Sunday, 10 April 2011
Saturday, 2 April 2011
Bag up on Butterley
Well as the title suggests there is only one end to this epic tale. Arrived around 9am and all the pegs on the wall, some on the match stretch Swanick side and all the pegs on the Ripley side were taken - um! Well it perhaps was always going to be the rocks anyway.
Classic Butterley Bream - muscled out by those carp?
Carp coming to the net - notice the feeder.
Ended up fishing the same peg as last time. Feeder rod set up, 1 kilo of fishmeal green groundbait mixed up plus a few pellets.
It then began to rain.
It then began to blow a gale.
Waves and rain crashed against our intrepid hero.
He grasped his tiny fishing box and umbrella stick - he faced the rain.
'Ride the storm, ride it, Moby Dick will not have us this day - the white whale - see the white whale, its back, on men on' cried Captain Ahab.
Well it was quite stormy anyway.
Was bed and the warmth of a good woman a better option - was this the move of a sane man?
Match on, game on, fish on.
Well first chuck and a fish.
Second chuck and a text ' Did you bother?'
Third chuck and a fish.
Fourth chuck and a fish.
Monkey tennis, change reel, lose feeder, nearly fall in, weather a gale - you get the picture.
Slow.
Nothing
Then a fish.
Slow
Nothing
Messed around with pellet feeder.
Odd fish.
This is all you need plus groundbait, rod, reel and someone who isn't a monkey.
Well chipped away. It was steady. By about 12.30pm I'd had 10-12 fish - good decent session for 3 hours. One fish every 15 minutes. However I'd had 30 minute gaps then catch 2 or 3 quickly. Were they moving around? did I need more bait going in? Baliff popped over, I became a member with tales of the water being 'black with em!' and 'their catching them all over'.
How true his words would be.
I now got comfortable, sorted out my kit, weather became calm, reel changed, sun out and decided to fish less than half the distance out that I would usually. Method feeder, pellet and groundbait.
Well gentlemen what can I say. It just came alive. From around 1-4pm It was a fish a chuck. Small knocks would be followed by a rap around. All carp of between 3-5lb, with the exception of one 4lb plus bream. See photo.
In the end I was reluctant to go. Sun beaming and in a T Shirt. Bagging up. It was alive. Lost count of fish - easily thirty fish and my best days fishing - I would estimate I did the ton. It was madness and for £35 per year its crazy prices!
We need to get there soon while the fish are biting and the weather is good. Venue for Saturday and Sunday?
As I walked back - once again breaking my back with too much tackle - I spoke to a guy on the wall - he had had 18 carp and 1 bream and was setting up when I arrived. They are there and they are there in numbers.
'the whale, the white whale'.
Classic Butterley Bream - muscled out by those carp?
Carp coming to the net - notice the feeder.
Ended up fishing the same peg as last time. Feeder rod set up, 1 kilo of fishmeal green groundbait mixed up plus a few pellets.
It then began to rain.
It then began to blow a gale.
Waves and rain crashed against our intrepid hero.
He grasped his tiny fishing box and umbrella stick - he faced the rain.
'Ride the storm, ride it, Moby Dick will not have us this day - the white whale - see the white whale, its back, on men on' cried Captain Ahab.
Well it was quite stormy anyway.
Was bed and the warmth of a good woman a better option - was this the move of a sane man?
Match on, game on, fish on.
Well first chuck and a fish.
Second chuck and a text ' Did you bother?'
Third chuck and a fish.
Fourth chuck and a fish.
Monkey tennis, change reel, lose feeder, nearly fall in, weather a gale - you get the picture.
Slow.
Nothing
Then a fish.
Slow
Nothing
Messed around with pellet feeder.
Odd fish.
This is all you need plus groundbait, rod, reel and someone who isn't a monkey.
Well chipped away. It was steady. By about 12.30pm I'd had 10-12 fish - good decent session for 3 hours. One fish every 15 minutes. However I'd had 30 minute gaps then catch 2 or 3 quickly. Were they moving around? did I need more bait going in? Baliff popped over, I became a member with tales of the water being 'black with em!' and 'their catching them all over'.
How true his words would be.
I now got comfortable, sorted out my kit, weather became calm, reel changed, sun out and decided to fish less than half the distance out that I would usually. Method feeder, pellet and groundbait.
Well gentlemen what can I say. It just came alive. From around 1-4pm It was a fish a chuck. Small knocks would be followed by a rap around. All carp of between 3-5lb, with the exception of one 4lb plus bream. See photo.
In the end I was reluctant to go. Sun beaming and in a T Shirt. Bagging up. It was alive. Lost count of fish - easily thirty fish and my best days fishing - I would estimate I did the ton. It was madness and for £35 per year its crazy prices!
We need to get there soon while the fish are biting and the weather is good. Venue for Saturday and Sunday?
As I walked back - once again breaking my back with too much tackle - I spoke to a guy on the wall - he had had 18 carp and 1 bream and was setting up when I arrived. They are there and they are there in numbers.
'the whale, the white whale'.
Friday, 1 April 2011
TSUNAMI ON ORFE
Went for a quick 4 hour session on Orfe peg 37 was chosen midst a force 9 gale and waves lapping the sides of the lake.Didn't know whether to surf or wind sail but opted for fishing. It turned out to be a good decision, fished a swim feeder to a size 16 hook with a mixture of sensas, ringers dark and maggots for ground bait,and three red maggots as hook bait. After 5 minutes first fish came out and from then on a fish every 5-10 minutes. With the weather being so rubbish i travelled light so unfortunatley no camera. Ended the session with 12 stockies, half pound, to three quaters and fifteen carp,between one and a half and four pounds and a bonus ide about three quaters of a pound.Considering the weather conditions it was a real bonus of a session, i just couldn't seem to stop catching. It was good feeder practice for Butley. I just wished i could of fished on but unfortunately i've a novel experience tonight of a joint stag and hen do. Never heard of this before.
Monday, 28 March 2011
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
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
Wednesday, 23 March 2011
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!!!!!!
Sunday, 20 March 2011
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.
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.
Saturday, 19 March 2011
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
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
Wednesday, 16 March 2011
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.
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.
Sunday, 13 March 2011
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.
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.
Thursday, 24 February 2011
The Rumble in the Drumble
Like Ali versus Foreman a new dawn broke. A bloody painful dawn after a 1am finish at the Chiefs and a sleepless night. 5.30am alarm call, a wash of the eyes with coffee, pasties placed on board and off across the Midland's Foreman sped - into the West! If only SatNav would drive the car as well!
I think he's on peg 19 somewhere - Circa 1920's
As usual the two anglers had not learnt their lesson and arrived before the fishery was officially open. Full of optimism local knowledge was sort and an abundance of options presented themselves. They initially explored Milo, up to their ankles in mud a la Passchendaele, it was ignored, some signs of life, but heavily shelled and local knowledge wasn't encouraging. Owner suggested Arena - now only pleasure fishing to save it for Fish-o-mania, Suez, Tara, Drumble, Milo - basically every lake. So armed with maggots as arrows and feeders as bows Drumble offered the best option for a few quarry on mild February morrow.
Can you see the sun shining!
Selecting pegs 18 and 19, with enough space for the missing third musketeer (in fact the whole lake) the competitors cast forward. Things were looking good as the sun shinning Foreman caught a small chub first chuck. More followed with Ali constantly exchanging punches. Barbel for Ali, chub for Foreman. The odd Tench, Bream and Carp.
Ali's Tench - Unusual for Feb?
But it was slog of a match, pellet tried but to no avail, close to the island pick up a fish then nothing, mid water pick up a fish then nothing, no real reason to any of it. Red maggot took all the fish. Ali taking all the barbel, Foreman not one? Fish would come in twos and threes between the anglers and then long stretches with nothing. Water still very cold and very little activity on the surface. Weather at its max about 13 degrees and a mild evening - but it needs time to warm up. Back to the lows next week of 1 or 2.
2lb Bream
Biggest fish 2lb bream with carp of just smaller size. Fish were lost by both anglers on the way in and Foreman was broke close in by a fish he never saw, clutch too tight for 2.5lb hook length - busted!
Overall a win for Ali easily on weight - 14 fish each with Ali getting one after the all in was called. Incorrectly informing Foreman that he was still fishing, as Foreman handed him his landing net with one hand and waved his detackled reel at Ali with the other?
Nice to dust off the kit, Foreman had about 8lb with Ali around 10lb. Could be an interesting season if feeder is the tactic.
Cudmore definitely worth another visit soon as a mid way point between Shrewsbury and Nottingham, with warmer weather a serious day could be had on Drumble either on pole or Feeder.
Where is this guy?
Thursday, 10 February 2011
GREAT EXPECTATIONS
Well getting on the lakeside finally arrived with a lovely drizzle to get everything wet.Full of expectation as usual in went the maiden cast of 2011.peg 38 on Orfe. I should of known better so early in the season fish would be at a premium and so it proved.By 12pm when Julian turned up about 12oounces had been caught
for him to tell me someone had 40lbs. out Tuesday several carp Hmmmm!!!
Anyway when he disappeared after his new dog knocked my rod in for the second
time back to it.The pm wasn't much better more bits but eventually found a stockie
and a carp about 1.5lbs.Packed in at 3pm all fish fell to maggot feeder,I do worry
about Orfe ,Rich could almost put his Piper-Alpha rig up already its that low and it's only February
for him to tell me someone had 40lbs. out Tuesday several carp Hmmmm!!!
Anyway when he disappeared after his new dog knocked my rod in for the second
time back to it.The pm wasn't much better more bits but eventually found a stockie
and a carp about 1.5lbs.Packed in at 3pm all fish fell to maggot feeder,I do worry
about Orfe ,Rich could almost put his Piper-Alpha rig up already its that low and it's only February
Sunday, 16 January 2011
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