I was still buzzing after the Carthegena social.Talking about carping for 3 days straight and being out on the bank had brought thoughts of the "Big Pit" to the forefront of my mind once again. However, that particular lake on my club ticket has a closesd season, but luckily a small gravel pit that the club owns was being kept open for the run up til June. I just had to get out, but i didnt fancy the thought of fishing a lake i hadnt had much experience with, especially since i was only going to be doing a night or two before I left the area to go back up to Uni. I was sorting my gear out as it was still a bit damp from its last use. I ran indoors and checked the weather forecast. Pressure gradually dropping, winds changing direction to moderate Westerlys with a bit of rain. If anything was going to stir them into feeding, it would be this.I planned to get down there the following morning, but me being me,woke up a bit late. After a quick chat with matey in the tackle shop, i had my night ticket and got down the lake at about 1:00.
I whacked on the polaroids and started my trek around the lake. The first swim i came to was right in the corner where the wind was starting to blow. It had a nice small reedlined bay, and a treeline that was fairly inaccessible, as the next swim along was the last before the start of a "no fishing area". It looked to good, especially with this wind, that i felt picking up gradually while i stood there and watched for signs of activity. I dumped my water can and kept walking around. I didnt see anything significant til i got to the other side of the lake, which is effectively split into two halves by a big island. There were a few swirls and splashes, but nothing that seemed carpy. I chatted to some guys who where down that end, and one of them had had a fish the night before, but it didnt really seem right being down that end. I got back to the first swim and the wind was really pushing into the reedy corner. My mind was made up.
The first rod went out just off the reeds. I cast out a lead and felt a nice smooth donk onto silt. "Lovely" i thought to myself.I really try not to fish to gravel in some circumstances, as i feel it can be a bit blatant, and i think theres more chance of a carp slipping up when feeding in silt. I had the rig a few feet off the reeds. Long rig, with a 2 inch hair, simple knotless knot, nothing fancy, just a bit of silicone to have the hair off the shank, just as the bend starts. Around that i put about 50 baits, with a single hookbait on the hair. The second rod went out infront of me.I had a quick marker around. For the first couple of cast the marker came back clean, just "tap tap tap" of gravel all the way in. A cast to my left had me in some silt around 40 yards out,and as much of the lake bed seemed to be plain gravel, i was happy to put a rod in it. I considered the margins, as i had heard from several people that they fish well, and i have always found the margins to be the best feature on any lake. But this time i went against this. i reasoned that the carp wouldnt be moving around so much, and unless they were already in the area, they wouldnt be moving directly to the area under my rod tips. The reedy bay just seemed to appealing.
I set up shop and stettled down, making endless cups of tea and bacon sarnies, and also cracked out a few beers. It felt good to be back on the bank.The wind was started to get strong, and waves were bashing into my rod tips making my alarms bleep every so often. Around 10:30 that night i had a few liners, and im sure the lead was moved a few inches. I sat there getting more and more excited. I just knew something was going to happen. Around 11:30 it did ,a few bleeps had my shoes on, and i grabbed my jumper. Althought the wind was warmish,it was blowing so fast that it made me pretty cold. I wasnt to bothered however, when it absolutely ripped off !The fight was a slight let down compared to the expectations of the intial run, but what ever was attatched took a few yards every now and then. I soon had my prize on the surface and the wind and waves lapped her gently into my net.I could see it was a common from the moon light glistening off its perfectly patterned scales.I soon had her on the mat and inspected the hookhold. NAILED, right in the bottom lip, about two inches back. Those long hairs and light leads certainly do the business. On the scales at 15lbs 11oz, but the weight was irrelevant. My first carp of 2008, well chuffed!
I slipped her back into the cold water and set about putting the rod back out, happy as a pig in....
For the rest of the night i drifted in and out of sleep, waking up with every strong gust that threatened to launch me and my battered brolly into the cloudy nights sky, or i was woke by what i thought was a torch, but upon peering out of the bivvy i saw it was just the full moon sticking its face out of the clouds, lighting up the whole lake. The trees came out of the shadows, dancing with the wind - quite a pleasant if not eriee feeling. Around 2:30 i was woken to another few bleeps on the reedy bay rod. It suddenly ripped off.."yes!" i thought as i lept out the bag. My plan had worked, and the fish were moving into it.However, it was not to be, and as i lifted into it i felt no resistance. Nothing. Slightly gutted i put the rod back out with a fresh hookbait, and went back to sleep. Unfortunately, i wasnt woken again, and the rest of the night past uneventfully.
I woke up and had some breakfast and a cuppa. The sun was out and the wind still strong. I wanted to stay another night after the action, but all tickets were taken, and the lake began to fill with other anglers, so i decided to head off home.
I decided to check the forecast again for the next few days, but high pressure and bitterly cold northelies were forecast.I may go out again this week, but heading back to Uni soon is going to be a right pain now that the fire is re-lit. Not that it matters..its not going to go out. Infact, i went out and got a few bits to help lighten my kit,and have started creating a notebook of the "Big Pit", so that i can right down every little detail to help build up a picture of the way those elusive big pit carp work. Today i was buzzing,and after a slap up Easter Roast at my Grans, i headed off up to Nutsey to see a mate, chatting about carping over endless roll-ups and cups of tea. Can't wait to get back onto the bank. Bring on June 16th!
No pics , which is a bit annoying,although i did take one on my film camera of her on the mat, so we shall see how that comes out!
...now i've gotta start laying off the
booze and saving some money for bait and tackle 
