John Bailey – The Kingfisher Diaries
August 4th 2009
JulyReport from Mick Germain
Once again, it seems that July is a tricky month at Kingfishers. It has been, as far as I can remember. All the Kingfisher stalwarts have caught a few; Lee Cartwright had 5 at the lifebelt at the beginning of the month up to 30 pounds. Stu Davidson is probably the most consistent, drawing them out from most parts of the lake. He is a bit of carp-catching machine that boy! Stig is another who refuses to say no to failure and has winkled them out again through sheer graft.
A special mention goes out to young Billy Dowry who caught the a common at 35 - a personal best and another 24 pound common. He's only fifteen and has been fishing Kingfishers with his dad, Five-fish John, since he was nine. It's great to see a rising carp star come through the ranks. John also had a 31 pound mirror. I had the white tip mirror at 31 pounds. What a fish - a long, lean, fighting machine which would give a mahseer a run for its money. A true Brit carp which is probably over 25 years old and one of the reasons why we fish Kingfishers.
I also had a lovely 26.08 pound mirror which was one of the Mark Simmonds fish, introduced about 5 years ago, called 10 pin. These ‘Simmos' are really starting to grow and Stu Stig and myself have had some pearlers lately. It's a good sign for the future.
Most of us have caught tench nearly every time we have been down in the 6 to 9 pound bracket. I don't mind the tench - although I don't purposely fish for them - but when you're catching tench the carp are not far away, so it's a good sign. I'm surprised there are not more tench anglers fishing Kingfishers. I reckon there soon will be plenty of tench in the 10 to 12 pound bracket to go after. So come on you tenchers, give it a go! Perhaps long range tench tactics could bring you results. Possibly a particle and boily approach being the way forward. Nash Scopex boilies are a good bet - tench love them and I should know! You might even hook one of our Kingfisher carp. That would be interesting on lighter tackle - why not give it a go. Anyway that's about it for now so tight lines and bent rods and let's see what Augusts brings to our landing nets.