Hi all, well it’s been a interesting few weeks on the fishing front. I’ve changed bait company’s had a great social and had some fish on the bank . There’s a saying “a change is as good as a rest” and on that thought I decided to change bait company’s and joined the Natures Baits Team and I’ve got to say I’m impressed.The company is owned by lee Whittaker and the main bait is bloodworm X with accompanying pop ups glugs and liquids . I met lee before I joined and was impressed right away with the company and the plans for the future so hopefully we’ll have a long future together. My first trip out with the new bait was at Bearslake for a 48hr session with my brother in law Andy he hadn’t been fishing for a while so it was good to meet up. We settled on badgers peg after a walk around the lake . Spots were baited with bloodworm X and the accompanying pellet and the rods were baited with white ice pop ups on choddies and snowman rigs  bloodworm X bottom bait with pink crush pop up . We both settled down had a few beers and a catch up watching the lake for signs of fish. My right hand spot was fizzing and showing signs of fish movement it was looking good and so  fingers were crossed .Well it was soon time to get our heads down and so it was off to bed . Morning came. There was nothing in the night so after a brew and breakfast rods were bought in and spots baited up I changed my chod bait to a bloodworm X cork dust pop up and margin rod to bloodworm X bottom bait and black magic pop up. The day passed and nothing happening so off to bed feeling a little despondent . I was awoke at about 5am by a one toner on my right hand rod, after a good fight I could feel the fish felt a good one. With the fish safely in the net I realised that Andy had slept through the whole thing . I weighed fish and it went 24lb10oz a lovely dark mirror I finally got Andy to wake up to take some photos and returned fish to its home .

To say the least I was buzzing, first fish on the new bait and it was a cracker .Time to pack up and prepare for the Team Catch social was looking forward to this . The day of the social came and it was great to meet up with all the lads I won’t go into great depth on the social watch the video on site .I blanked but a few stunning carp were caught and a great laugh was had. Most importantly Tales from Wales finally met Mrs bear to thank her for the Mexican bars he so much enjoys. Also The Boy Jay Skinner came down as well to see every one, a great few days and one I really enjoyed even though I did blank . It’s all about the being there that counts and we were there as a team and that’s what mattered . So after the social I had decided to fish Bearslake for 4 night’s and ended up with the lake to myself. Now as I’ve said before this lake is hard going so with no pressure on and not long after the social I set up on badgers again knowing bait had been in.  After  seeing a decent fish roll I put rods out on to previous baited spots put more bait in and my plan was to sit on bait and wait . I did this for 48hrs with no luck, knowing the lake like I do with fishing it off and on for 30yrs I always say the third night of a long session is normally the most productive . I had baited the middle of the lake up by the scaffold heavily over the past 2 days so put both rods out in middle for the night both on chod rigs one white ice pop up one pink crush pop up . It was a lovely evening sat star gazing I retreated to my bivvy about half ten and settled down for the night. beep beep beep beeeeeep at 11-50pm my right rod screamed off fish on. After a great tussle with a few hairy momments I landed a 15lb3oz mirror took a mat shot , as I still need to sort my self take gear, and returned it safely .

Back to bed. At 5-10am left rod went in to meltdown fish on after a good fight fish was near the net and in the beam of my head torch I noticed it was a common . Nothing unusual you might think but after 30yrs on this lake I’d only ever had one common 10yrs ago and it was 6lb. I netted fish and placed on mat and just stared at it after 10yrs my common jinx had been lifted on bear’s it went 19lb4oz on scales and I was one happy bear not a massive fish but one memory I’ll treasure for ever . Now I want the Big Common….. The boy came down and did some pics to capture this decade struggle, thanks mate . So the 4 days had flown by and it was time to start packing up when my left rod ripped off and a very hard fighting fish was on the end it was going mental when I netted it I couldn’t believe it. It was a small mirror 12lb3oz but what a little stunner one for the future definitely so pictures taken,fish returned and time to go home. What a session nothing massive but 3 stunning Bearslake carp and a decade long common jinx lifted…… come on the Big Common I’ll be back for you .
So until next time as always stay productive

cheers bear.