A Return to the Bank

It had been over two weeks since I last ventured out, as my hands just can’t cope with the cold anymore. Spending entire days stuck in the bivvy had kept me at home, longing to get back out but knowing the discomfort that awaited. I had planned to head out on Tuesday, but somehow, it took me until Thursday to finally make the trip!

I arrived at the lake just after 11 a.m., pleasantly surprised to find only two anglers fishing. They had wisely set up in a cosy, sheltered bay, making the most of the warmth. After a quick chat, I set off to see if I could spot any signs of carp. Despite scanning the water with hope, I saw nothing—not a single indication of movement. In these situations, I always opt for the most comfortable, warm swim. If I can’t find the fish, I might as well ensure that at least one aspect of my session is enjoyable.

After plenty of consideration and leading around, I settled on a swim called Bird. This time, I wasn’t going to take my usual approach of fishing along the margins. The last thing I wanted was a carp bolting into the snags, forcing me into an unnecessary battle. I’m not a fan of the “catch at all costs” mentality—I always prioritize fish safety as much as possible.

For this session, I decided to use solid bags—something I hadn’t done much of in recent years. In fact, I had stopped using them altogether at some point without even realizing it. Tying my first solid bag after such a long break, it was clear that practice would be needed to perfect my technique again. No photos of my bags this time, but I’ve had great success with mesh bags over the years, and I couldn’t help but wonder if I’d been missing a trick by not using solid bags more often. As far as I know, they aren’t widely used on the lakes I fish—but I could be completely wrong.

As dusk arrived, I tested out my new Fox Slik Powergrip Catapult for the first time. I’ve been trying to cut down on my spombing, so I was eager to see how this would perform. I was impressed, especially with the boilie version. I also have the pellet version, which I’ll be testing soon. Waiting until dusk helped me avoid the seagulls, and I kept baiting light—just twenty boilies per spot. One rod was fishing with Cream Cajouser, the other with Trigga Ice, and I also included around six boilies in each of my PVA bags.

The weather was surprisingly pleasant, and the sunset lingered until just after 5:30 p.m. In a couple of weeks, it’ll stretch to 6:00 p.m.—I can’t wait for those longer evenings.

A Quiet Night & Changing Conditions

The only carp I caught that night was in my dreams. Instead, a heavy downpour arrived and lasted for a couple of hours. The rain hammered down so loudly that it kept me awake, but eventually, I drifted off. To my amazement, I didn’t wake until 9:20 a.m., a rare lie-in by my usual standards. By the time I unzipped the bivvy door, the sunshine was already beaming down again, and I hoped the carp would soon switch on.

As the day progressed, clouds rolled in by mid-afternoon, and a fresh chill crept back into the air. Strangely, by late evening, it felt warmer again, and by the time I settled down for the night, the lake was flat calm. At some point during the night, I was woken by the unmistakable sound of carp crashing out to my left—not far from where I was fishing. I lay there, waiting, hoping for a bite that never came.

Dawn arrived all too soon, signalling pack-up time. However, after checking the forecast, I decided to stay for a third night. With easterly winds, thick cloud cover, and a noticeable drop in temperature predicted, I knew it would be a tough session, but I was willing to sit it out.

When I finally did wake up the next morning, it was bitterly cold—a stark reminder of just how quickly conditions can change. A tough session, but a good one nonetheless.

Until next time,
Richard

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