View from your bivvy door.

[ouchthathurt]

last session of the season on the estate lake 

off to pastures new come June 16th 

[InteraX]

1 minute ago, ouchthathurt said:

last session of the season on the estate lake 

off to pastures new come June 16th 

Looks nice. Tight lines.

[InteraX]

First night of the season last night. It was a lot colder than I expected. There was ice on my unhooking mat and bivvy this morning. No bites so far. Still a few hours left though....

[kevtaylor]

On 28/03/2024 at 18:26, Whitstable Jack said:

Lovely looking lake that Kev, and really nice choice of spot. The weather conditions feel ripe for some fish, let us know how you go mate.

Got a cracking 30 common first morning then the crowds arrived and pressured the area and they did the off.

Kept it secret squirrel so no pics till I report it to the syndi, sorry 🐳😎👍

Get in 🙂

[yonny]

3 hours ago, kevtaylor said:

Get in 🙂

Well done Kev👍

[Whitstable Jack]

4 hours ago, kevtaylor said:

Got a cracking 30 common first morning then the crowds arrived and pressured the area and they did the off.

Kept it secret squirrel so no pics till I report it to the syndi, sorry 🐳😎👍

Get in 🙂

Great work that Kev, and fair play for having the forsight to go before the crowds came, so many times the fish shut up shop once that happens hey.

[kevtaylor]

1 hour ago, Whitstable Jack said:

Great work that Kev, and fair play for having the forsight to go before the crowds came, so many times the fish shut up shop once that happens hey.

True - all my May trips (x3) are booked - Thursday - Sunday so I have a better chance of getting in good areas than those arriving Friday.  I used to only fish a Saturday night, now the kids have flown the nest I can do what I want - and will be! 😎👍

[B B]

14 hours ago, kevtaylor said:

Kept it secret squirrel

I was fishing a big double swim with a mate and we both had 2 low 20’s when we saw two anglers heading our way with buckets quick as a lightning he picked up the still wet unhooking mat and threw it into my bivvy then grabbed the net and dropped it in the water. When the guys asked us had we had any luck he answered 1st and said not a thing it’s  been dead. …So off they went on their way and I asked what was all that about he answered there’s empty swims either side of us and they would have jumped in if we told them about the fish and with the extra lines it was a no no. 

[kevtaylor]

11 hours ago, B B said:

I was fishing a big double swim with a mate and we both had 2 low 20’s when we saw two anglers heading our way with buckets quick as a lightning he picked up the still wet unhooking mat and threw it into my bivvy then grabbed the net and dropped it in the water. When the guys asked us had we had any luck he answered 1st and said not a thing it’s  been dead. …So off they went on their way and I asked what was all that about he answered there’s empty swims either side of us and they would have jumped in if we told them about the fish and with the extra lines it was a no no. 

My mate has proper told me off for giving everything away to people who wouldn't give info back the other way, and he is right.  I just want to share the joy help them have a good trip too but it comes back to bite you.  I've hade some mega trips over the years, gave it all away then couldn't get back in the swim again all year and noticed everyone suddenly baiting on mass - so I'm being watched and copied and the tactic stops working.

I kept the sling hidden in the water all trip, dried through the last night, put the mat upside down behind the bivvy like it was drying from the rain, banks sticks straight out the water from holding the net, tripod and scales away, it's a proper job that I'm not used too - bit stressful too, not me at all, but gotta do what I've gotta do - we're chasing the same targets at the end of the day!

I got point blank lied to last spring where captures were all Tench aparently, so they can expect me to be catching the odd Tench too.  Got one saved on my phone for quick access just in case they ask to see a pic of said Tench. 🤣

[B B]

On the flip side of asking questions to anglers I’m always cautious of the answers given back after all I could meet you kev or you could meet me on a lake  😂

[salokcinnodrog]

On 29/03/2024 at 19:47, salokcinnodrog said:

Same swim, 2 weeks later.

I've been putting bait in when I leave, and although I had a walk around didn't see anything to make me want to go anywhere else.

Last week I did have 2 tench over the bait, biggest an estimated 5lb

I ended up with gremlins.

Last night of that session I had a decent run on a pop-up, struck into it and reeled in a bit then had weed clog up the tip ring, so I had to clear it by hand.

Started reeling in again and whatever was there had gone, along with the rig and lead. I think that playing a fish I then pulled the line in front of a pike which bit through the line above the lead.

Or maybe even a pike took the lead as it 'flashed' past disturbing the bottom and bit me off.

 

And don't talk to me about bivvies and wind, having to turn it round in the dark in a hurry while being battered by 70mph winds.

Poor Sky was hiding under the bedchair outside while I was having to use Solar banksticks pushed all the way in to hold it down.

[kevtaylor]

On 03/04/2024 at 13:27, B B said:

On the flip side of asking questions to anglers I’m always cautious of the answers given back after all I could meet you kev or you could meet me on a lake  😂

Well if we do meet and you seen me catch, it was a Tench that got weeded up for 10 mins, so exciting looked 10lb but went 9.14lb - buzzing mate, get on the multi, spinner, up and down rigs 👍🤣

[salokcinnodrog]

Just so people know, I do often do 2 and 1 on single sticks.

I do like the stability of a goalpost setup, but if one rod is better placed in another direction.

The one on single sticks is over a mix of mashed bread, particles, crushed boilies, worms and molehill soil, while the two are being fished with stringers over boilies.

[barry211]

so first time out since september and managed a cheeky day session on local water, great start to the day as not only did my landing net snap on the first fish but also my bite alarm decided it would snap at the bracket so maybe some glue later might work but not convinced. new bite alarm turned up in the shape of this beautiful Robin just sitting on the rod for what seemed like ages

 

despite all of that it was a wonderful feeling being bakside again and had a lovely time with a few very nice carp reckon all under 5lb, will also post up the awesome pic i got of a a carp photobombing my picture of ducks....

[barry211]

took a random picture of ducks to send the family while i was out and just look at the cheeky fish showing off

[B B]

3 hours ago, barry211 said:

took a random picture of ducks to send the family while i was out and just look at the cheeky fish showing off

Photo bombed my a carp lol…nice pic 👍

[jh92]

Back on the res helping with the carp removal 👍it's full at the moment so will be cool to check the depths etc.

I believe it goes down to 130ft and some old building out there.

But yeah just set everything up only to realise I've left the spomb in the car 🤣🤣

[kevtaylor]

Another weekend blank, racking them up.  Left what feels like my peg alone (West end, back of the wind) as there were others either side and only one down the windward end but out the way (East end taking a westerly).

Did Friday night in one swim and had a couple show over the rods at dawn but far more were showing in a vacant swim round the corner, so I planned to move midday get the rods in place early afternoon once it'd gone quiet.  I knew the swim a little and placed rigs all around the edges of the plateau with as little disturbance as possible.  Was absolutely gutted to wake up and nothing showing, just one tiny liner, area seemed dead and noticeably colder than the day before.  That's carp fishing in spring, never kind to me, onto next time.

Oh and pushing that barrow through floods and sticky clay holes full of random brick ends is not the one and will finish me off pretty damn soon, where's that power wheel 🙏🤣

 

Edited April 14 by kevtaylor

[B B]

On 12/04/2024 at 12:43, jh92 said:

I've left the spomb in the car

Sooo that’s why you didn’t spomb the paddles  🤔

[kevtaylor]

Did Thursday to Saturday in one swim this weekend, had a stocky on the stiff hinge rig in the thickest weed bed in the area.

Then back Sunday for the night as I was super keen having caught.  This time chose a swim round the corner as all the fish were there on top but despite expecting a take come first light nothing materialised so back home tail between legs.  Can't wait till Friday to get back down, but might have to fish a flooded swim just to get in the area if it's busy.  Loving my fishing more than ever at the moment - gotta keep pushing on!

[jh92]

21 minutes ago, kevtaylor said:

Did Thursday to Saturday in one swim this weekend, had a stocky on the stiff hinge rig in the thickest weed bed in the area.

Then back Sunday for the night as I was super keen having caught.  This time chose a swim round the corner as all the fish were there on top but despite expecting a take come first light nothing materialised so back home tail between legs.  Can't wait till Friday to get back down, but might have to fish a flooded swim just to get in the area if it's busy.  Loving my fishing more than ever at the moment - gotta keep pushing on!

Never really had to deal with weed before, do you fish in the weed or like find holes?

[kevtaylor]

14 minutes ago, jh92 said:

Never really had to deal with weed before, do you fish in the weed or like find holes?

I'm not looking for big holes or clean spots as such, just a drop every time and a tiny amount of pull back and you're fishing.  In my mind at the moment I'm not looking for clean spots anymore, if only to avoid and find the drops in weed nearby.

Every venue is different but I think on lower stocked venues with wary fish clean spots are treated with extreme caution and hold little natural food e.g. gravel spots.  How many people pick the same obvious far bank markers, find the obvious clear spot, pile bait on it and are surprised when nothing happens, wheres the natural food, wheres the thickest weed, what are they showing over?

I'd rather set up and watch all day for them to show me where to put the traps than rush in crashing leads everywhere, not always possible I know but once you've seen them feeding in an area you dont have to wait next time as everything is written down and measured up.

Edited May 7 by kevtaylor

[kevtaylor]

22 hours ago, jh92 said:

Never really had to deal with weed before, do you fish in the weed or like find holes?

Just to add to find the drops in weed you will only do this if you alter your leading technique or how you get the lead to drop down more vertically, it's no good going down in the usual arc you'll just hit the weed either side of the tiny gap, hang up in the weed and you'll think theres no gaps.  Hit the clip, pull back instantly (rod up verticalish) so the lead is pulled back up towards the surface if you like or scimmed accross the surface, then follow it staight down, reducing the arc massively.

If you can get a drop like that every time and whip the rig back out clean it's perfect.

Hope that makes sense.

Edited May 8 by kevtaylor

[yonny]

1 hour ago, kevtaylor said:

Hit the clip, pull back instantly (rod up verticalish) so the lead is pulled back up towards the surface if you like or scimmed accross the surface, then follow it staight down, reducing the arc massively.

Good tip that. I actually use this method regardless of the size of the spot, makes it easier not having to adjust for small spots surrounded by weed.

Just remember that the spod will have to be wrapped up slightly shorter to accommodate the pull-back (if that makes sense).

[kevtaylor]

1 hour ago, yonny said:

I actually use this method regardless of the size of the spot, makes it easier not having to adjust for small spots surrounded by weed.

Me too - once you start with the technique it's cemented in the brain.  I started after trying to get it to drop in a thin  gulley but the lead would either stick in the far bank clay or swing too far back.