How did you get on?
- Thread starter peter crabtree
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peter crabtree
AKA Simon, 1953 - 2022 (RIP)
Early start this morning and off south down the M3 to North Hampshire. A club fixture on a lake near the Yately complex.
A mixed fishery with a good balance of stock, by no means a carp dominated water. In the past I have found the carp extremely cagy, so with this in mind my plan was to go all out for roach.
Set up pole only with 2 topkits with no3 yellow hydro through top3. Both rigs were a small 0.25gr float with the bristle blacked out, a bulk of no10 shot halfway between float and hook, 18” between shot and hook for a slow falling bait. This was set shallow at about 3’6” in about 7’ of water.
Used just 9m of pole as any longer I would’ve struggled to see the float clearly.
At the off I hooked a single red maggot and dropped it in, immediate bite and a roach in the net. After 2 hours no carp had been caught and I was building a good net of roach.
By halfway through carp began to be caught, at this point I usually panic and change to carp gear but I hadn’t got any rods with me and I was still catching roach and rudd. A change to caster paid dividends with some better roach to 12oz among the smaller ones. At one point bites dried up and I hooked a bigger fish, unfortunately I never saw it before it bolted for the reeds to my right and pinged off. My guess was it was a perch.
After 5and a half hours the whistle blew, good job too as my eyes were getting very tired from staring at a fine bristle in white water, reflecting the grey cloudy sky.
At the scales I had 20lb:8oz which was enough for 3rd overall.
Winner had 21lb (4carp) and 2nd 20:14 so I was just a couple of fish off winning....
21 fished..
A mixed fishery with a good balance of stock, by no means a carp dominated water. In the past I have found the carp extremely cagy, so with this in mind my plan was to go all out for roach.
Set up pole only with 2 topkits with no3 yellow hydro through top3. Both rigs were a small 0.25gr float with the bristle blacked out, a bulk of no10 shot halfway between float and hook, 18” between shot and hook for a slow falling bait. This was set shallow at about 3’6” in about 7’ of water.
Used just 9m of pole as any longer I would’ve struggled to see the float clearly.
At the off I hooked a single red maggot and dropped it in, immediate bite and a roach in the net. After 2 hours no carp had been caught and I was building a good net of roach.
By halfway through carp began to be caught, at this point I usually panic and change to carp gear but I hadn’t got any rods with me and I was still catching roach and rudd. A change to caster paid dividends with some better roach to 12oz among the smaller ones. At one point bites dried up and I hooked a bigger fish, unfortunately I never saw it before it bolted for the reeds to my right and pinged off. My guess was it was a perch.
After 5and a half hours the whistle blew, good job too as my eyes were getting very tired from staring at a fine bristle in white water, reflecting the grey cloudy sky.
At the scales I had 20lb:8oz which was enough for 3rd overall.
Winner had 21lb (4carp) and 2nd 20:14 so I was just a couple of fish off winning....
21 fished..
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I had a day on the alarms today. My cousins Husband wanted me to try out some home made boilies he has been making ready for France.
They work OK. I had two runs and two mirrors. 12lb and 12 1/4 . And no they are not the same fish!! Not bad for this water.
We have been developing this reservoir fishery. These were put in at a few ounces. Fought like billyo in the deep water.
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They work OK. I had two runs and two mirrors. 12lb and 12 1/4 . And no they are not the same fish!! Not bad for this water.
We have been developing this reservoir fishery. These were put in at a few ounces. Fought like billyo in the deep water.
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S-Kippy
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Didnt fancy the M25 today so ho for Farmoor via the M40 for another go at the trite with the Big Feller.
Murky, overcast and cold on arrival and barely a ripple on the ressie. Not great conditions but there were fish topping on the bottom of the wind so we decided to give that go despite having the wind in our face. We lasted about 20 mins as the wind got up, neither of us could get a proper line out and it was bloody cold. Even though we were not there long I managed to winkle one bar of silver out on the Daiwl Bach ( top dropper).
Moving onto another bank with the wind L-R I soon had 2 more fish while the BF couldnt buy a pull. The wind then died completely and it became a proper challenge. There were shedloads of fish in front of us, most on the top and totally pre-occupied on hatching buzzers. Without any wind to help turn the leader over properly or to move thd flies it was a proper struggle . The BF finally managed a couple but was frustrated by the little dips and dabs he was suffering. I wasnt being plagued by little dibs....such takes as I got were proper pulls.
I managed 5 fish with 1 lost and one other proper take missed. Phil had 3 with 2 lost and a couple missed. Not bad on a difficult day when we only managed to get 4 hours in as I had to leave to pick Beloved Daughter up. Tough though it was we both thoroughly enjoyed it though I have been a lot warmer !
I reckon the dibs and dabs Phil was getting were from trite so full of buzzers that they literally couldnt eat any more. This seemed to be backed up by another angler who'd fished all day for 2 fish and a load of dibs who spooned one of his trite and found it absolutely crammed full of black buzzers.
As ever....fish were in perfect nick and fought like tigers.
Murky, overcast and cold on arrival and barely a ripple on the ressie. Not great conditions but there were fish topping on the bottom of the wind so we decided to give that go despite having the wind in our face. We lasted about 20 mins as the wind got up, neither of us could get a proper line out and it was bloody cold. Even though we were not there long I managed to winkle one bar of silver out on the Daiwl Bach ( top dropper).
Moving onto another bank with the wind L-R I soon had 2 more fish while the BF couldnt buy a pull. The wind then died completely and it became a proper challenge. There were shedloads of fish in front of us, most on the top and totally pre-occupied on hatching buzzers. Without any wind to help turn the leader over properly or to move thd flies it was a proper struggle . The BF finally managed a couple but was frustrated by the little dips and dabs he was suffering. I wasnt being plagued by little dibs....such takes as I got were proper pulls.
I managed 5 fish with 1 lost and one other proper take missed. Phil had 3 with 2 lost and a couple missed. Not bad on a difficult day when we only managed to get 4 hours in as I had to leave to pick Beloved Daughter up. Tough though it was we both thoroughly enjoyed it though I have been a lot warmer !
I reckon the dibs and dabs Phil was getting were from trite so full of buzzers that they literally couldnt eat any more. This seemed to be backed up by another angler who'd fished all day for 2 fish and a load of dibs who spooned one of his trite and found it absolutely crammed full of black buzzers.
As ever....fish were in perfect nick and fought like tigers.
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The cold north and easterly winds continue - so I went back to the same sheltered swim on the Old Lake I fished last week. I spent ages last time getting a couple of large carp out on the pole gear aimed at roach, so this time I came armed with a feeder rod and spent the extra 10 minutes setting it up . Right, I thought, bring 'em on
I primed the area I planned to cast to with a few 6 and 8 mm pellets, and had a chuck with the mini Guru hybrid feeder (one of the ones made from precious metal, judging by the price) every half hour, leaving it in for at least ten minutes. Not a touch. Not a liner. Oh well.
Over on the pole, things were at least a bit more lively. Feeding hemp and caster at 10m and fishing dead depth or a foot or so off got bites from roach
and, much to my delight, crucians
We used to catch these regularly here, but they've barely showed this last year, and it was great to see they're still around. A couple more crucians and a few small tench followed. No carp were caught, indeed, none even showed, on the lake. But even though I got nothing on the feeder, I wouldn't say it was a waste of time: the fishing on the pole was quite slow, and all the better fish came after spells when I fed the swim but didn't fish it, as I had the method rod out.
I primed the area I planned to cast to with a few 6 and 8 mm pellets, and had a chuck with the mini Guru hybrid feeder (one of the ones made from precious metal, judging by the price) every half hour, leaving it in for at least ten minutes. Not a touch. Not a liner. Oh well.
Over on the pole, things were at least a bit more lively. Feeding hemp and caster at 10m and fishing dead depth or a foot or so off got bites from roach
and, much to my delight, crucians
We used to catch these regularly here, but they've barely showed this last year, and it was great to see they're still around. A couple more crucians and a few small tench followed. No carp were caught, indeed, none even showed, on the lake. But even though I got nothing on the feeder, I wouldn't say it was a waste of time: the fishing on the pole was quite slow, and all the better fish came after spells when I fed the swim but didn't fish it, as I had the method rod out.
peter crabtree
AKA Simon, 1953 - 2022 (RIP)
More misery on the Aylesbury arm yesterday as 12 codgers fished in a cold NE wind. I had 3 small roach on punch in the first 3 casts, a switch to pinkie found a couple more and a perch then nothing.
To add insult to injury it rained for an hour or two as well. At one point I snagged the bushes and lost my entire waggler rig, gutted as it was one of my original Stillwater blues. Later, by complete fluke, I snagged it and got it back!
Luckily the scenery was nice with the blackthorn in bloom, a song thrush singing and blackcaps flitting in and out of the blossom.
8 out of 12 blanked and 4 weighed in, I won with a paltry 9oz:8dr. 2nd had 8:8 and 3rd 4:8.
To add insult to injury it rained for an hour or two as well. At one point I snagged the bushes and lost my entire waggler rig, gutted as it was one of my original Stillwater blues. Later, by complete fluke, I snagged it and got it back!
Luckily the scenery was nice with the blackthorn in bloom, a song thrush singing and blackcaps flitting in and out of the blossom.
8 out of 12 blanked and 4 weighed in, I won with a paltry 9oz:8dr. 2nd had 8:8 and 3rd 4:8.
The A Arm is the prettiest of canals .
I had a foray today up to Nth Yorks with my sandwich maker navigating. I wanted to sus out a commercial set of waters that have a caravan site next door for the possibility of using it when I have a few days on the Swale. I thought I could fish the Specimen lake in the evening after a day on the river.
Plans of mice and men. I wouldn't like to leave my tent and spare tackle on the site during the day and the the lake looked very unkempt with bivvies apparently unattended and rods still in the water. To be charitable the occupants may have been kipping in the closed and sealed up bivvies...I hope..... although they would be pushed to get to the rods about 10 yds away.
It makes me appreciate the pristine banks and stockings of my 4 main stillwater venues. I shall probably stick to the Camping Club site at Boroughbridge and put up with the epidemic of dog walkers on site.
I am glad I viewed rather than just rolling up and expecting the place to look like the web site shows it. A bit of a dump in actuality
I had a foray today up to Nth Yorks with my sandwich maker navigating. I wanted to sus out a commercial set of waters that have a caravan site next door for the possibility of using it when I have a few days on the Swale. I thought I could fish the Specimen lake in the evening after a day on the river.
Plans of mice and men. I wouldn't like to leave my tent and spare tackle on the site during the day and the the lake looked very unkempt with bivvies apparently unattended and rods still in the water. To be charitable the occupants may have been kipping in the closed and sealed up bivvies...I hope..... although they would be pushed to get to the rods about 10 yds away.
It makes me appreciate the pristine banks and stockings of my 4 main stillwater venues. I shall probably stick to the Camping Club site at Boroughbridge and put up with the epidemic of dog walkers on site.
I am glad I viewed rather than just rolling up and expecting the place to look like the web site shows it. A bit of a dump in actuality
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flightliner
Well-known member
I was very undecided where to fish and whatfor yesterday so I just put my old box and float gear in the boot along with maggots, bread, hemp, tares and a bag of plain brown groundbait.
I headed east thinking of a venue just outside Lincoln but a third of the way there I had a change of mind and headed for a tiny two lake fishery beside the river Trent.
It was a nice day and I found myself alone for the first half hour when another angler turned up.
I just wanted an easy day, no targets just whatever came along so I set up my eleven foot shakey pellet waggler rod and my old Trudex pin with an inverted quill float.
I kicked off with two reds on a sixteen and had bites from the off, roach, Rudd and small Bream which I found myself enjoying in the warm sunshine.
I changed over to hemp and tare around noon and the fish were on it from the off, again fish the same as before until the float shot off and I found I was into a small common that gave me a runaround on the three to two line combo but it eventually went into the landing net.
It carried on much the same until again a carp butted into the proceedings until it slipped the hook after a good ten minutes-- it felt a lump but fine line isn't a good medium for telling with carp.
In the end the score was me- two carp landed and two lost-- not surprising on such carp unfriendly line, or was it?
Lots of roach up to twelve ounces, Rudd to a half pound and Bream to some ten ounce or so. Nothing to write home about which is pretty much how I wanted it to be from the start.
All in all a very nice day. A pleasure to be out on a well kept bit of water.
I headed east thinking of a venue just outside Lincoln but a third of the way there I had a change of mind and headed for a tiny two lake fishery beside the river Trent.
It was a nice day and I found myself alone for the first half hour when another angler turned up.
I just wanted an easy day, no targets just whatever came along so I set up my eleven foot shakey pellet waggler rod and my old Trudex pin with an inverted quill float.
I kicked off with two reds on a sixteen and had bites from the off, roach, Rudd and small Bream which I found myself enjoying in the warm sunshine.
I changed over to hemp and tare around noon and the fish were on it from the off, again fish the same as before until the float shot off and I found I was into a small common that gave me a runaround on the three to two line combo but it eventually went into the landing net.
It carried on much the same until again a carp butted into the proceedings until it slipped the hook after a good ten minutes-- it felt a lump but fine line isn't a good medium for telling with carp.
In the end the score was me- two carp landed and two lost-- not surprising on such carp unfriendly line, or was it?
Lots of roach up to twelve ounces, Rudd to a half pound and Bream to some ten ounce or so. Nothing to write home about which is pretty much how I wanted it to be from the start.
All in all a very nice day. A pleasure to be out on a well kept bit of water.
Neil Maidment
Moderator
I took my two youngest grandsons, Ollie and Noah, and their dad, for their first ever fishing session on Monday. It didn't take them too long to get the hang of it as the commercial match "canal" lake residents obliged. Common and mirror carp plus bream quickly found the net. They both fished the inside margin with a top two kit and I was quickly almost surplus to requirements. Noah, aged 4, was particularly skilful as I just sat back as he manoeuvred his fish to the net. 8 year old Ollie had the heaviest fish of around 9lbs/10lbs and it only required a little assistance from me at the end to get it to slide into the net.
Both want to go again as soon as possible.
Both want to go again as soon as possible.
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Managed to get out on sunday last week to my regular haunt. Was hoping to get amongst the resident tench that can prove somewhat elusive. A change of peg (on owners recommendation) saw me target an overhanging willow on the far side of the pond. I've never fished this spot before so thought it would be worth a go. Mixed some green pellet based groundbait ( think it was sonubaits) with some added 4mm pellets and threw in 4 good sized balls. Let this settle for 15 minutes and then float fished worm over the top. I have a wormery full of the wrigglers so had a good 50-60 with me. Had a really day, bites weren't brisk but hooked into the intended quarry on more than one occasion. Finished with 6 tench ( the best of which below) and also what i think is a crucian?? Any ideas??
Enjoyed the day out. Will try again over easter!
Tight Lines
Enjoyed the day out. Will try again over easter!
Tight Lines
mikench
Well-known member
Nice fish and definately a crucian imho! Crucians are delightful and give a very good account of themselves for their size! Well worth pursuing!
Another Dave
Well-known member
Lovely fish but i'm calling goldfish.
steve2
Well-known member
Quick count of scales along the lateral line I would say it's not a crucian carp.
peter crabtree
AKA Simon, 1953 - 2022 (RIP)
Definitely a goldfish.
A few of us fished Marsworth GUC in preparation for Sunday’s open. After a frosty night and the persistent NE wind things were not as they normally are.
I started off long over by the blue boat on punch and scratched for a few blade roach.
Changed rigs for a worm set up laying on hard hoping for some bream but also failed.
The others were having a hard time too which was comforting...
Around 2:30 I came short just over the near shelf, a light punch rig set an inch off bottom soon attracted some nice roach and a couple of skimmers. If this is going to be the pattern for Sunday’s fixture I may as well just fish the last hour. Heaven knows what I’ll do for the first 4 hours..
A few of us fished Marsworth GUC in preparation for Sunday’s open. After a frosty night and the persistent NE wind things were not as they normally are.
I started off long over by the blue boat on punch and scratched for a few blade roach.
Changed rigs for a worm set up laying on hard hoping for some bream but also failed.
The others were having a hard time too which was comforting...
Around 2:30 I came short just over the near shelf, a light punch rig set an inch off bottom soon attracted some nice roach and a couple of skimmers. If this is going to be the pattern for Sunday’s fixture I may as well just fish the last hour. Heaven knows what I’ll do for the first 4 hours..
theartist
Well-known member
I too was on the canal but closer to home although it was a new stretch for me as I was desperate to get out of the wind just for once this month, this meant getting a lift off the missus and a long walk home but in for a penny.... Anyhow It worked which made a change and it was so nice sitting in the sun, off came the winter jacket and I was soon in shirt sleeves in my little sheltered sun spot out of the wind. Not bad considering the forecast the day before.
It was a running pound so I wanted to set a stick up but with the breeze still finding it's way down the cut not knowing which direction to ripple the waters surface a simple wag and mag job was in order, set up to fish on the drop, 3lb line, size 18 hook, nothing fancy
After a slow ten minutes I soon drew in chublets but also quite a few dace which made a change then things went a bit slow so I made do watching the rabbits chase each other on the far bank. After seeing some chub cruise by under the surface a quick play around with the the depths bought a lot of fish just two foot deep, the chub weren't interested and ghosted off to sunbathe elsewhere, instead it was all roach and some good ones too.
They then went deep again and it was a day of changing depths constantly which isn't easy with a waggler but worth the effort, more dace and even a few nice perch showed but I didn't catch a gudgeon all day, they are probably shoaling up in the river ready for a bit of jiggy jiggy, no bream either as it was one of those roach days. Whats more they were all pristine, at least twenty netters and plenty others but nothing tiny, they sure pull well too, canal roach here's one of them
Then it went dead again and the reason was obvious as a rather ambitious pike grabbed a good roach, from what I saw of the esox it looked only 3-4lb and I had it on for a good couple of minutes. Usually with a small barbless this results in a hook up, don't ask me how but the hook often ends up in the scissors but not on this case as I think the roach was too big, the pike let go and one mashed up roach was released in a sorry state.
Could I get a bite after that? Not a chance, even the rabbits had gone home, the only action was a red kite being mobbed by a sole crow making a right racket. It was a nice day in the sun so catching well was a bonus.
It was a running pound so I wanted to set a stick up but with the breeze still finding it's way down the cut not knowing which direction to ripple the waters surface a simple wag and mag job was in order, set up to fish on the drop, 3lb line, size 18 hook, nothing fancy
After a slow ten minutes I soon drew in chublets but also quite a few dace which made a change then things went a bit slow so I made do watching the rabbits chase each other on the far bank. After seeing some chub cruise by under the surface a quick play around with the the depths bought a lot of fish just two foot deep, the chub weren't interested and ghosted off to sunbathe elsewhere, instead it was all roach and some good ones too.
They then went deep again and it was a day of changing depths constantly which isn't easy with a waggler but worth the effort, more dace and even a few nice perch showed but I didn't catch a gudgeon all day, they are probably shoaling up in the river ready for a bit of jiggy jiggy, no bream either as it was one of those roach days. Whats more they were all pristine, at least twenty netters and plenty others but nothing tiny, they sure pull well too, canal roach here's one of them
Then it went dead again and the reason was obvious as a rather ambitious pike grabbed a good roach, from what I saw of the esox it looked only 3-4lb and I had it on for a good couple of minutes. Usually with a small barbless this results in a hook up, don't ask me how but the hook often ends up in the scissors but not on this case as I think the roach was too big, the pike let go and one mashed up roach was released in a sorry state.
Could I get a bite after that? Not a chance, even the rabbits had gone home, the only action was a red kite being mobbed by a sole crow making a right racket. It was a nice day in the sun so catching well was a bonus.
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theartist
Well-known member
Especially for the canal, they always look good in the sun though :thumbs:
sam vimes
Well-known member
Back to the club lake for the afternoon. I arrived, just after 1400, to find the car park as busy as I've seen it this year. By the time I unpacked the car, one was leaving. By the time it got to three another two left. That left just me and one other. By about half four, I was distinctly underwhelmed by the lack of fish activity. Went for a wander up the bank and found a spot that appeared to have the odd sign of life. By the time I got my stuff moved, the only other angler was packed up and off.
It didn't take too long for the first carp to show up. I'd guesstimate it at around 7lb. The second took long enough for it to get distinctly chilly and rather uncomfortable. Dew drops on the nose end is not a good look. This fish was obviously bigger. However, to start with, it fought like a wet sack. It woke up and went mental after a minute or so. The idea of a quick netting went out of the window. After a pretty good fight, I eventually slipped the net under this-
I don't tend to weigh or photograph much, but I wanted to see if my guesstimations were remotely accurate. For the purposes of forum reporting, I'd have guessed at a safe double (10-12lb), but definitely not 15lb. If pushed for something more accurate I'd say 12-12.5lb. The scales went 12lb 12oz.
It didn't take too long for the first carp to show up. I'd guesstimate it at around 7lb. The second took long enough for it to get distinctly chilly and rather uncomfortable. Dew drops on the nose end is not a good look. This fish was obviously bigger. However, to start with, it fought like a wet sack. It woke up and went mental after a minute or so. The idea of a quick netting went out of the window. After a pretty good fight, I eventually slipped the net under this-
I don't tend to weigh or photograph much, but I wanted to see if my guesstimations were remotely accurate. For the purposes of forum reporting, I'd have guessed at a safe double (10-12lb), but definitely not 15lb. If pushed for something more accurate I'd say 12-12.5lb. The scales went 12lb 12oz.
wetthrough
Well-known member
Another trip to the dam yesterday. Lovely day if a little parky in the morning, especially as I was on the east side albeit sheltered by a high bank behind me. Fished a 2.75g loaded Glow Tip antenna with .62g down the line + a micro swivel, 10" 3.3lb FC hook length. In 7'6" of water crossing my fingers that the tow wouldn't have me changing the rig. Very little wind to start with although it did pick up a bit midday.
Fishing by 7am 15:20M out feeding short to try and bring them closer in, it didn't work but caught consistently throughout the day without much in the way of a dead period which is unusual on the dam. It usually dies for an hour or so at some point around midday. Thankfully there was very little tow. Catching with casters in the main with the odd one to Tare and corn bringing the bigger fish. Feeding hemp casters and maggots and some gb. Hooking maggots just got me hammered with micro Roach. No obvious signs of bream or Carp, all Roach although one possible tiny skimmer/hybrid, 62 excluding tiddlers with the largest being around 6oz but mostly in the 3:5oz. Interestingly they wouldn't take large ears of corn. They'd look at one but not take it properly. Finished up at 4pm. A little variety would have been nice but a good day all the same. Nice to be catching, for a change!
Fishing by 7am 15:20M out feeding short to try and bring them closer in, it didn't work but caught consistently throughout the day without much in the way of a dead period which is unusual on the dam. It usually dies for an hour or so at some point around midday. Thankfully there was very little tow. Catching with casters in the main with the odd one to Tare and corn bringing the bigger fish. Feeding hemp casters and maggots and some gb. Hooking maggots just got me hammered with micro Roach. No obvious signs of bream or Carp, all Roach although one possible tiny skimmer/hybrid, 62 excluding tiddlers with the largest being around 6oz but mostly in the 3:5oz. Interestingly they wouldn't take large ears of corn. They'd look at one but not take it properly. Finished up at 4pm. A little variety would have been nice but a good day all the same. Nice to be catching, for a change!