Usual Monday

Well the year is rapidly coming to a close and last night there was a definite chill in the air. The big guns had all been on the water in the past few days and struggled to scrape together a fish or 2 each so I wasnt over flowing with confidence even though it was a lovely evening. I went back to using back leads to keep the lines pinned down and also to keep the mainlines out of the way while playing fish on one of the other rods. When the run came I was glad The other lines were out of the way and I didnt need to recast them but the extra weight penduleming around close to the hook made me concerned about the hook pulling. A short scrap mostly near the net preceeded a nice fat mirror of 15lb 8oz pulling the scales down.

Future Plans

The winter is coming and theres no stoping it so all I can do make some plans to get through it as best as possible and hope for the best. firstly I want to do some sea fishing and try using halibut pellet on hair rigs. Maybe even adding something like squid and mackerel strips. I was also considering using a maggot feeder filled with pellet. As always I'd like to have a crack at some big pike with my good friend Jay. Not sure where yet but probably on one of the local rivers. Talking of rivers I'm hoping to get out and try for some roach and chub. As with all plans...... the best laid plans of mice and men!

Under Capenwray

We returned to dive at the flooded quarry near Blackpool known as Capenwray on Sunday. Those big roach made their usual appearance and also the gnarly old trout.

I Love Autumn Fishing

Autumn is always a great time on my local water, I had an eye on the weather and noticed cloud coming in on monday which meant warmer evenings. Sure enough after arriving in my warm gear ready for a chilly night the wind dropped complete and it was surprisingly warm. I agonised briefly whether to fish into the wind or on the back of it if it was going to be on the chilly side. I decided to fish on the back of the wind in my favourite corner but in the end it turned out to be a little acedemic as the wind dropped completely. With all 3 rods set up on simple semi fixed leads and S7 bottom baits I sat back to wait. Shortly after dark my left hand rod indicator dropped back and remained motionless, about 5 minutes later the indicator pulled up nearly back to its original position. I left it for a few more minutes then reeled in to check my rig, on picking up the rod a realised there was a fish on and I reeled a 10lb mirror into the net. The most uninspiring run I've ever had! A short time later the ame rod raced off and a second mirror almost the same size ended up in the net. I was due to pack up but decided to have a last cast because it felt like the kind of night where anything was possible. With a few minutes before I was due to pack up I was congratulating myself on 2 fish when the same rod went off again and it was clear that this was a better fish. Sure enough a lovely common slid into the net and pulled the scales down to 19lb 11oz. Theres every chance the fish could have gone to 20lb as I weighed the fish in my unhooking mat and slipped the old girl back in the same mat. I think the mat absorbed lots of water and so wieghed more than it did when I weighed the fish. Still a great fish and I'll settle for 19lb 11oz.