I’ve returned to Farnham Flint reading, and after my last visit I’m feeling really up for it. After finishing work early I eventually set off  arrive at the lake around 5pm Friday I’m only here until Sunday lunch time so I’m hoping to make the most of my time, there’s a light SS Westerly wind with heavy rain due in the early hours so I need to find a swim and get myself sorted.
After scoping the lake I find myself drawn back to the mound swim I had the 36 common from a few weeks ago there’s no one either side of me and with so much water to target plus the fact I’ve now got notes of a few nice spots too target from my last visit this is going to be camp at least for tonight.
Jotting down distance and marks from my last visit means it doesn’t take long to get the rods out on there spots I’ve also had a lead around and baited a spot with 2kg of red ball which I’m leaving until tomorrow.

A local guy Jason pops to the swim We’ve become friends since my ticket started in mid June he keeps me up to date on how the lakes been fishing when I’m home in cardiff via text, he tells me he’s had a 29lb mirror the day before so I’m hoping there still up for a munch. After getting food sorted I bed down and get a good sleep with no sign of the torrential rain through the night which is typical weather forecast, by early Saturday morning I’m up and at it, if I’m not feeling the swim after an hour or two i will be looking to move. The wind has changed direction slightly and while I’m sipping my cupper a good sized mirror lumps out but nowhere near my rods so I quickly reel one in dip it in RB glug and drop it on its  head “straight into thick weed ” the stuff is everywhere. Not long after that I make the decision to stay after seeing another two shows it looks like a few fish may have moved back into the area.

After some breakfast I decide to reel in and put new baits on, the island rod looks like it’s been done by the crays which can be a right nuisance not knowing how long you’ve been fishing without a baited hook.
All day the lake is silent of alarms with just the sound of the wildlife and by early evening we get the long awaited down pour which lasts on and off for around an hour I set about recasting all the rods for the night but I’ve put a rod on the new mark I baited the day before and topped up with another kg of Red Ball a stiff hinge rig with a mike jones custom choc/orange (hobbit) popup job done.
I eventually drift off on the bed listening to the radio then at about 1am the left rod on the new spot rattled off and by the bend in the rod I now I’m into something good it’s trying all it can to get me in the weed but I ain’t giving it anything and after a few hairy moments get it in the net covered in weed I look into the net and I now it’s over 30 straight away I get it in a recovery sling to give it a rest, I measure out the rod clip up and get it back on the spot plus an extra 1/2kg.
On the scales it goes 34lb 6oz and a new PB mirror by 2lb buzzing I’m told the fish is known as Smiley,,

I’ve done two sessions and managed two PB’s and two of the named fish in the lake after a few self takes I slip her back make a cuppa and text my good mate Chris Walsh who a few hours before told me to ring or text anytime if I have anything and to be fair he’s as keen as I am always calling me to see how I’m getting on top bloke.
Anyway no sooner I sent the text he calls me and after a quick chat I try getting my head down and what only felt like a few minutes was actually an hour or so the same rod tares off and this fish is very unhappy to be hooked I’m fishing a pretty tight clutch because of the weed and this thing is peeling line like you wouldn’t believe the rods bent over I can’t tighten any more fearing a hook pull or worse for every 5-6 turns of the handle this fish is taking it back and more, soon enough it’s found weed bed after weed bed at one point locking me solid and all I can think is this could be a 40 ? Although it was coming in carrying a lot of weed, I’m not sure how long this fish was on but it seemed like ages it just wouldn’t come to the bank when I eventually got it close enough to net I could see a big clump of weed and an even bigger one behind that with the fish in so I had no choice but to put the rod down quickly get in and scoop the whole lot which I did and thankfully the fish didn’t make another lunge for freedom. After pulling away most of the green stuff and getting the fish to the mat I new it wasn’t a 40 but at least a 30+ Common which it was at 32lb 10oz and with a huge paddle which explained the power of the beast, over the moon to have another big fish another text and chat with Chris who was just as exited as I was lol

After that I didn’t really sleep the rest of the night to be honest adrenalin had kicked me into wide awake mode lol
I packed up the next afternoon and once again drove home very happy indeed already looking forward to my next session.
Jason massay