Some Days Nothing Goes Right!

[peakoverload]

Today I paid a return visit to my local club lake. I've fished this lake a few times now and already knew that it is snaggy as hell but it is jam packed full of Carp.

I arrived at 8am and was surprised that there were only 2 other cars in the car park as this lake is one of the most popular of all the club waters. Once I had crossed the farmers field and entered the wood around the lake it was deathly quiet only 2 of the 15 swims were taken which is most unusual.

I had wanted to fish Swim 1 or failing that Swim 15 as these are the best swims for Carp. Unfortunately Swim 1 was already taken so I made my way around to Swim 15. I'd never fished this swim before and on arrival could see why. Both Swim 1 and 15 give access to a thin lane of water that goes around the side of the island and both sides of the lake and lined with thick, thick, thick brambles extending about 1 meter into the water. Whilst Swim 1 gives you a clean line of sight down this lane, Swim 15 doesnt and you have to do a semi blind side cast down it.

I set up my Carp rod with a semi fixed rig and cast out a couple of rod lengths and put it on the bite alarm whilst I set up the float rod. Two minutes later a run and I strike into a small Carp which instantly takes me into the brambles and snags me up. There's nothing I can do to free it and so I pull on the line, the bomb comes off the safety clip and the hook pulls free from the snag minus the fish.

Never mind, 2 minutes later and a new bomb is on the safety clip and make a perfect cast into the center of the channel and start to set the float rod up again. I'd just plummed the depth as I wanted to fish the float using the lift method when another run comes. I strike into what appeared to be a 4lb Wild Carp which again takes me into the brambles. A bit of constant pressure pulls the fish free of the snags and out into clear water but as I bring the fish closer in it makes a sudden dash under a fallen tree and this snags my line in it's branches! Now my line is going through the tree branches and straight into the water with the fish still on the other end and now the only way of getting this fish to the bank would involve dragging the fish out of the water, over the tree, back into the water and to the net! I'm now stuck, there's no way I can get this fish in but it won't come off the line either! I decide to try and give it a lot of line so that it can swim away from the tree where I would then cut my line allowing the fish to go free where it could then shed my barbless hook. This seems to be working and I cut my line but then am horrified as it appears that the line has now got tied into the branches and this poor fish can't get free. There's now absolutely nothing I can do unless I jump in but seeing as the water is deep and I can't swim this wasn't on the cards!

There isn't anything else I can do and I throw my Carp rod to the ground in disgust. I know that in time the hook will come out and the fish will go free but it's not nice to see a Carp tethered to a branch when it's your fault!

I try to fish using my float rod but my hearts not in it anymore and the tethered Carp is scaring all the other fish off. I'm just considering moving to another swim when thankfully I see the fish shed the hook and swim off free. Phew! However I still decide to move to the other side of the lake and fish Swim 8.

I quickly tie a new rig and cast out a feeder with my Carp rod to the island and then check the depth on my float rod and cast out a waggler on the lift method fishing half way to the island. It's all incredibly quiet. Only 2 other anglers when there's usually only a couple of free swims and no signs of any fish when there is usually constant fish jumping, fish slurping at the surface, tail swirls, feeding bubbles etc etc but today, nothing, not a sign.

After a couple of hours I'm just beginning to loose hope and take my eye of the float and an woken from my day dream by my line shooting across the lake as a fish hooks itself. A strong fight ensues and it feels like a good fish. It turns out though that it feels bigger than it is because it's foul hooked but eventually I manage to net a 5lb Carp. Thinking this might be a sign of things changing for the better I cast back out straight into a tree! In trying to free the line it snaps and I have to set up again.

I set-up again using a Pellet Waggler and cast back out but now there is no sign of anything. An hour or so pass and then the Carp rod gets a run. Again I strike into a small Carp but it again takes me straight into snags and breaks me off.

A new rig again and another cast and that's pretty much the last I hear from that rod. Nothing is happening using the Pellet Waggler so I switch back to my old float and try again. I start getting lots of bites but can't hit them and then in trying to get back out after missing yet another bite I again cast into the trees on the island and get snapped off!

By now I've really had enough and give up on the float and switch to a quiver tip. Casting a feeder to the island is a lot more easy but I'm getting pestered by lots of small Roach and Bleak. Just as I take my eyes off the quiver for a second it lurches round and I strike slightly late into a Carp but I didn't set the hook properly and it pulls free. Just as that happens the Carp rod gets a final run and yet again I strike into a Carp which yet again takes me into the snags which yet again snaps me off!

I give up!

[BoldBear]

I hate those days where everything seems to go wrong, sounds like your day was such a day.
Never mind it happens to most of us occasionally. I am glad that it doesn't usually happen that often (crossed fingers).

[NICK R]

Nice report

i think we have all had one of those days

[Maddison_Twatter]

Wow , what a bad day.
Well done for persevering though. Sounds like your lake could do with some maintenance.