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...........
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...
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....
5 am start today with a 3 hour drive down south. We arrived
at the lake at around 8.30 after a stop off at MacDonald’s for a
breakfast, well, It would be rude not to! First look at the lake and
am impressed, lots of big overhanging trees and even better there are
plenty of carp on the top basking in the morning sun. It was nice to
see a lot of the stock on the top but I knew it was not going to be
an easy task, so first things first the stalking rod is out and am
walking round getting a look at the stock and looking for likely
places to put a bait.
After a few hours with no takers I started planning the attack
for night time, this is when I thought I was likely to get a bite. I
had a walk round with a rod feeling around in a few spots to build a
picture of the lake bed, not much to go on feature wise with depths
of 4 foot max; the margins seemed like the best place to start. I
found a few clear spots in the slit and started putting a little bait
in. The first rod was to be fished over the top of a bed of particles
with Credence fruit spice boilies, the particle mix was made up of
pigeon condition, hemp, tares and maize all from my local tackle shop
Soar Tackle, in the cooking process I added a couple cups of sugar
and half a tub of Horlicks, this helps to boost the natural aroma
that comes from seeds. I also added to this mix a good helping of
credence fruit spice some ground up and some chops plus the odd whole
one these go very well with this sweet mix. The second and third rod
was to be fished over small beds of boilies, I say a small bed
because I don’t feel like the fish are going to really get their
heads down tonight, if you think about its red hot at the minute
pressure is high I don’t want to eat a big meal a little salad
would be much nicer and easier to digest. Now am not saying this is
the case all the time but the way the fish are acting today it
doesn’t look likely I will get many runs. I put 2 rods out on zigs for a few hours just to see if I
could get a sneaky bite. An hour later I was in, from the off
something didn’t feel right this one was foul hooked in the tail
which after 5 minutes pulled out, I was not a happy man not for the
fact I lost it for the fact of the damage this may of caused the fish
and being un able to treat it. A couple of hours later I had a repeat
on the other rod this time I did get it in and was able to treat a
wound on the petal fin and return it.
After this I bought both zigs in and changed over to my bottom
rigs for the night. The left rod was fished with a Marukyu Credence
Krill feast boilie topped with half a Credence pop-up, a good dose of
Marukyu Credence liquid was also poured over the hook bait, this
thick brown liquid sticks to the bait and will still be around my
hook bait for some time. This was fished over a small bed of whole
and chopped Credence Krill feast, the second rod was fished with a
Credence pop-up over a bed of particles and the third was another
bottom bait using Marukyu Credence Fruit spice boilie topped with a
piece of Credence corn again with Credence liquid, fished over a
small bed of Fruit spice boilies. All three rods were cast without
rigs onto the opposite bank. I walked round with the three rigs and
clipped them on, then I used a fourth rod with just hook to line,
using a small piece of pva string I tied hook to hook and was able to
lower my rigs in as if by hand onto the lake bed. Well the first
night went by with no takers so it was back to the drawing board, the
next day was the same as before most of the carp on the top basking
in the sun all day long. I tried to get them on some floaters with no
luck; I also tried stalking them with some free lined bread in the
margins but still no takers. Again the night time is going to be the
best chance of a take, so back out with the rigs on the baited areas
repeating the process from the day before; I topped the areas up with
a little bait.
At 10.30 just as the light had faded I
was in with a drop back, a steady fight to get the fish under the rod
tip and thankfully into the net. Not a big fish for this lake but a
stunner all the same and one happy angler, I had to really work for
that bite and my time was not over yet so the rig placing procedure
was repeated once again and I sat back rubbing my hands hoping this
was the start of a good night, but this is carp fishing and things
didn’t quite go to plan there. That was the only proper
take of the session well as they say it only takes one bite……..
Well this session started a bit different then the others and not
in a good way. To start with I had to make a trip to a friends to
pick up an additive I wanted for this session which was a hour round
trip. Then I nipped in to Soar Tackle to collect my leads and have a
quick chat with Scott to catch up on what had been caught around the
area over the last week. Then a trip to get some gas as Scott had
just ran out but unfortunately for me there was no gas for my stove
but there was some for a stove I know Scott’s got at the shop, so I
trip back to Soar Tackle for the stove before I could leave for the
lake. Finally I arrived at the with two others already on, I choose I
likely area and got the kit to the swim.
I had just got everything ready rods all clipped up to the spots
baited up when Colin arrives. The fun is not over yet as he had
forgot his alarms and did not have enough fuel to make the journey
back home and then back to the lake. I offered to run him home while
his missus looked after my kit, this was another hour and ten minutes
round trip. It was just before six when I finally got the rods out.
Colin on the other hand had to set most of his gear up in the dark.
Conditions looked good for a bite or two with pressure low and still
dropping for the some of the time there and a bloody great howler
blowing with up to 80mph gusts. Saying this there was nothing really
showing I had seen one leave the water for a second near to baited
area but that was about it till first light. The night passed with
Colin losing one shortly after the take at about five in the morning
but that was it. I had a big bosh over my near margin rod at first
light so was sure of a take but it never came. Time for a fat
breakfast then as we always do about this time, yeah.....
The day passed with nothing showing and all alarms quite for all
of us on the lake. A bit of a strange one as everything felt right
but that’s fishing for you, if it was easy I would soon get bored
of it. Till the next time.....
Another week at work finished and time for a 24 hour set on the
syndicate. It was a bit of a rush to be honest, finished work at four
but had 35 minute drive home to collect the gear before another 40
minutes to get to the lake. I must say the drive to the lake was nice
it really felt like autumn driving down country roads with the wind
blowing countless leaves over car, I was buzzing to get to the lake.
By the time a had the rods out I set my home up for the night in the
dark.
I was happy with all three rods and was confident for one of them
to rip off. The conditions felt right for things to happen but
morning arrived without a single bleep and it was the same for three
others on the lake. All four of us ended up leaving with a blank
after seeing the next day out. My tactics were much the same as my
other times on here but this time I was fishing from a different
bank. I fished this peg back in February for two nights in minus six
and banked three carp so I had a good idea of the patrol route
through this area and had strategically placed my baits to try
intercept a carp or two.
Back on the syndicate for a quick over nighter. There is a work
party on here tomorrow, thought I would get here early and try get a
couple of bites. I did a couple of laps around the lake but didn’t
see any signs of fish. The lake was empty so I choose I peg in the
middle of the lake so I could spread the rods out and cover as much
water as possible.
I set out getting the rods clipped up to the spots and walked them
out on the bank placing markers at the distance, this will allow me
to hit the spots at night with little effort. I only baited the spots
lightly to start with hoping to get a quick bite. If I get a take or
see fish over the spot I will top the spots up with a bit more bait.
The first rod was fished with a 18mm Marukyu Credence Krill Feast
Boilie with 18 and 14mm freebies. The second rod was a 14mm Krill
Feast with a 10mm Credence Change Bait in Pineapple flavour with 18,
14 and 10mm Krill Feast freebies.
The last rod was using two 10mm Change Baits in Pineapple and
Orange with 10mm Pineapple, Orange and Strawberry freebies. Things
were very quite until I got tucked up in the bag and the first rod
ripped off. This was an unusual quick battle for this place before a
low double Mirror was in the net. The mirror had certainly been
having a bit of a munch as it ejected two 14mm Krill Feasts in the
net. I walked the rod out to the marker and with a trusty Castaway
Pva bag I was out on the spot in no time.
I topped up the spot with a good couple of handfuls of 14 and 18mm
Krill Feast. Back in the bag it was hard to get back to sleep as I
was sure for another take but I finally fell to sleep and woke up at
first light with no more takes. I little gutted I got up and put the
kettle on. Still no signs of fish so nothing to move on to I thought
it best to stick it out here till the work party arrived. Well looks
like the one take is all am going to get this session but still I
enjoyed my time on the bank as always. Till next time..............
Right all the gear is packed and sat ready next to the front door.
Enough time for a smoke and coffee before my lift arrives and then
it’s off to the syndicate for 24 hours. Its feeling good for a bite
so I just hope there not too many already on as it’s a Saturday and
I usually fish it in the week. The sun is just starting to break
through and dry out everything after nearly a whole night of rain. I
bet there’s a few on the rivers today now it will have a bit of
colour to it. On arriving at the lake and there’s one other angler
on so not to bad. There is three of us doing a quick over night-er
this session. We all chose our pegs after a couple of walks round. I
had chosen the same peg I fished last time so I approached it much
the same way.
I put in half a kilo of Marukyu Credence Krill Feast boilies in
14mm and 18mm, these were spread over a spot the size of half a
tennis court in front of a large tree on the opposite bank. I put two
rods on this spot both with Bottom Bait rigs using the Krill Feast.
The other rod was to be fished over a Nut Particle Mix from Soar
Tackle using a Credence Pop-up over the top. This rod was cast over
to another over hanging tree on the far bank but this time I cast it
to the side of the tree right tight in the margin about a foot off
the bank. We were all sat chatting having a cuppa when one of my
rods ripped off, it was the rod over the Nut Mix. Not long into the
fight the fish weeded me up solid, I kept a tight line on it and
tried to get a better angle to the fish by walking up the bank but I
just couldn’t move it. I put the rod back on the rest for a minute
and it ripped off again but as soon as I picked the rod up it was
into another weed bed. This end of the lake has the most weed in it
at the minute its really thick in places. I repeated the process but
with no luck after 40 minutes of trying everything I could thick off
it finally felt like the fish was off. I left the rod on the rest for
another 20 minutes before pulling for a break. This was the only
take of the first day out of three of us. The next day started very
slow with no signs of fish until around eleven. I seen three fish top
and was packing the gear up ready for a move up the lake. This was a
good move as an hour on the new spot I had a screamer. Another fish
falling to the Marukyu Krill Feast and I must say the best looking
one I have caught on this bait so far.
I still felt like there was a chance of another bite and I was
right not even five minutes of putting the rod back out it was off
again with another great battle. This one a little bigger then the
first but not as good looking again falling to the Krill Feast. I
stayed on for another three hours with no takes or signs of fish so I
decided to call it a day and pack up and head home. Another good
session using the Marukyu baits. Till next time.................
Off to the River Soar for a short session this afternoon. I
arrived just after midday and had a good look around in the shallows to see if
I could find anything moving through. I settled on a peg which felt right and
got the rods out. I will be fishing with two rods today; the first will be a
two foot length of Fluorocarbon to a size 8 Vardis Anti-snag hook. The hook
bait will be a Marukyu Credence Krill Feast in size 14mm, with this will be a
stick mix I have made using Marukyu additives and I will be coating my Hook
bait with Credence Liquid.
The other rod will
have a two foot Vardis Abrasion Resistance Hook-link in Dark Grey tied to again
an Anti-snag hook in size 8. Bait for this rod will be again a Krill Feast in
14mm but this time I will using Marukyu EFG 142 ground bait as a stick. When
mixing this product I don’t use water instead I use Marukyu SFA 450 which is a
Krill Extract. If you have not seen the EFG 142 you must have a look it is not
to be sniffed at. I know a lot of
specimen anglers mostly carp anglers will turn their nose up to using a ground
bait but I can ensure you this is on another level.
The conditions were not what you would call great for a bite
with the blazing mid-afternoon sunshine and the River has virtually no colour
to it. An hour in to the session and the left rod just melted off, took me
right by surprise. I lifted into the fish and just ripped line off me straight
away, I had to put as much pressure on it as I dare to stop the fish from
running down stream where I would certainly lose it. A few moments of hair
raising stuff and I had control of the fish and happy played it out in front of
me. Finally I had a nice looking Barbel in the net. I reeled the other rod in
while the Barbel was resting in the net. The last thing I want in this peg is a
double pick up, don’t get me wrong it would great to two on at the same time
but not in this peg fish safety must always come first.
On the mat I had my fourth double this season. This is only
the sixth session on the River Soar this season as I have been busy fishing
other places. Yet again the Marukyu Krill Feast doing the business is there
anywhere this boilie will not work, I think not. Till the next time people……………
Back on the syndicate for a two night session and conditions
are again poor. The usual walk round turned up nothing so it was to a spot I
have already fished where am sure I could pick a couple from. The first rod was
to on a raked spot which has seen bait for last two weeks but only been fished
for a few hours. On this spot a put 5 kilo of Nut Particle from Soar Tackle. I
will be using a Stiff Hinged rig on this spot with a Credence Fruit Spice
Pop-up. The other two rods were both fished with Bottom Baits and Soft coated
braids from Vardis.
The spot for these rods were right in front of a big tree on
the opposite margin. I already have markers for the distance on this spot so it
was quick and easy getting the rigs on the spots. The rods are only a rod
length apart 70 yards away with a good scattering of Marukyu Credence Krill
feast boilies in sizes 14mm and 18mm. I will be using an 18mm glugged boilie on
one and an 18mm topped with half a 14mm Pop-up. By three I was all set up and
settled down but it was an uneventful evening and night for that matter. The
first take came at seven in the morning off the Nut Particle; it started as a
one bleep then just melted. I was up like a shot to the rod and bent into what
felt like a good fish. The fish kited to my left instantly and weeded me up.
Luckily it broke free soon after and carried on kiting to the left right across
the lake to my margin, I had managed to gain enough line to be able to walk a
little down the bank and stop the fish heading into the reeds. After a good
battle in the margin I finally had a lovely Common in the net.
I thought I was going
to be to a few more but the day passed with nothing, another quite night so a
move was on the cards until one of the boilie rods ripped off. A few minutes
into the battle and the hook pulled. It didn’t feel like a big fish but still I
was not best pleased. I had to stay put now there had been no sign of fish
anywhere else but a couple of shows over the bait. A couple of hours later and
the other boilie rod was off this time I lost it in the weed but again it
didn’t feel like a big fish. That was the last of the action for this session
but I will be back soon, I did put a little more bait on the spots before I
left. If I return in a few days and again cant find them I will at least know
there has been some bait in the spots. Till next time then…..
This is my end season video its been a great season even with all the bad weather. I look forward to the new season and hope the weather is a little kinder.
Please use this link if the video wont play........ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wayI9-_uVIs
A hard over nighter on the bank. I had a walk round the lake
as you should always do when you arrive; you never know what you might spot. On
this occasion to my surprise I found no signs of fish moving about. It was not
feeling good for a bite the pressure was going to be rising throughout the day,
conditions were not good. I decided to fish a spot I have been on before as
there is nothing showing, if they start showing else where I will move on them.
The last time I fished this peg about a week ago I put some marks in the hedge
to mark the distance for the clip. All I had to do was walk the rods out to the
marks clip up and am on the spot. Super accurate and proper simple.
With all three rods clipped up to the spot I started putting
a little bait. I only baited lightly as the conditions where not great and I
didn’t think they would be getting their heads down in the night. Two rods will
be over one spot with Marukyu Credence Krill Feast boilies in 14mm and 18mm.
One of the rods will be fishing with a special Krill Feast Hook Bait and the
other will have a Krill Bottom Bait topped with half a Credence Krill Pop-up. The
third rod will be fished over a small amount of Nut Particle Mix from Soar
Tackle; over this I will fish a Credence Fruit Spice Pop-up. The next five
hours passed with nothing happening or seeing any fish in the swim or even this
end of the lake. There had been three top at the other end of the lake in this
time. I had around an hour till dark so I had to make a choice quick should i
stick it out on the bait or do a move to the other end of the lake. I moved and
within 45 minutes I was sat back with a coffee. A couple more crashed on the
top before I got my head down for the night. I was awoken at first light by a
couple of bleeps, as I got out the bag to have a look it screamed off. I bent
into a hard fighting fish that was determined to stuff me in the tree to my
right. Finally the fish was safely in the net and resting while I got the gear
sorted. A very welcome double Mirror almost a Leather the only scales were on
the wrist of its tale.
Another lovely fish to fall the Credence Krill Feast. The
move paid off in the end but that was the only take I got this session it never
felt good from the off so to come away with one I was chuffed. Till the next
time…..
It’s Tuesday and the car is loaded and me and Colin are off
for a two night session. This session is
mainly to try out a new particle mix from Soar Tackle. We arrived at the lake
around two in the afternoon, with just a couple of old boys fishing for Tench. There
were a few Carp on the top so the first thing out the car was the floater rod.
I set up with just hook to line to stalk one out the side on the good old
bread, 10 minutes later and I have a Common on the end, stunning little one
with white tips on the tail and fins. Great
start to the session but it was time to get the gear out of the car and try bag
a bigger one.
The peg I chose has a
big tree on the opposite bank to my right. This is going to have two rods on it;
there is a lovely silt area just in front of the tree between all the weeds.
That’s the first two rods sorted, the third rod is to be fished in the margin
on my bank but 60 yards down on a clear gravel area in front of a big tree. The
rigs for the two rods in front of the tree will be a stiff hinged rig and a simple
coated braid bottom bait rig. For the rod in the margin I am going to start
with another stiff hinged rig, bait wise will be a glugged boilie on one with a
pop-up on the other cast to the far side in front of the tree with a big bed of
Marukyu Credence Krill Feast boilies in sizes 14mm and 18mm. The margin rod
will be baited with a nut particle mix from Soar Tackle; this mix was made with
a standard particle mix with crushed Peanut and Tigers. I will start fishing
this with a pop-up.
The
first fish off the bottom fell to Colin who was also using the same baits, a
nice little mirror fell to a double piece of corn over the nut mix. The next
bite didn’t come until first light and was to be off my margin rod a little Common
taking a pop-up over the nut mix. So far so good on the new mix. A couple of hours later my bottom bait rod
tightened up with a few bleeps, I picked the rod up thinking it was a missed
bite but half way across the lake I felt a small bit of resistance, maybe I just
caught some weed on the retrieve but to my surprise there was a roach on the
end. It turned out to be a nice one at 1lb 6oz, this tried to take a 18mm Krill
Feast boilie and had a size 6 Vardis gripper hook in its bottom lip. I must say
I was a bit gutted I had caught this because it was a lovely roach and to drag
it in on a 3lb test rod was certainly not good for it. The next three fish came
off Colin's rods all falling to the corn over the nut mix. All three were only
small ones but still very pretty fish.
I
was in 2 minds to change from pop-up boilie to corn with Colin having the last
3 but they are the small ones of the lake, I stuck with it and had another run
on the margin rod shortly after which unfortunately resulted in a hook pull. A
few hours with not a lot happening the next run was from my bottom bait rod,
another small Common, although these fish were only singles and low doubles
they scrapped like mad every time so its was still great fun.
After
this capture I decided to have a little change on one of the rods fishing over
the boilies, I changed the pop-up rig over to the same rig on the other rod. Instead
of using the Krill Feast boilies I used the Marukyu Credence Fruit Spice in 18mm
with a small bag of crushed ones. All the freebies have been Krill Feast over
this spot so I would be interesting to see if a complete opposite boilie can get
a bite.
The
light was starting to fade before anymore action came, Colin having four more
singles through the night last one at four in the morning. I had a very quiet
night until just before eight in the morning, one of the bottom bait rods was
off this one being the biggest so far, a lovely upper double Common falling to
the Fruit Spice boilie.
Making the change over to a Fruit Spice boilie payed off and
i was confident it would go again. The rig I was using was made solely of
Vardis tackle products, the hook link was Skin Line, soft in moss green, this
is a lovely coated hook link which is still very soft much Iike a supple Fluorocarbon . I only stripped enough coating for the hair and knot less knot,
to a size 6 Gripper hook.
It
was a quiet day until just after four and I was in with another off the Krill Feast
boilie, only a small mirror this time. I was just slipping her back in and
Colins boilie rod was off with his best of the session for him a lovely Common,
we nearly had a brace on the bank. Things went quiet again but I had noticed a
couple of big Carp to my right on the top, I grabbed the stalking rod and free
lined a piece of bread right on the spot. After 30 seconds two Mirrors came up
for it, one was a big Mirror pushing 30lb, but the small one a low double took
the bait. This one weeded me up time after time but with a little help from
Colin it was in the net, the last one of the trip. Although we didn’t bag a big
one we had a far bit of action from a lake which is no runs water, I will be
returning very soon to try put some of the bigger fish on the bank.
The river is still in flood, i really can`t believe how many times the river has been in major flood. I so need to get some bait in to try and catch before the season ends but it doesn't look very likely now so its back to the syndicate for a bit of a social. There were four of us fishing for just one night in poor conditions. It was a very enjoyable session even tho i blanked with two others. It was great to chill and have a chat. There was only one fish out between four of us only a low double but it was still welcome in these conditions. The session flew by you know what they say time flys when your having fun well it certainly did.
To a still water it is then. I am fishing on a friend’s lake who has kindly allowed me to fish a 3 night session. The lake is around 3 to 4 acres with a good head of carp running in to the 30s. The approach was 2 rods on a lightly baited area and one rod out on a single. After walking round 3 or 4 times with nothing showing a got one of the rods out and had a quick lead around, I soon found a very likely spot on the edge of some overhanging trees. The area was almost clear just a light amount of weed in 8 foot of water. The bait was to be particles with a few boilies, I only baited very light the first afternoon and put 2 rods on the spot, one with a pop-up and one on bottom bait. The other rod was put out to another area with light weed 60 yards to my right with a chod rig. The first night was a bloody cold one with no action but I woke up to a beautiful sunrise and three quarters of the lake frozen, luckily the areas I was fishing were free from ice.
The sun continued to rise with a clear sky and the day turned out to be lovely. I re baited my area with a kilo of bait to try make something happen it doesn’t always work but with this sun warming the water nicely if they were going to have a munch I wanted to have plenty there for them. I started the day off using zigs with no joy so just after middy day I swapped back over and was fishing over the baited spot. Mid-afternoon and the middle rod ripped off, I ran down the bank to the rods and lifted in to a fish already kiting to the right away from the tree. After a good little battle I slipped the net around the first fish of the session a mirror of around 16lb.
A couple of snaps and he was back to his home, it was only 10 minutes till the same rod rattled off again this time the fight was a lot shorter and a low double common was in the net. After 2 quick takes I was confident for another but unfortunately it didn’t happen, the next take was at 7 in the morning on the right rod, the weather had changed for the worst with rain and strong winds. So it was a cold few minutes playing this fish until another common grazed the net. This one was another upper double at 17lb. As midday arrived I decided to re bait my area with another kilo but I never got another take so the next morning I did a move for the last day. I found a couple of likely areas and settled down for the day. Unfortunately I had no more action, I have really enjoyed my time on the bank the last evening I was lucky enough to have a barn owl land no more than 10 yards away from me on a post, what an experience to get so close I just wish I had the camera handy may be next time…..
Yet again another flood, I have lost count of how many major floods we have had this season. It’s the first week in February and not looking good, with the end of the season not far away I was hoping I could get some bait in ready for the last week of the season. With the New Year not going to well I decided to have a look at some still waters while the rivers hopefully sorted themselves out. The temps have not been great so it’s going to be a hard end to the season. My only worry with a still water is a lot of them are freezing up , will I even get the chance of a bite.
The year 2013 let’s hope the weather is better to us this year. The first session of the year was to be at a still water as the rivers are still flooded. The first session of the New Year turned out in a blank but it was great to get back out on the bank again, it was a cold day with only one fish show in that was in my area so I was in the right place. I fished until my lift arrived which was last light.
The first session on the River Soar turned out much the same another blank. I arrived at about 1 in the afternoon to find I had the whole river to myself again so I headed for the weir island looking for signs on the way there. I chose a peg which has produced some very good barbel the year before. The floods have made a big difference this time all the banks are now covered with sand; also I found the depths had changed quite a bit as well. The bottom felt like sand with the first drop out with a lead so I had a couple of quick flicks round not too much just enough to build a little picture up of the bottom. I only baited very lightly using a small section of Castaway P.V.A. funnel webbing with 1 whole boilie and a few crushed, I also put out a small handful of boilies in a line over the area. After about an hour I got a right shock, an otter broke the surface not six feet in front of me. As soon as it saw me it shot off under the water again, was there any point in staying here now is what I was asking myself for the next half hour. An hour later I decided to call it a day and return soon for another bash.
The next day I went for another go this time I fished under the road bridge for a change, it’s not somewhere I have fished before but on the day it looked go for a go. Same approach as the day before a quick feel round and small P.V.A. bags were put out, I fished one rod in the flow and the other down the deep margin. I was there for about 5 hours in the end with no takes but I had been feeding the swim slowly over that time on the plan of coming back soon for another go. So another blank it’s not looked to go so far this year but that’s fishing for you.
I returned after a couple of days to fish the peg again. It was a lovely start to the morning, the mist rolling in off the river and the sun just breaking through the trees it all felt so good until the cormorants started flying over me, 14 in 10 minutes that was more than enough to spoil the mood. I fished through to mid-afternoon before calling it a day, another blank hmm.
A couple of weeks not being able to go on the bank fishing has seen the snow arrive, I thought I would have a go with the spinning rod in the snow and keep on the move for a few hours. The river looked beautiful with a covering of the white stuff hiding all the litter on the banks from the last flood. So a casual walk along the river only produced a couple of jacks but it was an enjoyable day.
With the snow here I thought I would have a go at getting a snow barbel, now i do love catching barbel and one in the snow would be special but to get a river carp in this now that would be super special in my book. Anyway I headed off to the weir island for a go and dropped in a peg which has done some great fish last year. It was not to be again as this session was a blank but what a time to be out fishing it was a great day with the usual robin popping in for a look and a kingfisher dropped in on the tree to my left, this is the closest I have been to one so the moment was cherished.
