A new campaign
Becoming a dad in late 2020, I knew my fishing would start slowing down. So starting a new campaign on Yateley Match Lake with minimal time was always going to be a challenge.
New Year’s Day 2021 was my first session. A cold, teeth chattering 2 nights. Nothing happened.
Although I was still regularly walking the lake, my next session wasn’t until my birthday in April. But this time I had 4 nights to play with. It was the first week of April, and the weather was absolutely roasting. From memory it was around 25c. Unusual weather for the time of year. I found myself in a swim known as ‘The Round’. Spot found and baited, rigs prepared and I was fishing. The catfish that reside in the lake woke up, the lake was tsunami like, I’d never seen something like it before. Once again, no results for my efforts. But a good social with a few pals.
May was my next session, the weather turned horrible. We had trees falling into the lake, I was actually in a pals swim leaning up against a tree in his swim. When it just completely toppled over into the lake, just missing his rods. Thinking back now I really should’ve gone home, but I was determined to catch. So I set up in a swim known as ‘Top Bay’. I had previously seen a lot of fish in this area, Top bay holds a small amount of water with snaggy tree lines. Which is where they were holding up.
Half an hour into my session, I got a single bleep on my alarm, fishing locked up, my rod was bending. I was finally into my first Yateley carp. As soon as I picked my rod up it was just solid, even though I was on my rods in less than a second of seeing my rod bend. It wasn’t enough, fish lost.
Not wasting any time I got a fresh rig on and it was back on the spot. I was sat on the ground next to my rods, ready and waiting. It must’ve been 5 minutes and my rod was bending again. Rod in hand I was laying on the floor trying to get myself up. Once I was up I quickly saw that this time the fish was kiting out into open water. I felt relieved, but it didn’t last long, as the fish flat rodded me straight back into the snags. Another Yateley fish lost.
I was kicking myself, bites don’t come often on this lake. To get 2 takes in less than 45 minutes and lose them both is painful.
But I picked myself up and got my rod ready to go back out. As I was doing this my other rod went into action, taking no prisoners this time, I picked the rod up and instantly give it side strain whilst walking towards the back of the swim. Finally after a quick battle she was in the net. My pal was in the water with the fish, I bent down to him grabbing his hand and we were both cheering! At last, my first Yateley carp! Coming in at 32lb 8oz.
Although I lost the 2 fish previously (I still think back to them 2 now!) I was really happy that I didn’t give up and kept pushing.
Never give up!
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