Try DL3 for a change
by Paul 'Richy' Richardson

This would be different! I had organised with Graham at the Gone Fishing office to go out to the DreamLakes Complex and to fish DL3. I could then do a write up on the week. “Bloody hell” thought I, the pressure was on to go out and fish a lake that I had not fished before and come up with the goods.

Fantastic…just ace! “Just get yourself down to Dover and the jobs a good ‘un” said Graham. I immediately thought of the “red mist” in my eyes as soon as I hit the M25 “car park” hmmm! I fancied it though, as I had never fished any of the “add on” lakes, only DreamLakes 1 and 2. I said to Graham that I would give it a crack and fish DL3.

I had easy driving down the M1 until the dreaded M25 when, after 4 minutes of driving everything just ground to a halt. NO CHANGE THERE THEN! Nevertheless I made it safely to Dover and met Phil, (from Jackson's Coaches), who was to be our driver and he is a sound guy. I have known him for a few years now and he has driven me on many trips. I have to try to sleep on the coach, as I hate them.

To aid me in my quest, I had 4 pints of Guinness at Dover marina and 3 more on the ferry. Cigars and 2 cases of Zinfandel were loaded onto the coach for my stay. I had met Joe at Dover, who is an ex DreamLakes Bailiff, so I knew him at least.

Another guy I met on the ferry was Steve who I also knew from a previous trip. He was with his brother Ken and their friend John. We all hit it off straight away whilst having a few bevvies. Nice one! I slept like the proverbial "log" on the coach and only woke up as we were going along the slightly bumpy road towards the DreamLake lodge. The Guinness had worked a treat! A much needed cuppa and then help to unload the trailer. I did not do much as I had left my gear over at the lakes from my July 23rd trip, so all I had was bait buckets, clothes, camera's and, oh yeah, more bait buckets! I wonder what was in 'em!

We had 4 lads from Stoke, (Blackpool) on DL3 along with Adam, who was to be my able assistant for 2 weeks and Chris, who was to be our Bailiff for the week. As I was 1st out of the draw, I asked Chris what was not the obvious question, namely "which is the best swim?", but "which were the flattest swims for my wheelchair?" He showed me 5 swims, all of which were suitable for me and said "chair". I picked 14, as that would leave the Bailiffs swim available for Adam to my right. We got set up and sorted by mid-day, as I had to get my gear out of the garage where it had been kept for me. I had established my home for 1 week on DL3, Peg 14.

A new lake to me, so a new outlook needed. I could find numerous features in front of me but what really caught my eye was a strip of gravel, 4 feet wide and 11 feet long with 4-foot depth. This was surrounded by silt and I would be able to fish all 3 rods on it and bait it up easily as it was only 45 yards out. I had no one to my left so I could angle the rods to fish the area easily.

Within 15 minutes I had the rods in position and then the spodding began. I put out 40 spods of pellet and sweetcorn topped up with 150 DreamLake Special boilies. Fish were showing at the tree line, some 50 yards to my left and they were showing in numbers!

I needed to persuade the fish to come to my banquet as a veritable feast awaited them. I had no action at all by the time arrived to go for the evening meal so I clipped up and wound in. Steve, Ken and John were in great spirits as I sat down with them to dine. Good company is a great thing to have as you can relax away from the fishing and have a laugh, and these lads were "Top Shop".

Some laughs would be had this week! They were fishing on Lake 2 and were right up for it. John was a male nurse, (handy thing to have around when you are fishing) and he removed the stitches out of Adam's "nut" as they were overdue. Fed and watered I said Ta-Ra to the lads and wished them luck.

If you are fishing Lakes 3, 4 or 5 you get a lift back up to the lakes by the Bailiff. He drops you off and you can either get some "goodies" from the Lodge shop or just go back to your rods and carry on fishing. Chris, the Bailiff opens the shop until 19-00 and then he is at his bivvy, ready to take a photo of a P.B. or give you a hand if you need it. I got back to my swim to find fish feeding only 10 yards off the back of my baited area. I hoped the bait that I had put out earlier had got the fish on the move and looking for grub. Only time would tell. COME ON YOU CARP!

I did not have long to wait as, whilst I was watching the water, I had a fast, no mucking about take to my MR. I lifted into a hard fighting fish which Adam netted for me. Not a big fish at 22-12 but a nice Mirror to get off the mark with. Saved the blank (Ha Ha). I was pleased, as it had taken off the pressure a tad. I thought about my game plan and decided to introduce 6 more spods, with 4 going over the MR and 1 each over the LHR and RHR. Before I got a chance to do this, Adam had a take to his LHR. It was off to a screamer. Adam still was in the process of letting my fish go so I wheeled around and hit the run as fast as I could. I shouted to Adam that he was in and to get his behind, (you know that's not quite what I said) in gear. I put the rod on the pod and was amazed to see it all twist about and move.

"What a gay pod" I said to Adam, "it's like a Chivers Jelly" (remember them folks?). I went back around to my swim after netting a long 16-12 Mirror for Adam.

A warm night was ahead and I got my spodding done. Adam went to bed as he was wiped, and I just sat up enjoying my surroundings. I succumbed to heavy eyelids at midnight and got in my bag. I was awoken at 04-15 by a single toner to my MR. Adam (sleepily) did the honours and netted a slightly better Mirror weighing 25-04. We put the fish back and Adam was straight back to bed, (he loves his bed does "Sharkey"). After a further 6 spods into my swim and some more boilies, I treated myself to a nice cup of Earl Grey tea.

I felt at peace with the world. I just sat and looked across the lake thinking "this is a nice place to be, better than being at the office in blighty". As the day progressed the temperature climbed to 29.2c in the shade. I had had a further take but all was lost as I pulled out of a "better" fish for no apparent reason. Gutted! All was put back to rights though as, when 50 minutes later, I landed a Mirror that pulled the scales around to 23-12. Am I fishing a 20's water I wondered? When were the larger residents going to put in an appearance?

I went to tea on Sunday knowing I was about to be served with my favourite meal, Lamb, Roasties and all the trimmings. Bang on lads. A truly awesome meal whilst you are on a fishing holiday. Fantastic! You would be "well chuffed" with a meal like that at any restaurant in England! I returned to my swim a satisfied man and had a further 4 fish come to my rods that evening, 3 x 20's and a double. It was a very hot night, (22.6c) so I sprayed all bare skin with "Buzz Off" insect repellent and just slept on top of the bag.

AT LAST! One of the fish I was after woke me up in the early hours. My LHR was off to a steady take.

I played the fish in with no problems but once it got into the very shallow margin the deep fish had no depth to use, so it kept powering out into the deeper water. I just wanted it in the net. Adam appeared on the scene in a "half awake" state to net me a very large Common. I managed to get it onto the weigh station where it registered 45-09. GET IN THERE…AVE IT!!! I was elated and Adam was in a kind of "knackered but chuffed" state. What a glorious fish after the fish of Saturday and Sunday. The photo session ensued with Chris summoned to give me a hand and to take a few photo's. I was "buzzing" as I did not know what could be achieved out of DreamLake 3… Fantastic!

I was sticking to my original plan as it was working well, spodding out after each fish and at the beginning of each session. Young Darren Stevens (Aged 12) had been around for any "tips" as he was fishing on Lake 4 and had not yet caught. This was a difficult one for me as it was my 1st time fishing any of the lakes up here, having concentrated on Lake 1. All I could tell Darren was what I was doing to catch fish and what I would do different to what he had been doing already. I could see he was very keen and enthusiastic. He asked questions and wrote the answers down in a notepad he carried around with him. I could see a potential "good angler" in the making so it was worth spending some time telling and showing him a few things… I had 2 fish whilst he was talking to me so I think he thought I knew what I was talking about, IF ONLY! Adam had a take and whilst he was playing the fish, I mentioned that it looked "weird". After a good fight, I netted the most distinctive 2 tone I had ever seen. It looked like it had been painted on. I had to have a photo of this. The Mirror weighed in at 25-06. I had a great day, catching 12 fish in total with 2 more 30's to 34-12.

A fantastic days fishing!

The next day could not have been more different if it tried. That's carp fishing for ya. The weather went from the low 30's to torrential rain and temperatures of around 20c. The fish had fished off for a bit due, I think, to the huge drop in Barometric pressure. A 18mb drop in 16 hours is a hell of a shift. I am a strong believer that the pressure change affects the fish and therefore the fishing. I spodded in the rain to get some bait spread out over the area again as I wanted to try and hold the fish that were still willing to feed. Darren came around with a handful of 22mm Halibut pellets. He was having trouble getting them onto the hair as they kept splitting. I showed him the reason why and drilled out 6 or 7 hookbaits for him to get by with that night.

He was after a Catfish and I told him a bed of pellets would attract the "Cats".

At 23-30 I heard Darren's alarm and him shout my name in a horrified strangled type of call. His clutch was screaming and I thought Cat! I quickly went around to see him getting "towed" all over the lake by a powerful force. I got to Darren and said, "You wanted a cat, you've got one". The fight was as funny as it was great to watch! I had to "grab" Darren once, as he was, literally, nearly pulled off his feet. After that, I kept my left arm at the ready to grab him and my right arm free to give him a hand if he needed it whilst playing the cat. He did a great job, listened to everything I told him and did it well. It's funny, but I felt quite proud as Mark, (Darren's dad) slid the net under the cat. I "chinned" the cat and unhooked it. By chinning it, it is easy to keep control on the cat whilst it's on the bank. I caught my knuckles a couple of times but without a cat glove, it was the best I could do. Julie, (Darren's mum) was ready with the camera with Mark dashing around like a Blue Arsed Fly! I gave Darren the cat and we got the photos done. A fish not to forget as it went 38-08. Not bad for your 1st cat at 12 years of age.

I went back to my swim for some much needed kip and was awoken by Darren again after only 10 minutes of shut-eye saying his dad was into a MONSTER that he could not move and that it felt like a bag of cement! Could I come around to help? (Have you ever been woken up by a young lad, asking for help with a headtorch shining full in your face? It is an experience in self-control, believe me). Darren and I got around to Mark to find that the "bag of cement" had indeed been landed. The 'monster' was a Common which I guessed at 23ish. It weighed in at 22-08 with Mark saying, "I don't believe that". HE DID'NT BELIEVE THAT! The words I muttered as I went back to my bivvy were slightly more guttural!

I had a slow day on the Tuesday, only accounting for 4 fish. Time to give 'em some more grub me thinks.

Wednesday started off well with a take in the dark from a scale and fin perfect Common weighing 32-14. The baiting up was looking like it was going to kick in. The other lads on the lake who were fishing the other bank were struggling. It looked like Blackpool Illuminations on that bank at night and I do know that fish do not like lights during the dark and they also have a severe distaste towards noise. I think their catch rates reflected this. Lad's… Walkie-Talkies are a great invention, they are cheap and they save your tonsils. Buy a set of 4 by all "chipping in". That way you can keep in touch with your mates without keeping in touch with all the other anglers on the lake at the same time! Up until the evening meal on the Wednesday I had taken 6 fish including 2 x 30lb+ Commons. Nice! At tea, Adam decided to join the lads and I on our table. He not only decided to to tell us all how to fish and where we were going wrong, but he came out with the funniest 2 quotes in rapid succession that I had ever heard.

1. "Did you hear the lightning last night"? Whilst we (The Lads) were picking ourselves up off the floor with sides splitting he followed up with,
2. "He who laughs last…laughs last! Well that did it, Ken nearly choked on his dinner, Steve and John were howling and I nearly spilt my wine. We just fell about laughing. We were in bits. Adamski had come out with 2 absolute "stormers" within a minute of each other. (He is a star at times)!

I went back up to the lake, (still aching) and I got the rods bang on. Trap's set! I spodded up big style as I decided to "let em ave it". I had a bit of a social with the "Stevens" and the 2 other lads who were fishing DL4, (Paul and his dad) up at the lodge near to my swim.

In France, when it rains and you get hit by a storm, you get hit. IT RAINS! On Thursday it absolutely smashed down. Inside the Armadillo it sounded like I was in a drum. I shot some video footage out of the door of my bivvy and it looked like stair rods through the viewer. I was over the moon. All that oxygen going into the lake and I had thoughts that the fish would have to react to it in a "healthy for the angler" way - and react they did.

In the space of 5 minutes I had 2 takes resulting in a 31-09 Common and a 32-07 Common. A nice brace to have in the rain. Adam was ace as he was drenched to the skin netting and helping me sort out 2 fish at the same time. (Nice one Adamski…you were a diamond, uncut but a diamond never the less). I was also soaked and sat behind my bivvy door after getting my rods back in. My shorts must have weighed an extra 3lbs in weight. They were hanging off me but I just couldn't see the point of getting changed into dry clothes. Fish were over the baited area and I fancied more action. The thing is… you are soaked to the skin, your clothes are a mess, you have no dry footwear and you are LOVIN' IT! I had never fished the lake before, I was having a great time and that is, to me, what it is all about. It always happens so I don't know why I am putting this in.

After I had got my rods out and in position after tea, the rain had lessened and was now a mere drizzle. It looked good and the fish were having a mooch around just behind my area and slightly to the left. I had spodded it up and was watching the fish move in. My body told me that a visit to the toilet was needed and needed now! I said to Adam to watch my rods for a minute whilst I got sorted out! Right, you all know that I had a take, that's obvious, but I heard the take as I left the lodge toilets.

It is about 80 yards back to my swim, which I covered in double quick "wheelchair" time. I expected to see Adam bent into a hard fighting fish. Not so. I arrived to find him holding my LHR with an almighty birds nest by my reel like you would not believe!

Adam was shaking as he seemed to think that I was going to go through him faster than a PORSCHE! Not the case. I asked him what had happened (I knew what had happened, but I wanted to hear a pathetic excuse/attempt of getting out of it He He He!). He was loath to let on, but I will just tell you this… I have Daiwa Infinity X 5500BR's and Adam has Daiwa Emcast's. My baitrunner's were engaged.

YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED WHEN HE HIT THE ROD NOW DON'T YOU… HENCE THE BIRDS NEST! I just looked at him and said, "Come on then, let's get it sorted". We cut out the bird's nest and hand-lined the line and the rig from the lake. A quick set up and mark the rod back out again took 10 minutes. With Adam, (The Sorcerers Apprentice) apologising until my ears were bleeding, I don't think I was too hard on the "Buffoon" was I? He made up for it by loaning me his Portable DVD player and "Phoenix Nights" to watch. Good lad. That cheered me up no end and I laughed my way through 6 episodes of Peter Kay humour as it still hammered down outside the confines of my bivvy. By this time I had no dry clothes to put on and my skin resembled a prune!

I decided to call an end to the session on the Friday by 20-00. After I got a chance to sort all my gear out and try to dry some clothes, I had a general tidy up. We had a hell of a storm today with the thunder and lightning directly overhead. It was a right racket and the forked lightning was spectacular to say the least. I have had a great week on DreamLake 3 with a superb fishing experience to remember. It was new to me, I did not know what to expect but I have thoroughly enjoyed it.

Cheers must go to Steve, Ken and John who, although southerners, were a cracking bunch of lads and with whom I had a superb laugh at mealtimes. Cheers to Chris for all his help and assistance. "Salute" to all the Bailiffs as they are a great laugh and a hard working bunch. (I will raise a glass to you all! Cheers also to the "Stevens" family whom I had a laugh/almost cry with, (ask me a question Lee, it's all gone quiet)!

Extremely happy with the result and I would thoroughly recommend DreamLake 3 to anyone who wants some action and to get their string pulled. I had a great time and, of course, I did manage a BIGGIE! So could you!

Keep them tight lines singing in the breeze,
Paul 'Richy' Richardson

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