A Peek Over The Edge

The carp where in full spawning mode by midday and I packed my stuff away and made my way round to the birch spinney. Shafts of light pierced through the canopy like lasers onto the green vegetation below.

I love this part of the bankside, it is unkempt and mystical, dark and magical. It's home to many creatures, birds and bugs.
 I could hear the splashing of spawning fish getting louder and louder as I approached. As the birds sung I took a little peek over the edge......you can just see one pass through at 15 seconds.

I thought I'd have a closer look. This big fella' scared a very big bream.

You can just about see the spawning tubercles on one of the large bream I saw. They were being chased by carp in cases of mistaken identity.

There were a few big girls in the mix...The Scaley One..

The Pale One.....



Of course every lake must have one mythical creature, a leviathan that is bigger than the rest. There was one fish. Every time I stopped filming he came through in front of me, it was as if he knew. He was larger than Pale and Scaley by quite a bit. I was minded of Eddie Price at Redmire Pool who took the following photo back in the day of a Redmire monster.

This photo has caused much conjecture over the years regarding the size of the fish. The answer will never be truly known.

 Here then is my 'Eddie Price Photo'. I am in no way saying that there is a fish in the lake of the size of the fish above (there isn't), but all things are relative, your opinions will be welcome...



Thwarted Thrice, But The Day Was Nice.....And Spawny!

My two previous attempts to fish the new lake had been non-starters on account of flooding and marauding bovines. Today, as I cycled with minimal gear alongside the Ouzel and Grand Union, half of me had almost accepted that they would be spawning, but on I went.
 The only rod I carried was a 1.75lb Shimano Twin Power, I have two, they have been customised by my old friend Mick Willis, handles shortened and corked. I use them for barbelling and surface fishing for carp.
 The sun started to peep out as I arrived and I was soon through the padlocked gate.
 I was in no hurry to fish and went for a mooch about.
 As I sit here now, typing, my legs are still glowing from nettle stings having worn shorts and I am also sporting a puncture wound to my left eyelid from a dog rose thorn which has turned into a nice shiner. Parts of this lake are wild and a full cicumnavigation is a perilous journey.
 There were four other anglers on the lake, that's a lot for this place. The fish weren't where I thought they'd be so I primarily settled for quiet area away from everyone else and tackled up.

This was the view ahead as I fired out a few PVA bags of riser pellets and mixers and sat back.

Some carp soon moved in from the right, two small commons waddled straight through my feed as if it wasn't there. Then one of the ghosties did the same.Hmm!

 They were clearly pairing up,my suspicions were confirmed by that glorious whooshing sound of spawning fish from the other side of the lake. I have to admit that I persevered with the feed for much longer than I should've, they were in full thro for at least two hours before I pondered that I might as well pack up.

In these parts there is saying that goes along the lines of, "Cast not a clout, until may is out". Well may is out, I might well have 'cast a clout' but I definitely didn't cast a bait.
 It occured to me that I might not really seek to catch fish, being just happy with solitude and beautiful surroundings...I like it here.

Of course I didn't go home, oh no, I had to go around to have a look at what was going on. I will let you know of my discoveries in my next post, but here's a little taster.......

Nice Things, Nice Times and Observations of Ego.

The sun shone brightly today, it was nice to open doors and windows and actually feel the heat.
  I strolled along the Grand Union Canal earlier to the smell of Lilac, Horse Chestnut blossom and barbecues. It doesn't take much to make this land of ours come alive. People cycled and jogged their way around, and drank alcohol and chatted loudly. Birds sang, I am sure a blackbird did a rendition of 'Barbie Girl', that timeless classic! The swans have four newly hatched cygnets and proudly showed them off to me. Flowers bloomed, I'd almost forgotten about the little blue flower with the yellow middles. Buttercups, campion and bluebells also on display.
 The sun also shone on my recent visit to norfolk. I knew it was going to be a good trip when all of the following items were purchased within an hour of arrival.

Two vintage banksticks, efgeeco maybe? With attachments...lovely. Also a fine Dundee cake and some local ale, I was happy. I also bought one of these...

Now, to most of us that's an old Oxo tin, I can feel my fellow blogger Paddy getting excited at the prospect of it being full. However, to anglers of a vintage before myself, that thing there is a tackle box. I've seen photos of many of the old time greats, Walker included sat heron-like aside a pool, with rod and oxo tin. It'll fit nicely with my traditional kit.
 Of course, Lady Sarah wasn't left out, I bought her a nice vintage ring and strolled along the deserted beach pictured above and tried my utmost not to laugh when she was engulfed by a stealthy wave, even the seal thought it slightly amusing.

Later, in a local hostelry known for its fine cuisine, I found myself enjoying a few glasses of Nelson's Revenge and perusing the ceiling.....

Just how much valuable, and to my mind useable fishing tackle must be hanging up in public houses?

 Back at home I was pleased to receive my confirmation to fish that hallowed pool on the English/Welsh border.......

 There's a nice map of the swims on the back. In the past year or so, it seems that there has been a move towards re-naming The Willow Pitch as Walker's.  I know it has always seemed strange that, shall we say, lesser anglers, have swims named after them. However, for me, despite Walkers undoubted part in the pools history, I prefer the name 'The Willow Pitch'...there's no willow anymore but the very name somehow encapsulates the magical aura of the place in a timeless way that 'Walker's' just doesn't.
 What about angling then? Well I have planned and re-planned trips,only to be scuppered by various things from floods to marauding friesians.I will have to go soon though, the term 'climbing the walls' is starting to ring true.
 The time away from angling has given me much room for thought and I found myself contemplating the angler's ego. It's something we all have to greater or lesser degrees. It drives to the core of manliness, and the majority of anglers are men. Has angling, to some, become an extension of "Mines bigger than yours"?..On our favourite social media site I find that certain names will regularly put a biggun up for display, often the first comment will be "How big mate", like it really matters. Are we obsessed with numbers? Is it not just about 'being there'?
 Even one of my favourite places to be online, a place of purer thoughts regarding the noble art is holding a big fish competition.
 Of course, blogging can be classed as egotistically saying, "Look at me", we are all guilty. It's not so much a complaint, just an observation. You will never see another catch weight on this blog though. With luck I might even get out to try to catch one by the time I next post.

Something Old, Something New

Tortoise and Hare

 The above photo was only taken a few weeks ago. It's been twenty, (count 'em), yes twenty years since my name was placed on the waiting list.
 Imagine how I felt, finally I would get to fish this beautiful lake...but no..The curse of old Izaak has truly been back with vengeance.
 You see that sandy swim in the photo...This is what it looks like now.

Oh dear, it seems to have vanished...along with every other swim on the lake.

Well that's blown out this week for sure. The lake is fed by a small ditch from the nearby river. It is sluiced but has overflown. I now have to wait for the river to drop. Oh well, what's another fortnight on twenty years. Tortoise and Hare, Tortoise and Hare.

I Love It When It Rains.

Having been low and virtually unfishable in the season, my beloved local stretch of the River Ouzel has now burst its banks. The water meadows are doing their job perfectly and naturally. I normally take a scenic walk to work this way on a Monday. Back to the roads this week, I reckon.

Close Season Treats

I've been on a bit of a self imposed close season, it won't last the distance, the new lake opens on May 1st and I'm champing at the bit.
 It has however allowed me to take stock and get organised. Organisation is not a trait usually associated with me, often I tend to be impulsive, especially where angling is involved.
 In the past I have fished through the grueller months in the hope of a bite from 'The Common'. I will have another little dabble for her this year, but only when the time is right. What an elusive fish she is, uncaught this year despite many anglers efforts. If I'm honest it's a rat race I don't miss, but, what a fish she is.
 I have had time to take stock, re-evaluate and am now hungry for new challenges. what better excuse then to splash out on a few new items of tackle.
 First there was a set of three 12' 2.5lb TC Harrison Ballista rods, old school classics. I wasn't looking for some, but when I was asked if I knew anyone who was, I couldn't let them pass. An ideal players rod, just the job for the new intimate lake and also  bought with an eye on the fabled 'pool'. I think their forgiving action is just the ticket for Redmire, where hook pulls are commonplace.
 Next was a good old car-boot purchase a nice useable pre-Garcia 50's Mitchell 300 with the V-check and perfect bail and spring for a fiver....lovely.
 Some time ago I got to thinking about a new rod for my small river chubbing. Although the Chapmans 500 is a fine wand, I did find I'd need a bit more backbone for those jungly 'chubby' swims and a little less length for those overhead branches. After some discussion with the venerable gentlemen of  The Traditional Fisherman forum (link in side panel) a worthy contender was deemed to be The Allcocks Nimrod, originally designed as a spinning rod for Salmon and Pike, it has the strength I require and is one and a half feet shorter than the 500 and sensitive enough at the tip. Here's the one I have purchased..

 It was only then that I saw this sign, it got me thinking about a reel......

 Now I have secretly been yearning for the rather quirky Felton Crosswind for some time. Some love this mad reel and have had a long standing 'affair' with it, others find it a bit of an oddball.
 Well that ticks all the boxes by my reckoning so I am now awaiting delivery of this little baby..

 I can't wait to get out out there now and  put them all to good use, roll on my friends...roll on.


All photos in this post are from previous owners and credited as such.

A Lunchtime Treat

I couldn't resist nipping out for an hour today to feed and watch my new friends.
Is there anything finer for lunch than sitting eating sandwiches amongst the branches of a beautiful willow, whilst a lovely carp cruises below and the birds sing above ?

Wood Carvings

I was walking around one of those parks at the weekend. You know the sort, a sanitised man-made version of the countryside, with lots of signs telling me where to walk, and what I should be looking at. It was nice to stroll out with Lady Sarah though and we did stumble across this beauty.

I do love to see a good wood carving, it really is a fine art. I was reminded of the wonderful carvings of Brian Mills which were regularly advertised in Carpworld in the 80's.

I bet his works  of art fetch a fortune these days. I wonder what became of him.

Watching? ..Yes. Learning?....Um!!

In a quiet corner of the lake, a fin breached the calm mirrored surface. A journey to the area meant treading the untrodden.
Every hawthorn and bramble grabbing at me from side and sky, on more than one occasion they held on tight and their stubborness was matched by mine. They won of course, cuts to my arms being painful proof.
 They knew, you know?, them fish. Safe havens can be found on every lake, they'll always be there if conditions dictate. Sometimes you really do have to go down the slippery slope to get to them.
 I finally reached the area, they were there.
  Nestling down behind a half submerged snag I soon became aware of specific patrol routes between branches, the direction sometimes changed, the route didn't. In and out they came, predictable and confident in their presumed safety.
 A shaft of sunlight pierced through the overhead canopy of ancient oak sending a shaft of light through the water, illuminating a small gravelly area behind the snag.
 Tossing out some tiger nuts and sweetcorn on to this area whilst the carp were absent was simple, the corn glowing like the stars at night, the tigers planets, a sub aquatic cosmos.
 A carp of around twelve pounds sauntered into the area, it was a common. It spotted the corn, did it spot me also? Quickly taking two grains, it was soon on its way. Then another common, and another. All did the same.
 The next fish was a mirror, possibly a stock fish around fifteen pounds, relatively new to the lake and hardly caught, he'd be a bit green, naive, wouldn't he? He stopped above the baited area, hovering, just six inches above it, he was looking, intently looking. After a period of what can only be described as pondering, he set about performing a full 360 degree turn above the bait, still looking. When he stopped, in the self same position he started in, he started to waft the bait with one of his pectoral fins. Now I'm watching all this going on and he's clearly looking for a rig, surely? I'm transfixed.
 All this cagey behaviour, from a youngish, unpressured fish now had me puzzled. I was so entranced by its cunning behaviour that I was completely surprised by what happened next. A mirror of around thirty pounds swam into the area, nudged the smaller fish, which had eaten nothing, out of the way and instantly and boldly proceeded to eat the bait, throwing up clouds of detritus in the process.
 Fortunately the gravelly lake bed meant that I was still able to view proceedings with some clarity. This fish ate and ate. It was literally searching out single grains of corn, sometimes contorting its body into gaps under branches to access them....it ate everything.
 What then, have I learnt? My first impression was that the large fish was large because he was greedy, and that therefore he was catchable and that the stock fish had more intelligence than I'd given him credit for. However, having given it some thought, let's just hypothesise that the larger fish had followed the smaller to the area but sat back and watched proceedings from a safe vantage point before entering and eating. This now put a different perspective on the whole event. Maybe, just maybe, it was the big boy who was the clever one, I really don't know.
 The one thing I have learnt from these observations on this and other lakes is that the commons are less likely to be caught over large beds of bait. A fish that picks up a few offerings then vacates is more likely to be caught using single hookbaits only, or at most a small PVA bag or stringer set-up.
 It's all good food for thought....and these hours spent in observation are never wasted.