I’ve been meaning to do this for a while but never got round to it at the start of the season followed by a few blanks meant there wasn’t much to write.

Background – started aged 5, catching stickleback with my hands in local brook, then minnows down-dane, then onto local farm pits. Progressed through to Barbel and then to Carp / pleasure angling. I fish with my hetero-life-mate known as NWBlanker.

From the 16th I’ll keep it short. This season the aim is to perfect home made bait and enjoy my relaxation time.

16th – Opening day. Local river, landed Mirror of 16lb 6oz at 8.30 am. Nice fish, fought well infront of audience that gathered on way to school – polite kids even asked if they could watch! (I found this bizarre, I had thought all kids nowadays wanted to smoke, drink and abuse people). NWB had a single – Friendly rivalry kicks off – mine’s bigger than yours blah blah blah!

17th – Same spot. My net stayed dry. NWB takes 19lb Mirror and 22lb 10oz Common. I take this well, its only first session and they just found his baits before mine. He starts to give me carp fishing tips…….

18th Same river different location. I fish a hotspot bend, take two small commons 10lb and 7lb both fish look young and are in immaculate condition, made me very happy after last years troubles. NWB sleeps through night undisturbed!

Over the next couple of weeks fishing did happen but its sketchy at best, some blanks some captures, nothing stood out though although I have had an ongoing battle trying to make a bait that works. NWB has his banker bait and it really does the business, to the extent that each blank I have fuels jealousy!

Having flitted from venue to venue with little success we decided to embark on a campaign water that used to be busy at best. This year though its relatively quiet and noddy free (ish).

July ?? Did overnighter on lake. Fished at the end where strong wind was blowing, no bites for either of us.

July ?? Did another overnighter on far bank, nothing! Its ok, I tell myself, many anglers view this water as a toughie.

27th – 29th July. Days off, baits made and rolled, couple of new gadgets in the box. I’m feeling full of optimism and raring to go. Get down to the lake, two swims available short walk, beautiful weather. As I’m setting up the STI I’m thinking fantastic, could this be any better alls perfect, the lakes semi quiet I’m confident! First afternoon and night passes and I catch zip. NWB takes a common around 18lb on banker bait. Next day we start to fish hard, I watched the water for so long my eyes went bust, everything rippled for hours after! NWB took two more commons during the day, respect due, he tried hard and varied the approach. 6pm I get a run, 7lbs 13oz bream, PB but not what I was after. Through the night I catch a few tench up to 5lb 12oz another PB but not the right species! The session ends, I’m broken and it’s back to the drawing board. My methods of doing what everyone else is doing and fishing 20yards out hasn’t worked.

29th July. Go for another overnighter on river. I blank. NWB has a couple of small doubles and a 19lb mirror - same one from earlier in the season, his first recapture. Fish is up 8oz and looking well.


More to follow shortly......

4th August. Back on the river for a quick overnighter. Not fished here before but swim has a tree feature and is untouched. Lose two fish in the night, gutted but happy that method works and new swim has potential. NWB takes a small common.

NWB has now managed to get himself catching regular on the campaign water. I’ve lost motivation and am thinking about taking up gardening using rods as trellis and homemade bait as fertilizer (it must be good for something!!!!!!!!!!!).

11th August. Fancy early morning down the river before work. Went to the usual spot, set up and then had to wait till light as I’d not done a recky and didn’t know where the holes in the weed were – schoolboy error! Sat there for half an hour appreciating the sunrise then cast out. 1hr passes. Left hand rod has fizzers all over it, I was sure it was gonna go. BEEEEEEEEEEEPPPP off it goes. No it’s the right hand one. A great battle ensues under the rod tip, the fish is in and out of the weed, I’m up and down the bank not wanting to lose it. Ten minutes later and it’s in the net. It’s that Mirror again at 19lbs 10oz – 3rd time out in two months, still putting on the weight well 1oz per week. Stayed for another half hour then off to work.

13th August. Day session on hotspot on campaign lake. I fish like a spazmo! Forgot rod pod so had to use bank sticks that blew around on the stage. Forgot head torch so could only fish till dark and broke my brolly in half on what was a rainy day.

16th August. Early morning again down the river, same spot, brolly mended. At 7am a fish starts working its way down the margin onto my bait but at the end of the path I see two people and four dogs coming my way. I’m agitated as the race is on - who will get to me first. Sadly with the fish 5 yards from my bait the people walk past with three dogs on the bank, the other is in the river and the carp does one. I hate 3rd party influence on my fishing!!!! Needless to say its blankety blank and my confidence is on the slide, again. On walk back to car NWB phones me up for a gloat, he’s turned up on the campaign water cast out and within ten minutes has caught a named fish of 26lb 6oz, beating both our PBs by a few lbs. Dark clouds gather over me it starts to rain and I contemplate giving my tackle to a guy mending a style by the car park.

Meanwhile I decide my bait has the nutritional value of sheep sh1t so it’s onto CC Moore for some goodies and back to basics using the flavour I have had the most success on. Mix it all together and oh bollox I used medium eggs not large eggs and my paste is way too thick and won’t go through the gun. In a fit of despondency I use a rolling pin and knife and make funny shaped baits as to not waste what may be a good mix.

20th August. Campaign water day session, winds blowing up top end, which is quiet. On with NWB who has now become proficient on the water and has started to catch regularly. New odd shaped bait isn’t ready so its carry on with the rubbish ones. I just want one run, but again my methods are toss and I catch nothing. I have now started to use the F word when referring to this place as it has something against me!

Angered by this setback I decide on way home that I’ll give it one more go with sensible methods before I go bait crazy with the destroyer spod! The iffy homemades are left glugging in salmon oil and the new bait is packaged up. And ready for the next session.

21st August. Its killing me now, I’m desperate! I decide its time for an overnighter where I give it one last chance before bait Armageddon! I arrive at the lake, one side is taken up by three guys and a rabble of noisy kids who need throwing in! I opt for the other side as its quiet. Set up, out go the baits for 7pm. At 9pm I recast the left hand rod with salmon glug bait over to the same spot and the right hand rod with new odd shaped bait and PVA bag 50 yards out, which is the range the fish seem to show at. By 9.30 I’m settled in thermals under the shelter expecting the best nights sleep for a while. 10.30pm my left hand rod goes, as I do a Linford half asleep down the stage I nearly fall in. Struck the rod and play in a Bream of around 6lbs. Pissed off that my sleep is broken I slowly fall asleep again. 12.20am Run on left hand rod, again I struggle to negate the run to the stage. Into a better fish but it’s either a bream or tench. As I’m getting it within landing range the right hand rod goes off, initially I think – did I nudge it by mistake – no fish on. LHR goes between the knees and as I pick up the RHR I feel very angry as I my initial thought is ‘It’ll be another bream, I’m going to get plagued by bream all night, there goes sleepy heaven!’ As I lift into the fish it feels heavier. A Carp is on! I nearly do a sex wee!

I’m now stood with the net in the water, the LHR between my knees and the RHR with first venue carp at 50 yards and going…… Simple without thinking I’ve held both rods in my right hand and the net in the left, scooping the bream into the net, drop the net and LHR, check the bream to make sure its sat upright, double take as it’s a good ‘un. I smile, alls under control, lets enjoy this, it’s been while coming. Now my personality is very chilled, not a lot phases me and I rarely feel under pressure but couple the moment along with coat, thermal trousers a hat and I was a sweaty mess, brimming with excitement, fear and adrenaline.

The carp kited from right to left as I brought it in, not particularly fighting hard and I had no idea how big it was, it felt decent though. At around 20 yards the fish started to go nuts, taking line and rolling about. I knew there was a snag ten yards straight out as when leading around I’d found trailing line so keeping the fish to the left was best option. The fight lasted probably ten minutes infront then up she came mouth open and sucking air. I slipped the net under her and my first carp from this water was banked. To avoid serious tangle I leant over the stage and unhooked the bream. Pinned the net down and got sling and scales. Weighed the bream there and then - 8lbs 7oz – nice one a PB. Would have photo’d this but more pressing things were afoot.

Now while sorting the bream I had a look at the carp, bearing in mind its black dark I could just make out a decent fish sat in the bottom of the net. The hook had fallen out in the net so that was removed. As I lifted the net out of the water I realised that this fish was Big (for me). Back on the unhooking mat and the size was beginning to sink in. My adrenaline was really giving it some now, I raced about, scales and sling set out, headtorch, set camera up. Out of the mat and into the sling, scales attached, take the strain…………29lbs 5oz? the sling ways 7oz, ‘that can’t be right’ I thought, that’s big. I reset the scales, weighed again and 29lb 8oz, I did the process again, and then again for good measure, same result. 29lbs 1 oz without the wet sling! My PB. Awesome! Then I realised, It’s one of the named fish, the biggest fish in the lake. My first fish is the biggest! I took a couple of photos which is so hard to do on your own with a ten second timer, but apart from the grass on her flank and my face looking like I was also taking a dump at the time (not posted for obvious reasons) the photos turned out ok (see my gallery). Straight back to the water and back in, immediately she swam away into the dark depths.

I recast and then spent the next two hours dancing and throwing my fists in the air like a mad man on drugs at the back of my shelter, but in total silence so as not to disturb the anglers on the far side. NWB got a late text and then phone call so I could gloat back at him. I even got some entertainment when a few squirrels kicked off in the wood behind, they were noisier than I’ve heard before but I didn’t care.

When I had finally calmed myself down it was back under the shelter for an hours kip till the left hand rod tailed off again with another bream of 7lbs 15oz. Fell asleep again to be woken at dawn by the left hand going off again and a nice tench of around 5lbs.

Half seven packed up and went to work.

What a fantastic night, and this has buoyed me but I hope I can put together some consistency over the coming months on this water or what little hair is left will be removed as I experience the ultimate lows and ultimate highs.

I could now go on to become an arrogant nob and not fish the place again saying I fished it six times, took the target fish and packed it in (having not learned much), but instead I now am looking forward to getting into some more of these fish after having made a break through. I can see many more blanks ahead but the fact that I have a footing on the trail gives me a “hope boost” that was long overdue.


The blog will continue depending on whether my next few sessions leave me despondant again, or I gradually start smashing the lake to pieces!


……………………………………………

Nice blog and well done on the fish.

Looks like Bully from Minge?

Charlie

Cheers

Top spotting!

Hopefully put a few more in the gallery over the rest of the year.

Buzzin....

28th August.

Even though there was an extra day away from the drearyness of work I could only get out for a short afternoon and evening session. NWB came over and we decided to go to a local runs water for some no pressure fun fishing. We arrived to see that there was unbelievably plenty of free pegs. We set up ten yards apart, baited our swims and put rods in.

Not ten minutes in and we were both getting liners from tailing fish, mopping up carpet feed with confidence. After maybe an hour or so NWB was into a nice mirror of around 12 / 13lbs. Over the next two hours the liners came quick and fast, along with what must have been aborted takes (like in the Korda 5 DVD - fish picks up bait and ejects it before alarms go off) judging by the bow-waves exiting my swim..............barbless hooks

About half seven ish NWB left. Ten mins later and I was into a little mirror around 12lbs that fought like mad. The fishy activity dried up from then on thus causing my mind activity to start......

As it got darker and I was the only one left on, it felt like I was being watched, has anyone ever had the feeling of uneasiness and kinda not being alone to the extent where every few minutes you turn about and have a good look around? It won't interrupt my fishing unless something actually happens though.

At nine I packed up, still feeling like I wasn't alone. As I reached the stile and went to climb over a double flash went off behind me. Was that my camera I thought, No its off and inside two bags! My mind then started churning, sh1t someone is behind me and has just photoed me, why? I turned round cautiuosly to see nothing, I was confused, then the thunder rolled. Thank god for that I thought, its only lightening.

Thats really good stuff. I enjoyed it, well done sir!

31st August
Took the Friday off to go for two nights on the campaign lake. I rushed home from work as quick as possible, packed the tackle and booted it down there. Unloaded the tackle onto the barrow as it’s a bit of a walk only to find the wheel was flat! Still I struggled up the road weaving about uncontrollably, down the path and onto the chosen peg. “Light Drizzle” fell for the duration of set up, bivvy up, rods in, brew on as darkness fell. The lake was half full, noisy blokes on the far side, coupled with a lad that cast out every twenty minutes to different areas of the lake for the next day and a half, made me think the fish will push over this side to escape the noise and disruption.

First night it rained, rained, rained and rained all through the night, had a bream about 6-7lbs at sometime during the night. Dawn came and it was still raining up until about 8am. Watching the water for a while as the sun came out I noticed carp cruising infront of me, close in. Looks like the plan of fishing away from everyone else had potential, they're on my bank, pleased with myself for getting a decision correct for the first time in a while fuelled my confidence.

Till about 3pm the carp were knocking about in the upper layers till the sun disappeared and the clouds gathered again. I tried hard with the zigs but they just weren’t having it, unlike the seagulls who kept diving in and picking up the bait, they kept me tuned in though.

Friday night brought rain again, rain, rain, rain. And subsequently no carp only bream. Around the lake no one else caught which seems to be a trend when its lashing it down.

Saturday I packed up in the rain and went home to dry out the kit, I have no garage so the front room gets a temporary drying room conversion.

3rd September
The weather forecast gave the afternoon clearing up and no rain, with sunny spells so I packed some tackle and went down again. The lake was quiet, and the recent “going” peg was free. I set up and cast out. Needless to say it was one of them nights where the fish start showing just before you pack away and move down the lake obviously ‘havin it’ after a few days of inactivity but due to time restrictions your gone before they have chance to get in your swim.


After the session before’s elation of catching the biggy it’s back to the normal dross – fish not feeding, weather influence etc…..Till next session……..I’ll come good and it will all fall into place!

06th September
I decided to make some paste for the first time, so it was testing time. Off down to the local runs water I went. This place is great for testing as the margins are relatively shallow, meaning if you put a bed of feed out you can tell when the carp are over it by the tails sticking out of the water. If you don’t get a run then either your rigs rubbish or your baits no good. I have confidence in my rigs so it’s the bait that was on test.

Tackled up, cast out right hand rod over bed of feed in margin. Left hand rod with small bag of pellets next to snag, both pasted up. Shortly a couple of fish started tailing over the RHR. It’s the first time I have used this paste and after smelling it on the bank my confidence was not high – it smelt like perfume! YUK!

After an hour I had an aborted take on the rhr, followed by ten minutes later an actual run. The fish felt foul hooked though and I lost it after a minute or so. Out went the paste again. The third run was again on the rhr, producing a nice linear of 14lbs ish. The fish was foul hooked near to the mouth. This makes me think that the fish hooked itself while feeding on the food bed and not from taking the paste.

Another cast brought another dropped run, while the lhr had no action at all. I recast the lhr with a pop-up and no paste over a bag of pellets and twenty minutes later it roared off for a mirror of 21 lbs 2 oz, a PB for the water and also a first for the home made pop-ups.

The moon came out in force. Its rays glimmering off the lake, onto my rods, coupled with a ripple made it look like streaks of light running down from butt to tip. Kinda like the launch tunnel on the old battlestar galactica. My imagination is worse than when I was a kid!

Paste test result – No confidence in it, binned. The fish tailed over it all night mopping up the feed but trying to steer clear of the paste. I'll leave out the geranium oil (give it the missus as perfume for xmas), and try again as I want this in the bait armoury.

Pop-ups might work, instant success makes me feel good about them. Maybe I'm starting to get a bait I'm confident in, just needs tuning and lots of testing, but thats the fun part and most rewarding when it works.