Weather
Last few days had been much colder following the very warm spell of a couple of weeks ago where some pond anglers sat in nothing but shorts (not even a shirt!). We have also had snow for the past 2 days that has melted as the sun came out.
Today’s forecast was for a mixed day of sun, cloud, rain, sleet and snow with a mild wind occasionally gusting. The forecast was spot on so I had no idea how the fish would respond. We have a match in 2 days time so wanted to see what, if anything, was feeding. I decided on one of the deeper pegs (peg 12). The pegs near there had been doing well in the warmer weather with some good sized Ide showing.
I had a later start than normal because I had not been sleeping well and, considering the weather, didn’t see any need to be out early. I arrived at the pond around 10am and was, not-surprisingly, the only angler.
Peg and Plan
There had been quite a lot of work done on peg 12. Trees had been cut back to aid casting and a tree branch had been removed from the water to the left of the peg.
My plan was to feed 2 lines. The first was my usual waggler line about 16-20M out (just in the shade of the island trees increasing float tip visibility). My second line would be a couple of metres out from a branch to my right. I planned to fish the close in line with a very light and fine tipped float to present very similarly to a pole. I was hoping to catch Ide and hopefully a bonus Bream or two.
I had recently purchased more wagglers from Dave Harrel. These are loaded crystal insert wagglers ranging from 2g to 5g. Their loading is achieved with “washers” that can be added as needed. You can also swap between each size quite easily as they all have screw-in bodies and are weighted so that they all sit in the water exactly the same (just the insert showing). The insert takes approximately 4 no.8 shot irrespective of the float size. Also the inserts are smaller diameter than the Drennan crystal wagglers that I normally use so I was interested to see if they were visible enough.
Before tackling up I introduced 3 tangerine sized balls of groundbait containing a few dead maggots into both lines.
Off we go
Initially the weather was chilly but a clear shy with bright sun shining directly at me.
I started on the near line and was pleased to get bites almost instantly. These were average sized Ide. I caught 4 or 5 before the bites dried up so it was time to try the far line. I fished that for quite a while without any signs of fish. I was very happy with the new float; I had added the no.8 shots in two pairs so that I would see a definite lift if the fish lifted the bottom pair. I could easily see the tip even though there was only about 4-5mm showing.
Whilst fishing the far line I had continued to throw loose live maggots (2 or3 at a time) into the close line. After a while without any bites on the far line, I switched back to the near line. It took a while but started to get bites that I missed. I therefore held the rod rather than put in the rests and was able to hit a couple of bites. They were very small Roach and had probably been attracted by the loose maggots. I then got a couple more Ide.
The sky started to darken and the wind picked up. It started to drizzle. My first thought was to wait it out but it started to look settled in so I put up the brolly. Just in time because the rain really came down for 15 minutes or so.
I then tried half of a Dendrobaena on the near line and got a nice Ide straight away. I did wonder if it was a Perch before I saw it.
Lunchtime
I decided to put on a worm and fish the far line while I had lunch. I was less likely to get quick bites out there and the worm might result in a better fish if I did get a bite. Sure enough, halfway through the 3rd sandwich, the float went under and I landed another nice Ide. Luckily the hook came out in the landing net so was able to put the fish in my keepnet and re-cast without getting my hands messed up.
During lunch the sky darkened again and, this time, it was sleet with some quite large snowflakes and hail stones.
Quiet afternoon
I was getting very hard to get bites on either line so I decided to bait up again with the addition of chopped worm to see if that would spur them on. I was able to catch the occasional Ide, some a nice size but very infrequent.
Bigger fish in evidence
I struck into something heavier on the far line. I initially suspected a Bream but, as it came closer, it shot to my left and snagged me in an underwater snag – I think that the branch clearance had left some on the bottom. I then caught a couple of the recently stocked Mirror Carp.
I caught a few more Ide and then a surprise Tench of about a pound. About 5pm I hooked another big fish. This time I could tell it was a Carp as it made a beeline for the snag. I tried to stop it but my hook length broke.
I had been fishing a size 18 on 2.8lb line. I switched to a size 16 on 3lb line. I fished for while catching a few more Ide. I kept trying the near line but it was no better than the far line so I decided to concentrate on the far line.
Around 5:30 I noticed patches of small bubbles coming up where I had been feeding the far line. I decided to go onto worm because, when bubbles appeared last year, Bream were the culprits. It took a while but I eventually struck into a right lump. This fish kept very low and it wasn’t long before it headed for the snag. This time I added a lot of side strain and succeeded in turning the fish. It then made a few long runs before coming back and trying for the snags again (both left and right side). Thankfully the hook and hook length survived more side strain and I was able to get the fish close to the surface a couple of times before it rolled and headed for the depths again. I had only seen large swirls but not the fish as yet. After more long runs I was able to get the fish to the surface – wow, it was a lump!
My float rod and 3lb line was really being put to the test. A couple of time I got the fish to the surface but it spooked at the landing net and shot off again. When I got the fish to the surface for perhaps the 4th time, it finally took a gulp of air and I hoped I could bring it to the net – success but it only just fit in the net.
Here it is, it took close to 30 minutes on light tackle and was a lovely 11lb Common Carp.
Despite the continued bubbles, I was unable to catch any other fish so decided to photograph my catch and head off home.
Here is the net of mainly Ide with the Tench. Those Ide are certainly putting on weight and are great to catch.
Here the 2 stockies.
As the sun started to go down behind me, it illuminated the trees on the far bank against the darker sky so I took these photos.
Summary
Considering the recent cold snap and today’s variable weather, I am pleased to have caught. The big Carp was a real surprise and matches my PB from the pond. This shows that the Carp are feeding so, if I get a Carp peg then I am confident having a go for them. If not it will be Ide because the Bream are not showing.
The forecast for Sunday is a bit better but the pond often fishes much harder in matches so let’s see what it brings.
