5 Day Emperor lake trip

[tjnorton]

After hearing about these lakes i decided to book a 5 day trip.

This will be a long report so get your cups of teas ready!

I had 5 days booked at Emperor lakes it search of my first 20lb carp, sturgeon and cat fish. I had peg 2 booked known as the point peg. This is not a runs water and can fish hard but with 5 days I was confident.

I arrived just before 10am start time had a cup of tea with the bailiff Paul Power. He gave me a few hints on the locations to search for and possible fish. Paul was very held back on the info as he prefers the anglers to find spots to fish.

I was armed with a tub of mixed pellet, gallon maggot, cell boilie and particle mix. I was not to sure how the lake would fish so I wanted to keep my options open.

my home from home

Day 1

I set up in the point peg which commands the two islands and a lot of open water. After 30 mins with the marker float I had found a nice patch of gravel of the island. I then sent the newly acquired bait boat out with a bed of particle, pellet, maggot and boilie.
I had seen a few fish crashing on the island to my right but was unable to get close due to a large number of rocks piled against the island to stop the banks crumbling so this was to be a zig rig. I also baited a spot under some over hanging trees which Paul had hinted on as a possible location



The tree mark

I had both rods out one zig the other on a cell 15mm bottom bait with a cell pop up on top to make a snow man rig. I was using the new Korda captor size 8 curve hook. Buy the end of the first day I had 3 missed fish?!! I was not very happy! I was lifting into the fish the rod was bending but I could feel the hook pull. I tried everything to stop this such as blow back tube and ring.
In my hands I could bend the hook! I then swiftly changed hooks to a size 6 wide gape and waited with anticipation. Dave had a good take on a margin rod only to lose the fish after 15 mins. Was looking as though it was going to be a good 5 days.


Day 2

It was happening again I had another 3 hook pulls in the night with all baits on the bottom.

Dave friend (ironically called Dave) landed a nice 26lb 6oz carp and a new pb it was looking good for super session in the reeds corner.

Paul came round in the afternoon and I explained what was going on. He then showed me an interesting thing with the kurv hook. Paul could actually bend the hook with his hands and this is why the fish were getting of. I then changed the rigs to a size 6 wide gape which was recommended by Paul. I then waited all day in anticipation. I had noticed a few fish topping under the tree that I had baited but not fished. This was my safe mark. By 5pm I could not hold back and boated under the tree with a bed of pellet and 7 boilie 3 of them crushed






View of the islands

I had been getting liners all day on the tree mark but no take. It was not until 10.30pm I had my first decent run. Put up a great scrap. When I first saw the carp I didnt think it was a big one until I could see the side. I was then praying this would be my first 20lb!! and a simmo strain.



Unfortunately it was not to be a 20lb but a new PB at 18lb 6oz beating my previous by 3oz.

Day 3

Was a little slower I had missed a couple more runs but was a little hard during the day. I kept 5 baits going in every 4 hours. Then my mark under tree screamed away at approx 7pm. This was no carp fight I thought. Then almost immediately the culprit jumped clean out of the water! I was into a sturgeon! I then let out “oh crap its a sturgeon!” I was worried that the sturgeon was going to run behind the island thankfully she did not.


will have better pic soon

after a 25 min battle the sturgeon was in the net. It was a awesome fight. On the scales she went 46lbs. I was over the moon.

After the sturgeon I rested the swim as all the commotion would have scared what fish were there. Just before dark I had all rods back out and all re baited all the spots.

Day 4

I was woken up at 5am with my rod of the island melting. I was think this could be a cat. The fight was a slow one with the fish going left and right. After a 15 min battle a very nice carp surfaced. I was sure that this was a 20lb.



On the scales she went 21lb another new PB and another target down. At 9am Paul was doing the rounds and identified the fish as “5 scale” she was last caught 12 monts ago weighing 17lb. I was very happy now that I had done the 20lb carp.



Then at 8 am the rod under the tree mark screamed of and after a little fight a little 13 and half lb had crossed the net rope.



Still in her winter colours and looking awsome

My dad dropped my little nephew out to me about lunch time as he wanted to spend a few days fishing.
It was about 2.30 and I had been getting liners on the tree rod. I knew some thing was there but could not hook him. Then at 3pm the bait runner burst into life. After a 40 min battle I had another Sturgeon on the bank at 45lb. I was now over the moon as my nephew wanted to see one on the bank.




Day 5

After the sturgeon I rested the swim but banked no other fish or had any liners. I got the feeling that the fish had wised up the tactics.


Evening sunset

Always a nice site to see

To sum up I had a great 5 days the cat is still eluding me but I have now set more targets as I crossed two of them of. They are now a 25lb+ carp a 30lb carp and still those dam cats.

I will be back at emperor as the surroundings are amazing and fishing tho hard very rewarding. With a bit of paitence and thought I have learnt a lot about the lake and features that it hides.

Tight lines all tj

[Devon Born & Dorset Bred]

What a cracking write up...

Nice fishing, can't believe the Sturgeon.

Just wish your pictures were bigger, to see the fish better.

Well done TJ.

I bet Portland Pirate will be very envious...

[Maddison_Twatter]

Very well done m8, Id love to catch a sturgeon, very prehistoric looking fish and at 46lb aswell who could ask for more

[fishypaul]

2 PB's in one trip ? can't be bad,well done TJ

[MRG2000]

Cracking report TJ ,well done on the PB`s , i`m liking the green garden shed !.

[tjnorton]

Img bigger sorry about that. Great shed no need for a bivvy and even had lights that ran of a 12v battery

tj

[ninja_death]

Great report, love the pics and congrats on your PB's .

[Mark78]

cracking fish well done. those sturgeon are huge.

[Complete Tangler]

Lovely report mate, and awesome Sturgeon, I'm trying to find a venue a little closer to home that has a stock of these ancient beasts, any ideas would be much appreciated.

[pingu]

what a superb week mate
i'm sure you will have a cat by end of the year
and awsome sturgeon

dave