Living in Yorkshire, we aren’t blessed with too many big
carp like other parts of the U.K. but one that has stood head and shoulders
above the rest has been Tyram Halls ‘Baby Baz’. A dark old mirror that has been
on most northern anglers wish list over the last 10 plus years.
I first started fishing Tyram for ‘Baby Baz’ in the winter of 2017. With a busy work schedule the first couple of years was spent fishing over nighters between work, I was lucky enough to get amongst the fish from the off. Looking at Baz’s past captures it had been a day light captures. Many of these being in high pressure and high temperatures. So assessing my chances of getting Baz on a overnighter was going to be hard work. My weekends are usually spent with my son. Being only 7 year old, so weekends was going to be tough to make time. Timing my sessions would be essential, keeping an eye on weather forecasts and when ever it looked like ‘Baz weather I would have a few days or a week off work. I was catching fish and getting a lot of repeat captures. Several times just missing or being on the bank whilst it came out, so I new I was not far away. I booked of a week work starting on the 22nd August this year. The weather forecast looking perfect. Also the same week last year one of my friends had it the same week so the omens looked good.
Turning up to the lake and finding fish at the bottom end of the lake so obvious starting point but keeping an eye on movements would be essential with the carp moving easily off any pressure. Being quiet during setting up and knowing the spots I was able to keep disturbance to a minimum. There were fish all over me until dusk then by first light there wasn’t a fish in sight. Thinking back to last year I remembered they did the same, moving round to peg 4 under the cover of darkness until around 9am and Baz seems to like it round that area so closer inspection was needed. Peg 4 was occupied but after a chat he was due to leave around mid-day so a move was on. Making my way around to peg 4 by mid afternoon, there was no fish in sight by this point but knew they would be back. This giving me chance to set my traps without spooking carp out of the swim. Simple tactics of 3 Pink Pepper pop ups over a beds of Trigga freezer. As expected the carp moved back into the swim overnight and my right hand rod was away during the night, this fish went absolutely went mental. I had it in my head all way during the battle this could be the one. It was still dark at the time so when it finally went in the net I had no idea what fish It could be. Rushing back bivvy and grabbing my head torch to find it was a long common at 29.14 ( another repeat )nice to be off mark and slipping it back after a few self takes. With the swim destroyed I wasn’t expecting any further action but with few nights remaining I was confident they would be back. Keeping a look out in my swim and around the lake I was lucky enough to spot Baz Friday mid-day. Just off the back of my baited areas so my confidence was now sky high. Baz was doing laps from one spot to next but with day time temperatures still high I wasn’t expecting much action. I was confident would be back under the cover of darkness. I had to be off in the morning to have my lad so time was running out. Morning came and no fish! I couldn’t leave with what I had seen, dilemma time. The weather being perfect and knowing I would never get a better chance of catching Baz. Decision was and luckily my dad to bring my son over to me the following morning. Knowing the Baz wouldn’t be actively feeding during the day I baited a spot on the back lake with Boilie crumb and corn and got a stalking set up ready for the arrival of my lad. Getting my spots topped up with Trigga ready for later that evening.
We had a great time stalking and ended up with 2 tench.
He was over the moon and aptly named them Terry and Tony. The time out of the
swim gave me time to think about when I saw Baz in the water, it passed over
top of a bar several times just off the back of my baited spot, so I moved my
right hand rod to top of the bar. A good spread of Nutrabaits Trigga over top
and time to settle in for night.
First light I was awoken by a few bleeps on the right
hand rod but on closer inspection finding a swan tipping up and picking baits
up off the bar. Time to put kettle on and reflect on what could have been,
thinking my chance had gone. Not more than 20 minutes later my right hand rod
bobbin lifts a little, as I look over the lake the swan has gone. Few seconds
later the bobbin slowly lifted to the top and rod slowly bent round and I was
in action. The fish was moving slow and heavy but luckily keeping in open
water. After a few heavy lunges a massive wrinkled old head popped up and went
straight into the net. Knowing instantly what fish was in the net the adrenaline
kicked in. The one I had dreamed of catching for years and 1,000hrs planning
and fishing had finally paid off. I ran to bivvy and woke my boy up, informing
him we had just caught the best fish in Yorkshire. He jumped out of bed and ran
down to net to have a look, we were both buzzing I rang all the lads up from
round the lake to help out with photos. This giving myself a few minutes to
calm down and take it all in. Luckily good friend and bailiff Jamie Price along
with Lee Upstone were on hand to share the moment. Carefully hoisting Baz aloft
she settled the scales at bang on 49lb a little down in weight but does it
really matter not one bit to me it’s Yorkshire’s finest carp.
It’s a strange feeling achieving your goal, the buzz it
brings but at the same time knowing the long journey has come to an end.
Meeting so many anglers on the lake, many which I now class as good friends.
The great times, the highs and lows of a carp fishing journey.
Tight Lines
Adam Andrew