Des Taylor’s Diary of a Countryman

The ‘secret lake’ has so much potential

FISH were a bit thin on the ground this week, but to be honest I ended up enjoying one of my best ones ever. Read on and find out why...

TUESDAY

Took my boat from the water for a general clean-up ready for winter.

My mate Ray Cutler kindly helped me, and I will repay his efforts with a few doubles of whisky in his local pub during the week. Thanks Raymondo!

WEDNESDAY

Loaded the car for two days away carping from tomorrow. The weather forecast was looking good with overcast conditions, plenty of cloud cover and intermittent showers but still warm. I was hoping the fish in Monument One would respond.

THURSDAY

Disappointed that the temperature in the night went down to 6ºC. I was greeted by a cloudless sky and high pressure, and the thermometer was soon over 25ºC.

I didn’t like these conditions, and my doubts were proved right with not a take all day and night.

Monument Two switched off as well, with only a couple of fish caught. On that lake you hit a fish on the head every time you cast in, there are so many in there, but if they’re not eating you can’t catch them!

In my heart I knew it was going to be a really hard session, and after the good forecast the day before leading up to the session I was now quite disappointed. Not for long, though, for as my old dad used to say: “Boot Hill graveyard is full of people wishing they were here with you today.”

How true a saying that is! A nice cup of coffee and a bite to eat soon had me in high spirits again. After all, I only had one run here the last time I fished the water but it was from a fish of 35lb-plus.

FRIDAY

Similar to yesterday. After a cold and clear night I was soon sitting

I only wanted one bite at Monument Two, like the one I had last time that resulted in this 35lb-plus fish. in a T-shirt but again I stayed all day for not a single bleep. I was asked the other night on my Facebook live show if I ever blank. Well, I hope these two days have answered that!

Strangely, I really did enjoy the session and meeting up with all the lads at the Monument. Tom and Harry Hales really are so switched on when it comes to carp and RH venues.

I suggest if you are fishing these places in the near future that you contact these guys, because they will help no end.

Mind you, can you imagine the ribbing I got after two days of blanking as I was putting my gear back into the car, especially as two days before I had told them I was going to ‘show these young pups how it’s done’. Will I ever learn to keep my big mouth shut?

SATURDAY

So excited to be visiting a small lake I had been invited to look at with my friend Wayne Langston.

This water had only ever been fished by a few members of the owner’s family. It’s set deep in a copse, its margins surrounded by reeds and lilies, and as we scanned the surface a big carp leapt and sprayed water for yards. I’m sure I felt the same as Dick Walker did when he first set eyes on Redmire.

The owner reckons the water holds tench, carp and roach, but with a stream running alongside the pool I fancy it to hold a big eel too. Sadly, I can’t share any more about this lake as the owner wants no publicity at all, and I am not going to risk my fishing at this special place – but I have to share my excitement with you at finding the pool.

Wayne and I are planning a two-day session here, fishing from a boat that lies on the bank, covered in leaves and filled with water. It hasn’t moved for years. Over my fishing life I have had a couple of ‘secret’ waters but this one is a very special place, I felt it from that first sighting.

We looked back over the water