Waking up this morning I found it was still raining and at least a centimetre of rain in a bait bucket I’d left outside to wash out later on.  The weather app on my phone was showing rain, so I cancelled my gardening jobs and waited until the wife’s car service was done.  If this didn’t take too long I could then see if I fancied heading out fishing.  Brucey bonus! Her car was all done and sorted by 10 am.  So, I took another look at the weather forecast and the rain wasn’t coming anymore, I did fell guilty about cancelling my jobs today, as I feel a responsibility to my customers.  But after inspecting my garden, it was certainly not the day for gardening and more damage would be done than good in these conditions.  I quickly sorted out the kit I needed for a day’s fishing.  I’d been looking over the winter months and thinking how I could target the bigger carp and where they would feel safe feeding. This would be most likely under the overhanging tree’s and out of the way spots, that could only be reached by casting across the lake.  This did have its limitations as it being a club lake and the branches protruded out a long way into the lake in some areas.

It was time to bring out the baiting pole and get a bit of practice in before the winter months.  I could only really only use it in a few swims, but getting a routine sorted now would pay off in the winter.  I arrived down the lake at about 10.45am and it was completely empty.  I had my mind on a couple of swims I had been looking at at the beginning of this year.  I headed off with the barrow to take a look, the carp were pretty much everywhere and I’m sure I really should have sorted out the floater kit.  It was still very much looking like it would rain at any moment.

Because of the lily pads, I was only able to use the baiting pole on one rod, which isn’t a bad thing as it’s not been out of the bag for a few years!  I’d only brought the main section and no extension poles, I’m not planning on going that far along under the tree’s.  I’m just looking to get to the areas that can’t be accessed without one.  The left-hand rod was stuck under the overhanging trees, with the pole and a large bag which had a load of chopped boilies and Catalyst pellets.  I need to attract the carp down to feed, a high proportion of them were milling about on the top.  The other rod was also going to be a bag fished close to the far bank and in between two sets of pads.

I don’t think it’s going to be plain sailing today, but I will give it my best shot.  One job I will be doing is sorting out – a floater bag for any future trips this summer and coming autumn.  It may even be worth playing with zigs and gaining confidence in that method as well.

It’s coming up to 3pm and I’m still struggling to get a bite.  I’d had a good look about and I decided that my spots were the best positions possible for the conditions today and a move wouldn’t be worth it.  I would stick it out.  Hopefully something will go down and fancy a feed.

At 4pm I decided that I just had to move swim, the carp were along the margins and just wouldn’t move away from the pads.  I had also noticed that there was a spot in the open water that they kept on showing around this area.  It was worth the effort to move and could produce a take within an hour.

Unfortunately, nothing came to fruition, despite staying until 7pm.

Until next time

Richard