Excuses excuses!

Date fished 19/5/19
7am till 4pm

Today was one of those days. It started as one of them, continued as one of them, and as I write this on the bank at 15.53 is still being one of them!! I am at Lonsdale Park today. After the net full of Carp at the Oaks a couple of weeks ago, I thought I would come back West to target the Tench and Roach.

As the alarm sounded, I did not feel 100%, but this was a fishing alarm, so I jumped up. Making the flask, sandwiches and packing the car had a good effect, but as I pulled away pre 6am I was not feeling it.

Arriving at the lake, "my" Tench swim was occupied, this really was going down hill. I chatted to another angler and settled for a swim opposite mine. (15.58 now and no fish - spoiler!)

I set up the hybrid feeder and another ledger rod and cast them to likely looking spots. Oh I forgot to say, it was raining! So I sat in the rain and waited. ( Is 16.00, so stick a fork in me, I am done! Always like to finish earlier on a sunday, being a school night and all. Will finish this later)

This section of the lake is weedy, but I managed to cast close to the other anglers baited area, so there was a chance. Eventually the rain stopped, so I switched baits. I used corn, floating plastic corn, pellets of various sizes, boilies and secret pellets! But nothing happened.

After a chat with my fellow blanker, and whilst his mate ( in my swim) landed a carp, it was time to move lakes.

The main lake was heaving, covered in bivvys. 2 were in 'my' Roach swim so I headed for another area. I switched to ledger for carp, and lighter ledger for roach. As I set up the roach rod, my carp rod bleeped and the spool turned. I picked the rod up and a carp between me and the hook surfaced, rolled and bolted. The fish had just caught my line, but no where near the hook.
Suddenly a loud splash and a pike jumped out 2 feet from the bank, did a roll and sploshed back in. I scored him a 9.8!

Nothing happened here, well nothing in a catching sense. I changed baits, areas, and feeding but nothing. Then I saw an otter swim on the far bank, it was time for a move.

Back to the first lake for a late Tench. There was bubbles, I saw 2 large carp swimming in front, I actually scared one as I stood up and didn't see it. I dropped the feeder a few feet from the bank. Sat waiting. Suddenly a bleep and the spool spun slowly. I picked up the rod. Nothing, seems another line bite between me and the hook, with only 6 foot of line!! This was when I started to write this blog, and the title popped into my head.

So here goes, I will end this one with the excuses as I see it.

A week of sun, then rain yesterday
I saw one magpie
I did not feel 100%
Someone was in my swim, twice
The sweet corn was not yellow enough
I hoovered my car on Friday night
The rod rest was not level
Too many anglers
Not enough anglers!
The Tench were off the feed
The Roach had been up late watching Eurovision
I used the left hand cash machine at Tesco
The Otter
The sun was too bright after the rain
Too much frog spawn
The pike jumped right to left
The pellets hole was off centre

And the main reason, because we all know it does come down to something.
Earlier in the week, I washed my lucky Finygo cap. I did mention it at the time, it seems it is lucky after all!!

Any Method as long as it catches

Date fished 6/5/2019
8.45am till 5.30 pm



Today was a trip with an old friend, although it's been that long since I have seen him, I asked him to bring i.d so I knew it was him!!



We decided to fish a new water called Moulton lane pond. Ellis was running late, his alarm clock must be covered in builders sheets, so I arrived on my own to the fishery. It looked good. Dips for nets, an area for parking and a big sign saying " booked for a match"
Great!!



Plan B was needed, so I called the big man, Ellis not God, and we decided on Sessay to fish The Oaks fishery.

Arriving to 10 lakes, it was time for another decision. I decided not to include Ellis in this, and plumped for Poplars.

I started with the Guru Hybrid feeder, I had bought some elastic attachments and shorter hooklinks so was keen to try it all out. I baited up and cast to the far bank. As I sat keeping an eye on the late ones arrival, my rod hooped over, I was in. I was playing the fish, whilst I waved to Ellis driving in - this had all the signs of a good day!
A lovely carp was my prize, and Ellis arrived just in time to take a pic.

The second arrived whilst Ellis was getting the rest of his kit. We were on for a bumper session!



I still had not set up the float rod. As Ellis set up, I got him sorted with a Hybrid feeder, it had been so long since he fished, he was tying loops in things and not attaching things - it was going to be interesting!
Soon we were both fishing and catching fish. You are allowed to use a keep net up till 4pm, so minus the 2 I had already caught, we were going to see what we could accumulate over the day.

We both started to catch on the float too, a few small perch, Ellis with some bream, it was non-stop action. The fish were like rockets, screaming away so powerfully. Several times we thought we had a British record Carp, only for 1 lb bullet to pop up on the line. They did not give up either, fighting till the end and nearly pulling rods in. Ellis decided to use both on the feeder as it was too difficult to concentrate on a float and catch a rod being pulled in!

It was clear that the pellet feeder was working really well. There were times when it landed in the water and was away before the rod was on the rests, there were times we were both in at once, there were times Ellis had 2 on at once!

This carried on all day. I swapped and changed with the float rod and caught steadily on that too, well nearly steadily there were times that rod was nearly pulled in too! I caught on worm, sweetcorn and maggot. We had been feeding a tight area, and the fish were definitely feeding there.

Ellis had been throwing some bread in on the surface and nothing had happened to it all day, soon a slurp noise was heard. The carp had found the bread.

Ellis switched to a surface bait set up and was soon stalking carp under a bush. After about a minute, his line tightened and he was playing a nice carp from the surface. The net was getting full and we guessed 30 fish by now were in it.

As we approached 4pm, our arms were aching and we had done well. Pulling up the net, it was a struggle to lift. 50 fish in total, the weight unknown! Answers on a postcard.

The rain then came, but it didn’t dampen our spirits, we were both now stalking carp on the top, and soon had both caught a couple like this. The rain got heavier and still the carp took bread off the top.


Some of Ellis's video footage of me floating bread fishing.

It was a great session, about 60 fish between us. It definitely gives you a boost to catch all day long, on different baits and methods. We will be sure to keep you all updated on the Guru Hybrid Feeders when we use them for Chub on the Swale, SHHHH! That’s a secret!!

Baby Tench doo doo doo doo doo doo

Date fished 5/5/2019
7am till 6pm



Today's trip was with a new friend. Mark invited me to fish a small syndicate water in Blyth. It was unusual to find a venue North of me, so I was really looking forward to giving it a fish!

Mark had told me about some good Perch and Tench, so armed with maggots, worms and float tackle I set off.
Arriving at 7am to meet Mark, it was a short drive to the fishery. It is a small lake, about an acre, nearly perfectly square. Surrounded by trees, bushes and fields it is in a lovely setting. The lake is very weedy, although areas had been raked recently, we headed for those swims. I started in the corner, Mark in open water on the far side.

Soon my float was bobbing  and went under, I struck, feeling the fish go in to weed, I was stuck. This happened a few times, and soon I was mesmerized by small perch in front of me, swimming in the clear water. I went around the lake for some advice.

After a quick chat, I moved swims. Not far, just around the corner. Soon, the float was bobbing again and small perch came to hand.


Perch were now being caught regularly, fish were topping all around, the sun was coming out and everything was good with the world. A small bite, was met with a bit more pull than a perch, the Leeda Blue Diamond Specialist Float rod coupled with 4lb line quickly subdued a monster of a Tench.
Well, at least I had caught a Tench!!

I was catching a few small perch, and as I was throwing a few maggots out in front, I kept seeing small perch and then big perch dart out from the darkness to intercept the maggots. This was going to be easy, I thought.
I shallowed up my rig and tried for the big Perch, It was so interesting to watch them in the clear water. They would attack the maggots, and mostly leave mine alone. I have never really believed in the " hook / bait balance" etc arguments, but it seemed these fish knew something was up and had no intention of taking the bait!

A nice Roach/ Rudd ( I still can't tell them apart) came later in the day, and the peace was then broken by some "youths". The lake being next to a public right of way, people had been coming and going most of the day, but these chaps wanted to shout in the swim next to me.
Mark as bailiff and or chief, was up and came round to chat with them.


He told them to be a bit more quiet, watch their language and gave them his mobile number! Mark is a proper bailiff! he talked to the kids. He didn't shout at them or tell them to go. He actually arranged for them to come back the next day and with some kit he could lend them, they could have a go at fishing! I am no Youth community leader, but the ethos of this club (Mark) with the local kids is brilliant. Am sure lots of clubs have many members of the mature kind, but its the next generation of anglers we need to keep clubs going.


Soon it was time to go, Line of duty was not going to be missed. Mark was staying till later, and we were both sure the Tench would feed. I have not heard from him, so am guessing they didn't!?


I am looking to join a local club, with a stillwater so I can fish it during the closed season and when the rivers are flooded. I will need to have a look at a few more in the area, to decide on location from work etc so I can do some evening sessions. I hope I pick one with a bailiff with as much future focus as Mark, it seems the baby Tench and baby people are the future!