Hot, sunny, and some fish...

Baz T · #1 05-24-2010, 06:41 PM

Mid afternoon on Friday, the wife suggested I should make the most of the weather, and despite having a trip planned with my son on Sunday, she said I should go for an evening session too if I wanted. Well, before she had finished speaking, I was in the tackle cupboard, getting my gear out.
Went up to Milemead fishery, arriving at about 4.00 pm. Was travelling light, with a float rod, reel, couple of mono hair rigs, mat and landing net - plus bag of chum mixer. (and the mandatory flask and sandwiches).
Not a breath of wind, baking hot, and only 2 other anglers on the whole lake ...bliss.
With so few anglers it meant I could go round and drop a few chum mixers in several swims. By the time I had tackled up and went to check the first swim, there was already some interest the floaters. Within 10 minutes I had hooked and landed my first fish. By 7.15pm, I had caught 12 carp, the largest being 10lb 8oz.
I was hot, sweaty, and dehydrated by this time, and decided to call it a day, and go home for a nice cool bacardi n coke or two.

Sunday arrived - and my son and I once again went up Milemead, arriving about 1 pm. We werent sure how busy it was going to be, as there was a match on one of the lakes, and the canal, which meant only 1 lake left for the non match anglers. On arrival we were glad to see our favourite swims were free, with about 4 swims around us empty also, so in went the chum mixer.
My son opened the session with an 8lb 8oz carp, and after that it was tit for tat. We ended up with 11 fish to me, and 9 to him, all averaging around 6 - 8lb in weight.
I fish very light, perhaps too light, as I use a 13ft shimano hyperloop rod, with 4lb or 5lb line(cant remember), and it means I cant bully the fish to the net and I just gotta let them run. However I am considering stepping up the gear a bit, and use a feeder rod, with perhaps 6-8lb line. I rarely lose a fish however, but gotta make sure that clutch is set right.
I did hook a cracker of a fish on Sunday. I saw some fish taking some floaters further out in the lake. You are not allowed to use bubble or controller floats for surface fishing at Milemead, however with the light line, and float rod, I can cast a chum mixer pellet a fair distance. I managed to get it out to the feeding fish, and all of a sudden, a big swirl, and the next thing I know is my line is whizzing off the reel, rod bent double, clutch set as tight as I can get away with, and this fish just kept going, and going - and going. It ended up the other side of the lake, and decided to take me on a tour fo the lake, circumnavigating it whilst I held on for dear life. Eventually, little by little I made ground, and after quite a while got it within 10 foot of the bank. My son and I caught a glimpse of it - well into double figures, and by far the biggest fish we have seen on the lake, with a tail the size of a shovel. Yet again it kept swimming off, stripping line, and yet again I got it within netting distance, but it had its head down, and with one swirl of its tail it was gone !!
I thought my line had broken, but on checking, the hook was still there, so the hook must have pulled free.
Gutted isnt the word - but it was great fun hanging on, and we reckon it was 15lb or more. At least it will be there for next time.

2 PICS BELOW - Lake to myself..

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Pic Below - Porky 10lb 8oz - shame he flicked just as I took pic and his bottom fin ended up sticking out
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BELOW - 3 pics from the Sunday session

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