Two Nights at Orchid Lake

Steve and I arrived at the lakes car park around 10.30. I didn't recognise him at first as he'd changed his camo outfit! It wasn't until he spoke that I recognised him. How silly is that!

We went into the office to book our swims and that's when we were told that the lake water is high and some of the swims were underwater. We'd need welly's or waterproof boots to access some of the swims.

Hmmm, not a good start.

We decided to have a walk around and see for ourselves how bad it was. Walking along the roadbank side it was obvious that the lake was high. The people already fishing there had their bivvies on the bank, rather than in the swim and the rod rests were positioned on the side of the swim so that their feet were kept dry should they have a run!

Walking further around it became quite obvious that selecting two swims that were fishable was going to be a big task. We decided that two swims were possible choices although Steve's face said this was not a good idea. Mine probably looked the same. Other than the swims that were already occupied it didn't look like we had much option. I was already thinking that we might have to scrap this session. I found out later that Steve was thinking the same thing. It really was grim.

On the way back to the office we were debating whether we should go on the roadbank side or the other two swims near the swim known as the Royal Box. it certainly wasn't ideal but at least we'd be fishing. I must admit that I wasn't looking forward to setting up in either swim and I suspect that Steve was of the same opnion.

Anyway, as we approached the office we I suggested that we take a look at the L-shape and the Alamo swims. These are swims that have a "lodge" in them that anglers can use instead of their bivvy, although lodge is the wrong term. Garden shed that needs a major face lift would be better description!
We checked out the L-Shape and although one person would have been comfortable, 2 people would have been a bit cramped. Casting our rods out would have been a bit of a nightmare as well. We decided to hold judgement until we had seen the Alamo. As soon as we saw the swim I knew we would book it. The water level wasn't over the boards, there was ample room for two bivvies and we could cast quite easily (ability notwithstanding!). We could also cast to most of the bottom half of the lake. We didn't know how much more it'd cost us but if it would cost more than £20 on top of the normal rate, we were going to go elsewhere. So off we went to see Phil, the bailiff.

We were under the impression that these swims are only available if you book in advance. We talked to Phil about how much extra it would cost to book the swim for two nights. He said that it could be booked as a normal swim unless it had been booked in advance.

And it wasn't!

Great stuff.

We weren't allowed to use the lodge at all, not even for sheltering ourselves or our gear, but that wasn't a problem as all our gear would fit in our bivvies anyway.

We set up and I spodded out a mix of hemp, pellets and boilies to an area approx 40-50 yds away (that's about how far I can cast at the moment due to joint problems). I cast out my three rods quite confident that we'd have something that afternoon or that evening. Steve cast out his rods a bit further with one rod positioned just before a sandbank, one near some trees and the third towards the middle.

We waited.

And waited

And waited some more.

While we were waiting we chatted and had the occasional glass of wine, watching the evening close in and the night fill with stars. But still no bites.

Damn!

Second day arrives and although we hadn't caught anything we were still hopeful of one or two that day. Later on in the afternoon, Steve changed the rig on one of his rods to the KD-Rig. This is where the hair is brought forward from the shank of the hook after two turns of the knotless knot and then the knot is continued up the shank with the hair coming from near the eye, making it heavier near the hook eye than the hook point.
Not long after Steve had a drop back and he knew straight away that he'd got a snotty bream. As luck would have it, it became unhooked before Steve could land it. All we need now is for Mr Carp to pop in. Not long after Steve has yet another drop back and again its a snotty bream. But Steve lands this one and unhooks the fish and releases it whilst its still in the water.

I had a couple of knocks and bleeps but nothing to brag about!

We pack up on Wednesday carpless but still happy that we managed to get out on the bank and in a decent swim. Maybe next time will be different.

Here's hoping,

John