Day session at Little Hayes
Todber Manor Fisheries, Little Hayes - 1st May 2014
With a holiday to the Canary Islands almost upon me I wanted to get a quick fix so I would survive the 2 weeks. I also wanted to try my new reels that had arrived, happy days.
I got the all needed pass from my lovely wife and headed over to Todber, hoping that as it was midweek they wouldn't be too busy.
The Paddock was full and Big Hayes had about 8 swims free. However, only one angler on Little Hayes.....Result!
I paid my day ticket and headed for the Little Hayes lake.
The lone angler was fishing the end of the lake as you drive down to it. I didn't want to disturb him as it was still earlyish and decided to drive around the lake a bit more past the first island to approx what I think is swim 6 (one of the 2 swims in between the islands). I stopped the car and watched the lake for 10 minutes.
A couple of positive shows in the middle and then another 2 a little closer to the left. This got me out of the car and to the peg looking for more signs. A show on the edge of the island and then another level with island but more over the other side had me unloading the car. A little rain whilst unpacking the car forced me to erect the Stealth 2, but later I would be thankful I had put the bivvy in the car and not just a brolly.
I got the all needed pass from my lovely wife and headed over to Todber, hoping that as it was midweek they wouldn't be too busy.
The Paddock was full and Big Hayes had about 8 swims free. However, only one angler on Little Hayes.....Result!
I paid my day ticket and headed for the Little Hayes lake.
The lone angler was fishing the end of the lake as you drive down to it. I didn't want to disturb him as it was still earlyish and decided to drive around the lake a bit more past the first island to approx what I think is swim 6 (one of the 2 swims in between the islands). I stopped the car and watched the lake for 10 minutes.
A couple of positive shows in the middle and then another 2 a little closer to the left. This got me out of the car and to the peg looking for more signs. A show on the edge of the island and then another level with island but more over the other side had me unloading the car. A little rain whilst unpacking the car forced me to erect the Stealth 2, but later I would be thankful I had put the bivvy in the car and not just a brolly.
I wanted to cover as much area as I could with my 3 rods as I had seen the shows in several places. First spot was the shorter slightly to the left spot, 5 good handfuls of Five Star Baits Fish Mix boilie onto the spot. This was followed by my rig of size 8 Carpers Arsenal Classic pattern tied very simply knotless knot with a very small shrink tube kicker and Fish Mix boilie topped with a small yellow aniseed Deception. The hook link material for this being a very old Korda stiff coated braid which hasn't been around now for quite some time. The hook end stripped back 2 inches for plenty of bait/hook movement.
The second spot was half way across the lake (I would guess this to be approx 60 yards) straight in front. I had seen at least five shows from this spot now so decided that if it produced I would move 2 rods to this spot. 5 handfuls of The Nutz bolies and 2 hand fulls of Fish Mix and then my standard blowback rig using Carpers Arsenal size 8 long shank with a The Nutz and aniseed Deception topper went on top of the offerings.
My third rod (right hand) I decided would switch between the other shows on the island and past the island, as and when fish showed. I tied a KD rig with a Carpers Arsenal size 8 curve shank and HiViz Pink cranberry and almond pop up. This was then cast to the longer showing fish area (approx 90 yards) as this was the more recent show on my right and as there was no anglers on the other bank I didn't see the harm in chucking it that far over.
I was now set up, the rain was getting heavier and so I retreated into the bivvy and got a brew on the go.
More shows over the middle rod area, surely a bite was going come from this area! It was! half way through my 2nd cuppa the middle rod went. Not a screaming run, the bobbin lifted to the top and sat there for a few seconds and then line started to slowly peel off my new Sonik Tourno's.
I tightened the clutch and lifted into it and started winding. I couldn't feel anything pulling and started winding faster thinking it was swimming towards me.......I then realised there was nothing attached. I stood there a few seconds looking at my rig trying to figure what had happened. A few strong curses and the rod was re-rigged and recast to the spot. At the same time I moved the right hand rod to the edge of the Island.
On the up side the rain had let off a little so I hadn't got that wet.
More shows over the middle rod area, surely a bite was going come from this area! It was! half way through my 2nd cuppa the middle rod went. Not a screaming run, the bobbin lifted to the top and sat there for a few seconds and then line started to slowly peel off my new Sonik Tourno's.
I tightened the clutch and lifted into it and started winding. I couldn't feel anything pulling and started winding faster thinking it was swimming towards me.......I then realised there was nothing attached. I stood there a few seconds looking at my rig trying to figure what had happened. A few strong curses and the rod was re-rigged and recast to the spot. At the same time I moved the right hand rod to the edge of the Island.
On the up side the rain had let off a little so I hadn't got that wet.
The weather once again was becoming a major battle for one of my sessions, not just in keeping dry but the way it was being so changeable through the day. A little rain followed by some sun followed by a storm, it was just all very strange and frustrating. The poor fish must have been even more confused than me.
More boilies went into my two main spots of the left and middle rod, a couple of good hand fulls over each. I would continue with this every hour as I knew the fish were there from the signs.
Liners on the middle rod at around mid day, surely another bite was going to come soon. An hour passed, with no run. I recast the middle rod incase I had tangled.
Twenty more minutes and the left hand rod bobbin lifted to the top and stopped. Seeing this kind of thing before I tightened the clutch and lifted the rod, I was into a fish. This type of bite indication is normally the carp picking up the bait and holding position once it feels the lead. It felt a pretty good fish, "possibly a high double or perhaps a 20" I thought as I persuaded it away from my middle rod line. A good fight continued.
One of the lads from the Todber shop was doing the rounds and stopped to help net it. As I got it closer it finally broke surface. "you got one of the cats" he said.
"what?" I replied, "I didn't know you had them in here, I thought you only had them in the Paddock?" I said as the net slipped under the moggy.
Turns out that there are some Cats in Big Hayes and Little Hayes, something I did not know. I weighed what was actually a small cat of 10lb 2oz and took some quick photos before slipping her back. Now I know they are in here and the like the Fish Mix maybe I can pull in some more i thought to myself.
More boilies went into my two main spots of the left and middle rod, a couple of good hand fulls over each. I would continue with this every hour as I knew the fish were there from the signs.
Liners on the middle rod at around mid day, surely another bite was going to come soon. An hour passed, with no run. I recast the middle rod incase I had tangled.
Twenty more minutes and the left hand rod bobbin lifted to the top and stopped. Seeing this kind of thing before I tightened the clutch and lifted the rod, I was into a fish. This type of bite indication is normally the carp picking up the bait and holding position once it feels the lead. It felt a pretty good fish, "possibly a high double or perhaps a 20" I thought as I persuaded it away from my middle rod line. A good fight continued.
One of the lads from the Todber shop was doing the rounds and stopped to help net it. As I got it closer it finally broke surface. "you got one of the cats" he said.
"what?" I replied, "I didn't know you had them in here, I thought you only had them in the Paddock?" I said as the net slipped under the moggy.
Turns out that there are some Cats in Big Hayes and Little Hayes, something I did not know. I weighed what was actually a small cat of 10lb 2oz and took some quick photos before slipping her back. Now I know they are in here and the like the Fish Mix maybe I can pull in some more i thought to myself.
Five big handfuls of the Fish Mix went over the left spot followed by a new rig still topped with the aniseed Deception.
I wound in the right hand rod and replaced the Pink for a White peach pop up. I also sent another few handfuls of The Nutz over my middle rod position.
The weather was warming back up again now, and the sun was breaking through the clouds nicely. The wind died and the lake went nice and flat for some time.
Some pre-made lunch and a couple of brews then went down very well whilst I watched the lake for further signs of the carp in Little Hayes.
Another half hour later and I'm getting more liners on the middle rod again, but then the left rod starts doing the same.
I reel in the right hand rod and replace the rig to a multi rig using a Carpers Arsenal size 6 Chod hook and Five Star HiViz pink. This is cast about 2 rod lengths right of my middle rod position. Some slicking to the water surface had been apparent when the wind picked up and caused the ripple to restart a sign something was feeding on the bottom maybe.
As I set the bobbing of my right hand rod the left rod roared off, the line was peeling off my new Tourno's very rapidly and I tightened and lifted the rod. Another fish was on, get in! Again a reasonable battle started and I constantly had to keep some side pressure on to move it away from my middle rod line. I could tell this time it was not a carp and as soon as it broke the water for the first time I knew I had another cat on, this one a little smaller than the last. I slipped my net under it, and made a record of its weight at 6lb 8oz.
The cats were obviously liking the bait so some more went in and the rod back onto the spot.
I wound in the right hand rod and replaced the Pink for a White peach pop up. I also sent another few handfuls of The Nutz over my middle rod position.
The weather was warming back up again now, and the sun was breaking through the clouds nicely. The wind died and the lake went nice and flat for some time.
Some pre-made lunch and a couple of brews then went down very well whilst I watched the lake for further signs of the carp in Little Hayes.
Another half hour later and I'm getting more liners on the middle rod again, but then the left rod starts doing the same.
I reel in the right hand rod and replace the rig to a multi rig using a Carpers Arsenal size 6 Chod hook and Five Star HiViz pink. This is cast about 2 rod lengths right of my middle rod position. Some slicking to the water surface had been apparent when the wind picked up and caused the ripple to restart a sign something was feeding on the bottom maybe.
As I set the bobbing of my right hand rod the left rod roared off, the line was peeling off my new Tourno's very rapidly and I tightened and lifted the rod. Another fish was on, get in! Again a reasonable battle started and I constantly had to keep some side pressure on to move it away from my middle rod line. I could tell this time it was not a carp and as soon as it broke the water for the first time I knew I had another cat on, this one a little smaller than the last. I slipped my net under it, and made a record of its weight at 6lb 8oz.
The cats were obviously liking the bait so some more went in and the rod back onto the spot.
The bad weather started to return and the wind picked up some more too. As the rain started I retreated into my bivvy.
More liners on the middle rod but still no take.
It was 6pm now and I had promised to be home by 8pm with fish and chips from our nearest chip shop. The rain and wind had once again stopped and I scouted the water for any last minute signs.
Surface movement in the corner of the lake to my right. I continued to watch for a while as the movement became more noticeable. Then obvious signs of fish perhaps looking on the surface layers in the last of the evening sun we finally had? I setup my stalking rod with floater tackle and decided to start packing up. If the signs continued I would stop in the end swim before leaving and see if I could nick one off the top.
The other angler was already nearly packed up at this point and I also started to organise myself for a quick pack away. Suddenly my right hand Delkim screamed at me! It was off, once again a Tourno clutch was clicking away at the same time as the Delkim made me aware of the take.
More liners on the middle rod but still no take.
It was 6pm now and I had promised to be home by 8pm with fish and chips from our nearest chip shop. The rain and wind had once again stopped and I scouted the water for any last minute signs.
Surface movement in the corner of the lake to my right. I continued to watch for a while as the movement became more noticeable. Then obvious signs of fish perhaps looking on the surface layers in the last of the evening sun we finally had? I setup my stalking rod with floater tackle and decided to start packing up. If the signs continued I would stop in the end swim before leaving and see if I could nick one off the top.
The other angler was already nearly packed up at this point and I also started to organise myself for a quick pack away. Suddenly my right hand Delkim screamed at me! It was off, once again a Tourno clutch was clicking away at the same time as the Delkim made me aware of the take.
This one was definitely a carp! The fight felt good and it gave me a couple of concerning moments near the net but soon it sulked once in it.
Caught with the HiViz Pink cranberry and almond on a size 6 chod hook multirig. The multirig is a rig I hadn't used for a couple of years so a rewarding capture and quite possibly it is a rig I should start using again.
15lb 2oz common, I thought was going to weigh more as it had good width and a belly but was very happy with the capture.
The other angler stopped and had a quick chat as I took my photos, he was staying at the Todber cottages and had got to the lake early and had no bites all day so I was pleased with my results in the end.
After doing the necessary to weigh the fish and give it some after care I slipped her back and then continued to pack up. There was still movement in the corner but after banking this one I decided to get straight to the chippy and wifey waiting at home.
A good day session really with the fluctuating weather. Surprised I never had a fish from the middle spot but the 1st run I did have I am convinced it was a cat that possibly picked up my lead whilst taking freebies and the hook never got to set, well thats what I am going to assume anyway.
I will add the rigs I used on this session to my rigs page in the near future.
After doing the necessary to weigh the fish and give it some after care I slipped her back and then continued to pack up. There was still movement in the corner but after banking this one I decided to get straight to the chippy and wifey waiting at home.
A good day session really with the fluctuating weather. Surprised I never had a fish from the middle spot but the 1st run I did have I am convinced it was a cat that possibly picked up my lead whilst taking freebies and the hook never got to set, well thats what I am going to assume anyway.
I will add the rigs I used on this session to my rigs page in the near future.
Thanks to:
