Keep Trying Expect Results

Keep Trying Expect Results.

I know I have been a bit under the radar recently with my fishing but it's all part and parcel of trying to get that momentum and drive back to get some fish on the bank, which is exactly what I have done. After one night and three desperate visits to various venues, I had a blank spell where I couldn't buy a bite, one thing that's come into it's own in my fishing is not getting lazy and if your not on the fish then move, it's a lot more satisfying moving a dozen times to places where I think the fish are held up but to no avail than sit in the same swim for twelve hours and not catch if anyone agrees with what I'm saying, I know everyone hates a blank but what goes wrong only comes back to make you 10x stronger which is what had happened.

Solid Bags Have Been On My Winter Tactic List. 

A few weeks ago I ventured to the north of London with good friend Rob Burgess for a social on Walthamstow pit 1, rob progressed onto bagging some scaley originals which was satisfying to see!

Mid to Upper Double Stow Common 

Then onto the local club lake where I fished a bitterly cold night but the Snooze+ kept me toasty warm whilst I looked across the water hoping an elusive common of the 30lb barrier would turn up, fishing till early hours of the morning on a quick overnighter as I had to get to work only baiting minimally didn't prove any success.

Three Rods On Low Stocked Lakes Are the Way Forward

This is where it gets better, my third session I got to a local day ticket lake where I had had a lot of success on the surface in the past. I tried the method of zig fishing all rods on with different foam, popup and cork arrangements, I even moved a couple of times finding some fish but they seemed to be preoccupied on other items and not picking up a small pinhead of colour which has tripped up a lot of fish for me in the past.

Had This Whole Bay To Myself To Flick Zigs Around.

After a week of more or less solid work and only a two hour surface fishing session resulting in a scaley mirror and two other smaller fish a session on Drayton is on the cards, I had thought about it for ages and really wanted to get up there, it's a nice big lake with plenty of spaces for a lot of anglers and specially now, some really dark stunning fish which is always a bonus in my eyes! I managed to have a few fish to upper doubles, first peg I started in took me a bucket  and a half of spod mix for one take which wasn't satisfying for me, I went for a walk to a least pressured area of the lake where no one was fishing, so I decided to grab minimal gear and have a go down there, I only put one rod out because of a cone out in mid water, I didn't fancy getting a second take snagged up, although one of the fish I hooked got round it and fishing 8-9ft zigs I got cut off which I was gutted as it was a decent fish!

The Drayton Fish Are Suckers for Yellow Foam, These
Rigs Were The Going Method On The Day. Tied up
In Advance. 

The evening moved on, fishing one rod out in the zone and one set up on the bank this allowed me to get the fish in the net and get the already set up rod back out with the chances of a bonus take which proved successful. I saw a few people wondering around and talking to anglers, one of which was Mark Bartlett carp hauling master, he came down into my swim and I asked if he'd mind doing the honors of taking some snaps of a fish in the net, I just folded the net down when the bobbin started creeping forward to which Bart had said your in on that one mate, hooking into the fish I managed to steer it round the cone and into open water, Bart happily slid the net under the fish with a fish already unhooked in the net. I was over the moon to land 2 double figure fish literally minutes after each other and to have the pics taken by a top angler had me buzzing.

Everyone Loves A Double Hookup! One in the Net and
Another Take. 

I was using small Avid Zig Lites on zigs which I had tied up by hand to try something different, a size 8 Nash Fang X hook did the trick. I used a small piece of silicone shrink tube to create a massively aggressive angle on the hook, as soon as the fish touches the back of the shank it spins and catches hold however far back they took it in, I've used the zig alignas for a while now but this method seems to work just as well, just need to have a sharp hook every time and possibly a bigger hook still?

The spod mix contained - 1 tub of Velocity Baits V-Cloud, Brown Crumb ground bait to bulk it up a little, 2 tins of rice pudding, 2 tins of condensed milk, half a bottle of prepared blitzed particle, 2 tins of corn and a helping of Raspberry Plume Goo for a halo around the spodded area. Little and often seemed to be the proven method, when I moved peg and started catching, I would cast the zig out and then drop 5-10 spods every fifteen or so minutes to keep the fish interested but not preoccupied which is what I think helped the bigger mid to upper doubles to come back for more.

Zigs are a method that I have loved using on high stocked waters, I have used them all over the place but for me fishing at range, or should I say a comfortable range and spodding a sloppy mix over the top is what I have enjoyment in. Specially as spring is knocking on the door it is more of a productive method for me.

Finally another amount of bank time came around for me and fishing on the Linear Fisheries complex a two hour drive for me, of which sees me preparing bait and tackle a week before hand. I managed to set off pretty early with the gate opening time in sight and concentrating on getting to the fishery, I made it onto the A1(M) for about 10 miles only to break down and be seen standing at the side of the motorway for the next three quarters of an hour. Finally I get recovered to a local garage, as you can tell this completely scarpered the plans of my weekends fishing. Turns out my car was firing on two cylinders and needs a new cylinder which is another story.

A Rare Weekend Overnighter for Me.

After a short phone all from a mate of mine, he offered me to come down to my local pit for the night and chill with them, after all no car = no work which is the killer of being a driver. But anyway, I get down to the lake and put the rods out on simple methods on a few random spots and set about the social, tea, sweets and the like and had a good laugh. Finally a time to unwind for a day or so.

The night drew on and the temperature slowly dropping and a steak baguette devoured and it's first light, woken by the sun beaming into my brolly and 2 beeps on the alarm.. IM IN!! Problem being, the fish had kited on a tight line and only gave me two beeps, no screamer at all, luckily I hooked into the fish settling the scales at 18lb 2oz, what a way to end a real terrible weekend.

Catching a Common Like This on a Quick Overnighter on a
Low Stocked Pit Was A Good Start to the Week. 

This fish was caught from a low stocked water with some amazing characters in there depths, it made it so much nicer catching from a lake with no more than 20 odd decent fish or so I assume. The fish fell to a really simple rig which I decided to cast to a light silt patch in deep water, the rig consisted of 15lb N-Trap and a Size 6 Wide Gape Hook and a small piece of shrink tubing just for added hooking efficiency, this was coupled with a small bag of crushed Velocity Baits AK4-R boilies. 

Sorry it's been a long one this time round, just bad so much to try and squeeze in, my next blog will be a bit more about my recent rigs and more technical talk, but until next time.

Ross

Short Rainy Beckerings Session

This time  you see me on the banks of Beckerings reservoir which is part of the Luton Ticket in Bedfordshire, after speaking to a few members I was told it was fishing well and is definitely worth a go, after taking  on the decision of coming down here, I automatically opted for a boilie only approach which has done me a few fish on this lake in the past, after all what fish doesn't like a boilie or two? 

Killer Pop-ups During Winter, Specially Accompanied
By the Hinged Rig Below.

Finally I reached the lake after a swift 30 minute drive, only to stumble across two other anglers on the lake which is perfect, not saying it annoys me but when there's a dozen or so anglers it is hard to have a clear choice of pegs. After a chat and an update with the bailiff he recommended to go on the back of the wind as that's where people have been catching from there was a steady southerly pushing across the lake which made the swims easier to chose, little fish activity left me very little to go on but I just wanted to get the rods out in all fairness!

The Scenery for Most of the Day, Dark Skies and Rain.

This lake in particular is a farmers irrigation reservoir, last time I came for a walk round the water was around 4ft down but the weather we have been getting the vast showers, it has soon brought that level back up a bit higher. I have been talking to a few friends of mine who fish on this particular lake regularly and leaves me in good stead of what rigs I want to be using but again, I won't use rigs I don't have confidence in or at least don't feel confident in having a go with them.

Just as I got up to the peg I intended on going for, I quickly shot the brolly up, yes I know it is sacrilege and the rods should go out first but I didn't regret putting them up because the heavens opened, I hate wet or damp gear being put in my carp bus so it was a matter of choice to stop it getting soaked but there's nothing saying I won't be barrowing back round the lake in the pouring rain.

The Chod Like Section, I Like it Quite Short.

Less of my withering on as usual, I have decided to go for an all out boilie approach, I am using the ever faithful Velocity Baits P-Nut Boilies in 14mm which I dug out of my mums freezer last night, and using 2 identical hinged rigs but with 2 different patterns of hook. One has a size 6 Korda Choddy B and the other an ESP Stiff Rigger to see which one perfoms. During winter his-vis hookbaits is always a plan to go for, fish will be just mooching about looking for the odd bit of grub hence why colours come into their own this time of year. There tied up with around 8" of Korda N-Trap Stiff and the end section a small choddy like arrangement which is on the end via an overhand loop knot to allow a hinge. So far as hookbaits on both rigs, I have a 14mm Chocolate Malt popup and a 14mm Nutty Combo which is what I have a lot of faith in compared to the Cream 'n' Toffee's.

The Ring Swivel on the Loop Is Paramount for Movement.

Seeing as it's been a struggle for me to get on the bank it's now the time to take advantage of the empty bank sides and try and put some fish on the bank, as bait is easy to come about for myself a few plans may come together and work in my favor and allow me to get on some fish.

Anti Tangle Sleeve Speaks For Itself, Completely
Tangle Proof.

My other club lake being the small intimate water with a few lumps in is where I'll be doing most night sessions which stands me in good stead of getting a few fish under my belt indeed, but the pinnacle for me is being able to read and edit out wide team of consultants and testers blogs and see a different angle on fishing. After finally seeing a fish show to the right of the spots, it added a little bit more confidence that I may get a bite. As I look behind the brolly the sky is looking dark and evil, moments later it commences in raining yet again, seems like the way this days going to go on.

The P-Nut In All Its Glory, Light In Colour and Full Of Natural
Enhancers.

After a couple of hours one of the rods was recast back to the spot for the benefit of a short video also complimenting this blog, hit the spot first time so the rigs are in a good position at the moment, both of the rigs are side by side so there ready for at least 2 quick takes, it's not I prefer fishing specially when there are little features, it also increases your chances of a bite on the same spot 2 quick takes could change a session without a doubt.

Last Innings, Packing Up in the Rain Is No Fun At All! 

The session drew on, the rain and hail began and put a massive down turn on the chances of the session, after steadily introducing bait, no takes we're come by, the next week or so sees some busy days by the means of work, editing blogs and a video to coincide with this blog. The rain had persisted and I was also confident in the tactics I was using, a few opportunities have arisen over the past couple of weeks which I shall digress in a few months time, providing that things go to plan! 

All the Best For the Winter 

Ross.

Short Day Session Carping

Short Day Session Carping

Finally I managed to squeeze in a quick day session on a local lake to me, I’d put a bit of time in over the summer fishing his specific runs water to allow me to get amongst some fish. I had no less than around 100 fish if not more from this swim and the neighbouring swims on the lake. 

This particular session sees me fishing Chestnut Pool in Langford, a lake I can feel confident that I can come here and easily get a few bites and never risk a blank. I arrived at the lake at 7:15 and got to the lake just before the gates opened, after having a quick chat with Pete I managed to battle across a Somme like bank round the my swim of choice for the day. 

Tips Low to the Water Because of Strong Gusts. 

As I was setting the rods up I clipped one rod up against the island, minutes before I saw a fish show on that exact spot, the rod was straight back out and the rod was away minutes later with the first fish on the session. This admittedly is the first fish I have caught casting to showing fish, but it’s now really difficult on waters like these.

The day drew on and it was decided the nice weather was the calm before the storm which I was presently surprised how correct I was. 

Deadly Hookbaits Either in Solids or Snowman.

The rig I had used – 8” Korda N-Trap Stiff with a piece of silicone tubing trapping the hair onto the shank of the hook which was a Nash Fang Twister, this was finished off with a seven turn knotless knot attaching the snowman presentation quite well. Both of the baits P-Nut Plus bottom bait and the Cream and Toffee popup were cut so there were identical flat points on the baits to make a nicely presented snowman arrangement.

On the other rod was the same presentation until it was decided that I cast around to get some more bites, the next rig was of the same length, 8” of Korda N-Trap Stiff with all of the coating stripped back and I threaded on a home-made off cut pop-up in fluorescent yellow and then added a piece of silicone tubing to again trap the hair on the shank of the hook with a Nash Fang Twister hook then attached with a 7 turn Knotless knot. To pin the popup to the deck I then clamped on a BB shot a few mil under the eye of the hook. This was then finished off with a small mesh bag of 6 Crumbed P-Nut boilies.

Always a Good Sign, The Result of Casting to a Showing Fish.

To achieve some of the bites, I had to become active and to fish the rods static and try roving them around which had proved fruitful as every cast I had made tight to the adjacent island gave another few bites to add to the tally. This is a kick-start into my fishing for the winter and will be found on my next blog on the Luton Angling Clubs Beckerings reservoir. 

More Picture Worthy More Than Welcome This Time of Year.

Happy New Year 

Ross.