It's been a while since I last posted anything for the simple reason that my fishing has been pants!

Since I don't believe in posting stuff unless there is something interesting to say, I have left it until now before adding anything. Although this post is dated 1st.March, the following relates to sessions several weeks ago...

[Note - I've decided to record these Blogs a little differently to that previously. The text you see here are direct transcripts from my Field Log, notes made at the waterside, at the time of fishing. I feel that not only are they more relevant but more accurate in recording my mindset at the actual time of fishing. Well that's what I think anyway!] Notes shown in italics are my afterthoughts made subsequent to events.

Wednesday, 10th.January

The Willows, Langley’s Speci

The Willows is a relatively new 'commercial' water that is very close to my home and contains a good stock of carp, four (at least) of which are over thirty pounds. It's a funny old water I find. It's one of those places where I know there are good fish - but I just cannot bring myself to fish it more often than I do. There's just something about the place I cannot connect with; old stagers will know what I mean. Call it a lack of empathy, understanding of the place, or what you will, I just never feel confident there and do not have a desperate need to extract one of its larger residents - even though I know they are there and they are worth catching.

Peg: The Car Park

11.00

Both rods out on their spots. The l.h. rod is aimed at the gap between the two trees on the island and is clipped at 4 + 3 wraps. This, after landing in the island a couple of times, the splashing being most detrimental to the fishing. Hope I haven’t buggered things with all this disturbance.

The r.h. rod I walked round and dropped in quietly, but I have decided I won’t do this in future because of the big bow in the line caused by having to walk the thing back. I think I’ll clip at 5 and see how far I get.

11.30

R.h. rod re-cast at 5 + 2 wraps - will go 6 + 2 next time.

I used to have a real aversion to commercial carp fisheries - they were nothing more than ‘nod puddles’ and any carp caught from them did not equate to the ‘wilder’ fish caught from club and big water ticket venues. I have learnt over the years that commercials now, definitely have their place in the modern carp fishing scene. Sure, the fishing is as different as chalk and cheese, but I defy anyone to claim commercial fish are easier to catch and are thus ‘worthless’. Quite the opposite in fact; I have found them singularly far more difficult. I suppose this is because the pressure on them is far greater than on the big water and club venues where there are less anglers constantly on the water and far less fish are caught. The commercial fish have seen it all and seem extremely ‘riggy’, at least that is what I am finding at Orchard Place Farm and The Willows. If I get one here it will be more of an achievement than the conventionally recognised. I for one will be a happy man when that happens.

12.45

Just had a look next door in ‘Kingfishers’ and this looks very good for a bite. There is an overhanging willow tree giving cover overhead, just what carp like. Think I might try this next time.

13.15

The coots are driving me nuts. They are repeatedly diving on the baits and picking them up resulting in full-bloodied runs! They must also be eating the maggots I have catapulted out so this rather suggests my efforts will be scuppered until nightfall when I hope they will go home to bed!

13.30

L.h. rod re-cast to a point between the willow tree and the island (out from Kingfishers). Done in an attempt at fooling the coots.

14.15

It’s all change: I am now installed next door in Kingfishers. This does two things. It puts more distance between me and the fish and it also gives me access to the willows tree area. I really like the look of this and I could see fish coming in under the branches. There is also open water which I described earlier.

15.00

Bummer!… Reeled in to re-cast and got caught in a beast of a snag! Turns out it was line going right round the island and into the reeds. Reeling the thing in I lost the lot on line which seemed to be going everywhere! A job for Karl to get rid of it. Both baits in the channel to the right.

Thursday, 11th.January

08.00

It’s a typical winter session. Grey, dull, overcast, raining. There was a screamer last night, just as it was getting dark and momentarily I felt attached to something - I was in the process of tightening down on the clutch, and I felt something on for a few seconds - but then it was off. I think it was probably another coot pickup. During the night however I had a series of small lifts and twitches on the r.h. rod which I struck. At first I thought I had missed the fish but when I reeled in there was one of the baby spawnlings on the end - all four ounces of it! This was the only action of what was an otherwise blank night.

Rigs - although only pick-ups (and misses) have been from the coots, I have decided to change the rig. I think the lengthwise artificial maggot I have as a ‘distance piece’ between the maggots and the bend of the hook makes the whole ensemble too long in that the fish can pick up the maggot cluster in its mouth without engaging the hook point.

Didn’t have a thing last night. Nothing moving. Do they feed here in the middle of winter or do they just shut up shop like they do on the Scout Lake? Could it be that it’s just not fishing at the moment?