A successful session after work....

I couldnt make it out this weekend, as i was up in Hinckley at the Barbel Society Conference. www.barbelsociety.com I was there on the Sat for the Social, which as always was a good laugh, depsite not gettin back to the hotel room till 4am the next day. No worries, couple of hours kip then I'm sure I'd feel great representing Teme Severn on the bait stand! The day was a success, it was good to meet and greet all of the Barbel Fishing Community. I slept well when i got in that day!

Anyway, i had to make up for not getting out the Weekend, so Tuesday night after work I found myself ascending on a fairly local, new water for me, in the hope that i might be able to snare a couple of Tinca's before i was back in the office the following morning. I was set up by 8pm, and i decided to fish over a prevalent Bar approximately 50 yards out. I could tell with the weed growth in the margins that it would be abit of a jungle out there in the depths of the pit, so I decided to bait two spots over the one feature, about 30 yards apart. One spot was shallower than the other so my eggs weren't totally in the same basket, and fish were rolling in the vicinity so i was confident of a bite.

I deposited around 8 or so spods over each spot, made up of the usual mix, consisting off Hemp, Wheat, Corn and Groundbait. This was T7 CBT Method mix www.teme-severn.co.uk, mixed quite sparingly which not only worked as a good attractant but also reduced the spod spill when baiting up. Im usually quite reluctant to make the intial baiting too attractive, in the theory that if i could make my hookbait more attractive than the loose feed, then Tench would home in on it quicker. As i was baiting tightly and lightly, i also added a good sprinkling of Mini Mix pellets. I would only be fishing till about 7am, so i decided that a baiting strategy that would bring the fish in, but not feed them would be beneficial as i was only fishing for a bite.

On one rod i fished a Maggot Feeder heli rig, with a short popped up hooklink. The maggots were flavoured with a new fruity additive and i was satisfied that if a tench moved in, it would take a fancy to the menu on offer. On the right hand rod, a method ball made up of the same groundbait as the spod mix, crashed in. Hookbait here was 2 bits of artificial corn on a short hooklenth. Everything was organised, and all i had to do now was sit back and wait.

The night passed uneventfully, not surprisingly i might add given that Tench are not notorious for being heavy night feeders. The chorus indicated the dawn of a new day, and a Bite alarm signalled the interest of a fish too- my left hand rod started to rip off!! Excellent i thought as i bent into the fish, there is nothing like catching from a new water, and i was overjoyed that being tired in work the day ahead of me, was being rewarded. A Tench of 7.12 scrapped all the way to the net, and soon after releasing her, a fresh feeder full of maggots went straight back out on the spot. The fish was mint, dark colours and lovely proportions, a very welcome customer indeed. The method rod was next away, another screaming run which left me intially thinking a carp could be responsible, but after a brief scrappy fight in the deep margins, tench number 2 was on the mat. Abit smaller this time at 6lb, but welcome all the same, i wasted no time in recasting to see if any of her friends were milling over the feed. I looked at the watch, it was only 5.25am, the sun was peeping through the trees, and a warm breeze blew into my swim. Ah to have the day off, i would not complain if i had the spend the day in the proximity of such plesant surroundings.

The bobbin on the left rod dropped a couple of inches, then literally smacked up into the butt, and the baitrunner sung its tune, i couldn't believe that another tench was on! This fish initially felt a better sample as it kited about 20 yards to the left along the bar, fighting as if its life depending on it, as it tried to make sanctury in a hefty weedbed. I made sure that i would win the battle, and the 2lb Drennan Distance rod proved its worth as i piled on the pressure.... It started edging back towards me, blinkered by the weed covering its face. It was not far from the net now, but luckily against its will, it was engulfed into the waiting mesh and he was mine. A big chunky male laid defeated in the margins, as i dampened the weigh sling ready to see how big it was. It looked 8+ and the avons confirmed it- 8lb 2oz. What a success this opportunistic session was turning out to be, anything action i would of been grateful of, but to have 3 to over 8lb, well i just didnt think it would happen. Realisticlly i could of stayed till about 7.30, but given that i had caught, i slowly started to dismantle the shelter and start packing up earlier than expected. The barrow was loaded, and all that was left to sort was 2 rods and a smelly slimey net.

Watching the water showed that their were many active tench still in presence, in some cases leaping clear out of the water, already i was looking forward to my next session. One more fish decided to pay me a visit before i departed the tranquil setting, and a twitchy take was struck and the rod yet again took on spirited curve.... it felt heavy, and although it didnt put up the scrap like the male did, it didn't want to give in easily! With such clear water, its awesome watching the fish burrowing into the weed and surging under the rod tip. It makes the fight hairy too, because when you see its a decent fish, the last thing you want to do, is lose it. I mainted the pressure as much as she did, but i need not of worried, as i had now beaten tench number 4. This was clearly the biggest, a lovely plump female of 8lb 6oz. What a perfect end to a eventful morning, and i reluctantly packed the rods away, departing a swim where i would of almost certainly filled by boots if i could of stayed till lunchtime. Oh well..... i'll be back next week!!

Tench Campaign Gets Underway! Part II

Following on from my last post, i was awoken by my alarm at 4.30am, it didnt even feel like i had been asleep, but i promtly put the kettle on and tried to wake myself up. I was able to watch the water from the comfort of my bag, and there wasnt really much going on out there, in the way of fish activity. Nether the less, i was confident the tench wouldnt be far way, so i put fresh baits on each rod, and swapped the corn for maggots and casters in the hope that the eels would no longer be active.

After around 15 or so minutes after recasting, the middle rod fished over the gravel patch signalled some interest. The bobbin lifted a inch or so, then dropped a couple of inches.... no line was taken from the baitrunner- i was using light bobbins so presumed it was a linebite. Then a few seconds later, the bobbin rose again, and stayed tight. I was out of the bag and on it in a flash, and i soon realised that an eel was the culprit. They seem to give a jag jag on the rod top, then ease off.... then jag jag. I couldnt believe how much trouble i had been experiencing with the eels in the Daylight! I dread to think how many i would have if i left the maggots out at night! Due to the short hooklink bolt rigged maggot feeder, it was hooked in the bottom lip, so was easily released without harm to him, or my landing net and rig!

Anyway.... i preceded to recast the rods every hour or so, leaving them out a fraction longer than the previous session as i thought it might take the tench a little while longer to find my hookbait amongst the free offerings. After several more brews my left hand rod fished out to the bar ripped off! I knew this was no eel from the take, and my new Drennan Distance Tench Rod was nicely bent into what appeared to be a decent fish. At last, all the baiting and waiting seemed to be paying off, and when i could see it powering away under the rod tip, just the size of its tail in the clear water confirmed what i had been hoping. It was soon engulfed in my net, and left to rest in the margin whilst i wet my sling and unhooking mat.

It was a pristine specimen, and at 8.8 was very welcome too. It appeared as though the warm spell we have been enjoying had encouraged the tench to not only feed, but to fill out too, as although it wasn't really fat, it was nice and plump. A couple of snaps then it was released to the depths, and it felt like it was all fitting into place.

For some reason though, for one i cant explain, the other piece to the jigsaw didn't fit into place, and that was the one and only tench of the session. Eel after eel showed, and despite topping up the swims early evening the action nether materialised on the Sunday morning/ afternoon spell either. The wind was blowing into the opposite bay on the other side of the lake, and although the carp were chasing themselves up and down the margins there, i had a feeling i had made a bad swim choice. I will be more conscious of where the wind blows on my next session, if there is room for me in amongst the carpers that is....

All in all though, alot was learnt in my weekend session, and i'll be able to put it all into practise again very soon. Highlights were obviously the nice Tench, and must mention the BBQ we had in the Evening. Chicken Kebabs, King Prawns, Sausages, Burgers, Salad etc etc.... who said fishing was dull?!

Tench Campaign Gets Underway!

After what felt like a somewhat prolonged Winter, it was soon time to get the tench tackle sorted for when the conditions looked prosperous. This seemed to go on for weeks, but then i couldn't wait any longer and it was time to get out.

This weekend was my 4th session this spring, a vast comparison to the salopettes and quilted jacked i was forced to wear just a few weeks ago. So far it handn't been so bad, more of a learning curve getting to know the ins and outs of a new water for me. Over the last few weeks, I've had an 8, a couple of 7's and a few 6's. It definitely helps getting a few fish under your belt, especially seeing that in a month or so's time there could be a few doubles swimming about (fingers crossed).

My session started on the Friday after work, as usual, and their were clearly already a few anglers about, I expected it to be a busy weekend given the favourable forecast.

I will go into more detail in my Tench approach over the coming weeks, but for now i had 3 spots marked out, all at different depths to different features out infront of my swim. Gravel patches, marginal shelves and Bars, would all hoepfully be frequented by a tench or two throughout the course of the session.

Each spot was baited differently, the marginal shelf with a dozen balls of grounbait, the gravel patch with 50 balls of feed, and the gravel bar with around 3 pints of feed deposited with the spod. Groundbait was up of crumb, layers mash, wheat, hemp, corn and a good glug of molasses: Hopefully irresistible to our little green friends.

I felt that this approach covered pretty much all options, with a moderate baiting on 2 spots, and a fair bit of bait on the other.

The groundbait was catapulted out as accuratley as possible, and at the very least i would like it landing within a 5ft radius of the marker float, not easy with a cross wind!! With the bait on all spots put out nicley and rigs clipped up, i settled in for the night. Stove on and Annie Mac on the Radio, i was excited at the prospect of waking up at dawn to see the tell tale signs of some feeding Tench...

Drennan Cup Dream Becomes Reality!

I have always looked up to the Drennan Cup Competition run by Drennan, in the Angling Times.  Truly great specimens are awarded weekly, and any one of them prized captures is enough to wet anyone's appetite. Two years ago i won my first weekly award for a 3lb 15oz Crucian from a Surrey Estate lake.  I had never imagined two seasons down the line that i would be voted and crowned Drennan Cup Champion for 2007/2008!

What an awesome feeling it is to have my name engraved on the trophy along with the Likes of Alan Wilson, Terry Lampard, Ritchie Mc Donald, Terry Hearn, Matt Hayes and Dave Harman amongst many many others!

Luckily, I had one of them seasons where everything seemed to fall into place in good time.  One double figure tench became 5, and a new Pb Crucian came in the shape of a 4lb 1oz specimen.  By now, in June,  i had 4 weekly weeks under my belt, so i targeted Bream in the hope that i might be able to notch up a fifth.  Around 6 sessions later, my tally was 20 doubles to 15lb 10oz. When they get to that size, they really are worth Catching. I upped my Barbel pb to 16lb 9oz and my Perch to a fraction under the magical 4lb mark at 3lb 13oz. Thats a pb for next winter!

I struggled with the Chub, one species that let me down that i thought i could rely on. I couldn't of really expected to just turn up and have a '7', given that i had been absent on the stretch all summer, where i had been up and around the country targeting still water. The close season came and went, and i thought that my campaign had come to an end.  Much to my surprise, not for the first time this season i can assure you, i had another moment where i felt that someone must of been looking down on me.  I scooped up, 15 minutes into my first session targetting them, a fish of a lifetime.  A mint 32lb Pike!

The contenders were named, and the votes were cast. I thought that the 4 or so weeks waiting for the submissions lasted an age, and there was some stiff competition from some exceptional anglers.  The wait came to and end and i finally got the Call from Steve at the AT, I had won! If the anticipation had gone on any longer, i am fairly sure you would have seen me with a bald patch in the shots collecting the Trophy from the man himself, Peter Drennan!

Meeting Peter Drennan at the headquarters in Oxford was such a great day.  He was more than you could of hoped for, a genuine gentleman who made me feel very welcome.  Some of the cased fish tell some great stories, and if anyone is lucky enough to meet him, im sure he has a tale or two to tell you too.

Thats when the dream became relality, lifting that Trophy in Oxford that day.  An event i will never forget.  Thank You Peter and everyone at Drennan and the Angling Times, and also everyone who voted for me.  I can you tell you now that im still smiling!