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Let’s set the scene. Its Friday afternoon again, the weather forecast is mild with overnight lows of 12 degrees and daytime temperatures of around 17. After a number of phone calls it seems I will be the only fisherman on the lake so what do I do with 80 acres of water?
Decisions, decisions. It’s all about making the right choices, picking the right swim, and at the moment I’ve no idea what to do since the lake just isn’t fishing the same as it had in the past. Nobody is talking so with no knowledge of whets been happening I sometimes feel like im fishing blind. Campaigning a lake on your own isn't for the faint hearted.
The wind is forecast to change from an Easterly to a South-Westerly which brings the decision of whether to follow the wind or not. Now its cooler I’m less interested in following what would be a warmer wind. I’d prefer to try and look at areas offering deep and shallow spots on the back of that wind. I have a few swims in mind but it all depends if they are available and the 'feel' I get once down there.
I've purchased some Chill Hemp seed which will substitute the pellet ive been PVA'ing. I’ve also got hold of some paste which I'm going to mold around the leads for some added attraction. Rigs will consist of the snowman variety on two rods with a single chod presentation on the third - nothing new here.
Upon arriving at the lake I was surprised to see only 2 other cars in the car park. It continues to amaze me how a lake containing fish of this standard is given little in the way of 'man hours' by the general membership.
By 6pm I'd set up camp going through the motions with a light drizzle making things damp but for this time of year it was extremely mild, around 14 degrees.
I’ve fished this swim a number of times so know the hotspots quite well. Rod one was positioned 40 yards out to my left at 10 O clock in a silty patch in 17 ft of water. The lead had some paste molded around it and I also made up a tangerine sized PVA ball containing the chili hemp. My right hand rod went out on the mouth of the first bird channel and a scattering of boilies fired out, but spread out in an area of roughly 10 feet. Rod three was placed in 12 ft of water just before an underwater road at about 80 yards. This 'Road' feature was originally used for gravel extraction. The light was just fading as the last rod was put into position. I’ve said this before with a choddy I do feel you’re 'fishing' straight away and it’s certainly a good rig to send out as single hook bait. Using a white pop up of 14mm this is opportunist fishing really.
Saturday morning I awoke to motionless rods once again. This is something I’ve become used to now and sadly with little time left this year to fish I feel the clock is ticking down for me to bag a fish. I always plan to fish to Guy Fawkes Night, and call it quits. Certainly the colder months on my water are particularly unforgiving and going by previous years I’m literally wasting my time once temperatures plummet. Considering the temperatures are still relatively mild im going to carry on for the moment, but time is running out..
On Saturday I was surprised to see fish topping over my left hand rod and it was a much needed confidence booster. Into Saturday night and after repositioning all three rods I sat back in my ‘sitting in the sun (now dark) chair and pondered what the heck I could do to change my fortunes around. Another fish crashed out over the left rod and once again I spent the next hour pacing the bank, watching the rod tip for signs of movement...nothing happened.
I turned in early Saturday night. It was dark by 6.30pm and after a brief visit by a friend of mine I jumped into the bag and was out for the count until Sunday morning where I awoke to another mild morning, complete with light rain. The scene was grim, and on reeling in my rods while packing up I could find nothing wrong with the presentation, or the baits.
Some folks start to pick everything apart when they are blanking but I refuse to do that. The rigs work, and the baits are tried and tested. Sticking with what has worked in the past and keeping things simple are in my opinion keys to long term success.
It's Guy Fawkes next weekend and I usually enjoy watching the fireworks. Being such an open lake, im certain to get at least some form of entertainment.
Where's the motivation…i'm the only one left. An empty Car park early Sunday morning.
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