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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

Bicknacre Carol; Ian; Mark and Diane
Carol and Ian April 2010
Ian 24lb 6oz Mirror
Ian; Carol; Mark and Diane April 2010
"why aye man it's cold oot heor"
Ian keeping his hands warm...
Matt presenting Diane with
“Biggest Fish” Trophy! Well Done
 
The anglers may not have caught much but I caught some lovely sunsets!!
 
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