We all enjoy fishing its why we do it right? But different things drive different people, some it’s all about size, some it’s named fish and some it’s the lure of unknowns in a 120 acre unfished gravel pit. Some will only fish rivers and after the floods this year you know it’s going to provide rich pickings in the future. No matter what the passion is still the same…
For me it’s about catching stunning fish of any size. Finding that jewel in a day ticket or commercial water. Something special that doesn’t normally get caught due to stocking levels or pressure.
So this weekend I was given permission to night fish the middle lake at Willow Park Fishery on the Hampshire / Surrey boarder. Night fishing is only allowed on the Big Lake on this complex. This would be a great opportunity to try out the NEW Wychwood C101 rods I’d been sent. As the entry-level rods, these are perfect for day ticket and commercial waters. They also make for a quality second setup if you don’t want to spend a fortune.
The big lake is closed at the minute, so Edd has kindly given me a few extra swims to invite some of the regulars as a treat. Lets just say they jumped at the chance. I arrived at the venue just before dark on Friday, picking peg 11. Clipping one rod up to the back of a willow tree and one to a clear spot in open water. I placed a couple of handfuls of bait over each rod and its finally time to play with the New Wychwood Brolly system I’d also been sent. This is the New HD MHR version with loads of new features, so I was excited to see what has changed. I love my old 60” Wychwood brolly system, so it’s got a lot to live up to. Well, that idea didn’t go to plan, as before I’d even got the brolly out of the bag the willow tree rod was away! It’s almost dark so I unhook the fish and place it back in the net whilst I continuing to put my home up for the night. This time the open water rod is away, thank god I had two landing nets with me!
The brolly system goes up super fast and I finally get chance to look at the fish. The willow tree produced a small common, but the open water rod had given me a fin perfect, small double, scally mirror. For a day ticket water this little fella looked like it had never been hooked and its mouth was immaculate. Rods go back out and time for some food, but the willow tree rod is away again. This went on till the early hours of the morning until I finally reeled in for a few hours sleep. A quick count up in the morning and I’d had 12 runs with 3 fish that stood out well above the rest. Two were fin perfect scally mirrors and the other a dark almost leather. This is why I fish these kinds of waters.
Its 7:30am and the guests start arriving, so its time to take advantage of the on-site café and meet everyone. We have a quick run through the rules and chat about who’s fishing where before heading off to the lake. It also seems that I slept through a lot of cold rain last night. This will slowed the fishing up, but we should still be good for a few fish. The rain has clearly affected the willow tree rod, as the next 24hrs it didn’t do another bite. I made several changes to rigs, bait and even tried my ever faithful pop ups, but nothing. On the plus side, the open water rod gave me 2 more fin perfect, heavily plated double Mirrors.
As the day went on I took several walks round the lake to see how everyone was getting on. It was great to see the guests getting in on the action. With over 40 carp landed between our little group the highlights were a Mirror of 15.08lb, followed by a Common of 14.12lb. Both didn’t have a single mark on them and were supporting full winter colours. Great weekend, even if it did rain (a lot).
The New Wychwood HD MHR Brolly system is a cracking bit of kit, but it’s the attention to detail that has impressed me. The pocket between the ribs in the back is a genius idea. Why has this never been thought of before? The footprint is tiny, but the inside space is like the Tardis. Even the storm poles have clips and neoprene covers to protect them when the brolly is put away.
As for the rods, they didn’t put a foot wrong. They also come in the same matt finish as my old MLT’s, so a big tick for me. Talking to Tony Smeets on another lake over the weekend, he’d managed to stick a 4oz lead 120 yards with his 2.75tc C101’s. The man is a casting machine, but shows the quality of the blanks. A friend who came to see the rods at the weekend said. “What a great rod for the price, I can buy 3 as a second set up and the wife won’t even know I’ve spent the money” Name withheld just in case she reads this. Your secret is safe with me buddy, as you can never have enough fishing gear.
Till next time…Tight Lines guys.