DH FISHING |
Since I re-joined the tricky local club lake there has been a small handful of fish on my agenda, namely one known as Apple Slice. One of the real old originals and a fish that is well over 35 years old. I had been seeing this fish on a number of occasions and had come close to catching her a couple of times off the top already and also once off the deck, but had narrowly missed the opportunities. Last weekend had been my last session and for a moment i thought i had done it with my fourth fish of the year, again off the top. Half covered in weed after a typically frantic 60 seconds, just for a moment i thought this 19lb 2oz Mirror was the one! I decided to chance my arm on the Tuesday morning for a short session, with the weather being forecast to be warm, there was a chance of another off the surface. Unfortuantely though, it wasn't to be, despite coming very close to bagging one also very high up on my 'to do' list. A large fully of mid-twenties. But you can't win them all as they say! On Thursday, I went down hopeful of a take, with the intention to stalk one over plenty of bait in the margins, on a nice clear spot that i know the fish visit. As i knew fish had begun to get caught over decent hits of bait, i knew now was the time to start bulking out and introducing particle, as well as the boilie i had been putting in for the past few months. So i prepared some Hemp, in to which went a couple of tins of Chick peas, a big tin of corn and a helping of 4mm pellet, then a couple of handfuls of Xcel Baits KSC Chops and the same again in whole baits. Rounded it off with a nice dashing of VNF Bait Soak and it was all left overnight before my session. It was a nice start to the day, but out of nowhere a fog rolled in and merged with the mist rising off the surface of the lake, to create a quite eery scene. I was quite confident of a take off my main spot, so sat in anticipation of some action, with 16mm KSC Freezer baits on blowback rigs being the line of attack. Soon the liners began and the fog began to be burnt off by a strengthening sun and i got a glimpse of one of other big girls feeding on my spot, a fish that is actually bigger than the one i wanted most. The liners kept coming, but the only real action of note was nearly tripping up over a mallard sat silently on her nest! I had intended to sit it out over my bait as i'd kind of put all my eggs in one basket and although i was still relatively confident of something happening, it was clear by late morning, that the fish had moved en masse to the shallower, weedy end of the lake, to soak up some rays. So me being the self confessed surface fishing addict that i am, plan A soon went out of the window. They were up for a go off the top though as they were periodically talking things off the surface, so it was too good an invitation to pass up. I moved on to them with minimal gear and was soon in the midst of lots of basking Carp, so as with my other fish so far this year, i decided free lining would be the one, to minimise disturbance. I was again relying on a VNF Pop up, mounted on a size 8 Weed Camo Pin Point Chod Hook, which had stood me in good stead so far this year. After getting in to position i soon received a take, but did not connect unfortunately and it was the same on the second take too. Third time lucky a fish sucked in my and a swift strike nailed it and the battle was on. In the thick weed it was literally a case of hook and hold, but the angry Common I’d hooked had other ideas and somehow managed to snag itself round an old piece of metal work on the bottom. So there was no other thing for it. In I went, up to my thighs to gain a better angle with the rod tip and to clear some of the weed that had accumulated on my line. All of sudden, up she came from the snag and it was soon all over, with a fish nestled in a big ball of weed safely in the net. This one went 16lb and after unhooking her and slipping her back my attention turned to being selective and trying to get a proper one. I’d already seen Slice cruising about as well as a few other good twenties, but it was all a bit of a conundrum getting my hook bait in front of fish that were interested. Eventually though i spotted what looked like a good fish just approaching from ten or so yards out, so i flicked out the bait in to its path. It had clocked it, but was hesitant and took time to inspect the bait for what seemed like an eternity, before it tentatively took it, i swept to rod to the sky and all hell broke loose! I was 75% sure it was the one i was after when it took so to be frank i was absolutely bricking as what i did know, was that it was no double, as she charged off on what little line she had. This time though i had to be unforgiving as if i gave her an inch, she’d take a mile and within 60 seconds she was in the net. Frantically, i peeled away the mass of slimy silk weed and Canadian to get a glimpse of my prize…. I knew instantly and just stood for a minute, back up to my knees in water, whilst we both got our breath back. I got her weighed and back in the water as quickly as possible in the sling, before help arrived for the pictures and the Reubens had revealed 25lb 2oz. All academic really as it was just a privilege to have a 35+ year old Yorkshire gem in the sling. Got the photos done and rested her back in the edge, before doing a little clip of the release and watching her swim back nice and strong. I've not had my head this much in to my fishing for a long while and i'm hoping i can winkle out a few more of the lakes larger residents as time goes on! The history is so absorbing and the fish, simply epic.
Tight lines, Dan
0 Comments
With the weather as nice as it had been last week, i simply had to get out and try to take advantage of it. I knew the Carp would be up on the surface and knew if i was in the right place, at the right time, they would be catchable. Both Tuesday and Wednesday saw glorious mornings and i decided to chance my arm on short 4hr sessions, dropping in on a few spots until the sun got up and then fishing for them on the surface once they began to appear. It turned out that Tuesday was a little too breezy for the surface fishing and the fish got on the end of the wind, but were down in the water, so as mid-day came around, i had to peel myself away from the lake without success. Wednesday was a different ballgame however, with the lake flat calm and little to no wind forecast at all. I knew i would be in with more of a chance. I got down before the first rays of the sun really began to take hold, dropped one rod in the edge on a spot, hoping i might pick one up off the deck before the appeared in numbers on the surface. No cigar on that front though and by then, they were knocking about on the top as predicted, so i packed the bottom bait rod down and out came the surface gear. I wasn't doing anything different to what i had before. 12lb Korda Kruiser Control, tied direct to my mainline, with a Sz.8 Weed Camo Pin Point Chod hook secured with the trusty palomar, on to which i'd mounted a 16mm Xcel Baits VNF pop up, simply side hooked. Eventually i managed to get my bait among some fish and had a few inquiries before one made the mistake and gently sipped the bait off the surface. A short 5 minute fight ensued, but the culprit soon slid over the cord and i'd got my third of the year and it was well timed as i had to leave shortly after! She went 17lb 1oz on the scales, but it's all just a number with these old warriors. I've had a couple of subsequent full days at them since and unfortunately i haven't managed to snare another, but i guess it's only a matter of time and with a bit of luck the next one might be one of the bigger fish.
Tight lines, Dan With it being over 3 weeks since my last outing, with the moons aligning and the green light for a weekend session, i was raring to go this Friday! It was all meticulously planned out, but you know what they say about best laid plans!!! Came home from work on Friday night, to sort the gear, with the aim to be on the way to the lake by 5pm, soon to discover my barrow tyre felt a little flat.... Me being me, i thought i would be ok as it didn't feel too bad on the drive fully laden, but i didn't anticipate the difference mud and grass would make once i embarked on what was soon to become a ridiculous journey down to the lake! As i struggled through the worst of the mud, it became clear it was going to take me some time to get to the lake and what would usually be a 10 minute walk was going to much longer. A bad situation then became worse as the heavens opened and i then lost my footing in the mud, went flying, as did my barrow. So now my gear was covered in mud, i was covered in mud and getting increasingly more wet by the second. Anyway, after much cursing and getting my breath back i carried on bit by bit and about 45 minutes later actually got down to the lake and although i was absolutely drenched and sweating cobs, i'd managed to keep the vitals relatively dry, so set up camp before getting the rods out. Settled down with some supper hoping the night would reward me for my efforts and despite constant liners, nothing materialised. With fish patrolling the margins, after some breakfast, the following morning i decided to try a bait close in, see if it produced, but as usual the Carp were again ignoring it. In to the second night, i rung the changes, going to a VNF bottom bait on the deeper water spot and a 16mm VNF Pop up for the night in the edge. As soon as it began to drop dark, the liners started again up until 9pm, then all went quiet and i went the rest of the night without a bleep, although calamity number two struck in the meantime as my bedchair decided to snap on some of the wealdings! After bit of messing about in the early hours under the brolly, the only way to salvage any form of sleep was to prop the bedchair up with two buckets, which worked relatively well. Disaster averted, in a fashion and i woke to a beautiful dawn, quickly concluding things looked good for a fish off the top, so smashed the mandatory bacon sarny, packed most of the gear down and off i went stalking, with a 16mm VNF Pop up side hooked on a size 8 Chod hook the line of attack once again. After three attempted takes, where the fish just missed the bait, i moved back in to the spot that produced last time and after about 45 minutes a fish approached and took the bait on its second attempt. Bit of a heart in mouth moment as everything went lifeless, mid fight and a ball of weed rose from the depths, but a scoop with the net soon revealed there was a Carp in there, as it proceeded to go nuts. knowing it was all game over! I was well chuffed with the last one, but to be frank had i blanked on this session after all the chaos i'd have been pretty irritated to say the least, so this one was more than welcome at an ounce under 17lb!
Things probably looked good for another fish, but i had to get off home, so the session was salvaged just in time.... Now, better get looking for a new bedchair and barrow tyre - If anyone recommends a very strong bedchair that will take 25st without breaking, hit me up on facebook. Not looking to spend too much really, so Nash Indulgences etc are out of the question. Tight lines, Dan |