I'll be working on the house this weekend so no fishing until Tuesday.
I've been twice over Christmas. The first time was down to a small lake owned by a friend who has gone off to Spain for the winter leaving me to keep the weir from blocking up. It's a bigger job than I thought.
It was the first time I've fished it although I'd been down there three or four times before to clean the weir. I had no idea what to expect other than there were carp to over thirty pounds and some black bass in it. I just took one rod intending to wander about and settled for red worms and sweetcorn as bait as they are as reliable as anything other than bread on lightly fished waters. I had half a dozen small carp on worm, but nothing to write home about.
The weather was OK and I had the place to myself, but I didn't enjoy it. Probably too claustrophobic for my liking as I prefer bigger waters. Might be the trees that totally surround the lake that are the problem but I don't think Dave would take kindly to me doing some clearing. Can't see me fishing it again.
The second trip was up to the big lake and a new area that where I had found carp feeding last week. It was dull and rain was always possible and there was a stiff southerly breeze all day. I walked about 800 metres from the car, through two field, four fences and put the brolly up well back from the water to keep the tackle dry. I had to wade through about 4 metres of reeds to the water's edge where a river in a deep channel ran into the lake.
Once I got there I realised that the heavy rain had coloured the river and with it the bay where I had intended to fish. There was movement indicating the presence of fish but not as much as previously. I put a worm bait out in the channel about 1/3 way across and cast the second rod with a smelly salmon boilie out to the far side where the movement seemed most active. I had a couple of knocks but no takes and so I started the long walk back to the car that was parked up by the dam.
On the walk back, during which it rained quite heavily I spotted another area where carp were stirring, but it was the same story. A couple of line bites but no takers. The fish don't seem to be interested in bait.
Got home around 6pm just as it was getting dark. One of the big pluses of our house is that it is built on a full size basement that is light and airy. I can reverse the car in, empty it and leave all the tackle and clothing to dry overnight in an annex at the side of the parking area. Next morning it all goes into the cupboard ready for next time.
