Spinney Pool 28-01-2014

Its back to the syndicate time with a big drop in pressure that cant be ignored. I have blanked on here since the first captures of 2014 on the fourth of this month, I have done three over night session since with no takers. With three blanks on the trot I was proper on it to got a take this session. Preparation started the night before the session with the rig wallet out and new rigs tied. Bait was already to go I just had to pick the Nut Mix up from Scott at Soar Tackle on the way to the lake. I had a good chat with Scott about all things fishing before I left for the lake. On arriving at the lake it was good to see no one else on so again I would have the choice of pegs. I picked a favourite peg of mine in the winter and started getting camp sorted. I baited a large area with the Nut Mix with the intention of fishing two rods to the spot one just in the baited area and the other just off it. Hook baits for this area were one rod with Marukyu Credence corn and the other with pop-up corn on. My third rod was to be a roamer rod with a Stiff Hinged Rig. I was really confidant I was in the right area and was sure to get a take at first light when the pressure really started to drop.

 
Time was pressing on with no takes through the night and nothing happening so far with only an hour left of my session. I started to slowly get my gear packed up when my middle rod let out a single bleep, a second later there was a serious of bleeps and I lent into what felt like a heavy lump on the end. The fish was started to take from me heading for a tree in my margin to the right. I grabbed the net and through it down the bank to the next peg where I was heading with the fish on. This worked a treat and I was able to steer the fish past the snags and then get her under the tip plodding about before I slipped the net under her, happy days. On the bank I had a nice upper double mirror sat in front of me.

The fish looked very familiar and so it should as last time I was here a couple of days ago with Colin he caught it again over the Nut Mix with a pop-up piece of corn. What’s the chances of that happening, also the fish was caught at the other end of the lake this time. I slipped her back in a very happy man although it was not a big fish it was more then welcome and a pretty one at that. I carried on packing the gear up and was soon in the car heading home with a smile on my face. Till next time.

River Soar 23-01-2014

Another go at Pike fishing was todays plans , this would the second session this season but the first of 2014. With the rivers still being very high and no transport to get to a still water I fished the only place I could think would hold some fish. This is where the river forks off. I chose I lovely looking peg which was just at the fork point allowing me to fish a rod in the side in slack water and one just on the edge of the flow. Both rods would be fished on the bottom with dead baits. My dead baits are just Roach and Rudd from Soar Tackle. I was not planning on being out for long I started at about 11 in the morning and would be fishing till about 3. I chopped a few deads up and feed them in to the swim to get a load of scent in the water. This worked well as ten minutes after doing this the first rod was twitching, after a few seconds I struck into the first Pike of the day only a small one be a good start.

Things did go a little dead for a while after this one I would of moved swims usually but I decided to feed some more chopped fish and see what happens. It didnt take long again till I was in again this time with a better fish. I had a good wrestle on the bank with this one until it was finally under control and I could take a few snaps. The top jaw was a lot shorter then the bottom and I mean a lot shorter you could see the inside of its mouth even when it was shut. Another lovely Pike from the Soar.

 
After returning this one I moved down the bank twenty yards and repeated the process and again it worked well but I hooked the same fish I just put back ten minutes ago. I know it was the same fish with the jaw and the shape of the fish, I quickly unhooked her and slipped her back in. Well that was it for today a well enjoyed session, till next time.......

Spinney Pool 04-01-2014

2014 is here and its time to get on the bank and catch some fish. On arriving at the lake I was happy to find it empty, I had a couple of walks round the lake but no real signs of anything so I decided to set up on the back of the wind and fish to the other side this is where I thought the fish would be holding up. I got the gear on the barrow and walked round to the low bank. I posited myself in the middle of the bank allowing me to spread the rods if I needed to. The main bait for this session was to be Soar Tackles Nut Mix.

 
I had around five kilo with me this might sound a lot of this time of year but I will only be putting out half the mix to start with and topping it up if I feel the need. The spot I will be fishing is between two pegs on the opposite bank, the depth here is around eight to ten feet. Instead of putting the bait in one area I spread it in a line for twenty yards and around five yards wide this would allow me to fish on the mix and both sides of it and a good chance of a double pick up. Also if anything did come in for a feed I would have a better chance of getting a bite. Hook baits would start different and if one produced all would change to that one. The first rod was fished with Marukyu Credence Corn on a short Fluorocarbon rig the second rod was fished with a special Pop-up on a stiff-hinged rig, the final rod was fished with a Credence Krill Feast in 14mm topped with a single piece of corn. The weather was looking best for a bite the following morning so I made sure everything was right for this moment. The night passed with no action but like I say the morning is bite time as the pressure is suddenly dropping then rising again early afternoon. The first take came just after a late breakfast at about ten. I only got a couple of bleeps and line tightened so I lent in to the first fish of 2014. After a short battle in freezing cold water she was safely in the net and I was buzzing. In the net sat a lovely bar of gold common only a small one but who cares when there stunning after all that’s why I go fishing.

After a few snaps she was back to fight another day. This fish took the Credence Corn rod but I had no chance to change any of the other rods over as the right rod ripped off they where definitely on the bait. This time it was the Pop-up rod off and again another slow short battle with another common around the same size.

Well what to do now I put the pop-up and corn back out and thought about changing the other over but left things as they are for the rest of the session which was nearly over now, I thought I might just get another before I left but it didnt happen. The Nut Mix once again working well on here, I was happy with how the first session of 2014 went till the next time...........

Pike fishing the River Soar

Its time for some pike fishing, the first session of the year. I went with a friend of mine Colin for a walk along the River Soar. It was not long until the rods were out in some likely places but nothing was happening. I said to Colin come on lets get up stream to the weir and have a go. We made the ten minute walk to the weir island where we both settled in the same peg. I was fishing a dead Roach on the bottom using a light running rig set up, Colin was using a pike float letting the bait drift around in the strong current. It didnt take long for the first taker, my rod tip started to twitch before line was being stripped off the reel.

The runner was set very slack so what ever picked the bait could run with without feeling the resistance. It was a great little battle in the strong current, it was only a small but welcome as first fish. Things died in this spot after this take so we both moved down stream to one of the other hot pegs. This turned out to be a right hot peg that day no more then 6 takes between us in a couple of hours.

 I managed one more and lost two while Colin banked two and lost one. It was a great day out on the bank with some fish caught and great laugh had with good company, Till next time......

 

The Syndicate 23-11-2013

Not a great start to the session, five miles away from the lake and I get a text from the missus telling me I left my mat, sling and sack on the line, gutted. I will have to go get them so I turn round and head home not a happy chap. Finally I get back to the lake will just over a hour of light left and find the lake empty, buzzing. Best place to start will be the middle of the lake then, I can spread the rods out and cover more area, plus I can see the whole lake from here so if anything decides to show its self I will be able to get straight on it. All three rods are out, one with Krill Feast 18mm boilie over a bed of 10s, 14s and 18s. The next rod is a single 18mm Krill Feast on its own with a little stick of EFG 661 Ready Krill Mix. The last rod is a Chod set-up on its own again. The temperature is starting to drop now its going to drop below freezing tonight so it wont be long before am in the bag. The night passed with no takes until first light, I was in the on the right rod. It was a slow fight with the fish just plodding along until she was finally in the net with minimum fuss. On the mat I was pleased to see one of the long Commons not quite a twenty but a lovely fish all the same.

 
I slipped her back with numb hands and got the rod back out before retreating to the warmth of the bag. As soon as I was warm I made breakfast and started thinking about what to do next. I sat and watched the water with not a sign of a fish so I carried on as I was apart from a couple of rig and bait changes for the first two rods. I put on a special hook bait, one which had been glugged for so time and coated to give a extra kick see if that got me a bite tonight. Nothing showed all day long so as the light started to fade on the second night I got some more grub down me and sat waiting. Its cloudy tonight so it wont be as cold as last night. I really hate just sitting there but I had no choice, I had most of the hot spots covered and with nothing showing there was nothing to move on too. Another night passed with no action. I was up at first scanning the lake hoping something with give me a sign so I move on to it. I couldn’t sit there any longer and moved up to the top end of the lake. I left the bivvy where it was and just took the essentials with me. I put two rods out on Chod set-ups and the other on a single chopped down Credence Fruit Spice. I gave it till last light with no takers and not a single show again, I have not seen a show since Friday when I got here. I would like to stay another night, its times like these when you could just get a double take as they switch on for a short period of time. I have found this to happen quite a bit in the winter and reason to carry a second net. Till next time...........  

Guesting 16-11-2013

Things are not to plan at the minute, the last two over nighters have turned out to be blanks. This week I was invited to fish a local pit which has been closed for the last three weeks. The has had three foot of water drained out of it, been netted and electro fished to remove all carp under 15lb leaving around 50 fish up to mid 30s. I didn’t arrive at the lake till late Saturday evening and had to set most of the gear up in fading light. This would have to be approached with caution as these fish were going to be right on edge but also wanting some grub. I decided to use a small amount of bait over each rod to nick a first bite and if things continued this way I would in crease the amount of freebies gradually. My first rod was using a simple Bottom Bait Rig with a Marukyu Credence Krill Feast boilie in 18mm, with this I will be using the new EFG 661 Krill Ready Mix in little sticks.

I also put in around twenty freebies a little mix of sizes from 10 to 18mm, the freebies were strategically placed in a line around the start of an bay with my hook bait being in middle. The reason I did this is I seen carp moving round this area I was trying to intercept one as it passed. The second rod was using a Chod set-up with a special Pop-up from a friend. The last rod was again using an Bottom Bait Rig with Credence Krill Feast in 14mm topped with an Pineapple flavoured Credence Change Bait, with this I put a little bag of crumbed Pineapple Boilie`s these are a high attract boilie so there would be no need for any freebies round this bait as there will be plenty of goodness leaking out.

After a few hours fishing with only one fish showing its self my middle rod roared off. Things did not feel right from the off and after a few minutes I could not longer get the carp any closer. I had hooked a trailer which got tangled around some trees on the other bank. I had to leave the rod on the alarms and walk round the lake to the other side and cut the line from the branches which released the fish. I rushed round the lake to get the carp in the net which by now was worn out and just slipped into the net. I had foul hooked this one just out the mouth so just had a quick pic and slipped her back in.

This was the only action I received in the session which was a big disappointment as this is now three blanks in a row I can only hope the next time I put some fish on the bank, so till next time...

Charlies first fishing session 22-09-2013

Today was my lads first fishing trip. Charlie is only three and has been wanting to go fishing for quite a while now. I took him to my local syndicate where I have been doing most of fishing this year. The lake is ideal as its full of Roach plus has Bream, Rudd and Tench all running to specimen sizes. Its was a nice day with the sun shining and a light breeze on the lake. As soon as we got out the car to look at the lake Charlie was jumping with joy to see the lake, we could see the Roach topping on the other bank just where the breeze was catching the water. I did put a couple of rods out on the far margin to try get a quick bite. We both sat and set the rod up Charlie helping to put the line through the eyes of the rod and thread the float on. I cast out quickly to check the weight was correct and the float just disappeared, I thought the weight was wrong until I lifted the rod up with a small Roach on the end. It had taken just the hook this was a great start the Roach were hungry and we had a pint of Marukyu Krilled Maggots to fill them up on. Things could not of gone better as soon as the float hit the water it righted itself and was then pulled straight under by Charlie`s first Roach.

His face light up while he was reeling it in and when he pulled it out the water there was big “I got one daddy” to say I was a proud father was an understatement. We carried on fishing with Charlie catching around 20 fish and each time his face was a picture. I was also very pleased he held all the fish he caught for a photo and gives a cheeky smile for the camera.

We had been fishing for around an hour and half when I got a call off the missus to come home as Charlie`s nannar was on her way. I did think he might get bored after a couple so I was over the moon he enjoyed it.

We packed up and Charlie feed the rest of the Krilled Maggots to the Roach using the catapult which he was very good with. I look forward to taking him again and it will be Ella`s turn next year. I cant wait the future of fishing is here....