ok so this is last years, but it brings me up to speed!
Id been planning to go to Les Quis for the best part of a year when I managed to get a Manor Ticket. Working the hours I do, I get very little time to actually spend angling, my normal session is an overnighter once a week. So spending a week with my mates on the beer angling for Jumbos sounded good, but not as good as having a proper UK lump in the bottom of the net. So that was Les Quis given the Spanish Archer, now to some proper angling.
My week started on a Sunday and I arrived just after lunch, with temparatures in the 80s. It was fecking hot. Jim(28 nights no fish) was in the old Slope, and Lloyd had just arrived and gone in the flat. Fish were bubbling up and evident in the swim known as The One, so that would be base for the first night.
Id not fished the swim before, so had to have a bit of a lead about, but knew I wanted baits down by the snag, one in front of the old swim and one to the left of the pads. What I didnt know was that you needed waders in here! So shorts off and time to get the bollocks wet. Bait for the week was 40 kilos of Nash Scopex Squid , 20 kilo of Monster Carp Pellets and 25 kilo of large hemp. Baits were eventually placed, with my knob now looking like a pile of penny pieces.
Not wanting to bore you, but that Night the fish started to spawn right over my baits, so I did the courteous thing and reeled in to go watch them have sex, what a perv eh?!
Next morning, a move was on the cards, as the fish were showing me where they were now off to for their post sex rest and hopefull munch.
I decided to set up in the Slope, with baits tight to the reeds, where the fish seemed to be both laying up or hugging them as they swam past. Baited areas were litterally a rod length along the reeds with the leader back leaded right under the tip. The day was again more suited to an Indian Ocean Holiday than a UK fishing trip and after moving all my kit I was knackered. Jim was still down and next door, blanking happily. The weather changed that night with temparatures dropping and cloud coming in. Lovely.
The next morning at about 4am I started to get Liners, bearing in mind I only had about ten foot of line in the water, which was pinned down, I new they were munching. Liners continued, proper ones, from ground to rod butt, for about an hour, until eventually My first Manor take occured. Job Jobbed and a 32lb Mirror was hauled up for the camera(thanks jim)
At this stage it was pissing down with rain, which was actually more than welcome after two days on the bank.
I later received another take (at about 9 ish) which I just could not control, the fish cutting my 15lb line deep in the reeds. Gutted.
I stayed in the slope for another night and the next morning I had another belter, however as anybody who fishes this swim will know, it gets a bit dangerous in the wet. Anyway I went arse over bollox, limping to the rods as Id done my back, hit it , only to be met with a thump thump and gone. The hook was covered in silk weed. I took the rod up the bank and pretended it was an old school mate, kicking the crap out of it for half hour. A move was on the cards as I now had the proper [censored].
Anyway, Id fancied the flat since Id been down, so sat in there for an hour to see if they were passing through. They were and quite a few of em. I decided to move before it got too hot as the sun was out already.
So where were we?
Oh yes, The Flat. Id put a bit of Carp food, sweeties and Hemp down the Margins on a couple of spots. The gear was shifted in the heat again and ready for another night. Well it didnt get that far as that evening I had an absolute beast of a take, scrap and general tear up with a nutter of a 17lber. After Id showed him who was top of the food chain, I foamed up another hookbait and wanged it back on the spot. Now this does not happen in the real world usually but believe it or not, the rod was nearly taken out of my hands by what I presumed was a foul hooked carp or a catfish as it went flying out into the lake taking 40 yards of line off a tight clutch! Fifteen minutes later a lip hooked Mirror was once again engulfed in my net mesh. Ave some of that!! 33 lb of stunning Carp.
At this point I cracked open a Stella and sparked a Marlboro, well you just have to dont you!
What a week this was turning into, I still had until Sunday too! Screw France, come on Essex!
So, two 30s and a 17lber plus two losses. Come on the Annie!!
Well the day passed uneventfully, aside the beer and a nice Curry and a quick chat with Perry and Bob. Id been pretty unsociable this week, but I had fish to catch!
The night was peaceful again, bar the odd Hippo throwing itself out of the water. I was hopeful of a morning take. The usual feeding time passed with liners but no take. You always fear crap presentation in this instance, they are obviousely feeding, but getting away with it. Im always mindful when using hemp, to also use alot of boilies, to stop them getting preocupied on small feed, so I didnt think it was that.But I thought Id fudged it.
Ten am and the presentation was proved ok, as the now familiar tone of a warbling Delkim rang through the air. A tussle along the reeds, with the NG carbon getting another hammering, but eventually subduing another Big Fat Carp. Believe it or not it was bigger! 36lb on the nose, with Perry taking some excellent but sweaty shots. A new English PB (bar a Darenth 46)!!More Beer please...........
How do you top that? Id come for a 33 plus and had two! So a 40 was now the dream. But I only had one night left, so decided not to change anything. I baited again, a kilo of Hemp, a kilo of baits and some more Nashy Pellet. Traps were set, with ultra slack lines. That night I was half pissed and was talking to myself, kissing my hand , touching the left rod butt saying come on Annie, Id even said to Mr Miller earlier on , that all I needed now...........
I awoke early. My bivvy was really only yards from my hookbait, but the other side of the reeds, and it soon became evident what had woken me. Crash, Crash, Crash.Twenty seven shows later, the left hand rod tip curled around and the clutch sang in time with the Delkim Warbler.
Game on.
The fight was good, heavy and hard, not a plodder but heavy all the same. Eventually I got the fish into my reed cutting of a swim, my arse was twitching like a goodun as by now Id seen it was a lump. In the net she went first time. I had a quick look, it looked 40. I phoned Neil, lit a fag and asked Neil to come and help with the lump I had in the net. His words Ill never forget. You know what fish that is dont you? Its the Annie! F*ck off, says I!!
Much jumping and hollering ensued. Stuart came round too. Neil made me lift the net saying Id never get the opportunity to lift a 50 again. Christ it was heavy!!
On the mat, she was gorgeous, a true lump, a Hippo of a Carp and breathtaking. Weighed at 55lb 12oz, yes 55lb 12oz. It was time for photos.
Now I apologise here to Neil and Stuart, and the mystery helper who had popped along. Id been on the bank for a week, many beers , fags and curries had been consumed, smoked and eaten. I was beat.
I struggled to lift Annie for photos, but managed as many as my body could handle, in amongst grief off Neil. Thanks Fella, it was worth it! The photos are pukka.
I put her back, with a few water and release shots, she sank down and stuck her head in the weed, sulking. She had been tripped up, after 8 months of getting away with it. She had no hook marks or tears, so she had not been hooked and lost either. Crafty bugger. It was somebody elses turn next. I envy them already, for she is a beauty.
This was fathers day and what a present eh? I phoned all who cared and spoke to the wife and kids, got dried and very slowly packed up, a very very very happy man.
Les Quis eh, who needs it?!!
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Edited by SpencerH (09/01/07 10:12 PM)
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!!!!`,spencer,this prove`s some mother`s do have `em. 
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