My trip last night ended in an epic fail! I just can’t help but tell you.
The wife was home earlier than normal but still dark. So I was off down the lake quicker than a whippet out of a trap. I was going to an area I fancied fishing for some time. I parked up and wheelbarrow-ed the kit round to the swim and started setting up. Where in god’s green earth (or words to that effect) was the landing net? Yep, I had done it again, this time the tackle shop was closed. There was no other option other than go home, with a sad face 😦 . I did put out what bait I had into the swim. And here I am again, all tackle present and correct!
With a couple of bags done, a pop up on one rod and a bottom bait on the other rod. With a quick under arm flick the baits were out this time.
I am only going for a few hours tonight, so we shall have to see. It’s a bit of a theory I have (which was proven right the other year) but thought I would give it a go again this year. I have previously tried in the day time to great success, just never after dark.
Unfortunately, no joy tonight but definitely learning a new area/swim.
After seeing all the carp topping yesterday whilst pike fishing (this is the trouble I find myself in when pike fishing lakes), even on the coldest of days, I just end up seeing carp.
I just had to get back down the lake, I had to wait 24 hrs and there was going to be a bucket load of rain over Friday night, into Saturday morning and over Saturday night. These carp don’t particularly like, so I wasn’t completely sure if I was doing the right thing. You just never know. This is why we all go out the the most ridiculous of conditions because on some occasions, you do bag a lump or two. I honestly couldn’t believe my luck, the swim was free. As I stood there, a carp stuck its head out. Well, where there is one, surely there will be more. I just needed to be mindful of the change in conditions over the past 24 hrs, sit on my hands for the afternoon, just cast out a couple of single hook baits with the odd Boilies in the throwing stick (I had to avoid the sea gulls) and then formulate a plan for tonight.
Got a pukka photography of a robin flying off my rod’s.
As the afternoon progressed and a few more fish showed themselves, I decided to move the rod in the far corner of the bay out as night was failing. In the past, I had lost fish on this rod, they kite left and find an old wire rope from the original drag lines they used to dig the lake out. The other rod was left where it was, as there were still plenty of carp out there – admittedly more to the right and nearly in another anglers water. I was going to keep away from this area as that the right thing to do (in my opinion). Pity it’s not every one’s. This is why I fish a Syndicate lake and not anywhere else anymore. The carp are certainly active tonight, fingers crossed. Mind you this is an area I haven’t been overly successful in the past. It’s all about learning/trying something and adjusting the way we fish.
Morning arrived and it was certainly going to be a different day than yesterday. There were plenty of carp topping in the night but just not where I was fishing. This was a bit of a blow, I had until around 1030 before I needed to be off, still feeling hopeful of a morning pick-up. This was a very similar day to Friday, admittedly we had had 24 hrs of rainfall and the water temperature had dropped a bit more. The fish were clearly still active in the night, think I may need a rethink, it’s going to be a hard nut to crack, this lake in the winter. I generally only do quick over-nighters and I am doing less days than before. But I feel a plan coming together, over the next few weeks I will hopefully put a few fish on the bank.
Unfortunately, trip blanked but as normal you learn each time you are out and I will be putting this information to good use, sometime in the future.
I am back down the lake after doing the school run. After blanking last night on the carp, I am meeting up with a friend for a spot of pike fishing today. We have gone for an area which we both have been planing to fish but never got around to.
This gave us the option to fish a rod in open water each and both put a rod in the bay behind us. We were fishing a mix of dead baits herring, mackerel, I was injecting my ones with salmon Oil.
It was not long before the first fish was on the bank not that big but another pike to add to the list.
With the rod re-baited, it was time to do a pasty my friend had brought down.
About an hour later the other rod was off – well until the fish dropped the bait. This has happen to me before, time to rethink my drop off bobbins.
With the weather so mild, I had to take the opportunity to do a quick overnight. After gleaning some information the other day from a fellow Syndicate member, I really fancied one end of the lake over the other. I had three swims in mind, unfortunately one had all ready got an angler in, the 2nd one a tree really needed a good prune to be able to get the bait in the right area, so (in true Goldilocks style) I settled for option three. I was very happy about this swim. I clipped up the rods on the areas I fancied and put on some small mesh bags filled with my updates stix mix for the winter. I will let you know about in the near future, if I catch of course.
Sorry photo’s may be a bit boring for the next few month’s on my quick over nighters, as I have to set up/pack up in the dark now.
Both rod’s had the Spotted Fin Smokey Jack on. One with a wafter and the other with a pop up. I did stick a few baits out in the general area – to get any carp hunting around for food, let’s see what the night brings. Plenty of sleep or plenty of carp, you never know and that one reason we keep on going week in week out.
With plenty of liners early on in the evening and the odd fish topping it was looking good for a take. This was sort lived it all went quiet and a good night sleep was had. I must say was I bit surprised. I am off home now and then back for a few hour’s pike fishing with a friend today. Let’s hope this is more fruitful, mind you it’s going to be a bit of a struggle on the lake to locate the big pike I think.
As there was an absolute bucket load of rain falling down into the lake yesterday, there was no way I was going to be after the carp today. So pike fishing was on the menu! With the hope of spotting the odd carp, to give me a clue for tomorrow’s trip.
I had absolutely no idea where I was heading for but it had to be somewhere the bream would be. As Mr Pike will never be too far away. I opted for a swim that I had never tried for pike in. In this swim I could cast my baits into a nice warm and calm area of the lake. It had a nice gravel hump where I have caught bream in the winter from before. I am going to sit it out in each swim and not move around (like I have done on here before), as I need to build up a better picture of were and when the pike are feeding.
As before, I left one rod static and flicked the other one around the area. Unfortunately, no pike today. Hopefully next time.
