August Bumper Blog Bonanza!

August saw me camping again. And a few sessions with my nephew. And his PB Carp!

My nephew, Harrison, is currently on summer holidays, and as I don't work Mondays, we went to Birch House Lakes and fished the Horseshoe Lake.

It was really quiet, and we found a peg big enough for two, with some lilies, reeds and a small island to fish to. We both float-fished red maggots, and I fished my 12' cane rod and Mitchell Match reel.

When Harrison goes fishing with his friends, they use a 'point system' based on size. Harrison had landed 9 1-point Roach and Gudgeon before I had even scored. I soon caught up with some 1-point Roach, and after getting to 11 points, I started to lose count, but Harrison kept note of his score, and suddenly announced he was on 23 points!

I was then back in the game when I landed a small Carp and was awarded 5 points. Harrison then caught three small Carp from near the lilies, which were 5 pointers, and Harrison won. I never worked out what size fish would have been a 3 or 4 points, and why Gudgeon and small Roach were 1 point each, but never mind. Harrison caught his biggest fish to date, a Carp of just over a pound.

The week after, I packed my camping gear and headed to Blackbrook Lodge Campsite near Turnditch, Derbyshire, for two nights. There are two small ponds and a larger pond, stocked with Carp and Roach.

Once pitched up near the larger pond, I headed to the bank with my Lee of Redditch cane rod, a Mitchell Match reel and float-fish red maggots and sweetcorn on a porcupine quill. Some children were catching Carp weighing a few pounds on the opposite bank, and a chap fly-fishing on the surface was also catching Carp.

I threw in a handful of maggots and the fish rolled on the surface, so I shallowed up my float and swung out to the baited area. Within seconds I'd got a bite, and they came thick and fast all afternoon, a-fish-a-chuck!

In the evening my partner came with sustenance in the form of fish and chips, and we sat by the lake, mug of wine in hand, watched the fish topping, and the Ducks, Geese and Chickens looking for leftovers.

The next day started early-ish with a cup of coffee and a cooked breakfast, as all mornings should. Once fed and watered, I headed to the shallow end of the pond, and a handful of maggots and sweetcorn got the fish rolling again. The sun came out as I sat on the bank, landing fin-perfect Carp and Roach, listening to the breeze rustling in the trees.

After a few hours, I went back to the tent, made a cup of tea, then returned to swim for the afternoon. I listened to '100 Greatest England Cricketing Moments' on my iPod. Ah, the sound of leather on willow on an English summer's afternoon!

The evening consisted of hot dogs and wine, and a chat with a few other campers. The next morning I prepared another cooked breakfast and packed up between light showers before heading home.

On August Bank Holiday Monday, Harrison joined me at Birch House Lakes. This time we fished the big lake in the hope of a big Carp. We both fished on the lead with SPAM on a hair rig, a few rod lengths out. I fished a Mitchell 300 reel I'd reconditioned a few years ago on a Golden Green 10' fibreglass Carp rod. Harrison fished his carbon fibre, 10', telescopic rod and modern reel.

After a slow start watching other people catching, and a few hook-pulls from Bream and Carp, we both landed some nice Bream. Then I landed a Common Carp about 5lbs. Spirits raised and another Bream or two later, Harrison hooked a fish we both thought was a Bream. Suddenly the fish went out toward the middle of the lake, turned and headed for the reeds. He put enough pressure on to bring the fish back towards us, and he said it felt like the biggest fish he'd ever hooked. After a few more tense minutes, he slid a lovely Common Carp over the edge of the net, weighing in at 4½lbs, his new PB!