A Session to Remember
By Adrian Fautley
After arriving for a 24-hour stint on my local club water, it didn’t take long for a clear pattern to emerge. Fish were cruising the margins—tight, deliberate, and regular. Not the odd wanderer, but a steady procession of carp using the edges as a highway. It was exactly the kind of carp behaviour you can’t ignore.
Rather than overcomplicate things or chase them around the lake, I stuck to the basics. Two traps were positioned quietly, one either side of the swim, with the rod tips pulled right back to keep everything low, subtle, and pressure-free. No theatrics, no disturbance—just clean, efficient carp angling built around observation and confidence.
The First-Light Meltdown
Dawn on a carp lake is always full of anticipation, but this session delivered something special. As first light crept across the water, one of the margin rods absolutely tore off—no liners, no hesitation, just a full-blooded carp fishing meltdown.
What followed was an epic battle on the EX10 Plus. Anyone who’s used these carp rods knows exactly what they’re capable of: they bend forever, and big fish make them come alive. This fish certainly did. Heavy lunges, long surges, and that unmistakable weight that instantly tells you you’re connected to something special.
Eventually, after a proper scrap, she rolled over the net cord—a stunning 35lb club-water carp and a fish I won’t forget in a hurry.
The D-Rig That Did the Damage
The ever-reliable D-rig proved its worth yet again. When I checked the hook hold, it was exactly where you want it—bottom lip, nailed, and never going anywhere. A simple, dependable carp rig doing exactly what it’s designed to do.
In modern carp fishing, confidence in your presentation is everything, and the D-rig continues to be one of the most effective setups for tricky margin feeders and pressured carp alike.
Observation, Restraint & Confidence
This wasn’t a session built on luck. It was built on observation, restraint, and confidence in the basics. Spot the fish, set the traps, stay quiet, and let the carp make the mistake.
Sometimes, the simplest approach produces the most memorable results.
And when it all comes together, you end up with a session to remember—and a 35lb mirror carp to prove it.
