DH FISHING |
Last week i was lucky enough to get out to a new fishery with good friend Tony Delaney, to a complex known as 'Wetlands'. The site is actually an Animal park, but is also home to two cracking looking lakes and it was The Specimen Lake we had our eye on. We met up with Bailiff, Dave Wilson on the Tuesday afternoon to have a good chat about the lake. Dave was very approachable and friendly, so we got to know a little bit about the place, before choosing our swims and getting sorted. Recently re-developed, the Specimen lake has had a mountain of work done on it, to open it up to Carp anglers, with massive swim developments and also lots of snag removals, to create what i can only describe as a veritable Carp Anglers Paradise. Looking around you can imagine what the lake would have looked like beforehand, so the place is a real credit to the Owner, Richard and the other lads who have grafted to make it in to what it is now. If we weren't already impressed enough by the set up and Richards infectious enthusiasm for his project, when we were invited around for a social and a BBQ with a few of the other lads that were on that evening, courtesy of the man himself, we were totally sold! Outstanding hospitality and we had a good laugh too. So, on to the fishing itself. The lake is around 9.5 acres and has loads of nooks and crannies, with literally dozens and dozens of features to fish to. The water level was actually down a bit while we were there, but the lake is quite shallow anyway, with average depths around 3ft, although there are bars and deeper areas too. The swims themselves were quite literally some of the best i've ever seen to be honest, with acres of space, all spotless and each having its own Car Park close by. This shot was taken from 'Peg 5', whilst being built, looking back across to 4 & 4a. We fished in the pegs you can see opposite. Peg 1 right at the other end of the lake, showcasing how immaculate the swims are. Pegs 3, 3a & 3b, command a large area of water. Among the Geese and ducks, you do get some rather regal visitors to your swim too! After the BBQ/Social, it was actually dropping dark in to the first night, but we had already found or spots earlier, so it was just a matter of casting back out and baiting up. Left hand rod was in a channel a couple of rod lengths off one island, fishing an Xcel Baits Prototype hook bait and the right hand rod was on a Hinged Stiff Rig, presenting a 16mm KSC Pop up, out to a separate island. I then spread a mixture of KSC and VNF Food Sourced bait, that i'd glugged in KSC Bait Soak, over both areas. I did have some action pretty quickly, with one aborted take and another that came off, but i'm not sure if it was a Carp! As Dawn broke, we were greeted by a beautiful, misty, atmospheric scene that gave way to bright sunshine and we knew at this point it might be difficult to get a bite until the following evening. Once the main heat of the day had passed, i found a few fish basking in the corner near where i was fishing and the only way i could really fish for them was on a zig, as they weren't interested in anything on the deck. So i hatched a plan and decided to free line a zig, fished just under the surface, so i could see what was happening. The weight of the tubing and lead clip was enough to sink the hook bait to fish effectively. Plopping a lead on them would have spooked them, so i ran with it to see what happened. Unfortunately we couldn't surface fish as it's prohibited to safeguard the water fowl. Unbelievably after a short while a fish came and sucked in my trimmed White Xcel Baits KSC Fluoro and i was in! The fish fought well and gave me a bit of a beating out of the water too! Only 13lb 8ozs, but it was a start and my first ever Carp on a zig too! After this i got the rods sorted for the second night, we got sat down for a social and all of a sudden the Hinged Stiff Rod went nuts and i was in again. Turned out to be a scraper double of 10lb 6ozs, but it gave a good account of itself and was welcome all the same! I anticipated a take might be on the cards as the fish had started to move a little more. Shortly after this, Tony was in also, but unfortunately the fish came off. Bit of a gutter, but you win some and you lose some. The second night was fairly quiet and long story short my rods remained silent until pack up, but in the meantime Tony was rewarded with a nice Mirror of around 14lbs, taken on Xcel Baits VNF. So the session had been a success for both of us, in tricky conditions, which we were pleased with for a first session at a new fishery. The lake holds fish to over 30lbs with a good number of 20's, but these were probably lapping up the sun somewhere beyond our reach. A 29lb Mirror did come out while we were there, but at the other end of the lake.
Tony and I can't wait to get back to have another go. As mentioned, the lake is an absolute credit to Rich, the owner and the lads who've worked hard to develop in to what is definitely a Fishery to watch. There are plans to stock the lake with a few bigger fish in the not too distant future and there have been fish sighted which have not yet been caught, which could prove very interesting indeed! (If you know what i mean) For more information please visit www.wetlandscarpfishing.com and you can also follow the Fishery on Facebook. Tight lines, Dan
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When you are on a bit of a roll, you can only hope that the success continues and your target lake continues to be kind. Last weekend i got out again for a couple of days on the club lake and hoped this would be the case. Sometimes i can be a bit one-dimensional in my fishing, sticking to the same spots and so on, but i suppose if they're are producing, why change? However this time i was forced in to a change of tact, owing to the area being occupied - This happened to me once before elsewhere and one of my targets showed up, so i approached the situation with optimism and decided to fish a marginal area that i know can produce and then try a little experiment on an area that was clear, but wasn't really known for producing fish. I chose to drop in with slightly different tactics, opting to fish a blowback rig on the margin spot, with an Xcel baits Prototype hookbait, tipped off with half a glugged KSC Food Source Wafter (This tactic had produced for me earlier in the year). The other rod, i decided to stick with the Hinged Stiff Rig. Over both went a liberal scattering of KSC and VNF and the rest was up to the Carp. Through the first night, i had liners, however nothing materialised. At first light, i received a take on the right hand rod, fished on the margin but it was a bit finicky and then half way in decided to drop off! It felt like a small Carp, but it was back to the drawing board, so to speak! I got that rod back in and pondered over the 'experimental' rod, that had remained quiet. The disappointment of losing a fish was short lived though, as the same rod screamed in to life again a couple of hours later and this time the fish was nailed and never coming off - Go figure? The culprit was an old 15lb 8oz Common, to get the session rolling. I decided to re-position the 'experimental' rod, in to slightly deeper water, in an area i had seen a bit of bubbling, in the hope i could trick another, but despite my best efforts and a bit of wandering about stalking that afternoon, i couldn't bag myself another - although i did get done in the edge, but we won't talk about that! On the plus side a pal had a nice 20lb+ Common out, so they were up for it in the right places. With the sun dipping down in to the second evening, i decided to get my act together back in the main swim and got the rods out again, but long story short, despite liners through the night, nothing else came my way. The following morning, I knew an Easterly wind was forecast, later that day and anticipated the fish would get on it, so i packed up pretty early with the intention of being mobile and got on the end of it. However my best laid plans were quashed really as the 'wind' never really got on the water and the fish weren't there as i'd expected them to be, so it was back up the other end. Sure enough, the fish were there and looked catchable off the top. I observed and they were regularly cruising in a particular area and after a while, it was apparent this would be where i'd have a chance. So I settled in, only to have a fish reject my surface fished VNF pop up almost instantly! Undeterred i continued flicking my free lined bait to fish and eventually after about an hour a nice Mirror put the anchors on, tilted up and sucked it in and i was in. As the fish battled to do me in the pads i had to get a little bit serious to keep her out and thankfully won the battle, getting her in the net relatively quickly. Once on the mat, it became apparent it was a bit of special one! At 18lb 12ozs, it wasn't a monster, but the old scaley beast that lay before me didn't really warrant a number as it was another one that i couldn't really come up with any superlatives for! I was very pleased with that one and with what looked like a little bit of inclement weather imminent, i decided to get the house back up and do the last night on the favoured spots, hoping i could trip one more up. Sure enough, just after i'd got the rods back in, the rain came. It was apparent after my fish, that they had moved out of the area, with next to no activity at all for a good few hours. As the sun began to set though, as if someone had flicked a switch, they seemed to turn up again, with a couple of fish crashing and the pads knocking. Through the night as is often the case on these particular spots, i had liners galore and at dawn the right had rod ripped off, then stopped. Unsure if the fish was still on or not i picked the rod up and thankfully it was. It turned out to be one of the lakes 'friendly' residents, a fish well known to one or two of the lads. Only a low double, but welcome all the same. After slipping this one back, the fish were still present to my surprise. The question was whether they were Carp and if so could i nick another? Well, about an hour and a half later, a PB equaling 5lb Tench answered my question and another shortly after definitely confirmed it! A wander around revealed the Carp were elsewhere and despite a quick couple of hours on them, that was to be my lot.
Following this session, myself and a friend spent 48hrs at Wetlands Carp Fishery, located at Wetlands Animal Park and we had a tricky, but successful trip - So look out for my blog on that one - It's an absolutely cracking place! Tight Lines, Dan After the result a fortnight ago which saw me break my PB again, with what is probably the biggest fish in the place, i had to take a little bit of time away from the Club lake, simply owing to being skint! But needs must and all that. So i was raring to go for a 48hr session, that i'd had planned for a while earlier this week and wasted no time in getting down after work and getting the rods out. Because the forecast showed a steady wind to be pushing up towards the end i had been concentrating my recent efforts, i decided there was no real point in fishing any other spots, so the approach was pretty much the same as it had been beforehand. The only difference this time, was bait - they were going to get it. It was clear now they were well on the feed and as is often the case, the more you give them the better it can be. I'd upped the quantity of particle to nearly 10kgs and had also upped the amount of Xcel KSC they'd be getting with it, with the intention to introduce up to 5kgs on top of the particle if i felt it needed it. With the particle, it was nothing special, just Hemp, Corn and Pellet, with a few boilies mixed in here and there. I'd already seen fish in the area, so just to start with decided not to drop the spod on them for the first couple of hours, to see if i could nick a quick bite, instead opting to just bait with a few handfuls of mixed 14,18 and 20mm KSC. As had been the case with my previous sessions, on the left hand rod i was fishing a Prototype test bait on a multi rig and on the right, a Hinged Stiff Rigged KSC Pop up. This did actually pay dividends, as i got a quick take, not long after getting the brolly up and all the kit sorted. On lifting the rod though, there was nothing there! Unbelievably, the same thing happened again, literally 5-10 minutes later! So i was left scratching my head a little - both came to the right hand rod. The hook wasn't blunted or anything, so i put it down to bad luck more than anything else, as we can speculate all day long as to why these things happen! As the evening drew on, not a lot else happened apart from the occasional liner, so i gave them around 15 spods of bait over each rod to feel my way in to the first night. I felt pretty confident after things had settled down, as before the sun dropped they were fizzing over the left hand rod. Sure enough at around 11:30pm, the left melted off and i soon had the first of the session in the net. Got myself sorted out and got the fish weighed. 18lb 6oz, so a good start and the night was still young! Although after putting the rod back out, topping up with another half dozen spods and more boilies, it just didn't happen, with just a Tench to report the following morning at about 9am. But i couldn't complain and knew i was still in with a shout of more as the Carp were definitely about. At around 4pm i got another rip roaring take on the HSR pop up, only to be met with thin air again picking the rod up! Although long story short, there was a tonic, as an hour later it did it again and i slipped the net under a fully, which i knew straight away was a recapture - i wasn't too fussed though. Didn't weigh it, just got the pics done and got her slipped back (Was 19lb 2ozs last time). At this point i was really pleased as i was getting takes in daylight, so i knew if i had a productive second night, i was on track for a really good session and so it proved, after an early Bream the left hand rod went again on the prototype bait and after a bit of a stalemate in the pads, the fish came free and was soon in the net and on the mat, held aloft for its picture taking. This one went 20lb 6ozs, so it was nice to get a twenty and i was hopeful of maybe one more fish before i had to leave the following afternoon/evening. As dawn came and went, i kept freshening up the spots with a few spods and the liners kept coming, but later that morning, i decided to rest the swim and go for a wander around - the thinking was that they might gain a little confidence without any lines in the swim. Didn't see too much to make me want to change anything and after a quick hours surface stalking i got the rods back in for the afternoon, put the remainder of my bait in and sat back, fingers crossed that i might get one more. At around 4:30pm, the right hand rod screamed off again and i was in to what felt a decent fish as it powered out in to the middle of the lake. The hinge stiff held fast as i inched the culprit through the pads and what soon lay in the net blew me in to the middle of next week.... a simply awesome Common Carp. Fin perfect, hued with deep golds through to a pearly underside. What made it more special, was getting to share the moment with a passer by and his 6 year old Son, who were both anglers. I remember vividly the first time i saw a 20lb Carp on the bank like it was yesterday and i hoped it would inspire the young lad, as it did me (Albeit i was a bit older at the time). Thankfully, we managed to get a nice shot of it, after the Reubens had revealed a weight of 22lb 2ozs. I am absolutely over the moon with this fish and despite the couple of bigger Mirrors i have been lucky enough to extract so far this year, this one is pretty special, probably my favourite.
It was a nice way to end the session, which had been my most successful to date on the Club lake and i hope there's a few more to come yet. Tight lines, Dan 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 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. 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 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 Well, it's been a very difficult couple of months on the angling front for me, with several sessions proving unproductive. More recently at least, the Carp have begun to show signs that they might just begin to be co-operative and despite blanking again on Monday, i was back at them again today. Got down to the lake for first light and decided to continue plugging away in the area that i had been in up to date and with three shows as i was setting up, i felt relatively confident (Although i am rapidly realising good signs on this lake can be inconclusive). By late morning, the fish i had seen had drifted elsewhere, so i decided to wind in and go look for them and within 15 minutes i was on the move, as the Carp were indeed otherwise located. Sensing an opportunity to possibly stalk a fish from the edge i lowered both rigs in off the edge of some silkweed on to slightly cleaner bottom, baited with some whole and chopped Xcel Baits KSC and then sat back and watched. A few hours went by and the occasional fish had sensed the presence of the bait, but they weren't really willing to have a prolonged feed. To my surprise, i'd been seeing the odd fish taking what i assume to be flies off the surface, so i decided to try and make the best of a bad situation and kept firing out a couple of Xcel Xcelerate wafters. These were soon singled out and eaten by the fish, so i gave trying to get one off the deck up as a bad job at this point and tied up a hooklength to freeline an 16mm Xcel VNF pop up. I'd be fishing the bait on a Sz.8 PB Choddy hook, tied on with the ever trusty palomar, to a length of Korda Kruiser Kontrol in 12lb. Once i'd got sorted i realised the fish were slightly out of casting range, so had to move to the swim next door in order to get the bait in the 'zone'. Within two minutes of getting the bait in the right area, a fish approached, tentatively took the bait and i was in - Certainly not what you'd expect in the middle of March, but i'll take it! With this being my first Carp in over 5 months owing to my broken leg and what have you, i was understandably nervous as i watched the fish twisting and turning in the clear water. But soon, after a steady fight, she was in the net - talk about relief! A quick weigh revealed 17lb 10ozs, but when they look like this fish, it really is just a number! Here's hoping this one is the first of a few nice fish this year.
Tight lines, Dan Zig fishing was something i knew i was going to have to get to grips with over this winter, having not really needing to use them beforehand.
On my last outing, i noticed that the Carp were well up in the water, occupying the upper 2-3ft, in anything between 10-15ft of water, which considering the recent wintry weather we'd been having came as bit of a surprise to me. I had been told they have this strange habit though, so now i've seen it to believe it, i'm having to adapt my approach. So yesterday i went in with a zig from the off on one rod, having again seen fish in the same areas as on the previous session. Offering an Xcel Baits Scopex & Blackcurrant pop up, trimmed down a little i was hopeful of a take, but long story short it didn't come, with nothing to my VNF pop up presented over bait on the bottom either! It's becoming apparant, at least one of the factors at my end isn't right. Be it tackle, bait colour or where i'm fishing the bait in the water column. My bait has been bang slap in the kill zone, so something has to give! After chatting with a few angling buddies, i'll be refining things slightly on my next session. I feel i've been fishing my bait too far below the surface, so it will be a longer zig to start with, on a lighter hooklink. I had been using 12lb Korda Krusier Control, but in retrospect, it could be a little too blatant, so will be trying something slightly lighter. Going to stick with the size 8 PB Choddy hooks for now, as i feel it is more likely to be the previous factors that may be stopping me getting a bite. It's a shame a fish hasn't put in an appearance yet, but as with the one i managed before i broke my leg, i feel it's just a matter of time and homing in on the right combination - which hopefully will be sooner rather than later! Tight lines, Dan. |