Brooks Family Annual Trip
DreamLake 4, 12th–18th August 2006
by Cliff Brooks

It was that time of year again, weeks of planning have hopefully made sure we have thought of everything and we are ready for our family trip to DreamLake 4. This year the ‘family’ had the regulars; Cliff (55), Harry (19), Matty (9), Gemma (21, Harry’s girlfriend) and first timer daughter Lucy (16). This was our fourth consecutive trip to the lake.

Last year, the weather had not been too kind to us but the fishing (as always) had been excellent. This year, Gemma especially was hoping for a sunny week….oh dear what a week it was, rain, thunderstorms; we even had a massive hail shower. Any way we erected the tarpaulin between 4 trees, over the picnic table in between swims 2 & 3 (the only swims we were fishing) just in time for the first drop of rain (which lasted 48 hours).

Saturday was a quiet day with just a couple of cats and a 29 grass for Harry. Sunday we started getting some bait in the water and the response from the fish was immediate, a 38.04 mirror for Harry and a 38 common for Matty plus 3 x 30’s for me to 34 lb.

Monday with patchy rain sometimes heavy, limited the amount of time Harry & Matt wanted to fish (or rather get out in the persistent rain) so, with just me fishing full time, in the next 24 hours managed 11 fish; 6 x 20’s , 3 x 30’s (32.04 mirror, 33.12 mirror & 39.04 mirror) and a cracking 40.04 common (+ 1 x 35 cat).

Tuesday, Harry back fishing properly had 10 fish, the best 30.00 mirror and 31.00 common. I chipped in with 8 fish; 3 x 30’s (best 37.08 common) and a 42.06 grass carp. Matt, fishing 1 rod during the days only, blanked. He wasn’t too bothered as the marathon Monopoly game had started with Gemma & Lucy.

Wednesday, and Matt was back on track with the biggest fish of the trip so far, a fantastic 42.14 common, 30.10 mirror and 2 x 20’s. Harry took 2 fish; best a 37.08 common. I had decided this year to try and catch one of the bigger cats, so late on Wednesday afternoon I set up the cat rod with a 22mm cat master buoyant boilee fished over 50 x 22mm nuggets. Two hours later a small cat of 27lbs was landed. A re-cast and later that day it was away again with Harry taking control. A battle lasting about 10 mins ensued with the cat taking Harry all round the lake. The tackle was a 4.5lb test curve rod, 18lb sylcast, 25lb coated hooklink and a size 2 mustard hook. No matter what Harry did, he could just not make any real progress and unfortunately ended with a hook pull. The rod was put back in the same spot and in the early hours it was away again. This time I got to the rod first and duly landed a 54lb cat, not bad but there are much larger fish in DL4.

Thursday, a quieter day with 7 fish altogether, 5 x 20’s and 2 doubles.

Friday, another couple of good 30’s; best 37.06 & 33.08 mirrors plus 12 other fish but the best was still to come. As luck would have it, the sun came out and we managed to get everything dried out and packed away. The very last take of the day was the best fish of the trip with me landing a 43.12 common, which I think is the lake record for a common. A brilliant finish and I duly got in the water for a ‘classic’ picture. We left on Friday evening as we were on the early Speed Ferry return from Boulogne, Saturday morning.

Final tally was 85 fish, 1 x 50+ cat, 4 x 40+ carp (including 1 grass), 21 x 30’s, 44 x 20’s and 16 others. All the fish (except the cats) were caught on boilees’ made by Freebies Bait run by Mark Hopper in Hastings in conjunction with artificial baits. Ground bait was sweetcorn and finely chopped boilee’s. I am not saying every week is like that on DL4 but the weather and the previous weeks apparent very light pressure helped enormously. We always fish from the lodge side towards the far bank at about 75 yards in swims 2 & 3. In swims 1 & 4 fish 75 yards towards the margins and the corners (near any overhanging bushes).

DL4, can be considered a runs water (in the right conditions) with the chance of a 40+ a real possibility. Both my sons have achieved PB’s on the lake 42.12 (common) Matt and 41.08 (mirror) for Harry.

Cliff Brooks
DreamLake 4, 12th–18th August 2006

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