Cobbleacre 12th April - 13th April

[Norfolkboy]

Chris and I arrived at Cobbleacre around 8.30am yesterday morning and soon had a quick walk around the lake. Favoured swims were taken, so we settled into one on the corner, unfortunately this limited us to casting far as there were quite a few other anglers around, but we had a couple of features to fish too.
My tactics were simple, semi fixed leads with short braided hooklengths and mainly boilies for bait. Chris was using free running rigs with boilies too.

The fishing was quite slow, but we were happy just to relax and have a bit of a chat. At around midday, Chris' rod screamed off on Honey Yucatan boilie and he was into a hard fighting fish. After removing his second rod to avoid tangles, he was free to play the fish, it took a good 5 minutes plus to get in and was a lovely mirror of 9lb 1oz.



We decided to take another look around the lake around 3pm as we felt a lot of angling pressue was going on in this corner so a move to the opposite end was in order. After 2 anglers vacated the swim we wanted, we were soon settled in at around 5pm.

Kevin (baitmaster) came down to have a chat around this time, and I have to thank him as I learnt LOADS!. If you're ever offered advice from Kevin, take it as the guy knows what he's talking about. For the 2 hours he was there I think my brain was ready to melt as he taught us so much. Kevin can also tell a cracking story, and I really think he should be offered a job as an angling writer as it's clear he has so much enthusiasm for the hobby.
Anyway, after Kev left my tactics changed to what he had recommended. This involved changing the semi fixed leads to free running rigs and baits changed. 1 rod was placed close in on 2 real grains of sweetcorn with a piece of pop up corn to pop it up about 1 inch off the lake bed. I also due to Kevin's reccomendations changed to slack lines, and fished into the setting sun ( )
Other rods were cast to the middle of the lake and near the island. Baits were boilies back to back and a shaved down boilie. Chris was also doing something similar. A bit of bait was placed over 2 of the rods.

The night sky:


After a relatively quite night, we awoke at 6.55am to Chris's rod tearing off. After a decent fight, I landed a lovely Ghostie for him at 13lb 2oz.



Anyway, with Chris's rods recast I put a bit more bait over the corn rod fished close in.
At around 11am the rod tore off as we were doing a bit of float fishing. "Great" I thought, this will save the blank if I can land it. After originally thinking it could be a tench, the fight became stronger and it was obviously a carp. After some careful playing of the fish, trying not to bump it off Chris soon netted a beautiful golden common of 9lb 12oz, not quite a double but a decent fish to save the blank!





Not much more action was had on the rods, but I didn't mind as to be honest I just wanted to enjoy the scenery and wildlife after that fish.

The session was soon over and I left knowing loads more, this is all done to Kevin, so again a big thankyou to him Cheers mate.

To finish the session, we were greeted by a hungry robin who snatched up the left over maggots.

[carper-chris]

really enjoyable session and thanks to Kevin i also learnt loads, nice meeting you.

[fishypaul]

great report and pics dan very well done.

and welcome to the forum chris

[Rob M]

Brilliant report Dan, well done to the both of you, some lovely fish there. You're right about one thing-Kev is a mine of knowledge and thankfully he doesn't mind sharing it!

Rob

[Fishing Forum Admin]

Cracking read mate and lovely fish

[pingu]

great read and pictures as ever there dan and must add totally agree with robs reply about kev (top banana)




ps that lucky hoodies holding up well there dan

[baitmaster]

well thank you dan and welcome to the forum chris
a nice read and again some good fish to boot

its good you caught and i,m glad i could help in some way and if i can give sound advice i will .

glad we met and had a chat and a social and i think i will not be long before we have a session together

tightlines
kevin

[kiwimarty]

Nice one Dan

[Charter Skipper]

Nice one Dan,some cracking fish ......

[Greenheart]

Excellent report & pics there Dan & some nice fish too especially the ghostie. I,ve got one in my garden pond & it's outgrowing the pond rapidly.