For those that have read my previous monthly updates/blogs on the Catch and Release website and social media sites. Thank you for sticking with me. I have finally managed to go fishing this month and I can actually blog about fishing in my May blog.

The month continued in the same vain of form as the ones that preceded it, and I thought I was in for another busy few weeks that didn’t involve much fishing. Due to my heavy schedule and distinct lack of time, I was jumping at any opportunity to go fishing. Whatever the session and trip Steve Sharp is a man who also has a very limited amount of time to get out on the bank and again I’d arranged to fish a short morning session with him. This time we were heading for the grand union canal for a spot of floater fishing. This has always proven to be very productive for us and although it meant a 3am alarm, I was very excited. I’d not fished for ages and I’d not caught a fish In even longer. So with the warm weather we were experiencing and the catch reports coming regularly from the canal, hopes were high.

My syndicate and club water are both publicity shy waters. So I hadn’t produced a video blog for ages either and the canal would provide me with the perfect opportunity to do a video as well.

When we first arrived to the canal at first light Steve had no sooner littered the waters surface with floaters and carp were slurping at them. The carp on the canal aren’t greatly pressured fish and Steve was able to literally lower his free-lined mixer on to a feeding fishes head, for the first capture. The fish was a respectable 14lb common and we thought that we were in for a good mornings fishing.
Although Steve did manage a second fish a hour or so later, something didn’t seem right. The fish had stopped feeding as aggressively and therefore had become very hard to catch. With reports over social media that a number of waters had begun a early spawn. It was clear that these fish may have other things on their minds and a move was on the cards.
We quickly located some more feeding fish after a move to a section of the canal were Steve and I often fish and this time I was the one to catch with my first cast. The 17lb mirror a fish we named (lumpy) was the biggest of the trip and an annual friend. Steve and I had now caught him 3yrs on the bounce.
Steve and I then managed a double take before the boat traffic started and put an end to the session and it was off to Mac Donald’s for a well-deserved milkshake.

 
SESSION LINKS

– CC Moore article link – http://www.ccmoore.com/bait-blog/floater-fishing-on-the-grand-union-canal-by-mark-woolley/

– Video blog link – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iW89NQfjNMQ&list=UUBkXiiteljLf2oy3jHhgE4w

Fate and fortune played a part in my next outing of my syndicate campaign, as after I arrived early for work. I was told that I wasn’t due in!!! I wasn’t going to argue as I’d just received the news that my friend Ian Fisher had just banked the Monks pit big girl at 45lb 07oz. It was his new PB and after talking to him it lit my fire to get back on my syndicate.

SESSION LINKS

Ians Monks pit big one vid https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PThUjdgwanc

I arrived at the venue around 3pm after firstly visiting Ian on Monks pit, to gather some media of his special capture. I had a quick walk of the lake and there were a number of pegs already occupied. With it being bank holiday this was to be expected. So I was limited and I couldn’t find any fish to move onto, however one end of the lake had no other anglers fishing it and the wind was also pushing down there. It was plenty for me to go on, and with a big black cloud moving in I wasted no time.

 

 
Once I’d made it back to the swim, I quickly threw up the shelter in-time for the rain to start. Once the rain started the carp began to put on a display on the opposite bank. It was the same swim that I’d previously fished and lost the one on a zig. Although I’d already set up and really didn’t want to move. I couldn’t ignore the carp and knew if I wanted to catch one I’d have to put the effort in.

Still with a broken barrow I made my journey around the lake in the rain. I was also aware that I may not have been the only one to see the carp showing and I was frantically powering along accompanied by my turret commentary. I arrived in the swim and thankfully it was still unoccupied and the carp were still showing.

Again I threw my brolly up for some much needed shelter, although by this time it was really to late. With the fish showing and having already fished the area I opted to fish all three rods on stiff hinge rigs cast to the various areas where the fish were and I scattered a few handfuls of equinox and livesystem 15mm and 18mm boilies over the top of each. The majority of the shows were in the bay to my left and although it was clear it was holding a number of fish I opted to only fish one rod in there. I felt any more lines could over pressure the area and push them out
Two hours later, the rain had stopped and my single bay rod produced my second opportunity to get my campaign under-way. The fish gave a good account of itself in the deeper water and made a number of attempts for the reeds surrounding the bay. Thankfully, I eventually had the 22lb 10oz mirror sulking in my landing net and I was relieved to finally be off the mark.

Although the carp continued to show throughout the night. I awoke at first light disappointed to not have added to my tally. I lay in under my brolly watching out over the lake for awhile before I eventually decided to go back to sleep, rolled over to close my eyes. I must have only just drifted off as I awoke to the sound of my screaming delkim, powering off as line peeled off the spool of the bay rod once again. I hit the rod but was unable to stop the powerful run, which thankfully was towards open water. I aloud the carp to wear itself out while there were no obvious dangers. When I’d retrieved the fish to my near margin, I was able to slide the large mirror into the net at the first time of asking.  It was a clear 30lb carp and I was absolutely delighted when the scales confirmed it at 31lb 08oz.

Although I fished another 24hrs, the fish seemed to have moved off and although I watched the water I failed to locate any signs to move on to. I was still pleased with the results of my efforts and to be off the mark.