Birch Grove Bonanza!
Posted by Julian, Oct 2 2006, 12:30 PM
Finally managed to sort my Birch Grove Pictures from the week before last.
It was a great week even though I had to go home a few days early for my brothers wedding, how selfish was he - getting married during our week on Birch!!
It was a great week as usual, although it was a little sad in one regard; Anne who has been the Landlady at the Admiral Duncan for the last six years or so has decided to move on, and things definitely won’t be the same without her, and typically, she held a leaving do on the same day as I had to shoot back home for my brothers wedding. The guy’s tell me it was a good do though – from what they can remember!
Anyway, back to the fishing, we took 12 fish between us, with as far as I’m aware, no losses – I know Chris and I banked every one we hooked, which was pleasing for a water with so many snags. Arrived at dinner time on the Sunday with Chris and Myself fishing the Main Boards, with Shaun and Miffer in the Compound. I think these are in the order that we had them;
Chris - 11lb 12oz common 
Miffer - 20lb 6oz common 
Me - 23lb 12oz mirror
Shaun - 15lb+ common
Chris – 21lb 6oz common
Me – 21lb+ common
Miffer – 29lb 3oz common
Me – 20lb 4oz common - stalked 
Chris – 22lb 12oz 
Me – 27lb 12oz mirror
Chris – 24lb 3oz mirror
Only one missing is Miffer’s 17+ common which he had after I left on the Friday morning.
The stuff that dreams are made of....
Posted by Julian, Sep 29 2006, 02:58 PM
Having just re-read my last entry, I have to raise a wry smile. I added it just before I set off for a few days fishing with Elton down on the syndicate lake. In the entry and wrote about how I just had a feeling that it was going to be a good session as all the omens were looking good.
Just how good it actually ended up being surpassed any hopes that I might have had before hand, and looking back I still can’t believe how everything just seemed to fall into place. That’s not to say it was easy fishing, far from it, there was quite a bit of weed about and it took time to feature find accurately in order to locate spots I was happy with, but once I had, it all seemed to go like clockwork – my best ever session, topped by my first UK thirties, and yes, that’s plural! – A 30 mirror and a 30 common amongst a whole host of absolute stunners – the stuff dreams are made of!
Sincere thanks to Steve Burke for making it all happen, to be honest, it’s still not sunk in yet!
Final tally for four nights was;
27lb 12oz Mirror
27lb Mirror
26lb Common
33lb 4oz Mirror
30lb 8oz Common
26lb 6oz Mirror
21lb Mirror
14lb Common
A few pictures;
Arrived at around 3pm Monday and decided on ‘Middle River’. Had a bit of a social with Elt and finally got my rods in just after 8pm;
First action came at 10am the following morning from my distance rod, a stunning mirror at 27lb 12oz.
After we spotted a fish boil in the margins during the morning I found a clear spot and dropped some of Mick’s new bait on it at around 2pm – two and a half hours later and off it went – 27lb mirror.
The following morning at around 6am the same rod produced another; a mint 26lb common.
During the day Elton banked the 18lb 4oz, then, at around 11pm my distance rod produced the big fella, all 33lb 4oz of it!!;
After a bit of a celebration I baited up again and the same rod produced the big common at 6.30am the following morning!
10.00am and the same rod produced this stunning 26lb mirror;
Elton snuck the 21lb common minutes after and his stunning linear came later in the day. I then had this 21lb mirror at around 8pm.
My final fish came just after 1am on the Friday, a small but stunning common of 14lb which fought well above its weight.
Big thanks to Elton for all the piccy’s and to Steve for the hospitality, a session I’ll never forget!
Christmas Comes Early…
Posted by Julian, Aug 20 2006, 08:19 AM
What is it about preparing for a big fishing trip that makes us behave like little children?
I don’t know the answer but it’s an interesting thought. I used to have one big ‘build-up mission’ prior to the ‘off’ on the Top Pool each June, where I would spend a whole week in pursuit of genuine Leney originals, but with Izaak’s arrival this year my fishing to date has consisted of one rod and a bag of dog biscuits - so not much sorting required there!
However, last weekend I got the green light for four nights fishing (starting tomorrow). Yes, that’s FOUR NIGHTS, count them! I don’t think I’ve done four hours in one session this year, never mind four nights - so I can’t wait! As such, the week has been a preparation marathon – obtaining new line, tackle and bait, spooling reels, tidying gear, tying rigs, buying food, and everything else associated with a big session away.
I’ve been like a kid at Christmas every morning on waking as I count down to D-Day with my first thought being an urgent awareness of the days pre-fishing tasks I need to cross off the list. Well, almost my first thought – my first ‘urgent awareness’ is usually that Izaak’s nappy is in dire need of changing!
The preparation is almost complete; rods are set-up, bags are packed, bait has been prepared, and food is chilling in the fridge. However, there is always the is the anxiousness before a big one; have I packed everything, will I catch, what will the weather do, will the lake look ‘fishy’, will we get a decent swim, will we, will we………?
There comes a point where everything is ready and all you can do is twiddle your fingers and thumbs until you are out of the door and away. That point will not come until 9am tomorrow morning, and I know today is going to drag on forever, and that I probably won’t be able to get to sleep tonight, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. For me it’s what it’s all about – the nervous excitement when I think about the treats that may lie ahead.
Whether I ultimately catch or not makes little difference. Don’t get me wrong I shall try my hardest to bank a few whilst I’m there, but when in such good company, on one of the nicest lakes in the country, and with over one hundred hours of non-stop enjoyment ahead of me… who cares!
… but I guess it would be nice! 
From one extreme…
Posted by Julian, Jul 28 2006, 09:16 AM
Went back to Deep Hayes last night for a few hours surface fishing. I went in the evening as a friend has joined but he’s not as keen on the early morning sessions as me so we went down after work!
Straight away I noticed a massive difference in the behaviour of the fish. Although they were about in numbers like normal, they were much more on edge and were much harder to get going – no doubt because for most of the day they had been subjected to all manner of ‘approaches’ from the local school kids, who now on summer holidays, were occupying quite a few swims, though in fairness, the main competition between them seemed to be who could shout the loudest! – better that than stuck at home on the Play station though, I suppose.
Either way it was a good hour before I managed to connect with my first fish, a little mirror of around 7lb. As the fish neared netting I could clearly see the dog biscuit just inside its mouth, but once netted and up on the mat I was amazed that the hook and biscuit had now moved deep into its mouth. I always carry some long nosed pliers but even with those it was a job to reach the hook and get it out. The only thing I can put it down to is the barbless hook (which unfortunately the club insists upon) as it must have dislodged immediately upon netting before the fish tried to take it further back. Another example of how they can end up doing more harm than good, in my opinion.
Shortly after the sun dipped below the trees behind me I moved around the other side of the lake to fish areas that were still in sun allowing me to spot the fish, but the remainder of the session proved extremely frustrating. I was hooking them but just could not bank them – I think I lost around seven fish on the bounce. I don’t think any of them were particularly big, but once hooked they went hell for leather to reach a huge set of sedges and as I tightened down on the run each one would become the eventual victor.
I managed to bank one at the death, a nice plump mirror of around 9lb, but I can’t say I was overly pleased with the evenings events and I might just have to concede that it’s best to stay away from that swim. The odd thing is that the other week I banked about nine fish of the same swim within two hours without one fish trying to make it to the sedges – I was able to play all in open water. The only difference being that it was on one of my early morning sessions – food for thought?
Frustrated!
Posted by Julian, Jul 26 2006, 08:24 AM
Did another early morning session today – first time on another new water! I’m getting about a bit lately! Lovely lake of about three acres with more features, bays, points, snags, pads and back waters than you could shake a stick at. I went up with Izaak for a quick reccy at the weekend but he started balling ten minutes into the job so I had to come home, but saw enough to know it was worth a stab (couple of good doubles and one perhaps a scraper twenty).
Got there at dawn with the intention of fishing off the top, and quickly found some stunning mirrors in the margins – only problem was that I could not get their heads up! They were up and down the margin every five minutes but proper tails-up and heads down – not interested in surface baits whatsoever, even though it was only about a foot deep?
Just happened to have some particle mix in the car so went back, changed tack and used a bit of maize from the mix as hookbait. For the next two hours they mopped up big time, inches from the bank, but could not get a pick up. Very frustrating – If I’d have had a worm I reckon I could have nailed one in a matter of minutes. Some you lose, eh? 
Plenty learned though, and some stunning fish spotted, a group of three mirrors kept coming back time and time again. Two were about 14-15lb and the third was about 19lb – a lovely lightly scaled mirror with a very long body.
A couple of coarse anglers turned up at about 7am, set up right opposite, and started hammering in poles of every description for about twenty minutes. That was the last I saw of the fish. Decided to pull off early as I was only getting more wound up the longer I stayed so stopped off at Deep Hayes on the way back, and snuck a nice 13lb mirror off the top. There were a few kids on with it being the holidays so I had an audience for the duration – just glad it stayed on!
Right, were did I put those worm rigs…
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Well and truly knackered!
Posted by Julian, Jul 19 2006, 10:21 AM
I did another session on my new little water yesterday morning; I set the alarm for 4am and was at the water for around half past, just as it was coming light. It was only my third time on the water, and like the previous two sessions, I went after the carp off the surface, armed with one rod, net, mat, essentials and a big bag of flavoured dog biscuits!
The last session had brought a lovely 17lb plus common to the net, one of nine fish I took during a few hours fishing, and whilst well chuffed with what I considered a great result, I was strangely confident of a rerun for the session about to unfold.
The conditions were perfect when I got to the water, completely free of wind and very hot, even at just gone 4am! I was the only one on so quickly got my gear and headed down to my favoured high bank swims, which sit a little higher than the rest so they are great for observing fish once the sun comes up as you can then try and target the larger carp to cast to in open water.
As soon as I got on the swim I catapulted out a few pouchfuls of mixers, and before I had even finished I heard the first ‘Schlooop’ as a greedy carp took a bait within seconds of it hitting the water. A grin rapidly spread across my face as I quickly readied my rod.
What followed was an unbelievable session, and one which completely surpassed any expectations I might have had beforehand. Between 5am and 9am I must have had around twenty to twenty five fish, the simple truth is that I stopped counting after about fifteen!
Nothing managed to beat the 17lb’er from the last session, but with an average size of 8-9lb, all gave a great account of themselves on the light 6.9lb line I was using, and in amongst them were a handful of good fish to around mid doubles.
By the time I left for work just after 9am I was exhausted. The water lies deep in a wooded valley and as soon as the sun peaked over the tops of the trees at about 6am I was in full sun for the remainder of the session, and boy was it hot! 27 degrees by the time I went home.
I’m well chuffed with the way the plan is going thus far. Having walked around a few times after work near to the start of the season, there were always a few on, and the odd one or two who were surface fishing weren’t doing so well, so I decided on the early morning tactic when I figured the fish would not be so spooked from all the anglers, and as it’s a day-only water, I had a good chance of being among the first on so would be able to move around freely from swim to swim without worrying about other anglers. As it goes I’ve had the place to myself each morning with the odd one arriving just before I head off to work!
The aim is still to have one of the larger fish. Research turned up about three or four that can and have done over twenty pounds at some point, the largest a common of around twenty five. So far I’ve not had any definite sightings but I’ve seen some impressive shadows drifting by just beyond my baited area when the sun is up, some of which would certainly be impressive on the bank.
In the meantime I’m happy catching whatever comes my way, after all, the whole point of joining the place was that it was right on my doorstep and would simply allow me to do a bit when I had a few hours to spare, rather than having to drive distances to my specimen waters, and besides, it’s great fun…
… and isn’t that what it’s all about?
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Not This Year...
Posted by Julian, Jun 1 2006, 02:05 PM
Ahhh… The 1st June. Traditionally the first day of the season on Stoke-on-Trent AS waters for those who have completed work party’s and historically the time when you’ll find me stuck up on the Top Pool for two weeks solid before the crowds arrive on the 16th – but not this year. 
Commitments elsewhere meant I was unable to complete the work parties and even if I had, I doubt I’d have been able to get an away pass from home. As such, last night was a bit of a weird one; I still found myself looking at the clock every few minutes leading up to the stroke of midnight - even though I was at home tucked up in bed watching TV with Lisa and little one!
Old habits die hard I guess - this is probably my first time off the water at the start for maybe seven or eight years – ho hum.
I made sure I switched off my phone before I went to bed - Not being there was bad enough, but to get a text off a mate to say he’d just bagged a biggie…well that would just be cruel!
Fully Scaled Mirrors R Us!
Posted by Julian, May 31 2006, 08:46 AM
I managed to sneak a few hours surface fishing on Blackwood last night. I actually went down to a day ticket water in Cheddleton first but there were a few folk on and quite a rip on the surface, so I went up to Blackwood where Mart and I had the place to ourselves.
It took a while to get them going and they were quite spooky, I had the feeling somebody else may have been up there surface fishing earlier in the day but there was no sign of any floaters anywhere.
We got them feeding off the dam and I left Mart to it and went stalking around the margins. I happened upon a couple of feeding fish in the shallows and managed to bag a cracking fully scaled mirror just under double figures – which was nice.
Mart left at around 8.00pm leaving me alone to try and tempt another before dark. I kept moving around and stalked another stunning fully scaled mirror from the dam, having dropped a hookbait right in its path inches from the bank – result! 
I took a quick photo on self timer then slipped her back and went home a happy man!
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Caught on film...
Posted by Julian, May 30 2006, 01:54 PM
I took Izaak for a walk around my new target water early on Saturday and Sunday morning. Primarily this was so Lisa could have a few hours sleep but also because I want to spend as much time at the water as possible before the season kicks off on the 16th.
I found a few nice fish lurking in various areas over the two reconnaissance sessions and I can’t wait to start my campaign on there. The fish are not massive but there are a few nice examples. I’ve been concentrating my observations on a few key areas, mainly areas with overhanging willows which are now well into the water providing perfect sanctuary for the carp.
I even managed to catch one little kipper on film whilst trying out a new polarised filter. The water was a bit coloured so the pictures are not brilliant, but I like the atmospheric quality, especially the one where you can see his eyes and face a split second before he breaks through the surface!
Hoping to get out for a few hours surface fishing on another local water tonight, I’ll let you know how I get on…
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All Change...
Posted by Julian, May 26 2006, 12:24 PM
All Change…
It doesn’t seem a minute since my last entry, nearly six months ago! 
Although when I think back, a lot has happened in that time, not fishing wise, I think I’ve only managed two or three sessions since January, each being a few snatched hours here and there, but the house is pretty much unrecognisable from what it was and of course I’m now a dad!
House wise we still have a fair bit to do but I got the bulk of the messy stuff done by the skin of my teeth before baby Izaak arrived. Walls have been plastered, staircases stripped, wooden floors and carpets laid, and walls painted again!
The day after we got things straight, Lisa went into Labour!
Izaak is now seven weeks old and keeping us on our toes, and as we have just begun to adjust to life with three, I’ve recently managed to get out for a few hours fishing here and there.
Mainly this has consisted of a few hours floater fishing at Blackwood, and I had a nice little session this week which saw me bag the Parrott off the top, the waters largest resident, so I’m more than happy with my short session fishing at the moment; just added an article about it HERE.
This will be the first year that I’ve not started the season by fishing on the Top Pool for as long as I can remember, but I simply can’t devote the time to the place that I’d need to in order to catch the big ones consistently. As such, I’ve been looking at a few little waters close to home where I can get out to fish when time allows. It’s been a refreshing change actually, just going and observing waters to see if they have potential.
I’ve pretty much decided on a water just up the road which I’ve never fished before and will be getting a permit once the season starts. I’ve been doing my homework and Izaak has been joining me on regular reconnaissance missions to suss out where the fish are during the closed season. I’ve seen some decent fish and certainly have an idea where to start targeting my efforts, so I’m looking forward to the new challenge.
The fish aren’t as big as those I’m used to but that’s not why I’m fishing it, I just want to enjoy and make the most of the time I have available. An old friend, Mart, who I used to fish with all the time has also come out of a self imposed fishing retirement and we’ve done a few sessions together over the last few weeks which has been great fun – just like old times, and mart’s also getting a permit for this new place so it should be enjoyable fishing whatever happens.
The new arrival...
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on 27lb Carp On Deadbait..!