New, Dutch Ocean Fresheeeeee
Tim Athey.
Barbel and Carp

After the Charity match I had a couple of more blank sessions and was starting to wonder when these fish were going to come onto there autumn feed.  I decided to give the lake a rest and turned my attentions to a small stretch of river nearby that Mark had been baiting.

Mark had lost a couple of fish from there recently and we were convinced that there were some surprises to be had from there, we knew that there were barbell present and a good chance that some of the fisheries that had been flooded recently would have added some carp to the mix.

My first session a mid week overnighter saw me catch some thing I wasn’t expecting. I had only been fishing 45 minutes when the alarm sounded 2 beeps and I watched the line cut through the water down stream away from me. Before the fish had a chance to engage the clutch I was on it and was connected to a heavy thudding monster. The scrap was short but fierce and as I had caught plenty of barbell before I knew what I was connected too. What I wasn’t prepared for was the size of this fish.

Looking at it as it sat in the net I could see it was going to possibly go over my personal best of 11lb, the width across the back was immense. I hoisted it up on the scales and was gob smacked that it went 13.5lb caught on Squid & Octopus boilies we have been fishing all season with. Mark had come down for a chat as he lives close by and has hopping about like a mad man as this was a specimen. I on reflection didn’t really get too excited as I think I was a bit shocked, once this fish had gone back safely I sat back and reflected on what had happened.


"13.5lb for River Torpedo"


The following week I was straight back down to the same swim, having missed the weekend fishing session I was keen as mustard. With the rods sorted and in place I sat back and waited.

It didn’t take long before a repeat of what happened last week occurred and I was in again doing battle with another good barbell. Everything went to plan and I was soon holding a nice 11lb 2oz fish.



I had another take about 2am the same night but it snapped my nylon hook link and was clearly was a bigger better fish and reckon it was a carp but who knows. Only time will tell.

My next session was to be more of a social, we had arranged to get down to Southlake again and as the Rugby was on and England were in the semi final the 12’ colour tellies were out and plenty of beer was consumed. We had a great night with a massive Chinese a few more beers and I wobbled back to bed around 11.30pm. At 01.10 I was woken from my nice drunken sleep by my right hand rod absolutely ripping off. As I threw my legs out of the bed and struggled into my waders I stumbled towards my rods nearly tipping into the lake. I steadied myself and struck into a heavy static fish that just plodded around out in the darkness. By now Mark and Douglas has appeared behind my swim and giving me encouraging words of wisdom, like don’t loose it and watch my lines please mate.

I managed to coax the fish closer and closer and the fish almost seemed to know the drill I missed the first attempt with the net and my heart did miss a beat but I didn’t miss on the second attempt. When I looked in I saw a very broad set of shoulders, and although a bit groggy I unhitched the net from the pole and hoisted the fish on to the waiting mat. As soon as I took the full wait I knew it was a good thirty.  Once on the mat and the hook out and the net peeled away I straight away recognised her as Teardrop. The fish I had had 4 years ago and my first Southlake carp. Up on the scales she went. 34.5lb of old English mirror. Lovely!


"Teardrop at 34.5lb"



When I caught her before I stupidly formatted the digital camera, well I got her well and truly this time. And the face says it all.

It is looking like I won’t be getting my target fish this season although I haven’t given up that 30lb common must be there somewhere. I am not fishing through the winter this year as it just not happened for me in previous years so when it gets too cold the rods will stay in the garage until the spring bounces into action.  

I intend to have a couple more sessions on the river and maybe one or two more on the lake, so watch this space.


Tight Lines until then

Timbo