Julian

Details here: http://www.anglersnet.co.uk/News/Koi_Herpe..._fisheries.html Julian

Did another early morning session again yesterday - did even better than last time! Details and pics in my blog: http://www.anglersnet.co.uk/forums/index.p...;blogid=19& Jules

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?

Did a few hours surface fishing on my new water this morning. Got there for around 5.00am and stayed till around 10am. I thought I’d try the early morning attack as the place gets a few on in the evenings (day fishing only). Also, I thought the last thing the fish would expect at that time in the morning would be a floater fished hookbait – Stitched! One of those sessions where it all went like clockwork, so I made the most of it! Finished up with nine fish, four doubles, biggest was this stunning common at 17lb 2oz – an absolute minter with not a mark on it. Well chuffed as it was only my second time on. Works been a happy affair today but all I can think about is getting back on!!

Quality!! What a stunner!

Hi all, Can anybody help with this visitors question to the forum? The Visitor has been directed to this thread so could any answers / help be posted below. Cheers, Julian. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hi, We have a small garden pond with 5 carp in it and have just noticed that one of the carp has a slight bend in the middle - Is there anything you can do to help? Kind Regards, Cona --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Just added a nice carp fishing article here: http://www.anglersnet.co.uk/Carp-Fishing-A..._for_steve.html A great read and some stunning pictures! Cheers... Julian

The Visitor has been directed to this thread so could any answers / help be posted below. Cheers, Julian. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hi, Could anyone tell me what the British record for a canal caught tench is? I know the record for best tench but would like to know if there is a canal record? Many thanks, Darren --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi, I like to soak it for 24 hours, then bring to the boil and simmer for about 20-30 minutes or until all the seeds have split. Then place into an airtight container with a little bit of salmon oil. Hmmmm…lovely!

Hi Mate, I know one or two that fish there but I’m afraid most keep results close to their chests! The Warrington AA updates sometimes have a few carp in them, more Here Have you just joined or are you a regular? I know they had another stocking of fish earlier in the year, saw some photos and there were some nice fish. Tight Lines for your session... Julian

Hi James, My chosen bait for carp will depend a lot on the venue and how I’m fishing it. My favourite way of fishing for carp is by stalking, where you can get ‘up close and personal’ with your quarry, and my preferred bait for this approach would be worm fished over a little particle mix – absolutely deadly at close range. I also like to use a lot of natural baits, as I feel many anglers overlook them so again, I find they work very well; nuts, beans, maize, etc. You need to make sure they are well soaked and prepared properly before use though. If I’m fishing at range, I’ll most likely use boilies. My favourite types are Snail & Shell and Shellfish B5, and I prefer fresh/frozen to shelf life. At the moment I’m doing a lot of surface fishing for carp, so it’s dog biscuits fished on the top, I like to use Pedigree Mixer. Tight Lines… Julian

I’m sure you’ll all join me in welcoming Andrew Wedgbury as a new author to Anglers Net. Andrew’s first piece can be viewed here: http://www.anglersnet.co.uk/Coarse-Fishing...er_Success.html The first of many, we hope. Julian

Went for a few hours perch fishing at 4am, my first time on a new water. Caught some lovely little stripey’s; have done a little write up with images here: http://www.anglersnet.co.uk/Coarse-Fishing..._for_perch.html

If that was genuinely the intention, then fine, but intimating that all carp anglers “Turn up with a ton of bait, sit on rods for 5 days, etc, etc, etc…” won’t do you any favours. It’s all personal. Some people just want to catch, and we don’t all have the same skill levels or opportunities to fish, so why shouldn’t people want to fish easier or more accessible waters? I don’t have a problem with those who want to catch fish irrespective of the level of skill required, and if they are happy doing so, then good luck to them, they are still fishing and I’d much rather they were doing that than stuck at home watching Big Brother (or robbing my house!). For me (and I would say the same goes for a great many posters on this forum) the challenge is everything – but to assume that river carp are somehow harder to catch than Stillwater carp is a bit of a sweeping statement, and one that’s far from the truth. Some of the Stillwaters I fish are very low stocked waters with a million and one problems to overcome before you can even think about catching a carp, and far from being hand-reared pigs, they are often spawned on fish from original Leney stockings – so to answer your ‘question’; no, river carp don’t rate higher than Stillwater carp, each case has to be taken on it’s merits and the level of skill that was required to catch the fish has to be factored in. For example, I’m currently targeting some canal carp. I’ve not wet a line yet, but I’ve been walking various stretches three or four times a week for hours at a time since March in order to try and find the fish, as there are literally only a handful of carp in the whole system and nobody fishes it. Last week I finally spotted a carp and had I of had my kit with me, I reckon I could have banked it in less than 30 seconds such was it’s confidence in taking the bait I was feeding it, so it would have been extremely easy to catch, but it would have been the finding of the fish in the first place that equated to the ‘skill’ in terms of banking that particular fish. Likewise, on one Stillwater I fish there was one lump I was after for years – I lost track of the amount of times it toyed with me and taunted me. It took nearly six years to finally outwit it (and far from being caught 1000’s of times I only know of one prior capture) but that capture will go down as one of my finest angling hours - but you reckon that if I nipped down to the River Churnet on the 16th to whip out a little mirror on the quiver within an hour, that that fish would automatically outrank it? Somehow I don’t think so. With Respect, Julian

Hi all, Can anybody help with this visitors question to the forum? The Visitor has been directed to this thread so could any answers / help be posted below. Cheers, Julian. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hi, What are the best tactics to use when using worm and caster, when mainly targeting carp but also silver fish? Many Thanks, Bumble --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi all, Can anybody help with this visitors question to the forum? The Visitor has been directed to this thread so could any answers / help be posted below. Cheers, Julian. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hi, What pole rig should I use when fishing canals 4 or 5 feet deep? Thanks, Darren Flynn --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi all, Can anybody help with this visitors question to the forum? The Visitor has been directed to this thread so could any answers / help be posted below. Cheers, Julian. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hi, I came across a stretch of canal that has not been fished for years I could see loads of fish 1 night carp on the surface swimming happy and what I think is rudd or maybe roach everywhere, problem I’m having is that I cant seem to catch any I've fished it 5 times now with a selection of boilies, maggots, sweetcorn, bread and not a touch I’ve tried fishing it first thing in the morning and last thing at night the fish don’t seem to want to know. I spoke to a local landowner who told me that maggots are what I needed as many people fish this canal in Cheshire and catch but not on this stretch can you give me any advice? Kind Regards, James. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From Des --------------------- Hi Julian, many thanks for the kind inclusion on the forum. Got two responses, both of them exactly what I needed. I wanted to add a message to thank the guys personally, but couldn't get access. Is it possible to maybe add a wee thanks on my behalf? Tight lines, Des Friel

Hi all, Can anybody help with this visitors question to the forum? The Visitor has been directed to this thread so could any answers / help be posted below. Cheers, Julian. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hi, I have been trying to track down "do it yourself" kits for making Flying C's, but without success to date. I want to be able to customise /repair them. All help much appreciated. Many thanks, Des Friel. PS - Flying C's are spinners. The C stands for condom! as the rubber skirt is said to resemble one and the original nickname stuck! I daresay it was curtailed to "C" so as not to offend those more sensitive souls amongst us! Many thanks for any input --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi all, Can anybody help with this visitors question to the forum? The Visitor has been directed to this thread so could any answers / help be posted below. Cheers, Julian. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hi, I am looking for a pair of ak47 century rods can any body help? Thanks Goffer --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi all, Can anybody help with this visitors question to the forum? The Visitor has been directed to this thread so could any answers / help be posted below. Cheers, Julian. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hello, I have recently moved into a house in Worcestershire in Cropthorne near Pershore which backs onto the river Avon. My stretch of river is around 30-40 meters long and there are many features. At both ends there are over hanging trees Weeds and lily pads in the middle From the bank it slopes straight down to 9ft about 1m away from the bank into the main channel. The river is quite fast flowing and you can see ripple of the current on the surface quite often. I have also thrown in bread crust and bread flakes and there are small roach, minnows and gudgeon feeding of the top. I would like to bait up the area to catch all different species of fish but especially: Barbel, chub, carp in general and perhaps of the top in the warmer weather bream Could you please advise me on how I should go about this and what baits to use before the season starts again. Should I vary the baits? How much bait should I put in? What bait can I use a lot that is cheap? Any advice you could give I would be very grateful for. Thank you very much in anticipation, Jack Brooker --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I keep various sized packs of particle frozen between use, the biggest just small enough to fit in the microwave. Then I just whack them on defrost in the microwave before I go out.

Same here; have had a MkII for about five/six years – still as good as the day I got it. Great clearance and I tend to remove all the side bars so I can get through narrow gates, etc.

The only thing I’d be ‘adjusting’ would be my pants, if I saw that thing coming over the cord of the net!

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!