Bob Goes Fishing

Docklow Pools (1)

28 August 2010 Venue: Docklow Pools

Arrival time: 17.00
Weather: Cloudy bright with a stiff breeze although the trees kept the wind off the water.
Swim: Mickey Mouse Pool - Peg 19
Tackle: 12ft Hardy Avon, 8lb line, 14/10 hooks. Waggler and pre-loaded waggler.
Baits: Bread flake, sweetcorn and luncheon meat.
Fish: Four carp, best 6lbs, a possible carp/crucian hybrid and an ide.

I selected a pitch with reeds to the left, a fallen tree bough to the right and lilies both to the left and about 15 metres out. Plumbing showed it to be quite shallow, around a couple of feet. I put in some loose feed sweet corn and luncheon meat and started fishing the margin to the left.

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Species: Carp, Crucian, Roach, Ide

Fields End (60)

30 July 2010 Venue: Fields End

Arrival time: 10.15
Weather: Cloudy bright with a south westerly breeze. Breeze freshened in afternoon and cloud cover increased.
Swim: Reed-corner swim.
Tackle: 12ft barbel rod, 12lb line, 8/10 hooks.
Alternated between sliding pre-loaded waggler, small Arlesley bomb leger and controller float for surface fishing.
Baits: Luncheon meat and artificial 'biscuit'.
Fish: Three carp, best 5¾lbs, and a small roach.

A late night meant that I got up late and arrived at the lake later than normal. I expected the reed-corner swim to be occupied and had set my sights on the reed bed at the southern end of the lake, which is rarely fished. So much for planning; the eastern side of the lake was fully populated, including the swim I had expected to fish. Perversely, my reed-corner swim was vacant, so I went there.

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Species: Carp, Roach

Fields End (59)

19 July 2010 Venue: Fields End

Only one photo today.
Larger light-box version in the full report

Arrival time: 07.00
Weather: Cloudy bright with a south westerly breeze. Brighter intervals developed and it became warm with the breeze freshening.
Swim: Reed-corner swim
Tackle: 12ft barbel rod, 12lb line, 8 hook.
Alternated between sliding pre-loaded waggler and small Arlesley bomb leger.
Baits: Bread flake (seedy bread!) and luncheon meat.
Fish: Nine carp, best 11lb 6oz and a roach. Seven lost fish!

An odd sort of day really. The night before I was in two minds whether to go because of the forecast wind. Then I didn’t sleep too well, but as I was awake at 05.30 I decided to go.

The other thing is that because of a bit of bad organisation I only had one rod with me.

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Species: Carp 10lb+, Carp, Roach

Fields End (56)

05 May 2010 Venue: Fields End

More photos in the full report

Arrival time: 07.00
Weather: Bright but with a fresh northerly breeze, which blew up during the morning. It was decidedly chilly. The breeze eased at midday and by 16.00 the sky had cleared and produced a ‘perfect’ evening.
Swim: Reed-corner swim
Tackle: 13ft multi-float, waggler, 4lb line, 12 hook.
Baits: Bread flake and luncheon meat
Fish: One carp 11lb 4oz (a number lost), three tench, best 3lb 14oz, four crucians, best 2lbs 2oz, and roach 12oz.

After the previous week’s phenomenal day, today was never going to measure up.

It didn’t start well, as five minutes after casting I lost a fish in the reeds. As the float went under it was heading for the reeds and the fish was probably already there before I struck. Half an hour later I lost another fish; my mistake this time as I put much pressure on the rim of the centre pin. I was also missing bites, probably roach or crucians.

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Species: Carp 10lb+, Tench, Crucian, Roach

Fields End (55)

27 April 2010 Venue: Fields End

More photos in the full report

Arrival time: 07.00
Weather: Clear blue sky and no wind
Swim: Reed-corner swim
Tackle: 13ft multi-float, waggler, 4lb line, 12 hook.
10ft compact float, free-line/controller float, 8lb line, 12/16 hook.
Baits: Luncheon meat and floating pellet.
Fish: 15 carp, best 12lb 13oz (5 lost), 4 tench, best 3lb 12oz, roach to 1lb 7oz, a 2lbs 2oz crucian and a 3lbs 14oz barbel.

The total weight of carp was just under 135lbs and including the other fish the catch was nearly 158lbs.

Another nice day. Again the lake was calm throughout the morning and although a light SW breeze blew up later, it was on and off and didn't cause too many problems. For the first two hours I was the only one on the lake and when people did arrive they stayed on the west and south banks, leaving me virtually undisturbed in the reed corner.

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Species: Carp, Tench, Crucian, Roach

Fields End (52)

08 April 2010 Venue: Fields End

More photos in the full report

Arrival time: 07.10
Swim: Reed-corner swim
Tackle: 13ft multi-float, waggler, 4lb line, 14 hook.
Baits: Bread flake, sweetcorn, luncheon meat

The 16 March trip had broken my winter duck and the weather had warmed up some more, so back to the lake. I arrived just after 07.00 and there was nobody there. I fished the reed-corner swim again, which while difficult is fairly reliable. And early in the year there is at least half a chance of keeping the fish out of the reeds.

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Species: Carp, Roach, Rudd, Dace

Bob Goes Fishing

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Docklow Pools (1)

Fields End (60)

Fields End (59)

Fields End (56)

Fields End (55)

Fields End (52)