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.

7th September – 9th September

Back for a session on the campaign lake for two nights, 36hrs. Made another tweek to the bait in the week using a tiger nut base because nut flavours are producing well recently. Arrived at the lake to find all but one peg free – I hate this as it means too much choice. I was adamant to fish the far side though as it sees less action. I unloaded the kit and went and sat on a peg where I could see the whole lake for half an hour drank a brew and noted where fish moved and crashed out. After some indecision I chose my peg and began setting up. While setting up I noticed out in front lots of fish activity, fizzers and crashers, it felt good and my confidence was brimming. I decided for a slight change though this time, no pellets in an attempt to avoid the bream, just stringers on one rod and catapulted baits to the other over the fizzer area.

The sun went down about 8.15, the other angler left and the moon came out super strong, no need for the head torch! Fell asleep super comfy under stars wrapped in thermals and sleeping bag, ah bliss!

4.45am I awoke to the most vicious one toner in my memory, by the time I’d untangled myself from the bag and wobbled half asleep down the stage the fish never let up, the buzzer rattling its roller wheel off. I lifted the rod into the fish and following a cracking fight a nice old common was netted. Back on the mat, 20lbs 2oz was the result, a couple of rubbish photos were taken (ten seconds timer) and back she went. What a result for the new base mix, first cast = 20 pounder, I was over the moon! After sorting the rod out and recasting I realised maybe the run was a result of the moon disappearing behind the trees and the light was not on the water, had that brought a feed on?

Answer Yes! 5.30 the other rod zips off. Another good fight resulted in another decent fish landed. Again, back on the mat 19lbs 7oz mirror. This fish was fantastic looking, young with a good frame and little gut, with a line of big scales down its flank (linear like) only broken by a couple of inches of leather, then more down the neck of the tail (does that make sense – neck tail?). Couple of photos and back she went.

Sadly though that’s where the action ended as the day was lovely and sunny with the fish cruising at the top end (I was tempted to move but losing the peg for the night put me off). The night was subject to a full moon, the one where it is closest to the earth in the year, causing massive high and low tides! Needless to say no-one caught.

After years of fishing I am now starting to agree with some anglers that the moon does have impact on the fish, anyone else think so? Full moon & clear sky = no fish to memory.


10th September
Evening sesh on runs water with NWBlanker, score 3-1 in favour of the Blanker . Biggest fish of the day 19lbs 8oz mirror fell to me, some pride restored.

13th September

Fished lake from dusk till dawn. Blank, a few liners, got wet, but no fish.

Ups and downs heh!

Well in on catching Bully

Cheers Stez

Although the shines fading fast as he tends to come out every other week. Its the commons I'm after now, they're a tad less greedy!

17th September

Evening on campaign lake with NWBlanker. Managed to get on the "going" peg in the corner. Set up, cast into the right spot and handballed some hemp and a few boilies in. Other rod fired towards the middle where fish were seen rolling.

We were only on for a few hours so "premiership fishing" was the key. Sadly both me and NWB fished "conference north style". After two liners for NWB his third or only proper run was bumped off, the look of despair in his face when he realised that that was the chance for the session over was priceless!

In true fishing buddy style I managed to get a few classic lines in like "next run you get, I'll strike and play it and you can have photo's of the fish. No one will ever know".

Typically as things like to bite you on the arse, at last knockins' off goes my rod under the tree. I lift into the fish, feel the strain get taken, then slack. No Fish. I reel in and inspect my rig to find "tackle failure". On such a short session "bonus" fish are hard to come by. I was gutted, lost fish trailing hook and 6 inches of rig.


I rarely lose fish, which makes it hard to take. Can't wait to get back on the lake again!

18th September

Back on lake for a short sesh. I'm fixated with the place like a safari park monkey is to his todger!



After the night before's loss I felt it was necessary to get back on the bike as so to speak! Change in end tackle and a good peg was chosen. Left hand rod was cast onto far bank, baited and dropped in the margin over a bed of Barley. Again new homemades, still tweeking but nearly there for the current water! The right hand rod was cast over to showing fish.

I sat back and took in the atmosphere, only two matcmen on the lake on the far side and me. They left before dark and the fish came over my baits. Then downpour! My mood changed from happy to pissed off, cracking evening and the rains set in. Happily it stopped at 8.15 and I had that feeling of I'm going to get a run. I stood by the rods scanning the lake for probably only 30 secs and the left hander tore off. The fish felt a defo 20 and fought doggedly until when close in it made a last ditch attempt for the snag to the left. I held on, but the hook pulled. The word fook was said between 20 and 30 times over the next ten minutes.



NWB turned up for a quick reccy on his travells and to discuss the next session. I recast to the far bank in the dark which took a few attempts as I wasn't totally settled! Bait on chucked in, take two!

After 15 mins or so the fish started rolling again and at 9 I got another run. This fish scrapped just as hard as the first but never felt to have the weight. After 15mins NWB slipped the net under her and my recent losses were forgotten. Back on the mat the fish weighed 20lbs 11oz, a beautiful linear (gallery), and one of the target fish I wanted. A couple of shots later and the fish was returned to the depths.

I packed up and went for some

Things are coming together well at the moment, but as the thread title says, it won't be long before the form turns sour and I go from fishing like a Northern Monkey to a safari park monkey!

Crackin'...

22nd September
Ladyfriend not present so it was off to Lake for the night. On arrival I went for a wander and a chat to some of the regulars to find it full, no pegs left. Gutted!

Had all the tackle and no other plans so tried the river. My banker peg was taken by the only other anglers on the stretch. I did think things were not on my side but decided to fish top side anyway.....you gotta be in it to win it.

I won 7 bream at 2-3lbs along with probably another 10 pick ups that went on all through the night. RUBBISH, went home tired and wet.


24th September
Quick evening session, no fish.


25th September
Overnighter on Lake. Arrived at six to find it was all mine! Chose my peg and began fishing. Left one to margin, right one to middle. For three hours I saw no fish and heard no crashers, so I went under the oval for an early night. At 10pm the left hander ripped off, I lifted into the run to feel nowt but slack. Winding in the slack the fish boiled under the surface over the bait as it felt me pull back. Instantly it became clear the fish was snagged and wasn't playing. I let the line slack and hoped the fish would swim out but sadly it just spat the hook and did one! I pulled the rig free and started again.

Back to the warm comfy sleeping bag I went, pretty gutted but still hopeful as it was early and the fish were still active.

1am the left hander goes off again, lift into the fish, feels small but I'm smiling again. The fish put up a spirited fight for its size but eventually lay ontop and slid towards the net. Disaster over the net the fish shakes its head, tackle failure (again). The fish rolls out before I can lift the net.

Sums up my feelings at this point. I couldn't believe it. That swim has now produced 4 runs in 15 hours resulting in only one fish landed. I haven't lost three fish in a season before, never mind from one swim

Out went the rod again, no beeps no fish crashing, up at six, home, work, mega gutted!

Time for a rethink of hooklink. Confidence scarred, although the runs are coming fast so I must be getting something right!

26th September

With no plans for the evening it was back to the lake for an overnighter. Booted it home from work, threw tackle together, flask made Frosties troughed. On arrival the peg I've been fishing was free again, jumped straight on it, eager to put right the night befores losses.

Usual stuff, left hand to margin, right hander to middle. Only a couple of guys on again, the lake was still, tranquill and inviting. As darkness fell little fishy action was seen, only a couple of cruisers in the half light showed themselves, but confidence was high and nerves were edgy.

Very quiet so got in the sack and drifted off. 1am I awake to a one toner, usual thing, half asleep I trundle down the stage trying not to fall in. Lift into the fish and it immediately starts ripping line off. The fish feels powerful and my nerves are jingly jangly. The pressure to not lose another was really playing on my mind and ultra care was the key.

After twenty minutes of gain some lose some the fish decided its best bet was to come under the rod tip, stick its head out and shake. I was prepared though and a stronger hooklink and soft drag meant the fish wasn't going to win this time I scooped the net under her. The releif was huge. I couldn't have taken losing another

Back on the mat a spotless, bulky common of 20lbs 11oz was weighed and posed nicely for a few shots, then back to the depths. I began to recast when up turned some rednecks with laser sights presumably attached to rifles, dogs and fox squeekers. I sat still on the stage for 15 mins hoping not to be mistaken for a fox as the hillbillies shone their lamps across the road and fields . With nothing to kill the hicks left in their 4x4 with one doing a rambo stood in the back holding his gun in the air like an American soldier, I recast and returned to the sack till morning, packed up, home, work.

great read m8

1st October

Another quick overnighter on the lake. Changed shifts with NWBlanker on the "going" peg around 5pm. Usual stuff, left hander to margin, right hander to baited spot in middle of lake. The evening was looking promising with fish boshing towards the middle and a light breeze pushing into my corner

All other anglers left up to 8pm, wish I had too! It rained till 10pm, more like a prolonged downpour, was fine till 11pm at which I had a cracking liner, which I was so convinced was a run I struck at

Fromm 11pm till dawn it hammered it down, should have gone home to a warm bed, but the forcast was favourable from 12am, weather forcasters = rubbish! I leave, sun comes out, beautiful day, stuck in office

11th October

Usual lark, check the weather forcast, schumacher it home from work, launch tackle into car, snort weetabix and down to lake. The place was relatively quiet, just a couple of guys on the near side so went for the usual shinanigins and beded in on far side, away from other noisy anglers. NWBlanker was on for the night, so company was good.

Same old same old, left hander to margin, right to middle . Changed the baiting strategy slightly though and used an inferior homemade on the LHR and a some crushed boilies PVAd on the RHR. A very quiet evening ensued, the silence broken by carp crashing infront of NWB. Fell asleep about 9pm under a murky sky. I awoke at 11ish to the sound of things moving in the reeds infront of me, the moon was out and no clouds showed, a beautiful evening, but not one that lends to carp (IMO). Watching quietly for a while at the reeds, it became clear the rats were going mental, maybe they were fighting, maybe they were moonlight induced rutting! Either way got a good photo of one cool looking fella sat at the top of a bullrush on lookout.

The rats went to bed and so did I. 5.45 I awake feeling cold, seconds later i get a run on the RHR. Negociate the ramp comfortably as I was unusually awake at run time, and lift into a fish that feels average. The fish fights ok, but nothing to worry about. The net slips under her and a nice mid to upper double common is mine. Back on the mat and the fish ways 17lbs 9oz, again pristene, as good as new! A couple of photos for memories and back to the lake.

6.30am, rods in pack up and off to work. I need to win the lottery !

15th Sept
Afternoon session at the lake with NWB, promised the ladyfriend I'd be back for 10.30. Typically when working to a timescale the fish know. Didn't see anything move, crash, swirl or even fart till 9.30 at which they started moving down the lake. Needless to say 10.30 turned to 11pm and I couldn't stick it out for them to arrive over my baits any longer.

Blank. Why were the fish not on the feed? With next weeks 48hr sesh preparations for big bed of bait in full swing, slight worring began.


18th Sept
Runs water to test home made pop-ups. Result 3 hours, two runs - one lost the other a mid double. The fish were behaving odd though, after dark many were stacked in the shallow bay, crashing in the margins, similar to spawning. I am no fish behaviour expert in the days of global warming - so I cannot pass accurate comment on what these shows were all about. In my head these fish were happy though, which in turn made me happy - simple intit.


22 - 24 Sept
Big sesh (for me) on lake. Shat loads of bait made and confidence of a big hit high. Met the blanker on far side chatting to one of the venue's successful anglers. No fish had been out all week till 4 on saturday to newcommers, begginers luck! The fish weren't showing as much anymore and the possibility of the big feed missed loomed large.

"Camp" was set up mid lake and spodding commenced, nice tight area filled in with particles and a couple of kg boilies. The strategy being if the feed was still on at some point over the next two days fish would move in, and I would begin hauling . One rod sent over bait and the other flung to middle with PVA bag of crushed bait.

After a while, just into darkness, it became clear there were fish infront and mainly to my right in the mid water. At 10.30 the PVA rod one tones. I hit the run sharpish and begin to play a carp at distance. The carp begins to kite right and towards me until all goes slack, I wind in franticly thinking its bolting into my feet only to realise its slipped the hook and won the fight. Gutted I retire to the Bivvy to rebait, recast rods and attempted to retire to the bivvy, only to be collared by an expectant audience wanting to know where I cast, what bait I was using and what fish I'd had out ever in my whole life. Didn't want to play 'mines bigger than yours' so single word answers only .they soon left

Day two came and went, no fish out over the whole lake, had a relaxing time though

Last day brought beautiful sunshine, but no signs of fish until around 2pm when two beeps came from the now pop-up rod. Usually I ignore these occurances as liners, but thought maybe they've gone shy. I struck the rod to feel unexpectedly something pull back! Reeling in the lump kited but never really struggled, Bream me thinks! Ten yards out off it goes, taking line and ending the rod, yeah, a sleepy carp I think, until I catch a glimpse in the clear water or a grassy about 2 foot long. It fought for a bit but lost interest after 5 mins or so, netted, went to weigh it as being a first grassy for me it would be a PB, but upon seeing more dribble than a Cranage Hospital day out (target audience) back to the water it went with an estimate weight of 11lbs. Them things are wierd!

Packed up for dusk only to see the fish start crashing on the opposite bank and a newcommer take what looked like a big mirror (light was poor so unsure).

The amount of bait I brought home signals, for me, the end of the summer and the end of the feeding. Winter tactics from now to be used. Hopefully this years winter is better than the 3 month blank I put together last year!

Keep at it mate, you seem to be on the right lines, but if I were you, I'd stop worrying about bait and use the same one for consistency.

Cheers JKulin.

I'll be keeping at it, but scaling down the amount of bait going in. I have a bottom bait that I've been using now with success for a couple of months but I am loathe to paying Mr Mainline/Solar/anyone £6.99 for 50 odd balls of coloured floaty stuff. Plus, its back to the old addage that catching on your own homemade concoctions is more satisfying than on a shop bought bait. Hence the pop-up trials.

I think I'm there now for bait, this season was about testing and tweeking and finding a bait suitable for that water. Next season is about picking a spot and as you say consistency. Winter will be hard but i'm confident that if I find the fish, I'll bank a few.

It's all good, fishings fantastic!

Fishing that is, blog first, surfing later

27th October
Evening on local lake, where the fish were was stitched and didn't want to ruin the guy who i'd fish next to's chances so fished away from the lines, or so I thought. Top end, no-one on my bank, chance of a lone fish I think. Set up, cast one to the right on a single and then one to the left about 35 yards out. "OI You can't fish there, your five yards away from me" comes the shout. Confused as I was on my own I scanned the lake only to see on the far side some plank waving at me. "thats three quarts across" I half shouted back not wanting to scare any fish infront off. The guy just stands there lookin at me so I wound in and slat it further away from the pilchard, knowing that a noddy who had cast that far across infront of one of the night pegs would be fishing bow strings, thus cutting the lake in two and cutting the carp off from me!

Why are people like that still turning up? He then stealthily throws 15 monster balls of groundbait the size of shot putts in to his left about 20 yards out, probably scaring any lone fish further away from that end of the lake (Them frikin mags have too much to answer for - day ticket carp supermarkets yes, heavily pressured sensitive lakes NO).

Needless to say not a bleep, not a swirl, not a fish. Enjoyed the firework displays in the night skies though.

Hopefully these inconsiderate anglers are getting their last sessions in before the tackle goes in the loft, leaving the lake to us committed individuals.

29th October
Quick sesh on runs water, 1 run, lost. Blank, very upset, first blank on this water, but the fish weren't feeding well.

Some places never change mate .. im sure the d1cks will dissapear come winter .. nice and quiet for you then

Keep at em ..

Quote:

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im sure the d1cks will dissapear come winter

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They all shrivel and disappear when it's cold