Beauty and the beast....

Last evening I arranged to meet Rhys at Tithe barn at dusk, there is a night fishing curfew on there right now and it needs regular patrols to ensure everyone is sticking to the rules. I managed to get away around 6:30 so thought I’d stop off and grab a rod on the way, with a couple of hours till dusk there was more than enough time to look for a cheeky opportunity to bend Carpathia again.

I did my rounds at Tithe and once happy began looking for fish. There were one or two at the top end of the top pond among the weed, but after catapulting out some bread and being destroyed by a flock of gulls, I decided not to pursue them. As I waited for duck Jock arrived and said he’d hang on till dusk, so I left Tithe and wandered over to Carron Row.

Summer Stalking Begins....

Having started work at 3am and finished at 10:30, most sensible people would have gone home to catch up on some sleep, but no, not I, I had to grab the essentials for an afternoon’s stalking, besides, the sun was shining, and on my local pools I knew just where the carp would be. Plus, the added bonus that most folk would be at work.

I got to Tithe Barn and began trotting around the perimeter of each pool, there were anglers present, but only a couple on the top pools, and nobody on the bottom. The middle looked very quiet, the water was coloured, not much weed was present and without the snags which were recently removed, it was tricky to locate the fish. They’d obviously be amongst the pads, but they were in their prime, and there was no way I’d be trying to extract a carp from them bad boys. They’d also be on the bottom, but fishing blind on these trips isn’t my game.

The top pool, however, showed signs, the same signs I saw a few weeks back, great carp, twenties swimming around in and out of the weed, pausing to nudge the fronds of willow, following each other out into the centre channel and then to repeat the process. They were playing, busy frolicking and certainly not feeding, at least not strongly. I did think though that they might just snatch at a single piece of crust, so toured the lake looking for fish, watching their directions and trying to cast baits a few metres beyond their path.

I gave this a good hour, and in between visited the middle pool also in the hope of seeing something; it only takes that one opportunity to show itself to make a blank day a memorable one. By 2pm I sat with my back against a large oak, ate my sausage bap and drunk some water. It was warm and although I saw plenty of fish, they just wouldn’t play ball. I could have actually fallen asleep against that tree, but I had a job to do, so soon enough I was up and back on my travels. The bottom pool was worth a look.

I was glad to did; the surface was electric, lots of fish moving, and mostly carp. Upon closer inspection is was clear that most of these were small commons in the 2 – 4lb bracket, but I felt sure that with a little searching I could find something a little more worthwhile. Having said that, a fish under my belt would have been a good start, so I selected one of the better commons, gently made a cast and tricked the little blighter into taking it. Minutes later I had a perfect little carp on the matt posing for a photo. It felt good.

 

 

With the little fish released I continued my stroll of the bottom pond, without tackle, just a look. At the far end I stumbled upon a slightly better common, but then caught sight of something larger and darker. It looked as though it could be a mirror, nestled head first into some weed, but the final two thirds of the fish looked very nice. I fetched my gear and made a cast gently just beyond the fish, drew it back carefully and allowed it to settle among some weed a few inches away.

The fish must have smelt it straight away, its tail flicked and as it swam out from the weed backwards it came parallel with the crust. Another fish, a smaller common, came over to inspect too, which could well have spelt danger, but the mirror clocked his advisory and quickly sucked in the crust before the other one had a chance I struck and the fun and games began.

The weed here is much less dense these days but still dense enough for a fish to get wedged in. But, by keeping the carp moving I managed to avoid said disaster and safely netted a gorgeous looking fish. It was a fish I’d caught before, but when they look this good, and things are a little tough, they really can brighten your day. I took a quick self-shot and was back off to the top pools, brimming with confidence.

 

 

Things were pretty much the same as before on the top and middle pools, carp were there, but either inaccessible or just not up for it. I had fun for half an hour watching a shoal of bream try to eat a large lump of crust, but that soon got old. Finally I decided to call it a day of Tithe Barn, but that doesn’t mean going home, it was only 6pm, more than enough day left to tempt one from Carron Row. Just down the road Carron Row was another venue with multiple lakes to wander, and with more familiar spots to search out.

I arrived to find only 2 other cars in the car park, always a bonus. I had a quick look at the first two pools, but it was the third I was really interested in, that’s where the real gems live. I figured that with the hot weather they’d be up at the shallow end, which means a stealthy approach, the amount of times I’ve crept up quietly only to find massive bow waves leaving just as I arrive. This time was no different, I couldn’t have been any softer, but still they knew I was there.

 

 

I sat beside the lake, still as stone and ready to be called into action at the drop of a hat. The fish came back after half an hour, but upon close inspection I realised it was two small common so I upped sticks and went in search their friends. A good stroll looking into all the likely spots releaved nothing, I’ve seen it before where they just melt away and become invisible, but I guess it keep things interesting. If they were easy to locate every time I suppose it would get boring and no longer a challenge.

I ended on lake two, mostly containing small commons but I was sure there was likely to be a surprise or two still lurking. I fished the disabled swim; the right hand margin is very overgrown, and culminates in a submerged tree that usually holds a few small commons. I made a cast with double mixer and immediately small fish came up to investigate. The issue was that most of the fish were too small to take in the double hook-bait, and it being thrown about all over the place I watched the line instead of the bait.

Sure enough, the line tightened and started to take off across the surface, I struck and wound down, but I just wasn’t quite quick enough, the fish made the sanctuary of the underwater branches and broke me. It’s always a sad affair to leave a hook in a fish, but they were barbless, and sometimes it’s just unavoidable. From then I fished slightly closer to my own position, and tightened the clutch a touch more. It didn’t matter though; two mallards came in and ruined the spot shortly after.

I was stood there, line out of the water swinging in the breeze with just one mixer left on the hook when I spotted a common cruise through just under the surface a rod length out. I crouched down, gently laid the bit on the surface and watched as it rose higher, broke the surface with its quite large shoulders and made no hesitation in sucking in the mixer. I struck and half expected to bundle the fish in the net quite quickly, oh how wrong I was. The water erupted, the tail slapped the surface and I had made a fairly substantial carp very angry indeed.

It ploughed around for what seemed an age, this way and that, out then back in, it was immensely powerful, and the few occasions I did see it I understood exactly why, it wasn’t the longest fish, but it was very deep, chunky and had an abundance of brute strength. It governed the fight from the off, the Elite gave line in a stuttering fashion, not the smoothest of clutches so I used the backwind as well, just as some added security, I didn’t want this one to get away.

It seemed like forever, a friend across the pond came round to see what was happening, my arm was aching and this carp just would not give up. Finally and with both of us beaten I slid the net under a glorious fish, a real bruiser and an excellent way to end the afternoon session. My friend snapped away while I held aloft my prize. Possibly one of the heaviest fish left in pool two, and certainly one to remember. I gave the fish a little peck on the head before returning it to the depths. Session over and mission accomplished.

 

 

An Old Friend....

The air felt decidedly warmer this weekend, a sure sign that spring is finally beginning to stretch its arms, take a big yawn and open its eyes. Snowdrops are fading away, making room for bluebells in their infancy, the leaves are there, but as yet the buds are still sleeping. Daffodils are already beginning to open at Carron Row, the place I settled on visiting on my day off work yesterday.

Surface Magic..

When the wife asked if I fancied going fishing after work today, I thought intensely for all of half a second, swerved past Dad’s to collect a rod and couldn’t wait till 4pm. The plan was to visit Carron Row, wander around with my bucket of dog biscuits and hope the carp were hungry.

I set the rod up in the car park, just a size 4 hook and with my unhooking mat under my arm and camera over my shoulder I set off in search of ripples. I stood on the causeway and spotted some rings of water leaving the bank practically under my feet. I stepped back, looked closer and spotted a carp just under the surface between the fallen reeds.

With two mixers on the hook I gently lowered the hook-bait into position and only had to wait a few seconds for the take. As it rolled on the surface I clocked a wonderfully coloured flank with irregular scaling, it lunged off away from the causeway but I soon gained control and before long had her ready for the net.

Lazy Summer Evenings....

Joyous Christenings....

 

Isn't it wonderful using,new kit and catching your first fish on it ? This evening after putting Jessica to bed I left the house and headed for the pool to meet my pal, Steve.

I got there about 7pm and after a chinwag left to bait up a few marginal spots with crust. The rod I was using was the 11ft barbel rod I recently purchased from Mickey and my new Cardinal 66.

Confessions of a Coarse Fisher....

Yep, it’s confession time. I really hoped I could see it through, and I was doing so well, so where did it all go wrong?

It started easy enough, a little dabble in the sea, there’s enough of it around me living on an island. I think the beginning of the end was the change in weather and the visits to the local moat to observe and photograph the carp there among the out of bounds section. A strong yearning to catch one resulted in a few hours after work just to get it out of my system, but two fish later (one being a mid-twenty common) meant that there was no going back. Like a smoker who says he’ll just have the one then going back to the habit he thought he’d kicked into touch.

A Welcome Surprise...

I was hoping to get out angling for a couple of hours this afternoon, especially when my friend Roy told me of some carp and tench he’d caught at Carron Row. The thought of catching a tench whilst float fishing in January was very appealing. The forecast was for a dry morning with rain coming in later in the day, I finished work at midday when it was apparent that the sunny morning was starting to merge into an overcast afternoon, it was just a case of when the rains would come.

A PB Tench and an Old Friend...

A lot of preparation and leg work had gone into this session, so as well as hoping I had as great time beside one of my favourite pieces of water, I also hoped I got lucky. The first moat carp of the season was going to be a special fish, all I had to do was trick it somehow. I arrived at around 1pm, walked the banks to see if anyone else was angling and to check whether or not there was any activity over my spots...the answers were no, and no.

The dilemma I had was the choice of swims, they were all free, the toughest decision of them all. All the swims were tight, especially for a night session with extra kit, barring a handful of larger gravelled swims which aren't in the area I prefer. The swim I thought I had the best chance in was particularly tight.

I began to set up camp in the stalking swim (28) but soon realised that spending the night in there would be impossible, so I opted to make camp two swims down and just around the corner (27). I could stalk my original swim until late, spend the night in the larger pitch and then get back to stalking at first light. With all of my kit loaded into the night pitch I set up a rod and crept quietly into 28, lowered my hook-bait into position with a handful of free offerings over the top and sat back to see what materialised.

Half an hour went by until I saw the first sign, a carp flashed its flank at me then fed very close to my own bank, within inches from the swim board, I was fishing too far out. I The tail was catching the main line but its head was pointing in the wrong direction. When the fish moved off towards the snags I lifted the float out and repositioned it scattering a few more morsels around the quill and sat back to await the carp's returning.

Return they did, a number of times they visited and each time they did the float danced but failed to go under. It was stating to get warm by now, almost 3pm and as the clouds dispersed the sun shone brightly, but the stiff breeze remained. I fed the swim once more and retreated to camp for some late lunch, a cuppa and to rest the swim a while. I returned to the stalking swim just after 3:30 and this time fished close to the swim board with ledgered luncheon meat and watched the slack line for any movement.



It was almost 4pm when the line tightened and the Mark IV tip looped round, I picked up the rod, set the hook with one hand clutching the spool and tightened the drag as the fish tried to swim around the snag tree. Powerfully the fish swam to my right and as it did so the line became caught up with some low lying branches. I played the fish with as much pressure as I dare and finally the fish and the line came free.

The fish charged around in open water for a while and then switched it’s efforts to the deep margins, boring round and round. Eventually the fish tore enough for me to guide it over the net, at long last, my first moat carp of the season was a portly mirror carp with a dark back and a pale, chunky belly. I took a few self take photos, released her and immediately put the kettle on for a well earned celebratory cup of tea.



I figured that with all the commotion, the swim would probably die so I topped it up with a few more baits and returned to the night swim ready to get going. The swans were a pain and very tame, sometimes feeding within a metre from where I was fishing. A gentle prod with the landing net pole moved them on, but not for long and they were soon back making a pest of themselves again.

With both rods now fishing, one in each margin, I sat back and recounted my previous capture only to be disturbed by a bream hanging itself on the right hand rod. This was swiftly unhooked in the margin with a gentle word before I released it asking him to tell his friends to leave me alone. Single bleeps every 5 minutes from the Optonics signalled the warning fell upon deaf ears.

Another cup of tea was made, mostly to warm my hands, a low cloud now filled the sky and the temperature was dropping somewhat, and as I was due to sleep in the chair with just a 40 inch brolly to shelter, I really hoped it wouldn't get too cold, or rain. I did have Steve's Thermal bed cover with me so I still had that as a back up if things got too chilly, and then there was the car with its heater as a last resort.



The next fish came at 7:30pm on the right hand rod again. As I lifted the rod it was almost ripped from my grip. I was confident this was another carp, but when an emulsion brush tail slapped the surface I was surprised to realise that it was actually a heffing great tench. It was big, very big, certainly much bigger than my PB of 5lb 4oz. Although, I didn't have any scales with me so can't go claiming any numbers. I took a snap of it in the grass with the rod and Mitchell 300 by its side, you can make your own assumptions as to how big you think it was.



I released the impressive specimen to the water and kind of hoped I had some scales with me. I really must get those Avons I've been promising myself for a while, just for moments like this. Another, smaller tench came an hour later to the same rod, just as the sky began to darken slightly. The wind dropped and with it went the chilliness. It felt as though I could be in for a fairly mild time of it.

In the half light I could see, and hear, rudd splashing. A deer walk past, speeding up as it neared the swim and then slowing back to a walk. In the tree above me was a jay and a noisy wood pigeon slapping its wings together as they do quite often. Robins and a blackbird sang as the swans surrendered for the night. The goats that live on the old fort were still grazing and continued into darkness. A pike thrashed and I realised I was surrounded by so many of my favourite things, It was good to be back.

At 8:50, whilst sipping on another hot, sweet tea, I witnessed my first bats of the year, a very welcome sight it was too. I could hear them clicking as they flew over head. Ducks drifted about like noisy paper boats, a rodent rustled and a mosquito bite was one familiar feeling I didn't enjoy.

At 10:20 I caught another bream, a much larger one with white lumps all over it, it was quite ugly. With the rod back out I began to make a tea to warm the fingers, only to find two slugs in my tea spoon and one in my cup – Great! It was whilst enjoying that soul-warming brew with a handful of chocolate chip cookies that I had started to hear some quite peculiar sounds. The kind of sounds you associate with fishing alone, at night. I think these sounds were amplified by my having no shelter too.

The place is safe enough, to enter you have to get past armed guards so no worries there, but it still has that feeling that you're not alone, with frequent glances towards the top of the steps, just in case. At one point I thought I heard what sounded like a very drunk badger coming at me looking for a fight; it got close, but not close enough to see it, then it stopped.

At 10:50 I landed another tench of similar size to the last one, around 3lbs. Once the rod was fishing again it was time to don the Thermal cover, more more as an attempt to curb any more bites appearing on my ankles than to keep me warm. I was woken by more tench at just after 11 and at 1:15am, not that I was actually sleeping much, I had already vowed never again to have such a hair-brained idea as to sleep in a chair all night. It was probably the most uncomfortable night I've ever had to endure. Whilst I was up after returning the last tench I treated myself to a pork pie, a wee and a tea, settled back into my throne and did my best to drift back to sleep. It was deathly quiet.

At 3am, my left hand rod received a take, I struck into what felt like a tench with lots of violent head shaking but the rod sprang back as the hook slipped. Before casting I wound ion the other rod and went round to the stalking swim with some bait and topped up the spots in preparation for the morning. After re-casting I didn't quite feel so tired so I sat a while, made some tea, finished the cookies and watched the bats, all the while wondering why I'd not heard any bats. By 3;30 the birds began to sing and I contemplated what time dawn might break.

The plan was to pack up base camp and position myself back in the stalking swim for the day. Could I make it there before the swans was the question. A question that was answered twenty minutes later when in the distance, out of the twilight appeared what looked at first like a ghostly vessel getting closer and closer. As I watched , I noticed it stop to feed on two separate spots before reaching mine, and I remember it stopping at the same places last evening too.

Perhaps they were spots that other anglers had baited, maybe they were just areas rich with natural food, but one thing is for sure, we can learn a lot of we watch what is going on around us. I made a mental note of these other spots for a later date. I sat watching the world awaking whilst slapping my face every 30 seconds or so as another mosquito buzzed past, it's a wonder I didn't come through the night punch drunk.

It was now just past 4am, a time I find wherever I fish it seems to be the quiet time, nothing bites and nothing stirs. Oh, and one more thing about the swans before I forget, I don't honestly think for one minute that its a bad thing them feeding on spots we're baited, quite the opposite in fact, especially if it's smallish particles you've baited with. I actually think they do us a favour, disturbing the bottom and burying some of the food which, in turn, will make the fish root around the area longer. Just a thought.

At 4:20 another tench was hooked on my right hand rod, but with the head shakes the hook slipped out once more, which was actually quite a relief by now, it meant that I could wind in, inspect the bait and hook point and recast without getting up or removing the thermal cover. It was still decidedly chilly you know!



I drifted off to sleep at some stage and was woken abruptly by the piercing shriek of a nearby heron. I looked up and spotted the goats coming down for their morning drink and I realised that I'd missed sunrise. The time was 5:20am. By 5:45 I was packed away and in the stalking swim fishing by 6am.

At 6:15 I watched the line from my rod tip tighten, I lifted the rod and hung on as an angry carp charged off into open water. Thankfully I managed to keep this one away from any snags and kept it on a tight line in front of me charging up and down and under the rod tip. With a couple of close calls to my right I was soon able to steer it over the awaiting net and carp number two, another portly mirror was posing for the camera. The morning was slightly overcast with patches of blue and a light breeze. It was a wonderful start to a wonderful day.



It was then I met Dickie, another member of the club who had arrived for a work party. We chatted a while and got along very well, it was a pleasure to meet him. As he left to join his crew I contemplated whether to stay, or whether to go. I was very tired, I';d caught two carp and some cracking tench, and besides, I even had time for a quick stop at Carron Row on the way back....so the choice was made and I retuned to the car.

When I pulled into the car park at Carron Row just after 9am I saw so many cars, I almost never got out, but curiosity got the better of me and I just had to have a look. First I bumped into Roy and Derek and had a quick chat, then Terry and we have a brief natter. I strolled up to ponds three and four as two was rammed apart from one, unfavourable swim, but after feeding mixers to a couple of fish I found, it was apparent that they weren't in the slightest hungry.

On the way back to the car I decided to have a quick peek in the one available swim on pond two. The swim itself isn't much good, but the margin it shares with the swim to the left is. As the fella in the Disabled swim was fishing straight out and to the reeds, my fishing the right hand margin was of no consequence to him. So a handful of mixers were deposited close to the marginal foliage and I set about setting up a Mark IV and a Delmatic with 8ln line, straight though to a size 6 hook.

I didn't see anything take the mixers, but I did spot a back, and quite a big back too. After working out which end was the tail and which the head, I gently lowered my size six hook baited with two mixers into position and within seconds they disappeared down the throat of the carp and the battle commenced. And what a battle.

I never felt in control at any point of the battle, not until it was safely in the mesh. The fish seemed to be on steroids, perhaps it has eaten a load of spinach, but whatever was the cause, that fish had immense power surging off on long run after long run with me holding on for dear life. It was a very impressive fish, a common which looked all of twenty pounds. Terry helped with the photos and did an excellent job. But it wasn't until later, when looking closely at the photos that I realised which fish it was.



It was the first twenty I ever caught from Carron Row Farm, in 2007 and back then it weighed 22lb 10oz, so about right. It was fabulous to meet up with the old girl again, and great to know she is still the powerhouse she was back then. It was a little before 11am when I loaded the car and headed home....with one almighty smile on my face.

Blanking in Style...

The Koi Pool

After the excitement of last weekend at Headlands and a hatful of fish, this weekend I was looking for something quieter, a bit more off the beaten track and the chance of something a bit different pulling my string. The season change had taken a firm grip and with dark, cold morning becoming the norm now I didn’t much fancy an early start. I was still within the warmth of the kitchen preparing a flask at seven am, a time when I’d usually have been fishing for a couple of hours already. I set off for the Koi Pool and arrived to an empty car park at just after eight am.

The ticket man’s dog greeted me with a wag of the tail and a wet nose. I paid the man and headed off across the grass past the stock ponds and across the small rickety bridge. Standing at the edge of the pool I was just a little disappointed to find the water very coloured due to all the rain we’d had. I should have known really, but hoped it would be so bad. You see, the appeal of this place, being stocked with Koi, is that the up close in the edge stalking is so exciting, white and yellow carp patrolling the margins making for heart-stopping moments as they approach the float and the water around starts to rock. Take away this element and it becomes any other fishery, and I like each one that I fish to have its own special trait. Having said this I was there, had paid my money and driven around fifteen miles, at least it was worth a go.

 

Koi Pool looking pretty...

After two walks around the pool and only seeing one fish I settled behind a bush that produced for me the last time I was there. I set up the Mark IV with the Aerial and attached a small quill and size six hook to the line. A handful of freebies went onto the spot followed by two small wriggly worms. The float sat there looking very splendid but for half an hour it never moved. I wound in, went for another wander around the pool a couple of times and settled upon moving further down the pool next to another air sized tree which reached far out over the water, they just had to be hiding under here.

It was a little frustrating, I know it shouldn’t be, but when you build yourself up for something, no matter what it is, you can’t help but to feel a little dejected when things just don’t go to plan. The second spot was much the same as the first, the quill tip sat deadly still in the calm water, only rocking when a coot or moorhen swam by. By 10:30 am I’d had another walk around, didn’t spot anything so packed away my things and headed back to the car park. It was a shame; still nobody else was there, the place to myself. But if it just doesn’t feel right and your heart tells you to be somewhere else, you have to follow it.

 Carron Row Farm

In the car I was still wondering where to go; with the best part of the morning already gone I didn’t really have too much time to turn things around. The obvious choice seemed to be Carron Row Farm, not too far away, always good for a bend in the rod, always an unoccupied bush to sit next to with a carp or two hiding beneath. So I arrived and found the two swims I had in mind were free. I carried my things around, baited both swims and started fishing next to the brambles in the left hand swim with a chunk of luncheon meat.

 After two missed bites (due to me completely ignoring the float and watching squirrels) I moved to the right hand swim and continued to angle there just out from the rhododendron bush. Another two missed bites occurred (a magpie and a robin this time) but it was nice sat there, drinking from my flask, munching on my sandwiches and generally chilling out. I was under no pressure, Carron Row is so familiar to me I feel I can relax properly when I’m there. I moved again later in the afternoon, along the causeway as there were a few fish cruising in front of the reeds. A watched some lovely carp ‘mooching’ about just off the reeds but they weren’t interested in feeding on anything.

One hooked fish, probably a bream, fell off and that was the extent of my action. But it was a lovely afternoon sat at one of my special places with friends around me both human and animal. I bid the pool farewell, loaded the car and headed for home. I think I shall go perch fishing next weekend….

After Work Today...

A few opportunist hours were planned for after work today, I didn’t know how the local lakes were looking or fishing but with the stalking gear loaded I set off just after midday in search of carp. I arrived at my first destination, Tithe Barns, and took a slow stroll around the top pond. Recently have enjoyed looking for and finding fish to cast to/trick rather than just picking a spot and fishing blind, I always like to have some kind of sign that lets me know there is something down there. The top pond was high, very high with all the rain we’d had, and also very coloured. I couldn’t see much more than an inch into the water and could see no fish or any signs of activity. There was nobody fishing the pond which was a good thing but the lack of visual made me want to jump back in the car and head for Carron Row, so that was just what I did.

Carron Row was a different scenario altogether, cars littered the car park and anglers sat on almost every peg. I walked past a few on my way to the third pond and was surprised to see nobody fishing it. Perhaps there was something they weren’t telling me! I did the usual tour of likely spots and found a couple of fish near the pipe by the pads. They semi spooked when I saw them but were milling around the pads and didn’t go too far. I deposited a little Bait on the spot and wet off for a stroll. The other pond was fishing slowly with only a few tench coming out all day. After a few brief chats I returned to the swim and gently crept close enough to see if they were tucking in. I couldn’t see too much at first as the water was the colour of chocolate milk but a few bubbles later I knew there was something have a munch.

I set up the Chapman and Leeds centrepin, a small float and baited a fairly large hook with a chunk of luncheon meat. Every so softly I lowered the rig on the spot and lay the rod on the ground with my hand hovering over it half expecting it to be away straight off. I sat for somewhere near an hour and only had one tremble at which I struck and reeled in a twig. It was pleasant sitting there though, it’s a favourite spot of mine where you can see right down the pond and observe all that’s going on. Two Canada geese were patrolling with their single gosling, almost in adult colours now with just a little fluffy stuff still showing. I felt for pond two in the hope that some of the swims had been vacated.


At first it didn’t look great, but after fishing a dodgy looking corner for twenty minutes I saw a guy start to pack away in the bin swim. By the time I wound in and got round there he was gone. There was a lovely undercut with brambles shielding the entrance just to the left of the swim quite close in, a spot that has produced for me in the past. I sprinkled a few pellets and a couple of chunks of meat on the area and plumbed the depth. It was quite deep here, around four feet, so you don’t get much indication that the fish are there, but the float knocks around when they are so I guess there is still some form of warning system.

I was fishing for about twenty minutes when the float sat fat on the surface, I waited a second or two and it gently up righted itself again and started to slide away, I struck and missed. A new chunk of meat was attached to the hook and I lowered the rig back into position. Another ten minutes passed and the float did exactly the same, only this time I connected and the old Chapman transformed once more into a living thing. I saw quite early on that the fish was a common, and not a particularly big one, but a very spirited fish which hung on for somewhere near fifteen minutes. In the net she looked lovely in the sun that had just broken through. I did a quick matt shot and slipped her back into the margin.



I continued angling the same spot for a further half hour, at 4pm I decided to get myself home as dinner would soon be ready. Plus I was back out fishing early in the morning. I’ll tell you all about that trip later......

June 16th 2012

I arrived a little earlier than usual, I could have stayed home and left to get there for the swim draw, but I decided I'd just as well be at the lake getting a feel for it, searching out likely spots and getting the order of swims straight in my head. As always it was likely that I'd completely change my mind at the draw, but it felt better having at least half a game plan. The end swim looked the best bet with the wind pushing down and fish present on each of the previous work parties, but with ten anglers drawing for swims I had to have a back-up plan, just in case. It was windy when I arrived, blowing from the dam down to the shallows. The dam had a good section of flat water in front of it but twenty or so yards out the surface began to ripple. I walked along the car park bank stopping at each swim for a look, but instead of searching for fish I found myself more interested in foraging for materials to make traditional catapults and rod rests. Once I'd collected enough to make two rests and three catapults I concentrated on the water, although it was very rippled and fish spotting was nigh on impossible.

The time came to draw from swims and first out didn’t choose the end swim surprisingly. Second did though so as I was third I managed to secure my second choice, the centre swim. The swim commanded a lot of water and had some peachy looking margins, but there was a lot of weed present so, once in the swim, the first job was to find somewhere to cast. I cast the lead around for close to an hour, and eventually found a couple of spots where the lead didn’t plug into weed or silt. I deposited some free bait onto these spots and settled back to await cast time. England were playing their game against Sweden but I’d left my radio home so relied upon text updates from friends. It happened that I had three different people keeping me updated so the phone was very busy in the second half where most of the action seemed to take place. We won the game so a little jig was performed, a tea was brewed and the first casts of the new season followed shortly after. I was nice to be angling again on the pool I’d missed for a few months, but there was something niggling me that I couldn’t put my finger on, although it was to be blatantly obvious later in the session.

I soon drifted off and woke to a blazing sun blinding me momentarily. News came through that my friend in the end swim had caught, and four fish to thirty pounds was a terrific result from this water, if only I’d drawn better! I sat for a while watching the rods, happy to be in such beautiful surroundings, with superb carp to angle for and in such lovely conditions: but I still had my doubts and didn’t feel completely relaxed. I was as if I was shackled to the spot, waiting for something to come, and not feeling very confident that it actually would. Thoughts of other waters and, most importantly, stalking came to mind. I spied a rhododendron to my right, a known holding spot especially in the mornings. I wound the right hand rod in and made the underarm flick in the direction of the shallow, but productive spot only to end up looping the line over a low laying tree branch. I tried to ease the line off the snag but just made the tangle even worse until I eventually had to pull for a break. That well and truly made my mind up for me, straight away I found myself winding the other rod in, packing the bivvy down and loading the barrow. Back in the car park it was a little after 9am, plenty of time to find another water and stalk a June 16^th carp.

Carron Row seemed the obvious starting point due to it being less than a mile away. I pulled into the car park to find quite a few cars present, but there was still room for me to squeeze in, and with just the essentials in tow I could freely roam all four ponds and settle wherever I pleased. I felt release stalking around with net and rod in one hand and loaded mat in the other, the barbel rod and Leeds centrepin were not the traditional tackle I really wanted to angle with, that kit was left at home, but it felt much better than being sat behind alarms just waiting. The first spot I wanted to try was another rhododendron bush; this was on pond two and hung high out over the water creating a cavern underneath where the carp liked to hide.  I tackled up with a small four inch float, two number four shot and a size four hook with a chunk of luncheon meat as bait, my favourite. The float twitched a little at first due to the small silvers attacking the hook-bait, but it soon settled on the bottom and I perched on my bucket and watching for it to slide away. Half an hour passed and I wasn’t actually concentrating when it did happen. A guy fishing opposite caught a tench and proceeded to cheer as it was the only fish they’d seen caught all day. I looked back in the direction of my float but it wasn’t there. I struck, more to see what was going on than to connect with a fish, but connect I did. A strong fish charged out into open water with the centrepin spinning and the rod hooped over. into it's battle curve
Boy, it felt good!'

During the fight, which lasted a surprising time considering it wasn’t a monstrous fish, I imagined what it would feel like if I was using my new rod and reel. Something I’d have to wait to find out but something I looked forward to very much. Every time I got the fish close to the net it charged off again, for what looked like a mid-double common, it was very powerful indeed. After a good few minutes the fish was wallowing upon the surface and the net was successfully slipped underneath. I left the fish in the edge whilst readying the mat and camera and one of my neighbours offered to take a few shots for me. The pics were done, fish returned and that June 16^th fish put a great big smile on my face.

I cast back out and sat, still smiling, for another hour, but nothing else occurred. I moved around the four ponds looking for signs and eventually found one on pond three. Previously there were four bivvies camped around the pond so I decided it was a waste of time, but I overheard someone saying that the pond was now devoid of anglers which made me quickly slip the hook into the keeper ring and trot off for a look. I walked around a few times and saw nothing at first, then noticed in one remote corner that there were two fish milling around just off the edge of the point swim, very close to the bank. I crouched down to watch and spotted a good common with a very dark chainmail back cruise through right under my nose. Once the fish moved off I set the depth on my float, gently lowered the rig into position and crawled back out of sight with just an inch of the rod tip poking over the front of the swim. An hour I sat for waiting for those fish to return as I felt sure if they did I’d land another, but alas they never came back and I was soon on my travels once more.

I settled briefly into the causeway swim on pond two where I could spend the last hour watching a float ride the ripple just out from the reeds. I felt sure that a tench would be first to inspect the bait and I was right. Ten minutes passed and the float slid away, I played a small, slippery tench of a pound and a half to the margin, slipped the hook out whilst the fish was still in the water and broke the rod down. I felt contented, warm inside and happy that I’d decided to pull off the original water when I did. The transformation to fishing more traditionally had taken a serious turn for the good. That’s not to say I won’t be back, I certainly will, but it will be to fish when the place is much quieter. Perhaps midweek evenings where I can roam, stalk and maybe even catch one from the surface…..now there’s a challenge.

A Jubilee Carp

Bank holiday weekend usually means lots of fishing, but not this one. The weekend started with my birthday celebrations, a trip to the zoo and a friend’s party on Saturday followed by a day out with the parents on Sunday, although I did visit Winchester so stopped by to tip my hat to the great man and ask if he might bless my rod for today.

I arrived at Carron Row early, around 8:30, but it wasn’t nice at all. Cold wind, damp in the air and all the usual spots looked devoid of fish. Before putting a rod together I climbed back into the wagon and headed to The Barns in the hope that the carp might be in a more generous mood. First signs were much the same as the Row but eventually, whilst eating an egg and cress sandwich, the sun began to break through and a few fish started to move amongst the pads.

A weekend of ups and downs...

On Friday I’d planned to fish for a few hours and after finding that my chosen venue was too busy I opted for Carron Row Farm. I managed one tench but lost a very special fish. I had been told that pond three held a linear but hadn’t seen it or even a picture, but a few anglers assured me that such a fish existed. Well on Friday afternoon I was float fishing alongside an island when I noticed the float slide away, I struck and was connected to a carp that hadn’t quite realised it was hooked. As it rolled just out from netting distance I spotted that tell tale row of linear scales along it’s flank, I couldn’t believe it, after all this time, maybe five seasons, I’d finally found her and she was drawing closer to the net. She looked a decent size, not massive but I’d estimate around 18lbs, but she’d started to wake up a bit and started trying to bore deep into the pads. I got really close with the net a few times but one time just as I was reaching out the rod tip sprang back and the hook had slipped. That loss really hurt, but I vowed to make amends the following day.

Easter Bank Holiday: A good start but a bedraggled end

Saturday 7^th April

I set out on Saturday afternoon, it was late, after 3pm, but the plan was to assess the situation on a club water I’d not spent a lot of time on before, to get a feel for the water for a couple of hours with a view to returning the following evening for a night session with Daz. I really wanted to fish Thursday night into Friday, but my new membership car didn’t arrive in time.

Saturday morning I took Mum shopping, the post still hadn’t arrived and I had resigned myself to spend another day home and pray that it would arrive soon. But on returning from shopping it was there waiting for me. So I gathered a few things, the bare essentials and drove the 15 miles to the venue. I arrived at the water sometime after 3:30, walked around the middle pond and immediately saw a couple of fish cruising in the upper layers. I tossed out a few mixers and watched as they were completely ignored. I had a brief chat with the only other guy fishing and headed up to the top pond for a gander.  I walked the perimeter looking into the deep margins for signs of fish, but there was nothing there, not until I came to the weedy corner, the pads were just beginning to emerge and the carp were sat, quite happily among the new shoots. I watched and thought about introducing something to see if they were interested, but two mallards headed straight for me and I could see exactly how it was going to pan out. So I left those fish to their relaxing and returned to the middle pond, perhaps I’d even set a rod up.

This Weekend's Adventures...

This weekend was a very untidy one, I hadn’t really thought through exactly what I wanted to achieve. There is not too much to report really, but I’ll document the weekend to keep the diary up to date.  I knew I wanted to catch some fish, wasn’t really too bothered about large ones, just so long as I found some action. So the schedule was to fish Dryad on Friday night through to Saturday afternoon and on Sunday a trip to a private water was arranged through an invitation from a friend where something very old could well turn up.

Three fish in frosty conditions

Yesterday I took my Mum out for lunch and cinema. A day early I know but I gathered that Sunday would be very busy what with everyone taking their parents out for the day. This came with the added bonus that could get in an overnighter and see if I could cause that big ghostie to slip up……

I got there around 4:40pm, it had been drizzling all day but a break in the weather meant I could get the brolly up and the rods out without getting drenched before I’d even started. The rain held off long enough for the first fish to be landed. A slow lift on the bobbin just before dusk set in and a scrappy and very plump common was brought to the net. 

I only fished one rod, the spot is small and another would just get in the way as the plan once a take has been struck is to run right and stop any fish gaining sanctuary among the snags. The rod was situated so I’d just have to reach out and grab it should a take occur through the night, with the spool semi locked-up I could steer the fish away whilst slipping on my footwear and throwing off the sleeping bag, a plan that had done me proud so far.

Big Ghosite's Mate

Seeing as I already had the gear in the car, it was a nice day and the big ghostie was on my mind, I asked the wife if she wouldn’t mind me having a few hours down the pond this evening, lucky for me she agreed. I popped out to Asda at lunchtime and purchased a loaf of bread and a tin of spam. Four pm came and I was already on my way, naughty I know but I felt the need to slip out ten minutes early. The big ghostie was due out, and I was hoping I could tempt her!

Fun with the float rod

During the summer I visited a local pond and fished for the carp, whilst doing so I noticed a number of rather large perch swimming through the gin clear margins. Try as I might I couldn’t get said beasts to show the slightest bit of interest in anything I dangled in front of them, the issue I had was that the club operates a live-bait ban. Well quite recently the club lifted the ban, you can guess where I was headed today!!

A Session to Remember

With heavy rain and thunder storms forecast all weekend, Tony and I questioned whether or not to fish this weekend, but our passion for the sport we love was far too strong to let a little bad weather stand in our way. I picked Tony up at around 4pm on the Friday and with the car loaded we set off for our chosen venue. I suggested Carron Row, a venue very close by and one I’d spent a lot of time on in the past, Tony, on the other hand, had only spent three previous nights at the complex ad each one ended fruitless so he wasn’t overly optimistic, but, we could think of nowhere else to try that late in the afternoons the decision was made to fish pond 3, that was if there were any swims available. 

We drove up to the causeway between ponds 2 and 3 and were delighted to see pond three devoid of anglers, we quickly secured our swims with buckets and proceeded to unload the car. Tony opted for the swim opposite the sunken tree and I set up in the Pipe Swim. With the rods we sat back with a cuppa and before long the first of the raindrops fell. Just then my right hand rod, fished close to a tree on the nearside right hand margin let out a few bleeps, I watched as the bobbin slowly crept to the top and as I struck I felt that typical Tench like resistance, something I’ve grown quite familiar with over the past few weeks. We unhooked the fish in the margin and I cast the rod back to the spot followed by a few free offerings. We sat outside the bivvies for a while chatting but the rain got steadily harder and harder along with hearing deafening claps of thunder drawing ever closer. At 10pm we retired to our bivvies and listened to the awesome conditions so close but unable to get to us.