24hr Rod Race -- Challenge 2
After a wee absence from fishing it was back to Colnbook Front Lake to take on the second of the 24hr Rod Race challenges. Today's task was to catch 7 species of fish from one lake.
Having arrived at the lake I could see that my chosen swim had already been taken as had most of the car park bank so I walked around the lake in search for signs of fish. The weather was warm and the carp as always were showing on the surface. The carp were never going to be a problem, what could prove diffficult would be the tench, bream and crucians. Historically I have only caught these species from the middle of the lake and when I arrived on the opposite side from the Car Park bank with a cool breeze blowing into my face I arrived at what used to be my favourite swim, a swim responsible for my Common Carp PB and Tench PB.
With Lily pads to my left and a overhanging tree to my right I set up for the challenge ahead. My targets were the Common & Mirror Carp, Tench, Bream, Crucian Carp, Roach, Rudd & Perch, my tactics were freelined bread on my stalking rod, Crab Pellet on my hair rig and maggot/sweetcorn/krill pellet on waggler.
Float/Ledger fished in 8ft depth.
Freelining Bread under the overhanging branches.
As my stalking rod was already made up I threw out a few pieces of bread either side of my swim and the wind blew them back against the edge of the lily pads and under the overhanging branches. It wasn't long before I had carp feeding on both sides. As I intended to fish close to the lillies with the waggler I didn't want to disturb that part of the swim too much so cast the bread in front of the tree and waited as the bread drifted under the branches and within reach of the feeding carp. In no time the bait was sucked under and I was into a carp. My first cast and I was into a pretty good fish as far as the fight was and I was not disappointed when I brought it to the net. 
A nice Common of 13lb 9oz to start the day.
As the swim settled down I made up my PVA bag consisting of maggots, chopped boillies, trout pelllets and dog mixers. I'm sure a few people will wonder why I put floating baits in the PVA bag, well for one they tell me where the bait is resting once the mixers come to the surface and two, with the wind blowing in my direction they would eventually feed my swim. With no more action coming from under the tree I decided to put my stalking rod away and cast out my waggler with single sweetcorn. I had already put a few handfulls of loosefeed in so it came as no surprise that the float shot under no sooner had I had a chance to sit down, unfortunately I missed it as I did a few times after that. I changed to a single maggot and this time hooked a small roach which dropped off before it reached the bank.
My bite alarm bleeped once, twice then screamed out. Tench, Bream or Crucian I thought but the bend in the rod and strength of the fight told me otherwise, another Common! However 30 minutes later it went off again this time a different kind of fight, I saw a very dark shadow come to the surface but when it turned I saw a it's white belly...... a Mirror Carp? I have seen the odd Ghost Carp and also the odd Orange Carp swimming around so when I finally banked it my first thought was Koi Carp. The photos don't show the orange as vividly as it was but for the challenge I was claiming it as a Koi.
Both sides of my 5lb 10oz "Koi"
While my ledger was out of the water I threw a few pieces of bread under the branches while I made up my PVA bag. A few Carp rose up and took the offerings, one of which was a mirror. I cast a piece of bread alongside a branch and no sooner had I put the bail arm on the bait was gone and my line was going out into the lake. A good fight ensued and as luck would have it the Mirror Carp was soon in the net! 
My third species, a 15lb 4 oz Mirror Carp
During my battle with the Mirror I had brought my waggler in to avoid the lines crossing, although the float had gone quiet it was soon bobbing about only a few feet from the bank. I lifted the rod to find a small Perch on the end and my fourth species! Having caught the carp I packed the stalking rod away and my ledger went back out in the hope of either a Tench, Bream or Crucian. I also changed my float to a depth of two feet and dropped it not far from where I caught the perch. a steady stream of maggots also went in. The float bobbed again and disappeared under the surface, a better Perch although a tiddler. Still today was about species not about size!
Although the Carp were out in force cruising the surface looking for food I had to show restraint and carry on in search of new species. How bizarre it felt to have carp cruising the surface waiting to be caught yet there was I dropping a single maggot in the hope of a roach, I even started cursing the roach that dropped before I put it on the bank before the float tilted and made along the swim. Finally a Roach that I managed to keep on the hook! Species number 5!
My Hair rigged Crab Pellet went off three more times each one being a Common Carp, all I had to do was catch two more species! My sixth species came as yet another surprise. My float bobbed a few times without going under, I lifted the rod and felt a small fish on the end. The fish turned out to be a Gudgeon! After all the years fishing Colnbrook I had never caught or heard of a Gudgeon being caught here. It also added 12 points to my League total so that also came as a pleasant bonus!
The unsung beauty of the Gudgeon!
Although a 24hr challenge I only had 9 hours and my time was almost up. Like all anglers I vowed my next cast to be my last and I was thankful when my bite alarm sounded off again, thankful as the gates to the lake are locked at Dusk and the sun was getting low. Once again the strength at the end of the line told me I had another Carp and once again it turned out to be another Common. 
Of the seven species I only caught six so I had 85% success as far as the challenge goes, but more importantly to catch my first Koi Carp and Gudgeon means that I get points added to my overall score!
Tight Lines and I'll see you at my next challenge!