Tuesday afternoon...Corn Hill again!!

[northern eye]

After a great Sunday morning, fishing at Corn Hill in North Yorkshire (see my previous report) I had an opportunity for a short afternoon session so decided to return to this lovely little venue armed only with my pole, some maggots and a bit of groundbait.

I selected a swim on Lake 2 which faced onto the tip of an island. This gave me open water to the left and a tempting channel to the right. Directly in front of me grew a patch of rushes, still brown and broken from the grip of winter. My position gave me three possible areas in which to fish, and all could hold their own secrets.

Each swim was given a preliminary sprinkle of red and white maggots from a small pole cup whilst I set up and plumbed the different areas. The swims were virtually the same in depth at 9 metres out so I chose to set the float about six inches off the bottom. The water was deep here, about three feet so set up the rig with a group of shots just above the hook length so that the bait sank quickly. I used a small dibber float and a size 18 hook, holding one white and one red maggot.

I shipped out to the patch of rushes and cupped about 20 maggots into the area. It was not long before the float sank positively and I lifted into the first fish of the day, a pristine fish of 6oz and my first rudd of the year. The rudd were obviously holed up here by the rushes and I got into a pattern of feeding a small amount of maggots each time I caught and shipped out but into the different swims so the one I was fishing got freebies, one in every three whilst the others were gradually fed up in preparation. The rudd here were almost rose gold in colour and very plump and eager to feed. It really was a fish a chuck.

After a nice run of rudd I changed swims to the area of open water. I had thrown in a few small balls of Sensas Lake Red mixed with ground hemp to get things going and decided to use a single red maggot for starters with about ten in the cup. This swim was not as forgiving and it was maybe ten minutes before something started to show an interest. The float was knocked and pulled along but when I lifted up there was no resistance. I shipped in and rebaited. This time I used three red maggots. No sooner had the grubs sank and the float sailed away and under. A gentle lift and I was into a better stamp of fish. The elastic slid from the pole tip, controlling the fish and allowing me draw it to the net. It was a roach. A big roach! Weighing possibly a pound or more, she was certainly a nice fish and I hurriedly slipped her back and got back on the case. After another ten minutes the float was away again and another chunky roach took the bait, smaller this time but just as beautiful. I took five nice silvers from this swim before it went silent and it was time to try the tempting channel on the right.

I used white maggots here with two on the hook. The bites came immediately and it was not long before I started to get small perch. It seemed the different species were all hanging around in separate areas and my mind was now filled with thoughts of hooking a big perch as the light began to fade. I tied on a larger hook, size 14, and bunched on as many maggots, red and white, as the hook could hold without fouling the point. The little bites stopped and I waited, hoping that a larger specimen had entered the swim. The sun had set but there was still enough light to see the yellow float tip disappear below the surface. I lifted in to what felt like a superb fish and in the gloom I could not see what was stretching the elastic. Whatever it was did not want to give in without a fight and I moved the pole out to face the open water in case the fish made a run for the overhanging bush on the island. Carefully and gradually I dismantled the pole, section my section, slowly teasing the fish towards the net and then I had him. A wonderful perch of two pounds lay in the net, its dorsal fin on full display and fins as deep red as blood. It truly was a magical catch and as the last light fell away I slipped him back into the water to fight another day.

In the two short sessions I have had at Corn Hill this year, the results have been very promising and I was thinking with excitement about what lays in store when spring finally arrives and the carp start to feed. It costs £45 for a season ticket here and I am sure it will be worth every penny.

[SIMPLE MAN]

Nice report mate,and some cracking fish to

[northern eye]

Originally Posted by SIMPLE MAN

Nice report mate,and some cracking fish to

Cheers Simple Man...this little venue has given me a couple of top notch sessions in the past week. I know the carp & tench grow big here so lookin forward to some good days. Big perch (PB), good roach & rudd and only a 20 minute drive away from my front door :)

[pingu]

looking positive for the future sessions. nice one

dave

[northern eye]

Great to get back on a stillwater again and catching - Been a bleak winter up here and not had much luck on the rivers. Here's to the future Dave... I'll drink to that!!

[BoldBear]

Great report. Sounds like you had a good day, and what a good Perch.

[northern eye]

Originally Posted by BoldBear

Great report. Sounds like you had a good day, and what a good Perch.

Was a great day and to end with a personal best is even better...was just saying to my mate the other week that I wanted a big perch this year so to come so early in the season is a good feeling.