Getting to know dudmaston.

[barbelblanker]

Well since I got to fish this place I made a very conciouse decision NOT to fish the same swim twice till I'd pretty much covered most of the lake. Within sensible limits that is, of course. One end of the lake is 20 foot deep so not prime summer fishing . I'd decided to fish the western bank the other side of a tree that I had a howler of an evening the other day when I just couldn't get anything right.

THis time I was taking a two rod approach. One was a method feeder on pretty heavy duty gear near the tree . Believe it or not I had never used a method feeder till then. Missed out didn't I , what a simple and neat way to fish. I'm convinced.

THe other was classic waggler but with one aa down near the hook and the rig set ovre depth. The AA settles the tip down to about half an inch. As I am fishing on a gently slope I need to know the bait is on the bottom , so the idea is to set the AA at just over depth so it is in the bottom and then reel in a little to "set" the tip. This is a very sensitive approach and shows lift bites , but more often sail away positive indications.

Bait was luncheon meat or corn (or both) and the groundbait was half crumb with sensas exploding feeder and a chocolate pellet type bait. All mixed. As always I also used hemp both as a loose feed and in the groundbait.

To cut a short session (just over two hours) down I ended up with 4 tench all over five with the biggest 5 6. Missed quite a few bites and lost two fish.

So the only real swims left to try are the lilly pads, stinks bay, the really shallow bit by the road end and the nearest swim on the road side. Once I've covered them I'll be settling in to a few favourites.

Despite the fact that it is the start of the season and there were at least three other people on the lake I felt like I had it all to myself. I am rapidly falling in live with this place :)