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.