Episode
2 of “A Fishy Tail from a Lady’s Point of View”
by Carol Maudsley - DreamLake 2
When I wrote my last ‘tail’ I
said I would be back the year after…well it took
me 4 years to try it again but after just returning from
2 weeks on Dreamlakes we have booked another week in April
and another 2 weeks in August so ……………it
cant be that bad, eh!!
I would like to start this ‘tail’ by
saying no feelings are meant to be hurt by the stories
I tell, and a sense of humour is always helpful.
We set off to Bicknacre on
Friday 31 July 2009 from Warrington, Cheshire it was a
good run down until we got to London’s free car park,
the M25. We were stuck there for an hour but we had left
in plenty of time so no worries. Daz Ferguson and his party
were already in the pub and Ste Penny and his party were
having trouble with a flat tyre on the trailer – which
they ended up dumping and piling everything into the car
and so they got to Bicknacre by the skin of their teeth.
Before loading up we had time to visit the local pub The
Brewer’s Arms which was perfectly hospitable and
served delicious grub to set us on our way, swilled down
with a couple of beers/gins.
As the men loaded the trailer
with all the fishing luggage, I got acquainted with two
other fools, I mean ladies, accompanying their men on the
Anglers’ Dream. Carol Moore with hubby Eric & friend
Terry from Coventry and Diane Whinn who was fishing also
with hubby Mark from Morpeth-way. It was the start of a
wonderful friendship. The journey was uneventful other
than Terry’s snoring, and before we knew it we were
in France and sleeping until our arrival at Dreamlakes.
Once again our arrival at
Dreamlakes was met by Matt, Head Bailiff and top host,
and with organised precision the lads had their orders
to unload the trailers inside the gates near the lodge
and then bacon butties all round awaiting the ‘draw’.
Ian and I were staying a fortnight on DL2…Ian had
13th pick for the draw (his first choice was Peg 16) and
by the time it got to him Peg 16 was still available – great..home
for the week. We set off on the trek down with all the
gear – I think it took 3 journeys up and down with
the wheelbarrow. From a sun worshipping lady’s point
of view Peg 16 was perfect for me with the sun on it from
dawn to dusk ………….from an angler’s
point of view Peg 16 has a tree line, a margin and open
water. I'm sure for an angler that is good reason but to
be honest for a husband it is better to keep the wife happy
first!
Let the fishing commence………..Saturday
is always quiet after such a long journey – everyone
is tired. Met up at the Lodge at 5pm for Steak and Chips
followed by Rhubarb Crumble and Custard – delicious.
No-one can fault the food at Dreamlakes – 4 years
on and the quality is superb. I did feel sorry for Ste
Penny’s mate who had left his “teeth” at
the Bivvy and so couldn’t enjoy the Steak like the
rest of us, ha ha !
Ian didn't catch until Sunday
night – a 20lb Mirror caught on SBS Sweetcorn. Ste
Penny on DL3 had a good start that continued through the
week – he often didn't make it to Breakfast as he
was too busy catching fish! He has been coming to Dreamlakes
for years and this was by far his best trip.
Ian is sticking to his forte
of only catching at night and Monday morning at 12.48am
(yawn!) he got a 30lb Mirror caught on Matrix. Breakfast
on the Monday was entertaining as Carol told us Terry had
a fish this morning a 40lb-er and seemed to be struggling
to get it in. Carol & Eric were on DL3 on the Peg opposite
Terry and they watched him and as they focused as to what
was happening they saw his trousers had fallen down and
he was struggling with ‘modesty’ or ‘fish’; ‘modesty’ or ‘fish’.
If only someone had caught the action on video we could
have sent it to You’ve Been Framed!! Good one Terry!!
After Breakfast Carol came
round for a cuppa at our peg and witnessed me having a
lesson in (a) casting – not bad; and (b) spodding – hmmm
maybe I should stick to writing the diary!! Ian had to
hide to avoid being hit on the head!! I did net all the
fish though so I didn't do too bad.
By Monday evening Ian had
had 3 runs and lost all 3. By 11pm he had Catch No 3 – a
28lb 7 Common on Butterflied Matrix I had a good feeling
about tonight – and I wasn’t wrong – we
were up at 11.30pm; 12.15am; 2.30am; 5.20 and 5.52 with
fish. One of these was a 35lb 10 Catfish……..What
a night. And on the Tuesday evening Ian got his PB – 32lb
6 Common on Butterflied Matrix.
Weather was fantastic today – Peg
16 has no shade but I had only asked for the sun so I couldn’t
exactly complain, could I. Tuesday evening was the same
as last night and Ian caught fish at 10pm; 12.15am; 3am
and 5am all in their 20s.
Wednesday….Ian has
had 13 fish now, still awaiting a 40lb (that’s what
his goal is this fortnight). I must mention the nice group
of blokes down on Pegs 8; 9; 10; 11 & 12…didn't
catch their names but I called them ‘the Twins’ ….they
will know who they are (and I'm sure wont be offended!!).
They tickled us up by their crystal glasses, the wine and
the G&Ts – how to fish in style!! They were top
blokes, always polite and they caught some big fish between
them.
No 14 came in at 7.30pm – great
in daylight which means good photo and the video came into
use. A 24lb 2 Mirror on Butterflied Matrix again. Its been
in the 40os today. Yet again it looks like we are going
to be in for a busy night – a 15lb Mirror at 9.05pm;
19lb Common at 11pm; 20lb Mirror at 1.05am; 17lb 10 Mirror
at 2.40am and 1 19lb Mirror at 3.45am – no comment
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!!!
We made some lovely friends
this week – the aforementioned Carol & Eric,
and Terry. And also our new fishing buddies Mark and Diane
Whinn with whom we will be meeting up with when we get
home. They were on DL1 The Beach and had a successful week
both smashing their PBs and ……(sorry Mark has
to be mentioned) Diane waited until 3.30am on the Saturday
morning to beat Mark with her 43lb 12oz – GO DIANE!!
The Bailiffs for this first
week were Lonin Bojko and Adam Ledger – what Stars!!
They kept us laughing all week with their mischief and
banter. They were round by us when Ian caught a 24lb 4
Mirror and they helped and then threw a bucket of water
over Ian just as he couldn’t do anything about it – all
caught on video (maybe I should send that to You’ve
Been Framed!)
The end of the first week
came to a close with Ian catching a total of 23 fish though
not the 40lb-er he wanted. We have had a brilliant week.
Saturday morning we had to pack up like everyone else even
though we were staying another week. We still had to move
off Peg 16 and go through the draw process. We said goodbye
to everyone – a really good crowd – and looked
forward to our second week.
I watched the anglers get
off the coach with trepidation wondering whether friendships
were going to be made like last week….NO was the
answer. There was, however, one friendly face from 2005
Dave Barfoot.
Matt had a word with Ian
on the Saturday morning and they had had a no-show and
so there was the chance, if Ian wanted it, to go and fish
DL1. Ian thought long and hard and, knowing it was a hard
lake to fish, he was in a dilemma especially as he seemed
to be on a roll on DL2. Anyway……….he
decided it was a chance he had to take and so when the
draw was done Ian was on DL1 and chose Unknown - our home
for the next week (I must say I was gutted – not
only had my mates gone home but Unknown was surrounded
by trees and the sun couldn’t get through! I was
not amused!) But hey ITS ALL ABOUT THE FISHING!
All moved in to our new abode
for our 2nd week….we had Lee Rutland as our neighbour “a
7 foot friendly giant” who spent the nights with
us having a beer or two, and a competition was formed for
the week who could catch the most.
After two runs on the first
day amounting to nothing finally at 2.20 on the Sunday
morning Ian had a run and beat his PB from Week 1 with
a 36lb 2oz
beauty caught on Tiger Nut Cell Combo.
This was a very good start
and hopefully the week could only get better. The next
couple of days saw lots of hook pulls which was annoying
the life out of Ian. The next couple of days saw 14lb – 29llb
fish caught, all on SBS Sweetcorn, but still he wants a
40lb-er.
The food stayed consistent
for our second week though I must say by the second week
I was having to say no to the pudding. Mealtimes are a
good way of catching up with what is happening around the
other lakes. There were plenty of big fish coming out of
DL2, the Welsh lads tickled us up with their bets…which
resulted in Dave drinking a bottle of wine with his breakfast
(that’s the Navy for you!). And on DL3, 4 & 5
Barty kept the troupes entertained down there, always a
funny tale at the dinner table. Hope Barty is there when
we go next year.
The weather this week was
not as hot as the first – cloudy and warm, with a
slight breeze. But the breeze was pushing the fish into
our swim so Ian had high hopes. At last on Day 4 he beat
his PB yet again with a 36lb 8oz Common (Pineapple DLS
tipped with fake corn) at 6.45pm – he caught five
fish today and his wish came true to catch two at once
at 21lb 8oz and a 24lb 10. Lee was passing at the time
and so helped him out.
There is a ‘law’ in
fishing that whoever strikes the rod claims the fish so…I
would just like it recorded that my first ever PB is 33lb
6oz Mirror that I struck when Ian was next door helping
Lee out. I couldn’t bring it in (mainly cos it was
snatched from my hands by Ian! Ha ha) but also, it was
way too heavy for me. A couple of hours later Ian caught
a 35lb 15oz Common. The competition with Lee stands now
at 13-14 to Lee. The last day Ian made that 14-14 and then
not to be beaten Ian won with a 27lb mirror making it 15-14.
All good fun.
As our 2nd week came to an
end Ian is happy with how many he has caught (43 fish over
the two weeks) and can't wait to visit again in April and
August 2010 with the friends we made…Mark and Diane,
Eric and Carol, and Terry has said he may join us too on
DL3.
We have had a trophy made
for the ‘biggest fish’ which they will compete
for (this trophy is with Mark at the moment after us having
a weekend fishing to reminisce about Dreamlakes…the
biggest fish was 12lb!!!! It just doesn’t compare
with France eh!!)
Au Revoir ……and
in the words of Arnie “Nous serons arrière.”
Carol Maudsley
31 July 2009 |
