TC contributor and Bait-Tech sponsored angler Craig Mortimer documents a weekend session that started off his year off with gusto.

After being at work all week and suffering from a dose of the man flu, I started to get cabin fever and the only cure for me was to get the rods out. Off I scuttled with my van loaded and soon found myself on the way to a local day-ticket water where I have been targeting a stunning fully scaled mirror, which should be around mid-thirties now. With an early finish from work on Friday, I was fortunate enough to turn up at the lake around 3pm. After a good look around I failed to see any clear signs but with the light now fading I settled on an area that is known to be productive throughout the winter.

After a very quiet but much needed good night's sleep I woke up at first light to watch for anything that could help me determine where the carp may be holding up. Just as I was pouring the second cup of tea I caught a glimpse of a carp poking its head out over the other side of the lake. It was the first thing I had seen since I had been there, so needless to say without hesitation I packed up and began to move. Savage westerly winds reaching 45mph were battering the far margin. The cold nature went against all of my carpy instincts but it just had to be done. With my rods at the ready and a few trusty hinged stiff rigs primed, I saw another show off the back of an island and stuck a bait straight on its head. With one rod definitely on carp the other two rods were cast to likely looking areas.

An hour later and the first rod ripped off. After an epic battle I happily slipped the net under what I thought was a decent common, it soon transpired to be one of the best-looking fish I’ve caught, a stunning 23lb 6oz fully. As you can appreciate I was buzzing and happy just to have nicked a bite, but that wasn’t the end, Sticking with the single hooks baits I went on to catch another four fish – a 22lb 12oz common, 30lb 4oz mirror, 22lb 6oz common and to top the session off a 14lb 4oz angry little common.

It just goes to show you that even in the depths of winter with the right knowledge, a keen eye and a desire to catch, the results are there to be had and I for one will remember it as one of the best January sessions I’ve had.

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