The first TNA shop support day of 2010 saw me taking the long weaving route of country roads and lanes through the Kent and Sussex countryside to Crowborough Tackle which strangely enough is situated in the town of Crowborough!

This year’s visit was to coincide with a night session on the local day ticket water known as Stream Valley Lakes. This three-lake complex is not just renowned for carp but for other species such as crucians and of course the record-breaking perch that swim around in Lodge Lake. I was booked onto Lodge Lake and was met at the venue by one of the regulars from Crowborough Tackle, who goes by the name of Big Ray who I had met last year at a previous TNA Shop Support day.

With daylight running out I quickly set up in swim one and cast out two baits. To the left along some newly shooting weeds I placed a black tiger on a size 8 Raptor hook and added a scattering of hemp and crushed tigers from the new Sonubaits Hemp “N” Hookbaits tinned range. To the right I cast a 12 mm pop up on a size 8 Drennan Boillie hook, both hooks were tied to the new weed coloured “Two Tone Stripteaze”. I then scattered about a pound of 10mm Crab and Crayfish Action Boillies around my 12mm pop up.

I then retired to bed and yet another night out under the stars. At 04:30 the slack line on my right hand rod tightened and my buzzer gave a couple of bleeps and I was out of the bag and on the rod. The resulting fight saw a nice twenty-pound mirror carp being drawn over the net cord. I unhooked the carp and slipped her back quickly. I then noticed that my sleeping bag was rather icy so I attached a new pop up rig and quickly recast. Then in true Ken Style I hit the zzzzzzs.

I awoke at 06:00 and boiled the kettle and poured the first of many cup’s of tea. The beauty of Stream Valley has to be experienced, nestled in a deep Sussex valley the two mature lakes are surrounded by forest and really are tranquil and I guess that they posses a some what spooky Redmire old fashion charm and feeling. Both lakes are only fishable from one bank and the spacing between swims is really generous and this provides ample space for multi rod set ups. Combine this aspect with the setting and a variety of features then I must conclude that to fish stream Valley as a day ticket angler that you are indeed spoilt!

At 07:00 the owner of the lake arrived and spent some time talking us through the history and stocking of the lake which is a subject that always fascinates me. 08:00 came and Ray and I took the short drive to Crowborough tackle. With the event advertised in the Freshwater Informer we expected the day to be well attended but when first anglers arrived at 08:40 we were all taken by surprise and the rig clinic was soon inundated.

Many of the shops regulars fish Stream Valley and they were soon keen to find out what rig and bait had been my particular key to success, which made for a healthy debate through out the day. Pop up rigs dominated the rig clinic along with particle rigs and anti tangle set ups. Super Sandra the shops owner worked tirelessy making sure that we, and the customers were all well looked after so thanks Sandra for a fantastic day.

The first weekend of May will be “Fishing Worlds of Kent” first anniversary and I have been invited to provide a Rig Clinic to help the weekend celebrations along, so if you are near the Kentish village of Headcorn please pop in!

At the end of May the terrific Kent day Ticket complex Monks Lake will be hosting the first of many Fishery Fishing Focus events for novice anglers of all ages scheduled for this year. The point area of Bridges lake is the place to be and will be geared to go with practical demonstrations by anglers on a variety of angling styles such as pole, feeder and float fishing. I will be attendance throughout the event where I will be utilising Sonubait products along with the Korum precision Specialist rods to fish for carp whilst running the rig area!

So if you find anything carp-confusing then pop down to Monks Lake, see you there!