The wild east wind in the west or “bi eck it’s windy ere!”

[Banana Steve]

Saturday the 1st of December 2007, I set out to face Hurricane Claudia and her furious wind, and to fish Todber on a windy day.

I met up with Mike and Claudia at the tackle shop at Todber. Mike was to fish Wadmill and both Claudia and I decided to stick with our plan, which had been pre-arranged during the week to fish Park Lake.

With the wind blowing from the east we decided that we would fish with the wind to our backs. My plan was to fish light with my light feeder rod and light tackle. My main line was braid with a 0.11mm hook length with a size 22 kamasan B510 hook. My main baits were “Pinkies and Maggot” I mixed up some Sensas lake groundbait for the feeder for which I used the smallest feeder I had.

“Park Lake” is a match lake which is based on the Canal system which uses islands to give the canal features, with out the boat traffic.

My plan was to fish 4ft away from the island to obtain the accuracy I clipped up. After 3 casts of the feeder to put some feed in my swim I had my first bite and fish, a small roach of around 2-3ozs. The next ten casts produced 7 small roach, 1 perch, 1 small skimmer and a small common of around 10ozs.
As I glanced across to Claudia I noticed that she was landing her first fish of around 1 ½ lb a nice carp. Claudia too was fishing just of the island in front of her and was getting good fish as well.

As the day progressed I started to catch better fish with the small Roach, Crucians, Commons, perch and I even had my first ever Silver Bream. In total I caught 47 fish of which 30 of them were small roach, but the rest were good quality fish.


I may have caught a lot of fish, but Claudia out did me with her catch, some very nice commons all around 1 ½ lb mark a nice roach of 10ozs and a very nice Kio of 3lb.


If it had been a match Claudia would have spanked my bum. The only reason we stopped fishing was because the Heavens Opened on us and I was the only one to have brought my Brolly, when the storm moved past us we contacted mike to see how he was, to which he responded “Wet” we decided to pack up as there were black clouds building up in the distance. Both Claudia and I packed up and put our kit in the cars, but mike had not yet turned up. So wondering down too give him a hand we found that he was just finishing packing up. With a smile on his face, he had just landed a 12lb carp.

A great day had by all despite the wind and rain.

[Fishing Forum Admin]

Well done and great report - think Claudia is turning into a dark horse

[Twiddler]

To be on the fair side, here, Steve was only fishing one rod whilst I was fishing 2 rods.

I christened my new greys prodigy rod, set up with a 14" hair rig, open end feeder with soaked/mushed 4mm halibut pellet, 8 mm s-pellets as bait(later changed to a 8mm scopex boilie) ....the rumour has it that Park lake holds some barbel, so I was hoping I could tempt one to help me to a couple more points. No such luck though

Second rod I had set up similar, a maggot feeder, size 14 hook, a mahooooosive lob worms as bait.(still hoping for a bertie to feel obliged to drop in for dinner)
I had a lot of tugs on this rod but nothing really developed in to a bite for a long time.

I knew it must have been the roach trying to pull the huge worm off, so I reeled in, chopped a worm down in to 3 pieces, thread a piece on to my hook, cast out again and in withinn 5 mins I caught a nice 10oz roach, not quite the 1lber I would have liked but still a nice fish.

Last fish was the koi....it really put up quite a struggle for a small fish like that....that's why I thought it might have been a barbel at last

Still, a pretty little fish to finish off the day.

Thanks to Steve for the company again.....and we will return to fish the lake with the pole in the new year.

[maghouse]

Well done - nice report & pics - look a bit soggy though !

[Catfish Virgin (Still!)]

Originally Posted by Twiddler

....the rumour has it that Park lake holds some barbel, so I was hoping I could tempt one to help me to a couple more points.

Definately Barbel in there Claudia! From what little I know and from "informed sources" the hot area for them is often the far end of the lake. Looking at the 2nd photo, that would be at the end of the island to the right and up into the corner. Caster or small rough cut cubes of meat work well.

[Twiddler]

And why haven't you told me that before Neil?
How was your expensive trip yesterday?

[pingu]

well done on sticking it out guys, we drove in your direction yesterday with double wipers going and all heaters on


dave

[Greenheart]

He who are's wins Rodney. Big respect for sticking it out in those conditions guys & well done on catching a few....

[Catfish Virgin (Still!)]

Originally Posted by Twiddler

And why haven't you told me that before Neil?

Didn't ask and, anyway, stillwater barbel don't count!

Originally Posted by Twiddler

How was your expensive trip yesterday?

Very expensive.

A few grayling from ounces to about 1lb 4oz, a couple of nice dace and some brown trout and sea trout (lost an absolute monster!). Did get a 5lb+ chub that was very skinny and, in good condition, should have gone well over 6lb.

Good day out with plenty of banter, especially as Andy N. was there too.

[perch_king]

well done all some nice pics there