2008 for me

richchappy · 2008 for me

Well, a new year so thought a new blog was in order...

so plans for this year...

for a few day sessions i will be on a new days only water, the club one macs on, so i will see if i can bag a few from their,

also got the main water im targetting which is a public park lake of probably about 20-30 (im bad at estimating) acres, that has got a good head of 20s and about 6 or 7 30s to my knowledge, not after the biggest in their as found that was a forign fish but still got some awsome fish in there,both 30lb commons and mirrors (propper uns)
its a pretty weedy lake in the summer, but chatting to a mate who fishes it, its not as hard as people make out. think its one of them lakes where every one does the same thing, get the bait boat, boat it out to a clear spot or island and drop it with 5k of particles... so my plan, focus on the margins as they are very neglected, keep a few spots close in with bait going in, see if i can get an opetunity for some stalking, and also fish in the weed, most people are fishing clear spots... the main key is finding the fish...

The final lake i will be targetting is a days only lake that richo is on about, its a simmalar size to the park lake, but its pretty much an unknown quantity of whats in their, it floods into the trent so their in and out, i managed two fish from their last year, to 19lbs, but heard some storys about some very big fish... want to see if i can get permission to use a propper boat on their to have a good look round,

both the lakes seem to responds well to surface baits, so should be fun in the warmer weather...

will be doing a few bits else where but there the main targets...
will keep you updated

the next session is on the club water macs on (if my ticket comes) this sunday, and i got a week off so i will see what i end up doing

Rich

richchappy

well my session on sunday was a blank, along with the other 3 anglers on there... going again tomorrow and weds, and hopefully get some fish

richchappy

well after my blankety blank, things could only get better...

i arrived at the lake at about 7:45am and it was a bit chilly hovering around 0oc... a nice covering of frost.
i already knew where i was going to go, on macs advise. I opted for a swim where i could get one rod to a reed bed on the far bank and to one end of an island, both good spots...
so i got their, and nobody their (oh i love mid week fishing) and i dumped my barrow in the swim, and went round to the other side of the lake with a couple of handfuls of enzyme, and i scattered them around the reedbed and then out with the catty to scatter a few round the island.
Rods were just on simple bottom baits and i sat back awaiting some action. i saw no fish showing but did get a couple of liners, and i was dead confident,

at around 12 mac came down for a chat, and to drop of a few of his home mades so i could have a bash. Needless to say not a lot happened when he was their, but as soon as he had gone, i had a savage liner that had me hovering by the rod.
I changed the left hand rod on the island over to macs home mades as it was somthing the carp were a bit more used to in hope that i would be able to get a bite.
Then it was about 3pm when it happened, the bobbin on the right hand rod to the reed bed, shot up to the blank and stopped, it had to be a fish, so i grab the rod and bend into it. somthing doesnt feel right and very quickly i notice half a tree over the mainline, so keeping in contact with the fish was hard work.
I started kiting to the left and as i was using barbless hooks i was begining to worry about the foiliage stuck on my line.
At about 10 yards out, the wooden passanger finnally dropped off and i was in contact with the fish, and i got the net into position and thought it was nearly ready but just before it reached the net cord he powered off in the shallow water, i was surprised to see that it was a common, rather than the mirrors the lake is better stocked with and it looked a decent fish... the fight was far from over and i didnt want to lose it as i handt banked a carp since 1st of jan and the last double was November, no pressure,
thankfully the hook held in and the fish was in the net, on the mat, the hook basically fell out, the carp gods must have felt sorry for me, so let me have it. on the reubens, she went to 14lb 8oz, she felt surprisingly light for her size, but still i was extatic to have caught... after a couple of self takes, she was returned to her chilly home.

I kept getting a couple of liners but still nothing happened, until about 5pm where i got a flying take on one of macs home mades, and guess what... A bloomin chub,.. that was about it for that session, and im going again tomorrow...

Bring it on

CHADDY321

Nice one Rich

Ecellent write up and pics............ and a not so common "common" for your first fish cripes!

NOSEY WIFE

whey hey nice one rich well done buddy

cracking pics there and good write up to
well done buddy

richchappy

CHADDY321

carpcruncher

good on ya mate

Mac

Well done young Jedi...........my apprentice

Just remember when you make your 1st million quid

chris b

cracking result for this time of year rich well done to you.

The way rich is fishing at the moment mac you could well be his apprentice

richchappy

well, went today and the lake was half frozen, and needless to say i blanked,...

richchappy

here is one of the larger residents of the park lake, a 31lb 4oz common..

hopefully i will be holding it soon

richchappy

Went last weekend and the lake was under a couple of centermeters of ice, so fishing was off...

Went again this weekend and the lake was liquid wahay...
i arrived at about 7:30 and cast out with one rod to a reed bed and the other to an island,... i saw one fish show at around 12 and a few minuets later i got a run, after a steady fight it was soon in the margins, i could see it was a nice mirror, about a meter from the net, it rolls on the line and the hook falls out, bother, or words to that effect.

I got the rod back out to the reeds and then at about 3pm, i got another run, this time it all went swimmingly and in the net was a nice mirror of 13lb 4oz, the hook fell out in the net though, i was begining to worry about my rigs...

Back out to the same spot with a fresh enzyme bottom bait along with a few freebies, and just as i was packing up i get another run and after a good fight in the net is a stunning mirror, slightly smaller at 12lb 12oz, but a stunner all the same, this time propperly nailed in the bottom lip.

The weather was interesting, it was only when it was propperly peeing it down that i got the takes...

matgreasley

nice fish rich, well done

were you using barbless?

richchappy

nope, thats why it was quite concening

CHADDY321

PM for you Rich

bigkipper

nice one rich couple of stunner`s there mate

richchappy

Got a bit of vid done, some older footage and some of the most recent fish,

its on here

http://www.freewebs.com/totalcarping/index.htm

richchappy

wo oi, im now a fluff chucker lol

went down to foremark ressie with my mate, and rented out a boat, after a slow start we ended up with 30 fish between us, i had 12, the biggest was about 2lb 5oz for me and my mate had one just over 3

My first ever fly caught trout

richchappy

well since you lot dont seem interested in trout lol

went out on my main target water for the year, just a quick day session, but the water was still very cold, as its over 20ft deep in places, and needless to say i blanked, didnt even see a carp. but was quite nice watching the pike in the margins, looked like they were getting ready to spawn.

So yesterday went to the water mac has been doing some time on again, to see if i could get a couple of runs.

I arrived at around 7:30 and got set up fairly quickly, knowing where i wanted my rods, one on an island and one to the reedbed on the far side.

i baited each one with about 30-40 16mm black crab and fruit and rigwise, just a single bottom bait on, no PVa bags or owt, just dead simple... like me

so, i had been set up about an hour, when i get an absoloutly belting take on the rod cast to the island, its taking line etc, pick up the rod, and strike into thin air, one of them really odd hapenings,

but i got that rod back out on the spot, and it was still early so plenty of time to get another...

After watching the geese have a huge fight, and disturbing the swim nicely, about an hour after the first take, i get another run on the same rod, strike it and the rod actually bends over a bit, wa hay

fish on... the fight was pretty uneventful, apart from a bit of scrapping close in, and i netted a nice mirror, fairly dumpy fish, on the scales he went to 17lb 4oz, the biggest i had out the lake so far, so i had a couple of quick self takes and sent her back on her way, no worse for her little adventure.
she was a really nicely coloured fish and the pics dont do her justice.

That rod went back out to the spot, and apart from a few liners the swim was pretty much dead for a few hours,

then at about 2pm, i had another take on the same rod, this fish was going like the clappers, and i thought it was even bigger that the first, but after finally getting it in the net, i realised it wasnt,

not perticually in the best of condition either, but at around 14lbs still very welcome. As i was on my own i left her in the net whilst i got camera etc sorted, so she was very lively on the mat, so it was a bit rushed and not an amazing pic,.

again the rod was back out on the same spot and rebaitied with around 30 freebies,
after having a couple of takes from duck, but thankfully not hooking them, i managed to get some more freebies out when they wernt looking.

later on it was just cooling down a bit and i the bobbin on the island rod once again rises to the butt, i was a bit dubious at first as it was simmar the the duck takes, but after checking there was no duck coming up i struck into the fish and made contact,

then it started swimming towards me, and was soon in the margins, and then the fun began, full of energy, in a shallow margin, not good, i could see that it was a bit smaller than the 17, but a good mid double, and in the water it looked stunning, lovely dark fish and well scaled, i really wanted to land this fish, but after 5 minuets of messing around on the surface i was thinking it was getting a bit risky,and was worrying about the hook hold.
Then she looks ready for netting and i just put a bit more pressure on and the hook pulls, i was gutted.
But i got the rod out again quickly, and before i even had time to put some more freebies out the rod was off again, this time i was determined not to lose it, and thankfully it came in without too much trouble, and it looked a simmalar size to the 17 i had earlier.
On the scales, she was a smidgen heavier at 17lb 8ozs, again the biggest from the lake so far,

wasnt turning out too be a bad day, same routine, couple of self takes and off she goes,

I had another run on the other rod this time, a few minuets before i was going to leave but struck into nothing, could have been another duck though.

But overall it was a cracking session, just want to get down again to have a go with the hearns

Mac

Nice one mate, well done.

You still owe me a tenner for all them pointers

CHADDY321

Nice one Rich..... well done mate

02jlloyd

well in rich

Mrmoo

Very impressive Rich,good angling mate

Question for you........

Would you class this lake as easy,moderate or hard?in your opinion

bigkipper

cracking write up rich and some good looking carp to well in fella

richchappy

richchappy

well, after 3 blank sessions in a row, i was begining to doubt myself, so i was hoping for a change on todays session.

I arrived at the lake at around 7:45, and with storm clouds looming over the horizon, i needed to get sorted quickly to avoid a soaking, so it was time to quickly get the rods out, and then the brolly up...

So i get the the carry all to get the rig wallet as the first drops of rain start falling, and i cant find it, damn, all my rigs, end tackle, baiting needles etc, left at home,

so it was time to give my dad a buzz and after a few angry words he delivered it, legend...

So with the brolley up, i nipped to the car park to pick it up, tied on new rigs and out they went.

One rod was to a far margin reed bed, this was fished on a crab and fruit bottom bait with about 30 or so freebies, i didnt want to go too mad as i had put about 3kg of bait on it on Thursday,
the second rod was cast to the edge of an island, on a new bait, berkley Buzz, the red berry flavor, the gaffer at work had given me some to try out and see if i could catch on it, that again had 30 or so freebies around it whacked out with a throwing stick,

With the rods finally sorted, it was time for a brew, so i stick the kettle on and leave the lines to sink, and then set the bobbins, kettle is just steaming nicely and then, probably 15 mins after casting out, the reed rod pulls up quickly, with the speed of a flying dart

im on the rod and hooked into an angry carp, with the kettle whistling in the background, thoughts of the last session losing my first fish on the new hearns, i was yet to land one, so i was a bit nervous, but the fight wasnt anything special,
It kited across the whole lake on a tight line from the far reed bed, almost into the marginal reed bed, and i had to give it a bit of stick to stop the fish reaching sanctuary, the soft tip of the rods were lovely, and the back bone is there when needed, i was really enjoying the fight, now i slackened the clutch off a bit, ready for netting.

I got the net in the water, and caught my first glimpse of what was attached, a nice scaley looking mirror, after a few last lunges, he was in the net, and the new rod was fianally christened.
On the old reubens, she went to around 14lbs, and a took a few self takes, and she was a stunning fish, apart from a bit of mouth damage.

Then, a whole family turned up, think there was 5 of em and they set up to my left but thankfully they were a fair bit to the left so that was no worry.

Shortly after they turned up, i got an absoloute belter on the island rod, the rod nearly being ripped off the rest and the fish jumping clean out the water, it was fight on. It managed to gain a good 20 yards of line on the first run and was getting scarely close to the newly arrived neighbours, i was just getting ready to shout them to warn them of the aproaching fish, but i managed to turn it, just in time, and then apart from a few final lunges, she slipped in the net, the first on the buzz bait.
i wasnt sure if she would do 20, but it was on lifting it out, i discovered it wasnt quite as big as i thought.
On the scales she went to 17lb and looked very simmo like, a few quick self takes and she went back, being very obliging, she held her dorsal up for the pic, in defiance to her capture.

The people who turned up, they had a lad slightly younger than me who came over for a chat, and after about an hour of chatting, the same rod, on the buzz was off again. This time a much more subdued fight, but more dogged, the hearns were lovely

and with nothing much of interest happening, with matey doing the honours with the net, she was in.
Quickly putting her down on the mat and removing the hook, neatly embedded in the bottom lift, it was time to weigh what i thought was another good fish.
The reubens informed me that she was around 18lbs, my biggest from the lake so far, another sparsley scaled mirror, very yellow in colour, the same routine followed, a couple of self takes and back she goes, giving me a soaking for my efforts.

that was all the action for the day, more people started turning up, and with about 8 people fishing, it soon put an end to the captures, i saw only one fish come out, and i was off by 3pm, very satisfied with my results...

Rich

Mac

Great result mate

CHADDY321

Good dangling Rich

bigkipper

well in rich

keep um coming fella

richchappy

Just got back from a 2 night session...

I arrived at the lake at around 7pm, and had to get set up before it got dark so it was rods out first, and then bivvy up, well the rods were out, with bits all over the place, and then the rain came, absoloutly hammering it down, so shoved the brolley up and started to get sorted.
after about 5 minuets laughing at my mate farting around with his dillo, i noticed a large amount of water running through my shelter...
After setting up on a slope, i realised there was a muddy hole behind me and that was overflowing, so i quickly dropped my gear in the swim next door with no river through it.

The rods were on the normal bottom bait set up, and one was cast to an outflow with around 1/2kg of freebies and one was in the margin with a light scattering of bait.

After a good social and numerous brews, a good curry and lots of carpy chat, it was time to turn in for the night, i didnt sleep much with the rain hammering down on the bivvy, but i must have dozed off as i was awoken at first light with a screamer on the rod cast to the outflow, it came in quickly but went mad in the margins, it kept going for about 10 minuets, and thankfully the hook held firm, i thought it was going to be one of the lakes smaller commons, but was surprised to see the naked flank of a mirror, I estimated it between 13-14lbs and the reubens backed me up showing 14lbs, a couple of pictures were snapped and she went back.
I then moved the margin rod to an overhanging bush on the far margin, but for the rest of the day i recieved no action, neither did my mate.

I spent a lot of that day, up a tree in the back of a set of snags, watching a large number of carp cruising around, i got a few taking mixers, and a few of the better ones, upper doubles were in there but none of the 20s, i had no intention of fishing for them as it was impossible to do safely but it was nice to observe the quarry, and they were being very cute on the top.
they would come up to the mixer and gently suck at it, and a lot of the time spook off it prior to getting it in there mouth, and then a lot of the time they would take it and then spook off taking the others with them, getting one off the top on here is going to be tricky... im up for a challange.

Anyway, that night passed without events and i was up at 3:30am, drinking tea and listning to radio 1, as the lake was coming to life, i got a run on the far bank rod, almost exactly 24 hours after my first, this time, in the net was a common of a simmalar size, it was around 13 1/2 on the scales, and a stunner she was to, a couple of pics were taken and she was slipped back,...
The weather was reet confusing, getting up to nearly 20 oC and then ground frost in the morning, my mate had a run and landed a smaller common, and after a few more hours watching them from up the tree, it was time to depart, on my way back home, my mate had another common around 14lbs as he was packing up... so we both had a decent result,
will post pics when they are uploaded....

Well i think i may be off for a day session on sunday, depends how i feel after work tomorrow,... and then off to linear for the weekend with this junior pairs match thing, a bit of simmo bashing haha

will let you know how i get on

courtz

well done rich

Mac

Well done Rich, top bombing

richchappy

the mirror

and the common

CHADDY321

Well done Rich

NOSEY WIFE

cracking write up s rich and some stunning fish well done buddy

bigkipper

i think you are starting to like this writing lark rich, good read mate and a couple of cracking fish fella well done

02jlloyd

nice one rich 8)

maple

nice fish rich

,
shame about the hoodie spam!

carfty carper no15

nice one well done

richchappy

maple

richchappy

well, thought it was time to get back on the water i was on last year, as there was a lot of unfinished business, the water where i got the 20 and 19 12 last year, and not having fished it, since november, having a few walks round and seeing a couple, i was buzzing to get back there...

reading mr greaslys stalking exploits got me thinking it was about time to get my backside in gear, and have another crack myself, its a nice clear lake and the fish are very obliging, at coming to have a quick munch in the edge.

So, i had already baited a few spots with pellets on my walks, and the spots were nice and clean, so as im on the 'revison timetable' for GCSEs, i have got random time off, just a couple oh hours here and there, so i can grab a few hours stalking...

so on thursday (i think) i went down on my bike after an hour at school, and got them feeding well in the edge, i saw a couple of real gooduns, one was about mid 20s, i think, comparing it to a fish i know is 20lbs, it was bigger by a fair bit...

At one point, im sure i would have caught it if my hookbait was on its path, it was propper munching, and didnt even notice the rig, but only came through the once and didnt return,

The next chance i had was when i had a couple feeding confidently about 2ft from the bank and 2ft to the right.

Anywho, to cut a long story short, some idiots come shouting in the swim and they spook, so feeling dejected i go home as i had some bits to do.

I came back later that evening at around 6pm, with a few hours of light left, i was hoping to get my revenge,

I had put some pellet in prior to my departure so they were quickly on the newly introduced pellet...

In the swim i had my chance blow by the local morons, i soon had a few fish feeding, a couple of tench, a couple of carp and a bream, and needless to say, with the competition, one slipped up, and was hooked, thankfully it was a carp, but a short but hard fight later, in the net was about the smallest carp i had seen down there, but i think it was one of the origionals, a propper old warrior....

I left him in the net, whilst i sorted out the new inflateable mat

i didnt bother weighing him but it was probably around the 8lb mark, but quite lively...

but i did get a good pic in the end

I couldnt find any more fish feeding after that, so it was off home...

Next session was on Saturday after work, i got there about 6pm, and spent a few minuets walking around and saw one fish show, right where the wind was blowing, that will do for me...

so i set up, one rod fished to an over hanging bush in the margin, and the other 2 out to open water spots, both were baited fairly lightly with 30 odd baits,

I wont go on too long, but after a few savage liners, i went to bed fishless, and i just couldnt get to sleep so i just lay there watching the water.

A few carp shows in the area upped my confidence, and at about 2am, i had a flyer on the margin rod, and the fight was pretty uneventful, and soon i netted a nice mirror.

The swim was really tight so i hadnt set the mat up, so i left the fish in the net, whilst i tried to squeeze the mat somewhere, and then went to lift the fish out, and it was not in the net, damn, must have got out, and the line wasnt moving on the rod,...

so i lift it up getting ready to recast, but the fish is still on, and it just rises up in the water and i slip the net under him for the second time, really odd.

Anywho, due to the lack of space i didnt bother with weighing or pics, but it was about 14lbs, a fairly typical fish for the water,..

that was all the action for the session, and i went home at around 10am...

deffinatly getting the bug back for that lake, seeing a goodun in the edge, really is exciting, so i will be doing a bit of time on there, whilst im waiting for a night ticket for anotehr water to come through...

Rich

bigkipper

nice one rich

richchappy

after spending the morning doing a business exam for 2 hours, the weather was looking ok for a bit of stalking, so i got home as quick as possible and set off to the lake.
Been keeping the pellet going in, so just sprinkled a handful in and the fish were on it in a couple of minuets, so i set the rod up and gave them some time to get the confidence up.

Once i was set up, i could see a few fish in the swim, a couple of upper doubles down there, and they were munching,
I got the rig down, but i was finding it really fustrating to get a bite,

then after half an hour of watching them feeding but not getting a pick up, i had noticed a bit of a pattern, there was a small 'choddie' patch in the swim and a couple of the bigger fish were feeding only on there,...
so dropping the rig down, i was confident of a take, a couple of carp drift back into the swim... and the alarm starts to beep and a bloomin tench hung himself,
it wasnt a badun in reality, about 5lbs, but i was a bit [censored] off lol...
anyways, i put him on the mat, and unhooked him, was nailed in the bottom lip, at least the rigs were working...
so i didnt want to disturb the swim, so popped next door to slip him back,
put my foot down on a paving slab on the side and it bloomin tips over and i end up wasit deep in water,
anywho, somehow the phone survived, and i carried on fishing, althought the stealthy squelch to the swim was not the best approach lol

to cut a long story short, i had a few feeding in another swim and i managed to hook the smallest in there, a little common

also i nearly hooked one of the koi that appeard in there, no idea what happened, but, freelined a pellet infront of it when it was feeding, and line tightened, then came up and somehow it was hooked in its tail, thankfully the hook fell out, then he just carried on feeding, not at all spooky lol

going for a day on sunday then a 4 nighter as ive got a week off... wa hay

bigkipper

they all count rich

well done fella

richchappy

well, i arrived at the club lake, the one mac has done a bit on, for a day session in blustery conditions

i was really confident and set up in the normal peg with one rod to the island and one to the far reedbed,

but to cut a long story short, i saw a couple show, but never had anything, so a walk round was in order,

then near an outlet/inlet, pipe i saw about 4 or 5 on the top, so i ran back to the swim and set up a floater rod...

the wind was absoloutly hammering into that corner, but by the time i got back with rod they had done the off.

but i decided to move the kit with a couple of hours left as there were at least fish in the area...

one rod to the opening of the little finger bay with the outlet, and one to the edge of an island, both had about 20 freebies around them...

confidence was dwindelling, and i was watching the rod willing it to go off, and amazingly, it did,

a classic take, the bobbin rose and as it hit the clip, the tip slowly bent round, and then kept going, the spool started ticking, and then i was in

playing it carefully, it was just plodding around, at first i thought i was just a littleun... then i felt the weight of it when it lunged...

and when i got him in the edge, i thought it was an upper, around 18, but after a few more minuets, and willing it wouldnt drop off, finally it was in the net,

then i noticed it was a goodun, the width across the shoulders was mental and it had a good belly, i thought it could do 20.

on the scales she went to 20lb 4oz, a NEW PB WA HAY

i took some self takes and slipped her back, as she waddled off.

WELL HAPPY

jimbob

well done rich im so jealous of ya.is that your first 20lber?

richchappy

na 2nd, first was 20lb 0oz lol

Ben

pukka fish
well done

jimbob

Shrop

Good angling mate, mega result

bigkipper

well done rich

cracking fish mate

courtz

well done rich, and good luck for this week

richchappy

well, got back, and tbh, i felt i was really in the wrong place, but tbh the two areas i was after fishing were stiched up...

but anywho blanked in the night, and went stalking in the morning, hooked one, got it away from snags, drawing it over net and hook pulls,

hey ho

cant win em all,...

getting out stalking most days for a while, seems to be the most productive method...