Latest up date 2015-2016

Well its been a long time since I last wrote a blog, so here is what I have been up to.




Looking through the fishing files to refresh the memory I release how much time I have not been on the bank, even blank sessions are record and although there was a few of those there is not much to catch up on. The next capture I had after the last blog was from a local day ticket. The session was only a day set with Colin and Dave. The weather was still pleasant to be in and the fish were wanting some grub, the trick with this place is the fair margin as you can only fish from one bank. The fair margin is lined with reeds and bull rushers and it seems to be the tighter you get to them the more bites you get, now don’t get me wrong this is the method most anglers use here so I have been here in winter and filled the middle in for a 24 hour set and had it away just because everyone else was using small baited areas close to the reeds. Well it was an enjoyable set with Dave banging a new p.b. at the time but only after he worked for it I think that capture took six casts to get it spot on and it paid off well. The tactics were very simple and effective, a spread of boilies along the margin for 50 yards and the ever faithful Stiff Hinged over the top, I was also using a Chod set up on one rod to allow me to over cast just slightly getting the hook bait tight to the reeds which got a few takes. We all had a great laugh and bagged a few so a productive session.

The next session was again with Colin and Dave at one of Dave’s local waters for 48 hours. We walked round and checked out some likely looking areas out but we didn’t see any signs of carp. I had a marker set up with me on the walk round just to get a better feel for the areas and check the depths as the water was very low by the looks of the banks about five foot low.

 After a couple of hours we decided on an area to target and all three of us fished on the same bank. There was a huge expanse of water to go at so we could be just close enough to have a little social and all fish safely. We all got the gear set up and began baiting our areas which became a right laugh playing a couple of jokes on each other with the spomb while filming our antics, Dave got the worse of it with Colin opening his spomb a couple of times just as he whacked it out and he also dropped the spomb down to low just before casting and it empted on the floor and opened on him, again good times fishing its not always about catching. We all thought Colin would be the first one to get a bite as it looked like the hot swim but things can go so different to what to think in carp fishing the best plans can go to pot in this game.

The first bite came to me in the night a little stockie but pristine. The next bite was again on my rod the same as the last one another stockie but again in pristine condition, there is some lovely originals in there which is what we were after but the future looks good with the stockies I caught. Unfortunately that was to be the only fish banked this session, another great laugh at a new venue which I will be returning to.

Next it was time for the first show of the winter The Carp Society Show, Sandown. I did this show last year with Castaway Pva so I been looking forward to going. The shows are a right laugh meeting new and old friends talking all things fishing. I have helped a lot of anglers improve there fishing and also learnt a few new things myself its such a good feeling knowing you have helped someone new to sport. I have watched Castaway Pva grow over the last few years and am happy to say I have been with the brand from the start, the team which Castaway have now is amazing and the future looks very bright and so it should be with all your Pva needs covered. There is still new products being developed and tested by the guys, some have been very impressive and others not so but that’s why we test everything so you get the best product possible. To all I have spoke to at the shows thank you for you custom and thank you for supporting us.

I was lucky enough to be asked by Castaway Pva to represent them in the Netherlands for the Zwolle show. I love this country and have visited it many of times. Me Colin and David travelled over by ferry which was my first time for a ferry crossing I have always flown. We had such a good time in the Netherlands and as always the Dutch are very welcoming. Its was an eye opener for us things are quite a bit different over in Europe to the UK just the size of the waters out here is unreal. We stayed in a lovely place which reminded me of centre parks back in the UK. After six days out there for the three day show we where all shattered and not looking forward to travel home but on the plus side it was made better by the Deception Angling lads who had also been at the show. We had a right laugh on the travel back but boy I was glad to get home and in my own bed. Big thanks to Sebastiaan Schuurman and Yvo Klinkenberg for a great laugh see you soon boys.

The next show was Brentwood, this one was going to be a little different as we had plans to fish the nights between show days rather then staying in a hotel. We stayed on the banks of Crowsheath Fishery and tried to get a bite or two, my approach was just to use three rods on singles up to the first island. Unfortunately there was no fish out that weekend the conditions were not great but it still beat sleeping in a hotel. After talking about fishing all day it made a nice change to get on the bank. Another great show and great laugh. Big thanks to Nick for letting us fish his day ticket, well worth a visit check them out on Facebook.

Next show was Carpin On and again we had plans to fish at night between show days. This time it was Bayeswater Day Ticket and five of us fishing. When I arrived two of the guys were already on the day ticket and its was getting a little tight with anglers turning up all time. We had been told if we wanted to we could go on the syndicate lake instead. I was straight on that and got the gear on the barrow. I know nothing about the lake apart from about 90 fish in there and some proper chunks. I picked a spot at the end of the first back where there was a whole bay full of snags and a island at about 100 yards. At the time I only had maggots to bait with as I thought I would be on the day ticket , I decided to fish singles and keep moving the spots just seeing if I could nick a bite. Its was not to be and it was another blank for me but I did enjoy the experience. Big thanks to Terry Howlings to sorting this session and big thanks to Gary Bayes for allowing us on his waters.





So thats about it really I have done six nights on the big pit this year but with no joy yet. Bank time has been hard to get this year but things will change soon.

Linear Fisheries Brasenose Two

This was my first trip to Linear Fisheries, we planned to fish Brasenose One but on arrival the lake was full. There where a couple of swims on the lake spare but with two of us fishing we wanted to get close together. After a drive round Brasenose Two we spotted three swims free on the opposite side to us, by the time we had drove round one of the swims had been taken so we had to make a quick decision and decided to drop in the two swims left. I said to Lucas I wanted to be on the opposite side to this as we had a very big cold wind in our face, now some of you might be thinking well that’s where you want to be but the water was very warm and some fish had started to spawn a couple of days ago, In this situation I would rather be on the back on the wind and if they had been spawning when I arrived I would of headed off and found else were to fish.

Now settled in the swim I went through the usual stuff having a feel round etc. When I was happy with the spots I got some bait out keeping a keen eye on the water for fishing moving and they was moving and showing a lot but all on the back of the wind out of reach. I chucked a rig as far as I could hoping to snag one and this paid off a few hours into the set with a my first carp from Linear a lovely Mirror, I thought it was on and got the rod straight back out but the day passed by with out another bleep I hoped the night would bring a few bites but I was wrong.

This had not turned out like I had hoped but that’s fishing for you my friend didn’t get anything or the guy the other side of me. I will be returning for another go soon I really did enjoy the session its very different to what am used to with how busy the place is, this just adds to the challenge a bit. If you have not been because of this then I would say go have a go its a lovely place. Later that night I had a look at the Linear website for the recent catches and the guy that was fishing opposite me had a great session I thought I would of done better with the stock in the place but it was not to be. Till next time.......

2015 Update

Well talk about being behind with the blogs, I have been so busy working with a company helping them get there business up and running. I have build stands ran there media and became UK Team Manager for all of three days lol. It took me a long time and effort to build a team for the company which I didn’t mind doing as I thought we had a great relationship but boy was I wrong. I was dropped with no real reason, I was told the company feels like its holding me back and I should be working with the big boys. Poor excuse if you ask me, well companies come and go but one thing with never change my love and passion for the sport. I am happy to say am still with Castaway Pva, Soar Tackle and a new one Deception Angling. Castaway Pva have supported me for over three years and I would to take this opportunity to thank David for the support, also a big thanks to Team Leader Paul who has done a great job, keep up the good work fella. Scott Johnson who owns and runs Soar Tackle in Kegworth has also supported me for over three years and I must say Scott is a top bloke if your ever around the area pop in to Soar Tackle and have a chat with Scott his local knowledge is second to none, big thanks fella. Right lets now how a look what I have been up to the last the few months.

I have not been doing as well as I had hoped to be truthful, with bank time being limited due to my commitments for the shows late last year and early this year I have missed out on some really carpy conditions. Plus working full time and having two young children time is precious.



 

The Railway pit has been hard going being 14 foot over 90% of the lake it is taking a bit longer to wake up. The lake is featureless apart from a tree covered bank, bait is usually key on this Pit. Its been hard to find em but its not just me other anglers have been having the same problem. I have had a small Common and Mirror but the rest of the sessions have been blanks. The last week they have started showing themselves so things are looking better. One session the carp where boshing all over the lake but still no one got a bite. The other night I had a run just at time which was giving me a good battle for ten minutes before the hook pulled talk about gutted. This Pit has a no night fishing rule and the times to be off in May are 10 o’clock so at the moment I can get a hour of fading light before I have to be off. The pit is lovely to fish with plenty to watch while your waiting for a bite, this time of year is a great time of the year to be on the bank with all activity from the wildlife.

One of the more recent sessions a had a Mirror just under the twenty mark and thought my luck was changing but to be fair the last five sessions have been blanks. I am sure things will start to change soon and the lumps will graze my hooking mat.

The Big Pit has also been hard going so far, last year in march the fish were on it and I was getting bites every session. This year its been harder to find them with the weather we have been having, Easter weekend I spent two nights with two other anglers and none of us seen a carp near mind catch one the fish showing were bream and the odd pike close in the margin. We all decided to call it a day but when I got home I could not stop thinking about another area I know. I headed back down that day for another two night session with a 15 minute walk to the spot. As soon as I got to the spot things just felt right for a bite even tho there where no fish showing at the time. That night I was well confident in a bite and I was right, at 2.30 in the morning my right rod screamed off and I was out the bag like a shot. I bent in to a healthy fish and had a good old battle till finally she slipped over the cord. On the scales she just scraped over the twenty pound mark what a lovely Common with not a mark on it. With the fish slipped back in I placed the rod back on the spot and sat up for the next few hours there where fish boshing over the spot so I thought another bite was going to come quick, I didn’t happen until I finally fella asleep and at first light the rod was off again. This time I don’t know what I had done while being asleep but I was so wrapped up in bag I struggled to get out and by the time I was holding the rod in my hand the fish had found a snag gutted.

That day a couple of mates came down to do the night but the only bite to happen was on my left rod. There was a problem I had made a school boy error and not turned the left bite alarm on so the first thing we noticed was my cutting through the water in the wrong direction. Unfortunately this fish had also snagged me up so that could have been three fish on the bank. I wont be making those mistakes again lol. The next session was a couple of weeks later and the conditions where right for the spot again so I headed down after work on Friday and got set up. I only had the one bite over the next two days which was a stunning little Mirror. That’s the beauty with the Pit its the only place I know where there is still uncaught fish and some of those will be proper lumps its so vast and sees little pressure, 99% of the fish are true minters no matter what the size. This is what its all about to me the lumps will come along at some point but until then am happy catching these minter doubles and low twentys. I will be spending a lot of time on here this year.

The Railway Pit

Continuing from the last Railway update things have been great on this water when I have turned up to fish most of the time I have had the lake to myself. A recent session I had one rip off with a another 20lb+ Mirror but as I was sorting the mat and camera out the other rod ripped of making this the third double take on the lake. When I picked the rod up I knew straight away this was different to everything else I had hooked, taking forty yards of line from me before I could get the fish turned and once I did it was a slow plod all the way in. There is a big snag to left and you guessed it the fish headed for this and there was nothing I could do, the fish was in the snag and stuck solid. I had no other choice but to put the rod back on the rest and slack the line off hoping the fish would come free or at least allow the fish to get off so I could pull for a break, the last thing you want to do is damage the fish if this means losing one of the biggest or could well of been the biggest fish in the lake then so be it. All this time I still had the other fish sat in the net so I got the gear sorted and pictured the fish, on the return of the fish my line tightened up on the other rod. I picked the rod up and the fish boiled up on the top about ten yards away from me, I got the fish just in front of the net when it boiled up on the top, I could see this huge Common and the hook dropped out. The hook had been straightened which must of happened in the snag to say I was gutted was an understatement. This was the last time I fished the pit but I will be returning soon.....

Spinney Pool update

I have not been on Spinney Pool that much but the sessions I have had have been very enjoyable. The first was a quick overnighter with my lad, mostly float fishing in the evening and first light. I did put a couple rods out on singles for the night time but nothing happened there. Still it was a very enjoyable session fishing with the lad.

The next trip was with a good friend of mine Colin, we both work for the same fishing companies and been friends since school. He started things off with a bang with a lovely Spinney Common.

Shortly after I was in with another Common then things went quite over night until the morning when I was in with a lovely Mirror.

The next two hours it went mental Colin bagged a cracking Mirror then I had a double take with two minter Commons.

Then I had another Mirror followed by another Common which is a special fish, I first caught this one just under a year ago and was pleased to see it was up another 4lb in weight which is great news. All in all a mad morning and very much enjoyed by both of us.....

Me and Colin returned a month later with some new gear from Star-Flite Stainless to try out.

Things did look good for a couple of bites and it was not long before one of the rods ripped off, unfortunately I lost this fish after it had weeded me up twice and then headed to a set of lily’s in the margin where it stuffed me. Its was not long before Colin was in with a lovely Mirror. This is a fish Colin has called Maggie as he has caught it three times this year plus I have had it once, she loves the grub which has tipped her over the 20 mark that’s another new 20 this year.

The next session me and Colin helped out a couple of new members with spots and rigs and managed to bag a fish each, the first one fell to me after casting to bubbles it only took a few minutes till the rod ripped off with a another stunning Spinney Common.

While I was playing this one we both spotted a couple of fish showing at the other end of the lake. After the fish was returned safely we both moved the gear to the other end of the lake. After a couple of minutes of being in the spot Colin's rod was off with a lovely little Common.

This was the end of a short session and both us were very happy on the drive back home satisfied with a couple of captures and the fact we have both been able to pass our knowledge on. A couple of weeks after this session Colin was involved in a serious accident and will not be returning to bank this year so I hope you all join me in wishing him a speedy recovery.


The last time I visited Spinney was for a 24 hour session, I turned up to find I had the lake to myself once again but the light was fading fast so I just got the gear out and set up in one of the corners for the night. I was up at first light watching the water for any signs, this paid off as I spotted two shows at the other end of the lake so the gear was on the barrow and round to the new spot. I made a brew before I put the rods out and then there was another show, I got the rods off the barrow and dropped a couple of singles around the area. It was minutes before the first take from the spot, a lovely Common to start me off.

There was still fish in the area so I got both rods back on the spot and sat back with a fresh brew. About half hour the other rod ripped off with a stunning moon scale Mirror one I have caught before last winter, this is another fish putting on the weight again 4lb bigger then last year. It wont be long before this one hits 20lb......

The Railway Pit

This is a water I fished for a couple of months in 2008, not a lot has changed since then really the lake looks a little more mature but then its been here a long time way before I was born. Most of my family has fished this place over the years so its was nice to have a go myself. I pulled off early last time to go fish another water so I thought I would have another go this season. Things could not of gone better for the first session. The club has a no night fishing rule and in the book it tells you what times you fish for each month.

The first session was to be in the late evening I thought this would be the best time to see the fish showing and maybe get a take or two. I ended up with four takes but lost one the best fish being a lovely mid double Ghostie, this put up a great fight and I was glad when it finally slipped over the cord.

 I had a double take later on just managing to land the first as the other rod ripped off. Over the next few days I bagged another five Carp and three Tench fishing the late evening sessions. The best of these being close to the 20 mark. The second week on the water things only got better with the size of the fish starting to increase. I have had another five carp up to near mid 20.

Its been a good start to the campaign which I hope continues. Only time will tell......

The Big Pit so far

Early on in the year me and a friend had a couple of sessions fishing on a local pit which is huge. This is a day only water which puts most carp anglers off and to add to that it can be a 15 minute walk to the spot. We tackled the water together finding a nice area with a sand bar on the far side. We have seen fish cruising up and down the bar which is around 50 yards away. The bait was to be the Nut Mix from Soar Tackle and fishing popped up Corn, Maize and Boilies over the top. The first session was a good start with my mate having a lovely golden Common over the 20 mark and us both having a take at the same time two more Commons. A good start on a water of this size.

 We returned a couple of weekends later and both had a take each my mate with another Common and me with a lovely looking Mirror.

We unfortunately didn’t get any more time on the place due to other tickets coming through the post. To be honest this was a good as the club who have the rights to the water have now aloud night fishing increasing the number of anglers ten fold. The time we did spend on her was a great learning curve and we plan to return there in the next couple of seasons....