Diary Entry

...Bromswell Lakes. We caught loads of carp in the very hot humid sunshine, and generally had fun. There was hardly any wind, and it felt very clammy. We stayed until it got dark, mainly so I could make sure I caught more fish than Sam...We set up, or rather I set up (Sam doesn't know how to tackle up) at my favourite swim, and almost immediately started to catch small carp. Sam caught about 5, and I got 7, the biggest being about 6lbs. All were caught on hair rigged crab boilie, some on float and some on bolt rig. It was a really enjoyable day and we had a lot to eat, caught the sun, a...

... countries weather ? It was bright sun shine all day long, with light winds, but I did not hold out much hope as it was -5c this morning, and snowing all of last week. It really does not feel like spring.Anyway, I learnt a few lessons today. I am not going to catch much unless I scale down my tackle. I think I am going down to 10lb (or may be even 8lb) main line, with a fluorocarbon hook length of 6 or 7lbs. I need to take a larger selection of bait (may be maggots) and get some ground bait and bait bands. Next week there should hopefully be some more interesting entries as I have a w...

My First Trip To Hermitage Fisheries. After a long windy B road to the fishery, I set up my tackle in near gale force winds. The temperature was very warm, the first warm spring day of the year, but I must admit I did not like the look of the fishery. It seemed very scruffy and neglected, and certainly not as nice and intimate as the photos on their website made it look.I cast one ledger r...

Rather Good Start To The Fishing Year. Today I decided to return to Marsh Farm Fishing lakes, even though it was very windy, the forecast said it would be 19c. This would be the third fishing trip of 2013 and I desperately wanted to actually catch something. I had fined down my tackle to 8lb mainline, with a 7lb low diameter hook length, and had a load of fresh boilies and pellets to use.My hopes were high at first, but I quickly became despondent as the cold started to seep into my bones from the constant gale force winds. It was freezing, the forecast woefully inaccurate...

... act between getting so close to a snag (in this case an over hanging tree) that you are almost guaranteed to get a carp interested, and actually landing the fish with out it making it to the safe haven of that tree. Secondly, again, it is a fine balancing act between going so light with your tackle as to increase your chances of a bite, and your tackle actually being strong enough to land the fish. On both counts I think I got it wrong this evening, and will need to think on my feet a bit more in future. Anyway, it was a good day, very cold, but things are looking up on the big carp ...

So Many Takes But Only Three Fish Landed. Today at Bromswell Lakes was awesome and frustrating at the same time. My tackle, specifically my hook lengths and hooks, let me down badly, and I was snapped many times, and even had my hook bent straight.It was a mild day (cold for mid May), but I was cozy in my bivvy. Within 10 minutes of casting out the ledger I had a screaming run and managed to bring in an 8lb Mirro...

...e hook to pull out. After hours of this I finally caught two good size carp, before things inevitably went quiet at lunch time. I also managed to snap my incredibly expensive Korum Power Float rod, although it is still usable, albeit a bit shorter now. Bummer. I will need to increase my tackle strength again as these spring carp go absolutely mental at the moment. Incredibly hard fighting, and yet quite small carp of about 5 or 6 pounds seem to be able to snap my 10lb kook lengths. A twenty pounder back in April did not manage this. A mystery to me.

...w Shimano rod is perfect for my needs, and it has only taken me three years to find a rod for float fishing for big carp ! After a while it got really cold, and a massive amount of blossom got dumped by nearby trees, coating the entire lake, falling like snow, and eventually clogging up my tackle. I gave up quite early because of this, which is a shame, because it was shaping up to be a great evenings fishing. Oh, and Stoo turned up to say hello.

Hot At Last But Rubbish Fishing. I've been praying for some warm weather, and today I got it. Now it's too hot. I'm never happy me. Anyway, I fished at the near bay next to the tree, but it was a bad decision, as blossum off the trees was everywhere and clogged up my tackle.The temperature got to at least 27c today, and it killed the fishing. At about 4 pm I got a screaming run on a fruity boilie on the ledger, and it took me nearly an hour to get it in. A young lad was watching, and never stopped talking, rubbish mainly. He told me that the small lake here at M...

A Hot Day In Devon At Another New Lake. Today I tried Milemead Fisheries near Tavistock. It is a very nice fishery, with a great tackle shop, and you can fish until dusk.In the evening I caught two smallish carp and really enjoyed myself. I think this will become my local water. The carp, yet again, seemed almost tame, and sunbathed on the surface.