Start of a New Season on the Fendrod. - Strike One -

So, its the end of the 2010-11 fishing season and the start of the 2011-12 season on still waters. The end of annual club memberships and the expiry of the environments agency rod licences meant I was stuck with a bit of a dilemma. Things are pretty tight on the finance front which left me unable to do the annual splash out renewing several club memberships and the two rod licences. Like all the other cut backs I had to be selective in what I spent my money on.

Anyway, my financial situationist has restricted me to a single rod licence meaning I will only fishing two rods in the sessions until the time comes where I've got a bit of spare cash.

Personally, I feel that the need for a second rod licence to fish a third rod is out dated. Fishing three rods while Carp fishing is almost standard practice and it would make sense if a single rod licence covered you. I fail to see why fishing with a third rod creates such an impact on the environments agency that anglers need to be charged for a second rod licence.

Unfortunatly, they have the law on their side giving them a licence to fleece Carp anglers. Sadly, the extra revenue will more than likely be invested in areas of the sport that are unaccessable to the average angler like stocking Salmon or invested in the conservation of Otters which through their reintroduction to rivers in South Wales has had a dire results decimating at least two local fisheries not to mention the reports of high profile fisheries from across the UK losing vast stocks to Otters. But, it is the law and its easier to fish two rods or hand over the second fee instead of running the risk of being summonsed to court which is something I'd rather avoid.

More cut backs left me in limbo wondering what club to join first especially as Swansea city council has hiked the cost of annual membership to Brynmill angling club to almost double what it cost last year meaning that with my continued pursuit of Fendrod Carp the other club memberships will have to wait until the cash is available.

So then, back to the start of a new season on the Fendrod, with only a few hours passed since I purchased a platinum membership I had the car loaded and was off down the Fendrod hoping to get my monies worth after paying the new fee.

I took a quick walk round and chatted to a few of the regulars and like last year the reports were pretty slim but there were a few fish making an appearance. My peg sellection was fairly simple as it was on the verge of sunset I chose the option of fishing as close to the car as possible, this was a choice made due to the fact its easier to set up in the light than it is in the dark.

Check out the video blog of the session.

My baiting tactics were quick and plenty full, I rigged up a method feeder cast it out to the desired location then clipped up the line I then proceeded to cast five or so big method balls onto the same spot before dropping a final method ball out with a hook bait now nestled in the ball. My second rod was a simple half and half pop-up and bottom bait cast out in the vicinity of a fish I'd seen topping followed by about thirty freebies.

Once the night settled in I burried myself in the sleeping bag hoping to be woken during the night.

Cracking shot of the moon, taken from a camcorder still.

The reality was far from what I wanted with the half and half bait sat there without a single knock while the method feeder was giving a single beep on the alarms at regular intervals during the night. I'd made a big mistake by not checking the rigs during the night. The half and half was coated in sludge and debris while the hook length on the method feeder was tangled into the feeder with the hook trapped leaving the boilie on the outside.

My morning breakfast bar.

I chopped and changed a few things during the morning but couldn't make anything work for me. I was still annoyed with myself for not checking the rigs during the night. I ended the session with another Fendrod blank not really a good way to start off the season but now that I have my membership I'll be making a bit more of an effort to get down there and hopefully this year will see me break the 20lb mark on a welsh water but I'll be happy with anything as long as it means catching.