Mods on a mission

Norfolkboy · #1 10-18-2006, 01:35 PM

I was sitting at the computer yesterday morning around 10am when I get a phone call from Kev asking if I'd like to go zedding with him. It didn't take long to say yes and by 11.25am we were away down to catch some bait for the day.
We were down and fishing at our chosen spot by 12.30 and the baits were cast out. We were withot a bite for a while, and within 20-30 minutes we realised we were going to struggle.

We upped sticks and back into the car to try a back-up venue where Kev had caught well the other day. The wind was much stronger and was heading right into our faces. There was a lot of canadian pond weed in front of our swim which Kev quickly cleared. No bites were forthcoming and things seemed to be against us. It wasn't too long before we moved and were at venue no.3.
Things looked a bit better as the floats started to bob. We managed 6 small fish (2 bait size) between us within 30 minutes, however as we fed in loosefeed, the fish seemed to shy off. Time was now getting on and we were a little worried we were going to have to come home.

Kev received a phone call from his mate Gary who was down wanting to do some zedding. Kev mentioned how we were struggling and asked Gary if he had any idea's where we could try for some bait. It wasn't long before idea's were exchanged and we met Gary at venue no.4. Handshakes were exchanged and we got to fishing. It was soon bite a chuck and we were bringing in hundreds of bleak and if we were lucky the odd roach and skimmer bream. We soon had enough bait within a short time and we all started to enjoy it with a fish every cast.

Gary was very eager to get the rods out for the zeds, so we all headed to out chosen zed venue and by 5.45 we were all baited up and ready for the session ahead.

The baits were quite lively and it wasn't until the 2nd re-cast when things happened....
We were up by Gary's rods having a chat when Kev's rod bursts into life, we went down to it and typically as soon as we investigated it , the run was aborted. Kev left it for a further 10 minutes, but the predator didn't come back for more. It was soon re-cast with a fresh bait and again we waited.

Time went by with the odd bleep, but all in all it was suprisingly quiet as we were all very confident of a zed or two.
It was time for another re-cast and I was ready to reel in rod number 1. I picked it up and the rod next to it spurted into life, I put rod 1 down again and the run stopped...pick up rod 1 again and the rod went off again, obviously the line from rod 2 had somehow managed to get over rod 1, put rod 1 back in the rest and tightened up a hell of a lot of slack on rod 2, a strike, but nothing was on the end. The bait had been moved 90 degrees to the left of where it was cast and a fish had obviously picked it up, moved it and then dropped it. The thing that baffled us all was the fact it didn't make a single bleep on the indicator.

Fresh baits were put out and again we waited. The time flew by without a run, but we all were enjoying the social side of the session. Gary's rods signalled a bit of action, with the bait all of a sudden getting very aggitated, a short zed run soon followed, but it didn't continue and dropped the bait.

The time was now around 20 past 10 and we were contemplating whether to pack up and head home. Just as we were thinking, a rod to our right signalled a take, we ran up and it was my right rod (myself & Gary both thought it was 1 of Kev's). Kev was there before me and struck into a fish, passed the rod to me and the fight was on. It was great to finally be into a fish after it looked like we were heading for a blank. Soon the net was slipped under a nice zed. At 5lb 12oz it was my second biggest zed, but even if it had been 3lb I would have been happy.
A few quick photo's were taken and he was allowed to go on his way.

With that take in mind, we decided to give it a little longer as the zeds could be feeding a little later. Gary was getting ready to pack up due to him working early in the morning when 1 of Kev's rods burst into life with a great run. He knew it was a decent fish and when it surfaced you just KNOW when it's a better fish.
It was soon netted and all looking into the net, we were convinced it would go into double figures. A check with 2 pairs of scales however proved it wasn't to be. At 9lb 8oz it was still a bloody great fish and I was blown away. It really was a sight to behold and I can only imagine what a fish of 12lb+ must look like!!
Pictures were done and we were all well happy with the result:

We gave it another 20 minutes before packing up slowly and we made our way back to the car very happy anglers!

What started out to be a poor session with struggling to catch baits turned out to be fantastic!

Thanks Kev, it really was enjoyable.

BaggieRich · #2 10-18-2006, 01:50 PM

Great report Dan. Fantastic read.

And well done to you both on the Zeds.. Cracking fish the pair.

I see you've been working on you "BaggieRich smile" (tm).. Good work fella.

Rich.

pingu · #3 10-18-2006, 02:11 PM

great read there dan
you'll be fighting kev for his position as zedmeister soon

nice pics as ever to enhance post as well
dave

baitmaster · #4 10-18-2006, 02:25 PM

a cracking read dan

nice to get your perspective on the session and i can,t really add anything to a great report .
yes i too thought the zed was a bigger than it actually was and was surprised when the scales on the first weighing did not go past 10lb and we had to re-weigh it to show it was infact a big 9lb +.
still a good fish to end a session with especially as it started so slowly
i must add that gary mainly lure fishes for zander and fishing with baits he does not do to often so he was pleased to be given a few tips and same go for him as from our in depth discussion on how zander react to different lures and jigs taught me a few things to which i hope will able to benefit from in my own zedding .
i personally really enjoyed last night and the company was tops and thanks have to go to gary for saving the day as without his guidance we would not been able to locate bait fish on the drain and certainly we would have had to make an early exit home .
so thanks gary

and well done dan on another good zed too

tightlines
kevin