Wednesday came around all too quickly—something you notice more as you get older. I also make a point of topping up and changing things, plus restocking any items when I arrive home. Along with that, I write myself a note on my phone to give me a quick getaway after my gardening jobs are done. I chuck a few bits in the car—bait, extra bait just in case they go on a full-blown munch—it’s just the non-essential items.

The forecast was easterly winds, 20 degrees, high pressure, and not a sign of rain, which is unusual, along with cold, near-frosty nights. Not a great mix, but with longer daylight hours, the sun warming the water, and May spawning getting ever closer, I could only hope.

Swim choice was a tricky one. With the day anglers coming out, and this being the only water open on the syndicate, I didn’t fancy any of the swims with the wind pushing straight in, as it was a chilly wind. I felt the back of the wind would be a good option, but not completely out of it. A couple of swims I fancied were occupied, but one of the island swims was free. The wind would blow mostly across the front of the swim into open water, and with me setting up my bivvy back from the water’s edge, it would shelter me from that cold wind.

I would be using the same baiting tactics as last week: hemp and buckwheat, boilie bites, and 15mm EnerGize boilies—just four half-filled large Spombs over each silty spot, which I’ve fished on and off before. I’ve not actually fished this swim a great deal, as the bridge used to be a bit tricky to negotiate.

Overnight, the skies cleared and the buzzers stayed silent. I did hear carp to my left in the bay next to me, which is a tricky area to fish as it involves casting across someone else’s water.

09:45 hrs, and it was time to think about a move. Unfortunately, a day angler was already there, and I wasn’t going into the other swim and casting across—that’s just not cricket.

I got a brew on, checked the weather for what it’s worth, then opted to adjust both rods to much closer spots after all the line-bite activity yesterday. I would consider my next move over the coming 12 hours.

15:30 hrs, Ian popped over for a brew. Earlier, around 11:30 hrs, we had a good laugh, discussed rigs, and talked about why I wasn’t catching. He’d had a couple more carp overnight and was surprised I was blanking—me too.

After all my consideration, it felt best to stick it out in the new spots. Oddly, I’ve never been overly successful in this swim, and that needed to change. The only way that was happening was by staying put and learning as much as possible.

That was another disappointing night of fishing. I can’t quite believe how hard it’s been for me. I’m not sure if I picked the wrong swim or if they simply aren’t feeding in this area. It’s very surprising. I’ve not really seen much activity in my swim, although they have been close by. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to move to where I wanted to yesterday. It’s now time to consider my options. The thing is, they’re at their best weights now. I can only fish the next three weeks, then it’s two weeks off for a family holiday—but is it worth sticking it out just for the sake of it?

10:45 hrs, it became clear I didn’t want to stay in this swim for another night. With the carp full of spawn and at their best weights, I had to make a move. I didn’t fancy walking around looking first, as it would take too long and I’d probably rush it. So I opted for a slow pack-up, leaving the rods until last, just hoping something would happen. I wasn’t even sure I’d find a swim I fancied fishing.

I was all sorted, with the kit in the car by noon. I headed round to the north bank, hoping the swim in the small copse was free—unfortunately not. I then headed for the island I was on last week, where Ian was. The middle swim was free; however, the water was so clear, which is very unusual, that I didn’t really fancy it. I headed off to the bottom lake and was surprised to see only one car. This lake always has clear water, but what was interesting was that the middle lake was clearer than normal.

There was only a day angler on this lake, and he had managed to bag one, which gave me some hope. I pitched up in the first point swim, giving me a good bit of open water to fish. I managed to tip the barrow over on the way across the flat field somehow—not the best start—but I finally got everything sorted. I fished the rest of my particle mix over one rod, and just 15mm EnerGize boilies over the other.

I put small Godman mesh bags on each rod as well, filled with pellets soaked in hemp oil. The left-hand one kept giving off slicks—I thought it would go off any minute—but it’s nearly 21:00 hrs and still nothing. It’s been a relaxing afternoon in the sunshine, extremely hot at times in this swim as well.

I can only hope the dark hours bring me something.

00:12 hrs, the left-hand rod absolutely tore off. I was out straight away into the darkness and played what felt like a carp—happy days. It wasn’t massive, but the effort it took to catch made it all worthwhile.

10lb common

It’s the journey, not always the size.

With the rod back on the spot, it was time to get my head down.

03:17 hrs, the left-hand rod was away again—this time with a very hard-fighting carp, full of anger and on the surface a lot during the fight, something I don’t enjoy very much. There are some overhanging trees to my left, which it spent a good amount of time trying to reach, but I held my ground, and the carp was soon in the net. I flicked the headtorch on—now that will do me, I thought.

24lb 12oz common

Absolutely superb result—and look at the size of that tail. With the rod back out there, it was time to get a bit more sleep.

07:35 hrs, I was woken by another screaming run, which turned out to be a tench this time—the first full-blown run I’ve had from a tench for years. I thought it was a carp until I pulled into it.

I’m going to give it until 09:00 hrs, then it’s a slow pack-up, a quick chat with a couple of people, and then head home.

That was a hard trip, which I expected—but with a bit of effort, I was rewarded with a couple of carp.

Until next time,
Richard

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