Catching up

[Pross]

Haven't reported for a while but managed to get 2 trips to Morgan's Pond in Newport during May. The first was with my daughter who was making her first 'proper' fishing trip having previously only fished with a crab line. I set up for her and cast in and started setting up my own rod when I heard 'dad, I can't see my float' sure enough it had gone under and I struck for her and left her to reel in a small perch of an ounce or two. I carried on trying to set up only to be denied by her float going under and again I struck for her and she brought in a small roach. This was followed by two more fish before I could finish setting-up both horrible bootlace sized eels which are starting to plague me on my two local ponds. I eventually started fishing and got a couple of roach while Ellie managed a total of 7 bootlaces (which I had to unhook) a better roach of about 4oz and a chublet which I was envious of as I haven't caught a chub yet! In total she managed 3 species I've yet to get this year while I just got my usual roach (sure there's the odd rudd among them but can't tell the difference!).

My second visit to Morgan's was on my own as I didn't want Ellie showing me up again. I missed the tackle shop so didn't have my regular supply of maggots but fished corn and halibut pellets with one rod out by some lilly pads with a feeder set up and the other float fished in close. Managed a nice skimmer bream



and bronze bream



and despite the lack of maggots I managed my obligitory eel by using a slug that had crawled onto my unhooking mat (at least it was bigger than usual and I got a pic for 1.5 points)



My most recent trip was on Saturday to the neighbouring Woodstock Pool where I fished in the pouring rain for about 5 hours. I was getting bites as soon as my maggot bait hit the water but it was mainly accounting only for small roach although I did get a nice perch of about 8oz which I forgot to photograph so missed out on points . I gave up on the maggots when the tiny eels started to show again and switched to pellet which also got regular bites but most were missed as the fish pulled the soft pellets off the hook. I did hook into two fish but got snapped off straight away both times. My feeder rod was fished with corn or pellet and I had a 2lb F1 carp on the pellet but lost a similar sized bream on corn as it came to the net. On the float rod I managed to eventually pick up some fish on the pellet, the first was a gudgeon (my first ever believe it or not - didn't even know they were in the lake) and the next was another 2lb F1 which took me all over the lake on my light float gear. I'll add the pics shortly once they are downloaded but another 1.5 points for the gudgeon and an enjoyable day out despite the weather. Llandegfedd Reservoir is open now until the end of August for coarse fishing so hoping to get out there this Saturday. As it is only coarse fished 2 months of the year (and even that has only been over the last few years) it is still a fairly unknown quantity but there are some big bream and hybrids and potential Welsh records for many species if you are lucky to get in the right spot on what is a vast piece of water.

[perch_king]

well done mate nice pics love the eel

[pingu]

nice one mark
cant work out why your pictures arent showing??


dave

[Fishing Forum Admin]

Looks fun well done and nice read cheers

[wellyfish]

well done mark ,great report

[Pross]

Finally got around to downloading the gudgeon photo for another 1.5 points. Not a very good pic sorry as taken on my mobile and you can't see the barbules.

[Twiddler]

Don't you just hate it when your kids out fish you?!.....sounds like your daughter got the bug now....be aware, not long before she nicks all you tackle


Well done on more points for the species hunt

[Greenheart]

Ohhh not sure about this one Pross, No barbels, could be a Welsh minnow. Think we should have a stewards enquiry....LOL