Aston Lake

#9 Just after dusk, I retired to my tent, being absolutely exhausted and to escape the mosquitoes. And about 45 min later, I was rudely awakened by my reel that started peeling line off and just kept going! Once again, I couldn't get the zip open fast enough, but luckily enough, the fish had set the hook properly. After a little fight, Andrew netted the fish, pictures were taken, and that was our trip as we packed up bright and early to avoid a huge storm the next morning. Andrew Campbell Thank you again for the time we spent, and let's do it again soon!

#8 As I said in the previous post, my other line also ripped off, but I thought at first that it was the fish I was fighting, but I quickly realized it was close to that line. After landing the 4.30 kg and it was safely in the landing station, I started to reel the other line in and low and behold it was still on and much more feisty than the other carp. But I got it netted, and the rest is history. After the morning rush, the rest of the day proved very, very difficult for Andrew and l. Not a bump, nor stir on any of our lines the whole day.

Day 2, #7 I got out of bed at about 4h00, to rebait and be ready for day break at about 5h30. I put fresh garlic floatie with a garlic maize pip on the #3 BKK hook and almond, garlic, and TCP on the maize ball. Shortly after dawn, Andrew went to the absolution block, and I started to get my margin rod ready when my left-hand line ripped off! 15 seconds later, the right-hand line ripped off also! I concentrated on the fight in hand and managed to net this absolutely beauty myself! Luckily, Andrew saw me and came running to witness this beauty and take the pictures! Definitely my PB at this venue!

#6 The last one for the day came just after 23h00. Once again, I was fast asleep and woke up with a jolt and battled to find the zip in the dark. Luckily, I still managed to get to it on time, and again, I was fortunate enough that Andrew came to assist with the netting. This one was caught on a homemade brandy pip, which at that point were about 12 hours in the water.

#5 Dusk came with a barrage of mosquitoes, and I retreated to my tent. With Andrew's last words of making sure I know where the zips are, I fall asleep almost immediately. That Nitehawk ripped off a couple of hours later, and I woke up a jolt, disoriented, and unable to get out of the tent immediately! Fortunately, I had a good hook set, and I was able to land it with Andrew's assistance. Thank goodness for my first carp of the trip! Bait was a single garlic maize pip, garlic floatie with almond, TCP, and garlic on the maize ball.

#4 Our neighbor on the left had started to pack up for the day and came over to give Andrew and myself some flying ants on which he had caught a couple of nice carps during the day. I rebaited with the ants and the combination of almond, tcp and garlic on the maize bomb. Within 15 minutes, my bait was picked up by this little Barbel and not the long and eagerly expected carp.

#3 This was the biggest of my barbel haul for the day. The photo doesn't do justice to show the belly of this fish. It definitely tried to use its weight in the fight, but in the end, the Nitehawk - Beast combo proved successful again, and Andrew managed to net it for a photo opportunity.

#2 It most definitely wasn't a fast tempo day, and that showed in the bite rate. I decided to do away with floaties as bait and put maize pips out as I really wanted a decent Ashton carp. One absolute gold bar did pick the bait up, but unfortunately, got loose mid fight. As a consultation, this Sharptooth Barbel came to put my rig and tackle to the test. When will Ashton give up its beautiful specimen Carp?