Just returned from a few days at Parklands, Northallerton. We left it late to book and it looked like they were full, but a late cancellation gave us a spot for the weekend.
Arriving at 4.30ish at the ponds, it looked like a match was in progress, but it was just very, very busy. Fortunately, the crowds thinned out as I walked further up the lake and I ended up walking past everyone and fishing the same swim as last time we were here, off the point of an island where it was a few inches deeper than the surrounding area. The wind was pushing down to the popular end, but I value the relative solitude as much as the fishing and it was nice to find a quiet spot on such a busy day.
First put in, reached down to pick up something or other and the float rod was pulled forwards, slamming the reel against the front rest. Carrotted on the first cast! As if to add insult to injury I kicked my worm tub into the drink during the commotion and had to leave the lidded tub upside down for an hour to drain the remaining soil and the couple of dozen worms that hadn't gone for a swim.
mg:
Once things settled, a string of tench came to net; nothing bigger than a pound, but every fish seems to fight above its weight in this place.
I decided to save the dwindling stock of worms for dusk in case perchy came out to play and swapped over to prawn. An instant bite and a thumpy fight and I was surprised to see that it was a fair perch, thrashing into the waiting net. I gave it a pound and a half and popped it on the scales, but it pushed the needle to exactly two pounds: my best for a long time and in sparkling condition.
It was at this point that the carp elbowed their way in; a succession of them up to 8 pounds or so, all scrapping like demons. I got a bigger one back from behind the island three times, only for the hook link to part halfway down its length when I was starting to win the battle - c'est la vie.
Sunday evening saw me sitting in the same peg, hoping for another perch or two and in the end I was rewarded with another decent one, this time 2-2, although it looked a fair bit bigger than the first and I was sure it should have weighed more - I blame the bloody Flyweights and should really buy a set of scales I can trust.
Amongst the carp that came to net was this curiosity with a z-shaped spinal deformity. It seemed fit enough in all other respects so presumably it doesn't hinder the fish in any way, but it was rather odd in appearance.
Monday was much quieter, but I returned to the same peg, hoping for another perch. Presently, a gentleman wandered up for a chat and I was pleased to learn it was our very own Sam Vimes (Chris,) who's a good friend of the fishery owner and is the first person from the forum that I've ever met. He's a goldmine of information and pointed me towards several local waters, for which I'm very grateful. In return, I demonstrated just how clumsy I am when under observation, managing to pull out of a couple of better fish and comprehensively Binka-ing a short arm that I was using as a front rest and then kicking my maggots over.
mg: I got to grips with a few carp and tench when he'd left, but no more perch. Still, it was a very pleasant session, all in all, and I look forward to coming back here fairly soon.
