Now the start of winters here I thought it was time to do a night or two before the frosts set in. Whelford Pools was the place I had in mind a mature gravel pit set right in the heart of the Cotswolds and I know it holds some pretty good fish too, so I rang the fishery owner Gerry and he said it was fine for me to go down and have a go.

When I arrived there in the morning it was raining slightly with a bit of wind blowing down the lake putting a calm ripple on the water. Most of the trees were bear apart from a nice ever green that was over hanging the waters edge and it was right on the back of the wind and I thought this would be the ideal place to get set up. I cast the marker out to see what the depths were like and most of the lake was about 8ft deep with the clear margin under the tree about 4ft I thought this would be a perfect place to position my baits ready for the carp patrolling the margins at night and at first light as the sun would warm the shallower areas first.

I couldn’t wait any longer so I quickly got my bivvy up and rods ready, the rigs I was using were simple 2oz running lead set-ups on both rods with short 4inch hook links tied up with 12lb esp sink link and size 8 carp r us nailer hooks. I had brought 5kilos of groats with me and mixed in 1kilo of fruits of the sea boilies the night before so the hot water would really draw the smell out of them and flavor the groats. I crept down to the over hanging tree and put four scoop fulls in about 3yards from the bank and then carefully lowered each rod on to the baited area and slackened of the line, now both traps were set and all I could do now was watch the water and wait.

It started to go off colder around four and the alarms were silent, it was time for a brew. As I sat there warming my hands over the stove I started to get a few liners with the odd single bleep now and again, as I was sat drinking my tea I was just waiting for it to rip off, but as darkness fell the enquiries got less and less. The time was about six and it was pitch black, I decided to put a few more scoops of bait out, another kilo of groats went in and rods repositioned over the top, I was all set for the night and I was feeling quite confident as I knew fish had visited the area already.

I lay on the bed chair looking out watching the bats stooping the water and the owls calling to one another and slowly drifted off into the land off nod, I must of been asleep a good couple of hours when I woke to several bleeps on the right hand rod I quickly got out, waited, but nothing happed, I just started to walk back to the bivvy and it went again but this time on the left hand, the liners were happening again, so very steadily I lowered in a little more of the groats and boilies.

I made my way back to the sack for a bit more shut eye and dosed off. It hadn’t felt like I had been asleep more than a few minute when suddenly my right hand rod was in to a full blown belter, I hit into it and there was no stopping this beast, she just kept tearing line from the spool and staying deep, every time I gained a yard she took two or three back, after a ten minute or so battle I got her under control and was back in the margin under the rod tip, this big head came up and slipped into the net first time. I looked down into the landing net and all I could see was these big scales and I knew it was a cracker. I lifted the carp on to the mat, opened the net and couldn’t believe my luck, it was the big plated fish, a known thirty at the venue, I quickly zeroed the scales and popped her in the sling, a touch under the big thirty mark 29lb 8oz and I was over the moon to catch such a creature. The photos were taken and I carefully slipped her back into the ultra clear water.

After the moments of madness I placed the rod back under the tree, rolled back in to the bag and slept right through until morning without a single bleep, it was time to pack up, I just didn’t want to leave this lovely place but with the thought of the stunning plated mirror in my mind, the dreaded packing up bit wasn’t so bad.

So next time you go out try the margins they can be productive as open water and produce the bigger fish.

Tight lines for now

Lee Pollard