Persistance Pays Off on the Fendrod - Strike Four -

Well, for some reason I've had a mental block and held back on writing this post, I think, I didn't really know how to put it all into words or maybe it was the fact that I'd actually be writing about a session where things worked for a change and writing about multiple captures from the Fendrod is rare feat for me and I didn't want to pass it over like just another session. None the less I've finally got my fingers in action and I'm going to give it my best attempt.

It was my standard arrival with my arriving at the lake with just enough sunlight to get the rods out and bivvy up. My choice of bait for the session was Mainline Cell boilies and I scattered about fifty freebies over each rod.

I got everything ready for the night and settled down with a coffee before starting the task of tying a few PVA bags. I made use of my Korda Krusha and ground up a load of Cell boilies along with trout pellets. I spent what felt like ages grinding and tying, until I ended up with nice little stock of PVA bags ready any recasts.  

By the time it was completely dark I was all settled and ready for a pick up. I laid down on the bedchair and got a bit of kip.

My first bit of disturbance was the usual visitors to the peg I was on, RATS!. A single rat was rustling about on the edge of the peg I waited until it got its confidence up before making my move to scare it away. It wasn't long before it was scouting around outside the bivvy door and I flicked on my head torch aiming it straight at it then jumped to my feet and chased it off the peg. And for once this was all it took. I'd prefer not to see them at all but at least it had buggered off and I was left alone for the rest of the night.

My confidence wasn't at its highest as unlike previous sessions there was now a distinct lack of fish on the surface, normally there would be a few fish crashing in open water but apart from the few I'd seen when I arrived the was nothing.

I was back on the bed when my first run of the night commenced. I jumped to my feet and connected with a proper little scrapper. I was happy to be into a fish and its wasn't long before I had my first fish of the session in the net. I peered down into the net and was rather pleased to see a Fendrod Ghostie, not one of the big ones but it was a result.

I got the camera ready for a bit of video blogging, opened the mat then lift the net. As I lifted the net the alarm from my second rod started to scream. My first thought was that I'd picked up the line with the net but as I lowered the net I realised I was nowhere near it and the fact that the alarm hadn't stopped meant I had to act fast. I picked up my second rod and connected with another fish, this one was hanging on a lot harder than the first which made me start to think I hooked into something a bit better. Although it was hitting back I gained back my line fairly quickly and then I was left with the task of getting it in the net while my first fish of the night was still present.

I think I done a good job of staying calm while playing the fish with one hand while guiding the net with the other. Luckily the ghost Carp was sulking in the bottom of the net giving me enough room to manoeuvre the net under the second fish.

With both fish in the net the second fish, a mirror Carp looked a bit smaller than the ghost Carp. I toyed with the idea of getting a a photo with both fish at the same time but as I was on my own and the picture would be a timed self take it would mean one wrong move and I'd have fish bouncing on the floor so I decided against it opting to deal with them one at a time.

The first one out of the net was the mirror, just making double figures weighing in at 10lb 1oz, it looked completely spawned out. I thought that this would have been the bigger of the two considering the fight but it just goes to show you can never gauge a weight by the fight. 

10lb 1oz, just scraping double figures even with a spawned out belly.

Then it was time for the ghostie to finally grace the bank, it was in absolute pristine condition and the scales illuminated under the light of the head torch. It only weighed in at 11lb so it wasn't one of the big ghosties that I'd seen during the spawning but it was very welcome. 

Bang on 11lb, excellent way to start the night off.

After my double haul was safely back in the lake I had the job of untangling both rods as I had slung them off to the side while I was dealing with the fish, they were in a bit of a mess making wish I'd taken an extra few seconds to sort out the rods after unhooking the fish but I literally had my hands full.

When I climbed back in to bed I was quite please with myself, I cannot even put a figure to the amount of times I've climbed into the sleeping bag hoping for a run only to wake up in the morning without any action, so two fish on the bank at the start of the session made it a good one whatever happens and I could relax a bit.

I got a pretty good nights sleep, no rats but also no more runs....until the sun came up and at about quarter past six my session improved again when another hard fighting mirror pulls my out of my slumber. I know I don't really rate anything that's surrounded in hype but the cell boilies were doing the job.

The fish weighed in at 12lb 4oz another double and making it one of my biggest Carp hauls on the Fendrod in a long time.

A 12lb 4oz Wake UP! call.

Sunrise, time to put the kettle on.

Once my third Carp of the session was back in the lake I reeled in both rods hooked on some of my pre-made PVA bags then got the kettle on. Sitting there after a fairly successful night with a coffee my hand soaking up the warmth of the morning sun is one of the best feelings. I was pretty happy just sitting there but I knew it would all be over too soon and I'd have to start packing up.

My two rods set up for the next pick up.

I kept myself busy slowly packing things down thinking it was unlikely that I'd get another run now that the sun was beaming down but you can never predict how a session will pan out.

The bivvy was down and I was starting to organise all my bits and pieces ready for home. I'd even had the chance to dry the net, sling and mat in the sun.

Steve called down on his way to work, we'd been chatting for a bit when I got my fourth pick up. It was nice to have someone there to hold the camera, especially as I was about to land the biggest fish of the session. No monster but another double weighing in at 12lb 10oz making it my fourth double.  

Finishing one of a better Fendrod sessions with a 12lb 10oz Common. Lovely!

It was nice to end the session on a fish and I couldn't have asked for a better condition fish. I was packed up and away from the lake not long after. Now that I've had a chance to read a few of my early blog entries when I started fishing the Fendrod I can see that I've finally levelled my four Carp in a session best.

The three part video blog - embedded as play-list so it should play all the way through.

I don't think I could have asked for more. When I arrived I was fishing on the tail end of spawning and didn't really expect to get anything so I'm more than happy. I suppose I could say that I'd have liked to have seen one of the bigger residents of the lake or even one of the named fish but I know that if I keep putting in the effort things will eventually fall into place.

Lets just hope the Fendrod keeps giving me something back for my efforts. So, until my next entry take care.