Mirror Pool June 2004.

Most carp anglers have heard of this water but know very little else. We'd heard of the lake's record fish - 'Arthur' - (due to having half-a-tail), but not much more... so this inspired me and my friends Dave Hicklin, Darren Knighton and Richard Poole, to book a weeks' holiday way back in October 2002.

The drive down to the lake was very long at 422 miles from Calais, add to that the 218 miles from Nottingham to Dover - and you should see what I mean. But we found the lake very easily by the directions given to us by the co-owner Rob.

The lake was just off the motorway but hidden in amongst some huge oak trees and fed by a small stream meandering through the valley on its way to the Mediterranean in Southern France.

Wayne, the on-site bailiff greeted us and showed us around the lake, going through the rules at the cabin where we drew for pegs.

The guys on the lake the week before us had booked the lake for just two anglers, (the maximum allowed fishing is four), and they fished together on one peg - they had 25 fish between them, landing the lakes’ second-largest known resident a mirror carp at 62lb+.

There are several pegs to choose from... the Shallows, where Dave went, Suicide - where Darren went, Richard had the Boat House swim and I fished the Dam Wall.

With the trees going into the lake it screamed a tricky water. Depths varied from 2ft in the shallows to 22ft near the dam wall. The margins were steep at the dam-end but I had an oak tree kissing the water to my left, which was the main factor in choosing this swim. Also because the lads on the week before couldn't put a bait in that swim even if they wanted too!

Sunday I was woken at 5am by the sound of a stag deer barking out loud and proud. I decided some baiting up was needed - so creeping down to the lakeside where my left hand rod was positioned, I peered through the undergrowth to see several 2lb roach mooching around the tree roots.

They were not what I wanted, so in went 3kg of mixed carp pellets, sweet corn, hemp pellets and salmon pellets. Oh yes - and 3kg of mixed boilies from Custom Bait Services.

I recast my left hand rod and immediately got several good knocks [probably from the roach]. Rich came around saying that all the others were wondering what was happening as they had all had a good nights sleep - disturbed only by my alarms !

It was really that quiet, (not that my alarms were loud), honest!

Then the alarm sounded again, but this time something was different. I struck into a carp that kited to the middle of the lake and putting a good bend into my rod. Shortly afterwards the hooked pulled... after calming down I re-cast.

Within seconds - off it went again. The fish did the same thing - heading into the middle of the lake. It banged its head on the bottom more than once in the ensuing fight which lasted around 15 minutes. When it finally rolled into the net I yelled and jumped up and down.

The fish in the net was the much-sought after FULLY PLATTED MIRROR.

My first fish landed was my target fish and weighing in at 44lb 15oz, a new fully scaled p.b to boot.

What a start! Photos were taken and jumping in the water to release the beauty with more photos - I was ready to go home!

In the next two hours I landed a couple of twenties and a new p.b French mirror carp of 48lb 8oz...dance, I could have cried with joy!

No-one else caught till Dave had a new p.b mirror of 40lb just as it got dark. He followed this with two high-doubles during the night.

The next morning was much the same. I baited up nice and early and woke everyone up with my alarms. I landed two more fish at 41lb and 42lb + and a couple of thirties.

Daz joined in with a thirty and a couple of twenty pounders at lunch time. Richard didn't catch till after he had showered! Then he landed a couple of thirties. He went on to land five carp, all mirrors and a new p.b mirror of 46lb 5oz.

Daz had four up to 37lb which he landed on the last night - and I managed a 47lb'er taken from deep water where I had spotted a fish crash.

Dave had three - even moving swims trying to get another. He was missing home and family life and couldn't wait to go home

I ended up with 14 fish. I had two doubles [both commons], three 20's weighing in at 24lb 4oz, 27lb 2oz and 29lb 10oz. Four 30s at 30lb 4oz, 34lb 1oz, 36lb 6oz and 39lb 7oz. I also had five [yes five] 40s - weighing in at 41lb 8oz, 42lb 10oz, 47lb and 48lb 8oz. Oh yes - and the fully-plated mirror at 44lb 15oz.

There were no 50s or 60s but not through lack of trying I can assure you!

I used boilies from www.custombaitservices.com and fake maize from Enterprise Tackle Supplies. The pellets were from Sticky Baits and Custom Baits.

Would I go again?
You bet - I've already booked - but it's full next year, so I will have to wait till 2006 when I am going with a friend.


Questions
If you have any questions for me, don't hesitate to drop me a line via e/mail on david.williams257@ntlworld.com. Please keep them brief and to the point and I'll do my best to answer them for you. Please mention AnglersTimes.co.uk when you respond.

THE EAST MIDLANDS CARP STUDY GROUP are sorting out our meetings for the coming winter and you will be welcome to come along.

Join now on www.emcsg.co.uk [where we also have a carp forum] or join at the North Notts Angling Fair this October. You can also join on the night at any meeting.


Cheers and tight lines

Stax