Ok, a quick update then.
Friday afternoon I went off and tried my luck dropshotting on the Grantham Canal. I parked at the Mucky Duck?? Rutland arms?? Whichever it goes by. I walked the towpath down through some locks and tried along the way. Got one take under a moored barge but it dropped it, that was it for the afternoon. The canal is pretty weedy, think I'll try a different canal next time which might take some driving!!
Saturday I went to Haverholme Park and fished peg 4. Was cold and windy and no one did great, there were a couple of lads next to me with match kit and they were doing alright on bream. I caught a couple of bream and roach and that was it, didn't see any carp come out. A group of guys opposite me had one pike while I was there. I was fishing a carp rod on a bite alarm with an 8mm halibut pellet topped with fake corn with a pva mesh bag of pellets. Then I tried solid bags as well and had a couple of bream. I also fished a maggot feeder on my quiver tip rod and had some small roach. I'd go back in warmer weather I reckon and try again but I don't know what's in there really as there is not much online about it. I've heard it has some big fish in and fishes well in good weather.
Today I went to Peacock Waters. Again, fished pellet and corn with pva bags on the carp rod, then tried zigs, then tried hair rigging 3 pieces of corn with a 4th buoyant peice but none of it worked. Fished a float as well and caught skimmers and tiny roach and perch.Saw some big fish cruising so tried staling with corn but it's so deep and they were up in the water I couldn't wok out how to tempt them. I'm taking floaters next time. I liked the place and the owners were really nice and it'll be stunning in the summer. My missus fishes too and it's the sort of place she'd love. It's so bloody deep though I don't know how to fish it. I fished a sort of float ledger set up for a bit and enjoyed it but don't know if I was doing it right.
I've not had much luck at all lately. I don't know if it's the variable weather or just me being rubbish. I saw a lot of big fish jumping and splashing down today and that sometimes means they're spawning and trying to get rid of eggs I think, maybe that??
Think I maybe will just pick one place and fish it til I get some results. Surely I can't be doing that much wrong can I??
Goals for this year, 20lb+ Carp, 1lb+ Perch, Roach, Rudd (No idea where to catch big rudd), Any river chub and barbel, 20lb Pike. I think I just need to pick carefully venues that make this list possible and work at them. I really want to get into the river fishing and specimen carp fishing.
While I'm on my wish list might as well add: Any Zander, Pike on the fly, Wild brown trout, Grayling, Tope, Bass on a plug, 5lb+ Pollock, 2lb+ Wrasse, Mullet (Really badly). So I have some travelling to do to get these. Luckily I ca tie it in with mountain bike trips to wales or touring on the Harley with the missus and some travel rods I reckon. I also have an inflatable Kayak that I want to make more use of, I think the River Nene for that.
Bit of a list hey.