Lions of Longleat

[Banana Steve]

I had arranged many moons ago to help Claudia to learn how to fish the pole.
On our last trip Claudia learnt how to fish the pole but she never caught. Well today was arranged during the week to fish Longleat and try to catch some fish on the pole for Claudia.

We met at my place at the early hour of 6:30am then drove to Longleat, 10 mins from my house. I thought that the first lake would be the better choice for Claudia to fish the pole.

We choose the first two swims on the West bank I decided that I would fish the Waglar and keep an eye on Claudia, Mind you Claudia didn’t need me as she has picked up fishing pole with complete ease, considering that the pole I gave her is heavy and only 11mtrs at full length and can be a handful, even I wouldn’t fish it at full length, but Claudia has had no problems with handling it.
I will let Claudia tell how she did in her report.

West side of the Lake

Claudia fishing the Pole

Well my day went quite well I caught a good head of roach with the average around 6ozs with odd better one thrown in. I didn’t keep a count of how many roach I caught but it was a fair few. In amongst the roach I caught a lovely Golden Rudd {1.5 points thank you very much} and carp of around 5lbish

The average roach

One Golden Rudd worth all of 1.5 points

And the Carp

With the forecast being wet for today, we were very lucky as we only experienced only down poor and that didn’t last that long. However the clouds were always threatening


However, the day turned out really nice and the company was great as well. Thanks for a lovely day Claudia it was nice to fish Longleat with someone else.

[Twiddler]

A day pole dancing

Oops, sorry I meant pole fishing lol...had you guys there for a sec huh!? lol

Anyway, decided to take a day off the usual bullpoo at work to go fishing at Longleat with Banana Steve. Today's lesson would be how to catch a fish on the pole but I didn't realize I had to get up even earlier than I would going to work.
5am and my alarm rudely woke me up, 5.45am and I was on my way to meet Steve at his house.
6.40 arrival at Longleat where we had a 20 mins wait before the gates were opened, arrival at lake, picking swim, setting up, plumbing depth blablabla....and I was ready to rumble.

I was fishing the pole with an 8 elastic about 7 metre out at a depth of about 4 feet, 3lb hook length size 16 hook.
Main bait was maggot but also tried luncheon meat and casters.

I started off with cupping a few maggots out to bait a swim up and immediately after the second ship out I had my very first fish on the pole and would you believe it...it was a gudgeon lol a rather big one too


Next in line a nice roach of about 4oz


I'm getting to like this, a fish on every cast (ship out) or however you call it on a pole

Then I hooked in to something bigger, a carp by the feel of it but sadly my hook link snapped at the knot above the hook...well so much for pre-tied hook links FFTN.

I was rather ennoyed with myself, as I was sure I played the fish wrong.

The day went on with roach, rudd and gudgeon....I'm telling you, those gudgeon in there are mahooosive, largest I caught was around 3oz and biggest roach around 10oz.


Steve enjoying waggler fishing


After a couple of hours getting use to shipping the pole in and out, playing small fish on it I hooked in to something a little bigger........and this time I managed to land it too

A nice Perch of 1lb 2oz



The weather was lovely, only one little rains hoewer, the rest of the day nice sunshine with a little bit of a breeze at times.

The roach were definitely on the feed, as we caught a fish each chuck, Steve kept catching them on the drop, which told us the fish were feeding almost on the surface.

My shoulder were beginning to ache from all those hard fighting roach and gudgeon, so I decided to change bait to luncheon meat, trying to catch a carp or another nice size Perch.

The carp weren't playing for me but I had another good run which I managed to loose again, it felt like another perch which wasn't hooked properly and the hook came out. Oh well, you can't win them all I guess.

I had so many roach and gudgeon that I gave up counting after 30 roach and 19 gudgeon lol but I reckon I had a good bag of silver.
Steve must have had at least twice as much, as he stayed on maggot and was bagging up big style, a fish every chuck.

I had a fantastic day and a huge thanks to Steve for showing me the ropes on pole fishing.

All I need now is to catch me something a little bit bigger so I can learn how to play larger fish.

30lb carp would do

[fishypaul]

well done steve and claudia,looks a nice day out

[Fishing Forum Admin]

Well done guys great read and looks a cracking day out

[Greenheart]

Great reprt & pics guys. Looks like you both had a cracking day. Pity you lot the biggie Claudia, but i'm sure you'll get something soon that will strech your elastic to the max.... Did either of you get any Crucians? Longleat lakes used to be stuffed full of em....

[Catfish Virgin (Still!)]

Well done both of you. Pleased to see Longleat is still fishing well (I was a regular there 25+ years ago).

Pole fishing can be really good fun but it is a bit different to the norm. We must find you some "easy" venues to continue the good work. Marsh Farm, Richardson Lake, is almost a guarantee to catch tench from 12oz up, roach, bream and the odd crucian. Mainly at short distances and on light gear, good fun. I sometimes go to a little venue in Wokingham that has a series of small ponds stuffed with carp. Great to "practice" on and again good fun.

Once the 16th June has been and gone, I'll have you "guesting" on one of my club pits at Ringwood (a good bag up water on the pole). Unfortunately no guests allowed in the close season!

[pingu]

looked a top day out there guys and girls
( mm claudia pole dancing in france theres a thought)


dave