Hydra Baits Blog Post May 2017
With 36hrs at my disposal, I
was looking forward to tackling my syndicate for the first time of the year,
the lake it’s self is probably about an acre long, 40 yards wide and reed
lined. At the top end it is split, with two channels which were dug to make the
lake whole, this has created a nice back bay which always holds carp as it is sheltered and catches most of the sun.
Arriving on Friday tea time, gave me enough time to have a look about and try
and locate some fish, the sun was shining but this was accompanied with a cold,
blustery north east wind. After checking the back bay no signs of fish were
present, so I decided to set up in the middle of the lake, with a chance of
snaring a passing fish travelling up or down the lake, this lake is not fished
heavily and fishes better with more lines in the water as it gets them moving
about.
All rods were to be placed on
the far margin, fishing with 14mm test bait pop ups on Ronnie rigs, with a hand
full of boilies, some crumb and a few pellets. The lake is full of naturals so
I was just using enough bait to try and buy a bite, as a little edge hook baits
were dipped in a test substance and then rolled in rock salt, salt at this time
of year is highly attractive to carp before they spawn, they don’t eat it but
they take in the mineral through their flanks, so if you ever catch a carp with
clay on its side, it has been hitting its self against the bottom to obtain the
minerals.
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| 14mm Test pop up coated in a new prototype liquid and boosted with a generous coating of Rock Salt |
Rods
in the water it was time to sit back put the kettle on and enjoy the outdoors.
At around 8:30 the wind had dropped and it was looking good for a bite, a few
fish were crashing about, at 9:00 I had a finicky take, the fish stayed on the
surface and I was making good ground on it, with the net ready and the fish
still boring away, the hook pulled, a few choice words later, a check of the
hook and the rig, a new bait was put out back on the spot, the next bite came
at 12:00 on the same rod, this time the fish stayed on and my first carp of the
year from the syndicate was mine, a mirror weighing in at 15lb 9oz.The night passed away and I
was up at 5:30 checking the water for any signs of fish.
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| Got to stay fueled up when spotting fish |
Morning had come and gone, with no more activity, the
wind had picked up again, so spotting fish was hard. Rods wound in I went to
have a look in the back bay, I spotted two fish straight away a common and a
mirror, they were right in the edge smashing tadpoles, clouding up the water,
now do I up sticks and move for the chance of a couple of fish or stay put?. I
went back round to the bivvy and picked up a handful of bait and put it in the
clouded water in the back bay. Back at my swim I put the baits back out but
moved one by an overhanging tree, this tree must be only 40 yards from the back
bay, half an hour later the tree rod is away, a full bloodied run and an epic
battle to get it away from the tree, thank god for snag ears!. After a good
battle a nice common of 14lb was in the bottom of the landing net, could this
have been the fish which was in the back bay?, got a taste for the bait then
gone on the hunt for it?. It was an idea that needed to be tried again. So back
down to the bay, a handful of bait in, then back round to my swim to put the
rig back out. An hour later the same rod was off again, and after a good fight
another common of 12lb was sulking in the net. Both outside rods had scored
fish but the middle one was still waiting, as a re-think was needed, I brought
in the middle rod, re-baited it but then put it 15 yards short of the far
margin, in about 6ft of water, nobody on there seems to fish this area,
preferring the reeds and the overhanging trees on the other side. At 3:00 pm I
had a small drop back which then went on to produce a sort of run as I had
already hit it before the bobbin was at the top, not feeling particularly
heavy, the fish came in quite easy until it got close to me, then it went
mental, going on deep surging runs, trying to find any snag it could, after a
ten minute battle, a nice common lay in the bottom of the landing net and it
was job done, the biggest of the trip at 18lb 4oz.
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| 18lb 4oz Common taken from an often neglected spot |
The second night passed with
only a few liners showing for my efforts, but just thinking outside the box had
produced my biggest fish, the overhanging trees may look very tempting, but
they get fished hard so maybe they are a bit cautious finding piles of bait by
trees or reeds, food for thought anyway.
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| A stunning sunset, sometimes just being there is enough......... |
Enjoy your fishing, even if you’re not
catching, you are constantly learning.
Until next time, tight
lines…… Paul
