Stacey and I were lucky enough to be invited along with dad and chris for a couple of days targeting catfish. The four of us had the lake to our selves which was nice and meant we could come an go as we pleased. I had never caught a catfish before and dad had only had small ones when he was a boy (a very long time ago).  We were fishing one of a few lakes located on the grounds of the former RAF sawbridgeworth. The one we were fishing for catfish is called spitfire lake and can be hired from 2-6 people with 6 swims to choose from. Dad and chris had arrived around late morning and had already had a couple of cats before we even arrived. Stacey and I had worked in the day and so arrived around 7pm. We were then franticly setting up the rods, our bivy and get some dinner down us before the sun went down. while we were setting up chris snuck another decent fish out so at least we managed to see one. It took me an hour or so to get set up properly but the rods weren’t out long before we had our first run. It screamed off and was still going when I lifted into it but I didn’t connect with anything. I thought I might have missed my first chance at a catfish and perhaps my only chance. however thinking about it after I feel it could have been one of the carp in the lake (they go to over 36lbs!) with just the big pellet in its mouth and no hook. Before long it was properly dark and to be honest both Stacey and my self were knackered after a pretty full on weekend so we turned in for the night. Once Stacey was in her sleeping bag she decided she wasn’t getting up in the night for a fish as she was too comfy. We had a couple of hours kip with one ear open all of the time for the first run. Around 11pm we had a few pick ups or line bites but nothing conclusive. It wasn’t until around 1am when I was in a deep sleep that I had the first proper run of the night. I must admit that being very asleep, a bit out of practice and over keen I got in a muddle to start with. i dragged half of my sleeping bag across the swim and  missed my shoes but I hooked the fish. it was on the lighter set up which consisted of a light shimano bait runner, 12lb line and a lovely Richard walker carp rod. The rod was given to me by uncle paul (paul maris) last year and I was told to catch him a 20lb carp on it as he hadn’t had one. I haven’t done much carp fishing since so I thought I’d give it a go here. I slowly woke up as quite a weighty catfish led me a merry dance around the lake. After quite a while playing it I managed to net it and was pleased to have my first wells catfish. I tried waking Stacey but she was out for the count so I woke dad up for some pictures. We weighed it and it went just over 32lbs. not bad for my first one ever. I re-cast and got back to sleep for a while, I must admit I could relax a bit now I had one under my belt. The next alarm call was just after 3am, yet again I got myself in a sleep induced muddle but hooked the fish.  this one was also on the old dick walker classic rod , which was creaking a bit as the fish tore off around the lake again. this time Stacey had woken up and was keen to stay awake so she didn’t miss out again. I tamed the fish after a while and soon had it in the net. Stacey had stayed awake (although not left the comfort of the bivy or her sleeping bag) and she took pictures for me before I weighed it. This one went just under 32lbs and was my last one of the night. Once daylight crept up on us and the birds started to sing so we were awake. We packed up ready to head back to work but not before dad had another catfish. This one was his biggest at 38lbs which he was pleased with. We left around 7am and dad and chris stayed on until early afternoon. After we went they didn’t get much more action apart from a small carp for chris. Still it had been a great experience and far more productive than I expected. Chris had 5 catfish one one rod before midnight when he decided he wanted a nights sleep. Dad had two catfish and I had 2 catfish so 9 decent fish out between us was good going I thought. We will definitely be back and would recommend this venue to anybody.    The lake has parking right next to it, a toilet and a bbq along with several nicely made up swims so very civilised. You can book the whole lake for two people for just £40 for the day mid-week! Booking is via johnsons ross tackle call 01992 462 044