18/19 June
Entry posted by Chris Plumb
596 views
Johnsons Lake/Harris Lake, Milford
(a ) 1515 - 2330 - Johnsons
(b ) 0000 - 0345 - Harris
(c ) 0415 - 1030 - Johnsons
Warm and sunny. Night was also quite warm despite mainly clear sky.
Johnsons: (a) 1 Perch; 2lb 2oz and a micro - carp (smaller than my hand!). (c ) 1 Crucian 3lb 1oz, 1 Tench 7lb 6oz. 1 Mirror carp (only slightly bigger than my hand at 2lb 10oz!)
(b ) Harris: 5 Tench; all over 3lb with 2 over 5lb. 3 Crucians; all over 2lb to 2lb 9oz.
A quick return to Milford and after a night on Harris on Monday/Tuesday this time Paul and I were up for more of a challenge. Just as well as conditions were somewhat challenging. We don't have the required permit to do a full night on Johnsons so the plan was to fish as long as was 'legal' (2 hours after sunset) and return as soon as allowed (an hour before sunrise) which means at this time of year little more than 4 hours to 'kill'. My plan for this time was to nip over the fence (OK style) to fish Harris while Paul - quite literally hit the sack - and got in over 3 hours kip!. I even pre-baited and plumbed a swim on Harris so that I could drop into it immediately in the dark.
So Part 1 afternoon/evening on Johnsons - and what a grueller it was. Paul and I couldn't so much as buy a bite - despite numerous changes of bait and tactics. Eventually at around 2100 he snaffled a 5lb+ tench which I went to help him with (or not as the case maybe - ask him about my new unhooking method!). On recasting my float rod - loaded with 2 white maggots I was wondering why the float wouldn't cock - until I realised I had a fish on - a nice perch taking the bait on the drop - so after 6 fruitless hours both our blanks were 'saved' in the space of 5 mins. Nothing of note followed just a TINY carp which gave a good facsimile of a crucian bite to add to my irritations...
Part 2 could be described as the 'easy interlude'. Paul took it easy - while I had it easy! First cast in my new swim on Harris - over my pre-baited area produced the 2-09 crucian - bites and fish came in quick succession until the action tailed off at around 0300 - ALL my fish caught over the pre-baited part of the swim.
Part 3 started with us deciding to target a different part of the lake and 'follow the wind' - which meant us setting up shop in two swims either side of a large bed of lilies - a classic looking summer lake swim if ever there was. Now at least we started to get bites - the problem was connecting with a fish. I'd bumped a couple before at last connecting with something that was solid if unspectacular in resistance - unmistakably a crucian. And when it popped to the surface like a cork it was unmistakably a BIG crucian - guided thankfully to my net - a bit of a beat up old warrior it pulled the needle down the 'right side' of the 3lb marker! Next was a small (and unwelcome) mirror carp before another bite was met with a heavy somewhat ponderous fight almost like a large bream - this turned into a fat female tench - which as I guided it to the net got me thinking - could be a pb! Not quite a PB - but my biggest tench for 4 years.
All the while Paul on the other side of the lily bed had the irritation of my repeated requests for a photo - without the need for reciprocation! By now the sun was rising higher and with it hopes of a big crucian getting lower until a switch to caster at last did the trick for him, First off a lovely conditioned crucian which had us both guessing 'could be' but alas wasn't (a 3lber) missing out by an ounce. His next though clearly was and at 3lb 3oz turned out to be the day's best. By now I had quite a ripple in my swim and if I was getting crucian bites I clearly couldn't see them to hit. Paul was still getting the odd clear indication but couldn't connect. So ended a challenging session - but an ultimately successful one!
Fish on! (at last!) My perch heads for some near bank brambles...
but doesn't escape!
Paul's 5lber - it really wasn't this dark - Perch above was caught right after....!
Sunrise
My 3lb Crucian (with apologies from the photographer for the lack of focus!)
And my 7lb tinca....
Finally Paul's 2 crucians
2lb 15oz
4ozs heavier
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