Family Picnic (And A Big Common)

With covid-19 restrictions being relaxed and a spell of warm weather taking hold over Lincolnshire we took the opportunity as a family to head down to syndicate, a mature intimate gravel pit nestled in a large nature reserve; for a walk and picnic.

On the off chance of an opportunity off the surface I packed the minimal surface gear along with endless bags that are required when you step out of the front door with a 2 and 4 year old.

Walking down to the pit we identified a whole host of different plants and birds before laying out the picnic blanket on the north easterly bank with a gentle south westerly wind lapping into the margins. The kids had been awake from the crack of dawn so eating 'lunch' at 10:30 seemed reasonable!

Sarah began to spread the platter of nibbles we had packed, as the kids dived into crisps and breaded chicken pieces. I took the opportunity to creep over to an opening in the rhodedndrums. From the waters edge to the thick overhanging margin canope a carpet of weed filled the surface. Though instanty I could see ripples emerging from the right hand margin, as they expand they almost slapped against the smooth south westly chop. The carp had given themselves away.

Turning and walking back to the family a matter of meters away I grabbed a slice of bread and the catapult, they followed me to the waters edge and crouched down with anticipation. Ripping 2 piece of bread around the size of a casino chip, I projected one down the margin to the right and the other on the edge of the weed in front. With the rod already made up I hooked up a large piece of bread utilising a silver birch leaf stem to aid keeping the bread on for the cast (see 'Bread edges' article for more info on this). Catapult casting this to my right hand side it fell in between the 2 free offerings. Taking up the slack line and setting the clutch it was evident the fish were on the move and very active.

Two fish glided from underneath the right hand margin, a bigger common waddled directly towards us and disappeared underneath the surface weed. It was accompanied by smaller more lively common and if I was a betting man it would have been that smaller fish that I was expecting to take some interest in the bread. I whispered to the kids to stay quiet and keep their feet still, I explained how close the fish could be to us be under the surface weed. Before I had chance to say much more the fish reappeared directly under the first free offering I had catapulted in. However this piece of crust was bypassed and the bigger common broke the surface to inhale the hookbait, with no hesitation. Lifting into the fish the rod hooped around as the clutch engaged and began to whirling with the fish surging away shaking its head. Sarah exclaimed 'Its got it, it's got it' as the kids were most taken back. The common now making its presence very well know powerfully charged for the right hand margin and it just about made the first couple of branches before I had no other option but to jump in to the pit to get a better angle and attempt to get the rod tip past the end of the surface weed. Sarah was in full meltdown thinking I had my phone still in my pocket (thank god I had already put it in the tackle bag!!). When I thought I had the upper hand in the battle now up to my chest the common dived for the left hand margin and again was very close to burying itself deep into an entanglement of weed covered branches. Now loudly exclaiming 'Noo your not going in their!!' I managed to turn her head. Sarah thankfully chucked the net to me and I was able to dig the net chord deep into the weed and bundle in the gold flanks thea good fish.

Turning and seeing Isla and Coby's little faces of total confusion as to what just happend was a picture. Sarah shook her head and boldly stated I wouldn't be getting into the car like that on the way home! I simply exclaimed 'Thats how we catch carp!!'

Thankfully Steve a syndicate member on the neighboring pit had heard the commotion and gave me a hand getting the kit together as I emptied the net of copious amounts of weed. The kids watched as I transferred her to the sling and she was weighed at a spawned out 25-14. I identified the fish as two tone, a repeat I tripped up last spring but what was most prominent about this capture was the family sharing the whole experience and adrenaline rush of stalking carp. I really hope in years to come that they remember this as vividly as I remember fishing with my dad from a very young age.

Finding a suitable area to shoot some photographs amongst the mottled bankside was challenging. However after a slight camera malfunction Steve captured the moment perfectly with the kids joining me for the photographs. Coby summing up the experience beautifully with 2 words 'Big carp!!'

Once free from the sling and waddling off into the depths of the pit out of view I rungout the wet clothes and we wandered back around the path to the car. True to her word Sarah wouldn't let me in the car so I had to resort to using a dry green knit jumper as trousers which were a little on the draughty side!