Pillows are back!
By popular demand our ‘pillows’ are now available again in both Smokey Jack and Catalyst flavours.
Perfect for those anglers fishing on moving water for carp, barbel and chub. Equally as useful when fishing on steep marginal slopes or simply looking for something slightly different to round boilies when targeting pressured carp.
Location – School Lake
Hours Fished – 3 1/2 hrs
With my car fixed by the garage just before 10am; it would be silly not to make use of the free time today. As we are having another proper Autumn day, none of this rain rubbish, I was soon down the lake. I found a few fish in the dead pads and had the rods both out on the spots by 11am, you couldn’t ask for more.
These carp are quite happy to give their locations away, just a bit shy about picking up baits. As Winter arrives, I’m sure that will change as the angler pressure drops even more.
After spotting a nice fish showing a couple of times to my left, it was time for a swim move. I moved down a few swims and not wishing to spook the carp, it was single hook baits and a foam nugget. I was pretty lucky and only needing 3 casts, unfortunately, I’m sure the fish have moved down to my right, so fingers crossed.
Within the hour my left-hand rod was away with (definitely) much bigger and a harder fighting fish to get back in the pads and off to my right. It successfully picked up the other rod (joy!) but I managed to sort out and finally get the carp in the net.
It was about an 11lb mirror, which I’m very happy with and there is a chance of another one.
Within moments of typing the above sentence, the right-hand rod was away, with another carp desperately seeking sanctuary in the pads. I held my ground and another carp was in the net and this time it was common.
At just over 11lb ish; I’m not currently weighing them but things will change when I’m a bit more organized. With only 30 minutes left on the clock, the rod was soon out there again and you never know.
Until next time
Richard
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Location – School Lake
Hours Fished – 5hrs
After a lot of thoughtfulness over the past month, I’ve decided to join my local angling club, I very nearly did this last year before I discovered the Estate Lake. It was a hard choice to make, but the whole point of having a local water was for my quick 5 hour trips during the week when the kids are at school. However, the Estate Lake wasn’t producing the goods and with Winter knocking at the door, it was time for a change. I only felt that fishing on sunny days was my best option on there. I would still certainly be giving it a go until renewal time and then a big choice would have to be made.
The local club lakes around where I live gave me two lakes for perch fishing and a good one for carp – no massive fish, but just perfect for those winter days on the bank.
I was very lucky that the membership man dropped my ticket round in person on Friday afternoon and with an hour to spare and a quick 10-minute drive; I was walking around one of the lakes and it was just like old times. This was the first club I joined when I moved down here some 20+ years ago, I popped into another lake which holds Perch and Crucian carp. I have not for fished those since I was a kid. The lake looked perfect and I would definitely be going there in the Summertime for the Crucians and I would be after the Perch in the winter months.
Anyway, I digress; back to today. I was amazed to find only one other person here and I had a good chat with him, apparently, it’s pretty peaceful most days and not very heavily fished. This sounds perfect and I will refer to it as the School Lake, I’m not for naming where it is and prefer to make up my own name up for it.
I walked down to where I had spotted the carp yesterday and within a few moments, a carp topped and then again – well that was my choice made up. They were clearly still in that area and had been here since yesterday. I knew there would be plenty of chod on the bottom, I had already rigged up a couple of pop-ups at home last night and clipped on a couple of bags filled with Catalyst pellets only, they had been soaked in the syrup overnight and flicked these out. One just off the far bank and the other 3/4 of the way across. As the next few hours passed there were clearly still fish in the area and it was only a matter of time.
It was about 0945 when the righthand rod (with the masala pop up) dropped back and I quickly pulled into my first carp – not the biggest but a carp and its a start. I can build on this and there where plenty showing themselves.
It’s a start
With the rod back out with another bag on, I was feeling pretty confident.
It’s certainly nice to feel the warmth of the sunshine today, we have had a few weeks of horrible rain. There are a few carp showing today, which is nice to watch and gives me some hope for the coming months. I’m sure it will certainly get hard as December and January arrive. I have just about an hour to go before pack uptime, as we have friends over this afternoon and my wife kindly let me go out. I was pretty keen after getting the ticket yesterday and seeing carp then as well. It’s a shame I’m unable to get down for another week, I may just be lucky for a quick 3hrs one day. I’m pretty keen and you know me… it’s bound to happen!
Until next time
Richard
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Some years ago, when I was working long hours and needed to make sure that every trip fishing counted, I put together a number of steps together to make my life easier going fishing. In ensured I was not just going through the motions. I am sure that at some point I was this and it affected my catch results.
1. I always keep my kit organized and ready to go. Make sure you are topped up with any important item replaced or topped up. I do this as soon as I get home from my last trip before it all gets packed away in the cupboard.
2. I have found that doing the bait a few days before, will help you be confident that it’s all perfect and it can then be kept in the fridge or freezer until you need it.
3. Make your rigs at home. You can then make sure they are to your standard. This is so much easier than trying to do this on the bank. This way, there is no need for all that extra rig kit on the bank.
4. Take the minimal about of kit you need e.g rig boards, a few leads (there is no need for more than 10 leads). I use a small tackle box with enough rig bits for 10 rigs.
5. On my journey to the lake, always zone out of work and into fishing.
6. Check the weather beforehand. You can start to build up a picture of where the carp may be and swim option. Don’t get to carried away with the swim options, as this is never a good thing, you will never decide.
7. I always load and unload the car in the same way (I even store my tackle in the same way and also set up like this), this will form a pattern which then becomes normal and will help you.
8. When I am fishing, I write a list of things that need topping up or replaced.
9. It’s very important not to rush, take your time and get into a routine when baiting up.
A. Always have sharp hooks
B. Check rig presentation in the lake
C. Pop up/Wafter check
D. Run the line through your hands to check for any abrasions or nicks in the line
10. My bivvy/brolly is laid out the same way each time. You will always know where everything is every time, day or night.
Doing this will help you through the winter months when you need to set up and pack up in the dark.
11. Every so often, sort your tackle bag out, overtime stuff slips back into your tackle bag and you find yourself taking more than you need.
12. If possible, have separate bags for bits of kit, so if you are only doing a day, you can remove your brew kit or cooking kit and torch etc.
These things are very simple, however, they will help you and make fishing much easier and you will enjoy it a lot more.
Hope this helps
Richard
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