kitty hunt

[Twiddler]

Friday 2pm arrived and I dashed out of work, drove home, packed the car up and headed to Tonbridge to meet a few friends on a catfish meet.

Traffic was a nightmare, as soon as I hit the M25 it was 2nd gear all the way up to the A21.

3 Hours later I finally arrived at my destination, Elphick fishery in Kent, to no surprise I was the last to arrive, hence I had only a very few swims to choose from.

I took a walk round the lake, saying my hello's to everybody and checked out the swims that were left.

I was torn between 2 swims, first one was one of the first pegs, nice open water but lots of vegetation to my left which was also an unpegged area, it looked like a lovely sanctuary for the cat.

The second peg I looked at however appealed to me more, an island in front of me and another to my right, so I decided on this peg, as I was told that the carp patrol between those two island.
Ok I was after a cat but if I failed on the kitten, I would at least have a chance of a carp.

Here some pics of the view from my peg

View to the left



View to the right



It was getting late so I started to set up, as I wanted my rods out before dark. Around 8.30pm Mark, who fished 2 pegs to the left of me, called me over as he just landed a nice mirror of 30lb 1oz





Shortly after we got a shout from Evan from the other side of the lake that supper was ready, I quickly set the rods up, ready to cast out after the meal.

Evan was kind enough to cook us all a stew which was delicious, we all gathered around his bivvy, filled our bellies with stew, washed down with a beer or two.

It was already dark when I got back to my bivvy and I haven't even wet the line yet....so I quickly put my hook bait on, size 8 hook tied with 30 braid, 22mm halibut pellet on my right hand rod.

I aimed to cast the right rod between the two island, about 10 foot to the right of the island in front of me.

The left rod had a size 4 hook tied with 45lb quicksilver, 1/4 of a tin of luncheon meat, placed in to the margin.

By then it was almost midnight and I was exhausted so quickly crawled in to my sleeping bag but sadly did not get much sleep as all I could hear was bite alarms going off, including mine, no screamers, just the odd bleep or about 4 bleeps and that was it.

I woke up at 5am after a very disturbed night and thought that a few fish must have been caught with all the alarms going off.

In fact, Mark was the only one who had a little kitten during the night, not sure how big it was but he said it was tiny.

Anyway, I just managed to put the kettle on when my right rod went off like a steam train and I was in big hope of a cat.

Sadly it wasn't but this nice common/ghosty hybrid of 15lb 1oz was also very welcome.




Around 10.30am I had another run on my right hand rod, again a nice common of 18lb 9oz fell to my huge halibut pellet.



A good start to the day I thought but then I remembered what the lake owner told us....simple rule on the lake...when the carp feed the cat don't and visa versa, so I was hoping that this carp was just an odd one.

Soon I found out that it wasn't a day for the cat....Cakey had a few carp during the day, despite the bright sunshine and clear sky we had.








I think the rest of the guys were struggling but later in the day I watched Chris ( a blind guy) land a nice 12lber.

Mark also had another carp of around 15lb I think.

Evening broke in and it was time for our social get together with a cracking BBQ.

Here a few pics





And not to forget the cutest guy of all.....Ashley


Chris's beautiful Labrador guide dog.

Well, after consuming farrrr to much food and ale which Gary brought specially for me, (spoilt for choice, spitfire, hobgobling,bishop fingers etc)
it was time to head back to the swims, baiting up again and getting ready for the night.

This time I slept right through and didn't hear a single bleep....I'm not saying there wasn't one, I just didn't hear it...maybe it had something to do with the one or two bottles of ale I had lol.

Cakey woke me up around 6.45am to say his good bye as he was setting off home early, so I decided to start packing up too whilst brewing up, as we had heavy rain forecast.

Soon one by one were starting to leave, I was all packed up besides my rods and chair, as I decided to fish until around 10am, still in hope for a kitten.

Then I saw some action on the opposite bank, Dannyboy managed a nice 26lb cat and 2 more carp shortly after, I'm not sure who and how many everyone caught but I believe only 4 out of 15 blanked, so all in all a great weekend.

Ok most of us didn't get out catfish but hey, there is always another time.

A huge thanks to Colin and Sue for organising this meet, Evan for a lovely stew and Gary for his delicious chilli (no wonder it was a wee bit windy after lol).








Thought of the day:

Don't forget the lobworm when fishing for cats.....and kit-e-kat only attracts 4 legged kittens lol







Elphick is a well run fishery, very clean beautiful kept nice pebble pegs and even a metal dustbin on each peg, I can really recommend this fishery for all who would like try a new venue.

[Banana Steve]

Top Report, shame about the pussies not showing up. But least you had a good social

[pingu]

well done twiddles, no cats but a couple of nice carp to make up for it

dave

[BaggieRich]

Well done Twidds. A few cracking carp there even if the cats didn't wanna play.

Next time my dear, next time.....

[fishypaul]

great report claudia,nice couple of carp there,

[KABBYCHRIS]

BRILL report LOOKS a nice place. That looks like a nice social. Thats what fishing is about enjoying yourself GREAT.

[fullcreel]

Some real nice carp there, looked in good codition too. Shame about the lack of cats, they can be like their four legged rele's; they do what they want, not what you want.
Just curious, where abouts is the fishery, I escpaed from the South east a while back and have no intention of going back, but did'nt know about that place.

[Twiddler]

The fishery is near Tonbridge here is a link

linky thingy

[Greenheart]

Looks like you had a great Social weekend Twiddles, even if the cats did'nt show. Nice brace of Commons though. Well done....

[Fishing Forum Admin]

Well done on the carp and sure the cats will follow . Brill read and picts again