First day out fishing of the year

[muddy_boots]

Went out fishing with my father in law today. Arrived at a new lake to us and thought we would give it a miss as it looked quiet and like not much was happening so went to a lake we've been to before. The day didn't start great for me when I realised that I had forgotten to get batteries for the bite alarms and the wind kept blowing my line in my father in laws line and also my knot tying was not going well today. (I think an evening of preparing some rigs ready is in order)

F-i-L caught the first fish, a small roach. He nearly fell in as the swim as very slippery much to the amusement of a group of anglers who were just leaving.

I struck and landed my first carp of the year on his line as he was talking to a couple of lads a few swims up. I would class that as a joint effort and at least it proved the carp were biting.

After a while of thinking I wish I remembered to get batteries I asked to borrow a spare bite alarm and within moments it was going off to indicate some action (that I would have probably missed without it) Struck and started to reel in and thought I had lost it as the line went easy. Turned out that the fish was swimming towards me. A nice little 8lb common carp. Small, but it had the honour of being the first fish caught on my new rod and reel and made the day worthwhile after everything earlier and was a lesson in perseverance.

So, all in all, glad I managed to get out, even if it was cold and wet and I've broken into next months money already.

[muddy_boots]

Went out my own on Sunday just gone. First time I've been carp fishing alone and only fourth time ever but had a nice afternoon and managed to get a couple of carp on the hook and land one of them.

[barbelblanker]

Nice to start the year catching, well done ! Fourth time ever and catching carp, can't be bad.