So as usual it’s been a while since I have last updated you and I’m pretty sure soon I will actually get myself in order to keep you guys up to date on my fishing travels! So I’ve recently renewed my Estate Lake ticket and decided to put it to use sooner rather than later. Deciding to fish the Saturday as I was due to go out of town for a day ticket session on the Sunday the morning started off pretty grim. There was an apparent 20+ mph cold wind but getting there early I had choice of swims. I knew the weather would be changing for the better as the day progressed so decided I was more than likely going to sit it out here or if not move to one other area. As the morning grew on a few others arrived and pitched up beside me making things a little cramped but I decided to remain confident knowing I had put out a little bit of bait the previous two evenings in the immediate area I was fishing. A couple of hours had passed and the others to my left had already decided that they wanted to move into the swim that was going to be my second choice leaving me definitely staying put but just having a lot more water at my disposal which wasn’t a bad thing as the sun began to rise move round behind me and illuminate the island margins. This area would see the sun for the best of the day and with a lot of overhangs and snagged areas to lay up in if there was a chance to nick a fish or two I think that would the best bet.

So regularly recasting throughout the morning trying to keep mobile and entice a bite the sun had proper warmed up and it was late afternoon before I received my first bit of action. Deciding to drop the small pva sticks and fish singles on new rigs I had tied for this coming season. Bait choice was going to be single washed out pink pop-ups. Loaded up and ready to go it was one of them casts when  you instantly say that’s a bite. Knowing that this rod would not be moved now until I went home I remained fairly confident that I would probably get one chance and this rod would be the one. Cast within mm’s of overhangs it would have definitely dropped in underneath the canopy through the sheer  force of the cast. Locked up and ready to rock the rod bent round into a one toner around 40 minutes later… Finally I was away. Steering it away from diving into the sunken snags further down it finally hit open water and I could relax to a point but knowing it was potentially my first fish of 2015 the pressure was on to bank it. After the initial mad dash the rest was a breeze and it slid into the net! A low double mirror and a welcome visitor to the bank. Whilst resting in the net I rigged back up with a spare I had already tied with the same single bait this one again went out absolutely bang on slightly more to the right of the spot I had previously hit but again right on the money and felt if any other fish had moved round then I would have another chance of one more before home time.

Low and behold around 30 minutes later it was away again with a proper angry fish attached to the end. Again trying to stitch me up in the snags this one needed a little more bullying to get it out and into the safety of open water. This one under the rod tip decided to run me a merry dance and with the first opportunity it got swooped over the net cord. A very pretty mirror still full of beans was resting in the net whilst the swim looked like a bomb site. A second fish in less than an hour and 2 on the new rig. Buzzing was an understatement. Just why we do it and more for the fact that I stuck it out to the end. When effort equals reward today was definitely one of them days. And it doesn’t end there.. More to come in the shape of an estate lake PB J I do hope you guys are all well and out there doing it!