Making the Most of What the Weather Had to Offer – Meadow Lake
I was unable to make the most of the bad weather at the beginning of the week. The family had been away over the weekend, and I was forever hopeful that it wouldn’t rain all day on Monday. Unfortunately, it did, and although Tuesday was better, everything was still incredibly wet.
I generally try to get my fishing started on Wednesday afternoon, unless the forecast is telling me it would be better to rearrange my gardening jobs and fish earlier in the week. Sometimes, though, the weather simply doesn’t go in your favour.
This week, I had a couple of days of south-westerly winds, a little rain forecast for Thursday morning, and possibly more overnight into Friday. There was also a drop in atmospheric pressure before a big area of high pressure arrived on Saturday. Not necessarily the best conditions, but certainly something to work with.
I’m still finding my energy levels a little low after a day’s gardening, and I really didn’t fancy pushing the barrow around Airfield Lake again this week, even with the electric assistance. Instead, I took a drive around Meadow Lake and found what looked like the perfect spot to settle in for a couple of nights.
Thursday – A Promising Start
0516 hrs
The left-hand rod was away!
I’d been drifting in and out of sleep because of the nearby road noise, knowing we were approaching a likely feeding time. Sure enough, just as I was fast asleep and dreaming away, the alarm burst into life.
After a short fight, a lovely mirror was safely in the net.
24lb 6oz Mirror
It’s always a pleasure to catch a mirror on this syndicate, as they remain a relatively rare feature. That’s something the fishery has been addressing, and hopefully we’ll see the benefits of that work in the years to come.
0555 hrs
The photos and diary were done, the wind was picking up nicely, and it was still very much dark outside. With the odd shower of drizzle forecast for the morning, I was hopeful there might be another bite.
My plan was to sit on my hands for the next 24 hours rather than keep topping up the spots without good reason. Once there was enough light, I put another batch of 24mm Nutrabaits EnerGize Boilies out over the left-hand spot and then left things alone.
Thursday Evening – Patience Pays Off
1836 hrs
I’d seen the odd sign of movement throughout the day and had been trickling out around eight 24mm EnerGize Boilies to keep the spot topped up ahead of nightfall.
Sure enough, the left-hand rod screamed into action, with the carp boiling on the surface as the take developed. The battle took place under the rod tip, and before long, another lovely mirror slipped into the net.
18lb 12oz Mirror
A stunning fish with a bright future ahead of it.
The bait had been sitting out there since around 0530 hrs that morning. Sometimes, the best thing you can do is resist the temptation to keep changing things. A little patience and confidence in your approach can make all the difference.
Friday Morning – The Best of the Bunch
0110 hrs
The left-hand rod was crying out again, and this time I was attached to a much harder-fighting carp.
It was a straightforward fight, but the fish certainly put up a better account of itself. I took my time, keeping everything under control as I worked it towards the waiting net.
28lb 12oz Mirror
What a lovely-looking carp!
With the fish safely on the mat, I got the rod back out on the spot and checked the weather. The band of rain was getting ever closer, and I could hear another carp bosh out over the water. I also catapulted around 20 more freebies into the area before settling back down for what remained of the night.
Knowing When to Call It a Day
The rain arrived sometime after that last capture. I’d been hopeful of another early-morning bite, but I suspected the fresh northerly wind might have pushed the carp away from me and further back into the bay.
I spent a good part of the morning watching the water, checking the weather apps and weighing up my options.
There were plenty of things to get on with at home, and my wife wasn’t feeling very well. With temperatures set to fall further and atmospheric pressure rising, I’d already had a cracking result and decided there was little to gain by pushing my luck.
Sometimes you have to recognise when you’ve had a good session and call it a day. Three lovely mirrors, including a stunning 28lb 12oz fish, was more than enough to make the trip worthwhile.
The combination of Nutrabaits EnerGize Boilies, a considered approach to feeding and the confidence to leave the spot alone had certainly paid off.
Until Next Time
Unfortunately, I’m unlikely to get back out until a day session next Tuesday or Friday, when I’m hoping to visit my winter club water.
It’s that time of year again, when the shorter days, changing weather and other commitments start to dictate how much time we can spend on the bank. You have to make the most of the opportunities you get.
Until next time, tight lines.
Richard
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