A Day at Aspen – Targeting Bream, Rewarded with Carp

After filming with Mark at Aspen recently, I happened to mention to Bob and Mary that I’d love to catch a double-figure bream after Mark managed a 13lb fish for the vlog. On the back of that, I was kindly offered the chance to come down and have a go in search of my first double.

A few weeks later I checked back in with them to make sure it was still ok to come down for a session with a couple of feeder rods, and got myself booked in. After arriving and having a good look around, I chose a corner swim that gave me some nice open water, a reed line and part of an island to fish to — plenty of options and features to work with. I kept everything nice and simple.

Tackle wise I used 11ft feeder rods, light open-ended feeders and 12-inch rigs tied with Guru QM1 size 10 hooks with bait bands. Hookbait choice was our new 6mm Mini Match Wafters in Almond & Betalin (coming soon), which I wanted to give a proper test. To really maximise attraction I gave the hookbait a quick dip in Almond Betalin before every cast, just to keep that extra boost of flavour and pulling power going into the swim. On the bait side, again I didn’t overcomplicate things.

I mixed two groundbaits — Nut 365 Expander Mix and Natural Black at a 50/50 ratio. This kept the mix on the sweeter side but nice and dark as the water was still quite clear. I also added some of my go-to Almond Betalin into the mixing water as I normally do to give it that extra pull. To get things going I started with ten casts on each spot to build a bed of feed, also adding some Chinese Hemp into the mix. I kept an eye on the water but didn’t see much for the first couple of hours. 


As the temperature started to rise around 10am I suddenly saw something show out the corner of my eye. Wasting no time, I recast slightly further past my first spot and sat back with that little surge of excitement you get when you think you might actually be on some fish. About five minutes later, much to my surprise, the left-hand rod gave a big liner. Another minute passed and then bang — the rod almost pulled out of the rest and the line started melting off the reel as what felt like a steam train took off left, right and then just kept going.

Despite a well balanced setup I honestly didn’t think I had any chance. It felt too big, too powerful… and then eventually the hook pulled. I could have cried. But with bream still the target, I quickly re-rigged, recast and put another ten feeders of groundbait over the top to keep the area primed. About ten minutes later it happened again. A liner… then the left rod slammed round. This time although it still felt like a good fish, it didn’t feel like a tench or a big bream and I had much better control. After what could only be described as a proper scrap on light feeder gear, I slipped the net under a stunning Aspen carp. Not what I came for, but I do love my carp.


Mark came down to grab a few photos, I rebaited both rods and we had a quick cuppa. Then, to everyone’s surprise, it was away again. The fight on those light feeder rods was something else. Again the fish went left, right, deep, even trying to catch me out on the surface, but thankfully this time I was ready and managed to land another fantastic Aspen carp.


Still not the target species, but a beautiful fish all the same. I repeated my ten feeder casts to keep the spot going and put the rod straight back on the hotspot. Another tea later, while chatting to Marko, Bob said “you just had a liner on that rod again”… I looked down just in time to see it pull round properly into another full blooded take. You couldn’t make it up.


After losing that first carp, it turned into three carp in three bites. If you know Aspen, you’ll know that doesn’t normally happen, but I guess when your luck’s in, your luck’s in. After a mad three-hour spell the carp predictably moved off, but surprisingly the bream and tench never really moved in. Despite rotating lines and keeping bait going in, that was pretty much it as we started to lose the light. Big thanks to Mark for the advice on spots, and to Bob and Mary for letting me come down for the session.

Hopefully I can get another trip booked soon and maybe finally tick off one of those double-figure bream. And for those interested, all the carp came to the new 6mm Almond & Betalin Mini Match Wafters, all topped up with a fresh dip before casting, which definitely seemed to keep the bites coming during that hectic spell. Definitely one to watch when they’re released.
Tight lines.