Well -- fuel pump is out on the van, and have to pull the tank out to replace it -- SO, sounds like a good time to write a few words about the weekend
Thursday. I was sort of going to break up my drive from Utah, and stop somewhere and get a motel -- however, they forecast snow over Donner summit, so I pressed on. Saw a few flakes as I dropped down through Auburn around 8pm. (They closed the road later !! -- just made it !!)
By the time I got out of the Sacramento "zoo" traffic, I just kept driving. Once on 20, I figured I'd got it cracked. A deer ran out in front of me -- then changed its mind and doubled back. It hit the back of the van, but bounced off and we were both unharmed. Had another one a few miles on that looked like it was on the starting blocks of a race, however -- it thankfully stayed put !!
I totally missed the M & M turning, and ended up calling Mary & Ed, who got me turned around and to the lake -- thanks folks !!
By the time I got there, around midnight, it was blowing a gale and was colder than a well diggers butt. I tossed a few beers down, and decided I'd better try and get the new bivvy up. I should have called Americas funniest home videos, as it was terribly funny trying to get the thing up in the dark, with a gale blowing -- for the first time -- with NO instructions !!
Finally got a "camp" together about 3am -- (Hic -- after a good few bevvies) and decided I'd at least get one rod out. Just as I was falling asleep, I got a cat around 5lbs, and decided to call it quits until daylight. Despite the wind and cold, I slept until first light.
Spent Friday practising my tactics. Target the bigger fish !! (Yeah sure !!) I got a 19, and a 17.8 -- and plenty of small ones. Tried a few different baits, however -- couldn't keep the big ones coming
After the "kick off", the night was pretty slow. Early Sat saw a whole slew of cats lurking around, and it was a while before the carp moved in.
I fished most of the day with only one rod, as it was too crazy getting doubles -- without anyone else to grab the second rod.
When Ray showed up, I went back to 2, and he helped land a good few fish for me -- thanks for the help !!
Got my 21.12 around 6.30pm, as one of another double -- the other being a 14.2. Got the big one on a pineapple boilie, popped up with a bit of polystyrene, and the other on a strawberry koolade flavoured tiger nut, popped up with a plastic peanut.
Spent the rest of the night giving Ray a "teach in", and getting a few more fish.
After Keith got back from work, I got into what I thought was the biggest carp in Clear lake. It was like trying to drag a concrete mixer out
Almost 1/2 hr later, Keith netted a 25ish cat for me -- foulhooked in its pectoral fin !!
I turned in around 2am, and had another 20+ cat during the night, before putting the rods up and trying to get some kip.
There was a buzzer going off pretty continuously -- so, I got up to find out what was going on. It was one of Micks rods, that had clearly got a little cat latched on it. The indicator would go up to the rod, and it would take about a foot of line-- then, it would drop all the way to the ground. This went on for about 1hr -- whilst Mick & Wes snored merrily away.
I put some ear plugs in, and got some Zees myself !!
Sunday, it was very quiet for me, whilst Anthony kept on hauling !! Way to go young man !!
I only put about 6 - 8 pounds of bait in during the whole session, as --- I think getting too much out there just attracts too many smaller fish.
I've always got the bigger ones from outside the baited area. I honestly think there are so many "smallies", that they muscle the big ones off the bait.
Both Mick & Anthony slammed out a fair bit of stuff -- and fished 2 rods all the time, which is why they landed more fish than me.
Look at the weight average, and you see I did 10.47, Mick 9.84 and Anthony 9.53. It also proves there weren't that many big fish around, -- in fact, there doesn't appear to be many really big fish around where we were fishing !!
Anyway tremendous kudos to everyone that attended, and organised a great weekend.
I had to go to the Chiropractor today, as I couldn't walk very well this morning, and he figures I beat myself up pretty good !! I still had a silly grin on my face as he was telling me that, as I was thinking about the way Ray was like a kid catching his first fish ever, as he played his first carp -- and kept flashing back to that strange fellow with the fly rod bent double, that kept appearing out of the bushes -- as the carp basically played him !!
A lot of fun folks !! Let's do it again soon !!
Cheers,
****.
