Percy Veer Ants

[mithrandir]

Well here is the report as promised for our trip to Todber Manor Fisheries.

We arrived about 9-30 and the lake we had chosen was almost empty, two older chaps were just setting up, one man with a pole arrived as we did, another older man arrived a bit after we did, that was going to be all there was all day.

The Lake was like a mill pond as you can see from this picture of Claudia's swim



I set up two pegs along from her and started to tackle up



We fished as the wind pick up and rippled the water and chilled our bones, not the ideal conditions for carp fishing but at least we were out trying. Time ticked away, bait was thrown into the water, and nothing was happening, we did get a bit excited when the lake monster began to swim towards us, but it was onlt Ratty Rat back from his holiday on the island



about 2 o'clock, I got a hard take on the right hand rod and the baitrunner was squealing, I struck into it and played this carp for 5 minutes or so as I worked it into the bank, it kept diving away and making that lovely singing sound of the line going taught in the breeze just before the clutch cuts in.



This one tipped the scales at 6 and a bit pounds, was caught on a cluster of red maggots on a 3" trace from an inline method feeder.

as soon as I had this on the bank Claudia had to run off to her rods as something was happening, and she pulled out a monster



A gudgeon, as you can see from the expression, she was none to pleased to have fished for 4 hours in the cold, watch me catch a lovely carp then hit a bl**dy Gudgeon, ( thought I was going to be sleeping on the sofa again!)

some 20 minutes later I had a very tentative drop off on the same rod and bait, I waited and gently retightened the line and it dropped off almost imediately so I struck and landed, after a short fight, this 4 1/2 lb Bream.
As if by magic as I was unhooking Claudia again landed a monster



It had to be the worlds smallest perch, after her first yesterday, now they were coming thick and fast!
With visions of moving onto the sofa permanently I started to practice pagan rituals to help claudia out fish me, she managed another tiny perch, a nice sized gudgeon and a baby bream, my comments that she had out fished me were not helping, it was going to be a rough journey home if she only caught tiddlers whilst I had a couple of nice fish.

the fishing went quiet again and slowly the sun was getting lower in the sky, the day would soon be over and as the temperature began to rise Claudia's mood began to deepen. I had visions of moving onto the sofa permanently or findig a nice corner in the shed!

Then the miracle happened, the fish began to bite, I looked across to see Claudia's rod bent over like an achers bow, I trottted over to help her with the net as she played the fish until it tired enough to be brought to the net.

As I lifted it clear of the water I could see it was a nice size,and when it hit the scales it was just shy of 9lb, a personal best for claudia



We both hit more fish and as the light faded we were glad that we had stuck it out to the bitter end , that mellowing of the temperature had bought us the best fish of the day in the last hour.



this was Claudia's last fish of the day, a 3 1/2 pounder, and as if the Lords of Karma were getting me back as I reeled in my last rod in the twilight I had a perch no bigger than a minnow on the line.

So in the end we both left happy after a good session, that I nearly said, after the first blank 4 hours, "Let's call it a day and go", I am so glad we stuck at it and got Claudia a lovely PB.

Now we plan our next trip, probably Sunday as we need to do some household chores, venue yet to be determined.

Tight Lines

Mike

[Greenheart]

Great report Mike, & well done on your PB Claudia. After that frost this morning, I think you both did really well. Nice to see a water vole too. Ther'e getting really rare now.

[baitmaster]

great report/pics mithrandir and well done to you for sticking it out on what , looks like it was a cold day but a good result was had by you both well done and also well done claudia on your PB carp

top angling claudia congratulations

tightlines
kevin

[Fishing Forum Admin]

Cracking read / picks and PB

[Fisherdan]

thats it stuff saltwater fishing im doing fresh!... all i want to do is catch a fish over 2lb and then i would be happy for a few months. very nice carp there, i dont see why you should moan catching little saltwater fish. lol... you should be coaching me with the monsters you pull up. well done for a pb

[Twiddler]

Originally Posted by Fisherdan

thats it stuff saltwater fishing im doing fresh!... all i want to do is catch a fish over 2lb and then i would be happy for a few months. very nice carp there, i dont see why you should moan catching little saltwater fish. lol... you should be coaching me with the monsters you pull up. well done for a pb

That's a little carp coach...you should see some of the monsters being caught there....Mike had a 10lb out of there once and that still classes a smallish one.

Told you before, I'm more than happy to take you freshwater fishing if you want to give it a try...all you gotta do is SHOUUUUUUUUUT

[Fisherdan]

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH HH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!

hows that?

[Twiddler]

Originally Posted by Fisherdan

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH HH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!

hows that?

Ok I guess that'll do .......river or lake fishing? lake fishing is getting harder as it gets colder....river fishing seems to be better to catch but not to the size of that carp...your choice

[Norfolkboy]

Well done on your PB Claudia, a lovely looking fish!

Nice one Mike for your catch too.

[Fisherdan]

Originally Posted by Twiddler

Ok I guess that'll do .......river or lake fishing? lake fishing is getting harder as it gets colder....river fishing seems to be better to catch but not to the size of that carp...your choice

i dont mind (Coach!) whatever floats your boat.