A Quick Change of Plans

I wasn’t originally due out until Wednesday afternoon this week, and even then, it was only going to be a quick one-nighter because of family commitments. Over the weekend, I’d glanced at the weather forecast, but these days I’ve lost all faith in their ability to get it right beyond 12 hours. So, I didn’t pay it much attention.

By mid-afternoon on Sunday, I’d already cancelled my Monday gardening job, and it soon became apparent that rain was on the cards pretty much every day until Friday. After lunch on Monday, I had another good look through all my weather apps, comparing each one to try and gauge what was actually going to happen. That’s when the idea hit me — maybe I should just go after all.

The wife was happy for me to get out for a couple of nights, and it actually suited things better if I was back home from Thursday onwards. I’d already started sorting my gear on Sunday evening anyway — the rain was hammering down outside, and with the wife out with a friend, there wasn’t much else to do until the F1 started at 5pm. So, the session started taking shape, even if it wasn’t exactly planned.

I arrived at the lake around 2:30pm on Monday to find, surprisingly, only one angler on. Naturally, he was in the swim I’d been eyeing up on the drive down — typical! That’s just how it goes sometimes. No point sulking about it; time to move on to Plan B.

Another member was walking the lake when I arrived, and since he’d got there just before me, I decided to let him pick his swim first. I wasn’t keen on where I’d fished the previous week anyway — I’d felt most of the carp were holding to the right-hand side of that area, well out of reach. The wind had been blowing a steady south-westerly for the past week or two, and I had a feeling that the back of the wind might be the better option this time. Interestingly, the member I’d bumped into in the car park thought the same. Neither of us fancied piling in down that end with six lines in one small area.

My choices were a bit limited, but I found a nice open-water swim that suited my plan perfectly — especially since I’d need to make a quick getaway Thursday morning to squeeze in at least one gardening job before the week was out.

I decided to concentrate on open water this session, something I’ve been focusing more on this winter. I put out a generous helping of Nutrabaits boilies and solubles, along with a good mix of Jurassic Particles hemp and buckwheat — a recent order that not only saved me a few quid but arrived spot on. I’d also prepared some hard hookers, which I’ve been soaking in the matching bait complex. With the bream still active, they’ll hopefully give me a bit more resilience overnight. I would be sticking with the White Blank saver for the time being. 

A couple of deeper spots I’d marked using the Fish Deeper app could be out of PVA bag range depending on the wind direction, and with a strong crosswind forecast for the next 24 hours, it seemed best to leave both rods out there and wait for the fish to come to me — a mindset I plan to keep through winter.

Tuesday – 08:00 hrs
The night brought a mix of clear skies and clouds, on-and-off rain, and a few decent boshes echoing across the water. The carp were definitely out there and feeding. Personally, I see no reason to reduce bait levels yet — the nights are still mild, temperatures hovering around double figures, and with fewer anglers about, I actually think a bit more bait helps keep them active and moving.

Conditions today look absolutely pukka — a warm, strong southerly pushing right down the lake. I’m confident of a daytime bite, and topping up the swim later should be interesting in this wind!

I’ll admit, I came close to packing up early for various reasons, but something was keeping me here. The downside is that from around 10pm tonight, we’re due roughly 12 hours of heavy rain. That might be the signal for me to call it a trip and head home on Wednesday once it passes. Fingers crossed, I’ve got my timing right.

Tuesday – 20:30 hrs
Out of nowhere, the left-hand rod’s bobbin pulled tight, and the alarm gave a few sharp bleeps. After leaving them untouched since yesterday afternoon, I was finally in! The fish kited hard and nearly crossed my other line, but just as I thought I had it under control, the hook pulled. Absolutely gutted — it felt like a good fish too.

Barely 40 minutes later, at 21:09, the other rod was away. I couldn’t believe it — two bites in less than an hour after 18 hours of nothing! This one stayed on, and after a spirited battle under the rod tip, I slipped the net under a lovely.

25lb 3oz Meadow common

Happy days! That’ll do nicely. Time to get the rod back out there in the rain and knock up a couple more PVA bags before I settle in again.

Wednesday – 08:00 hrs
The rain returned overnight — not sure exactly when it stopped, but it certainly hammered it down at times. The latest forecast suggests it’ll clear later today and tomorrow, though Friday looks wet again. That means I’ll be swapping my gardening days around, heading out Thursday instead of Friday. Once the morning showers clear, I’ll start packing up and hopefully be home by lunchtime.

Another satisfying short session — patience paid off, and the new approach to open water is already showing promise.

Until next time.

Richard

Get 10% off Deeper with Code – RICHARD10