Fun at the farm....

Just a short account of my first trip out for a good few weeks.....

 

The eagerly awaited first fishing trip was always going to be a great day out, whatever happened. I had promised my dad a day out as he’d not yet been this year, so it was just nice to be bankside again, for both of us. We Left home just after six thirty am and set off for the 45 minute journey to Headlands Farm in the hope of Carp (Dad’s intended quarry) and perch (mine). Being out of action for a full five weeks I started to wonder if anything would go wrong, whether I’d forgotten “how to do it”. Well I wasn’t 100% sure which junction from the motorway to take, and I’d been to the venue lots of times before, I guess I was still suffering from Baby Brain somewhat.




We did take the right turning, weaved our way through the country lanes and arrived at the fishery just after 7am. After parking the car we made our way to our favourite swims and dropped a few bags to secure the spot. I was to fish towards the islands and in the channel for perch and Dad wanted to fish the bay margin for carp. With all the kit in the swim we tackled up the rods and proceeded to fish. Dad was first into a fish, a lovely looking carp of around six pounds; he was over the moon and even with the long lay-off he still played and landed it like an expert.

A couple of Dad’s fish…





Dad continued to catch carp every half hour or so whilst I steadily started to build my swim up, catching small perch, skimmer bream, roach and even the odd carp, which were quite tricky to land on 4lb line and my newly acquired Wizard. The first photo fish for me was a beautiful roach of around a pound. I reached for the camera and found the button not to be working. A quick look confirmed that the battery had run out, not good at all. After releasing the fish I remembered that I had my blackberry in the car. The camera really isn’t very good, but it would capture a few moments even if the quality was poor.

A couple of my fish…




The morning was overcast and windy but dry. The perch were coming steadily but although I stuck it out until lunchtime, the best I managed was just over a pound. Dad, however, was having great fin with hard fighting, good looking carp, so I decided to join him for the afternoon. We went on to catch a bagful of carp between us, and Dad even had a go with the float rod, just for a change.

Wizard in action






At some time after three pm we packed the things away and headed home. Mum had prepared a nice dinner for Dad and I wanted to get home to see Jessica. It was great to finally get out fishing, but it was equally as good to get home and hold my baby. I’m now looking forward to some more angling next weekend.

Ready for home…

The first fishes of 2012

The first trip of 2012 and I was determined to catch a good fish on the cane and pin. I had promised Roy a trip to Headlands Farm, perch were the target and live-baiting was to be the tactic employed. With supplies gathered the on Friday I was ready for the off, bed early and up at 6am to leave for Roy’s. We left his place at seven and headed for the M3 and onto Wellow. Roy had never been to Headlands before but had heard me taking about it so was itching to get there ad try for the wonderful fish that swim there, perch to good weights, stunning little carp and countless other species to angle for, float fishing with maggots really can produce anything, as we were to find out.

I offered up the swim I’d had a perch of 2lb 2oz in on my previous trip to Roy, advised him where to put his bait and set up in the swim to his left. Roy opted for float fishing pellet on one rod and had a maggot feeder on the other. I started off trying to catch a few live-baits and soon had half a dozen small perch, perfect bait for the big stripeys. Without an air pump I brought along a spare landing net, submerged it in the margins and the small fish swam happily there until it was their turn. With enough perch for a few hours fishing I set up the 11ft cane float rod with a Leeds centrepin reel and attached a small 8 gram bobber float with a 6oz drilled bullet and size 4 hook. The bait was added to this and I was soon watching the float ride the waves shuddering and dipping every so often. The wind was keen, it felt chilly for most of the day but with the odd brief sunny spell we felt a little warmth every so often.

Boys Stripes

I decided last evening that I’d try my hand at perch fishing today. I was fishing with Dad and we’d originally planned to fish the lower lake at Broadlands but I didn’t fancy sitting watching the tip all day long. Besides, I fancied something a little different from the norm. So, Headlands Farm it was, Dad could still fish the feeder for carp and bream and I could try for the perch, and the picture of a 4lb 2oz specimen in the fishery office was the fish on my mind.

I figured that the best plan of action would be to fish red maggot down the edge under a small bobber float, there are lots of smaller perch and silvers in the lake but I though that eventually the better fish may make an appearance. I fished with a light float rod; 2.5lb mainline straight through to a size 18 hook and two red maggots. As expected I started off catching small roach, rudd and perch with the odd skimmer bream that always leapt clear of the water like sailfish when they were hooked. Then the first of the monster perch came, all 8oz of him, he looked splendid in the autumn sunlight, and even though it was small in comparison to the others that live in the lake, I was chuffed to bits, I don’t fish for or catch perch very often and that’s sad as they are beautiful fish and the epitome of this season.

Boys Stripes…………