Belgian carp expert Ignace de Roeck had a quick success with a new test bait, diving into the action and topping it off with a hard-fighting forty-pounder. It was around mid-May when I finally packed my van to leave my hectic life behind. March and April had been very fruitful for fishing, even though they were just a few day sessions. I can say I was pleasantly surprised several times. Usually, I only fish this syndicate water during the colder months. This time, I aimed to target the carp a bit later, hoping to catch them at their maximum weight, considering the water’s shallowness and early spawning. However, after catching the top fish, the plan more than succeeded. Now it’s time for a new adventure, aiming for a water body that poses a real challenge.
This takes me back to that memorable afternoon in mid-May, driving down the highway towards the Integra syndicate. I finally found a few days to go fishing and i had packed my secret test bait. As always, spring is unpredictable, and this year was no different. It seemed nature wasn’t ready to let go of the dark, chilly days. Long periods of rain and barely 15 degrees marked the beginning of spring, which doesn’t make a fisherman happy. During May, the turning point seemed imminent, but it wasn’t the case. We were gripped by a high-pressure area for a long time, with persistent north/east winds. The only favorable thing was that temperatures occasionally broke the 20-degree mark. Fellow anglers’ catch reports were dismal, with many noting a blank. If this continued, the carp would soon move on to their annual spawning ritual. The week before my session, the first fish were already being spotted and caught in the lake’s shallower parts. They weren’t the small ones; the first good fish from the lake had appeared. This was exceptional and indicated what was to come next. As I neared the lake, the tension rose, wondering if my preferred spot was free. But first, I had to stop at Residence Lagaert to pick up a fresh batch of new test baits. I’d been curious about them for some time, and the first impression was promising.
Upon arriving at the chosen swim, everything felt more relaxed. Two rods were equipped with the new test bait, and two with sweetcorn pop-ups.
The traps were set, both deep and shallow. At least, that was the starting plan. What struck me immediately was that the water temperature wasn’t very inviting. Even the water-skiing activity was minimal. Only the true die-hards braved the cold water. The evening and night passed in a blink, with no sign of life. At dawn, I dragged myself out of the sleeping bag, hoping for a clue. Just as I finished my last sip of caffeine, I spotted exactly what I wanted to see. It was something, and I had to act on it. I quickly reeled in one of the rods and dropped it near the jumping fish. Three counts and a donk on the rod tip. This should suffice. The new test bait was deployed.
A few hours later, the first bite came. It wasn’t the last moved rod but one in shallow water. A male mirror carp of about 10 kilos slid into the landing net. On the unhooking mat, the carp excreted milt, indicating spawning behavior. This wouldn’t last for days; soon, they’d start chasing each other. As I released the small fish, the last moved rod screamed with a monotone sound. Once I picked up the rod, there was no stopping them. They were full of adrenaline. Eventually, number two was landed. The new test bait had passed its first test. A common carp with a beautiful scale pattern. The lake was full of surprises, just how I liked it. Meanwhile, the sun was trying its best again. Despite the strong northern wind, it didn’t feel too warm, but it was pleasantly warm behind the bushes. The afternoon passed, and just as I was on the phone with Wes, our conversation was interrupted by a full-throttle take. This fish was unstoppable. Meters of line flew off the spool like nothing. This was a different caliber. When they swerved extreme left or right without gaining a single meter of line, it could only mean one thing. These were the ones we were here for. This couldn’t go wrong. After many attempts to escape, the battle finally ended. Once the carp was safely in the landing net, I saw it immediately. The big leather carp was mine again. A recapture from a few years ago, caught in Wes’s garden swim, late autumn. I unhooked the fish and let it rest in the landing net. I quickly called Wes, asking him to come over and assist. The scale stopped at 22.2 kg. The carp in question was a perfect leather carp, rarely seen in our waters anymore. Its tail looked a bit “crooked,” but it seemed to have had it all its life. Nevertheless, it was a massive carp. Soon it regained its freedom, and we treated ourselves to a good, fresh beer.
This would be the last highlight of the session. The next morning, from my spot, I saw a lot of movement in the shallow zone. I needed to inspect this more closely. Upon arrival, it became clear. There were lots of carp here. Once among the fish, I experienced something unique. They were everywhere. Small, big, commons, and mirrors swam past, between, and against my legs. Nothing stopped them anymore; this was going to happen. One thing stood out: the water was incredibly warm compared to the swim further away. This must be due to the shallow zone being in the lee for several weeks. The sun had been doing its utmost to warm it up. This could almost be the only explanation for why they started spawning so early here. That this happened so early was exceptional. In the end, they could complete their annual needs without interruption, benefiting them greatly. From now on, they could return to their normal activities, playing hide and seek.
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