My carp fishing experience isn’t as extensive as some but as I only started a few years ago I am still in the early stages, but let me assure that I have been fully gripped by the addiction. Let me begin by telling you that I am a woman, I tell you this because I wish there were more of the female species out there who would give fishing a go, so many think it’s boring, they are so utterly mistaken. Both my daughters love fishing and always argue as to which one gets to go night fishing!

My first fishing experience was a wet, windy and very cold spring day, I say day we started out at 2am as we were both too excited to sleep! We went to Monk Lakes in Marden, Kent and what a day it was! I had never really thought about fish, I knew they were there of course but I didn’t find anything remarkable about it. Until I saw them being caught. Now, my Fiancé, being a man, wanted to impress me by catching a huge great carp that would take my breath away! That didn’t happen on the first trip but I was blown away by even the smallest of fish! I couldn’t get over how beautiful these mirror carp were, going unnoticed under the surface, I was astonished! But not yet allowed to use his fishing gear! Despite the rain and howling wind I fell in love that day, I have always loved nature but I never realised how close you could get to it when you go fishing. The sunrise, the awakening of the life above and below the surface of the lake…

We proceeded to go back to Monk Lakes as often as possible and enjoyed fishing on Puma Lake which once it has grown up will be quite stunning. I was taught to float fish but even now I leave the birds’ nests I create to the master! Bream, tench, golden tench, roach and rudd, I was becoming the master floats woman for Kent and loving every second. My first attempt at catching a carp happened at Monk Lakes and resulted in an 81b Mirror, it was my lucky day as this fish was followed in quick succession by an 181b mirror and then a 23 and a half mirror (the biggest fish of the 5 day trip!!!) I was overwhelmed and my poor fiancé was in shock. Although I needed a new back I would have done it all again.

By Becky.