With yours truly nursing jet lag , I for one was hoping for a quiet afternoon but this is TopCats, so it’s no surprise that Round 9 produced some amazing fishing that in the end  produced an epic result.

The weather conditions were perfect, but the rainy season is upon us, and the lake was full to the brim. This time of year, with cool oxygenated waters the Carp are ravenous, and they were well and truly on the munch.

Personnel-wise the Summer House had to cancel at the last minute, but we put the A team in for them with Ben and Doy fishing taking their place, on the predator peg and everyone was getting concerned that their combined 20 years of experience would lead them to victory. Ben caught the first fish of the day a chunky 50lb Carp and it looked like a win was inevitable.

That all changed as Coco Beach, French Kiss and Login Bars started to rack up the Carp. There was a smattering of other species showing , Chinese Carp , Tambaqui, Pacu, Asian Redtails and Gourami. Rob( Coco Beach), was on his own in Redtail Heaven and unluckily lost a couple of said Redtails and at least one Arapaima and he was neck and neck with the Marvels at Heavens Point.

That said the Login Bar were motoring fishing the inside line from the Coconut Swim.

Paul Winchester was fishing with his wife Shona and was catching a fish approximately every 10-15 minutes culminating in a true whopper that Tadpole would only give 90lb for. I had to get my NASA computer out to tally up the 23 carp haul and it came up with a breath- taking 1095lb

This was an awesome feat by Paul who with Shona has now won the last 3 events from different pegs and although visibly doing not much different to everybody else has certainly cracked it.

Paul is now a part owner of TopCats having bought a share in the business and now works here full time so feel free to pick his brains on the best way to catch the carp here.

As ever the numbers were awesome. 6 species and 78 fish averaging 41lb each for 3200lb!! This is with one bait pack and 6 pairs of anglers fishing over just 4 hours.

I hear you ask how the experts Ben and Doy did, well they had a massive 160lb total over 6 fish and came a long way last!! In fairness to them in the match environment the Predator Corner Peg rarely fishes well.

Match Result:

As for the team event it is looking done and dusted with 3 wins and a second in the last 4 events, but the annual special prizes for biggest and best fish are still up for grabs.

2022 League Table :