I had a bit of a result – the family is away for most of the week.  I had a couple of days worked planned but they were canceled late Saturday night.  This was perfect for me, I could now get 4 nights on the bank.  After dropping off the family at the airport, I was no sooner home and on my way down the lake.  To my great surprise, there was only one person there and he was packing up.  This gave me the pick of any swim, which as we all know, not as straightforward as it should be.  I was very mindful that the pressure was very high and was most likely to rise.  We were due to a wind swing to the North/North West and my past experiences fishing the half term week have never been great.  But I had to embrace the opportunity it gave to me and start in a swim for the first night and move on if necessary.

With the swim finally picked (after a good hour & half look and not seeing much), I picked the only swim I had seen a fish in.  I was hoping for a little bit more action and a greater choice.  Spotting one carp show was the only sign and that would be the swim to start in.  I was the same swim I fished over a month ago and had a very good couple of nights.  I had the advantage of a nice warm tree-lined bank, which the fish love in the day and also at night.  I prefer my other spots at night as getting your to bait back on the spot at night along the tree line is pretty much impossible.

I baited this area quite heavy as the water temperatures were still up a bit and there was a good possibility I wouldn’t be able to move due to angler pressure in the week.  I like to have a good bed of bait out there which the carp can visit as much as they like without any disturbance.  I feel it upped my chances as the week went on and the bait starts to break down in the water.  I’m starting off with both rods on the SF prototype hook baits and will see how the next few nights progress.

The first afternoon and night past with a few liners, the odd fish crashed nearby and I felt a good chance but nothing was forthcoming.  I was up early, watching the lake for carpy signs and with a very windy night, I was hopeful of a bit at first light.

My friend Ian came down for a day trip – pike fishing.  The weather conditions were pretty perfect all day.  Early on in the morning and late in the afternoon, a couple of carp crashed out, which certainly was a needed confidence boost.  Ian was kind enough to do some promotional shots for me with the up and coming Christmas bundle from Deeper – this will all be revealed very soon.

As the wind died down, the sun warmed up the lake again and I was looking out for any signs of carp along the treeline, there was none.  Ian’s pike fishing was also unsuccessful, I did think there was a good chance but it did turn out to be a very bright day.

I rebaited the rods and for a change, I used bottom baits, as you have to work at catching at this time of the year.  I wasn’t putting anymore bait out in the swim until I had managed to catch a fish.  I settled into another cold night on the bank.

Tuesday arrived all too soon, after yet another great nights sleep, which I am sure I needed.  However, a nice big fat carp would be nice.  I had decided last night that if the weather conditions were the same as yesterday, I would put a miracle berry Wafters with a washed out along the treeline for the day in the hope that I could wangle a fish out.  The left-hand rod was left on the baited area, knowing fish would pass by, I just needed to tempt them onto picking my bait up.

It was certainly looking like another sunny day was coming, we shall have to see how it pans out.

After a lot of thought and watching the lake, there was certainly more action and a move was nearly made.  I felt the mixing up a load of SF Bloodworm and a mixture or pellets would revitalize the swim, as I had a few more fish in front of me than the previous day.  A move would take me away from them and I think it’s worth another 24 hrs in this swim, with my decision made, I quickly made up the mix.

And Spombed the contents over the area I was fishing.  I then got some soup on for a late lunch and feed my new found friend half the bread!

I sat back and read my book, watching the lake.  There was defiantly more carp about and getting a bit more active, as I watch the setting sun.

I felt that there may well be a good chance of a carp tonight.

Well, the third night past without a bleep.  A couple of the other lads nearby, well not that near, managed to wangle a carp each last night!  This really points to me being completely in the wrong area.  So, really my options are to stay and hope the fish finally move into this area or move into another area.  This will be further away from the fish or do I call it a day, head home and fish tomorrow daytime in one of the day swims or even have a change and go down the river?  The weather will play a part in the last two. I have a lot of thinking to do today.

I spent most of the morning thinking and had a walkabout for about an hour thinking of my options (should I stay or go ).  One of my blogs is about this and after much thought, I stayed put in this swim.  I did move the rods close to the treeline and near the entrance to the sanctuary where there is I nice hump.

The fish must use this as a feature to past by and search for food.  This is similar to the feature I had been fishing but not quite the right one for the fish to feed on.  Let’s hope the change in tactics pays off.  As the day progressed, I spotted the odd fish passing by, but still, no takers as I settled in for the night.

I was hoping for a take by nightfall but I had to wait until 0330.  The right had rod was off and I was into the first carp of my trip, it behaved very well and soon slipped into the NSR50

This was an amazing relief, I had finally had a fish on my fourth night.  Patience can pay off with a rethink of the spots and options in front of you!

I was a very happy man and with the photos done, I quickly slipped the carp back and recast the rod on to the spot.  This needed a lot of concentration to avoid ending up in the trees at night, but I was spot on and very happy.  I had a brew and laid back on the bedchair and drifted off to sleep.

Well, the final morning arrived and it was yet another misty, but a very nice one.  It was time to pack up as I needed to my home by 11am and I had a pretty big list of things to sort out.

Until next time

Richard

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