Steve went to France again.
Still waiting for write up!!!
Lol
Sunday, 23 October 2011
Thorny Weir
Steve went to Thorny Weir and had a memorable session.
I'll going to nag him to write an article.
Watch this space
I'll going to nag him to write an article.
Watch this space
Tuesday, 14 June 2011
Bream Boy!
Well, I've been to the lake 3 times in the last couple of months and still no carp.
Vic and I have recently tried out the States Lagoon. Its bigger than the Specimen lake and there are more inaccessible places, especially for Vic and me as we haven't got a barrow. I think Vic is working his charm on Barbs and he may resolve the barrow problem soon!! Its a long haul around that side of the lake with all your gear.
The first time I went, Vic was unable to come as I didn't know I was going until the last moment. He has to sort out who takes the dog for a walk, feed the horses and rabbits etc so the more notice I give him the better.
I set up on the bottom end of the lake and spodded out some mix. A few hours later, I had a tentative take and a bream of 5lb+ was on the bank. Not what I was after, but it was my PB for a bream. To cut a long story short, this was the tone of the session - bream. I tried sweetcorn (real and plastic), 8mm - 16mm boilies, pop ups, snowmen set up, tiger nuts etc. The carp weren't interested although the bream seemed to enjoy it all!! I tried short hooklinks, long ones, but the end result, bream. I did increase my PB for a bream again, this time a bream of 7lb 2oz. It fought for all of 20 seconds and then gave in.
I ended up with 7 bream, all over 5lb .
A few weeks later, we managed to arrange a session together together and we set up at the top end of the lake, near the top car park. I used the marker rod, clipped up, and used pva bags and netting with stick mix and boilies but no fish, not even a bream. I stayed that night and didnt have a run. I was a bit disappointed but I'll still carry on, just try another part of the lake and use plenty of bait.
The last time we went I stayed for 2 nights and Vic joined me on the first day. We set up on the left side of the lake near to where I had the bream previously. A similar story, spod, pva bags/netting, boilies, sweetcorn - all caught bream but no carp. Maybe I'm doing something radically wrong but I can't catch a carp to save my life!!
Vic getting his method feeder mix ready
Anyway, I'll keep going and see what turns up!
Well, thats it for now,
Cya soon,
John
Vic and I have recently tried out the States Lagoon. Its bigger than the Specimen lake and there are more inaccessible places, especially for Vic and me as we haven't got a barrow. I think Vic is working his charm on Barbs and he may resolve the barrow problem soon!! Its a long haul around that side of the lake with all your gear.
The first time I went, Vic was unable to come as I didn't know I was going until the last moment. He has to sort out who takes the dog for a walk, feed the horses and rabbits etc so the more notice I give him the better.
I set up on the bottom end of the lake and spodded out some mix. A few hours later, I had a tentative take and a bream of 5lb+ was on the bank. Not what I was after, but it was my PB for a bream. To cut a long story short, this was the tone of the session - bream. I tried sweetcorn (real and plastic), 8mm - 16mm boilies, pop ups, snowmen set up, tiger nuts etc. The carp weren't interested although the bream seemed to enjoy it all!! I tried short hooklinks, long ones, but the end result, bream. I did increase my PB for a bream again, this time a bream of 7lb 2oz. It fought for all of 20 seconds and then gave in.
I ended up with 7 bream, all over 5lb .
A few weeks later, we managed to arrange a session together together and we set up at the top end of the lake, near the top car park. I used the marker rod, clipped up, and used pva bags and netting with stick mix and boilies but no fish, not even a bream. I stayed that night and didnt have a run. I was a bit disappointed but I'll still carry on, just try another part of the lake and use plenty of bait.
The last time we went I stayed for 2 nights and Vic joined me on the first day. We set up on the left side of the lake near to where I had the bream previously. A similar story, spod, pva bags/netting, boilies, sweetcorn - all caught bream but no carp. Maybe I'm doing something radically wrong but I can't catch a carp to save my life!!
Vic getting his method feeder mix ready
View from Johns swim
Anyway, I'll keep going and see what turns up!
Well, thats it for now,
Cya soon,
John
Thursday, 26 May 2011
Another awesome session at Etang Du Bois
Hi all, its Steve.
Well, what a session I just had in France.
Following on from my last session there, I thought it'd be quite chuffed if I only had half of what I caught!
Read on to find out what happened.
After meeting up with Frenchy and Pete, we eventually left at around 8pm. Frenchy would be driving to Dover and I'd be driving the rest. We'd be using my car and Pete would follow us in his own. We arrived at Dover in plenty of time and we got the early ferry to Dunkirk (or Dunkerque in French!). The only downside was that most of the seats were taken with people lying flat out on them, fast asleep. Grrrrh!
Never mind, C'est la vie as the locals say!
A couple of our party had already spent a week at the lake and we would be meeting up with them later
Anyway, it was an uneventful trip and I wasnt sea sick once. We disembarked at around 3am local time and set off for the 4 hour trip to the lake. By this time it was quite foggy and as we travelled onward, so the fog got thicker. This wasn't what we had planned! After about 2 hrs driving we pulled into a car park to have a rest and get some zzzzzzeds!. My head was full of fishing and there was no way I was going to be able to sleep. I ended up exploring the area and drinking coffee and after a while I woke the others up. We set off at about 7am and arrived at the lake around 9am. The fog had cleared by now and we could see the splendid lake.
To decide who would choose the first swim, we would be pulling names out of the hat. Lowest number goes first. I let Pete and Frenchy go first and then drew my number. Guess what? I drew number 1! I now had first choice. Lol
We had already taken a walk around the lake and I really fancied the Lawn swim, so thats where I set up.
I'd been told of a couple of spots around my chosen swim that had produced in the past and I placed 1 rod near the area to my right and my other 2 rods to the island. Now we wait. I put out some bait with my bait boat and sat down and enjoyed my surroundings
I was in the process of making myself a cup of tea when I noticed that the flame on my stove was burning yellowy/orange and not the lovely blue flame that it normally burns. I decided to turn up the gas and try to unblock the jet that way.
B-I-G mistake.
The damn thing roared like a dragon and the next thing I knew there was flames shooting up the front of my bivvy!!
Holy s**t!
Thinking quickly, I managed to grab hold of the stove and chuck it outside.
Oh bl**dy hell, no! It bounced and clattered towards my rods and there wasn't a damned thing I could do about it. I watched horrified as it got closer and closer to my rods. Finally, it came to a stop a half rod length away from them. Whew! That was close.
Now I know why my mate John rarely cooks inside his bivvy!! Lol
I retrieved the flaming stove (no pun intended!) and went back to the bivvy to see if there was any damage. Damn, there was a hole the size of a small hand towel in the front of the bivvy. I had the original front and mozzy net with me so I wasn't too worried about getting wet. Just pi***d off it had happened at all.
Although the weather was pleasant, I had no runs that day or at night and managed to catch up on my sleep.
I woke around 8am and had breakfast. My alarms had remained silent during the night so I decided to have a walk around my area of the lake. As I walked I noticed at least 3 fish right under a tree in the margin to my right. This spot was about 8-10 feet from the other spot I'd been told about. I'd need my bait boat for this as it would be very difficult to cast to this spot with the rods. I loaded up the boat with a rig and a handful of bait and sent it out.
Trap set. Now we wait again.
Saturday proved to be another quiet day on the fishing front and I retired to my bivvy and got my head down for the night.
Woke up and had breakfast, again fishless. This had happened last time I was here so I wasn't too worried yet. It takes a bit of time to settle down.This lake has a couple of aerators and I was quite confident that I'd catch sometime soon, especially when the aerators were on. We'll see how it pans out.
I'd noticed that when I got my rigs in from the margin spots, parts of the rig were covered in black gunk. I wasn't happy with this and decided to change my bottom baits to pop-ups. A simple change but quite effective as it turned out. I sent out the boat with my changed rigs and some bait and sat in the chair enjoying the sun.
At 11.30 I had a blistering run on my RH rod. Game on!! I lifted into the fish and had myself an almighty scrap with mr carp. It fought like a demon but I managed to land it after about 15 mins. I looked into the net and it was huge! I could see it was a grass carp, long, sleek and powewful. With the help of some of the lads, we weighed it and the scales went round to 54.02 lbs
Awesome!
I was ecstatic. I would have been happy just to catch a carp, but to catch a fish this size first off blew me away. When we'd photographed, weighed and administered some carp care stuff, we released it and it swam away to its home. I sat down and made myself a well earned cup of tea. Presently, I made up another rig and sent it out with some bait to the new spot. I just knew the spot would produce and it did.
Until I sent out the bait boat to top up the swims.
I was enjoying my first cup of tea at about 6.30am when my RH rod (the one on my spot) burst into life. I was onto my rod quickly and I could feel it wasnt a monster, but a decent fish none the less. After another healthy scrap, the lovely looking common was in my net and being photographed and weighed. It was 27.02lb. It wasnt the biggest carp in the lake but it was in pristine condition.
This was turning into one hell of a session. The rod was put back into the spot and again only a smattering of baits around the area. At 8am my RH rod once again put on its battle curve and I was into another angry carp. This was proving a popular spot for mr carp. After another exhausting scrap (I hadnt quite recovered from the last one) I managed to get the net under the fish. Someone offered to help me weigh it, which I was grateful for! At 47.02lbs I was incredibly happy with the result so far - and we still had a few more days left!
Not long after, it started to rain and it stayed all day. Kind of put a dampner on things for a bit as I didn't get a bite until the evening. At times the heavens opened and we would all skuttle back into our bivvies.
If this keeps up, I'll be a quivering wreck by the time I go home! I'm well chuffed with my fishing though, especially with the way I have thought about things and then went and put the thinking into action and caught some decent carp.
Wednesday arrived and I'd been up since 7am. I had breakfast and a cup of tea and was considering if anything needed to be changed. Then at 8.30am my question was answered with the roaring of my RH alarm as it signalled Mr Angry Carp on the end. No changes required! Finding that spot was a real good piece of fortune for me. 4 fish off the spot so far. This fish wasn't as big as some of the others and I was able to land it quite quickly. Good job really, as I'd only just recovered from yesterdays haul! The scales went round to 26.09lb and we returned the fish soon after. Another common.
We were having a barbeque this afternoon so the whole gang would be bringing in our rods for a couple of hours and have a bit of a social. We'd have a few beers, some BBQ grub and a good chat. Leigh (the bailiff) was cooking the grub. Top Chef! Our group as whole were doing great, with several people getting carp to over 50lbs and many beating their PB's by quite a margin.
By 5pm I was back at my bivvy and getting the rigs and bait out to the spots ready for the evening. 30 minutes later my middle rod alarm nearly went into melt down as it screamed a take. My rod was doing what it is designed to do and I was having a battle with another Etang Du Bois carp. Yet again another fight and I managed to land the carp after a brief but powerful fight. It was a 42.09lb leather carp. Another PB by the wayside.
Thursday morning arrived and no action through the night. I had breakfast and after topping up the spots again I was hopeful of another fish - and I wasn't to be disappointed.
At about 10.30am I was talking to Leigh and some others. We were enjoying the morning sunshine, trying not to think about the next day when we would have to pack up and make our way home.
Look what happened when I went to use the facilities. My camera got hijacked.
Can you spot who is in the picture?
Lol
Well, what a session I just had in France.
Following on from my last session there, I thought it'd be quite chuffed if I only had half of what I caught!
Read on to find out what happened.
Thursday 28 April
After meeting up with Frenchy and Pete, we eventually left at around 8pm. Frenchy would be driving to Dover and I'd be driving the rest. We'd be using my car and Pete would follow us in his own. We arrived at Dover in plenty of time and we got the early ferry to Dunkirk (or Dunkerque in French!). The only downside was that most of the seats were taken with people lying flat out on them, fast asleep. Grrrrh!
Never mind, C'est la vie as the locals say!
A couple of our party had already spent a week at the lake and we would be meeting up with them later
Friday 29 April
Anyway, it was an uneventful trip and I wasnt sea sick once. We disembarked at around 3am local time and set off for the 4 hour trip to the lake. By this time it was quite foggy and as we travelled onward, so the fog got thicker. This wasn't what we had planned! After about 2 hrs driving we pulled into a car park to have a rest and get some zzzzzzeds!. My head was full of fishing and there was no way I was going to be able to sleep. I ended up exploring the area and drinking coffee and after a while I woke the others up. We set off at about 7am and arrived at the lake around 9am. The fog had cleared by now and we could see the splendid lake.
To decide who would choose the first swim, we would be pulling names out of the hat. Lowest number goes first. I let Pete and Frenchy go first and then drew my number. Guess what? I drew number 1! I now had first choice. Lol
We had already taken a walk around the lake and I really fancied the Lawn swim, so thats where I set up.
I'd been told of a couple of spots around my chosen swim that had produced in the past and I placed 1 rod near the area to my right and my other 2 rods to the island. Now we wait. I put out some bait with my bait boat and sat down and enjoyed my surroundings
 |
| The Lawn Swim |
I was in the process of making myself a cup of tea when I noticed that the flame on my stove was burning yellowy/orange and not the lovely blue flame that it normally burns. I decided to turn up the gas and try to unblock the jet that way.
B-I-G mistake.
The damn thing roared like a dragon and the next thing I knew there was flames shooting up the front of my bivvy!!
Holy s**t!
Thinking quickly, I managed to grab hold of the stove and chuck it outside.
Straight towards my rods.
Now I know why my mate John rarely cooks inside his bivvy!! Lol
I retrieved the flaming stove (no pun intended!) and went back to the bivvy to see if there was any damage. Damn, there was a hole the size of a small hand towel in the front of the bivvy. I had the original front and mozzy net with me so I wasn't too worried about getting wet. Just pi***d off it had happened at all.
Although the weather was pleasant, I had no runs that day or at night and managed to catch up on my sleep.
Saturday 30 April
I woke around 8am and had breakfast. My alarms had remained silent during the night so I decided to have a walk around my area of the lake. As I walked I noticed at least 3 fish right under a tree in the margin to my right. This spot was about 8-10 feet from the other spot I'd been told about. I'd need my bait boat for this as it would be very difficult to cast to this spot with the rods. I loaded up the boat with a rig and a handful of bait and sent it out.
Trap set. Now we wait again.
Saturday proved to be another quiet day on the fishing front and I retired to my bivvy and got my head down for the night.
Sunday 1 May
Woke up and had breakfast, again fishless. This had happened last time I was here so I wasn't too worried yet. It takes a bit of time to settle down.This lake has a couple of aerators and I was quite confident that I'd catch sometime soon, especially when the aerators were on. We'll see how it pans out.
I'd noticed that when I got my rigs in from the margin spots, parts of the rig were covered in black gunk. I wasn't happy with this and decided to change my bottom baits to pop-ups. A simple change but quite effective as it turned out. I sent out the boat with my changed rigs and some bait and sat in the chair enjoying the sun.
At 11.30 I had a blistering run on my RH rod. Game on!! I lifted into the fish and had myself an almighty scrap with mr carp. It fought like a demon but I managed to land it after about 15 mins. I looked into the net and it was huge! I could see it was a grass carp, long, sleek and powewful. With the help of some of the lads, we weighed it and the scales went round to 54.02 lbs
Awesome!
 |
| 54.02lb Grass Carp |
I was ecstatic. I would have been happy just to catch a carp, but to catch a fish this size first off blew me away. When we'd photographed, weighed and administered some carp care stuff, we released it and it swam away to its home. I sat down and made myself a well earned cup of tea. Presently, I made up another rig and sent it out with some bait to the new spot. I just knew the spot would produce and it did.
Rock on Tommy. Lets have another!
The rest of the afternoon passed quietly with no action.
The rest of the afternoon passed quietly with no action.
Until I sent out the bait boat to top up the swims.
I loaded up the boat as I had done on several occasions and sent it out towards my chosen spots. As it got about 20 yds out there was an almighty BANG! I must have jumped a good 6 feet in the air. I looked around in amazement and shock wondering what the hell was going on. I then realised that my bait boat had vanished!
Damn! What on earth had happened?
There were a few ripples where my boat should have been but no other sign of it all. Not even a bit of wreckage. It had been totally destroyed. The explosion was heard several kilometers away, as some of the party were fishing a nearby lake and say they clearly heard it!! I let Leigh, the bailiff know and he kindly volunteered to salvage any bits of the boat that he could find. Sadly, all he found was the fishfinder - and that was found on the far bank margin!! No other trace of my boat remained. And the fishfider still worked! Lol.
To this day I dont know why it exploded. I do know that if it had happened 10 mins earlier, myself and Frenchy had been talking, with the boat between us and one, or both of us, could have been seriously injured. Spooky!
Since then, the other guys called me Uncle Albert after that episode! Even people I didnt know were coming up to me on the ferry home and asking me about it, word had got around I guess!!
Anyway, as luck would have it, my rig was already out on my new found spot and I could bait up by hand if I walked around to the margin. Unless I had a run the rig was staying where it was, as there was no way I could get it back out there using the rod. I'd have to speak to Leigh the next day and see if I could hire a bait boat for the rest of the week, as I'd be needing it.
It was quiet for the remaider of the evening, no doubt the carp were suffering from severe headaches from the concussion!! Lol
Damn! What on earth had happened?
There were a few ripples where my boat should have been but no other sign of it all. Not even a bit of wreckage. It had been totally destroyed. The explosion was heard several kilometers away, as some of the party were fishing a nearby lake and say they clearly heard it!! I let Leigh, the bailiff know and he kindly volunteered to salvage any bits of the boat that he could find. Sadly, all he found was the fishfinder - and that was found on the far bank margin!! No other trace of my boat remained. And the fishfider still worked! Lol.
To this day I dont know why it exploded. I do know that if it had happened 10 mins earlier, myself and Frenchy had been talking, with the boat between us and one, or both of us, could have been seriously injured. Spooky!
Since then, the other guys called me Uncle Albert after that episode! Even people I didnt know were coming up to me on the ferry home and asking me about it, word had got around I guess!!
Anyway, as luck would have it, my rig was already out on my new found spot and I could bait up by hand if I walked around to the margin. Unless I had a run the rig was staying where it was, as there was no way I could get it back out there using the rod. I'd have to speak to Leigh the next day and see if I could hire a bait boat for the rest of the week, as I'd be needing it.
It was quiet for the remaider of the evening, no doubt the carp were suffering from severe headaches from the concussion!! Lol
Monday 2 May
 |
| 27.02lb Common |
I was enjoying my first cup of tea at about 6.30am when my RH rod (the one on my spot) burst into life. I was onto my rod quickly and I could feel it wasnt a monster, but a decent fish none the less. After another healthy scrap, the lovely looking common was in my net and being photographed and weighed. It was 27.02lb. It wasnt the biggest carp in the lake but it was in pristine condition.
The only downside to this capture was that I couldnt get my rig back out to the spot until I spoke to Leigh later that day. I decided to rest the whole swim until I had arranged something with Leigh about hiring a baitboat. I was still baiting up the spot throught he day with a light spattering of bait using my trusty catapult - or just walking around the other side and dropping them in. By 5.30pm I had arranged a deal with Leigh and my rigs were firmly on the spot again. All was quiet for the rest of the evening, a good nights kip ensued.
Tuesday 3 May
 |
| 56.02lb Common |
At 6am my middle rod screamed off, this time from the known spot near the margin to my right. This time the carp stayed deep and plodded along rather than go into a frenzy. It tried its damnest to shed the hook on the debris underneath the tree but I wasn't having any of it. I could feel the line juddering over snags or something and I prayed it wouldn't come off. I must have done something right, because I managed to steer it away from the obstacles and play it in the relatively open water. I've noticed that these carp really put up a strong fight, especially near the net and this was no exception. It thrashed the water to a foam! I eventually managed to net the fish after 15 mins. I was exhausted. My arms, legs and back were on fire. But when I looked at the fish in the net, I knew it was worth the effort. I was so knackered I had to get one of the lads to help me lift it onto the unhooking mat. I looked at the fish and knew it must be near 60lbs or so. It actually weighed 56.02lbs but I wasnt disappointed as it was in really good condition.
 |
| 47.02lb Common |
This was turning into one hell of a session. The rod was put back into the spot and again only a smattering of baits around the area. At 8am my RH rod once again put on its battle curve and I was into another angry carp. This was proving a popular spot for mr carp. After another exhausting scrap (I hadnt quite recovered from the last one) I managed to get the net under the fish. Someone offered to help me weigh it, which I was grateful for! At 47.02lbs I was incredibly happy with the result so far - and we still had a few more days left!
Not long after, it started to rain and it stayed all day. Kind of put a dampner on things for a bit as I didn't get a bite until the evening. At times the heavens opened and we would all skuttle back into our bivvies.
 |
| The heavens opening as viewed from my bivvy |
At around 8pm my middle rod was off. Again, a massive scrap ensued but I was able to land it fairly easily, as I'd had a lot of practice!! Lol. The carp was another lovely looker, weighing in at 53.00lb.
Wicked.
 |
| 53.00lb Common |
If this keeps up, I'll be a quivering wreck by the time I go home! I'm well chuffed with my fishing though, especially with the way I have thought about things and then went and put the thinking into action and caught some decent carp.
That was it for the rest of the evening, so I went to bed.
Wednesday 4 May
 |
| 26.09lb Common |
Wednesday arrived and I'd been up since 7am. I had breakfast and a cup of tea and was considering if anything needed to be changed. Then at 8.30am my question was answered with the roaring of my RH alarm as it signalled Mr Angry Carp on the end. No changes required! Finding that spot was a real good piece of fortune for me. 4 fish off the spot so far. This fish wasn't as big as some of the others and I was able to land it quite quickly. Good job really, as I'd only just recovered from yesterdays haul! The scales went round to 26.09lb and we returned the fish soon after. Another common.
 | |
| Tim, Pete, Frenchy and Russell with me behind the camera. Leigh is the one slaving away on the bbq grill |
We were having a barbeque this afternoon so the whole gang would be bringing in our rods for a couple of hours and have a bit of a social. We'd have a few beers, some BBQ grub and a good chat. Leigh (the bailiff) was cooking the grub. Top Chef! Our group as whole were doing great, with several people getting carp to over 50lbs and many beating their PB's by quite a margin.
The social went well and we all enjoyed the break.
 |
| 42.09 Leather |
By 5pm I was back at my bivvy and getting the rigs and bait out to the spots ready for the evening. 30 minutes later my middle rod alarm nearly went into melt down as it screamed a take. My rod was doing what it is designed to do and I was having a battle with another Etang Du Bois carp. Yet again another fight and I managed to land the carp after a brief but powerful fight. It was a 42.09lb leather carp. Another PB by the wayside.
No more fish that night so I went to bed.
Thursday 5 May
 |
| 45.08 |
At 12.30pm I had a take on on my middle rod again. I managed to avoid all the snags and thankfully landed it safely after a brief struggle. This one went 45.08 and another lovely common to add to the scrapbook
By 6.30pm it was all quiet and going by previous nights it was going to stay that way. And so it proved.
Friday 6 May
 |
| 30.08lb Common |
At about 10.30am I was talking to Leigh and some others. We were enjoying the morning sunshine, trying not to think about the next day when we would have to pack up and make our way home.
Suddenly, I had a rip roaring take on my middle rod and the fight was on. It didnt scrap as much as some of the others but it was a hectic and intense battle. Looking into the landing net I could see that it was a common. I weighed the carp and it went 30.08lb.
Saturday 7 May
The night passed quietly, and we awoke and proceeded to pack our gear away in preparation for the journey home. We were very happy as we'd all had decent fish, good company and mainly dry weather.
This has been an exceptional fishing trip at a wonderful fishery in the middle of France. Etang Du Bois has proved itself as a first class venue.
Our party had 22 fish between 5 anglers. All of us had at least one 50lb+ carp. The lake record was broken for the most 50's caught in a week - 8 x 50lb+ carp. A trulyy awesome result topped by a 60lb common caught by Russell.
This has been an exceptional fishing trip at a wonderful fishery in the middle of France. Etang Du Bois has proved itself as a first class venue.
Our party had 22 fish between 5 anglers. All of us had at least one 50lb+ carp. The lake record was broken for the most 50's caught in a week - 8 x 50lb+ carp. A trulyy awesome result topped by a 60lb common caught by Russell.
Summary
Well, what more can I say? My personal tally was:
3 x 50's - (53.00, 54.02 56.02)
3 x 40's - (42.09, 45.08, 47.02)
1 x 30 - (30.08)
2 x 20's - (26.09, 27.02)
That says it all really!!
Au Revoir
Steve
PS
Well, what more can I say? My personal tally was:
3 x 50's - (53.00, 54.02 56.02)
3 x 40's - (42.09, 45.08, 47.02)
1 x 30 - (30.08)
2 x 20's - (26.09, 27.02)
That says it all really!!
Au Revoir
Steve
PS
Look what happened when I went to use the facilities. My camera got hijacked.
Can you spot who is in the picture?
Lol
Saturday, 30 April 2011
Blog update
Well, what can I say?
Its been a long time since we've posted anything so we thought we'd better try to write something!
Steve and I have been fishing several times at our respective lakes since our last post, but nothing major to report. We've both caught our share of bream and tench but the decent carp have somehow managed to elude us - especially John! He even bought some new scales and a weighing hook in November last year but didn't get to use them until recently!!
We had planned to go to Orchid Lakes in December but the winter offer of half price tickets didnt start until January so that put paid to that idea. Then in January we had all that ice, frost and snow, so another plan had gone by the wayside. Eventually we managed to get to Orchid for two nights in February but we didn't catch anything.
John went to his club lake the other day and tried out the State Lagoon. It's a nice lake but a lot deeper in places than the specimen lake that he's used to. Never mind, he can only fish the water in front of him. Johns mate, Vic, had been there recently and missed a good run and had some bream. Other anglers had caught some carp or had a fish come off so things were looking up. John set up and during the session had 5 bream - all over 5lb and the heaviest going 7lb 3oz. At least he used his scales at last!!! Talking to other anglers revealed that up until the Tuesday (John went on Thursday) the carp were coming out quite regularly but a north wind came blowing in and no carp were caught for the next few days. Bloody typical. Lol!
Anyway, Steve is in France again as I write this. He had a cracking trip last year, bagging the lake record (which has since been broken several times) and a fistful of other decent carp. Read his blog Etaig du Bois) for info on that trip. We hope he does as well again this year. No doubt he will write about it when he comes back. If not I shall nag him until he does. Lol
Anyway, thats it for now, I'll report back when I have something.
Au Revoir for now
Jt and Sc
Its been a long time since we've posted anything so we thought we'd better try to write something!
Steve and I have been fishing several times at our respective lakes since our last post, but nothing major to report. We've both caught our share of bream and tench but the decent carp have somehow managed to elude us - especially John! He even bought some new scales and a weighing hook in November last year but didn't get to use them until recently!!
We had planned to go to Orchid Lakes in December but the winter offer of half price tickets didnt start until January so that put paid to that idea. Then in January we had all that ice, frost and snow, so another plan had gone by the wayside. Eventually we managed to get to Orchid for two nights in February but we didn't catch anything.
Steve relaxing at our Orchid Lake accommodation
Rustic living area!
John went to his club lake the other day and tried out the State Lagoon. It's a nice lake but a lot deeper in places than the specimen lake that he's used to. Never mind, he can only fish the water in front of him. Johns mate, Vic, had been there recently and missed a good run and had some bream. Other anglers had caught some carp or had a fish come off so things were looking up. John set up and during the session had 5 bream - all over 5lb and the heaviest going 7lb 3oz. At least he used his scales at last!!! Talking to other anglers revealed that up until the Tuesday (John went on Thursday) the carp were coming out quite regularly but a north wind came blowing in and no carp were caught for the next few days. Bloody typical. Lol!
Johns 7lb 3oz bream. Not what he was after but still a good specimen fish. And it was his PB!
Anyway, Steve is in France again as I write this. He had a cracking trip last year, bagging the lake record (which has since been broken several times) and a fistful of other decent carp. Read his blog Etaig du Bois) for info on that trip. We hope he does as well again this year. No doubt he will write about it when he comes back. If not I shall nag him until he does. Lol
Anyway, thats it for now, I'll report back when I have something.
Au Revoir for now
Jt and Sc
Thursday, 10 June 2010
Still On A Roll
Went to Newlands AC again for two nights, Tuesday and Wednesday
Got there about 06.30 and it was pouring with rain. I still went for a walk around the lake though. I saw 3 other people bivvied up but all them were tucked up in their doss bags!!!
As you might know, I like to fish on the point. But honestly, I walked around the lake in the pouring rain and the only place I saw fish moving? You guessed it- the point. This time it was the Left Hand swim. There was somebody already in the Right Hand swim but I didn't get to see who it was. He left in between the downpours!
As I have already stated, the weather was atrocious. I managed to get my bivvy up in a slight drizzle. The inside didnt get too wet. By 08.0 my bivvy was up and the kettle was on. The rods weren't out yet, I was waiting for a break in the weather. By 08.30 my chance came. I whipped out the rods, banksticks, landing net and unhooking mat and by 08.50 I was fishing. When I eventually got the chance I got the other gear into the bivvy as I like my luxuries.
Nothing happened all day except it rained and rained and then rained harder still!. It was like staying in a drum. The weather was that bad at times, I couldn't hear myself think and had to get out and have a walk around. Then at around 16.30 I had a run.
I lifted into it and knew at once that it wasnt a carp. It fought for the first 10-15 seconds and then gave up. It turned out to be a 4lb tench. Back out went the rod and I settled down to watch a movie.
I went to sleep around 23.00 and before 05.00 I got rudely awakened by my bite alarm screeching in my ear. I shot out and sure enough I had a carp on. It fought hard all the way in, kiting left and right, diving deep and generally making it difficult for me to get him in. I eventually land him and that's when I noticed that I had left the scales out after weighing the tench.
Damn and blast (or words to that effect!)
I went to use them and found that the damn things weren't waterproof. What bloody use are weighing scales if they are not waterproof. Do the manufacturers think we only catch carp in the dry weather?
16lb+ - Guesstimate
Anyway, I had to guesstimate the weight. It wasn't less than 14lbs or more than 18lbs so I took the middle and called it 16lb+.
Later in the day, Vic rang me and asked if I wanted anything from the shops. I asked if he could get me a new 9v battery but it was a long shot as I was positve that the damn innards had got wet in the rain. Vic duly turned up with the battery but as I thought, it still said err01. So I hung the things out to dry, now that the weather was more appealing. The sun was particularly hot out of the wind and cloud. To cut a long story short, it worked and my electronic scales are now working again. It took a few hours though.
A few hours later, I had another run and this time another tench was netted. This was bigger than the first but my scales weren't working at this time. Guess it to be around 5-6lb
There were plenty of fish to see on the surface so I decided to give zig rigs a try. I normally get tangled using these so I wasn't too confident. I rigged up an adjustable rig and cast it out. It seemed to cast out OK, so the wait was on.
By this time, Vic was also trying out the zig rig. He was using a 3ft fixed length hooklink. Suddenly Vics bottom rig screams out and he's into a decent fish. He lifts into it and the rod immediately takes up the battle curve. Its kiting right and Vic is trying his hardest to stop it but unfortunately , mr carp makes it. I run round to see if there is anything I can do and find that the line is stretched across the concrete slab in the RH swim. I use my hands to pull the line but dont feel any resistance.
The carp is gone
Never mind, Vic has felt what it is like to get a double figure carp on the end of his line and that's another step further in his carping career. Vic packs up at 22.30 and I watch another movie. I go to seep about 00.30 and wake at around 08.30. No action during the night even though conditions looked perfect. I hung on until around 12.00 then packed up and went home to a nice bath!
Got there about 06.30 and it was pouring with rain. I still went for a walk around the lake though. I saw 3 other people bivvied up but all them were tucked up in their doss bags!!!
As you might know, I like to fish on the point. But honestly, I walked around the lake in the pouring rain and the only place I saw fish moving? You guessed it- the point. This time it was the Left Hand swim. There was somebody already in the Right Hand swim but I didn't get to see who it was. He left in between the downpours!
As I have already stated, the weather was atrocious. I managed to get my bivvy up in a slight drizzle. The inside didnt get too wet. By 08.0 my bivvy was up and the kettle was on. The rods weren't out yet, I was waiting for a break in the weather. By 08.30 my chance came. I whipped out the rods, banksticks, landing net and unhooking mat and by 08.50 I was fishing. When I eventually got the chance I got the other gear into the bivvy as I like my luxuries.
Nothing happened all day except it rained and rained and then rained harder still!. It was like staying in a drum. The weather was that bad at times, I couldn't hear myself think and had to get out and have a walk around. Then at around 16.30 I had a run.
I lifted into it and knew at once that it wasnt a carp. It fought for the first 10-15 seconds and then gave up. It turned out to be a 4lb tench. Back out went the rod and I settled down to watch a movie.
I went to sleep around 23.00 and before 05.00 I got rudely awakened by my bite alarm screeching in my ear. I shot out and sure enough I had a carp on. It fought hard all the way in, kiting left and right, diving deep and generally making it difficult for me to get him in. I eventually land him and that's when I noticed that I had left the scales out after weighing the tench.
Damn and blast (or words to that effect!)
I went to use them and found that the damn things weren't waterproof. What bloody use are weighing scales if they are not waterproof. Do the manufacturers think we only catch carp in the dry weather?
16lb+ - Guesstimate
Anyway, I had to guesstimate the weight. It wasn't less than 14lbs or more than 18lbs so I took the middle and called it 16lb+.
Later in the day, Vic rang me and asked if I wanted anything from the shops. I asked if he could get me a new 9v battery but it was a long shot as I was positve that the damn innards had got wet in the rain. Vic duly turned up with the battery but as I thought, it still said err01. So I hung the things out to dry, now that the weather was more appealing. The sun was particularly hot out of the wind and cloud. To cut a long story short, it worked and my electronic scales are now working again. It took a few hours though.
A few hours later, I had another run and this time another tench was netted. This was bigger than the first but my scales weren't working at this time. Guess it to be around 5-6lb
There were plenty of fish to see on the surface so I decided to give zig rigs a try. I normally get tangled using these so I wasn't too confident. I rigged up an adjustable rig and cast it out. It seemed to cast out OK, so the wait was on.
By this time, Vic was also trying out the zig rig. He was using a 3ft fixed length hooklink. Suddenly Vics bottom rig screams out and he's into a decent fish. He lifts into it and the rod immediately takes up the battle curve. Its kiting right and Vic is trying his hardest to stop it but unfortunately , mr carp makes it. I run round to see if there is anything I can do and find that the line is stretched across the concrete slab in the RH swim. I use my hands to pull the line but dont feel any resistance.
The carp is gone
Never mind, Vic has felt what it is like to get a double figure carp on the end of his line and that's another step further in his carping career. Vic packs up at 22.30 and I watch another movie. I go to seep about 00.30 and wake at around 08.30. No action during the night even though conditions looked perfect. I hung on until around 12.00 then packed up and went home to a nice bath!
Monday, 24 May 2010
etang du bois
Hi Steve here.
Just a report on an unbelievable session I had in France last week.
To cut a long story short I was invited to join 4 other guys on a trip to France, at a venue they had been to before a few times.
We arrived at the venue and I was escorted round the lake by the lads. I chose a swim called the Cobbs. I was third out on the draw and this swim was not favoured by the guys apparently. It looked right to me though.
The first night we were all knackered from the drive so bait placement was a bit haphazard.
The next day I put one bait to a far corner where I had seen fish jumping: the other two rods were again cast to where fish had shown earlier.
Monday morning. I had a run on the corner chod rig and after a mighty battle a 41.08 mirror graced my net .
All pressure was off now and I could really get to enjoy this first French trip.
41lb 8oz
Tuesday. Late afternoon.
I was again lucky to get a take on the corner chod rig. This time it was an even harder fight and a 45.8 mirror was brought to the net.I was blown away by my good fortune and really wanted the other guys to catch
45lb 8oz
My other two rods were not doing anything so I moved one 6 ft away from a small snag, opposite me, slightly to my right in a slight depression in the lake bed. I was using the new Grange boilies on this rod, tipped with corn (on a short 5 ins suffix heavy braid rig). I put out about 10 freebies around the spot.
Tues night 1930 I was rewarded with another 45.8 mirror.
This was followed by the amazingly new lake record 57.7 common.
Jesus!
I could then have packed up and just sat around enjoying my immense good fortune !!
57lb 7oz. A new LakeRecord
Saturday arrived and time to go home. I got my payback on the way home when my car developed an oil leak 70 kilometres from Calais. Thank god for AA European cover. They got us a car and we got home 4 hours late. My car with all our fishing gear got back Monday and is now being fixed at the local garage. Nothing major so I had not used up all my luck.
I must say a big thank you to Frenchy, who was great company throughout and a lovely guy to have by your side and for helping with the long drive.
Just a report on an unbelievable session I had in France last week.
To cut a long story short I was invited to join 4 other guys on a trip to France, at a venue they had been to before a few times.
We arrived at the venue and I was escorted round the lake by the lads. I chose a swim called the Cobbs. I was third out on the draw and this swim was not favoured by the guys apparently. It looked right to me though.
The first night we were all knackered from the drive so bait placement was a bit haphazard.
The next day I put one bait to a far corner where I had seen fish jumping: the other two rods were again cast to where fish had shown earlier.
Monday morning. I had a run on the corner chod rig and after a mighty battle a 41.08 mirror graced my net .All pressure was off now and I could really get to enjoy this first French trip.
41lb 8oz
Tuesday. Late afternoon.
I was again lucky to get a take on the corner chod rig. This time it was an even harder fight and a 45.8 mirror was brought to the net.I was blown away by my good fortune and really wanted the other guys to catch
45lb 8oz
My other two rods were not doing anything so I moved one 6 ft away from a small snag, opposite me, slightly to my right in a slight depression in the lake bed. I was using the new Grange boilies on this rod, tipped with corn (on a short 5 ins suffix heavy braid rig). I put out about 10 freebies around the spot.
Tues night 1930 I was rewarded with another 45.8 mirror.
57lb 7oz. A new Lake
I must say a big thank you to Frenchy, who was great company throughout and a lovely guy to have by your side and for helping with the long drive.
Sunday, 9 May 2010
Still Catching!
Hi,
Went fishing for 2 nights the other day and had another good session. 1x Carp, 1 x Tench and 2 x Bream and a pike.
I arrived early and had a walk round the lake. I ended up in my normal swim!!
Anyway, I set up and put the rods out. LH rod was on boilies, RH rod was on hemp and particles with a plastic hemp rig in use for the first time.
I was reeling in my marker float when I felt the the rod pull as if I had a fish on.
"Hang on, that can't be right", I thought.
I continued to reel in and sure enough there was definately a fish on the end.
On my marker float, for Christ sake!
When I saw it was a pike I thought that I may have problems here. I haven't got no gear for unhooking pike, only a pair of small forceps. Luckily for me the guy in the other swim came over and helped me out. We removed a pair of treble hooks from the pikes mouth and released it back to the deep! I had caught the trailing line that had been dangling from the trace set up - a wicked looking thing you could ever see.
"That's a good start" I thought to myself.
Around 4.45pm I had a couple of beeps on my chod rig and then it screamed off. It stayed deep and I thought that this was definitely a carp - and a good one at that. It fought hard, taking line off me only for me to retrieve it slowly.It was trying to get under the hanging tree branches either side of me but I managed to stop it in time. A couple of lads had just turned up and they helped me to land it. I thought it was going to go over 30lbs but on the scales it went to 27lb 2oz. I was a little disappointed it wasn't a thirty but it was a lovely fish all the same.
Later, at around 10pm I had a stuttering take and a 6lb bream was caught. Not what I wanted but it proved that the hemp rig was working.
I had a few liners during the night but nothing major.
At 10am I had a one toner and lifting into it I immediately knew that it wasn't as good as my other carp. Turned out it was a small tench.
I carried on fishing and it was all quiet on the fish front. I was packing up when I had another stuttering run. This time it was a 7lb bream. Getting bigger but still not what I wanted.
Never mind.
I packed up and headed home
Went fishing for 2 nights the other day and had another good session. 1x Carp, 1 x Tench and 2 x Bream and a pike.
I arrived early and had a walk round the lake. I ended up in my normal swim!!
Anyway, I set up and put the rods out. LH rod was on boilies, RH rod was on hemp and particles with a plastic hemp rig in use for the first time.
I was reeling in my marker float when I felt the the rod pull as if I had a fish on.
"Hang on, that can't be right", I thought.
I continued to reel in and sure enough there was definately a fish on the end.
On my marker float, for Christ sake!
When I saw it was a pike I thought that I may have problems here. I haven't got no gear for unhooking pike, only a pair of small forceps. Luckily for me the guy in the other swim came over and helped me out. We removed a pair of treble hooks from the pikes mouth and released it back to the deep! I had caught the trailing line that had been dangling from the trace set up - a wicked looking thing you could ever see.
"That's a good start" I thought to myself.
Around 4.45pm I had a couple of beeps on my chod rig and then it screamed off. It stayed deep and I thought that this was definitely a carp - and a good one at that. It fought hard, taking line off me only for me to retrieve it slowly.It was trying to get under the hanging tree branches either side of me but I managed to stop it in time. A couple of lads had just turned up and they helped me to land it. I thought it was going to go over 30lbs but on the scales it went to 27lb 2oz. I was a little disappointed it wasn't a thirty but it was a lovely fish all the same.
Later, at around 10pm I had a stuttering take and a 6lb bream was caught. Not what I wanted but it proved that the hemp rig was working.
I had a few liners during the night but nothing major.
At 10am I had a one toner and lifting into it I immediately knew that it wasn't as good as my other carp. Turned out it was a small tench.
I carried on fishing and it was all quiet on the fish front. I was packing up when I had another stuttering run. This time it was a 7lb bream. Getting bigger but still not what I wanted.
Never mind.
I packed up and headed home
Saturday, 8 May 2010
1st of the year - 4/5 April
I eventually managed to get out on the bank for the first time this year at the beginning of April (4-5th). I was a bit nervous as it has been over 6 months since I last went fishing. Having a blank was not on the cards!!
Anyway, I set up in my usual spot (middle Point swim). The weather was ok, sometimes cloudy but otherwise it was dry and sunny.
I wasn't using particles, only boilies. I cast out and put a few freebies around each rod. Not too many, about 40-50. I had a few knocks/liners/bird interest through the day, just enough to0 keep me interested.
A quiet evening ensued and I enjoyed a glass of wine and watched the lake. Suddenly my RH rod screamed into life and after a spirited fight a most welcome carp of 16lb graced my unhooking mat. Pressure was off now and I could relax. After taking the obligatory piccies I put Mr carp back into the lake and celebrated with a glass of red.
Next morning came around with no more carp. I had started to pack away my stuff when my LH rod gave a few stuttering bleeps and stayed taut. I lifted the rod and felt something on the end. This fish fought like a demon and it was about 8-10 mins before I could finally land the tench. Only 6 lbs but what a fighter.!
I continued to pack up through out the morning and finally left around 13.00.
I would have a few photos to show you but after a energetic clean up of my computer, I think I've deleted all the photos off of my computer<>. Imk going try out a few recovery programmes but I don't hold out too much hope.
We'll See anyway.
Until next time
P.S. Got my piccies back. Cost me £20 for a recovery programme but it did the job.
John
Anyway, I set up in my usual spot (middle Point swim). The weather was ok, sometimes cloudy but otherwise it was dry and sunny.
I wasn't using particles, only boilies. I cast out and put a few freebies around each rod. Not too many, about 40-50. I had a few knocks/liners/bird interest through the day, just enough to0 keep me interested.
A quiet evening ensued and I enjoyed a glass of wine and watched the lake. Suddenly my RH rod screamed into life and after a spirited fight a most welcome carp of 16lb graced my unhooking mat. Pressure was off now and I could relax. After taking the obligatory piccies I put Mr carp back into the lake and celebrated with a glass of red.Next morning came around with no more carp. I had started to pack away my stuff when my LH rod gave a few stuttering bleeps and stayed taut. I lifted the rod and felt something on the end. This fish fought like a demon and it was about 8-10 mins before I could finally land the tench. Only 6 lbs but what a fighter.!
I continued to pack up through out the morning and finally left around 13.00.
I would have a few photos to show you but after a energetic clean up of my computer, I think I've deleted all the photos off of my computer<>. Imk going try out a few recovery programmes but I don't hold out too much hope.
We'll See anyway.
Until next time
P.S. Got my piccies back. Cost me £20 for a recovery programme but it did the job.
John
Saturday, 2 January 2010
Annual Session
John, maz and myself normally do a winter session together at Orchid L ake,taking advantage of the cheap winter tickets. Unfortunately Maz was unable to make it so John and myself carried on in his absence.
We both arrived at the venue quite early and swims were chosen. I chose Chrises Bar and john was in Bradleys at the north side of the lake. We settled down to fish and the weather was not too bad. I was fishing a chod rig at range to my left and two rods out front in 5ft of water. John was fishing his rods a little shorter.
As usual on our annual sessions, once settled in and fishing we get together and share a wine or three. I'm. not sure if it was the wine but a bit later a firework display lit up the skyJohn and I watched it for sometime. Quite impressive it was, the fishing was less so but very enjoyable all the same.
On our second day things took a pleasant turn and I had a run on the chod rig. Things went well and John netted a a very welcome carp of 19.3 lbs sporting lovely winter colours. A carp for John would have been perfect but life ain't like that and he remained fishless. Again. I say fishless but not duckless as he hooked one and had to undress and go in to free it ,not a pretty site !!
On our last morning of the three days we stayed, a thick fog shrouded the lake and we were both glad to pack u. With the gear soaking, another very enjoyable session was had and we shall do it all again later in the year.
Saturday, 7 November 2009
Another day at the lake
Went to Newlands on Monday for a night session. Set up on the point, LH swim because I thought saw some fish signs and the bird activity seemed to confirm it.
I set up the rods (we're allowed 3 rods from 1 Nov-31 March), and cast out to the marker float. I baited up with a few freebies and each rod had a PVA bag of pellets and chopped boilies.
Not long after the indicators started beeping on 2 of the rods, showing single knocks.
Hmmmm. This sounds familiar.
I felt the line but couldn't feel any resistance so left them for a bit. The knocks kept occurring and after reeling in I found one rod had no bait and the other had nibble marks all over it. Damn those crayfish!
I changed over to plastic baits and although I still had the odd bleep, the change in bait seemed to keep the crayfish at bay.
Vic was there too and he was also getting crayfished out. He had a kittle run later but it didn't develop into anything. He packed up around 2.30pm
Not long after I had a severe drop back. I looked out the lake to where the rod had been cast and up popped a coot. Blast them things. As I looked away the indicator sounded a run! Damn, it wasn't the coot! So with I'm into a fish at last. It wasn't to be though. The coot had managed to drop my bait but in the process it somehow managed to hook itself in its webbed foot. It is not fully realised how difficult it is to bring in a reluctant coot without hurting it. It took me round the point, under a tree and finally tethered itself onto a branch.
Shit, what was I going to now? Luckily, I managed to snap the branch that it was caught up in, which meant that I could now get at the line. By gently pulling the line and guiding it over some twigs I was able to grab hold of the birds foot and try to take the hook out. But it wasn't having anything to do with that. I got pecked a few times before the line finally snapped and I was able to get the hook out. It flew away well pissed off but not as much as me!
That was it for the rest of the evening, but funnily enough, the bird activity died down to almost nothing after all that commotion.
Evening came and went as did the rest of the night. Beside the odd beep, nothing occurred and I started to pack up at 10am. then the heavens opened and I wasn't able to finish packing up until 12.30 Some of the gear was still damp but hopefully it wont matter as I'll be taking it out again shortly. Maybe!
I set up the rods (we're allowed 3 rods from 1 Nov-31 March), and cast out to the marker float. I baited up with a few freebies and each rod had a PVA bag of pellets and chopped boilies.
Not long after the indicators started beeping on 2 of the rods, showing single knocks.
Hmmmm. This sounds familiar.
I felt the line but couldn't feel any resistance so left them for a bit. The knocks kept occurring and after reeling in I found one rod had no bait and the other had nibble marks all over it. Damn those crayfish!
I changed over to plastic baits and although I still had the odd bleep, the change in bait seemed to keep the crayfish at bay.
Vic was there too and he was also getting crayfished out. He had a kittle run later but it didn't develop into anything. He packed up around 2.30pm
Not long after I had a severe drop back. I looked out the lake to where the rod had been cast and up popped a coot. Blast them things. As I looked away the indicator sounded a run! Damn, it wasn't the coot! So with I'm into a fish at last. It wasn't to be though. The coot had managed to drop my bait but in the process it somehow managed to hook itself in its webbed foot. It is not fully realised how difficult it is to bring in a reluctant coot without hurting it. It took me round the point, under a tree and finally tethered itself onto a branch.
Shit, what was I going to now? Luckily, I managed to snap the branch that it was caught up in, which meant that I could now get at the line. By gently pulling the line and guiding it over some twigs I was able to grab hold of the birds foot and try to take the hook out. But it wasn't having anything to do with that. I got pecked a few times before the line finally snapped and I was able to get the hook out. It flew away well pissed off but not as much as me!
That was it for the rest of the evening, but funnily enough, the bird activity died down to almost nothing after all that commotion.
Evening came and went as did the rest of the night. Beside the odd beep, nothing occurred and I started to pack up at 10am. then the heavens opened and I wasn't able to finish packing up until 12.30 Some of the gear was still damp but hopefully it wont matter as I'll be taking it out again shortly. Maybe!
Monday, 19 October 2009
More consistent
Hi Steve reporting on a recent session at Guys Lakes.
Arrived at the lakes on Wednesday morning and had a good look around and found most of the swims I fancied taken.
Oh well, I'll go to plan B then, a swim that had produced for me before, at the south end of Unity lake.
Arrived at the lakes on Wednesday morning and had a good look around and found most of the swims I fancied taken.
Oh well, I'll go to plan B then, a swim that had produced for me before, at the south end of Unity lake.
I was settled in the swim a day later when Bob came round asking me to photo a common he had caught. I reeled in and obliged ,as you d. It was a nice 22 lb common from the swim I most fancied, I must add.
Back in my swim I was messing about early afternoon ,when I had an absolute screamer on the chod rig cast toward the centre of the lake. Rod up, strike to the left, I felt the fish on - then nothing.
Gutted.
I reeled in and upon inspection of the bait, found it had a few marks on it. The hook was still sharp though, so back it went to the same area, 80yds or so.
Gutted.
I reeled in and upon inspection of the bait, found it had a few marks on it. The hook was still sharp though, so back it went to the same area, 80yds or so.
Thursday morning and I had to make short trip to the loo, 0ne of many on site. when I returned I found the tip of my left rod in the water. I immediately felt the line and it was solid, fish on! I pulled into it and sure enough felt some resistance. After a decent fight the fish was in net, not huge but very welcome at 16 lb 15oz.
The rest of the 4 day session passed quietly with no sighns of fish at all. The weather was variable and got cold at night so that might have slowed the fish down. Still, 2 runs, 1 fish isn't too bad on a slow week, according to the bailiff anyway !!
Sunday, 4 October 2009
Back on a roll again
I had a good session on Friday night. Caught 2 carp and a tench.
I arrived at around 7.10 am (I'd told Vic I'd be there 6.30 -7.0 am but I had a spot of bother getting my arse in gear). Vic was already there and had set up in the LH Point swim. He'd generously saved me the swim in the middle and he was setting up his second rod by the time I arrived!
There was one other person there while we were setting up and he was in a spot of bother himself. He'd had a run but had lost the fish when it snagged him in the bushes to the right of Top Bay swim. Ashley was giving him an hand so it wasn't a complete disaster.
I spoke to him a little while later and he was saying that he'd been there a week and put loads of boilies out in all the point swims, around 10k, but had lost 3, been snagged twice and caught bream and tench. As he said that, one of his rods rips off and for a second it seems that he may have a decent fish on. Then it got knackered. Only one fish has so little stamina and that's the dreaded snotty bream. He was not a happy chappy! Not long after that he moved onto Coot Island, as Ashley had caught a 29lb+, 27lb+ and a 26lb+ carp from there over the past few days.
I set up my rods and cast them out. My left hand rod was around 50-60 yds out, slightly left of centre and my RH rod was 60-70 yds out, slightly right of centre. Bait was Dynamites Red Fish and Spice, with freebies coming from bits and bobs I had left over in my boilie bag. I wasn't going to be putting loads of bait out just 4-5 boilies on a stringer and a small handful of freebies around the area.
Putting the boilies out was a nightmare. There was a pack of around 20-30 seagulls giving everyone a headache. As soon as a boilie went out, one seagull would screech and then the whole lot would descend on your swim. I tried spodding out the boilies and although the seagulls ignored it, it didn't spread the boilies in a big enough area for my liking.I added in some mixed pellets and cast out around 4-5 spods containing around 7-8 boilies, but in the end I settled for catapulting 1 load of boilies and then waiting for the excitement to die down before putting out another pouchful. Trouble is it could take up to 10-15 minutes for the gulls to go away or settle down enough for the boilies to have a chance of landing in the water! I'd go away and make a cup of tea!
Around 12.00pm I had a couple of bleeps on my LH rod. I was considering changing it to a chod rig. I'd just tied on the hook when my alarm went screaming into overdrive. Carp on!
It fought hard but I knew it wasn't a big one. It kept coming to the surface and splashing around. After about 5-10 minutes I'd reeled the fish in ready to be netted. My able assistant, Vic, landed it on the second attempt. I was over the moon. This was the first carp that Vic had seen landed at Newlands so he was quite pleased to be involved. We weighed it and it came to 18lb 1oz. I had forgotten my camera so Vic was the photographer for this occasion.
We released the carp once the pictures had been taken and had a nerve calming cup of tea. I rebaited the hook and cast back out.
There wasn't a lot of fish activity that we could see. I saw a fish leap right across the other end of the lake but that was it. We settled in for the waiting game.
Vic was baiting up his swim on a regular basis, still using his trusted method feeders. His mix had everything in it - pigeon conditioner, wheat, millet, etc. I'm amazed that he didn't have take. as it was, he had the odd bleep but nothing substantial
By the time it was dark, Vic was reluctantly getting ready to pack up. Suddenly, my LH rod screamed off again taking yards off the reel. I maanged to halt its maniacal run and then we had a lively fight. Finally it was ready to be netted.
Then Vic said, "John, how do you put your landing net together. The arms have come out."
B***ks!
I have a collapsible landing net and when I'd finished using it earlier in the day, I had put it next to the rods but it had got caught on some sticks. I gave it a flick and it seemed to cure the problem. In hindsight, it had collapsed the net! Anyway, I managed to show Vic what to do and together we managed to sort it out.
Phew! That was close.
It was a 14lb10oz simmo. Vic had never seen a simmo so I explained the reason behind this type of carp. Quick growing and almost scale less. He said they looked ugly. I agreed with him! Vic took the photos and back in it went.
Soon after, Vic packed up and made his merry way home. He's only got a day permit so he couldn't stay the night. I enjoyed a glass of red wine and listened to the radio for a bit. I started to nod off in the chair so I checked everything and then got my head down for the night. I was woken several times during the night with half takes, single beeps and rats knocking the indicators. Unfortunately, I didn't catch anything more
Morning arrived, cloudier than the day before. I was confident that I may get another carp before I packed up. Around 10am my LH rod stutters away. After a brief struggle I land a small tench of around 4-5 lbs. Its in quite good condition. I rebaited the rod and the swim but nothing further graced my net.
I eventually packed up and left for home about 12.30pm
I arrived at around 7.10 am (I'd told Vic I'd be there 6.30 -7.0 am but I had a spot of bother getting my arse in gear). Vic was already there and had set up in the LH Point swim. He'd generously saved me the swim in the middle and he was setting up his second rod by the time I arrived!
There was one other person there while we were setting up and he was in a spot of bother himself. He'd had a run but had lost the fish when it snagged him in the bushes to the right of Top Bay swim. Ashley was giving him an hand so it wasn't a complete disaster.
I spoke to him a little while later and he was saying that he'd been there a week and put loads of boilies out in all the point swims, around 10k, but had lost 3, been snagged twice and caught bream and tench. As he said that, one of his rods rips off and for a second it seems that he may have a decent fish on. Then it got knackered. Only one fish has so little stamina and that's the dreaded snotty bream. He was not a happy chappy! Not long after that he moved onto Coot Island, as Ashley had caught a 29lb+, 27lb+ and a 26lb+ carp from there over the past few days.
I set up my rods and cast them out. My left hand rod was around 50-60 yds out, slightly left of centre and my RH rod was 60-70 yds out, slightly right of centre. Bait was Dynamites Red Fish and Spice, with freebies coming from bits and bobs I had left over in my boilie bag. I wasn't going to be putting loads of bait out just 4-5 boilies on a stringer and a small handful of freebies around the area.
Putting the boilies out was a nightmare. There was a pack of around 20-30 seagulls giving everyone a headache. As soon as a boilie went out, one seagull would screech and then the whole lot would descend on your swim. I tried spodding out the boilies and although the seagulls ignored it, it didn't spread the boilies in a big enough area for my liking.I added in some mixed pellets and cast out around 4-5 spods containing around 7-8 boilies, but in the end I settled for catapulting 1 load of boilies and then waiting for the excitement to die down before putting out another pouchful. Trouble is it could take up to 10-15 minutes for the gulls to go away or settle down enough for the boilies to have a chance of landing in the water! I'd go away and make a cup of tea!
Around 12.00pm I had a couple of bleeps on my LH rod. I was considering changing it to a chod rig. I'd just tied on the hook when my alarm went screaming into overdrive. Carp on!
It fought hard but I knew it wasn't a big one. It kept coming to the surface and splashing around. After about 5-10 minutes I'd reeled the fish in ready to be netted. My able assistant, Vic, landed it on the second attempt. I was over the moon. This was the first carp that Vic had seen landed at Newlands so he was quite pleased to be involved. We weighed it and it came to 18lb 1oz. I had forgotten my camera so Vic was the photographer for this occasion.
We released the carp once the pictures had been taken and had a nerve calming cup of tea. I rebaited the hook and cast back out.
There wasn't a lot of fish activity that we could see. I saw a fish leap right across the other end of the lake but that was it. We settled in for the waiting game.
Vic was baiting up his swim on a regular basis, still using his trusted method feeders. His mix had everything in it - pigeon conditioner, wheat, millet, etc. I'm amazed that he didn't have take. as it was, he had the odd bleep but nothing substantial
By the time it was dark, Vic was reluctantly getting ready to pack up. Suddenly, my LH rod screamed off again taking yards off the reel. I maanged to halt its maniacal run and then we had a lively fight. Finally it was ready to be netted.
Then Vic said, "John, how do you put your landing net together. The arms have come out."
B***ks!
I have a collapsible landing net and when I'd finished using it earlier in the day, I had put it next to the rods but it had got caught on some sticks. I gave it a flick and it seemed to cure the problem. In hindsight, it had collapsed the net! Anyway, I managed to show Vic what to do and together we managed to sort it out.
Phew! That was close.
It was a 14lb10oz simmo. Vic had never seen a simmo so I explained the reason behind this type of carp. Quick growing and almost scale less. He said they looked ugly. I agreed with him! Vic took the photos and back in it went.
Soon after, Vic packed up and made his merry way home. He's only got a day permit so he couldn't stay the night. I enjoyed a glass of red wine and listened to the radio for a bit. I started to nod off in the chair so I checked everything and then got my head down for the night. I was woken several times during the night with half takes, single beeps and rats knocking the indicators. Unfortunately, I didn't catch anything more
Morning arrived, cloudier than the day before. I was confident that I may get another carp before I packed up. Around 10am my LH rod stutters away. After a brief struggle I land a small tench of around 4-5 lbs. Its in quite good condition. I rebaited the rod and the swim but nothing further graced my net.
I eventually packed up and left for home about 12.30pm
Friday, 11 September 2009
Brought down to earth
I Went to Newlands and set up in the first 2 swims on Roadbank. I was hoping to set up in the same swim where I caught the 19lb but there was somebody already there. I didn't get there until nearly midday as one or two things happened and delayed me. Never mind, I'll try the other faithful swim on the road bank.
I'd already emailed Vic that morning so he was already there and wondering where I was.
Vic was on his trusty method mix and a safety lead clip setup whilst I was on two inline leads, one with a bottom bait and one balanced bait. I was fishing towards the middle and Vic was fishing closer in. Between us we should have covered all avenues into the lower bay, but we must have missed something because we didn't get anything to indicate a bite. We tried all methods from changing baits, popups, pva bags to recasting to different parts of the swim. Nothing. Vic packed up at around 8pm when Barbara turned up and I soldiered on through the night. I slept well and got up at 7.45 for breakfast and a cup of tea - fishless yet again. Ah well, maybe I was over confident after my last 2 captures. Brought down toearth with a bump!
The weather was sunny windy for most of the day that Vic was there, only easing off towards 5pm. nothing like the forecast though.
I packed up at 2pm after having a couple of knocks - turned out to be coots, the damn things!
I'd already emailed Vic that morning so he was already there and wondering where I was.
We both set up our rods and then had a chinwag about everything and nothing. Well, it was something to do while we were waiting to catch our fish!
Ha Ha Ha! Good joke or what?Vic was on his trusty method mix and a safety lead clip setup whilst I was on two inline leads, one with a bottom bait and one balanced bait. I was fishing towards the middle and Vic was fishing closer in. Between us we should have covered all avenues into the lower bay, but we must have missed something because we didn't get anything to indicate a bite. We tried all methods from changing baits, popups, pva bags to recasting to different parts of the swim. Nothing. Vic packed up at around 8pm when Barbara turned up and I soldiered on through the night. I slept well and got up at 7.45 for breakfast and a cup of tea - fishless yet again. Ah well, maybe I was over confident after my last 2 captures. Brought down toearth with a bump!
The weather was sunny windy for most of the day that Vic was there, only easing off towards 5pm. nothing like the forecast though.
I packed up at 2pm after having a couple of knocks - turned out to be coots, the damn things!
Anyway, summary - back to normal.
Zilch.
Nothing.
See ya around,
John
Thursday, 13 August 2009
John gets his 1st carp of the year!
Well, what a day.
My son Gareth had been nagging me for weeks to go to the Club Lake at Orchid lakes. It cost a tenner for a day or £20 for 24 hours. As we were only going to be there for a day we chose the cheaper option!
We got a lift round to the lake (still £3 per angler) and set up in what is known as the high bank. There was already two blokes fishing, one of them definitely fishing for the catfish that are resident there. The other were small fish anglers.
The Club Lake is not very big, being only 2 acres in size so finding the fish wasn't a problem. They were literally yards from your bait! I was using plastic corn on one rod and a pop up on the other. I was fishing across to the other bank as we'd seen a carp jump near there earlier on, while we were setting up.
Then at around 15.45 my alarm sings out and I'm into a fish. I'm on lighter gear than I am normally used to, so I probably made a meal out of landing the fish but after my last dismal record I didn't want this to go tits up. I finally manage to land it and it turns out to be a common of 15lb 7oz.
I was ecstatic. My first carp of the year. Now maybe I can get on and do some proper fishing and not have to worry about blanking!!!
The fish looks great but don't be too critical of me please, I bruise easily (as the song goes!)
Here's another piccy, taken on Gareths phone
Its a shame the pictures don't do the fish justice as its a really pretty fish, in pristine condition and well proportioned. You'll just have to take my word for it!
All went quiet for a while and then I had a take on the quiver tip. I reeled it in and it was a small skimmer bream. All slime and snot. Needless to say it was unhooked in the water and put straight back. That was it for our session but around 6pm the heavens opened. It lashed and lashed it down. Luckily I'd brought my brolly so we were quite dry although everything was spattered in dirt from the rain splashing on the ground. Luckily it managed to stop raining before the gates were shut so we packed up and went home around 18.55 pm.
Right, time for bed and to dream of my next fish - hopefully at Newlands!
CYA
John
My son Gareth had been nagging me for weeks to go to the Club Lake at Orchid lakes. It cost a tenner for a day or £20 for 24 hours. As we were only going to be there for a day we chose the cheaper option!
We got a lift round to the lake (still £3 per angler) and set up in what is known as the high bank. There was already two blokes fishing, one of them definitely fishing for the catfish that are resident there. The other were small fish anglers.
The Club Lake is not very big, being only 2 acres in size so finding the fish wasn't a problem. They were literally yards from your bait! I was using plastic corn on one rod and a pop up on the other. I was fishing across to the other bank as we'd seen a carp jump near there earlier on, while we were setting up.
It was a pleasant day, not too sunny, but at least it was dry. Gareth was fishing with one bait runner and one quiver tip. His quiver rod was set up to cover the small bay to his right. His other rod was covering the far bank opposite his swim. The bloke to my right packed up around midday when 2 young lads came and setup 2 pegs down. They thrashed the water trying to cast out, their bite alarms didn't have an on/off button (or if they did, they didn't know how to work it). They were casting out literally every 10-15 minutes. They were only around 12 -14 years old. I thought our chances of catching had been severely curtailed thanks to the young lads antics. Eventually, they settled down and then I began to get line bites, bleeps and the odd aborted take. A few times I'd reeled my baits in to find that the hook was bare or the rig was in tangles. These were wary fish and had seen most tricks.
Then at around 15.45 my alarm sings out and I'm into a fish. I'm on lighter gear than I am normally used to, so I probably made a meal out of landing the fish but after my last dismal record I didn't want this to go tits up. I finally manage to land it and it turns out to be a common of 15lb 7oz.
I was ecstatic. My first carp of the year. Now maybe I can get on and do some proper fishing and not have to worry about blanking!!!
The fish looks great but don't be too critical of me please, I bruise easily (as the song goes!)
Here's another piccy, taken on Gareths phone
Its a shame the pictures don't do the fish justice as its a really pretty fish, in pristine condition and well proportioned. You'll just have to take my word for it!
All went quiet for a while and then I had a take on the quiver tip. I reeled it in and it was a small skimmer bream. All slime and snot. Needless to say it was unhooked in the water and put straight back. That was it for our session but around 6pm the heavens opened. It lashed and lashed it down. Luckily I'd brought my brolly so we were quite dry although everything was spattered in dirt from the rain splashing on the ground. Luckily it managed to stop raining before the gates were shut so we packed up and went home around 18.55 pm.
Right, time for bed and to dream of my next fish - hopefully at Newlands!
CYA
John
Another Good Nights Sleep!
Evening all! John Here.
Well , I went fishing at Newlands on Monday night. Quite an eventful session, I can tell you.
It all started badly when I couldn't be arsed to get my act together. I'd planned to get up around 5.30am and get to the lake around 6.30 - 7am. As it happened I didn't get up til 8am, hummed and aarrrred, eventually getting to the lake at 1pm - reluctantly!
I set up on the road bank, 2nd swim in. I'd seen a fish top in the middle of the lake, opposite the swim I was in, so that decided me. I'd heard on the local radio that rain was forecast for that afternoon so I put up my bivvy first thing, along with all my luxuries. It seemed to take forever! Two hours later the bivvy was up and I was finally ready to cast out. Then it took me ages to set up my rods.
My LH rod was fished about 50-60 yds out, about the same distance as the sticks but 10-15 yds left of them. My RH rod was only a short distance out, into the entrance to the bay. I spodded out some boilies to my left rod and some pellets and a sprinkling of boilies to my right rod. Ok, now we're cooking on gas.
While I was looking at the lake a fella came and had a chat from further down the lake. He was studying at Brookes University and was fishing Newlands during his time off from his summer job and the start of next term. He'd already spent 2-3 nights at the lake but only had a mid double mirror for all his efforts. He had been taking a walk around the lake to see if he could see some carp, as they'd apparently moved from his area (top half of the lake). While we were talking, a few fish crashed out, right in front of us. It was like a display, the fish were topping, jumping and doing lots of carpy things. I thought I might have a fish or two here! He said he'd definitely be moving down to here but didn't know where I was fishing. He didn't want to interfere with the area I was fishing. I explained where I was and he went and set up on the high bank. You don't see much of fishing etiquette nowadays, so it was quite refreshing to see that at least some of the younger carp anglers (he was 20 ish) are considerate of other anglers.
After about 40 minutes my right hand rod screamed off. Fortunately I was stood right next to it and picked it up straight away. Alas, it was on for around 10 seconds, then - boiinngg - it came off. By this time, the lad from Brookes had set up on the high bank and had already cast out his rods. Now, after that run, all activity seemed to stop. No fish showed, no fish jumped. no sign of any fish on the top. It might have been coincidence or it might have been that losing the fish scared them off. It might have been the extra lines in the water upset the carp coming in towards us. I don't know. All I know is that nothing happened after and I woke up next morning fishless, even though I'd been so confident of catching a fish the previous night.
I made breakfast and recast the rods. After spodding out some more boilies and pellets to the respective rods I settled down to wait. It wasn't long before I had a run on my left rod. I struck into it and it felt like a really good fish. As I was getting my landing net to hand I suddenly felt the rod and line go slack. NO, please no! But it was true. The damn thing had got off again. I threw down my rod in a hissing fit and walked away. I came back after a while and reeled in the line and examined the end. The line had parted above the clear leader and looked as if someone had roughed up the end with a bit of rough sandpaper. I'd been done. I had been using the Korda leaders so that the weight could be shed by the fish should the unthinkable happen. I text Steve and Vic, who were quite sympathetic about it all. Steve's been fishing for decades so knows what it feels like and Vic is a ex match angler who has got the carp bug.
That was about it until around midday when I noticed a lot of carp activity heading towards my swim. The wind was blowing into my face again and it seemed to excite the carp as they were jumping, topping, etc. I held on for as long as I could but I had to call it a day at 13.30pm. Somebody would have a good session soon.
Thats it for now,
John
Well , I went fishing at Newlands on Monday night. Quite an eventful session, I can tell you.
It all started badly when I couldn't be arsed to get my act together. I'd planned to get up around 5.30am and get to the lake around 6.30 - 7am. As it happened I didn't get up til 8am, hummed and aarrrred, eventually getting to the lake at 1pm - reluctantly!
I set up on the road bank, 2nd swim in. I'd seen a fish top in the middle of the lake, opposite the swim I was in, so that decided me. I'd heard on the local radio that rain was forecast for that afternoon so I put up my bivvy first thing, along with all my luxuries. It seemed to take forever! Two hours later the bivvy was up and I was finally ready to cast out. Then it took me ages to set up my rods.
My LH rod was fished about 50-60 yds out, about the same distance as the sticks but 10-15 yds left of them. My RH rod was only a short distance out, into the entrance to the bay. I spodded out some boilies to my left rod and some pellets and a sprinkling of boilies to my right rod. Ok, now we're cooking on gas.
While I was looking at the lake a fella came and had a chat from further down the lake. He was studying at Brookes University and was fishing Newlands during his time off from his summer job and the start of next term. He'd already spent 2-3 nights at the lake but only had a mid double mirror for all his efforts. He had been taking a walk around the lake to see if he could see some carp, as they'd apparently moved from his area (top half of the lake). While we were talking, a few fish crashed out, right in front of us. It was like a display, the fish were topping, jumping and doing lots of carpy things. I thought I might have a fish or two here! He said he'd definitely be moving down to here but didn't know where I was fishing. He didn't want to interfere with the area I was fishing. I explained where I was and he went and set up on the high bank. You don't see much of fishing etiquette nowadays, so it was quite refreshing to see that at least some of the younger carp anglers (he was 20 ish) are considerate of other anglers.
After about 40 minutes my right hand rod screamed off. Fortunately I was stood right next to it and picked it up straight away. Alas, it was on for around 10 seconds, then - boiinngg - it came off. By this time, the lad from Brookes had set up on the high bank and had already cast out his rods. Now, after that run, all activity seemed to stop. No fish showed, no fish jumped. no sign of any fish on the top. It might have been coincidence or it might have been that losing the fish scared them off. It might have been the extra lines in the water upset the carp coming in towards us. I don't know. All I know is that nothing happened after and I woke up next morning fishless, even though I'd been so confident of catching a fish the previous night.
I made breakfast and recast the rods. After spodding out some more boilies and pellets to the respective rods I settled down to wait. It wasn't long before I had a run on my left rod. I struck into it and it felt like a really good fish. As I was getting my landing net to hand I suddenly felt the rod and line go slack. NO, please no! But it was true. The damn thing had got off again. I threw down my rod in a hissing fit and walked away. I came back after a while and reeled in the line and examined the end. The line had parted above the clear leader and looked as if someone had roughed up the end with a bit of rough sandpaper. I'd been done. I had been using the Korda leaders so that the weight could be shed by the fish should the unthinkable happen. I text Steve and Vic, who were quite sympathetic about it all. Steve's been fishing for decades so knows what it feels like and Vic is a ex match angler who has got the carp bug.
That was about it until around midday when I noticed a lot of carp activity heading towards my swim. The wind was blowing into my face again and it seemed to excite the carp as they were jumping, topping, etc. I held on for as long as I could but I had to call it a day at 13.30pm. Somebody would have a good session soon.
Thats it for now,
John
Sunday, 9 August 2009
Hello again,
I went fishing at Newlands Specimen on Monday for 2 nights.
I set up in the middle Point swim. My RH rod was fishing about 60-70 yds towards the right of my swim. I checked out where the marker float was in relation to the next swim to my right and discovered that the marker was slap bang in the middle of the swim! I decided to leave it there and move it if somebody moved into the swim.
My LH rod was fished to the far side of the gravel bar, around 15-20 yds, straight out. Both rods had boilies around them as freebies, the boilies being spodded out to the RH rig and catapulted out to the near bait. The reason I spod out the boilies is because its more accurate and it attracts less attention from the local wild birds.
The RH rod had a running rig with a 8-10" hooklink and a square 3oz lead. Bait was a Bait and feed Co mixed boilie, as were the freebies.My LH rod had a fish-oil boilie, along with around 15-20 freebies. The rig and weight were in a PVA bag full of pellets.
Monday passed quietly, with only a few beeps on my alarm. It rained a lot in the afternoon, sometimes quite heavy. I went to sleep around 11pm and woke up at around 6.30 am, the weather damp and miserable.
Another fishless night.
Vic had turned up by this time and was busy setting up his rods in the LH Point swim. Vic has been fairly successful on his home made crayfish boilies, catching several tench and bream but sadly, no carp yet. Mind you, a couple of the tench were crackers - 6lb 12oz and 7lb 14oz.
Both were caught using his crayfish boilies. The action has died down now though and Vic joins us in the "...sorry, no fish - yet" club!!
Tuesday morning passed quietly although I did hook a fish for around 5 secs then I had a hook pull.
Gutted.
Vic and I managed to do our bit for the nature watch people by releasing a swans leg from a branch that it had got tangled up in. At least it wasn't attached by a anglers line. Somehow the stupid swan had managed to get one of its legs stuck in the V of a fairly large branch. It could only use one leg and don't ask it to turn left!!!
I started to get a few beeps and liners during the day, even managing to hook another fish for approx 10 secs! I received a few beeps on my alarm so I gently lifted the rod and felt some resistance. Fish on! I lifted the rod into the fish and watched the rod tip as it took up its fighting curve. Suddenly - BOING! - it came off. The rod tip straightens and the line comes in easily. Somehow the damn fish has shed the hook. When I reeled in I immediately took off the offending hooklink and chucked it in the nearest bin. A new rig was assembled and cast out but with no result. Its been raining most of the day ranging from light drizzle to thunder, lightning and monsoon weather. Unbelievable.
Around 8pm I recast my rods for the night and topped up the baits.
I was awoken at about 3am with my alarm emitting 3-4 beeps from my LH rod. I sat up in bed and prepared to get out. Nothing more out of my alarm. I couldn't see my indicator and thought that a rat may have knocked it off on its way past to the rest of the lake. As I drifted off to sleep a thought came nagging into my conciousness - "hang on, my indicators are about 18-24" off the ground. The rat would have to be using a trampoline to reach my indicators."
So I decided to get up and check the rod. What you have to bear in mind is that its lashing down in the monsoon season outside and I'm not keen to get wet. I take the bull by the horns and pick up the rod and immediately get soaked. I notice that the line is at a totally different angle than when I cast in earlier. I reel in slowly but nothing happens. Its snagged on some weed. I gently apply some pressure and eventually the line starts to move, albeit with a heavy lump on the end. Before I could drag the weed in it drops off and I reel in a baitless rig. I rebaited the rig and cast back out. I had got soaked for nothing.
C'est la vie, as the French say.
Around 10 am I thought my luck had changed and that I had hooked a carp. My alarm screamed for a bit and then stopped. As I was running to my rods I noticed a big bow wave between my rod tip and the hooklink. I'd had a line bite of good proportions! The line pinged off the fish's back as it settled back down to its normal position.
I packed up around 12pm and made my way home
Hopefully the next time I post something I'll be writing about the fish I landed.
Until then,
Cya
John
I went fishing at Newlands Specimen on Monday for 2 nights.
I set up in the middle Point swim. My RH rod was fishing about 60-70 yds towards the right of my swim. I checked out where the marker float was in relation to the next swim to my right and discovered that the marker was slap bang in the middle of the swim! I decided to leave it there and move it if somebody moved into the swim.
My LH rod was fished to the far side of the gravel bar, around 15-20 yds, straight out. Both rods had boilies around them as freebies, the boilies being spodded out to the RH rig and catapulted out to the near bait. The reason I spod out the boilies is because its more accurate and it attracts less attention from the local wild birds.
The RH rod had a running rig with a 8-10" hooklink and a square 3oz lead. Bait was a Bait and feed Co mixed boilie, as were the freebies.My LH rod had a fish-oil boilie, along with around 15-20 freebies. The rig and weight were in a PVA bag full of pellets.
Monday passed quietly, with only a few beeps on my alarm. It rained a lot in the afternoon, sometimes quite heavy. I went to sleep around 11pm and woke up at around 6.30 am, the weather damp and miserable.
Another fishless night.
Vic had turned up by this time and was busy setting up his rods in the LH Point swim. Vic has been fairly successful on his home made crayfish boilies, catching several tench and bream but sadly, no carp yet. Mind you, a couple of the tench were crackers - 6lb 12oz and 7lb 14oz.
Both were caught using his crayfish boilies. The action has died down now though and Vic joins us in the "...sorry, no fish - yet" club!!
Tuesday morning passed quietly although I did hook a fish for around 5 secs then I had a hook pull.
Gutted.
Vic and I managed to do our bit for the nature watch people by releasing a swans leg from a branch that it had got tangled up in. At least it wasn't attached by a anglers line. Somehow the stupid swan had managed to get one of its legs stuck in the V of a fairly large branch. It could only use one leg and don't ask it to turn left!!!
I started to get a few beeps and liners during the day, even managing to hook another fish for approx 10 secs! I received a few beeps on my alarm so I gently lifted the rod and felt some resistance. Fish on! I lifted the rod into the fish and watched the rod tip as it took up its fighting curve. Suddenly - BOING! - it came off. The rod tip straightens and the line comes in easily. Somehow the damn fish has shed the hook. When I reeled in I immediately took off the offending hooklink and chucked it in the nearest bin. A new rig was assembled and cast out but with no result. Its been raining most of the day ranging from light drizzle to thunder, lightning and monsoon weather. Unbelievable.
Around 8pm I recast my rods for the night and topped up the baits.
I was awoken at about 3am with my alarm emitting 3-4 beeps from my LH rod. I sat up in bed and prepared to get out. Nothing more out of my alarm. I couldn't see my indicator and thought that a rat may have knocked it off on its way past to the rest of the lake. As I drifted off to sleep a thought came nagging into my conciousness - "hang on, my indicators are about 18-24" off the ground. The rat would have to be using a trampoline to reach my indicators."
So I decided to get up and check the rod. What you have to bear in mind is that its lashing down in the monsoon season outside and I'm not keen to get wet. I take the bull by the horns and pick up the rod and immediately get soaked. I notice that the line is at a totally different angle than when I cast in earlier. I reel in slowly but nothing happens. Its snagged on some weed. I gently apply some pressure and eventually the line starts to move, albeit with a heavy lump on the end. Before I could drag the weed in it drops off and I reel in a baitless rig. I rebaited the rig and cast back out. I had got soaked for nothing.
C'est la vie, as the French say.
Around 10 am I thought my luck had changed and that I had hooked a carp. My alarm screamed for a bit and then stopped. As I was running to my rods I noticed a big bow wave between my rod tip and the hooklink. I'd had a line bite of good proportions! The line pinged off the fish's back as it settled back down to its normal position.
I packed up around 12pm and made my way home
Hopefully the next time I post something I'll be writing about the fish I landed.
Until then,
Cya
John
Thursday, 6 August 2009
Hi, its Steve again.
A quick report on a session at Yeoman's Guys syndicate.
A quick report on a session at Yeoman's Guys syndicate.
I was at the lake in question on Monday 2nd August. After an extensive look at the other lakes, Yeoman's looked and felt right.
I set up in my chosen swim, which is pictured right.
The wind was blowing from my left across the lake with plenty of cloud, so the conditions were were OK.
The wind was blowing from my left across the lake with plenty of cloud, so the conditions were were OK.
I was all set up and I was just looking for something in my bivvy ( the new Trakker Crossfire, excellent bit of gear), when the guy in swim next to mine popped by. We had a chat, as you do, discussing whether we would spod some hemp out or not. We both decided it might be worth a try. He shot off to cook a late brekky and I got the spod rod out and put 8 -10 spods out to the tree line.
At 1pm , 2 hours after spodding out, I had a bleep or two on my right rod, 1 of two in the spodded area. I got to the rod and felt the line, which was solid , so I hit it. At first it seemed snagged, then I felt some movement so I kept the pressure on and sure enough, it started moving right and eventually kited into the reeds on my right. I was not losing this one, so after taking a deep breath and using steady pressure, I managed to moved the fish through the reeds into my waiting net.
What a relief!
What a relief!
Not a huge fish but very welcome after my last episode. At 14lb, as I said not huge fish, but a carp nonetheless and hard earned. I gave the swim another 24 hrs and then went home, quite pleased with myself . I'm sure bigger fish will come, now I know how to do it!
Saturday, 18 July 2009
Hi its Steve again,
Just a short report on a 3 day session I had at Gaunts lake.
It was a sunny start with a South South East wind blowing into the car park area, so I chose a margin swim opposite the very popular Stones swim. As the wind was blowing into the tree margin I put two rods on that line. The other rod I put out around 45 yds to the left towards the middle in the weed. This was on a chod set up, to sit on any weed found. This rod produced a run on the second day( Monday) at about 1pm. It put up a good scrap and was well on the way to the waiting net when, unluckily for me, it picked up the back leaded margin rod. I could quite easily see the very lightly coloured mirror in the water, it looked like a mid double. I gave it a chance to get untangled but it also took the liberty of shedding the hook! It took the opportunity gladly!
Oh well, such is fishing!
I decided to move the offending margin rod to the same area as the rod that had produced the run, again on a chod rig. As the wind increased I thought that I might get a bit of action on one of these rods. Unfortunately, it wasn't so for the next day or so.
I left early Wednesday morning to get home to celebrate my wife's 20th birthday (or so she said). I didn't meet her till she was 30-ish and that was 20 years ago, so not sure about the maths !!!
Just a short report on a 3 day session I had at Gaunts lake.
It was a sunny start with a South South East wind blowing into the car park area, so I chose a margin swim opposite the very popular Stones swim. As the wind was blowing into the tree margin I put two rods on that line. The other rod I put out around 45 yds to the left towards the middle in the weed. This was on a chod set up, to sit on any weed found. This rod produced a run on the second day( Monday) at about 1pm. It put up a good scrap and was well on the way to the waiting net when, unluckily for me, it picked up the back leaded margin rod. I could quite easily see the very lightly coloured mirror in the water, it looked like a mid double. I gave it a chance to get untangled but it also took the liberty of shedding the hook! It took the opportunity gladly!
Oh well, such is fishing!
I decided to move the offending margin rod to the same area as the rod that had produced the run, again on a chod rig. As the wind increased I thought that I might get a bit of action on one of these rods. Unfortunately, it wasn't so for the next day or so.
I left early Wednesday morning to get home to celebrate my wife's 20th birthday (or so she said). I didn't meet her till she was 30-ish and that was 20 years ago, so not sure about the maths !!!
Monday, 18 May 2009
Sunday, 17 May 2009
Steve's 2nd session 3 x 30s and a 42lb mirror - awesome
9lb (ish) simmo
Hi there, Steve again. Just reporting on my second session on Guys Lake.
I had planned on a concerted effort for 5/6 nights to get a fish or at least find out more info.
The 1st day, Monday, was blowing a very cold N.East wind with high preassure. Damn! Oh well, I can't pick and choose when to go fishing so its get on with it and fish the conditions as best I can! I had a good walk round the lake and settled in a swim next to the one mentioned in my previous posts. This time I was in the middle of island, the south(sheltered) side. There wasn't a lot to report really as nothing showed in my area.
I had several walks around the lake, noticing the odd few fish showing in open water but the swims were all taken so a move wasn't really on.
I spoke to one fellow on Wednesday, Marc, who was really chuffed to get a PB fish of 33lb 8oz mirror.
Well done that man.
He had moved from the opposite end of the lake as he'd seen fish move at the other end. It was quite a hike round the lake. I suppose I could have moved into next swim to him but thought I might restrict his area, so decided that wasn't fair. Two more 30's were caught in open water at the end of the island, I believe.
Wednesday also brought a change in the weather and suddenly, in the late afternoon, a storm blew up and it lashed down. I new this would bring some fish on the move . After a rough old night with wind, rain and more rain I woke disappointed not to have had any action in the night. I looked at the rods - as you do - and noticed that my Right Hand rod had come out of the clip. I got up and felt the line and it was solid so I hit into it and Lo and behold! - a carp was on the end!!!
It was a simple job to land the fish really, considering that it was my first carp for ages. I netted and put it on the unhooking mat, ready for the photos. It wasn't a huge fish by any means, a little simmo of 9lb ish, but it was still a huge relief to finally catch a carp! It felt like a great weight had been lifted off my shoulders.
Later in the day, Marc, who had the earlier PB of 33lb 6oz ,came round to tell me he had another new PB - this time a mirror of 42 lb 6oz!! I was really chuffed for him and shook his hand.
This carping lark is easy, eh?
Game on !!!!
With a bit of luck I will be getting some pictures of his catches via E-Mail. I must say the pictures of the 42 are stunning.
A very interesting day in all but nothing more for me. Friday night was uneventful so I left Saturday morning with only my little simmo to add to my portfolio but masses info on certain big fish spots. Also, being two swims away from the capture of 3 x 30s and 1 x 40. gave me a genuine lift. Maybe it will be my turn soon. Well we live in hope !
Monday, 4 May 2009
Steve goes to Guys Lakes. A new start
Hi again. I have just got a permit for Guys Lakes Syndicate so on Thursday I made my way to the site for a exploratory three day session. Eventually I found the entrance and drove down the road with some excitement.
On arrival at the first car park I was surprised to see a few cars there and even more pleased to see the nature of the lakes. In the end I made my way to Gaunts and was very pleased to see plenty of parking around the sites lakes. There are ample toilet facilities and best of all, well manicured banks and walkways, which is a blessing when getting to the not too distant swims. After a look round I settled on a swim at the far end of the island. After a little chat with Tim and Andrew who were already fishing, I made my way to the car and started take my gear to the swim (with a big help from Andrew who brought some of my gear for me, life saver that he is !!).
Anyway, to keep it short I was fishing and taking notice of things.
I had a good chat to the guys already mentioned, gathering info, as you do. Tim was finding it hard to get his bait and attached PVA bag to spot near island in the brisk wind, so I told him to use bait only, and to get it on the spot. Low and behold a bit later we were photographing a 27.05 linear! Well done that man! He had one more little simmo and dropped another in the next two days, his first from the lakes. His mate Andrew had a 22lb carp and a 10lb+ tench. I must say they were two very pleasant guys and we will be keeping each other informed of the lakes catches etc. Myself, I did not catch this session but i am confident that I will and I am glad to say what a really pleasant time I had. I can't wait to get back in a weeks time for a really serious assault on these lakes. Many thanks to Tim and Andrew for making me welcome and giving me plenty of info. Much appreciated guys !!!
On arrival at the first car park I was surprised to see a few cars there and even more pleased to see the nature of the lakes. In the end I made my way to Gaunts and was very pleased to see plenty of parking around the sites lakes. There are ample toilet facilities and best of all, well manicured banks and walkways, which is a blessing when getting to the not too distant swims. After a look round I settled on a swim at the far end of the island. After a little chat with Tim and Andrew who were already fishing, I made my way to the car and started take my gear to the swim (with a big help from Andrew who brought some of my gear for me, life saver that he is !!).
Anyway, to keep it short I was fishing and taking notice of things.
I had a good chat to the guys already mentioned, gathering info, as you do. Tim was finding it hard to get his bait and attached PVA bag to spot near island in the brisk wind, so I told him to use bait only, and to get it on the spot. Low and behold a bit later we were photographing a 27.05 linear! Well done that man! He had one more little simmo and dropped another in the next two days, his first from the lakes. His mate Andrew had a 22lb carp and a 10lb+ tench. I must say they were two very pleasant guys and we will be keeping each other informed of the lakes catches etc. Myself, I did not catch this session but i am confident that I will and I am glad to say what a really pleasant time I had. I can't wait to get back in a weeks time for a really serious assault on these lakes. Many thanks to Tim and Andrew for making me welcome and giving me plenty of info. Much appreciated guys !!!
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