After my dentist’s appointment this morning, there was only one thing to do and as I was driving past the lake on my way home, it would be rude not to! So, with that thought in mind, I already had the Perch tackle in the car and was soon set up just before 10am in my first swim of the day.
It was not long before I had some action, which I promptly lost in pads, a bit rubbish.
After I recast, they were soon knocking the line again and it was not long before I had a nice Perch in the net.
Not bad and just under 2lb. I took this opportunity to bait up with some more prawns and then go for a walk with the lure rod to give the swim a break. With no joy in the next two swims, I returned after 30 minutes and flicked the baits back out. If I had no knocks within the next 30 minutes, I was planning to move for the last hour, but I had a feeling there was more to be had from this swim.
My rig is very simple, just a free running lead with a small buffer bead tied to an Sf Longshank Turning Point Hook.
Despite my best efforts, I just couldn’t tempt another Perch to pick up a bait. I had a few nibbles and played about with the lure rod. However, it was extremely nice to be out in such lovely weather today, a nice warm breeze and some sunshine, it’s starting to feel a lot like Spring.
I would like to give a brief snap shot of my life and introduce myself;
My name is Richard Handel and was born in 1965 in Suffolk. I have worked as a UK Operation & Intermodule Manager for a shipping company. I live in Hampshire now and am married with 2 young children, both girls so I am a bit outnumbered even the cat is a girl!
I have been fishing since I was about 7 years old. I started on small local rivers in Suffolk, then moved onto gravel pits and then carp fishing. My personal best is a 39.08 mirror, over recent years I have started river fishing again, on the Hampshire Avon, this is a nice break from the carp lakes.
My life has turned a big corner this year, the company I was working for relocated their Operation centre to Estonia. I was offered a job at the head office in London. This would have meant a 5 day commute and working in Stratford. As a family, we did not fancy this, as I would hardly spend any time with the children (and the Mrs). So after 22.5 years, I was given a nice redundancy package and with my wife is working full time. I became the house husband.
This has meant a complete turn around in my fishing, as I can pick and choose when I go. I have found a splendid new syndicate to fish this year, which includes 5 lakes and some 8 miles of river with only 150 members. It's an amazing change to the way I am able to fish.
I am now trying to start my own tackle business and make a bit of a name for myself in the world of fishing, as I have retired from real work.
Richard
