DreamLakes, amazing and inspiring
May 2009, Tony Grove

Dear Dreamlakes,

I have never written to anyone like this before but felt I had to as my experience was one of which dreams are made.

I had been booked up with my Brother-in-law and Nephew (regulars to Dreamlakes) to come and fish DL1 for some 8 months when on the April Fools day this year I was told I was to be made redundant on 30 April (the day before I was to come to Dreamlakes). This knocked me for six and I decided that to go on holiday for a week when I needed to find work would be a bad idea therefore I reluctantly backed out. As the time drew closer my wife and family came to the conclusion that I needed a break so with my head still in turmoil I got some gear together with the help of my family and friends and set off on 1st May with the others.

We arrived and set up on Saturday. I fished Deer Dip which we were told was fishing well just off the spit. The tackle I had (reels) could not get me there and despite many attempts with different rigs and lead sizes concluded it was not possible for me to cast that far. As night fell on that Saturday I reluctantly decided to fish midwater as I could catapult offerings over my bait and I would re-assess the situation after some sleep. As I sat in the darkness, my head was filled with thoughts of blanking as I could not get to highlighted spots to catch, I questioned whether coming had been a good idea when I should be exhausting all avenues to secure an income to support my family and to top it all I have recently developed quite sever pain in my knee which requires surgery and does not afford any comfort when I am laying down, so sleeping is hard work even in my own bed let alone a borrowed bivvy in what turns out to be a childs sleeping bag (I picked up the wrong one). All in all things were not idyllic at the lakeside or in my head.

Then the most amazing thing happened, it was 01.45 am when my right hand buzzer gave me 2 bleeps and before I could get out of the bivvy was producing that beautiful monotone sound and line was streaming from the reel, I clicked the baitrunner off and I was in!!!! A 30lb Common (my previous best a mere 13lb, such was my limited exposure), Oh my god, this was amazing as you can see from the surprise on my face in the picture. All my thoughts now turned to the fishing and all my worries seemed to drift away. My excitement was overwhelming and once back in the water I returned to the bivvy and waited to see if anything else would be tempted by my bait, blow me down 5am another screamer on my middle rod, a 28lb Common.

Breakfast was amazing, Matt (Head Bailiff) congratulated me as he dished up a fantastic cooked breakfast and I felt on top of the world. Returning to my rods around 10.45 after breakfast I could not of dreamt of what was to follow that beautiful Sunday, I set the traps and sat back and waited, 12.45 first take, played for some 20 minutes producing a magnificent 48, yes 48lb Common!! could it get any better? 2 o'clock produced a 28lb Common, half past 2 produced another 28lb common followed by my first mirror at 28lb at 3 pm, life was good and I was living the dream, could you surpass this experience? well unbelievably you can and I did, at half past 3 yet another screaming run which was to produce a 40lb Mirror, I fought with the specimen and without warning my left hand buzzer screamed into life, my nephew struck into what turned out to be a superb 36lb common. Double pictures with these have provided the most amazing memories of that day which also witnessed me catch a further 5 carp to 30lb that day. That walk to the dining area was as though I was walking on the water and I could not hide my pleasure when Matt asked me the question "How did you get on today son".

The rest of the week was as amazing culminating in the capture of a 55 1/2lb Mirror which if I was not already betrothed, I would have happily married, WOW.

I caught 30 fish that week totaling 900lb in weight. I took 6 x 40's, one particular 48lb Common while Matt was uploading my pictures to his laptop would you believe!!

The staff were brilliant along with the magnificent food the guys produced daily and I still miss that breakfast.

The whole experience has given me a much needed boost and the enthusiasm and drive to sort out all the broken bits in my career.

Here's hoping this may inspire someone else.

Thanks for an amazing and inspiring experience.

Tony Grove
May 2009