WHO SWITCHED THE FISH OFF

Went to Springlea Friday on another bright and mild Spring day.Decided to give Horseshoe a bash after it's recent restocking and at first it appeared to be a good
decision.Fishing @ 8m with corn 15 put-ins 10 carp to 1-11/2lbs and 2 bumped off it was going to be a bagging day.How wrong could I be.After that not a sniff tried Pellet halibut and strawberry 4+6mm back to corn +pellet nothing.It was like the fish just switched off so2hrs catching 3 hrs nothing.And just to make things worse my cup fell off the end of cupping kit into the pool and on using my new Preston net a hole appeared well cant win them all.

CUP BELOW

IT'S ORFE-FULLY NICE HERE

On a bright spring morning I headed off to Springlea.With not a soul there I opted
for Orfe.The choice was simple no wind,no clouds,lovely sunshine it was time to
bring the pole out of iits winter hibernation.It proved to the perfect choice.First putin 8.00am after cupping in some 3&6mm swim stem pellets along with bits of corn.
Using corn as hook bait,fished at 10metres on a size 16 at 5ft depth with the old black hydro waiting for a big-un.After 5 minutes the 1st fish a nice little1/2lb stockie and thats how it went on with virtually a fish every put in fish varying up to 4lb.



Nearly all the fish fell to corn but I did try 6mm halibut pellet during the day which also brought results.At the end of the session ended up with about 30lb of fish including skimmers,roach,ide,tench,and carp.The only thing to spoil it was a couple of idiots playing monkey tennis lobbing great bombs in surprisingly catching nothing but they were down the far end of the pool.Anyway thats it for now will this weather hold and will Rich catch anything bigger than a pound!!!!!!

Moonraker

Well breaking from the traditional format of leaping out of bed, up with the lark , laced with curry and a few too many beers, I opted for the following recipe for success

1. In bed before 11pm
2. Chicken in white wine sauce
3. One beer and two glasses of wine
4. Left house at 9.45am

A gentle cruise to Butterley revealed the north sea with Arctic wind and a reservoir still in the mists of winter. It looked like the quilted suit, snood and new fishing gloves might be needed! Wait until you see the gloves!

A quick survey of the res showed that the only real option was the rocks as anglers were dotted here, there and everywhere.

On route a further nail was placed in the coffin of fishing, not a bite had been had from those on the viaduct and the committee where busy making pegs, an enquiry from the ever determined Sherlock of Angling highighted - hard yesterday, hard today, moon cycle isn't with you and its bloody cold - Good luck mate!

Um!

By the time I had climbed the unforgiving slopes of Butterley K2 the quilted suit had warmed up to gas mark 9 and I just needed another 20 minutes or until the juices ran clear.

Nico's red letter peg now free of weed was selected. Usual see-saw slabs and some serious line issues resulted in 6lb maxima being put on the reel after a rocket feeder launch , which resulted in the feeder going were no other feeder had gone before.

Finally out went the feeder and nothing. It was cold, it looked dead, it was like December, it looked lifeless, it looked like I would have more chance at Park Hall (well maybe not that bad) but in reality it really did look set for a blank. Red maggot nothing! Bollie nothing. Ten casts in nothing!

11.00am and things started to move. The rod ripped around and a carp was on. Shell fish bollie a la Bream tactics. After a long battle a fat carp between 5-6lb came to the next.


FAT CARP



On your marks, get set, go! So for the next four hours it was a fish every half an hour or so on feeder, corn, maggot, pellet and bollie.



All the carp were roughly the same size.



Ended the 4 hour session with 12 carp for about 50-60lb. Lost two fish on the way in. Probably one of my best days for larger carp. I've had larger weights and had more fish but usually made up of many small carp.

Butterley is back. Spoke to the baliff said its rocking. Still only £35 for the season or £5 per session, complete bargain and you can join on the bank. Bream will come on in the warmer months if you can get past all those carp. Could be a ton on the cards in the summer as they move closer in. Moon cycle my arse!



Even the swans were impressed.

Park Hall - Mansfield Angling Scratchcard

A quick session was in order as Mrs N was due at a party 2-4pm and it seemed that the temp would again stay above 5/6 degrees with sunshine ( remember that)

I arrived at Park Hall after a failed visit to Sherwood. there were pegs but for three / fours i wanted an easy one and the pikies had turned out in force.

As i slipped the envelope into the cabin i did wonder if i should have tried Vicars Water for silvers, but in it slipped and i was committed.

Riding down the path i first saw a guy land what looked like either a big chub or a bream, he netted it....it was good enough

A further 50 yards and a guy was playing a ' creature' on the feeder i stopped in the car to watch for a minute or so ......he was having trouble...the carp didnt want to now

I pulled into peg 40.....car behind and the sun shone.....T Shirt and pole all the way

With Park Hall despite all the anglers catching and two fish caught as i drove down for some reason i still wasnt convinced.....it was to prove a wise profecy

The session ( sherwood or Park ) was to fish maggot and pole to test rigs / floats etc....i wasnt in it for carp..good job

After 45 mins i reported in....nothing.....no bite....not a touch.....20 hook single maggot and a small pellet......jesus

i worked so hard....pellets cupped / maggots same.....light.....little...often....nothing.....

I then pretended it was July and started to spray a few maggots.....Result.....change of rig and hooks and the float went....Roach around 6oz......mmmm

I then stuck at it and had 3 Ide and 3 Roach.....The ide went around a 1lb each not like springlea although the roach were tiny....

Worked like a trooper to catch....blank was on cards for a long time

As i packed up the bloke next to me had a decent carp on feeder....i dont get this place i really dont.

the carp were stirring the weeds....spawning another sunny week away

LULLARD-DULLARD -MALLARD

Went for a session on my old stomping ground Springlea opted for Mallard mainly
because Orfe looking lower than ever.That's about it really so you can tell what a
great day it was.Fished maggot feeder,cage feeder and even waggler shortening
hook length on feeders and longer tails using maggot and corn/pellet all to virtually no avail.Finished up with 25 fish skimmers,roach and gudgeon to a whopping(drum roll) possibie 3lb.total weight.I think more trips to Cudmore will become the order of the day after all today's effort for so little reward.

132kv and Autobahn - Cudmore on Milo

Interesting session for the ever optimistic anglers from the Midlands. The weather did has it had promised and the temperature was at a steady 7 degrees riding down the Autobahn into Stoke.

Derek had prepared majestically, Chilli and 5 pints of bitter the night before.....start as you mean to go on.....

Strangely quiet at the venue as we arrived at 7.26am intending to fish 'Grumble'....a cup of tea and sausage and bacon cob eased Nico into 2011 season and all seemed well in the piscatorial world.

Yoda advised we fished Milo and Grumble was discounted quickly with the promise of bigger fish.

All three anglers set up the feeder ( after a disaster Waggler 15 mins discovering it was 10ft by Nico)

The 132kv OHL were of concern to John and Nico, although Del thought it might sting a bit but he'd carry on fishing. ( the first casts were very cautious)



After 45 mins it was looking a bit grim....a couple of liners but nothing much to write home about. Luckily things picked up with all anglers taking a couple of fish within the next hour. John in particular losing a good fish in the Vauxhall Van that was snagged in his peg.



Nico was feeling the pressure with Del and John taking fish Tench, Chub, and a couple of decent Skimmers between them. The feature in the peg only really producing a couple of skimmers.



John proceeded to take another very good tench to nose in front on weight.



Del was repeatedly suggesting " im too far" im coming closer" " theyre on the island" " theyre close" and " in summer...." ....." Pole " " waggler"......such was the hit and miss nature of the day

Corn was tried x 3 and dismissed, combinations of maggots taking all fish on the day.

There were lulls in action but then two bites together as the day progressed.

Estimate weight 10-15lb to the winner?.....Its going to be an interesting season.