Some immortal words from Mr. Isaac Walton…and some that we should all adhere to from time to time?

After a particularly rough week, it was these words that sunk into my subconscious. I had had to endure the more pathetic side of human nature the week prior to the Texas trip and had wanted to disappear into the warm embrace of a Carp lake. I won’t bore you with the details regarding the actual trip…suffice to say it didn’t go that smoothly and we were lucky to arrive in one piece…those pilots do get a little aggressive on the landings with a good crosswind sometimes!!

The venue was Town Lake and the occasion was to search for some of the large dark shadows that we had spotted cruising within the depths on the previous trip. This particular stretch of the lake had a certain feel that was very special. It almost resembled a lagoon with its dense bank-side foliage, deep blue water and soaring Eagles. With the exception of the Eagles it reminded me of my time as a child, when at age 5 I first discovered the local river in the English Countryside, where a good size roach was a monster and my fishing career began with a jam-jar and a net after minnows. It is from that moment that I became hooked for life.

This particular stretch of the lake had the same awe-inspiring effect as that first encounter. The presence of man was luckily kept to a minimum …nature, and as we would later discover some monster carp, appeared grateful.

As we glided up to the swim we turned off the trolling motor of the boat and reached the far bank. There they were once again, dark silent shadows gliding at the top of a ledge in an area that would require an accurate ‘heave’ of the terminal tackle. Too far and you were on the far bank caught up in an overhanging tree and not far enough and slightly off kilter would see you tussling with a boulder the size of a mini cooper! Definitely something to be pondered.

We dropped some free offerings around the general area of the swim. The idea was to keep the fish searching amongst a thin layer of loose feed consisting of particle seeds, some special pellets and the occasional bonanza of strategically placed boilies!

The tackle for the occasion had to be sturdy and up to the job at hand…I have often heard argument from those that view heavier tackle as ‘unsporting’…I completely disagree with the concept…unsporting is using tackle where you have little chance of landing the fish due to the tools being inadequate. I think a little common sense should come into play in selecting the right tools for the appropriate situation… such a sweeping statement may be a little shortsighted? This meant 15lb line with heavier leads than the usual 2-3 oz (the ‘flow’ of this lake once the dam opened would also require the use of a heavier lead), shock leaders and lead core for the sand bars and boulders. The rods for this trip were Nick Buss ACS 13ft PB’s that are a joy to use, and really come into their own playing a large fish at distance. I won’t go anywhere without Krystons’ Mantis gold and my K9 hooks, so with the addition of my bait…I was ready!

The bait of choice was Mainlines excellent High leakage Pineapple boilies that I had fished with at Texas previously. I am convinced that they can pull carp from a puddle and I won’t travel to a lake without a few at the ready. This trip proved that the confidence I have in them was not misplaced and I was rewarded beyond my wildest dreams!

Both David and Wayne, my fishing companions, were either side of my peg…we were able to cover the whole area between the three of us and once rods were in it was time to settle back have a cup of coffee and watch the wildlife. It really was a picture perfect setting with butterflies and bees surrounding us. As the sun rose higher in the sky the warm rays began to penetrate the water and we sat like lizards warming ourselves in morning heat.

The large gravel bar could be clearly observed by David’s’ swim. It forged out into the lake from the shore, in about 4 feet of water, and then gradually sloped away to the mysterious depths below. We new of a few humongous boulders at about 80 yards and then the magical shelf residing at the 90-yard mark. Wayne had a partially submerged tree to his right, that would be see the unfortunate loss of a monster later in the session.

I was able to use three natural markers on the opposite bank to cast my lines. One at around 20 yards and the other two cast to the far shelf. I sat and munched on an apple. The sky was clear and the smell of the foliage in the morning sun seeped through the air invitingly. It wasn’t long before a large fish crashed in the center of the lake. It was one of those moments where you happen to be looking at the right patch of water when you see the fish completely airborne…before the splash. The sound echoed around the high cliffs and we all sat and looked at each other…the sign of a mid thirty completely launching itself to bid us a good morning was welcomed.

The fish were already in the swim and onto the bait as they made their presence known to us. I looked upon this as a sign from the fish Gods and had wonderful premonition of one of the Lakes Royal family falling to our lines .It wasn’t long before Dave’s rod went off and we witnessed him catch a beautiful golden common of around 27lbs. It was a stunning looking fish in perfect condition, as are all of the Town Lake residents. After weighing and releasing her to the lake we settled back in anticipation, knowing that once the Town Lake fish are onto a bait, the sport could be something quite special.

My center rod was the next to go with a small knock (I saw the line go taught) and then a slow and steady run. I pulled into the fish and felt the solid resistance of a good Carp on the end. She took some line and headed straight for the boulders then gradually slowed as the rods did their job. After a few minutes the fish came in at a shade over twenty pounds. A great start that inspired me to persevere with my initial thought of keeping two rods on the far shelf.

It wasn’t long before David was into his second fish…and so it went on for a few hours with us all catching carp after magnificent carp…they could not get enough of this bait, which could be witnessed when they were on the mat. We were blessed with some stunning specimens, with a beautiful 37lb common falling to my right hand far shelf rod.

At around 1pm in the afternoon the swim settled and a calm came over the water…I did feel that either the fish may have moved on…or maybe some of the larger residents had moved into the swim.

Now Town Lake is known for its beautiful shaped big commons with the lake record standing at 46lb 14oz caught by Al St. Cyr. This was not a heavily fished area due to the accessibility problems encountered by most, but I did feel that we were in the ‘magic realm’ of this particular lake…I could just feel it, there was something definitely ‘untouched’ about this swim, maybe it was the remoteness and overwhelming feeling that man was just not the master here?

As the sun beat down I took my chair and sat in the water, instantly dropping my body temperature to something more bearable. I sat back and suddenly became incredibly ‘present’…not that I was daydreaming at the time, but the warmth of the sun and the sounds of the bees buzzing had definitely been a tonic to relax.

I sat and watched my indicators intently as the right hand of the three slowly started to move, and the line peeled from the reel in a classic ‘Big Fish’ take. I stood and lifted into the fish and immediately felt that I was in contact with one of the Lakes Noble residents. The fish immediately started to move in the direction of the boulder and had my rod bent into the shape of a croquet hoop. Not seeming to take any notice it continued on its chosen path, so I resorted to side strain and dropped the tip under the water…it was an all or nothing maneuver that luckily paid off. The fish gradually turned and headed in the opposite direction. I was able to gain a little line (and even less composure!) and managed to get her into the center of the lake for the first time where the water was deeper and snag free. I could not get this fish up from the bottom and it was there where it stayed for a good while. Just as I thought the fish was tiring, she once again turned and headed for the boulders…with more steam that the original run! I was left with no choice but to walk out onto the gravel bar in David’s swim, up to my waist in water, and again use a good amount of side strain to change her mind…and even though the sun was shining, the unexpected temperature of the water was a little sobering!

I was now standing on top of this bar about 20 yards from the shore in about 3 1/2 feet of water with a net in one hand and a submarine attached to the end of my line on another!

As I gradually gained more line I eventually managed to confine the fish to a clear area in front of the bar and after a while was able to catch a glimpse of her. By now she was mid-water and the suns rays reflected from her flank through the depths. I could tell by the depth of the fish that she would be close to the magical 40lb mark and held my breath.

As she began to tire I gained more line until the time had come to draw her to the net. As I crouched, and became considerably wetter, I saw this vacuum size mouth kiss the spreader block... Relief!

Wayne and David were now at my side in the water. My limbs were numb from the water temperature, and more so the fish, so I handed David the net…I couldn’t even look at the fish!

As I stood on the shore I witnessed David lifting the net (I had taken the pole with me along with the rod). I could see him straining, which is hard as Dave is a big guy, so this was a good sign!

We got her to the scales and he was kind enough to do the honors…”I’ll give you 46lb 06oz”…YES!!!!

To say I was a happy man would be an understatement…a new PB.

We all marveled at the fish and took some pictures. (I must say that it’s really hard to smile when lifting such a weight, so the look on my face in the pictures is that of strain!!) ‘Thank you’ I whispered to her, then released her back to the depths.

After the congratulations from my companions, I reeled in my rods…content with my lot. I couldn’t bring myself to re-cast after landing such a great fish and sat in the sun. It seemed wrong to continue after such a great gift. I was actually contemplating not fishing when Wayne came up and had a quiet word. He convinced me that it wasn’t unsporting to carry on, in fact quite the opposite could be said as I was informed that if ever someone was going to catch a brace of 40’s then it would be me at this particular moment in time and not to do so would be wrong and completely unsporting!

Fueled on by his words of enthusiasm I recast all 3 rods and again sat back and waited…and do you know what…within the hour Wayne’s words came to pass and another stunning Carp of 44lb 06 oz (can you believe that!!) graced us with her presence, falling to my middle rod on the far shelf.

‘We shall be quiet; and go a-angling’

Tight Lines

Sean Manning
ACS