Because of bank holidays and other things to do it’s been a couple of weeks or more since I’ve been fishing .

The forecast for a southerly wind made swim choice difficult. The south bank is somewhat featureless so I opted for the reed end swim in the north east corner. Things started well enough. With a light breeze conditions were perfect.

Having changed the pellet waggler to an insert waggler (because of the ripple), on my first cast what was almost certainly a carp shot off only to shed the hook after a few seconds. Second cast, another carp, and after a strong lunging fight a fine 10½ lb leather was on the bank. This was followed next cast by a 5¾ mirror. Both fish were taken on flake.

As is often the case, the carp then seemed to disappear, although a chap setting up on the platform in the adjacent reed swim may have been a factor. However, throughout the morning I had good sport with crucian carp, with one fish of 2¼ lb, and a 1 lb roach.

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At 13.30 I lost a fish (probably a carp) in the reeds and all of my terminal tackle on the breakoff! This proved to be a turning point. The afternoon was very quiet fish-wise. Also, the breeze had blown up into a troublesome wind and the sun had broken through. I was in an exposed position to the wind and sun. The chap from the reed swim had earlier caught a 2lb 1oz perch, which I had weighed for him, and photographed. He came over around 14.00 and chatted for about 45 minutes. This, unfortunately, coincided with a fairly calm period, which was a pity, but I didn’t like to be unsociable.

First cast as he left produced a 3lb 3oz tench but this didn’t, unfortunately, signify a recommencement of sport. I tried changing to luncheon meat and at 16.20 landed a 5lb 6oz common. I then lost another fish in the reeds but this time retrieved all but the hook. I changed to my Drennan barbel rod with heavier line but the carp didn’t re-oblige.

From about 18.00 the low sun was shining right in my eyes across the water surface and the wind didn’t abate, so at 19.20 I packed in. Sod’s Law applied, in that by the time I had packed away the wind had started to drop, but to be honest I was whacked having endured the wind and sun.

Summary:

07.55 - Leather - 10lb 8oz - flake
08.15 - Mirror - 5lb 12oz - flake
09.10 - Crucian - 2lb 1oz - flake
10.56 - Crucian - 1lb 11oz - flake
11.00 - Crucian - 1lb 10oz - flake
11.20 - Crucian - 2lb 4oz - flake
11.30 - Roach - 1lb 0oz - flake
12.20 - Crucian - 1lb 13oz - flake
13.10 - Crucian - 1lb 8oz - flake

13.30 - Fish lost in reeds - and terminal tackle.

15.15 - Tench - 3lb 3oz - flake
16.20 - Common - 5lb 6oz - luncheon meat

All in all not a bad day, but it’s always better to end on a high!