April..... As the lockdown restrictions begin to get relaxed across the UK it's finally time to say goodbye to my local coarse fishery it's been a life saver these past three months, I won't lie it's not my first choice of venue but due to the recent restrictions it's allowed me to wet a line when perhaps other anglers have not been so fortunate? Wednesday 31st March and I made the first visit to one of my Club waters in 2021, weather wise and for the time of year it was a barmy twenty degrees A day in the shallows..... Despite my efforts all I managed during this session was a solitary tench I planned to return the following day, looking at the forecast before departing the weather was to change on the Thursday and when I say change I'm talking considerably on arrival on the Thursday morning the air temperature had dropped by ten degrees, yes you did read that correctly I'd baited some of my usual spots in the deeper water before leaving on the Wednesday as a plan b if the predicted forecast was correct? if not I was heading back into the shallows April 1st and the forecast was correct by 11.00am I was settled in and fishing in the deeper water the session got off to a slow start, the lake looked lifeless and showed no signs in the way of carp activity my good friend Nick dropped in for a catch up which was nice, he'd done an overnight session on his Syndicate which is not far away from my Club water we chatted for well over an hour before he headed home minutes after Nick had departed a rod fished in the open water sprung into life and resulted in the capture of a beautiful mirror fifty minutes later and the same rod was away, this time I slipped the net under a lovely looking common Mirror and a common..... Looking back at my capture pictures neither of these carp have graced my net before
overall I was very happy Tuesday April 6th and the long wait to wet a line on a brand new Club water was finally over yet again it was all change on the weather front in the way of freezing temperatures, frost and even snow flurry's I'll now be concentrating my efforts on this venue, and from time to time flip flop to some of my other Club waters I'll write more in depth about the new venue in my May update until then as always if your bank side? tight lines, stay safe and thanks for reading!
0 Comments
March..... As I write my latest update, the current lockdown goes into month three and so does my angling on my lockdown venue I've continued to catch steadily flip flopping between the fisheries specimen lake and lake three and I've been fortunate to slip my net under a variety of carp, which have consisted of mirror, common and ghost carp A variety of carp..... so far the larger residents in the specimen lake have evaded me that was until March 10th whilst watching Countryfile and it's weather forecast for the week ahead the weather man issued a severe weather warning for midweek you don't need me to tell you that when you are working, and I have been fortunate to do so throughout the current pandemic being a key worker, that you can only go angling when free time allows? Wednesday and Thursday were the days I had available on arriving at the venue on the Wednesday I decided to fish on the specimen lake being honest with you all reading this blog, the weather wasn't as bad as predicted in fact the conditions could not have been any better, I was very confident of some action after paying my swim fee and signing in (covid policy), I was shocked to discover that I was not just the only angler present on the specimen lake, but also on the complex by 11.00am I was all settled in and fishing I started catching pretty much from the off, the action slowed down around 2.00pm, and picked up again around 4.00pm my final bite of the session arrived at 4.45pm, which was capture number seven of the day and finally after many weeks one of the better fish One of the specimen lakes better fish..... I was absolutely delighted hopefully by the time I get around to writing my April update, the travel restrictions will have been lifted? and I will have wet a line on one of my new Club Waters I'm forever grateful to those who have subscribed and read my blog stay safe and if your bankside? tight lines! February.... Before I crack on with this months update I would like to say a big thank you to all my new subscribers, your subscription is greatly appreciated, I'm by no means an angling expert, I'm just a normal guy who like many others enjoys spending his free time sitting behind his rods in the hope of catching carp I'm experienced having been a carp angler now for over twenty years, and I've recently left the angling trade after two spells which lasted eleven years I love to share the content of my angling adventures and I hope you enjoy my angling ramblings each month? right then February.... For the interest of those of you who are new to my blog and did not read my January update? staying within the Government guidelines my angling in 2021 has began on my doorstep carp fishery, it's well within the five mile traveling limit, in fact I'm that close I could roll out of bed and end up in the first swim towards the end of January and in sub zero temperatures I was lucky enough to slip my net under a lovely ghost carp Ghost carp.... When February arrived the weather still remained very cold and the early part of the new month also brought with it snow A snowy session.... I've been doing on average two sessions a week (work depending) and my time has been spent inter changing on two of the complex's lakes during the last few sessions I've spent most of my time on lake number three it's seems to get a lot less angling pressure, and according to the fishery owner holds a good stock of double figure carp, and even the odd twenty? I've been very fortunate since the start of the new year, and two my knowledge I've only experienced two blanks? one was the day after a night of heavy snow, and the other was straight after the lake had thawed out towards the end of February I enjoyed a really productive session and I went on to capture six carp and the biggest of the year so far An unusal head on this mirror.... I never weighed this one, it might possibly scrape double figures? The biggest capture of the year so far.... As we approach the end of February and the Government announce their plan to exit the current lockdown, it's looking likely that this venue will still be my only option to wet a few lines until the end of March at the earliest? I won't lie to you all I feel frustrated, as I write this update the postman has just slipped the ticket for my new Club Lake through my door but looking at the bigger picture, rules are rules and life, health and safety are well ahead in the pecking order of any carp Your never far away from one at this time of the year.... Until my March update, thanks for reading, stay safe
and if you manage to get out? tight lines! January..... I'd like to begin this update by wishing everybody reading my latest blog piece a very Happy New Year sadly the new year hasn't got off to the best of starts with the UK currently in a three month lockdown on a positive note and not for the first time, the team at the Angling Trust have kept us angling their are guidlines in place as fishing is to be practiced locally, I'm fortunate as I have a carp fishery on my doorstep, less than a mile away by car and I'm fishing the weather has been all over the place since the start of the new year, which has included some very mild temperatures, sub zero temperatures, snow, ice and and even a storm named Christoph fortunately I managed to wet a line for the first time in 2021 on Wednesday January 20th Rods out for the first time in 2021..... This day session took place throughout storm Christoph strong winds and driving rain battered the UK but the air temperature on this particular day was a barmy 10 degrees which was one of the reasons why I decided to brave the conditions, and my efforts paid off as I achieved two bites netting both a mirror and common carp A pretty mirror..... Before I sign off this very brief update any of you who read my December 2020 update? will remember me talking about a new Club Lake I was looking to join in 2021 I'm pleased to say the joining process went through smoothly and it got completed just before Christmas, at present due to lockdown restrictions I'm unable to visit my chosen venue but hopefully come the Spring I'll be granted a window of opportunity? keep and eye on my UK Session blog for updates New Club Lake ticket purchased..... Until the next update stay safe! December..... Winter has arrived bringing with it frost and a drop in both air and water temperature things got off to a great start at the beginning of the month despite the rapid change in conditions my thinking was that it may take a few weeks for the residents in my Club Lake to adjust to such conditions? but how wrong was I, within an hour of getting the rods into position on session number one of December my left hander was away and when I say away I'm talking one toner, as soon as I picked up the rod and bent into this one I instantly knew that it was a decent fish and boy did I experience a decent scrap, it took me everywhere! to the far margin, up the back of the island, it also flat roded me in the open water I'm happy to say that it's valent efforts finally came to an end and it was mine, a beautiful common weighing a shade under 20lb I was very happy with this one..... I must of weighed this capture at least five times? as you can see from the picture above this common looks 20lb all day long? but the scales don't lie, and when a carp looks as good as this one who cares about weight? pictures done and I slipped it back, the rod was soon back on the spot and it was time to pop the kettle on, I'd just filled up the kettle when the distinctive sound of a Nash R3 could be heard, the same rod was away again this time I went onto slip my net under a beautiful mirror in it's true Winter colours Almost a leather..... Before the session was over I managed one more, which must have been my smallest capture of the year? a little common of 4 maybe 5lb? when I returned the following week the mood on the Club Lake had changed completley which resulted in back to back sessions and back to back blanks my most recent session was completed not long after writing my latest update, and it's been another tough week, Monday I achieved just the one bite, a bream of roughly 5lb which decided to pick up my 12mm pink Citruz pop up due to my work commitments I couldn't get back until Thursday which developed into another tough day, I'd settled for another blank that was until my right hander sprung into life just before packing up not a big fish by any means, but very welcome indeed A great conditioned scaley..... It's Christmas week and I plan to do at least two more sessions before the festivies begin
and I'm hoping to do a few more before 2020 is over 2021 will see me targeting a new Club Water, but I'll talk more about that in my January update have a very happy Christmas and as always thank you to everyone of you who reads this blog it's greatly appreciated! I'd like to begin this months update by saying a big hello to all my new subscribers after a recent social media post advertising this blog, and some help from friends I'm delighted to say that the response has been fantastic and I'm greatful to all of you who have agreed to subscribe and that your happy to receive my angling ramblings each month if anybody ready this blog has simply come across it by chance and wishes to subscribe? you can do so by (clicking) this link - https://bit.ly/2SgslnE right then on with this months update "November" Autumn is well and truly in full swing and their have been signs that Winter isn't to far behind I've had a busy month on and off the bank, my six year stay at Angling Direct came to an end and I've returned back to work for a previous employer, I'm pleased to say that the transition period has gone through swiftly, and it hasn't taken me long to get my feet back under the table in no way has this effected my bank time and I've continued to do at least two short sessions a week on my Club Lake, the only change now is that I won't have set days to angle, and my fishing now will be planned around my weekly work load I've been greeted to a couple of frosts this month, de-icing the car felt strange I must say and with my Club Lake being shallow naturally this was a concern, as each week passes by and the end of the year gets closer catching a carp is becoming harder A beautiful frosty morning on the Club Lake... As well as the odd frost the drop in air and water temperature, another thing that was noticeably recognizable was the change in the water clarity for months the water has been very cloudy, but by mid November I could actually see the lakebed in the marginal areas, the drop in water temperature played a big part in this happening but more concerning was that it was also likely due to the carp no longer moving as frequently around the lake? Water clarity change... Overall November hasn't been a bad month again on the capture front I've had to work hard but I'm happy to say I've continued to achieve results, my Solid Bag approach is still in full swing, and my Citruz bag mix... * Pink / White Citruz flake * 2mm Citruz pellets * Citruz syrup is still working wonders, the only tweak I've made to my baiting approach and this has been on the odd occasion I must add is that I've been trickling in a small amount of Nashbait's Coconut Creme 15mm boilies onto my spots, I'm convinced that this has had a major effect to my results nothing has graced my net this month like it did in October but hey, I'm a carp angler and not a big fish angler in the UK, whatever the size? they are all welcome you can view a selection of my November results below November captures... That's your lot for this month, my next blog will be in December just before Christmas as always stay safe! and if your bankside throughtout December? enjoy your angling... October has arrived and so has Autumn the days are getting shorter, the conditions are getting tougher, and the carp are becoming a little bit more challenging to capture out of all the four seasons Autumn is without doubt my favorite time of the year spent behind the rods all of my free time that I've used for angling has been spent on my Club Lake during October being honest with everybody reading this latest update my Club Lake has gotten under my skin much more than my Syndicate has, for reasons I can't explain? it just has as previously mentioned IE the days are getting shorter and the conditions are getting tougher I've seen a considerable change regards the amount of angling pressure my Club Lake has seen during October, it's by no means a very busy lake, but throughout October on more than one occasion I've had the lake to myself which has been great I've made a few changes regards my approach over the last month, the most important one IMO has been bait and quantity if anybody reading this update has read any of my previous updates? you'll know by now my number one choice of boilie is Nashbait's Scopex Squid but with the water temperature dropping and the water colouring up I've since switched over to Nashbait's Citruz and Strawberry Crush product range fruit flavours can be devastating throughout Autumn and Winter, and both of the flavours I've chosen to use have a great track record throughout the colder months they also offer a superb visual aspect which ticks another box for me quantity, I'm now using the bare minimum and on at least two of my rods I'm using small solid bags, in conjunction with 12mm pop ups which are presented on my ever faithful twisted multi rigs so how's this months angling progressed? well it's been patchy on the carp front but the tench and the bream have been very active whilst writing this update to date my last session was on Friday ( 23.10.20 ) and since the start of the month I've managed to slip my net under six carp A selection of the smaller captures... The pick of this months captures... Until next months update
thanks so much for reading, stay safe!, and happy angling I've experienced a mixed bag of angling throughout September and I've managed a few more sessions on my Syndicate but sadly the carp are still avoiding me if I do manage to slip my next under a carp before the year is out? September and October are certainly the best two months to break my duck as the carp pack on the weight for Winter a bank holiday Syndicate session..... After a chat with Syndicate owner Andy the subject of removing the numerous amount of silver fish that are present cropped up in conversation without hesitation I've obliged and during my last two sessions I've been armed with my float rod the resident roach are the main concern and any caught will be removed and re homed in the near by irrigation pond the roach so far have had other ideas and have been far and few between but the perch on the other hand have been very active these two captures have been the pick of my captures so far specimen perch..... On my Club Lake I've achieved a few more bites and also a few blank sessions my snag spots are the only areas I've experienced any action, the open water spots have completely dried up in recent weeks, my coffee tiger nuts continue to produce but as the weather begins to change as we head into Autumn they will be put away in the next few weeks until next Summer this common below is the pick of my September Club Lake captures Club Lake common..... As I write this latest update the news regards the Covid-19 situation is not good cases are on the rise again and tighter restrictions have been put in place so is their better place to socially distance than on the bank? as always stay safe, and thanks for reading! It's that time again when I bring you up to speed regarding my angling adventures Sunday ( 22. 8. 20 ) I managed to enjoy an overnight session on my Syndicate it was my first for a good three weeks due to family commitments and sadly a bereavement, during the week running up to this session the weather had taken a drastic change the scorching temperatures had departed and the rain had arrived fortunatley during the duration of the session I didn't experience any rain, but I did feel a change in the overnight temperature, it had considerably dropped by 9.00am session number 13 was complete, and yet again it went biteless meanwhile over on the Club Lake my time spent on their over the past few weeks has been much more productive if anyone reading this blog has read any of my writing before over the years?, you will know that I try to keep my angling as simple as possible, and if it isn't broken? I certainly don't fix it! after speaking to a friend on social media recently who know's my Club Lake well the subject of tiger nuts came up whilst discussing how my progress was going after he sent me a few pictures of carp he had slipped the net under during years gone by I was soon convinced to switch one of my rods over to tigers and give them ago coffee tigers..... Talk about hitting the ground running if my memory serves me correct? I think I've only done two sessions throughout August whilst using tiger nuts in which I haven't achieved any action, and I've been fishing my Club Lake twice a week not only have I achieved some fairly consistant action, but I've also gone onto capture my biggest carp of the Club Lake campaign insedently my multi rig approach over Scopex Squid has also continued to pick up the odd fish my tiger nut presentation..... My biggest capture of my Club Lake campaign so far..... That about brings you up to date for this month
until the next update, thanks ever so much for reading, stay safe and be lucky Hello to everybody reading this blog I hope your well and that your managing to get on with life the best you can in these difficult times if you have been following my angling throughout the year? courtesy of my social media feeds on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter you would have seen that this year I have not only joined a new Syndicate but I have also purchased a ticket for a new Club Lake I have very little to report from my Syndicate, apart from I'm 12 nights in and I haven't had as much as a bleep yet but I'm pleased to say I have enjoyed some action on my Club Lake I joined my Syndicate in January and my Club Lake back in June I started my Syndicate campaign back in March which was sadly interupted due to the Covid-19 situation and I'm now 1 month into my 12 month ticket on my Club Lake it's been quite a while since I updated the UK Session Blog section of my website, after some deliberation over the weekend I have decided to update it at the end of every month, regards my progress on both my Syndicate and Club Lake after looking at my weekly work schedule a strategy was soon put in place * Friday's are allocated for a full days fishing on my Club Lake * Sunday night is a Syndicate night * Monday afternoon I'm back on the Club Lake obviously this may change on the odd occasion? as everyday life sometimes throws a spanner in the works those who have read any of my blog posts before? will know that I'm very set in my ways and my angling approach very rarely changes bait..... Scopex Squid I've lost count how many years this bait has been in my armoury? and I couldn't begin to come up with a figure as to how many carp it has caught me? Gary Bayes I'm forever in your debt! the first session on the Club Lake kicked off with a blank but from the second session I've managed to achieve some action x 2 white 12mm Scopex Squid pop ups presented on my trusted twisted multi rig over glugged and glazed Scopex Squid free offerings has been very successful for me throughout June and July on the Club Lake below are a selection of capture stills which I've been fortunate to slip the net under during June and July captures..... the first update may come across as brief?
and hopefully the next update will contain some more content thank you to everyone who has taken the time to read this update stay safe and happy angling |
|