14 carp including more over 20lb and another 30lb. It also included a very nice common carp of 23lb.
On Friday morning something very special happened to Bassy, which I will let him explain in his own story - which left me wanting to fish even harder in an attempt to not be shown up! talk about pupil showing the teacher! I caught 13 more carp on Friday of which 8 were over 20lb and the biggest was 32lb.
Then no sooner had I got things really going in the swin and Saturday arrived and it was time to go - GUTTED!!! the worst thing about vivier, and I must really warn everyone who comes here to fish about this - YOU WONT WANT TO LEAVE!!!! I did however manage to sneak out 1 more before we left - it weighed 30.5lb! not a bad way to end the trip!
We packed up, said our goodbyes to the lake that had been our home for the last 7 days and made our way over to Ian's for one last brew.
My total tally for the week was 55 Carp including 7 x 30lb plus, 20 x 20lb plus and 28 doubles.
I seriously cannot describe how wonderful and magical this place really is and I will certainly be back again as soon as possible. Ian has built a truely stunning and very special fishery and his hard work can be seen all around the lake and in the catch reports you see listed on here. If you listen to his advice you can't really go wrong and he will go out of his way the whole week to make you feel welcome- nothing is too much trouble. I've made very special memories on this lake with my Dad previously and this week Bassy - and I've also made a very good friend in Ian.
We'll be back next year to hire the lake exclusively - I'm already counting down the days
Tight Lines - and thanks again Ian
Danny Adshead
