Valley Of The Water Pigs – Part Two – Michael Stewart

This entry was posted on 13th March, 2014

Valley Of The Water Pigs – Part One Valley Of The Water Pigs – Part Two        Valley Of The Water Pigs – Part Three

Date: 2008/09 Venue: The Nene Valley Title: The Turbulent Years

I carried on the water for the winter; fishing the tail end of the strong south westerly, that had been blowing for the previous few months. Nothing much was coming out; in fact it was mid march until I got my first opportunity to land one of the waters residents.

I was back to being a proper weekend angler, arriving on Fridays at 6pm and disappearing on Sundays at 1pm, with the departure of my former operations manager there was to be no repeat of the four day week, so when the weather started to improve I booked a few days off work, with my thoughts concentrated on the lake. Fridays were my chosen day enabling me to fish a proper long weekend.

On the first of these ‘holiday’ days, I arrived just before first light, accompanied by Jez, we set off for our first lap of the lake, starting at the windward end, where the wind was still gusting south westerly! This bank was currently accommodating four anglers, so we didn’t hang around; we carried on round the complex until I stopped off in the swim where I'd had the two forties from the previous spring… It felt warmer, but after half an hour and no sign of life, we moved on.

A couple of swims down and I got that "feeling", it seemed even warmer in this area and I had a feeling the Carp would feel and appreciate this too.

I knew the bottom in this area would be covered in silkweed, so I had a little ‘lead around’ and after a few exploratory casts I finally found an area, around 12ft deep and devoid of weed… Bingo… this would be a starting point.



Three rods were soon in the area, both rigged up with my trusty hinged stiff rigs and both lightly baited with around fifty baits. With the flying rats (sea gulls) being a huge problem, I opted to spod out 2-3 boilies at a time using the little Gardner Pocket Rocket, this ensured I avoided and gulls and also got a nice spread.

The fourth and final rod was cast along the left hand margin and fished right at the bottom of the shelf, no freebies were added, as I was just relying on the bright orange fluro hookbait snaring any inquisitive Carp.

With all the rods sorted and fishing it was time to set up camp and more importantly get a brew on!

At 11am that morning the middle of the three rods on the clear patch signalled a take, my "feeling" had paid off!

After a spirited fight my first fish of the year was soon in the net, nothing massive but a cracking looking 20lb Common. After a quick picture she was safely returned and the rod cast back to the same spot, another fifty baits were also added over the top.

I didn’t have to wait long for another take, as at 1pm the same rod was away again, this time a lovely dark Mirror around 22lb. Once again, photo, return, re-position rods, fifty more baits and a celebratory brew!

I’d managed two fish and no one was none the wiser!

Happy with my mornings work I settled down for some lunch and as I sat there enjoying the relative warmth of the March sun, another member, Ant, came along for a chat. Ant and his partner in crime Ste, aka Ant’n’Dick had enjoyed some success throughout December, so it was good to talk.

Through my time on the water and in the valley I’d met some great people and had become friends with many of them, with Stoke Lee (Skells), Wigan Paul, Fergs, Kev(lar), Lil'Russ and Bish, to name a few.

Whilst chatting with Ant the same rod was away again, bringing up the hatrick, this time a scale perfect chunky common of 30lb was in the net! Weighing in at 30lb 10oz, it was a lovely golden spring Common and was well worth a picture, Ant done the honours and managed some great shots including some great release shots.



However with Ants presence, things were no longer under wraps and it wasn’t long before he asked if I minded him and Ste move into the next swims up, which of course I didn't. He trundled off to tell Ste about the action and to grab the gear, before he even managed to get back with his rods, I was in for the fourth time of the session, a huge tailed mirror of 26lb or so!

Unfortunately that was to be the end of the action, the wind got up, the cloud came in and the temperature dropped, looking back maybe I should have moved, but after 4 fish I was reluctant to do so!

As we entered April, spring was struggling to take a hold, the weather was unseasonably cold and conditions hadn’t been good, infact since the four fish haul I’d only managed a couple of scraper twenties. Towards the end of April I remember watching the weather, where they warned of snow! I’d planned a session that weekend and of course I rubbished the forecast! Snow at nearly the start of May… no chance! Jez and I were off to the valley, nothing was going to stop us!



I set up Friday in an area where the fish were, but it didn’t produce and on Saturday I was left scratching my head as to why I hadn’t caught. On a wander back to the car I paused for a moment in the swim where I’d previously had the four fish haul, and I got ‘that feeling again’… with no other anglers around I moved in.

Rods went out to the same clear area and with less flying rats around I could easily catapult my free offerings to the selected area. I catapulted around a kilo of bait over both rods, why the increase in baiting…? The simple answer I don’t know… but I just did!

Nothing happened that night and on the Sunday morning I was surprised to wake and see a white landscape, with huge flakes of snow falling down and onto my Evo, infact the brolly was bowing under the weight!

As I powered up my stove and prepared for the first brew of the day, one of the rods was away! It turned out to be the same Common I’d had in March! Now normally I’m not one for photographing repeat captures, but a snow Carp was too much of an opportunity to miss!

Just as I was securing the fish in the sling, the other rod burst into life, I quickly eased the Common out of the sling and back into the lake before picking up the other rod!

Throughout the fight, all I could think was how stupid I’d been, if I lost this fish I’d have no Snow Carp picture after all! Praying the fish wouldn’t come off, in what was a spirited battle, I eventually eased her into my waiting landing net… what a stunner! A leathery Mirror with one big scale on its flank, a single scale, 28lb 11oz snow carp, what a result! I must thank Ant for doing me proud with the pictures; I don’t think originally he appreciated being dragged from his bivvy and into the snow!



Whilst the snow was melting I managed another mirror of 19lb, which turned out to be my last action of what had been an enjoyable and extremely cold one!

As the season progressed I began again to do the Tuesday overnighters, but with rising fuel prices and a round trip of 110 miles they become economically non-viable.

I was having the odd fish here and there, mostly doubles and low 20s with the best two Mirrors going 27lb and 29lb. Most of the takes I was having were coming to a balanced Tiger nuts rather than boilies, it was now late summer and the fishing was getting tricky and the fish becoming stubborn. It was time to try something different…



Zig Rigs! I’d never really fished much with Zigs, but it was time I took them seriously as a way of catching Carp. To me, it was ‘lure’ fishing for Carp… anchoring a bit of cork and/or foam to catch them, really took me some getting used to, but the fact Ant and Ste were having a few on them, gave me slightly more confidence!

Armed with a section of coloured foam, an array of cork, a selection of size 10/12 Korda Kurv Shanks and 10/12lb Drennan Subsurface fly leader, I was ready to Zig fish!

Throughout August I gradually mastered and honed my techniques and managed to ‘lure’ a string of nice fish, topped by a gorgeous Mirror a few ounces under 29lb, right after the capture I remember Wigan Paul walking off muttering ‘Cork’nt’Foam, it’s never right’!



In late August I swapped the scenery of the valley with that of Spain, and a great week away with the family, enabled me to relax and re-charge the batteries, however as I said it was only for a week… As I touched down at East Midlands airport I was straight off to the supermarket to stock up with supplies, before heading back down the valley.

It wasn’t long before I was fishing AND catching once again, as on the Sunday morning another mid Twenty Mirror came my way, which was soon held up by a dirty brown (that's the colour I go) tanned Yoda!

As September came, the particles returned and I started baiting with them fairly heavily, fishing was slow to start with, but soon the ‘stockies’ were on the case! A very pretty fully scaled fish… all 7lb of it, was to be my first and last of the year, as the following week disaster struck… I woke at home in excruciating pain, hardly able to move my head or right arm without passing out.

It turned out to be a prolapsed disc in my neck, trapping most of my nerves that served the right side of my body. With the disc rubbing against my spinal cord, I was crippled, three months of intense pain meant fishing was a no go, infact I didn't get back on the bank till after Christmas.

Changes had to be made to my angling, as well as my personal and work life, no longer could I do one trip with the barrow, it would have to be 2 smaller trips, a back rest for the bedchair was also purchased and a few other changes came into fruition.

Lucklily, as I mentioned earlier I had a huge amount of friends on the water and really looked after me, rallying round to make sure I could still get out and fish effectively, without exerting myself. Cheers lads!

The Tackle Box Harrison Torrix Carp Rods ESP Stiff Rigger Hooks Ace Riggamortis Dynamite Tiger Nuts ESP Leadcore