With the carp rods hanging in the garage for 12 months Paddy thought it was about time he got the rods out again and a visit to a Cotswold Water Park lake resulted in a welcome return. Paddy takes up the story:

"I arrived at the lake which I'd not fished before at about 8:30pm and was greeted by Simon from Pallatrax who was already fishing and following a welcome hand with my gear round to my chosen swim I soon set about getting the rods out. However, my thoughts of getting the rods out first were abruptly stopped as rain clouds moved in quickly and the need to get the brolly up to keep my gear dry became the order of proceedings as the heavens opened and were helped along by a strong westerly wind.

A hastily erected shelter was soon in place and keeping my gear dry and I set about getting the rods sorted. Both rods were soon ready to go and as the rain eased I tied up a couple of large PVA bags and attached an 18mm glugged hookbait to my rig. Rigs for the day were 15" Gamma fluorocarbon to a size 8 barbless 'The Hook' and of course, a stonze weight, Simple rigs but highly effective.

A couple of fish showed in the now bright moon lit water in front of me as I prepared to cast and soon enough my traps were in place. A quick sort out under the brolly and a cup of coffee soon had me feeling 'at home' again and after a while I was soon tucked up in my bag drifting off to sleep with thoughts of an alram ringing in my head.

I awoke about 5am to watch the water and take in the swim which was difficult to do in the conditions of which I arrived and was greeted by a few more carp sticking their heads out. I stuck the kettle on for a morning brew and settled back on my bedchair to watch nature and the lake wake up..probably the main thing I had missed in the last 12 months was seeing a lake early hours and the activity starting which always causes the anticipation of action for an angler to grow.

6:10am and my left hand alarm screams into life and jolts me from my day dreaming. Within seconds I'm on the rod and as soon as I lifted into the fish I could tell it was a good fish. Happy thoughts soon turned to ones of concern as the fish found a weedbed and everything locked up! I continued to apply steady firm pressure as I felt the fish and giving it a bit of extra heave I was soon back in control as it came away from the weedbed. A great scrap of some 10 minutes followed and as it got closer I soon caught a glimpse of my prize in the crystal clear margins. A few more lunges from the fish created a few tense moments but soon the fish was in the net, and what a fish! A quick shout to Simon and Tim in the next peg raised them from their carpy dreams and following a few comments about my fortune and parental details I was soon to be told the news as Simon read out the weight as I lifted the fish on the scales... 33.8 ..welcome back Paddy! A few quick shots were fired off and soon I was releasing it back to the lake with a smile on my face that stayed all day.

A fresh bait and bag was soon back on the same spot and I watched the water with hightened anticipation and the desire to get another run was soon burning. My passion was back after that first fish and I tied a few rigs whilst ducking the rain showers and holding onto the brolly as the wind increased in strength through the day.  The early morning start soon grabbed hold of my eyelids and at about 1pm I decided to have a well earned kip and soon fell into a carpy dream as the wind battered my brolly.

After what seemed like just a few minutes of dozing I was jolted from my sleep by my left hand alarm singing a one toner again.. yehaa, in again! The screaming delk had raised Simon and Tim next door and as I battled my second carp more questioning of parental status followed! Another strong fight continued and was slightly hindered by a big ball of weed on the line making it difficult to get the fishes head up as it came within netting distance however a bit of firm pressure soon had another big common nestling in the folds of the net... My broad smile grew further as I looked down on another 30+ common... sure enough, Simon was soon reading out 33 exactly as I lifted the fish off the mat. A good 10" shorter than the first fish but with a considerable girth and much darker scales I was soon lifting my prize aloft for a few more shots before releasing it back into the clear waters and as it swam off I punched the air.

A celebratory cuppa was in order and I struggled to drink it as I could not stop smiling.... 12 months off and a brace of 30+ commons on my return was amazing.

I fished on for one more night and by pack up time mid morning nothing else came my way and with a typical carp head on, I was dissapointed that no more action came my way.. although those stupid thoughts were soon ejected by the memory of the two fish from the day before. I returned home with my 'fire lit' once more and will no doubt be the cause of a few matrimionial rumblings as the urge to get the rods out burns as bright as it did many years ago...