Natty's Catfish Adventures

Every year I go on a fishing holiday for around a week. This year I decided
to go to Manor Fisheries in Kent. My main aim was to catch a catfish over
5lb (my best before the trip was 1lb 4oz!) and my other aim was to catch a
few decent carp (a double is big for me), if any carp I caught broke my PB
of 16lb 9oz then great, but if not I would still be happy.

I had 6 days of solid fishing, as well as the evening of the first arrival
day. I did not night fish though.

On the first arrival day I basically just got everything ready and set up
for the days ahead, I did have a couple of hours fishing and had one run but
I missed it.

On the first full day of fishing, I started at around 6am. I fished with
boilies and halibut pellets on my leger rod and also did a bit of surface
fishing with dog biscuits. I managed to land three carp a 9lb 4oz common, a
6lb 8oz common and a 12lb 7oz common, there were all caught at dusk on the
surface.

Photo of the 9lb 4oz common:

Photo of the 12lb 7oz common:

On the second day, I blanked on the specimen lake, but had a quick go in the
pleasure lake and had a few small carp and roach.

On the third day, I fished with luncheon meat on one rod for the catfish and
boilies on the other for the carp, I was delighted when the luncheon meat
rod screamed off and I achieved my target of a catfish over 5lb, it weighed
5lb 6oz. I later had a 14lb 6oz mirror (I didn't take any photos of the 14lb
mirror, because it was very hot and the fish was very very lively - the
fish's welfare always comes first). I also had a 2lb common and a stunning
15lb 6oz common (my second biggest common ever!).

Photos of the 5lb 6oz catfish:

Photos of the 15lb 6oz common:

I had heard that a 2lb 8oz roach had been caught on specimen lake 1 and that
someone on the same lake had got snapped up a couple of times by some very
large carp. So I thought I would give it ago - not a great idea. I only
managed one bite resulting in a 5lb mirror carp. But I later fished the
pleasure lake for a couple of hours and landed several small carp and roach.

On day five, I had another catfish of 1lb 8oz. Then I had a fantastic
catfish of 13lb 6oz, it fought like a 20lb+ carp. Later I had a 10lb 2oz
common to round off a great day... but the best was yet to come!

Photo of the 1lb 8oz catfish:

Photos of the 13lb 6oz catfish:

Photo of the 10lb 2oz common:

And wow what a day! I got up at 3:30am and was fishing by first light. The
day started slowly and I had only had one carp by midday - an immaculate 4lb
8oz common. But early afternoon it started to hot up, with the carp and
catfish coming on the feed. I managed to land another four carp, they
weighed: 4lb common, 12lb 10oz common, 9lb 10oz mirror and a 12lb 9oz
common. But what was really incredible was that I had 6 catfish in 6 casts
and I only had to wait between 2 and 10 minutes for a bite as well!!! The catfish weighed: 10lb 2oz, 9lb 12oz, 4lb 2oz, 13lb 2oz, 11lb 8oz and
12lb 7oz.

Photo of the 12lb 10oz common:

Photo of the 9lb 10oz mirror:

Photo of the 12lb 9oz common:

Photo of the 10lb 2oz catfish:

Photo of the 9lb 12oz catfish:

Photo of the 4lb 2oz catfish:

Photo of the 13lb 2oz catfish:

Photo of the 11lb 8oz catfish:

Photos of the 12lb 7oz catfish:

Unfortunately, a couple of the carp had some mouth damage (probably caused
by unnecessary heavy rods and line, along with inappropriate end tackle), I
treated them with Nash Medi-Carp. It was great to see all of the catfish
were in perfect condition.

What a fantastic holiday - I can't wait to I leave school!