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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Only one photo today.
Larger light-box version in the full report
At last, a day with no wind. Overcast, a bit of drizzle at times and mild. Ideal really.
First cast produced a good solid bite on float-fished flake, a run for the reeds (I was in the reed swim again) and one lost hook! So the first big un got away. Next cast a mirror of about 2lb, again on flake.
Only one photo today.
Larger light-box version in the full report
A late start today as I had to do a few things in the morning. Got to the lake at about 11.00 and to my surprise the reed swim was free. It was bright and warm but there was a southerly wind.
My first fish came at 11.50; a 6lb leather taken on legered flake. Soon after a fish slipped the hook.
More photos in the full report
Back to the reed swim. A bright and chilly start (7ºC) with a southerly breeze.
Things again kicked off quickly with a 3½lb tench on float-fished flake. The tench always fight hard to get back into the reeds whereas some carp head out into the lake. Twenty minutes later a 6lb common was taken using the same tactics.
More photos in the full report
My weekly pilgrimage to the reed swim continues. Today things looked very promising. A beautiful morning following some warm bright days. There was minimal breeze, and what there was did not affect me.
Things started off almost instantly with a bite literally seconds after I cast, resulting in a 4¼lb mirror that fought incredibly hard. This set the pattern and I took two more fish of a similar size by 10.30.
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
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).
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