Angling Lines Blog

My dad, Terry, has known Dave, the owner of Lac du Val, for over 30 years and over the Xmas holidays, and with the snow still on the ground, we went to see him for the day.  When we arrived we found Dave already fishing and this helped with my next question which was could I join him for a day’s fishing before my return to England?  Imagine my surprise when he said yes!

He then rigged my rods up for me with his new 2011 bait, which Shaun Harrison of Quest Baits has made for him specially.  Dave had already had good results with this bait with a massive 58lb mirror on his birthday and had since landed another 7 fish in the bad weather.

He then set my rigs up for winter fishing.  Dave landed 2 x 30’s while we were watching which bucked me up no end, but I was still getting used to the way Dave had instructed me on his winter method.  I was standing there scratching my head, trying to understand; one or two bleeps on the buzzers… he then lifts the rod without moving the rig end.  He then puts one hand on the line and feels for the fish.  Dave makes this method seem even dafter as he is laughing all the time!  If he feels the fish he tightens down on to it… and low and behold… he is in!

Well imagine my surprise after my first attempt at this method,

ONE BLEEP… YES… THEN ANOTHER BLEEP!

Dave runs over to me and says “now feel for the fish”

It’s 4 below with snow on the ground, my nose is running, my hands are freezing and now Dave is asking me to feel for the bloody fish!

But to my surprise bump, bump is what I felt!

“Now!” Dave screams & it’s on.  After a wonderful fight a beautiful common of 48lb 7oz slides over the net!

My biggest carp to date had been 19lb 12oz so I was speechless and my Dad and Dave just stood there laughing.  When asking my Dad about the picking up the rod job he just said that is how Dave rigs up in winter and not many fish get way for him! Apparently he has taught a lot of lads at Lac du Val this method.

So all I can say is thanks to Dave and no more will I wait for screaming runs!

A big thanks to Dave for giving me the opportunity to fish at Lac du Val… a fantastic experience and a 48lb 7oz common as well.  I envy the lads next year with this great new bait for 2011 made for Dave by Shaun Harrison of Quest.

Russ Walker, December 2010.