Lymmvale Result

It was once again my favourite part of the week and time for the
weekly night session, once the car was loaded and hearing stories that
the fish have started spawning on the majority of club waters taking
stock of the situation and where best for a fish during this yearly
activity. I opted for the Lymmvale a deep old sand quarry where the
water temperature would be a little lower and may not have kicked them
off spawning yet.

Arriving at the picturesque setting I notice there was no anglers on
the Beach Swim, the car was unpacked and I was on my way.  The reason
I opted for Beach as it is situated in the middle of the lake so I
could see any activity in all directions.

The rods were set up one on a static bottom bait 16mm Boilies that I
was testing for Kenny@enoughcarp with a pva crushed boilie. The Other
rod was on a adjustable zig for roaming. On arrival I could see plenty
of fish cruising round the surface so the zig was adjusted to just
under the surface at about 12ft, to make casting easier I use a pva
nugget on the hook which also helps get the right presentation.

Going into to darkness all I had to show was a few bleeps on the zig
nothing materialising into a run, the bottom bait had not had as
single bleep. I reeled both rods in an rested the swim for a hour why
I changed the zig to a matching bottom bait and cooked tea.  While I
rest the swim I like to keep a small about of bait both full and half
boilies going in on the baited area just so the is something to keep
them interested in.

Once the rods were back out and I was satisfied I retired to my bed,
no sooner than I started to drop off I was having lots of liners so I
knew there was fish in the area, I had my first fish at roughly 1am a
nice 8lb Mirror. The rod was back out  on the spot followed by more
free offerings within half an hour I had another run which resulted in
a nice bream of about 5lb. This was followed by two further carp one
about 12lb and the best of the session of 16lb these fish all came by
3am and was a very productive couple of hours on a tricky venue. The
final fish was a Tench of around 4 ½ lb which was nice as it has been
a few years since I landed my last tinker. All fish were taken on my
IQ Combi rig.


The next day the sun was unbearable which had kicked the fish of
spawning  needless to say the rods were left out and I enjoyed the
very unusual British weather.

12lb 

16lb

1st Tench in a while

Recent catches an Brett's Return

The rich run of form has continued rather than bore you with all the details ill just fill you in with some recent catches before the big news of Bretts return..

First up after is this spring stunner at 16lb

 Then this at 18lb during some freakish weather

The Freakish weather

Now the big news

Good things come to those who wait...

Let me take you back to the 28^th August 2011 when I landed my uk pb of 28lb a fish know as Brett’s fish from the Belmont Estate on the Lymm Anglers card. This day was a red letter day for me as the haul included 6 fish and 3 of which were over 20lb and Brett’s itself at 28lb. It was also a day that haunted me ever since, as I was fishing alone and couldn’t get the picture I wanted of significant fish in my angling career, doesn’t look much of a fish on the mat.

 I had a quick overnighter planned on 25^th April for Belmont Pool two days before heading off to party in Amsterdam, arriving at the lake at roughly 7pm I opted for a peg called the Lawn as the wind was pushing towards the island out in front and the peg to the right was empty. Setting up just before dark the rods were out on mainlines new grange with a matching pop up, both chopped down so they were critically balance with a nice dip in a secret glug I have been trying out with a few results but nothing of any significance, each sport had twenty or so offerings spread around a relatively tight area.

A couple of hours in to darkness I had a few twitches on the bobbin followed by a slow run which I hit into, with the clutch going into overdrive and the fish heading left towards a snaggy out of bounds area, after a short disagreement I managed to bring the fish back in front of me to play at close quarters succeeding a short scuffle the fish was in the net, upon lifting the fish on to the mat I could tell it was a nice fish. The biggest of the year so far, weighing in at 22lb and a stunning fish to start of the session off.

 The rod was back out on exactly the same spot followed by more freebies.  I settled down for the night as temperature was dropping, I was woken a few times throughout the night with single bleeps but nothing to get too excited about until I was woken up with a screaming run at first light.

 A different conflict altogether this time with the fish heading back towards the island fiercely  I managed to turn the fish back around and gain some line but under the tip the fish went mental again and wouldn’t get its head up for me to have a look. The first sight I got of the fish was when I was sliding the net underneath, I could see the scale pattern and couldn’t believe my eyes it was the return of Brett’s fish. Eagerly I weight the fish to see if it had gained any weight as it looked like it had much more of belly but unfortunately it was 28lb on the button, the disappointed ended their an turned to joy as this time I got the picture that had haunted me since last year. Happy days the memory has now been wiped and I can proudly show the picture of my PB.

Please follow me on twitter @ma22olfc for more bankside banter

How the tides have turned.

Just a short update to get me upto date.

Well with me enduring a run of 12 outings throughout the winter, stressing myself out why I haven’t banked a fish in so long little did I know that the time would soon change.  I went to my local water Sandymoor which is only a short walk from the house to try and get that all illusive fish in the net. I arrived at a relatively quite car park and headed to my favourite peg, my left rod was on a zig close to the service with a piece of black foam and the right rod was up tight against island at about 60 yards. As I sat there wondering if this would be the occasion to end my horrid run no sooner than 10 minutes had passed and the right rod screamed away, after a short but frantic fight an my nerves rocking in case I lost the fish that would restore my confidence, I finally landed a stunning 16lb common. Through the session my confidence was growing and growing I managed a total of six fish with the 16lb the biggest. Now these fish were nowhere like that stamp that am used to on my club waters but they were very very welcome indeed and finally got me of the uk carp blanking scene.

THE BLANK BREAKER

A Smaller Sandymoor Common

A few days later with confidence high, I headed to LymmAC's Belmont estate. Arriving at the car back I unloaded the car and headed down the track to the pools. My first thought was to fish Serpentine (Beach) as reports were good and a few anglers have posted multiple catches. As I got up the track I seen a decent fish crash off the island, my previous thoughts about Beech vanished and I decided to head towards Belmont Pool and the style peg no far from where the fish showed.  Setting up full of optimism I got settled and the rods were out within 30 minutes both on my favourite boilie sps from 1toners. I spread about 40-50 16's and 18's off the island. The optimism soon turned to frustration as I never seen another fish and I was starting to think I made the wrong decision.  After a recast of both rods a short while past and darkness edged in, , I sat down and started to make my bivvy tea consisting of Chicken Jalfrezi and Boiled rice. As the rice was bubbling a way my right hand rod ripped away I quickly turned off the gas and was on to the rod. Playing the fish I couldn’t hide my joy as I could feel it was a decent fish.. My first fish of the year from a club water was indeed the first 20 of the year for me and I quickly forgot about the terrible period that I have had to endure throughout the winter. I ended the session with a further 5 fish and lost 2 I would right about each individual catch but without a decent photo it seems worthless. I need to invest in a self take kit which I will be doing in the very near future. To say I was overjoyed was an understatement I was ecstatic, calling fishing friends to boast and inform them of my red letter day and  my return with a bang to carping scene. My previous best on Belmont was 5 fish which included Brett’s Fish and its going to take someting special to beat it. I  still class the 5 fish haul higher as the stamp of fish were better but taking nothing away from the session as it will still live long in my memory for years to come with weights 20lb,22lb,16lb,14lb,14lb,12lb



First 20 of the year



22lb Scrapper



16lb



A Stunning Light Colour 12lber

With confidence up tonight I will be having a short session on the local canal to try an tempt one of the old residence. Hopefully I will be back tomorrow with more indepth tales.

10 Weeks Really

Wow!! Has it really been over 10 weeks since my last blog, Time has flown and with Christmas and the New Year I haven’t really had much time to write, with me also taking on the role of Press an Pr for Lymm Anglers Club, a role that am really enjoying, helping the club in anyway I can. To be truthful i've also refrained a little with the fishing being slow, in fact I haven't had a single fish in the net since the last from Beech Pool. Trust me, it’s not for me not trying I have been out all but maybe 3 weekends since November for at least 24hours each session. Which to be truthful makes a change from last year’s penguin weather we had, If my memory serves me right every local lake was frozen over from November till January and it has been mild for the majority of this winter,but recent weather is puting and end to that.

I have recently been doubting my winter approach and tactics with the lack of fish, but reading through the clubs catch reports it’s been hard going on all the waters, with only a 5 fish out to 36 anglers on Belmont a good runs water the club controls, so no real cause for concern just yet. I will continue to stick to my guns and see where it takes me in 2012.

 I had such a successful year in 2011, in doing so I have decided to up the game in 2012. Myself and my fishing pal J have decided to taken on Tabley Moat, A beautiful Cheshire estate lake of over 8 acres in size, It’s a very shallow water that is covered through out the warmer months in lilies, its one of the most scenic places I have had the pleasure fish an also encounter with its history surrounding the estate. Tales of ghosts and ghouls from the derelict house dating back to 1769 spooky I know. The water is relatively unknown with a very low stock of around 30 or so carp and a place that we will have to work out for ourselves, I have prepared myself for the blanks and the headaches it brings but also looking forward to the challenge. Since January I have done two nights on Tabley and really loved the surroundings and scenery, the place has a lovely feel to it and will only get better once the lilies start to appear and the carp come out of their winter doldrums. I can’t wait to see what 2012 brings, hopefully it will fulfill my thoughts an lead me on to new adventures in 2013. Ill leave you with a few pictures please enjoy p.s ill have some fish for you shortly. Honest!!

Tabley Moat

From  car park

Chosen pegs 

night time shot

From carp park 2

From the Brolly

The new brolly Fox FX60 System. Thanks Santa!!