This diary dates back to a holiday in 2003 when I think the urge to get back into fishing took off.
From around 2007 the trips became more frequent with 2010/11 probably being the peak of activity.
Things again pick up in 2020 - a sort of rebirth!
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More photos in the full report
After the tricky conditions experienced on 9 April, today was a distinct improvement. It was overcast, there having been storms overnight, and the breeze was light from the NE. I again chose the reed swim as it offers such a choice of techniques. Float fishing the margin is my current default approach, but there is the option to free line either a floating or sinking bait along the reeds, or if preferred cast out further to deeper water.
More photos in the full report
I got the reed swim again, but only just, as the chap who arrived with me turned out to share my love of it. He fished from the other side of the reeds and although he was using the ubiquitous 2-rod carp set up, he was casting one to the margins and the other a short distance out, rather than the distance feeder approach favoured by many. He was, however, using boilies whereas I still stick to bread flake and luncheon meat.
More photos in the full report
Back to the reed swim again. This time the weather was more genial. Patchy cloud and a gentle wind combined to give quite a pleasant day.
The conditions allowed float fishing and this resulted in good sport, although all the fish in the morning were quite small. I took 2 commons, 3 crucians and a mirror, all on bread flake. The best common was 5lb (weighed) with the other fish being between 1 - 3lb (estimated).
After two cracking sessions I again went to the lake, this time for the afternoon only as I had to wait in for a delivery in the morning. I was surprised to get my reed swim once again.
This time, however, there was a cold NW wind that turned around to a westerly during the afternoon, but remained cold.
More photos in the full report
Tuesday's session was so successful I returned to the same spot with the same rig (float tackle).
I arrived at 07.00 and didn't have a touch on bread or sweetcorn. Changing to luncheon meat I got a bite first cast; a 10lb 6oz leather carp [09.00]. I then had to wait until 13.00 for my next bite, but again it was worth waiting for; a 10lb 12oz mirror carp on luncheon meat.
More photos in the full report
After some really disappointing trips in February, which were effectively blanks, I decided to forgo the perceived wisdom of fishing to the middle of the lake and revert to my preferred margin fishing. As the temperature had also increased a bit I was hopeful that this would prove more productive. I also decided to switch to conventional float fishing (waggler) and use lighter tackle; a carbon Avon style rod with centre-pin reel and and 4lb hook-length.
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