dorsetandchub
Well-known member
Managed another day at the waterside today and treated myself to Lyons Gate again. I realised that I haven't done much experimenting, bait or presentation wise recently so thought I'd try something I'd been thinking about.
Raiding the food cupboard, I removed two every day items but more in a wee while. Bait wise, the usual suspects were rounded up, corn, spam, hemp and a few reds I had in t'fridge.
Arriving, my fave swim was free, in fact I could see no more than about four other anglers. I kept an eye on the weather as I set up the usual Drennan pole with another well trusted set up, Preston Tyson float to 8lb main and Middy 14 to 6.6lb trace.
Rollers and net set up, the weather looked settled, the sunshine weak but at least present and rain looked like a far off possibility, for the present at least.
OK, now the bait bit. Onto the 14 went an 8mm Spam cube coated in Marmite and dipped and rolled in Maldon sea salt, I was just curious to see if it made any difference.
I can't honestly say it set the world on fire. Truth be told, I poured myself a coffee and had almost finished it when the float started to dance and twitch but no positive indications. Again, it went quiet so I potted in another mix of maggot, spam, corn and some added salt.
After an hour or so, the float dived under, nothing subtle, just buried and the strike hooped the pole and saw the elastic do its stuff. I didn't feel massive largely because it wasn't, but at circa and a pound and a half, the little mirror was more than welcome.
I switched to a single grain of corn and, having forgotten my ipod, grabbed a small radio that was in a work bag in the car. The batteries seemed ok so I listened to sports coverage, untroubled by the lake's finned inhabitants who were skulking in the depths far away from danger.
In the next hour, I had three roach on the corn, one of about 7oz and two smaller 4-5oz. A little common around a pound also made my acquaintance and what a fresh, new, beautiful wee thing it was.
To say it was slow was an understatement and I did something I kicked myself for. I could cheerfully shake, by the neck, the inventor of smartphones that give access to Amazon and allow one to buy books to alleviate ennui.
Into the third hour and a carp of some 12oz took a grain of corn followed quickly by a skimmer maybe an ounce bigger.
I switched to two reds which brought a roach of an ounce. Not exactly the result I'd hoped for so back to a 6mm cube and a small skimmer of around 6oz before a mirror around 3lbs followed with time for coffee in between.
Doubling up to two 6mm cubes saw another small carp around two and a half before another slack period. By now, I'd forgotten the Liverpool game was an early kick off and I put the radio on just seconds before they scored their first goal. They were obviously playing to Manchester United rules today as they were given 7 minutes of extra time AND a penalty. Just as they were given the penalty, the float dropped and this time, no mistake, a lump.
It plodded slowly but heavily, hugging the bottom and daring me to try and raise it. I thought this could go to penalties also and reached for, and carefully added, the spare three meters behind me to bring the pole to 16m should it come to fisticuffs.
After what seemed an eternity, I could feel the fish slowly, very slowly and grudgingly, give ground. After a load more running back and forth and several views of the net obviously inspiring blind panic I finally managed to get its mouth up and the gulp of air pushed it into the net. A shade north of 7lbs and a reasonable looking fish. A mirror and a nice fish to catch.
I thought I'd try the big hit and put two grains of corn on. The float went under a lot quicker than I dared hope but the anticipated Goliath was a more modest 4lbs or so. Still, it gave a good account of itself and, again, a lot of fun.
A couple of midgies, both commons, around the pound mark each and a skimmer around half that and I called a halt, not forgetting to ring my Mum.
Home to a big mug of tea and, to round off a nice day, er indoors (back in her more familiar role) had defrosted a nice leg of pork and a roast dinner was promised for later.
Not all bad, this life, sometimes is it??
Have a great week and hope the rivers produce for you before season's end.
Raiding the food cupboard, I removed two every day items but more in a wee while. Bait wise, the usual suspects were rounded up, corn, spam, hemp and a few reds I had in t'fridge.
Arriving, my fave swim was free, in fact I could see no more than about four other anglers. I kept an eye on the weather as I set up the usual Drennan pole with another well trusted set up, Preston Tyson float to 8lb main and Middy 14 to 6.6lb trace.
Rollers and net set up, the weather looked settled, the sunshine weak but at least present and rain looked like a far off possibility, for the present at least.
OK, now the bait bit. Onto the 14 went an 8mm Spam cube coated in Marmite and dipped and rolled in Maldon sea salt, I was just curious to see if it made any difference.
I can't honestly say it set the world on fire. Truth be told, I poured myself a coffee and had almost finished it when the float started to dance and twitch but no positive indications. Again, it went quiet so I potted in another mix of maggot, spam, corn and some added salt.
After an hour or so, the float dived under, nothing subtle, just buried and the strike hooped the pole and saw the elastic do its stuff. I didn't feel massive largely because it wasn't, but at circa and a pound and a half, the little mirror was more than welcome.
I switched to a single grain of corn and, having forgotten my ipod, grabbed a small radio that was in a work bag in the car. The batteries seemed ok so I listened to sports coverage, untroubled by the lake's finned inhabitants who were skulking in the depths far away from danger.
In the next hour, I had three roach on the corn, one of about 7oz and two smaller 4-5oz. A little common around a pound also made my acquaintance and what a fresh, new, beautiful wee thing it was.
To say it was slow was an understatement and I did something I kicked myself for. I could cheerfully shake, by the neck, the inventor of smartphones that give access to Amazon and allow one to buy books to alleviate ennui.
Into the third hour and a carp of some 12oz took a grain of corn followed quickly by a skimmer maybe an ounce bigger.
I switched to two reds which brought a roach of an ounce. Not exactly the result I'd hoped for so back to a 6mm cube and a small skimmer of around 6oz before a mirror around 3lbs followed with time for coffee in between.
Doubling up to two 6mm cubes saw another small carp around two and a half before another slack period. By now, I'd forgotten the Liverpool game was an early kick off and I put the radio on just seconds before they scored their first goal. They were obviously playing to Manchester United rules today as they were given 7 minutes of extra time AND a penalty. Just as they were given the penalty, the float dropped and this time, no mistake, a lump.
It plodded slowly but heavily, hugging the bottom and daring me to try and raise it. I thought this could go to penalties also and reached for, and carefully added, the spare three meters behind me to bring the pole to 16m should it come to fisticuffs.
After what seemed an eternity, I could feel the fish slowly, very slowly and grudgingly, give ground. After a load more running back and forth and several views of the net obviously inspiring blind panic I finally managed to get its mouth up and the gulp of air pushed it into the net. A shade north of 7lbs and a reasonable looking fish. A mirror and a nice fish to catch.
I thought I'd try the big hit and put two grains of corn on. The float went under a lot quicker than I dared hope but the anticipated Goliath was a more modest 4lbs or so. Still, it gave a good account of itself and, again, a lot of fun.
A couple of midgies, both commons, around the pound mark each and a skimmer around half that and I called a halt, not forgetting to ring my Mum.
Home to a big mug of tea and, to round off a nice day, er indoors (back in her more familiar role) had defrosted a nice leg of pork and a roast dinner was promised for later.
Not all bad, this life, sometimes is it??
Have a great week and hope the rivers produce for you before season's end.
