First Thirty on Dynamite Baits..

Whilst fishing on Waveney's D lake, with no action that morning I decided to reel in and go have a look at G lake, as I had been priming the lake with dynamites chocolate malts and balls of groundbait to get them grubbing around.

I find crushed hemp to be an awesome natural attractor, even in winter.

The mix: I boil some water to scold the crushed hemp from dynamite, if you don't it will float away, plus by adding boiling water you get the crushed hemp to release its attractiveness, a natural oil and a lovely milk that carp crave', more than just using plain hemp. It also clouds the water up and has a nutty smell.

I then add dynamites hemp and tigernut groundbaits to the scolded crushed hemp, I also add un-scolded crushed hemp to the mix, as this also makes the mix much more explosive, as it floats up, so when the mix brakes down or fish are grubbing around, bits keep popping up, which keeps the area active - some crumbed chocolate malt boilies complete the mix. I make the mix so it just holds together, as I am throwing it in by hand.

Before I went up to the point swim, I baited the area with a few choco malts spread over an area just off some over hanging bushes, where there's a really silty area I know the carp feed.

I then grabbed my gear from the van and loaded the barrow up, as I was going to do a night or two on Waveney's G lakes point.

As soon as I got to the swim I unloaded my gear. I got my four rods out and quickly put them together and rested each one up against the fence, so they were ready for me to check the hooks were sharpened and tie fresh baits on.

I then unzipped my tackle bag to get the tube that has my ready tied chods in plus a small terminal container which has all my bits in and my pop ups which are soaking in a small container.

I open the lids and lay them on my cool bag so I can get at them easy.

The Rig: That's simple these days - the running chod rig. I use 10ft of 45lb leadcore and have it running 8ft, bottom bead sits 1ft away from the lead and the top bead sits 1ft from the top end of the leadcore. So when I cast it outits always sitting sweet, so I know I am always fishing 100%. This rig is awesome for fishing over the dirty/weedy areas of the lake!

I will be going into more detail on this rig in later blogs, step by steps on how to tie this awesome rig up properly, plus if you're interested before that, you can always look in back issues of advanced carp fishing magazine, as I write for them every month.

I then grabbed the first rod and checked to make sure the hook is sharp, if you don't they won't be able to do its job properly, remember to do this if in doubt tie a new rig on.

I like to get all my rods ready first before I cast out, why I do this is so all the noise is done in one go, think if you do each rod one at a time, there will be a lot of noise over a longer period!

All rods out and rocking. Just Mr carp to come suck it and see..

I was sitting down talking on the phone to a mate, when there was a several bleeps, going to go mate I am in, then all hell let loose as one of my rods burst into life as a carp made off with one of my hook bait.

As I gently pull into the carp it shot off and took around 15yrds off line of me, so I let him run but kept tension on the spool with my finger as i had my clutch set pukka!

Then the fish showed me his power as he kited left and headed towards the far margin near the over hangs and took some more line, I then thought bet this is one of the better ones!

He carried on kiting more left, I then started to gain some line but the rod a still will bent as he showed me who's the boss.

After this show of power I knew he was a big one, please stay on!

He then came in close and ploughed up and down the margins as I held on and prayed to the carp gods he didn't come off!!

After about 5 minutes of him of him playing in the margins, I caught a glimpse of him, a dark long old linear, which I recognised as the half linear a real old G lake original.

Anyway he went in the net first go and I phoned Russell one of the bailiffs if he would come do me the honours cheers Russ.

As you can see in the pictures, it's an awesome creature.

Rod back out and bivvy set up.

I later had another fish of 17lb mirror.

After dark I laid on my bedchair watching a film etc on my DVD player, this makes the long nights easier and entertaining, funny when you watching a film when you get a take, trying to find the remote and put it on pause!!!

That night at 2am I had a fast take from under the ice as I knew before I went to bed the lake was frozen again.

I quickly grabbed my chesties that were ready just incase this happens, I then put my head torch on and broke my landing net down.

I then turned my buzzer off as it was screaming.

I went to the margin where the line entered the water and broke the ice with the net handle and then walked into the lake braking the ice. I broke an area enough to hopefully play the carp in.

I then grabbed the rod and put the rod tip under the water and started reeling the slack line, trying to find and make contact with the fish.

All of sudden there was an angry carp on the other end, as it surged away I laughed to myself, a night bait robber from under the ice.

Anyway after some playing around he decided I was best he got in uncle Jims net.

It's unreal what weather they will feed in!

It turned out to be a lovely 22lb common, so I popped him in the sack for pictures in the morning, where you can see in the back round the ducks walking on the frozen lake.

I love proving the impossible year after year, as I know out there some where a carp is feeding!

Get on the choco malts....

Until next time

Be lucky