My fishing experience at Park lake

[Twiddler]

As Mike already mentioned in his report, we decided to fish Park Lake at Todber Manor, as I wanted a venue where I can continue practising my pole fishing.

I new it wouldn’t be easy fishing the pole, as the weather forecast predicted a rather strong breeze, still stubborn as I am, I wasn’t going to be put off.

I set up at the end of the lake about 3 pegs down from Mike, where I was a little more protected from the wind.

As mentioned in my previous reports about my pole fishing, my pole is not the lightest one so I started off at 7 metres, fishing hard at the bottom (about 4 ft deep)with 4lb mainline, 3lb hook length size 18 hook.
Bulk shooting and a single 10 dropper shot about 4 inch above the hook.

I decided ONLY to fish red maggots, to see how long I could keep the fish interested in my swim.
First I baited my swim up with cupping 2 lots of maggots out, single red maggot on the hook.

First ship out and I was already in to the fish, it was continuously catching of all kind of different species, rudd, roach, carp, perch..

I then thought I’d try to fish 9metres out to see what I would pick up but soon gave up on the idea , as the wind was too strong for me to control the pole, so I quickly went back to 7 metres.

I cupped some maggots every 20 minutes and catapulted a dozen of maggots around the float at every ship out.

Around 2pm I have noticed that the bites were drying out a little bit and the only bites I was getting were when I slowly lowered the float in to the water before the hook hit the bottom.

This has told me that the silver fish were not feeding at the bottom any more, rather then midway, so I took the dropper shot off so the bait would drop through the water slowly, to get a chance catching on the drop but still have the bait sinking to the bottom slowly for the carp. ( I know shirt button shotting would have been the correct way to do so but I was a little lazy and didn’t want to change all of my shotting)

My tactic worked a treat though and I continued catching all day at the same spot, if I haven’t caught silver on the drop, I picked up a few carp or carp hybrids at the bottom.

I even managed to catch my very first crucian, which I was very happy about.
I did not hit in to the bigger carp like Mike did but then I was only using a single red maggot as bait.

Here are a few pics of my catch of the day.

My first crucian


A lovely mirror/hybrid?….the colouration and the huge paddle?


Some lovely coloured rudd, roach and some hybrid carp/goldfish….one looks almost like a ghosty













View to my right of the swim


The locals out on a Saturday walk/swim



It was a nice relaxing day fishing and I was happy to have kept the fish interested in my swim all day long.



Lesson of the day: I definitely need to save up for another lighter pole, I really have to work on the layout of my peg when fishing the pole as I nearly fell in to the water tripping over my landing net when I had a nature call. A bit more tackle tarting need to be done to be fully satisfied to sufficiently be able to fish the pole.


Mikeeeeeeeeeeeeee you need to do more overtime, it’ll cost to do the above

[Banana Steve]

Well done Trouble, looks like you are getting used to pole, Well done

[Twiddler]

Originally Posted by Banana Steve

Well done Trouble, looks like you are getting used to pole, Well done

I'm really loving it Steve, it's so accurate and the bait presentation so much better.....and I love the experience to control fish on the pole, not that I had anything over the 3.5lb yet but I'm slowly working my way up.....not too quick though, as I need a bit more practise before I go for slightly larger fish.

Thanks so much for the pole and for introducing me to pole fishing, never knew ho much fun it is.

[fishypaul]

well done claudia,its not as easy ws it looks is it,you did very well in difficult conditions

[Norfolkboy]

Well done Claudia

[Dan B]

am yet to try pole fishing but im sure i will get to it 1 day. Looks like u had a great day at it claudia makes me wanna try it sooner ;)

[Fishing Forum Admin]

Another great read thanks

[BaggieRich]

Well done Twidds... Look at you getting all technical and sophisticated.

You'll never wear the blankers crown again!

Well done my dear.

[Twiddler]

[quote=BaggieRich;137425]Well done Twidds... Look at you getting all technical and sophisticated.

Me? you having a laff now lol.......oh and the crown is still mine when it comes to sea species
So you not save yet to keep it

[Wandering_Angler]

Great report, that Mirror Hybrid, what a breat looking fish!