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.
