Marsh Farm Part 3 (I Like This Venue!)

[Catfish Virgin (Still!)]

Had today off from work so decided to return to Marsh Farm as I was very keen to give it another go. Confidence took a bit of a knock when I looked out the window this morning to see a heavy frost, not ideal for crucians or tench. But what the hell, it beats working.

Arrived at about 9:30 to find a bit of frost still on the ground but bright sunshine and light winds so it at least looked like a spring day. Chatted to the guys in the on-site tackle shop (very helpful, excellent stock and even better breakfasts!) and ended up just one swim away from where I was on Saturday:



I spent quite a while plumbing the depth to discover it was quite a bit shallower than before and getting shallower the further right, into the bay, I tried. I elected to fish at 9mtrs where I found about 4ft - 5ft. Bait was double red maggot on a #20 hook using a #6-8 elastic. I was using "Carp Bungee" elastic for the first time, its a double wall with a hollow core and very flourescent! It's rated 6-8 and I quite like the way it works, read on!

As expected, it was a slow start very similar to Saturday. Very few bites and I was missing most of them! I did connect with the second bite of the day but lost the fish (probably a small tench) as I couldn't control it too well. The tension of the elastic was too loose so I immediately modified that by wrapping a few more loops round the internal bung. I managed to hang on to the next fish which turned out to be a nice tench of around 3lbs but I still tightened up on the elastic.



I then had a very delicate lift and dip on the float and was very suprised to connect with a decent fish. This turned out to be a lovely crucian of 2lb 04oz, a twin of Saturdays best. Things were definately warming up, sunshine wise as well as the fishing. I had several more tench between 1.08 and just under 5lbs, all superb conditioned fish. What no photos you ask? Well yes, but there's better to come! I had continually fed a few maggots on the inside at about 4 mtrs in front of the little tree to my left. There was only about 2ft of water there but the occassional crucian rolled in that area! Very frustrating as I couldn't buy a bite when I switched to that line. But eventually the float slid away and I hit something rather better... the elastic started to stretch to alarming lengths and I was beginning to regret tightening it up so much. I began adding and subtracting pole sections as the fish did a detailed survey of that corner of the lake but I eventually got it to the net (about three times actually!) and a beautiful tench was finally beaten. On the scales it went a very pleasing 7lb 03oz, my second heaviset tench and by far and away the heaviest I've caught on the pole!



More tench followed as I alternated between the two lines and I think I had about a dozen all told with a couple between 4lb and 5lb. Great fishing!

Sandwiched in between the tench, I managed one more crucian which shifted the scales round to 2lb 6oz, I was well pleased with my efforts:



Now although I was really pleased with my day, a guy had been fishing the swim to my left (where I was on Saturday). He had a couple of tench and small roach but also had this crucian at 3lb 10oz. A stunning fish and a privilege to see!



I like this venue! For £5 a ticket, 18 miles from my front door, well looked after grounds, great tackle shop and lakes with specimen crucians and tench! The lake I was fishing does not appear to have any common or mirror carp (maybe a few) and very few smaller "silver" fish. Certainly, in current conditions, you can be reasonably sure that if you fish it well, the bites will typically yield some very pleasing quality fish. I wonder what it will be like when it warms up?

[Norfolkboy]

Some great fish there, Neil

[Fishing Forum Admin]

Lovely tanch a great post cheers

[Banana Steve]

what a lovely looking place, where abouts is it Neil, top draw fish as well weldone

[Twiddler]

A day off? I say, a day off!!!! Some people don't have that luxury
But if I had, I'd definitely go fishing with you again Partner....you always seem to find the fish, no matter what venue.

A beauty of Tench and crucian....
I'm telling you guys and gals, give that man a broom stick, piece of cotton and a paper clip and he'll still catch you some cracking fish.

Well done Neil

[BaggieRich]

Well done Neil. More cracking fish.

[Rob M]

Nice report and pics, you gotta love them tench

[fishypaul]

well done neil,that 3lb crucian is a clonker

[Catfish Virgin (Still!)]

Originally Posted by Banana Steve

what a lovely looking place, where abouts is it Neil

It's at Milford, Surrey just off the A3 towards Godalming. Godalming AS own the complex which consists of 2 lakes and a pond. Harris Lake, the one I fished has 46 well spaced swims and is the main "specimen lake". Crucians to 4lb+ (nudging the record), tench to 10lb with roach, rudd and perch.

Richardson Lake has 55 swims and has similar stocks but more of them. Not quite to the weights in Harris but big crucians, tench and bream. This one is match fished regularly.

The pond is aimed at children and beginners but it's 18 swims are full of good crucians, tench, roach and perch. It fished extremely well on Tuesday and I very nearly moved into one of the swims!

I reckon it's a very pleasant change to find such a fishery without a head of common and mirror carp. There may be a few but you'd be unlucky to catch one!

Let me know if you fancy a trip, I'll join you, I'm becoming addicted to crucians!

Originally Posted by Twiddler

I'm telling you guys and gals, give that man a broom stick, piece of cotton and a paper clip and he'll still catch you some cracking fish.

My blanks are also of the highest quality as well.

[pingu]

nice one neil
getting into somre lovely fish lately

dave