This weekend I set off with Junior Carp Team Members Callum Wells and Ryan Dyke to compete in the Broadlands Lakes Haiti Charity Match.


The competition lasted for 24hours and was open to all ages, meaning that it was going to be a tough test for the lads who would be  fishing against adults.  All the proceeds from this match go to the charities working  with Haiti survivors.  This natural disastar is of such a massive scale that it really is unimaginable what that country is going through at the moment.  I would also like to point out that a few mindless idiots are sending around so called jokes about this disastar.  Please do not entertain this, if they were homeless and had just lost their entire family, living with no food, i am sure that even they would not be able to find the ‘funny’ side of their jokes!

Anyway on a more positive note, well done to the Beales for putting the match on, the lake was fishing great for the time of year and the tackle shop was superbly stocked.  It is nice to see a lake doing something to try and help and also thanks to all the supporters of the match who kindly donated prizes for the raffle to raise even more money.

So here is Ryans account of the match, the lads did great especially considering that Ryan had to leave to go to his Sunday job three hours before the match finished and Callum missed half the match!  Over to you Ryan…………

Broadlands Haiti Match

Graham picked me (Ryan Dyke) and Callum Wells up in the morning for the match ahead of us. I was feeling quietly confident about my chances! Graham was going to try and win the match with pike as any species counted the only trouble being with this tactic was that he might be troubled by smaller “jack” pike meaning he would have to work harder to build up a big weight. This would be mine and Callum’s first match as members of the For Life Experiences Junior Shimano carp team.

Before the draw we met are fellow competitors and talked about all things fishy! A quick photo shot was called for before the draw, we were all clear of what swims we wanted, Graham wanted one in black water bay for the pike and me and Callum wanted a high number to be at the top of carp alley…a prime carp spot! As luck would have it G got the spot he wanted and so did Callum, I was one swim down from were I wanted but was happy as I had some carpy features in front of me.

The firework went of at 1pm to sound the start of the 24 hour match, only trouble being I had only 21 hours to win as I had work so would have to leave early. And Callum couldn’t fish the night so he was missing out on the carp that came out under the cover of darkness! The match got of to a lighting fast pace with one man catching 2 carp in the space of 2 minutes! So he went straight into the lead. I was soon watching the angler one up from me have battle with a winter Broadlands carp. My second cast ended up in the tree….great start! But I soon found my range and was feeling confident with my small white pop up that was tucked up by a fallen tree. By this point G had already had a pike and lost a good double figure one in the reeds! Just as I looked down the bank to see what Callum was up too my right hand rod went screaming of and I too was at battle with a slow moving carp, however the new rod gremlins soon stepped in and helped the fish to freedom!  Just as I phoned G he had to go as another jack pike had taken his bait! Callum’s swim was quite for the time being, but it just looked like something was going to happen.

The evening soon came and went as Graham lant a further 4 pike to take his total to around 20lb going into the night. I trickled in a few spodfuls of hemp for the night ahead. Callum was still working hard as he tried to bag a carp before nightfall came. He used small PVA mesh bags to help try and pick of carp as the came cruising round the corner of the island. Peg 9 was in the lead as night fell over Broadlands, Callum had to pack up and get ready for what was shaping up to be a close final day on the lake!

I finally nodded of at around midnight, the wind had dropped in carp alley and felt a bit warmer, so I had a good feeling of a fish. At 3:30am I was woken by the sweet sound of my screening bite alarms. After a short, cold fight it looked around 7lb, I slipped it in the carp sack for the marshal to weigh in the morning. I casted back out into the darkness wondering if Graham was having any luck. Throughout the night peg 11 came alive with 4 fish! This put him well into the lead! Then..at 5:50am a tired Ryan stumbled out of the bivvy to hook into another fish! Get IN! This nice looking common carp looked around the 15lb mark. I couldn’t get back to sleep so I waited for the light to improve before calling the marshal. It Turned out my 7lb carp was actually 11 and a half lb, and my 15lb carp was 17 and a half lb! Result, this put me into 3rd place with Graham (the Jedi master) in 4th.

carp fishing, broadlands lake, carp tuition, carp fishing hampshire

Ryan showing the adults how to do it!

A enthusiastic Callum soon turnt back up to the lake at first light to try and have his say in the match! I only had till 10am to try and extend my cap on Graham which was only 8lb! About an hour into the morning Callum was first to strike with a 14lb mirror! Hooked from an over hanging tree on Solar Secret Pop-ups. It was nicely timed as the owner of Broadlands was walking past to witness the capture. 10am soon came for me so I had to pack up and hope Graham wouldn’t catch anymore pike or even a carp!

He started the day with all rods set up to catch pike, but with the pike not responding he changed two of his rods into a carp set up. After a great cast to an extremely carpy looking tree just of the island Graham was set to try and leap frog me in the score board. He was soon greeted with a 9lb mirror on the bank to put him into 3rd, and there was nothing I could do! But Callum wasn’t done yet either and another carp from the snags on the island put him to 6th, he was having a great morning as he sat on a tally of 23lb 8oz..only 2oz separating him and 7th place! As peg 9 went on to catch 3 more carp he had the win in the bag. Graham also caught two more pike to give a gap of 14lb 2oz ahead of me…who was in town working! The match came to an end with Graham coming 3rd for team FLE, I finished 4th and Callum came 6th after a cracking last morning! This was a real good result for me and Callum to finish high in the match as Broadlands is home of the British Carp Angling Championship final! So watch this space Graham, the apprentices are catching up!

Ryan Dyke


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