I decided to go fishing a few days before when I saw the weather forecast for the days of the session: warm temperatures during the day but below freezing at night. I didn’t know how a session could go with such a disparity of temperatures, but I grabbed the phone, called Joao Carlos and was able to arrange a fishing spot in Alfarofia.
The chosen strategy is the most usual for a session in the middle of winter. Very attractive and nutritious bait and very concentrated bait next to the rig.
At around 14:00 hours, as soon as I placed the rigs in the chosen spots, I got the first bite, a common of 6kg which was followed by another as soon as I placed the rigs in the same spot again.
In the afternoon I was able to enjoy another two bites, one of them was impressive, it was pulling with the intention of taking refuge among the reeds and I couldn’t stop it. The second one I couldn’t even feel it. The fish were showing their faces, but their way of eating required a different type of lure to ensure the bites. In view of these events, I decided to rework the rigging, reducing the hook size and the length of the bass and giving the hook more freedom to strike.
The night was uneventful, which did not surprise me given the low temperatures.
As soon as the fog that enveloped the lake lifted, the fish were active and in a big way. After repositioning the rigging I got a bite more similar to that of a tench than a carp. The result … “la colinha” on the carpet, a famous royal that gave 18kg at this time of the year. It crossed from shore to shore in search of shelter, and when I thought it was practically lost, my mates from spot 4 appeared to help me out with the boat, bless you, hehehehehehe.
The catches went on and on until dusk, with another five commons being landed, including a doublet. The biggest of 10kg, 12kg and 13kg.
Once again, the second night was very quiet. A single touch from the previous evening, but by dawn it was all about to change.
While drinking coffee I enjoyed a nice common of about 8kg, which was followed by a bite in the company of Raul (morenobd). It seemed to be a good fish but when I forced it to avoid the reeds it got unhooked. It left such a bad taste in my mouth that I decided to cast to the same spot, only with the hook bait, with the hunch that one of those monstrous carp of Alfarofia could still come out.
I had an instant bite and as soon as I hooked it, I could tell that something big was at the end of the line. After an intense fight I was able to release a huge 20kg common on the carpet. What an amazing end to an amazing session.
While I was releasing “la pepa” there was still time for another bite, which I gave to my mate in the 6th place, my friend Pedro, who together with his father did not stop collaborating at all times. Thank you very much.
At the end of the session a total of 17 bites, 11 fish on the carpet and 4 lost. Not bad for the first session of 2012….
…And all this thanks to the great management that Joao Carlos is doing in Alfarofia, where he gives us the opportunity to enjoy carpfishing, in a place of unparalleled wealth with the comforts of a gentleman. Thank you Joao for your kindness and for making those of us who love this type of fishing happier.
