This weeks been manic made up off an
after dark session, a full day’s perch fishing on a new venue, two
days guiding for pike before finishing off with both days over the
weekend spent on the Peg One Fish Frenzy stand at The Big One.
The after dark session was tough, when
I left the lake at around 9pm I knew it was cold and the thermometer
in the car confirmed this, as it was just 0.5 degrees. In the past I
have fished in these, and worse conditions, and wondered how I
managed this. The answer is simple; I was catching on a regular basis
in the past. It’s amazing just how the elements are forgotten when
fish are being caught and you’re working a swim. Unfortunately
that’s not the case at the moment and the lake Im fishing, and many
others, seem to be continuing in the poor, unpredictable form of last
year.
The next day I was up early and heading
south with my father and brother to a new venue with perch on our
minds? The forecast was for a cloudy day with the chance of seeing
the odd glimpse of the sun, yet we spent most of the day beneath a
clear blue sky with not a cloud in sight. Not great for perch
fishing, however we all caught a mixture of species including perch,
quality roach and rudd, tench and pumpkinseeds, yet the monster perch
failed to show.
At the end of the week I had a regular
customer booked in for two days for an introduction on deadbaiting
for pike. Big fish weren’t necessary, so on the first day we headed
to Frensham Small Pond. The days had been rescheduled due to the
lakes being iced over the previous week and on arrival we found cat
ice in the margins. A very cold brisk easterly wind was forecasted
lowering the temperature from just 2 degrees maximum to -3 in the
wind. We opted not to go for the sensible potion with the wind behind
and headed halfway up the beach side where the wind was right in our
faces. Why? Well that’s where the fish seem to be this year. Two
rods were cast out, one with a popped-up bait the other with a
standard bottom bait and come an hour later we were wondering if
things were going to happen, yet the alarm finally sounded and the
first of eight runs developed of which five were converted. I cast
out a heli-rig as a sleeper rod and two bites came to this. The first
was an 8oz roach, the other a rare winter tench. After braving and
beating the elements for nearly nine hours we finally called it a day
and headed home with bigger fish on our minds for the following day.
Friday was another early start and this
time we headed to Frensham Great Pond knowing that we wouldn’t see
as much action, however if any fish did pick up our baits then it
would probably beat Marks best that stood a shade over 10lb. Once
again the margins were covered in cat ice, yet the cold wind was from
behind, so once the first couple of hours had past it felt some what
more comfortable. Unfortunately runs were slow in coming and again we
were beginning to think that the weather was just to raw, however the
pop-up was finally picked up and a firm strike saw Mark bent into a
solid fish. Unfortunately the fight was short lived as the hooks
pulled leaving Mark gutted. Quite a time past without anymore action,
then along the marginal reeds a fish was spotted and Mark quickly
wound in a float fished sardine so that it was right on the spot and
instantly the float slipped away. The fight was short and
unspectacular, yet the pike weighed 12lb 9oz, a new personal best,
recognise her? Once again a couple of hours past and the rod that was
covering ground to our left was repositioned further out and to our
right. I don’t think it was out long before a steady run saw Mark
bent into a slow moving fish and knowing these venues could and on
the odd occasion throw up the odd big fish thought that something
special might be on the cards, yet it wasn’t to be as another low
double slipped into the net. After another nine hours bankside and
with the light and temperature dropping sharply we called it a day,
happy with our results and with Mark full of confidence that he can
now return on his own and catch a few.
As mentioned earlier, the weekend was
spent at The Big One; something that I will cover in my next blog as
I want to promote a new innovative gadget from Nash called the
Deliverance Ball Maker.
No comments:
Post a Comment