After a poor few days and a chat with a friend who had not been out for a few weeks due to ill heath, I suggest he may fancy a day on here for a change.

The likelihood of a few fish would be a bit of fun.  The day started well with my friend getting stuck in a nice big traffic jam.  As I was doing the night after our day trip, I suggested we go there straight away.  Thanks Ian.

After a look around and a bit of a chat with a fellow Syndicate member, I really fancied this corner.  It had not been fished since Sunday and was at the back of all that wind.  I had seen a couple top first thing and was very keen to go in that area if the lake.  The day proved to be very hard, I had chosen to put the right hand rod, was in an area which felt very fishy looking as it had some nice overhanging trees.  The other rod would be out into the lake a bit, where I had seen the fish.

As the day progressed, I had clearly got it wrong.  The fished had moved over to the left hand side and a long way along the bank, way out of sensible fishing range.  At 4 pm my friend headed home and I flicked the rods (with a natural pop up and a Smokey Jack bottom bait) to the left and put a couple of kilos of a mix of Catalyst & Smokey Jack, both on a Ronnie Rig tied up with semi stiff fin skin and size 6 Long Shank turning point Hooks, this rig works with all forms of bait, not just pop ups.

Would you believe it, just after I reel in, a carp rolls under the trees. You could not write it, I had left it as long as possible.  Anyway, I am all set for a glass of red, pasta & meat balls for tea.

As night fell, the carp started to show more and yes, you guest it all to the right side of the swim and even along the tree line.  I was pretty confident until I had a bream about midnight and then a tench at 03.30.  The night finished with fog and a strong north wind.  I woke up to brilliant sunshine at first light.

I had had a few liners on the left rod, so I thought I better reel it in.  I was a bit worried that the rig was set wrong (nope all OK, just my luck that was set wrong!).  I took this opportunity to change over to a FW Masala pop, to entice the carp.

With not a bleep all day, it was soon time to top up the swim but not too many boilies but a fair bit of catalyst pellets and Betafin Pellets Soaked in Minamino (for added attraction).  One rod was fished on a 15 mm catalyst Wafters and the other on a snowman with a nice 12mm white Catalyst to top it off.

The sun was setting and the lake was looking good.  The odd fish was showing and I was forever hopeful.

Well that was another rubbish night, probably now to the big drop in temperature over night.  This may well have been the coldest one yet.

Gorgeous misty start to the day – let’s hope a can bag one before I go home today.  The family are back first thing tomorrow and I need to collect them from the airport.  It’s been a very hard week for fishing, as they have clearly started to shut down and adjust to the coming Winter.  I wonder if they know what is coming way before we do?  Nature certainly does have one up on us.

What an fabulous end to a week out on the lake spread over two sessions.  Even though only one carp on the bank for me.

Until next time

Richard

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