The Rematch
Todber Manor Fisheries, Little Hayes - 30th to 31st July 2014
A few weeks before, I had a quick day session at Little Hayes. This session was very enjoyable and resulted in two fish caught but also two fish lost. This next session was the “re-match” I had promised myself. This time I would also be fishing for 24 hours.
I arrived at the Todber shop around 11am, after a quick walk around the very well stocked and good sized shop ,a quick chat with two of the lads I was then heading towards Little Hayes for my 24hr session re-match.
I arrived at the Todber shop around 11am, after a quick walk around the very well stocked and good sized shop ,a quick chat with two of the lads I was then heading towards Little Hayes for my 24hr session re-match.
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The lake was busier than I had expected as the shop had told me it was quiet. The first end swim (west) was taken with two lads in it. It looked like they were on a slow pack down. The guys in the shop had mentioned the ends of the lake were getting quite coloured with activity at certain times the last few days. I parked up and had a quick look at the first swim to the left of these lads on the grass bank side (north) of the lake. As I reached the swim I could see that most of the other side of the lake was full, the last east end swim of the road bank starting to pack down and another just in his chair and rods out so would also be going at some point. There was nobody fishing the north grass bank. The wind was pushing into the east side of the lake so I walked all the way to the east side along the grass bank stopping at each of the empty swims on this side looking for signs. I stood in this swim for a while; two fish swirled against the island, also another no more than a rod length from the near margin bank further into the bend of the corner near the reeds. I strolled back to the car and then drove to the east side car parking area passing all the other anglers. After a couple of trips backwards and forwards to the car I had all the gear I needed in the end swim that I had seen the shows from.
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Whilst I had been getting my gear to the swim I had noticed another couple of swirls on the island margin, and very close to it. I had been told by other anglers before, on previous visits, that the fish don’t take from the islands. I could see why this would be, a couple of Canadian geese were standing in the margin so it would be very shallow for the carp to feed from, probably only a few inches deep. I catapulted some boilies to the island bank deliberately attracting the ducks that were sat there trying to stay cool, they start munching on them. I catapulted another couple of handfuls along the island margin tightly which the ducks followed and easily started picking up and scoffing. A couple more handfuls two or 3 feet shorter and the ducks started to ignore them. As thanks I put some more onto the island which in turn got the ducks out of the area for my cast.
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Now I had a good idea of how the island bank fell into the lake I decided on a helicopter setup. My rig being set 3 feet up my line from the lead, this would allow me to cast the lead still pretty close to the island but the bait presentation would be far enough back not to be visible to the birds and in deep enough water for the carp to feed on a little more easily. I tied a pre-prepared black pop up to a size 8 “Frontline” chod hook multi rig style and out it went. First cast was sweet; the lead landed around 6 inches from the island right where I had seen some of the swirls earlier. I decided on the black pop up because I seem to be having a good response to these on Little Hayes. Originally I had Bob at Five Star Baits make these up for me to use them as Zig rig baits. Although they are black they go a very dark green after a few hours as they release the strong aniseed flavour. I nicknamed them ‘BlackJacks’ for obvious reasons and have found myself using them on at least one rod all the time and have built a massive confidence in them.
Keeping a tight line to the lead I ensure the line is sunk and only give a little bit of line back once on the buzzers, probably about 6 to 12 inches, this is just to ensure the area near the hook link is flat to the bed. This still gives a good tight line setup and will register any drop back from the island and I would see even one beep as a bite and probably strike it.
A scattering of boilies go to the area and along the island margin, a mix of “Illusion” and “theNutz”. This will be my right hand rod position.
Keeping a tight line to the lead I ensure the line is sunk and only give a little bit of line back once on the buzzers, probably about 6 to 12 inches, this is just to ensure the area near the hook link is flat to the bed. This still gives a good tight line setup and will register any drop back from the island and I would see even one beep as a bite and probably strike it.
A scattering of boilies go to the area and along the island margin, a mix of “Illusion” and “theNutz”. This will be my right hand rod position.
My left hand rod position will be the spot on the near margin of the bend around 4 feet from the reeds. I don’t know why but the area also looked or just felt a bit Cat fishy. I can't explain why I got that feeling but on this feeling I added some “CatFish” boilie to the area, just half a dozen or so, then also a good 40-50 boilies as well. Unlike some carpers I enjoy catching Cats, they put up a great fight and I find them fascinating, on some occasions I will even target them or as in this case try and give myself a good chance to catch one.
The rig for this spot would be an “Illusion” with a yellow aniseed “Deception” snow man rig on a “Frontline” size 8 long shank fluorocarbon hooklink, with a supple braid hair. The supple hair helps with bait movement being a balanced presentation. If I was fishing a single or double bottom bait I wouldn't worry about the hair being supple and use the fluorocarbon all the way through. In addition to this would be a PVA mesh bag threaded onto the hook link. This bag mix would consist of bloodworm pellet and Mojo groundbait. Again I tighten to the lead and allow a small amount of line out, this time also adding a back lead as my line will be travelling all along the margin. Ideally I want the line pinned as low as possible to prevent liners along the margin where many fish species are likely to travel, if I get indication I want it to be a bite and with no weed and a clay bottom it is perfectly safe for a back lead. I also have the clutch a little tighter for this rod to help prevent any dash for the reeds.
The rig for this spot would be an “Illusion” with a yellow aniseed “Deception” snow man rig on a “Frontline” size 8 long shank fluorocarbon hooklink, with a supple braid hair. The supple hair helps with bait movement being a balanced presentation. If I was fishing a single or double bottom bait I wouldn't worry about the hair being supple and use the fluorocarbon all the way through. In addition to this would be a PVA mesh bag threaded onto the hook link. This bag mix would consist of bloodworm pellet and Mojo groundbait. Again I tighten to the lead and allow a small amount of line out, this time also adding a back lead as my line will be travelling all along the margin. Ideally I want the line pinned as low as possible to prevent liners along the margin where many fish species are likely to travel, if I get indication I want it to be a bite and with no weed and a clay bottom it is perfectly safe for a back lead. I also have the clutch a little tighter for this rod to help prevent any dash for the reeds.
The middle rod goes opposite the left hand rod near the end of the island. I haven’t seen fish showing here but it looks a good spot for fish travelling through the channel. Again 40-50 boilies go on the area. This time the rig is a “Frontline” curve shank with a piece of silicone to aid the hook turn with a long hair. The bait is a “theNutz” with a Cranberry and Almond “Deception” snowman style. This is also put out with a bloodworm and Mojo PVA mesh bag.
Now with all 3 rods set I began to sort the rest of my gear out and put the bivvy up.
With everything all set up it is around 2pm now and I enjoy a nice cold lager from my cool bag, the temperature is high and its bright sunshine, not the ideal weather for carp fishing but there is a steady warm breeze still pushing down my end of the lake. More activity on the island margin, slowly it’s getting closer to my spot. A couple of catapult pouches of boilie go to my area.
Now with all 3 rods set I began to sort the rest of my gear out and put the bivvy up.
With everything all set up it is around 2pm now and I enjoy a nice cold lager from my cool bag, the temperature is high and its bright sunshine, not the ideal weather for carp fishing but there is a steady warm breeze still pushing down my end of the lake. More activity on the island margin, slowly it’s getting closer to my spot. A couple of catapult pouches of boilie go to my area.
Approx 3pm now and I finish a conversation with the wife on the phone and suddenly my right hand rod bleeps twice, stops, then as I move to the rod the line starts to peel off my Tournos and the alarm screams as the fish makes a dash down the right hand side of the island margin. I tighten the clutch and lift into the fish, a good scrap but I soon have the fish in my net. I unhook it in the net and get the rod back on the spot with a couple more pouches of boilie. A nice looking common which I weigh at 14lb 2oz and take some pictures ensuring the fish is kept well soaked in the sunshine. The lovely common is then put back in the lake nice and safely.
A nice fish and I celebrate by cracking open another lager and I also re-cast the left hand rod. Most of the other anglers have gone now, and those that haven’t are packing up, I’m not sure but perhaps one new arrival on the opposite side to me, but I can’t see over the island. After another hour or so there were in fact three other anglers on the opposite bank.
Just after 5.15pm I notice my middle rod spot slick up, sure enough 5 minutes later the alarm is screaming for me to tighten into the fish and after a little bit of juggling under my right hand rods line I have another common in the net. I start to wonder if there are any mirrors in this lake as after a few sessions here now I haven’t had one. The rod goes back out and I weigh and photograph the 10lb on the nose common.
2 bites and 2 fish already, the evening/night could be very productive, especially as the temperature cools a little I thought to myself and so I start making some PVA bags and rigs to ensure I don’t have to make any through the night.
9pm and surprisingly I haven’t had another run, its much cooler now and the wind completely died about an hour ago. The lake is dead calm. A couple of obvious shows a little longer than my middle rod but I decide not to crash a lead onto them and see if they move onto my bait. Three shows in the middle of the channel in line with my island spot does see me change my right hand rod position and put a bottom bait with half a pop up topper on and like the other 2 rods with a PVA mesh bag.
9pm and surprisingly I haven’t had another run, its much cooler now and the wind completely died about an hour ago. The lake is dead calm. A couple of obvious shows a little longer than my middle rod but I decide not to crash a lead onto them and see if they move onto my bait. Three shows in the middle of the channel in line with my island spot does see me change my right hand rod position and put a bottom bait with half a pop up topper on and like the other 2 rods with a PVA mesh bag.
By 10pm I am on my bed chair and take another call from the wife before getting my head down. I’m startled at 11pm by a screaming run from the right hand rod, so much so my first reaction was to pull the head torch off! I tighten into the fish whilst fumbling to put the head torch back on. It’s in the net very quickly and I can see it is my first mirror from the lake. She weighed in at 11lb 12oz and was quickly returned to her home.
After a restless night due to one very large and annoying rat I was up early at first light and soon repositioned my right rod back to the island when I spotted some small swirls along the island.
The lake is still flat calm. I manage an hour or so more sleep before the morning sun is finally blasting into the entrance of my bivvy.
Around 8.30am three or four more anglers arrive together and I see them wandering around the lake and looking at swims. One of them finally reaches me, after a quick chat I am surprised to hear that none of the other anglers have caught and that I am the only one that has banked fish. The group set up the same bank as me but leave one swim between me and them, not sure that was deliberate but was welcomed by me so no disturbance in my area happened.
9.30am and the wind has finally picked up and a chop on the surface has begun. Since going calm last night the activity had definitely decreased and sure enough it wasn't long before positive activity started again.
11am I switch the left hand rod to a KD rig with a white peach pop up and curve shank frontline size 8 and then I decide to slowly start packing some of the non-essentials and I also pack the bivvy down too.
12.15pm and I only have the rods, net and unhooking essentials left to pack up and the middle rod suddenly roars off. What an amazing fight this fish gave me. It was such a strong fish, it run me around all over my swim and took a good 6 to 7 minutes before the common finally looked ready for the net. It looked like it could be an upper double and I was relieved to eventually get it in my net. As I did so one of the new arrival lads came over to help with photographs.
The lake is still flat calm. I manage an hour or so more sleep before the morning sun is finally blasting into the entrance of my bivvy.
Around 8.30am three or four more anglers arrive together and I see them wandering around the lake and looking at swims. One of them finally reaches me, after a quick chat I am surprised to hear that none of the other anglers have caught and that I am the only one that has banked fish. The group set up the same bank as me but leave one swim between me and them, not sure that was deliberate but was welcomed by me so no disturbance in my area happened.
9.30am and the wind has finally picked up and a chop on the surface has begun. Since going calm last night the activity had definitely decreased and sure enough it wasn't long before positive activity started again.
11am I switch the left hand rod to a KD rig with a white peach pop up and curve shank frontline size 8 and then I decide to slowly start packing some of the non-essentials and I also pack the bivvy down too.
12.15pm and I only have the rods, net and unhooking essentials left to pack up and the middle rod suddenly roars off. What an amazing fight this fish gave me. It was such a strong fish, it run me around all over my swim and took a good 6 to 7 minutes before the common finally looked ready for the net. It looked like it could be an upper double and I was relieved to eventually get it in my net. As I did so one of the new arrival lads came over to help with photographs.
I was shocked that the fish only weighed 14lb. It looked much bigger than the others I had caught. Perhaps because it was much longer I think. The fish put up a great fight and still had plenty of energy on the bank soaking me a few times during the photos. A quick treatment to its mouth and then back into the lake it goes. I decided to give it another hour after chatting with the other angler for 15 minutes or so.
45 minutes later and the KD rig on the left hand rod goes off. The fish swims straight back up the channel towards me and is in the net in under a minute. This time it was another mirror weighing only 9lb 14oz.
Once again a very enjoyable session at Todber Manor, the more I fish here the more I seem to catch as I slowly get used to fishing this type of water. The Little Hayes lake takes me back to some of my early carp fishing lakes in Buckinghamshire that were very similar in size and style. Not only that but the more I fish the venue the more enjoyable it seems to be with very friendly and helpful staff.
This was a nice session and although I probably expected a couple more through the night I am very happy with five fish on the bank. This is likely to be my last session for a few months too with the wife expecting our first baby soon, so a nice little fix to keep me going until the dust has settled so to speak.
45 minutes later and the KD rig on the left hand rod goes off. The fish swims straight back up the channel towards me and is in the net in under a minute. This time it was another mirror weighing only 9lb 14oz.
Once again a very enjoyable session at Todber Manor, the more I fish here the more I seem to catch as I slowly get used to fishing this type of water. The Little Hayes lake takes me back to some of my early carp fishing lakes in Buckinghamshire that were very similar in size and style. Not only that but the more I fish the venue the more enjoyable it seems to be with very friendly and helpful staff.
This was a nice session and although I probably expected a couple more through the night I am very happy with five fish on the bank. This is likely to be my last session for a few months too with the wife expecting our first baby soon, so a nice little fix to keep me going until the dust has settled so to speak.
Thanks to:
