Rob out and about

robvford · Rob out and about

well i know at least one person enjoys reading my catch reports and its about time i started writing a journal.

would help me remember weights of fish if i can just refer to this thread as well....i have a habit of forgetting exact weights after the fish are uploaded to photobucket.

i'll start with about a month ago....basically as far back as i can remember.

generally im a weekend angler. friday night to sunday afternoon.
i wouldnt fish the weekends....just too busy, but the joys of work and all that

funds the fishing though, and being a weekend angler makes you work so much harder to get a fish on the bank.

some ZONE members might already know some of the captures in here.

well anyway, here goes. enjoy, and i'll keep you updated weekly

robvford

not having money to join my local club i was left scratching my head.
where could i fish for free?

i dabbled on a local gravel pit near me. really small....about 4 acres. but all the doubles had vanished, and i didnt really enjoy fishing for singles.

i then looked at another larger lake...possibly about 8 acres. weedy as hell and very very very clear water.

wa;ling past it often curiosty got the better of me and i looked round. the margins were deepish. some up to 5ft and i could see every little divot in the bottom.
i baited up with alot of particle one day and as i was walking back i finally saw a carp.
possibly a double but a lovely streamlined almost back common.

now i know different. that carp might of been bigger. water has a funny was of making fish look smaller then they are.

anyway, after some short night sessions fishing my spots with the line as slack and hidden as can be i was still biteless. i did see another two carp though....mirrors. doubles again maybe.

i lost heart and was restless. i wanted to catch some proper carp.

this is when i dug deep into my memory and remembered a lake close to home again. a small 2 acre weedy as hell lake with a small island in the middle.
i knew the lake had done a 30 a little while back, and it also held some crackers.

were they still in there? thats anyones guess?
but i cut down my tackle to the extreme. it involved about a mile tek through some fields and woods. no barrow no tea kit.....no bedchair cripes!

sleeping under a bedchair cover on the floor.
two rods, a net, a small mat.

thinking back it was crazy, and very uncomfortable, but at least i was fishing a nice lake.

on my first trip i placed a pop up tight to this channel in the weed. a blatent patrol route.

some time in the night i had a carp taking line from a very tight clutch. it felt good and was destrying the weed in front of all the swim.
i thought i had it beaten, i looked away for a second and it powered off and into the very roots of the weed. i pulled as much as i dare....ping and out comes the hook.

the following week i tried again.
i could only fish the nights on this lake and had to shoot off about 6.30. you'll see where to later.

i walked to the lake....guess what mug left his alarms at home. not wishing to stay awake all night i had to get me dad to bring them down.....not a happy chappy.
in the hour it took for him to come, i looked around and found some nice carp holed in a a vast weedbed.
that'll do me i thought. got my rods ready, met my dad and cast out as close as i dared before it got too dark.
both baits on bottoms and stringers.

about 20 mins into nightfall im rewarded with a immaculate 15lb gorgeous common carp that fought for its life under the rod tip.
i got out the self take gear and took a few snaps before putting it back.

i caught a couple more little ones that night and a few tench, so i certainly struck it right that night.
i didnt return after that trip though.

bigkipper

good read rob

and a nice looking common you have there

robvford

while fishing that lake, it just so happened there was a club lake nearby which also sold daytickets.
perfect! somewhere to spend the day and be picked up in the evening.
at £7 a day i wasnt happy, but it was better then nothing.
the place, lets say, isnt hard, but you can still struggle if you get something wrong.

there are 4 lakes on site, and they are all ''ponds'' less then an acre. but the carp have been heavily pressured for well over 20 years. there are certainly some rare visitors to the bank in these small waters as people have proved.

the morning after i caught the common from the other lake i headed to this day ticket club water.
i walked around each and every lake, weighed up the options and decided to fish the ''harder'' of the 4. i stayed over one side, but some movement by the lillies gave me itchy feet.
it didnt take long to pack up and move, and i soon had to bottom baits lowered off the rod tips to the pads. i slack lined and threw in a mixture of bloodworm pellet, chopped worm, crumbed boilie and whole boilie.

the carp seemed to move in straight away. although i couldnt see anything because of the coloured water, the lillies ''twitched'' every now and then.

i was expectant of a take. i baited some other spots just along the path by a rather large snag tree.
hours later still nothing.
i had the girlfriend come down for a bit to keep me company.
out of the blue, i had the most urgent sounding run ive ever heard.
i ran to the rod and it felt good.
heavy determined lunges right under the pads. thank god for the strength 15lb GR60.
just when i thought it was going to come out, the hook flew out and embedded itself on a lilly stem! ho hum.

after checking my other baited spot i was greeted by bubblers! everywhere!
grabbing a rod i tried to semi spook the carp, but they were so engrossed in feeding they didnt notice (the pulling power of chopped worm eh)
i lowered my rig over the top.
i slipped a backlead on and tightlined it. less then a rodlength out and very very close to the snag tree.

the rod tip was bouncing everywhere to the tune of feeding fish.
i had a tiny drop on my bobbin.

a take was on the cards. two bleeps and thats it. its all over in minutes and straight in the net!

15lb 12oz of common (where are the mirrors)

obviously having spooked any other fish for a while i walked the lakes again.

lake 2 was busy as its right next to the car park but the anglers were down one end.

anycarp in the lake had to be down the quiet end, away from the leads crashing down every 10 minutes by impatient anglers.

i headed right down to the side of the lake. furtherest away from any lines.
two baits were soon flicked along the margin and one slightly in front.
bottom baits again with stringers.

within half an hour my slack line was picked up tight.
picking up the rod nothing there. maybe it caught round a carps fin, who knows.

bait re positioned and an hour later the line is picked up tight again. the carp in these small lakes really pull some. it didnt wanna give in.
i could feel all eyes on me (i hate small busy lakes)
dont mess up, just go in with ni hassle.
yea fat chance of that happening.
for a 12lb common it liked to give me the run around.

(i would of had a better picture from a self take

)

well two carp caught one lost. happy chappy.

robvford

around this time i ended up joining my club finally.
really it was only for one water, but i found myself getting sucked back to fishing the others.

i started off on the water i really wanted to crack.
but the two weeks leave were soon vanishing far quicker then i hoped and still no carp for my efforts.

i know i did everything i could, but i really think the north wind had ruined the fishing.
being a 15 acre pit, the wind was amplified and it felt much colder.
you just couldnt predict where the carp would be.

although i missed a run on only my third night and i had carp rolling over my baits. i just couldnt recieve a proper take.

i decided to pull off and regroup.

i needed a confidence booster
and what beter place then the best stalking venue the club owns. the 4 lake complex i fished earlier.

robvford

i decided to fish 2 proper nights on the water.
i had only really used it as a day water while waiting to be picked up.
being a member, no more forking out for day tickets.

i took my mate with me this time after blanking horribly on the other water, i think we both needed a break.
lake 1 was closed
lake 2 was rammed
lake 3 had two anglers on but they wanted the lake to themselves and roved this by casting 4 rods to all areas of the lake cutting off sections.
lake 4 it is then.

i had no idea what was in there at the time.
i knew the club were turning it into a match lake though.

i was really tired and i just wanted to get my head down.
i hand threw about a kilo of bait on a dinner size table area and cast both baits either side. bottom baits and slack lined. no bobbin.

i was awoken by several TINY carp during the night.....match size carp.....under 3lb. not happy. very tired.
i would of liked some bigger carp to move in. but i woke at first light and needed a move.

all the lakes were still very busy but i still packed up and got the stalking gear out.
i have to carry my barrow with me because its a public lake, but all the essentials were thrown in a matt.

me and wayne my mate walked the lakes and found it was far to busy. so back to lake 4.
we both walked up the top end. rom our elevated position i could see down into the water clearly....a carp flanked on the spot near an island.
i called the swim before wayne had the chance much to his displeasure.
i ran back grabbed my mat and placed a bottom bait with 3 bait stringer tight to some twitching reeds.

i looked to my right and noticed a couple of carp rooting in the silt.
god knows how i didnt spook them coming down the steps.
i needed a bait there.

thrwing in half chops didnt do any good so i eneded up just casting a bait on top of them.
yep they spooked.
bugger.
well maybe they'll be back.
20 mins later i have a rod being dragged across the floor as the slack line is tight....and going round the dot island in the margin.
picking up the rod it was real hit and hold stuff, the carp splashing all on the surface as i turned him.
gradually he came back, and a nice fight followed.
i called wayne and he came running over to net the fish for me.

at 13lb it was a lovely lovely looking fish.

i spent the day chilling...literally.
it got far far too busy.

every single lake was full and instead of taking up swims and wasting time fishing waters where the carp were running scared anyway. i sat drinking tea and chatting to a commitee member that had come down to fish.
some 8 hours later the lakes started to clear.
i found a swim on lake 2 and literally fished single baits.
no stringers or nothing.
my reason being was the fact it was so busy earlier. and the amount of bait people would of put in would of been staggering.

before i had my last cast for the night i threw in about three quarters of a kilo of boilie in that spot i caught the 13lb er from.

i had nothing during the night, and i arrived at my prebaited swim before light.
i had a bait cast with a 2 bait stringer....wasnt happy with how it ''felt' so reeled it in and it was snagged on a twig. that was a lucky instinct.
another cast, and perfect.
i didnt have to wait long.

10 mins and my line has tightened and screamed. again round the island. this one felt better. alot better. i didnt want to jynx it though.
when the young lad came round to help, i didnt answer ay questions about how big i thought it was.

a very deep fight followed and it was really enjoyable.

i was confident in my hookhold as i have now started using big hooks.
hookholds have been spot on on my bottom bait rigs.

minutes later the runs are getting shorter and he soon rolls into the net.
wow

an absoloute stunner.

20lb 8oz

a very unique fish.
it has an orange birthmark on the other side

and to top it off, i caught the same fish a few days later while it was feeding on my chopped baits with its back out the water.

the pond warden and the most regular guy down there have never seen the fish before either. was i chuffed?

you bet i was!
and that rounded off my session nicely and my last bit of leave from work.

robvford

a few months ago i ordered some new rods.
they were century armalites in 2.25lb TC.
they took ages to build and ages for me to pay off. but i eventually managed it.
that week at work i couldnt decided where to go.
it came to friday and i was still in 4 minds.
i was buying some bait and bits and the guy behind the counter said my rods had arrived. do i want to take them home?

you bet i do! i could use them that night!
after putting them together in the shop and having a quick play around. i decided to fish a old haunt.
a water i fished alot during the winter.
i wasnt so keen on going back for the summer because of the crowds and i know the carp hate lines.

well it had been a while, and why not.

i arrived down the lake and noticed all the anglers up the other end....well three of them.
i set up in the deeper part. mistake! it had been a hot day and it was a ho night.
they just didnt move down my end at all.

in the morning i had a chat with one of the anglers fishing the other end.
i was really grateful for him filling me in on all what had been hapening and a move was on the cards with my new information.
the carp had been staying up that end for the last three weeks at least.
i set up halfway to the shallows because another angler was still fishing up there.

i cast out two bait stringers on both rods with my size 6 stiff riggers on bottom baits.

nothing happened untill 3 o clock that morning.
i was doing battle with my first carp on my new rods.

amazing isnt the word!
i savoured every minute of it and i was pleased to see a cracking 17lb 4oz sutton stockie in the bottom of the net!
chuffed?
well it was a nice welcme back present

the best was yet to come

was a very quiet morning and i reeled in at 11 to be picked up at 12.
i walked to the shallows and it instantly looked good for a bite.
i just had to stay.
the wind had swung and was blowing straight into there.
the shallows average a a depth of 2ft
and when the weather is nice they love it up there.

i weighed it up.
it was a new south west wind, it was hot and the carp were cleary up there.
whers my phone.
dad can you pick me up at 5? yes? brilliant.
i had a rod set up in minutes.

i fished one rod to a bush about 30 yards out.
the other i cast to the far margin.....i say margin, its just really shallow water with a few overhang trees.
because of the water depth and deep deep silt i moved the top bead on my heli rig a good foot and a bit up the line.

first cast, and it landed perfect! right on the money.
i was brimming with confidence. it just had to happen.

some three hours later i ran to a bleeping alarm.
i picked up the rod and instantly realised i had a problem.
i pulled a bit harder and i felt the horrid feeling of line on line.
it must be someone else snagged line.
need it!?!?!

i tried everything. pulling for ages, then i slackened right off and hoped for the best.
no movement after minutes.
me being impatient just leaned into it again and by some miracle the line had come free.
but one very angry carp woke up.
it swam left....left....left more left and i was about to get in when it swung toward my bank and into some trees.
slowly easing it my way, it didnt like the fact she was getting closer so she swung out and kited around.
another angler was in my swim by this point, eager to see the prize.
he said thats a nice common.....i said nothing. concentrating on the fish. it was definatly a mirror though. i saw when it rolled.
minutes later it was in the net.

everything ready. water to hand, camera.

as soon as i lifted it was easily noticeable it was a PB there and then.

i couldnt believe it
and what a stunner
29lb 10oz

amazing, and my new rods were a dream!

robvford

well that brings you up to date.

my plans for the winter?

im going to carry on on the little farm pond.
there are two 30lb commons in there and i wouldnt mind one in its winter coat.

i also plan to fish the lake over the road from me.
i baliff the place so can trickle bait in everyday.

maybe do the odd short session during the winter.

i still have this weekend to look forward to.

matgreasley

Well done rob, great read aswell

you deserved every ounce of that pb

NOSEY WIFE

woo hoo get on rob
well done hun

cracking write up and pics are good to

well done on the pb

go rob go rob go rob go

richchappy

nice write up,,,,.... crackin fish

wanna see the 30 common tho...

robvford

due to some business at home i didnt get to the farm pond untill gone 8pm.

i walked around and 3 other people on! brilliant. less people the better it fishes.

i set up in the middle of the lake as this way i could gauge what end the fish were come morning as there was a guy up both ends. one in shallows and one by the deep dam.

i cast out as best as anyone could in the dark.
bottom baits on a size 6 stiff rigger with only a three bait stringer for loose feed.

i was awoken during the night by a funny run. i struck into nothing but the bait was gone....eels.

come morning i had a few more bleeps in the night and decided to reel in to check the bait....both baits gone, plucked off the hair. damn eels.

i left it untill 12 o clock and decided on a move to the opposite side of the lake.
my reason being that a fair few carp jumped in the margins in the early hours.
i thought if i could get over there and set my traps i could have a good chance come morning when the sun pokes its head out.

after moving all my gear round to the swim, i tucked myself away as best i could as i was fishing a few rod lengths out.
i wasnt really expecting any action untill first light though.

from the other side you couldnt even see me. brilliant.

at 1am i woke to unhook a rather large eel. probably over 3lb.

come the morning i was dissapointed to see the weather change.
instead of being sunny at first light, which this swim needs as its very shallow close in, it was overcast and very cold.
i left it untill 10am anyway just incase there were any stragglers moving through.

i ended up moving onto a carp i saw jump while on a look about.
this meant moving my stuff right back round to the other side of the lake and casting to the far margin to get a good line lay.

by 11am i was all set up. i decided to leave the rods out as long as possible.

i had one bait in the middle, for any browsing carp to find, and the other was on the very end of a fallen oak tree. the tree had been removed a few weeks ago but i had the feeling a few carp would still be holding up there.
there were branches left sticking out the water and i cast as close as i dared.
first cast was perfect. right on the outer edges!
landed nicely as well. felt like feeding silt.
time will tell.

come 3 o clock i was edgy. i had a few lifts on both rods and they seemed like an eel to me. i reeled in the rod cast in the middle to check the bait. it was fine, so i took a gamble and left the other one out by the fallen oak. i didnt wanna cause any disturbance. the carp are very spooky.

i had to reel in by 5 and id all but given up.
it was a rubbsih weekend with 1 carp caught.

i felt like packing away 20mins early, but what else was there to do.
i sat playing snake on my phone.

bobbin hits the rod and a carp is kiting on a long line.
brilliant. ten mins to spare as well.

a good fight followed on the light rod, every time he came close, he took more line.
will it ever end?
a good 15 mins later he's gulping air and he hits the spreader block.

the guy that photographed my fish for me last week did the honours again this week.
24lb on the nose and another original carp to my tally.

to put it in perspective. i caught three carp during the winter, and lost just as many.

three in two trips.
cloud nine? you betcha

Michael

Nice one Rob

matgreasley

well done mate, done it again!

bigkipper

well done rob

NOSEY WIFE

nice one rob well done bud

Mac

Nice one young Jedi

I feel the force is strong

richchappy

get in there rob, more 20s than you can shake a stick at....
what score did you get on snake lool

robvford

3103

mattpope

brilliant fishing mate!

richchappy

what a score mate, beats a 20 anyday lol

robvford

cheers you lot.

i have to say, my angling has improved ten fold in the last few months and i believe its down to three things:

big hooks
cutting down my tackle so i can move very quickly
only settling down untill im confident in where my baits are

Mrmoo

Impressive catches mate,and a very good read,well done

02jlloyd

very good read m8 ,well done

Steve Howard

Top stuff Rob, you're on a nice little roll there buddy!

robvford

cheers guys

well, its wednesday and ive just got back in.

i booked half a day at work. i had to put some money in the bank and get a hair cut sorted LOL

.

after rushing around the town i thought i could squeeze a few hours fishing in.

hair cut done, hair all down my back, but i still ran home, grabbed the rods and bits and literally sprinted to the lake over the road from me. one i used to fish a little while ago.

i had a walk round and being a ''moat'' it was difficul to know where to start. i ended up looking at one peg, but it just didnt feel right. i didnt get the rods out and carried on walking.
on getting to one stretch i could see the wind hacking down to one end. guess i'll be setting up there then. i was praying for a free swim all the way there and i couldnt help but rub my hands with glee on arriving.

it looked brilliant.
leadcore on, and simple knotless knot rigs on the bottom baits again.

i cast out and not even 5 minutes later i wanted to reel it in and get it nearer to the overhanging trees, exactly where the wind was blowing into. the lead landed smack bang where i wanted it. basically under the overhanging trees. lucky cast LOL

other rod was on the back wall on the shallow bank. only last week i saw one of the bigger residents swim right under my feet as the fort was open so i took the opertunity to have a walk on the other side....the bit i never get to see.

anyway, back to the fishing. i had just got off the phone to dean from UCN when i started getting the odd bleep. wind?
i only had a three bait stringer on. anymore and i'd be waiting for ages for the fish to find the bait.

flicking throuh terry heans book i suddenly have a run. jumping down the steps i connect into a carp which is swinging toward some branches blown in by the wind.

some hairy moments followed as i thought the hook was going to pull.
but he soon rolls in the net....a fish called two tone. a PB for me a little while ago.

a proper warrior! and at 28lb 13oz what was the point in hanging around.
i probably fished for less then an hour and i was already heading home.
i love mid week fishing LOL

neednt of worried about the hook hold as it was nailed right in the corner of the jaw as always with the big hooks!

its still sinking in. a string of brilliant fish in the last few months.
when will it end! cripes!

not that im complaining

richchappy

youve blown ure chances big style with the new doo, as soon as word gets round, you wont be catching any more....

pukka fish mate, the spur of the moment sessions always seem to be good

robvford

haha yea.
check out the uncarpy work clothes LOL

NOSEY WIFE

nice one rob
blooming jealous you lucky git

btw who done your hair cripes!

Warbo

Never thourght I would ever hear rob and haircut said in the same sentence lol LOL

Well done with the fish and well done with the haircut cuckoo!

matgreasley

if you think thats bad, you should see the lawn mower

well done rob mate

robvford

leave me and my hair cut alone LOL

i needed something manageable. and besides, that picture was taken straight after i had it cut.
i didnt shower or anything to get rid of all the cut hair.
i'll do that in a minute after some snack food

Warbo

robs hairdresser was deffo blind LOL

Steve Howard

Nice result again Rob... are you on a new bait or summat m8??? cripes!

Michael

Well done Rob

bigkipper

blimey i thought paul McCartney had joined the forum LOL

nice fish rob

well in mate.

carper wayne

yea nice one rob!! its good to see that two-tone has healled well! oh and he's pilling the weight back which is excellent! nice mirror aswell m8!

robvford

with all the rain that was die i didnt inend to set up in the shaloows where the stream would bring all the cold water, but arriving at the lake i saw everybody else had the same idea.

looks like i will be giving those swims second thoughts.

i wasnt at all confident for the night time as the swims are so shallow, but i felt i was in with a chance in the morning when everybody else did there recast at first light.
the plan being to leave my rods out untill the afternoon and the carp see my area as safe and devoid of anglers.

earlier in the day i had taken a bag on UCN's the ENZYME to the lake over the road from me to show a friend.
standing on the bridges we were lucky to witness at least 5 different carp go 'tails up' on the new bait.
so full of confidence in the bait i whiled away the hours on this water reading a book and waiting for morning.

i was awoken before it got light by a mosquito buzzing around my ear, and in the finish i got up and 'swatted' the thing.
pulling my trainers out from my bed i got up and made the first brew of the day.

just as the sun was rising i saw my rod wobble and the bobbin drop less then an inch. if i wasnt looking i would quite easily of missed it.
why i picked up the rod i dont know, but sure enough, i felt a satisfying weight on the end.
the fight wasnt much to speak of and 5 minutes later i had a old looking fish coughing water.

now i was in a dilema. the light was poor and there wasnt anybody down my end of the lake.
sacking the fish, even for a short time, was out the question because there just wasnt any depth to put him in.

in the end i got the self take gear out.
lifting him onto the scales i was surprised to see them swing round and settle on 29lb 12oz??

that cant be right surely?
i quick re weigh gave the same weight. i even went to the lengths of checking the scales were zeroed.

pictures do the fish no justice, but a proper character, and possibly another original??

true to form, that was my only action. but still another ''big fish'' to add to my tally.

NOSEY WIFE

blimey rob well done bud

cool write up

Michael

Another lump, well done mate. cuckoo!

robvford

cheers guys

robvford

it looks like i have been super imposed onto that background LOL

bigkipper

rob that hair cut is paying off mate LOL

well done fella

robvford

well, ive hit a bit of a dry spell.
other then a re peat capture about a month ago im really struggling again.

here's the repeat. 29lb 10oz caught on UCN the enzyme.

robvford

might of even been 6 weeks ago cripes!

anyway, at the moment, i have left the lake i was fishing as to be honest, the mirror i caught the other month was the one i really wanted. i am now fishing the 15 acre gravel pit.

the bottom is so up and down and its a real struggle to keep the lines in the water at the moment with all the drift weed ect.

i'll perservere though

its basically to seperate lakes joined by a narrow channel

robvford

as it says in the post above i have been targetting a gravel pit.
why i decided to give it a go is anyones guess (especially after so many blank nights)
i think that fact i was told it was a good wonter water had something to do with it.
with the low water levels and that bait not going in as it had been in previous years, i believe led to very poor fishing.

being part of a club i have to show my face everynow and then at workpartys, and there being one the weekend of the 22nd means that the weekend just gone is my last fishing trip untill the new year.

after struggling for the last few months i decided to go back to the lake i was meant to of ''just finished on''

having a higher stock per acre ratio and the fact i did alright there last winter convinced me to have a go.

arriving after dark i had a chat with the only other guy on there. i didnt really get much info from him as it was his first weekend back for 5 months.

so i took a gamble and fished blind for the first night in the middle swims.
i was woken abruptly before dawn by some people being very heavy footed at the top of my swim. with all the leaf litter around it was difficult to be quiet. them waking me up so early led to what happened next.

matey down in the first swim was still sound asleep, but i saw at least 3 possible rolls in front of his swim. seeing as he was leaving that morning, i already knew where i was moving to.

by midday i was all set up in the new swim with one bait in the margin no more then a rod length out in 3 foot a water. there was a gravel patch here and although not recently fed on, still felt clean enough to present a bait.

the other rod i cast to where they were rolling in the early hours.

nothing happened during the day, but after dark things picked up again, i heard a few carp rolling. rolling carp in december can only be a good thing! i havent seen anymore then two carp roll in the last few months on the other water, but here i was and i'd seen at least 5 in a few nights.

it was dissapointing to say the least when i woke up biteless and even more dissapointing when a bit of a social gathering appeared in my swim. i only had a bait in the margin!

when they shot off i had a peek at my spot. devoid of fish but i couldnt help but notice the odd bubble appearing a rodlength behind my bait. it was too much to ignore and a 50p size bag of crushed boilie was soon settling on the bottom.

i sunk and slackened the line as best i could, and just to be sure slipped a backlead off the rod tip. the bubbling stopped for the time being but soon picked up again half hour later. (i was only using a half ounce lead, any heavier and i doubt they would of returned at all)

the guy that moved in next door came along to say goodbye and we both had a good old moan at a very cold and poor weekend. i was due to be picked up in 20 mins and actually had most of my kit on the barrow.

as has happened before, with ten minutes to spare the slack line whips up tight and im playing my first carp for months. it felt good to be knelt at the front of the swim with a good carp pulling back. i played it so carefully and it was with grea relief that his head kissed the spreader block.....then my heart sank.

yea i know its great to catch a winter carp but when you've caught the fish before it would of been nice to catch another. still big enough to warrant a picture.
and a great result seeing as the fish was covered in leeches.

caught on the ENZYME and the fish weighed 26lb 8oz (up a bit since i last caught him, and looking stunning in its winter colours.....''winter'' as its hardly cold yet LOL

)

he decided to play up a bit as well LOL

Mac

Nice one Rob

It must be a little chilly, you have boots on LOL

robvford

i'd give anything to dig my lucky chekered trainers out the cuboard again!!

02jlloyd

nice one rob

matgreasley

well done sir, nicely done as usual!

bigkipper

nice fish rob

well done mate, great write up to

NOSEY WIFE

nice one rob well done buddy great write up and cracking pic

24hr carper

nice pics there mate

matgreasley

thas a few carp you have had now with short round tails, is that something to do with the original stock??

rav

nice fish matey.

Ben

Nice fish mate

robvford

Ghost

nice one rob well done, good write up and photos!!

24hr carper

well done mate

robvford

as i mentioned earlier, i had a workparty to attend on the saturday and to save on fishing time i elected to do the night at the water i was helping out on. nothing was caught or seen but the workparty was a great laugh as always.

a big shout of thanks to steve lynch now (digger on the forum) who not only offered me a lift to the other water earlier then i would of been able to if i waited for my dad to take me, but also sorted me out with a few bits needed.

things like a cooker as my coleman packed in during the night (contaminated fuel i think)

stocking up on food and water off we headed for the lake.
arriving in the car park i was overjoyed to see the car park empty of people. going to the first swim it was clear to see why. frozen solid!!

being the last chance to catch a carp before the year was out i was adament i was gonna stay. so me and steve set about breaking the ice. first with my landing net handle, then big sticks then some large lead weights (which we quickly lost

)

the ice was thick....thickest ive ever seen ice cripes!

must of been a couple a inch in the middle cripes!

enough was enough, steve went back to the carpmobile a found some rope and a crowbar! sorted. still took hours to clear the margins and net all the offending ice. before steve left he couldnt help but point out the mist rising off the ice.....a sure sign the temperature was dropping. (this was on saturday night.

i flicked my baits out in the hole i had created and set about warming up.
sorted i thought. nice hole in the ice. quite near to one of the marks ive got going.

i woke in the morning.......lines frozen in the water, buttons on my alarms frozen, line frozen stiff everything covered in frost. the ice i had netted and dumped at the back a the swim was still there!

blimey LOL

wheres that crowbar. i spent the next 5 hours breaking the ice again and clearing a path of destruction to the outflow damn to save me netting all the ice. this had the desired effect and all the ice started flowing over the dam.

although i couldnt break the ice directly over the spot i wanted i could still get pretty near and went to bed really early that night (about 6!) although i did end up waking about midnight and stayed awake for the next 4 hours. i dont intend on getting any early nights if thats gonna happen again LOL

good news was although the ice was still there it was alot thinner, was thawing out and the little bit a rain helped as well. the water was clearing up nicely infront but the swim to my right was still incased in ice.

i could now get a bait to the spot i wanted!

what struck me on my walks around was the amount of uneaten bait everywhere. loads of it. you only had to clim a few trees to see patchs a boilie in the margin, or pellet in the edge.
because a this i flicked a single hookbait into deep bowl at the bottom at the dam. they had to be there.

i left the line slack off the tip and set about rebaiting the other rod.

several hours later i had just made myself a tea and the bobbin hits the rod on the bait fished in the bowl, the slack line is wrenched tight and the rod is at test curve with line spilling from the spool! i couldnt quite believe what i was seeing. on picking up the rod it was a carp alright and he put up a very good scrap considering the weather!

the weight meant nothing to me! the colours on the fish were amazing and to catch it when the rest of the lake was frozen makes this fish one of my all time favourite captures!
for the record though 17lb 2oz
and a testement to the pulling power of UCN's the ENZYME! do you need anymore proof cripes!

im now a firm believer that no matter WHAT the weather there IS always a chance if theres a bait in the water.

after that result my other rod was reeled in and slung the short distance to where i'd just caught. i rebaited the other rod with the fish still in the net and slung that to the ''same spot'' but a few feet to the left. it was probably a bit much asking for a double capture but it was still a nice thought LOL

all in all, the whole weekend has been one of my most enjoyable. not because of the fish but because of the evnts and the fact its been the worst weather ive ever fished in

(i'm begining to make this lake look easy cripes!

)

02jlloyd

excellent wrote up rob

well done on sticking it out mate

Mac

matgreasley

great angling buddy, very inspirational, i wanna go fishing!!

richchappy

the next terrance hearn maby

NOSEY WIFE

nice one rob well done buddy
a cracking write up there

a big well done to you xx

CHADDY321

Well done fella

Excellent write up and pics

robvford

cheers guys

i still cant quite believe it myself.

can a mod edit something in that report please:

enough was enough, steve went back to the carpmobile a found some rope and a crowbar! sorted. still took hours to clear the margins and net all the offending ice. before steve left he couldnt help but oin out the mist rising off the ice.....a sure sign the temperature was dropping. (this was on saturday night.

in that paragraph there is the sentence ''before steve left he couldnt help but oin out the mist rising off the ice.....''

can you change oin to POINT please LOL

Warbo

well done rob mate

matgreasley

sorted

robvford

getting a bit old hat this stuff now so i'll keep it short and sweet.

looked around, lake was rammed, but luckily a swim at the ''deep end'' was free and looked a good bet. had only just been vacated.

first night was very quiet. second night i had a few mates join me (simon and wayne)

simon went next door and wayne a few swims down. during the night i heard a fair few fish show in the swim next to wayne. was thinking of moving my rods to that swim for a bit but they stopped just as quick as they started.

come the morning i had a flyer on my left rod and landed a stunner weighing in at 21lb 14oz
i would of turned the flash off if i knew it was gonna ruin the colours in the fish. but the scale pattern is still clearly visable.

was caught on a single ENZYME boilie. no other freebies.

chris b

cracking looking carp rob well done bud

NOSEY WIFE

nice one rob cracking fish

well done buddy

bigkipper

well in rob

matgreasley

well done rob! lakes treating you well this winter aint it!

robvford

Markerfloat

Nice one rob well done mate

Mrmoo

Great read mate,love your drive and enthusiasm,keep those fish coming,we are watching your progress fella and are very impressed

Regards,Dean

robvford

turned up in dark on the friday so settled for a middle swim which gave me a good view of the whole lake. (the swim with ''my little spot'' was taken at the time).
the weather was meant to be rough but i had no idea at the time that the wind was going to swing round. it got to 10 o clock and enough was enough, the brolly was gonna go if i didnt get my back to the wind.

ever set up a brolly in strong wind, rain and pitch black? not good, my bedchair was at all sorts of angles having set up on a rotten log

)

come the morning i packed everything away on the barrow (to be honest i was glad to be getting out the swim) but from 9 till 11 i recived constant liners. was thinking of staying put but it seems the carp moved off come the afternoon.

i went for a swim two down from me that fishes into slightly deeper water, and i also knew of a firm silt patch a little way out.

nothing happened during the night and me being me, overslept untill 8.30 where i was woken up by my mate simon telling me the peg next to me was free and was surprised i wasnt in there myself!

being the first i heard of it my bait was under arm lobbed to ''my little spot'' within 5 minutes. i then set about moving all the gear there.

one thing i love seeing when fishing is a big set of frothy bubbles near the bait. and it was with ever increasing confidence i watched these bubbles for about 10 minutes. one problem, my hookbait was about 5 feet to the left and the bubbles werent getting any closer.

it was a risk but i had to cast even nearer. first attempt, spot on. judging by the way whatever was down there was sending up bubbles it seemed to be so engrossed in feeding that it didnt notice my little flat 1oz lead flutter silently to the lake bed.

the funny thing is i have been using the enzyme for a little while now and my confidence in it grows after every capture. being a small water i hadnt been using the enzymes ''hardened hookers'' so still had plenty of these left in the freezer.
i ran out of bait last week and didnt have the forethought to ask for anymore. so it was to be the hardened hookers or nothing.
seeing as i hadnt used them much i was reluctant to just fish singles but the last few fish have been on single baits only so out my rigs went.

this 'lack of confidence' was soon to be forgotton though when within the hour my line tightened and tip started bending round. i dont even think the carp knew it was hooked and was just moving along the bottom looking for more food

after the hook was set the unseen carp bored hard to my left. i could see great plumes of bubbles as it used its weight to hold ground on the silt and leech infested bottom when all of sudden it changed its mind and swam straight toward me.
it was coming so fast that i thought my lead was gonna come out the water at any second.....and then it did. my first hookpull for a number of months. to say i was gutted would be an understatement. i have only ever caught more then one carp in a weekend once. the hooked fish sending all the others in such a blind panic they dont return.

understandably i was extremly annoyed but then, out the corner of my eye i saw a set of new frothy bubbles from where i had just lost the fish from.
undettered i made a new rig and cast it on the carps head again and amazingly the bubbles continued!

no more then two hours later and some chain tea drinking i was into another carp that didnt fight at all. i led it to the net and in it went.

for the record it went 18lb and amazingly the bubbles continued. it was obvious a big hit was on the cards and if i was driving i would of stayed. i'd never seen anything like it on this lake. but needless to say off i went home.

i did take a picture of the carp but it must be the ugliest one in there. deformed back, massive gut and a bit of skin damage

not like the ones the lake normally throws up. it looked more like a simmo

but i think its nothing more then a priory stockie ....

02jlloyd

nice write up rob

weather this weekend has been proper rubbish aint it, well for us anyways.. dno about you guys

Mrmoo

Those hard hookers catch alot of fish mate,keep the faith

And again,well done

robvford

cheers dean

backlead

nice fish, good writing

backlead

robvford

back with a bang

been struggling of late with the weather being so up and down, but who cares when you catch them looking like this

single UCN ENZYME pop up did the business

CHADDY321

Well done mate........ cracking lookin fish that

chris b

very nice indeed rod well in mate

rav

PEACH

saul

Very nice

Cheers
Saul

bigkipper

cracking fish rob well done mate

robvford

cheers guys

lee .c

well done mate , good angling , pukka carp ,there be no stoppin you now, well derseved result.

robvford

cheers lee

i'll see ya down there this week no doubt

im sure we'll wangle a few out in this weather

robvford

i arrived at the lake and went for a look around, it didnt take long to find a friend tucked away up in the back bay. with it being such a hot day, and the water level being fairly shallow in this half of the lake i was soon pushing my barrow with enough supplies to last a couple a days. i say enough supplies, i was hoping to beg borrow and steal to see me through.

i staggered the rods at varying distances like all the best textbooks tell you to do. i flicked the left one into a 12foot gully in the margin (did i say it was shallow up here lol ) i catty'd out a good kilo of bait over this rod. the middle rod was blasted to a small dot island with just a stringer for loose feed. the third and final rod was put on top of a gravel bar in about 3ft of water with a few kilos of boilie spread about.

it was quiet for the first two nights, but on the 2nd morning things started looking up.
it was about 11am and i was just contemplating a move into the bigger, deeper half of the lake as it looked pretty dead and lifeless round here when all of a sudden a carp slid silently out the water out towards the dot island. a rod was on the spot within minutes!

i was sat drinking tea when i had a stray bleep on the rod toward the dot island. at first i looked at the moorhen that had just swum past the edge of my rods, but when that bleep turned into another, and then the line pinged from the clip i was on the rod in seconds.
by this stage the light bobbin is rattling around the alarm and the spool clicking away.

the fight wasnt much to speak of, i had my mate in the water and i can honestly say i thought it was a tench. once in the net a carp it was!

23lb 4oz

i packed up and went home for the time being. on arriving back at the lake i set up directly opposite where i was before. not only is it an easier cast but i could bait up more accurately. involving something like a 2 mile walk i hoped it'd be worth it!

once round there i decided on setting up quite far back so as not to disturb my margins.

nothing happened in the night, or the following morning. hmmmmm

i just felt i had to be where i was a few days before. before committing myself to the move i spent a few hours looking. i spotted a carp roll in the middle, but there were anglers fishing to the middle from the other side so i didnt fancy this choice much.

i ended up in a swim to the left of where i caught the carp the other day.

three baits were cast to the far treeline and it wasnt long before i had an absoloute one noter on the middle rod!
my arm was forced to the left as soon as i tightened into it! its power was unreal. the line on my reels were well down. this fight wasnt going to be over in a hurry.

the carp knew what it was doing the whole way in, 15 minutes later and its using the depth of that gully to its full advantage.

once it was nearly beaten i threw the net to the other side of my rods and carried on drawing it toward me.

when it came to picking up the net i had a problem! i was the only one here and my net had come apart at the spreader block, i could now clearly see that i had a nice common waiting to be netted. it was literally sat in the margin waiting patiently! i stripped down, got in, retrieved the net and scooped him up!

i eventually found someone for the pictures (must remember my tripod this week) and we weighed the fish at 23lb 14oz

i fished the weekend just gone and boy did that wind pick up! the alarms were constantly bleeping and i ended up mistaking a dropback for some stray bleeps. when i realised what was going on the rig had been dumped in the silt a few yards from my spot.

am i still kicking myself? i'll let you make up your own mind

courtz

Well done mate, two very nice fish there and a good write up to join them

Good luck with the lake

robvford

as i sat on the edge of my bedchair i saw a carp roll 80 yards away.
if anything it just confirmed my suspicions that i spent the night in the wrong swim!

i sat and watched the spot for another hour before packing up and moving the short distance to my new swim.

i had witnessed a jacuzzi going on underneath an overhanging branch. easily missed without bino's.
after they stopped feeding i deposited 3 kilos of bait (enzyme and pellet) to the branch with the aid of a boilie rocket. they had been spawning recently, and what better way to replenish there energy then with a bed of good bait.

i tackled up my rods, all with heavy leads and bottom baits as it was a fair chuck to this branch, and with a savage undertow i needed to be sure my rigs would stay put through the afternoon and into the following day.
if anything picked up my bait i wanted to be sure i knew about it.

the left rod was slung about ten yards to the left of the baited patch as a stringer between some weedbeds.

the middle rod was put onto the smooth silt patch where i'd put the bait. definatly fed on recently.

the right hand rod was again, ten yards off the patch, to the right, but further back just behind a bar. that really was a struggle to reach!

confidence was sky high, and this was rewarded at first light the following morning when a ripping take had me running to the middle rod barefoot.
after playing the fish for a fewe minutes i became aware of the feeding carp over my remaining rods!
another take was imminent, and as the right hand rods bobbin pulled tight, pinged from the clip and started screaming i could do nothing but call for help and play the first carp in!

first carp in the net, second rod! but the fish was long gone.

i still packed up a happy chappy with a 22lb mirror to my name.

richchappy

have you photoshopped that pic, looks weird lol

nice fish tho

robvford

yea i got rid of the background of the lake.

well i say 'i' i meant matt.

richchappy

ye, looks quite good actually, brings focus onto the fish not lake...

bigkipper

well done rob

i agree that pic is a cracker

lee .c

last two are stunners

these are the ones you forgot to show me then rob, you snake Mwraahaha

lol

joking aside , great angling rob , getting amongst them now mate!

now send me those pics of my fish

robvford

had a 20lb 10oz mirror on my first morning.

put out some bait and lost a carp on the second morning!

also had a large bream