May 2017 - Paul Wayne

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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