Paul and Alex had decided to hire Little Farriers for a week to see if they could improve on some pb’s and also have some quality time together in Alex’s summer holiday.

They asked me to help them with a few things as I had fished it before. So it was there where we met with Miles from the Society at 8am in the morning.

The forecast was for thundery rain plus some very hot weather for the week. So Paul and Alex were set with a brolly shelter plus a bivvi to stop the elements from spoiling the affair. I’m not going to spend too long going on about tactics and baits etc as it’s very straight forward carp setups. Pop-up boilies plenty of hemp, vitalin to get the fish feeding.

From the start the tench came to the net mostly to Alex who had caught 2 before I had left, and Paul catching a tench. During the afternoon the weather closed in a tremendous thunderstorm cracked overhead. I did suggest to the two of them that it wasn’t a good idea to wave carbon rods around in the lightening.

The rain was not too heavy and soon the storm passed. However Paul told me the night was very interesting with a huge storm again passing by. However they had both landed further carp and tench with young Alex getting one of 23lbs.

One of Alex’s 20plus commons

I was guiding the next day on the river Wye and so Archie a mate was there to help them for a couple of days. Plenty of tench during the day came their way with the largest one being 5lbs 8oz and a new pb for Paul.

New pb tench for Paul at 5lbs 8oz

It seemed that Alex’s swim was producing the carp action at night and he had another 20lber which took out all the rods, so thankfully Archie was there to help. A big thanks to Archie for helping the guys out.

On arriving the next day, there were two very happy anglers, one being slightly tired. Paul took this photo of Alex sleeping and still holding the remote bite alarm so he wouldn’t miss anything. Not too sure about the red wine bottle though?

3X20lbs plus commons all at night time

More carp came to both anglers but it was Alex swim that produced another 20lber to him. Paul was getting amongst the smaller ones.

So the final night they swapped swims, and guess what Paul caught a pb carp that evening and so it turned out to be a special 5 days for them.

Paul and a new pb

A couple of other anglers Dave and John fished they both had some excellent fish, I think Dave’s largest carp was 22lbs and John caught 12 tench and lost about the same number and had a two carp too.

I arrived on Sat morning to fish overnight with Paul and Mark. First cast I had a small tench of about 3lbs and that was it for the day. Paul fished opposite me and had a couple of small tench again.

Meanwhile Mark “the carper” had settled into the swim next to me and found fish from the start. I said to wake me should he catch anything (wish I hadn’t now).

1.57 am morning call

He was around my swim every hour or so asking me to photo carp etc. He was a right pain in the butt! Only joking Mark. Without your fish the blog would look a very sorry sight.

The rain poured for most of the afternoon and into the early hours of the morning.

I had one small tench at 11.30pm and recast both rods and that was it.

Mark kept on going and going.

Just over 20lbs for Mark

New pb common for Mark

Well done buddy a new pb

Paul landed a small carp early in the morning, while I made bacon butties for Mark who couldn’t stop catching.

Paul landing a carp

They don’t need to be 30’s to look this good

Hope those butties tasted of fish slime. By just after lunch I had enough of Mark “The Carper” who kept saying have a look at this one!

To be fair the bivvi had dried and rain was forecast and tomorrow I’m going to Paris so an early finish was on the cards anyway.

Mark’s smile was from ear to ear which was a delight to see. He took the place apart with 14 carp and 3 lost.

Well done to him, it’s always great when a plan comes together.

Hold it son your not going anywhere

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