Episode
3 of “A Fishy Tail from a Lady’s Point of View”
by Carol Maudsley - DreamLake 4
From Episode 1 in 2005 it
took us 4 years to get back to DreamLakes. From Episode
2 it has taken just 8 months and Episode 4 is due in just
4 months. That’s how good DreamLakes is.
Since the beginning of the
year Ian has been in training to be a weatherman…he
could tell you the weather in France on a daily basis in
comparison with Warrington, Cheshire. At least when I packed
I had all the right clothing for every weather condition
we were going to experience, ie rain, wind, snow! and sunshine.
Episode 3 commences on Good
Friday, 2 April 2010 (not an ideal day to travel from Cheshire
to Essex). We set off at 10am to give ourselves plenty
of time. Mark and Diane (our new found friends from DreamLakes
Aug 2009), were travelling from Newcastle, and they set
off at 9am. We had an excellent run down the M6; joining
the A14 and meeting up with them at Cambridge Services
about 1pm. The final stretch of the journey we did in convoy.
Arriving at Bicknacre far to early we dumped the cars
and walked to the local pub (Right out of Jackson House
and half a mile down a country lane) The Brewer’s
Arms. “Bring on the Gin”!! We had a couple
of drinks and chilled, followed by a good meal and experienced
excellent hospitality.
We headed back to Jackson
House to meet up with the other anglers, loaded the coach
(Smurf and Matt worked hard to load the trailer) and we
left for Dover at 8pm. As we pulled up at Dover Mark and
Diane had a spat as to whose fault it actually was that
their landing mat and weigh sling had been left in the
car!!! They kissed and made up – it could have been
worse, what if it had been the rods!! After an uneventful
ferry crossing and coach trip we arrived at our destination
DreamLakes. Usually on the Saturday morning you get sorted
and come back to the Lodge for Bacon Butty at 10am but
this morning we had the butty before going so we didn't
have to come back.
Sid is Bailiff on 3, 4 & 5
this week and a jolly good one at that. On first impressions
Sid is quiet but he is so game for a laugh and really helpful
with the tips about fishing, also treated us ladies right
so he’s a 10/10. We had the draw and the pep talk
from Sid telling us the "do's” and “don’ts”.
Ian chose peg one (the far end with the corner swim); Mark
and Diane on Pegs 2 & 3 and Andy on Peg 4. We were
all set up by 10am and no rain, as yet! We sat outside,
it wasn’t really cold but we were tired. At 4.45
the horn beeps and Sid is waiting for us in the van to
take us up to the Lodge for tea. Steak and Chips with Jam
Roly Poly and Custard for tea…..just what we needed.
Back on the Lake it was 6.30pm
and Ian caught his first Carp of the hols – Mirror – 24lb
6oz. He was happy as he doesn’t usually catch on
the first day and defo not in daylight. Bring it on!!!!!!!!!!
Spent a leisurely evening with Mark and Diane with a few
lagers, hic! At 8.20pm Ian’s alarms rang out and
we all darted round to watch Ian bring in fish no 2; 31lb
12oz Mirror.
Sunday 4 April Easter Sunday.
I brought with me a taste of Easter for the chosen few….Mark,
Diane, Andy, Sid, Matt, Lonin and Paul – I had one
left which I gave to Smurf (Adam) who appears to be pining
for his girlfriend, this put a smile on his face. It was
cold today and windy, but nice if the wind drops. We sat
outside all day waiting for the “beeps” – no “beeps”.
Time for Tea.
Monday, 5 April Ian had a
run at 4am but amounted to nothing then Diane had us up
at 7am with her 32lb 2oz Common. The bivvy’s roof
is completely frozen and Ian had to prise the sling of
the
mat as it was frozen solid. The fish are coming out like
blocks of ice! It's soooooooooo cold. So glad I came well
prepared (well except for long johns which I lent off Diane!!)
Smurf on DL3 had a 41lb and
a 47lb today breaking his PB sky high……even
they didn't put a smile on his face though! The fishing
isn’t doing all that well really and everyone's having
a moan. Tiger Woods on DL3 has had nothing – joke
being he should take up golf (hence I named him Tiger).
Ian painted a 26m boiley white and put black spots on so
it looked like a golf ball and made a rig, we gave it him
at tea, ha ha he loved it. Hope the golf rig brought him
luck.
Mr Ginster off DL2 eats with
us in the Conservatory. He brought his own sausage rolls
today as he doesn’t like mushrooms! So Ian is making
him a mushroom rig for tomorrow……this is what
happens when there is not much fishing going on – the
practical jokes start. Today the weather has been lovely – we
sat in the sun all day and I even managed to burn my nose
(that is the only bit that was showing!!)
Temperature soon dropped
off and we went to bed shivering with hot water bottles
and cups of soup to cuddle.
Tuesday, 6 April Freezing
again this morning but soon warmed up and turned out to
be a warm day. We decided we would “go out for the
day” so we packed up a few essentials and walked
round DL4 to the peg opposite! Unfortunately nothing was
happening there either!
The lad on the peg behind
us on DL5 (Pikey) caught …wait for it……… a
Pike! Jeremy Clarkson and his son on DL5 had a 40lb today
and the lads on DL3 are doing really well – Papa
Smurf hasn’t caught but his lads have (Smurf and
Craig); the lads opposite moved swims and have now caught.
Wednesday, 7 April woken
to the long shrill of the alarm, Ian dashes out of the
bivvy and strikes his 3rd fish 21lb 12 (still not got the “big
one”). The three lads behind us on DL5 are on “Drive
and Survive” – I've named them Cowboy; Novice
(his PB was 18lb imagine his face when he netted a 34lb!!)
and Pikey. Last night Cowboy got a bite, swiftly followed
by Pikey….they both played their fish for a while – turns
out Cowboy’s fish had swum into Pikey’s swim
and got tangled – 34lb to Cowboy and a very dejected
Pikey. Quiet all day today, the weather is turning, it's
been cloudy with light rain. I read my book and watched
a DVD – Jason Manford (hysterical). No-one is catching
much except, that is, for Smurf who netted a 50lber OMG!
SMILE! Papa Smurf and Co played cards up at the Lodge tonight.
Thursday 8 April Mark finally
got a fish at 2am – 26lb 8oz so everyone has caught
now but obviously we would have liked more. Rained on and
off most of today and temperatures dropped again. Morale
in the camp is Low! Papa Smurf caught a 50lb carp tonight
at about 11pm so we went up to DL3 to see it. HUGE!
Last chance saloon…it's
Friday, 9 April and the last day. Ian is gutted that he
hasn’t had many and of the few not a big one…he
only wanted a 40lb!
Papa Smurf snapped one of
Smurf’s rods whilst bringing one in – and succeeded
in still getting the fish in! That’s one way of stopping
Adam catching all the big ones! LOL. One of the lads opposite
on DL3 got a 51.5lb. All in all DL3 has fished the best
this week; the fish had all gone to Iceland in DL4!
Roll on the summer when we
are back on DL3 and we can catch the BIG FISH!!
Unfortunately, for Ian the “biggest
fish” Trophy has remained in the North East with
Diane this time as she won….and Matty was proud to
present it with her at 6am on Saturday morning before we
left…come on Diane “doing it for the Girls!!”
Swapped numbers with Papa
Smurf and will be meeting up with him back at DreamLakes
in July 2011! Yes we have booked 2011 before we have even
been on the August 2010 trip! They should pay me for plugging
DreamLakes so well.
On countdown now for August – two
weeks to go now and we are meeting up with Diane and Mark
and also Eric and Carol, from last year…all on DL3.
Carol Maudsley
April 2010 |
