DH FISHING |
I really can't complain at the start of my season on the Club Lake, having banked a few lovely old Carp to mid twenties and indeed more than i actually caught in a couple of years, before i began to get my head around Carp Angling. Last Thursday i made my way down for another day session, in pursuit of my 8th fish of the year. I decided i was going to fish off the barrow and go looking for them - They didn't take long to find though. I positioned a bait in the edge, on a spot i had previously been successful on (Albeit the damn thing cut me off). Simple tactics really. A little PVA mesh bag of Xcel's KSC Chops just nicked on to a Hinged Stiff Rig, presenting a glugged 16mm KSC pop up. Decided to flick about with a VNF pop up on the other rod, to see if i could get one off the top, so i had all bases covered. Long story short though, i had two aborted takes off the top, the rod on the alarm hadn't produced and it was becoming apparent fish were elsewhere as there seemed to be less of them in the area. A quick scout round confirmed my suspicions and the kit was on the barrow for a bit of a re-location. I found a couple of clear spots and got the rigs in, both on 16mm pop ups, but this time the surface rod was sorted to fish on the bottom with a multi rig. There were fish in the area so i gave them some KSC to dine on and awaited proceedings. Time moved on though and i was beginning to become resigned to a blank - then the left had rod screamed off at 8:20pm, literally as i was about to wind in! A spirited fight ensued, with an angry Carp, but she soon hit the net and this was my first ever Carp on the Hinged Stiff Rig. Gave her a quick weigh and was quite pleased with what was a really pretty little Carp, going 16lb 9ozs. Had to call time afterwards, but was looking forward to the next session, which i'd planned for the following Tuesday. I got back down to the lake for about 7am and could see there was already a good chop on, with a brisk westerly and i knew the fish would be on the end of it at some point. So i decided to drop in where i had the above result from. I had a quick couple of drops in with the leads to make sure the spots were clean and decided to fish the Left hand rod on a Prototype hook bait and the other was on what i expected to be the going spot on a 16mm KSC pop up. Over both i baited with around half a Kg of mixed 14, 18 and 20mm KSC Food Source Freezer bait that i had glugged in the matching bait soak. I sat back under the brolly as the heavens opened and sure enough, the show began as a Carp launched clear of the surface film.... followed by more and more. Then the liners started and the rain subsided. At around 10:15am, the left hand Delkim let out a few bleeps and the bobbin pulled tight. I got up and the rod tip was bent round a little. Picked it up thinking it was going to be a Tench or Bream, but i knew straight away it was Carp and a proper one. It felt really heavy, slow and i just had the gut feeling it could only be one fish. It stayed deep but i eventually got a glimpse and then knew instantly..... I was already nervous but that was multiplied when knew what i was attached to. Thankfully i managed to get her head up out of the pads and she went in the net first time! I glanced down and knew it could be my first 30, so after securing her in the edge i had to compose myself. Got my head in gear and got sorted, knowing the self takes were going to be difficult. Zeroed the scales and got the old girl in to the sling in the edge and hoisted her out. The Reubens revealed 29lb 9ozs, which although not the magical number, she was a new PB nontheless! At over 40 years old, this one will stay in my memory for a long time! Absolutely ecstatic. Will be having a bit of an enforced break now for a couple of weeks, but with a 48hr session planned towards the end of the month, who knows what could happen next!
Tight lines, Dan
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I had planned a 48hr session this week and was looking forward to it, having seen signs that the fish down at the club lake were finally beginning to respond to bait on the bottom, but as the title suggests, the session didn't go entirely to plan. The weather was a bit inclement to start with and i just managed to get the brolly up and take cover before the heavens opened and delayed me a bit. Wasn't game for a soaking though, so thankfully half an hour later the rain relented and gave me chance to take stock, get sorted and get the rods in. I'd found a couple of spots, at close range and put out simple blow bag rigs, on Sz.6 Weed Camo Pin Points, baited with Xcel Baits Prototype hook baits, that are currently on test. One tipped with corn and one on its own. Both with little bags of crushed KSC Food Source bait and i flicked half a dozen spods of hemp, corn, pellet and chopped whole boilies over the top of each. Just to feel my way in to the session. As evening drew in, the lake went flat calm and fish began to show in the area, so knew i was in with a chance. Got the rods re-done, topped the spots up and had a one toner on the left hand rod, resulting in a nice Tench. Not the target, but now i knew the spot was good. Got the rod back out and things went quiet, although fish were still showing in the area. Liners started on the close in spot in the early hours and then at around 6:30am, it rattled off, but 30 seconds in to the fight came off. Shame as it was a Carp. As i knew they were visiting the spots, i stayed put and in the meantime another Tench was all i had to show for my efforts and for the second night, i topped up again, but with much more bait this time, to hopefully draw them in properly. At around 1am, the right hand rod went in to meltdown and on lifting the rod i smiled, as i knew it was a Carp this time. Felt a decent fish and fought well. I had tweaked the hook bait slightly and it had taken a liking to the Prototype, tipped with half a glugged KSC wafter. Going 20lb 13ozs this cracker had made it all worthwhile. It was a bit of a cold one on the second night, with temperatures hitting below freezing, so i got the rod back out and got back in the bag, with nothing else happening through until pack up time. Before leaving though i had a quick look around to see if i could find any fish and it proved worthwhile as there were a few fish down at the weedy end.
Gave it a few hours to see if i could nick one, but it all went wrong really as in my first spot i managed a take and it cut me off instantly before i even lifted the rod and the second came off! Suspect the latter was possibly foul hooked though as i had a group of fish all over me. Glad to have bagged another though and looking forward to the next session as they seem to be responding to bait a bit more now, so i'm sure another wont be too far away. Tight lines, Dan. |