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......