The Best Birthday Present Ever!

[natty]

Usually at this time of year, I fish easy waters, highly stocked with mainly small carp. However, it is my 17th birthday tommorow and I wanted the chance of a decent carp shaped birthday present, even if it meant a good chance of a blank, so I decided to have a day session on a specimen lake (Falkenvil Fisheries Specimen Lake). As it was a special occasion, my dad kindly agreed to wake up with my at 3:30am, so we could catch the 5:30am train to Polegate. We managed to make the train with 3 minutes to spair and arrived in Polegate at 6am. The cycle ride took about half an hour and we finally arrived at the specimen lake at half past six.

 

I fumbled around in the dark and managed to set up my two rods and both were soon cast out. The baliff came around about an hour later and informed me that you can fish 3 rods on the lake, I had only brang two as most of the other lakes near me all have strict 2 rod limits. I had only been there for about an hour and already felt handicapped!

 

On one rod I had two Carp Vader Halibut Crab pellets hair rigged to a size 12 Korda Wide Gape B and on the other I fished a small chunk of Pepperami. Both rods were fished with a small PVA bag of Carp Vader 2mm and 4mm feed pellets in a variety of flavours mixed together, to this I added a few grains of corn and pepperami shavings to get more attraction near my hookbait.

 

All remained quiet until at just gone half past nine, I recieved a twitchy take on the pepperami rod, I struck and my strike was met with weak resistance, but I was pleased to see a pretty little common in my landing net.

Here it is:

 

After no more action to either rods for a couple of hours I recast them both into open water. Twenty five minutes later a carp made off with my double 6mm pellet hookbait and straight away it felt like a decent fish and started stripping line off a tight clutch as it charged towards the far bank. I finally managed to pump it into the margins and I watched it chug up and down under the rod tip in the clear water for a few minutes, I was just praying my size 12 hook would stay in as it looked like a definite upper double and maybe a low twenty. I was relieved when it finally rolled into the net. On the bank it looked magnificent and when the digital scales read out 21lb 7oz I was ecstatic. Not only had it easily beaten my previous best common carp of 16lb 9oz, it was bigger than my previous overall carp best (18lb 8oz mirror) and to top it off it was my first 20! Now that is what I call a birthday present!

Here it is:

 

I had no further action, until I was packing up, which resulted in a little mirror carp of around 5lbs to a small chunk of pepperami. By 4pm everything was tied back up on the bikes and as we made the long journey home, I just reflected on what had been a truely magnificant day - I ended up with 3 winter carp, including my first ever 20! What a way to end 2008 and what a splendid birthday present.

[Angly]

Happy Birthday!

[Steve Burke]

Nice fish and an even nicer smile!

[Sportsman]

Well done; for the fish and for making the effort

And have a happy birthday

[Guest tigger]

Happy Birthday..........and what a lovely lookin fish !! well done!

[Rusty]

I'm humbled by your enthusiasm Natty, a fantastic day, well done.

 

You might want to cut dad some slack next time he's giving you grief about something.

 

Many happy returns.

[natty]

Thanks for the nice comments

 

Here is a little video of me returning my new PB:

Youtube Video ->

Edited December 21, 2008 by natty

[Elton]

Nice one, Natty. Seriously, you're a great advert for angling!

[Pilley]

Congratulations Awsome looking fish and nice to see an angler smile, them people who try look serious make me laugh Lol. If i caught a huge fish i wouldnt be able to keep the smile off my face Lmao.

 

Well done and happy birthday.

[Barry C]

Well done on a stunning fish and a great post natty. Your a credit to our great sport.