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13.7.21 - Alders & Willows

Bayleaf the Gardener

Entry posted by Bayleaf the Gardener in Alders/Willows

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I've always intended to fish Alders on one of my weekly evening sessions, but the lure of the carp at Willows has always proved irresistible.  But arriving to find Willows very busy (l met a number of new members fishing for the first time there) including my preferred 'evening' swim, I decided tonight was the night.

However, it was to be a disappointing evening, but with 2 noteworthy events. I Just one bite in 4 hours (a 3lb 12 tench) so crossed the causeway the by now nearly deserted Willows for some damage limitation with a late fish or two, and managed a couple of roach to 4 ounces close in and lost something massive that shot off like a rocket and spat out the hook some 20 yards away. 

Oh yes, those events:

1 - Last Friday I had to be unlocked from the lake by a nearby angler when I couldn't find my gate key. I couldn't remembering locking the gate when I arrived rather bleary ay dawn, and presumed I must have left  it open, with my key dangling from the padlock. On arrival to the same swim today, having paid £20 for a duplicate, I was angry to find the fob at the swim:  I must have locked the bloody gate and simply dropped the key, which was now missing from the fob and presumably taken. Later on, a member came round looking for the bobbin he'd lost at the same swim on Sunday. I hadn't seen it and almost jokingly asked if he'd found a key in return. Amazingly he had and I have since been reunited with it- thanks, Simon. Be warned all who fish in dead-carp corner - there is obviously a mischievous spirit that has an eye on your bits and pieces!

2 - Had a great little fight with what turned out to be only a 1lb fish, the one on the cover shot. What would you say it is? I'm pretty sure it's an immature Common, but it had the higher back of a Crucian and had reddish fins. I've never caught any Commons of this weight before so while it may be obvious to you,  please excuse my ignorance.

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Edited by Bayleaf the Gardener

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Chris Plumb

Common - similar in size to the ones I've rehomed from Willows recently. There's a LOT of mis-identification of crucians (usually mistaken for brown goldfish!) below is my rule of thumb - on the bank guide!

Lateral line count - 33 (32 or 34 MAY be OK if everything else is right!) Less than 32 - liklely to be Goldfish or goldfish cross, more than 34 common carp or cross

Dorsal - Convex (Goldfish are concaved)

Caudal - Paintbrush shaped (Goldfish are much more v shaped)

Mouth - absolutely NO barbules or even vestigial ones (carp or carp cross)

Edited by Chris Plumb
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Chris Plumb

Aye - and there's at least one big 'crucian' in Willows with dubious parentage - most of it looks OK - but it has a fan-tail! I've caught it 3 or 4 timers over the years always at about 2lb 2oz ±1 or 2 oz...

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