Well what a terrible year 2011 was, both in terms of Angling and personally, the final straw for me was the unexpected passing of my father in law last week, after that the New Year just couldn’t come quick enough!
I am just hoping that 2012 is going to be better, it certainly can’t be any worse that’s for sure!
Anyway onto the Carping, after receiving the terrible news about my father in law I was easily persuaded to join Martin on his syndicate on New Year’s Day. So New Year’s eve was spent prepping all the gear ready for the Day Session the following morning, I have to admit it was nice waking up with a clear head unlike the rest of the country, although I was tempted to hit the bottle a few times the previous evening!
I met Martin in the lay by off the track and we loaded up the barrows before heading through the woods to the pretty little pit on the other side. Unsurprisingly we were the only ones on there so had the whole lake to go at, we stood in an area that covers the middle of the lake and enables you to view the whole expanse of water for a good 10 minutes whilst puffing away on a cigarette but didn’t see a thing, in the end we decided to set up on the bank opposite.
After making our way round to the opposite bank I wasted no time in getting the rods sorted, one rod was fished 6 feet off an Island in 4 feet of water, the other two were fished at about 30 yards range, all were baited with Live System extra hard 10x14 hook baits in a pva bag of 15mm Live System Chops.
With the rods now sorted I fired up the Coleman for a coffee, incidentally it was this Coleman’s first outing as I had only bought it a few days earlier, my old one had served its’ time and was beaten and battered beyond repair!
The day past with little to note and to be honest I didn’t hold out much hope as the sun began to drop over the horizon, just as the light began to fade Martin had a flier on his left hand rod which after a brief battle turned out to be a pretty little mirror. Shortly after returning her my left hand rod pulled up tight before one toning, this fish really didn’t make much effort to get away the fight was over in seconds and soon enough I was smiling in front of the camera with a cracking little mirror.
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| My biggest of the day, what a cracking little mirror… |
Not long after returning the mirror Martins right hand rod pulled up tight, he lifted straight into it and after a brief scrap a little common was soon pulled over the net cord. After returning her we both commented that we were more than happy with that on a January day session, but the action didn’t stop there.
An hour later my middle rod pulled up tight, I lifted into it and felt little resistance and pretty much just reeled another little mirror straight into the net, why they weren’t fighting? I’m really not sure but my only guess is the cold water temperature.
With two a piece we were both more than happy, it was now about 8pm and completely pitch black but we decided to sit it out for another couple of hours to see if we could push our luck and winkle another one out, I was pretty hungry by now so warmed up a tin of chilli that was in my rucksack. Just as I was tucking into that I heard Martins alarm let out its merry tune so I quickly finished the last of my dinner then strolled down into his swim, this one put up a better account of itself and after 5 minute’s we were admiring a nice scaly upper double mirror, once safely photographed and returned I went back to my swim and sat by the rods willing one of them to go, I needn’t have worried as 10 minutes later the right hand Neville shrilled for my attention, once again the fight was very short lived and before I knew it another little mirror was safely in the folds of the net, we quickly weighed and photographed her then returned her to her watery home.
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Another little one for me, size is irrelevant in January! |
It was now gone 10:30pm so we decided to call it a night and have a slow pack up, leaving the rods out right until the last minute hoping for another but to be honest I think we had used up all our luck this session!
We were both pretty chuffed following the day’s events, 3 each in January is a great result on that water regardless of size.
My next session all being well shall be on Saturday, it will be the first session of a very short campaign probably lasting only until the end of Feb/early March on a day’s only 70 acre park lake with an estimated stock of 30 – 40 fish to 40 lb+.
Not an easy task at the best times of the year let alone in the winter, but the Lake is only 5 minutes from my front door and it will be nice to have the wife bring the kids down to see me (and on call to do trophy shots!) and who knows my luck may just continue but to be honest I would be more than happy blanking on there for 2 months, it’s nice just be out there chasing myths.
Until next time,
Smithy
