It seems like ages ago since I last posted, I left off last time looking back on the highs and lows of 2010 and looking forward to the year ahead.
Like every other Carper in the country as soon as the lakes had thawed, the van was loaded in a blink of an eye and I headed off to Heron to continue my quest for “Rudder”, unfortunately all I got was frost bite but it was nice to be back behind the rods for a few nights, it was the first time I had managed to relax since before Christmas!
A few days later I headed round the M25 Kent bound to have a “Guesty” on my mates Southern Syndicate, the conditions were the best we could have hoped for still being the middle of January but unfortunately nothing materialised, although it was great to have a catch up not to mention a curry of a lifetime……the sleeping bag was warm that night! I struggled to pack up the following morning, I really didn’t want to leave the stunning venue! I couldn’t help but look on in awe at pictures of its prized resident in the club house before departing! I must have only been home 10 minutes before I had emailed the owner with my application!
Talking about Kent, Paul showed me a new bait which has been developed over the last couple of years named “Ninja Nut”, the aroma the bait gives off is phenomenal and the make-up of the bait is equally impressive! Certainly one to keep an eye on that’s for sure, it’s taken some rock hard waters in the Colne Valley apart during testing! I know what I shall be filling my freezer with this coming season!
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| Looking out onto Island this morning. |
Following my trip down South I was keen to get back behind the rods on Heron again and I did at the first opportunity……although again to no avail. Heron isn’t an easy water at the best of times and in the winter it can’t be described as anything else other than a ball breaker! As of today (30/1/2011) it hasn’t produced a fish since the end of November 2010, the first fish of the year last year wasn’t until the 2nd week of February and I remember that well because I landed it on Brownies rods whilst he was answering the “call of nature” and what did it happen to be you ask? None other than his target fish “The Long Mirror” at 35 lb+!
And that brings us up to this week! Well for the third New Year running I have been laid off from work – the joys of living in Modern Britain! Although it wasn’t a shock, I kind of saw it coming when they were unscrewing light bulbs and turning the heating off to save money! So to clear my head a bit I headed off down Island yesterday for the night, I had the rods out by dusk and fired up the coleman for the first brew of the session…….I don’t know why but I always forget about my troubles at this point of the session. Shortly after Pete turned up for a Chinese which as always was absolutely fantastic, the cold really set in at about 9pm and the margins started to freeze rapidly! Pete left shortly after 10pm so I jumped in the bag to get some warmth!
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| First coffee of the morning! |
When I awoke this morning as always the coleman was lit and the kettle was on before I even got out of the bag, I gave it until 8:30am before reeling in and getting a few jobs done round the lake which took most of the Day. It was getting dark as I packed up but before leaving I had a good chat with Yoda as I hadn’t seen him since the autumn, he was filling me in on all the happenings over on the Mill.
And that was that, I loaded the van and pointed it in the direction of home, which brings us up to now. I’ve got another night or two planned on island for Monday so with a bit of luck I shall report back with news of a winter whacker!
Until then,
Smithy
