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Well, I've got nothing better to do this afternoon, so leaving the rod in place I pop back to the brolly, grab a beer and my fags, and head back to my little tuft of grass to chill out and watch for a while. About 20 minutes later I'm just finishing my roll-up when I spot a couple of bubbles about 2 metres off the back of the spot. This is followed by more bubbles, and I realise that this opportunity might not yet be over. The fizzing slowly intensifies and gets gradually closer so now this has absolutely got my full attention. The bubbles work their way slowly around a big clump of Canadian that my little spot backs right onto. By this point I'm holding my breath and my eyes are popping out of my head. The fizzing gets closer, and closer, and as it reaches my hook bait, all hell breaks loose! The spot erupts, the rod tip slams down, the alarm screams, my beer is sent airborne, I scramble about trying to get to my feet, jump into the pond, under the trees, grab the rod, and pull. There's sunken branches all over the place so I know I need to net this fish as quickly as possible. I set the clutch as tight as I dare and just heave this carp towards the surface. This head appears and it's absolutely massive, humorously big in fact, so now I know exactly which one I'm attached to. I drag the net from behind me through the undergrowth, set it out in front of me, have another heave and before I know it the carp is in the net. From bite to net must have been no more than 30 seconds. What a result! I stake the net out, go and get the retainer, and transfer the fish to the margins of my main swim which is a much less hostile environment than the snaggy corner. I have another smoke to settle my nerves which are pretty much shot after the excitement of the last hour. I set up the camera and lift this carp ashore to have a good look at her. It is exactly the fish I thought it was, and one I really, really wanted to catch. Her head is massive and she has that incredible little melted heart shaped tail. Her fins are old and worn, her back is a deep grey, and her belly a lovely creamy colour. She's a proper dinosaur and despite looking her age she's mint as you like. A few shots and back she goes. So, I'd achieved what I set out to do within a few hours of arriving in the end. Obviously, I enjoyed the rest of the session and catching those other fish (especially the big common) was a real bonus, but I actually chose to go home a night early in the end. I'd said to myself that I'd walk away happy if I could just catch one of the big mirrors and with that done, I felt the time was right to go.

I waited for the fizzing to stop, grabbed a few more baits, and this time broke them into halves. I crept back round doing my best not to stand on any twigs and waded out under the trees as slowly and quietly as I could. I popped the halved baits on and around the spot. By the time I'd got back to my swim they were already fizzing away and this time you could tell they were proper going for it. Little twigs and bits of chod were popping up, reeds knocking, with bubbles accumulating all around the area. Obviously, I'm starting to get ideas here but I'm very conscious not to ruin any chance before it's began. I decided that next I'd place some whole baits down there and if they fed on them, I'd have a pop at catching one. Again, I waited until the activity stopped, grabbed some baits, and waded out under the trees. Very slowly I approached the spot but then stopped dead in my tracks. Below me, no more than a meter away, were all three of the carp just sitting there. I recognised 2 of them, one a big-headed mirror with scattered scales, the other a two-toned mirror, both looking absolutely mahoosive. The third was a decent linear, probably around low 30s. I just stood as still as I could, swearing under my breath, thinking I've screwed this up, but amazingly they didn't seem to spot me. After a couple of minutes of me pretending to be a tree they drifted off so I popped the baits in and got out of there. Ten minutes later I'm back in my swim and they're fizzing on the spot again. Nowt left to do but get a rod ready. I managed to get some long bank sticks and a net in place under the trees without spooking the carp. I then just reeled in one of my other rods, checked the hook, changed to a little 2 oz lead, and was good to go. I waded out, checked the coast was clear, and lowered my pop up onto this spot followed by a few more baits. Since I could clearly see the hookbait I considered just standing right there watching but thought better of it and climbed out, sat on a tuft of grass, and watched from a few metres away. What happened next is exactly what normally happens when anyone who isn't Terry Hearn tries this type of in-the-edge stuff..... absolutely NOTHING. No more fizzing, no more signs.... it would appear I've screwed it up.

Right then, let's rewind to the start of the session, one that began in the wee hours after I'd set my alarm for a very early start. I'd been creeping around in the dark for over an hour before the sun came up to aid my search for carp. I'd found plenty of tench but it was a while before I settled on the swim of choice and by the time I was all set up it was getting on for the afternoon. I'd spotted a few patches of fizz mid-morning that were no doubt produced by carp and, knowing the swim quite well, I was happy to spend a while dangling there. To the right of the swim, between me and the reed spot I mentioned earlier, is a small, very weedy, very snaggy marginal bay, protected by overhanging trees on the bank side and an impenetrable lily bed on the other . The sun was shining down into this little bay, and I was observing a new snag that had ended up in there - a large tree branch that had obviously been blown in during the storms over winter, to join the other branches that littered this bay. As I watched I noticed a decent carp drifting in under some floating weed. Then, I noticed another and another. I set about making my way through the undergrowth along this bank until I found an area you could wade in under the trees and get quite close to where the carp were milling about. I chucked on the waders and did so, but couldn't get quite close enough to see the carp with any clarity. However, I did notice a small clear area no more than 2ft from the near-side reeds under the trees, basically under my nose. Just for fun, I popped back to the swim, crumbled up a handful of baits and returned to the spot. I chucked half on the spot, and half dotted towards the where the carp were situated before going back to my swim for a cuppa. While drinking my tea I was watching the 3 carp in the corner and could see they were proper ones... almost certainly originals and at least 2 of them were mirrors. They drifted out of sight for a minute or two, and then a few plumes of fizz popped up towards the spot I'd baited.

I popped into a mates lake, thinking most of the carp were dead, only to find around 20 mid doubles all cruising around, occasionally breaking the surface and splashing their tales about. If I didn't know better, I'd have said they looked to be getting ready for it. We have had a fairly warm spring so far

Yeah that's a bit cheeky that!

No dogs, unless you're surname is Lane apparently. He didn't like me pointing that out, and no I didn't make the waiting list lol No baiting poles WTF weird

Are you gonna be looking for a bait boat friendly water for next time? 🛥️🛥️⛴️⛴️⛴️⛴️😍😂😂😂😂😂

No mate. No boats. No baiting poles. No braid. Very traditional rules tbf which i love. It adds to the challenge.

Pike being predators go at the end of February to mid-March (sometimes outside the old close season!), followed by perch, then roach and the cyprinids. Tench and carp are usually the last British species to spawn.

Great write up Yonny. Does the venue allow bait boats? I know that you're not a fan but it would make fishing a spot like that so much easier and by wrapping, you can always get it back on the spot, even after dark with the aid of the boats lights or a torch. I was a bit sceptical of boats at first but it's a case of it can't beat 'em, join 'em! One of my favourite venues has plenty of overhanging trees on the islands and it would be suicide to cast close to them. I'm sure that some venues quietly encourage the use of boats as they don't want to have to go out and remove trailing tackle that can cause a hazard to other wildlife.

What else is in there? I think pike are one of the first to go.

Bit early! The water temperature is not high enough for carp and I don't think the days are quite long enough yet, be about right towards the middle of May.

Does anyone have the book? I’d like to read it, even if it’s very heavy

Could be a heated lake, won't be long now 😂

How it's done!!! well in big man ♥️

It's completely temperature dependant. I'd be amazed if the carp were spawning as they need at least 17C water temps. Even my pond is only ~12.5C at this point. They could mean a different species perhaps?

I visited a local commercial fishery yesterday to visit the on-site tackle shop. Driving in, the lake next to the entrance was 'closed due to spawning'. I know a lot of things feel to me like they're happening early this year, but I would have thought it's far too early for spawning. Doesn't spawning usually happen around May time?

OK so earlier this year I decided to drop my ticket on my syndicate lake in the Fens. I've enjoyed it there and done ok, but it really doesn't suit the handful of overnighters per year that I normally get to fish, and it works out too expensive when I simply don't get the time to be there. I decided to sign off with a few nights to bag one of the special ones. When I say special, I mean it.... a handful of old big mirrors with scattered scales and little melted heart shaped tails, and a couple of bigger commons. They share this little pit with a mixed bag of carp that have been stocked since the turn of the century. Even the stockies, as can be seen in my previous post, are a bit special with plenty of lookers to go for. The trip started as well as it possibly could, but we'll come to that later. For now, the next fish I want to show you lot is one of the bigger stockies, certainly destined to become one of the A-Team at some point. This fella came at first light after my 2nd night off a little spot that's only fishable at this time of year.... by June it'll be covered in weed. I discovered this spot a couple of years ago and it's done me a fish for the last 2 years. Obviously, I needed a rod on it. Nothing special required here, a short cast with a nice smelly pop up on a hinge. Job done. I actually caught this one last year so it's a repeat but I'm not complaining. It was 2lb up in weight so doing well. If it carries on like that it'll be a real biggun in a few years.

Was he sheeping you up for emptying the place?

The double figure pike that snaffled a purple pop-up on the retrieve before walking Sky didn't! It totally covered me and itself in mud as it went through the margins. Deep hooked and somehow didn't bite off the hooklink until I went to get the forceps at which point it slid out of the net and returned itself.

This has to be one of my favourite rod shots, taken this week, with the sunset.

If it works, then stick with it.

How bizarre.... no sooner had I posted those kippers above, when I see Korda put up some shots on FB. There are two swims in these shots - one is the swim I caught these fish from, the other is the one next door! https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Cnf8bRY43/

I may be able to merge posts for you if it limits it due to picture size