Put the Kettle On

It must have been about a minute after I switched the engine off at the gates that Martins car pulled in behind mine, and he switched off and walked over to me. "Owdo, get the kettle on then", his normal greeting. The kettle and stove were buried under about a ton of gear, and I wasn't going to start unpacking it all until I was in the car park, but I had anticipated this request, and had brought a flask with me to keep us going until we were settled in the swims. "Coffee do then?" I asked presenting the flask, and I was immediately presented with the mug.

We had just had time to drink it when the fishery owner strode along the drive with the keys to let us in. Another 2 cars had pulled up behind us in the queue, and I knew it was going to be the usual race to the best swims available. Forget unloading, pay later, grab a chair and leg it.

As we turned the corner to our desired swims, the sight of green bivvies covered in dew greeted us and we knew we were going to have to back track to find an alternative swim. We really wanted 3 together, it really helps when you want to make as many teas and coffees as we get through and not walk half a mile with them. We had just passed the only 3 and were now being followed by the anglers who arrived after us.

A quick about turn and dropped into the left and rightmost of the three, hoping that the middle one would stay available for David's arrival this evening. The other anglers came past muttering something under their breaths, was that "Good morning"? I don't think so. Now back to the cars for the rest of the gear. Anyone would have thought we were there for at least a week, watching us shift four barrows full of gear from the cars. Well, you don't want to leave anything behind that you may need do you?

Another hour and we were set up and fishing, the kettle on for the first of many times, and the weekend stretched before us. High in expectations, we awaited the first run. I had phoned in advance and spoken to Gerry about the baits that were catching, and then, as I so often do, decided on something completely different. I hate using the same as everyone else. I had been told that fruit flavours were doing the best, and so settled on chocolate malt and scopex dip. After a few hours, not one other angler that I could see on the lake had caught, and so my confidence in the bait selection grew even more. It was a hot day and the fish could be seen as they so often are at Whelford, just hanging under the surface and not in the slightest bit interested in feeding. That would all change this evening I thought. Once the sun starts to dip in the sky they usually start to patrol the lake and get their heads down.

Evening arrived along with my brother-in-law, who then had the unpleasant job of setting up just as it is beginning to get dark. He was cheered up by the news that we hadn't caught yet though, and he hadn't missed out on anything. The kettle went on again and soon we were all ready for the night ahead. As it started to get dark, the carp began jumping and slurping in the shallows, and we knew we could be in for a good session.

"Any chance of another coffee Phil?" came the voice from next door. Why did I have the stove, kettle and water in my swim again? Well, why not, before it gets too dark to see. I put the kettle on, one of those whistling types, which annoy me when other anglers use them but I always switch mine off before it makes too much noise.

It can't be whistling already can it? No, that's the Delkim. Single bleeps. Hand over rod ready, yes…. I'm in. The rod doubled over and the fish kited off around the lake. "You'll have to sort the coffees, I'm in". Grunts of dissatisfaction and two anglers arrive, one with mugs and the other ready to grab my landing net. The coffee got forgotten though as I landed a nice 15lb mirror. I slipped the fish quietly back in and re-baited. "OK then, I'll make it" I utter as I walk back towards the kettle to bring it back to the boil. "No I won't - that's my other rod". The Delkim is making enough noise to wake the dead and the reel is back winding as the baitrunner fails to keep up. "Someone make me a coffee will you, all this is making me thirsty".

The other two deciding whether to throw the kettle at me or to help me land the fish again, go for the latter option this time, as they may want the kettle later. Another nice fish of about 13lbs. This time, Martin has given up waiting and made the coffee himself. "Not huge but a nice fish, you should try these baits" I say, just rubbing it in a little. Martin refuses to rise to it "What did you say you were using?". I have to resist the urge to reply "Bread". "Here, take a look" passing him the container with some pre-scopexed baits in it. He falls for it, not being able to see the state of them in the dark, and picks one up. "Chocolate Malt" I reply. He smells it, recoils in disgust, puts it back and then picks up his coffee mug with the same hand, a move that he will regret for the rest of the night.

"Well, at least we got a coffee in the end" he says and takes a swig from the mug. He immediately spits it back out across the swim, swears a lot and skulks off back to his swim. I start to feel a bit guilty after this and so put the kettle back on again. David hears the water filling up from about 30 feet away and immediately returns with his mug. It must have been about 20 seconds later that the Delkim screamed again and I was into another fish. "I'll land this one myself, you make the coffee". Not the most popular of comments, but he is about to start doing it when my other Delkim started off as well. Assuming the fish had crossed over the other line I call Martin for help. He is already behind me. "Grab the other rod will you, I must have crossed over it" "Then why is it going off in the other direction to the fish you are playing?" he asks. Well, you can imagine the temporary pandemonium in the swim, with two high double figure carp being landed together not to mention the odd insult being thrown about.
The fish are safely returned, rods re-baited, and I turn to David. "Where's that coffee then? I'm getting thirsty playing all these fish". I won't tell you his exact reply, I probably couldn't print it here, but suffice to say, it wasn't presented with a smile and a mug of drink.

I think I landed about 10 fish that night, and made no coffees at all. The others blanked until first light, when Martin was suddenly awoken by an absolute screaming run. Thank God for that I thought, perhaps he won't be so unhappy in the morning now. Deciding to return the favours of the previous night, I rush round to help with the landing net. As I arrive, he already has it under the fish, an absolute cracking tench of about 3 lbs. I decide not to comment and walk slowly back to my swim and put the kettle on. My turn I believe.