Changes
Over the last month or so, i have been going through a bit of a lean spell in terms of bank time, and in general even managing to think about carp angling. A friend said only the other evening, how easy it is to 'slip out of fishing' even if only for a couple of weeks. I guess i have been trying to get all my personal work out of the way, which was backlogged to a rather embarrassing two months. Angling had been the reason for the backlog, and i was getting tired of making excuses to people why i hadn't been and done the jobs in question. Trying to focus on my fishing was getting distracted to much. I set about going doing the 'Foreigners' after work in the afternoons, and at weekends. Get 'em sorted before Autumn then get back in the groove.. I hope it will be as simple as that, i absolutely love Autumn.
Wednesday
Heavy showers, and a frustrating morning wasting my time trying to dry off a flat roof after each downpour saw me heading home not in the best of moods. I pulled into the street and the phone rang.. ya 'avin a do? I will ring you back in a minute. I walked in and flicked through the list of jobs.. not a one could be done with a chance of a shower. Yeah f*ck it, i'm having a couple of hours and chillin'.
A nice strong Westerly with a heavy sky, and a sun that repeatedly tried to peek out and say hello. I looked around the banks which were unusually empty, kinnel no one to even get a bit of a pointer off. I sat on 'Freezing point' and poured out a cup of coffee.. Hoping.
Perfect conditions, surely something will show! I hadn't long to wait, a big fish close to the far margin started lumping out in a large circle.. each time the fish came out it fell on its side sending up a white spray aginst the waves. This spot was becoming quite a regular area that the fish were visiting. After each fish i had picked off from this swim, i had continued to sprinkle a bit of bait in there for a few days after. I am not one for feeding a swim heavily for a period of time hoping that the fish will obligingly be there when it suitable for me to fish. Tactics like this cause to much friction on busy waters, and i don't want it. Over the years i have adopted an approach of giving the fish a 'taster' only in the safe areas that the fish visit and frequent. I also use a few margin spots that i can easily check on. Don't get the misconception that i am a tight c*nt, i simply put the bait in the areas i know that they will visit during a 24 hour period.. and will be inspected and eaten. I apply bait in small quantities, every other day, sometimes only once a week and check it regulary.
Heaving large amounts of bait on top of fish in an area that fish use as a sanctuary can often totally reverse the effect that i want. I am simply applying a bait that i allow them to eat confidently in one area, and when they come across it in another part of the lake.. 'confidence' will be their downfall.

Back to the ballerina carp.. i pushed through the bushes and it was still at it. F*ck me, i hurriedly peppered the ten metre circle with about thirty 'Hot chops' and flicked in the baited rod. Oh yeah!.. i am 'avin one allright. The second rod was placed the same distance out twenty metres to the left in case they moved down on the tow. Chillin? I stood besides the rod for ten miutes telling it to go, come on you fat f*cks. Boosh! out he came agin, f*ck me this dudes a proper show off, again the fish fell on it's flank.. hard. I looked across the lake expecting Tommy to be grunting down the path.. Peeeeeep!!
The alarm made me jump out of my boots. I backwound for time, then pumped hard winding furiously on the baitrunnner handle. Sh*t i must have been gettin into that, the fish boiled heavily on the surface at least 60 metres out.. steady. I let the fish gain momentum and played it out in the deep margin. Yess! I recognised the fish as one that 'Froggy' had caught a month or two earlier, and one i dearly wanted. I rang Tommy.. at the same time giving the fish a moment to calm down in the net. Hello!
Where are you? on me way down. Hurry up iv'e got one.
Hurry up? who do you think i am Lord f*ckin Lichfield.. i am not your official photographer you know.
He arrived, we weighed, 25lb 12oz Mirror.. buzzing? absolutely.
Sadly, work has only allowed me to visit twice more for a couple of hours. I hope to still pop on my local water on and off, but have decided to step back onto another water more often over the next few months, and make it my main choice. I have spent many, many hours mulling over my options for a Winter venue, i simply like to be out there in the Winter.
I have spent the last four or five Winters on Smiths, and it will feel strange not stepping back on there this year.. i am stepping back over a decade or more to another venue. They say never go back, overnighters and longer sessions are being planned as i type and i am really excited about returning to one of the best big fish waters in the North.

I will try to update this on a more regular basis over the next few months.. Cheers.

Top read and good angling also.

Nathan.

Thank you.. Reading the excellent account of your exploits gave me the boot up the @rse to fill in my own sparse memoirs.
Well done on the pb.. great times ahead for you young fella.

Thanks mate, great times for you also.

Now that has just put the boot up my ass to start my Autumn/Winter campaign,Good read again Mark,you inspire me to get out there mate!

nice one mate,makes me want to get the rods out...

Quality as usual Tudgie.



Paul, you HAD best get the rods out, as you'll soon be up to your neck in decorating and DIY.

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give us a bell later eagle m8
ill run you through the knotless knot just to refresh your memory

Quality Tudge ...

more please