It’s two days before my first session on Farriers and I’m like a bottle of pop. It’s all I’ve thought about since getting the call to say I’m on. Getting all the gear sorted I’m trying to whittle things down best I can, My plan is to stay as mobile as possible and ready to move at the drop of a hat, from what I’ve heard the fish don’t always stick around and can be gone no sooner they arrive, I’ve also had to change end tackle slightly as well, there’s a no leader/lead core rule and barbless hooks only which is the complete opposite to how I normally fish but rules are rules and that’s what it has to be.

4G and The Key

“June 16th” I’m up the vans packed and before I know it I’m outside the gate to Farriers at 5am ready for a 4 day session, I always do my best to arrive at a lake at just before first light to see if there’s signs of fish plus there’s no better place to be at sunrise than a picturesque lake. I spin the new magic numbers —- into the padlock but it’s not opening? After a few minutes I get the attention of an angler in the first peg in front of the gate which turns out to be one of the bailiffs who tells me “9am” the new code is being changed and I’ll have to wait… Which turns out to be my fault for not reading my confirmation letter fully lol Anyway once on the lake I get a guided tour of the swims by good friend Anthony Tanti and going by this last few sessions and previous season I’m all ears. It’s a mature and well maintained tranquil place. Tony leaves me to it and after another lap I settle on a swim close to one of the bay’s, ‘peg 31’ I get the bivvy up then find a clear spot for both rods and spomb 3kg of 4G Squid. It’s not until the sun is fully on me that I realise how hot it actually is and by late afternoon I’m trying my best to hide from it. I can see fish cruising but in this heat I think that’s all there willing to do.

Day turns to night and I decide to get my head down, about 3am I get up for a leak, the sound of crashing fish from the bay in the next swim gets my attention, I decide to stay awake and after making a cuppa I keep an eye on what there up to. By first light I’ve made up my mind to move into the next swim and target the bay, there’s been fish crashing in there most of the early hours, I would be a fool not to move. Once I’m settled I flick out a rod in the bay in front of a weed bed and find a nice little silty spot, once I’ve found a spot for the second rod I clip them both up and reel them in. Once I’ve put bait out I decide to leave the swim rest for few hours. After a walk around the lake once or twice and an hour or two’s kip I put the rods back on the marks and get talking to another new member. After about 20 minutes the left hand rod gives a few bleeps and then bends around but no sooner it’s on its off !! My first take and I drop it Arrrrrh ! Then to rub salt into my wounds,, not half an hour later I get a savage take on the other rod which bends the tip underneath the other, It’s heading for the bay where the left rod is after a quick scrap and what feels like a heavy fish its weeded hard and despite my efforts it dumps the hook and it’s 2-0 to Mr Carp ! “Not happy at all”. Loosing fish is part and parcel of carp fishing but when it’s a new venue the first few count and relive some of the pressure to catch. I had planned four days straight but something’s come up and I’ve had to travel back home for the day but all sorted and by the next morning I’m on rout back to Farriers. My luck just isn’t getting any better because once there the fish have decided to spawn and within an hour the bailiffs have decided to shut the lake which is good management to be fare. The only upside was I got to see some of the lakes biggies right in front of me which was worth the drive on its own. So it’s back in two weeks.

With spawning out of the way I’m back, it’s a Friday evening and there’s a few already on. Peg 30 is free so I drop in there. I get chatting to the chap in the next swim who tells me fish were in the swim earlier that day. I’ve already got plans on spots to fish from my last trip; my first cast hits the clip but no donk? A few more casts confirms the spot has gone and I’m not surprised with the lake being closed for a few weeks and not seeing any bait to keep the areas clear, The heat, sunshine and long daylight hours has played in the weeds favour. Eventually the rods are fishing and I’m tucking into some grub, shortly after it gets dark and I’m lying on the bedchair listening to the radio, I get a single bleep on the left rod which continues for about the next 10-15 mins before the bobbin slams up and the rod tip bends around, I’m on it like a flash it’s hits weed but I’m not letting it win this time and get it moving again and a short time later it’s in the net. Surprisingly it’s a Mirror; Big commons are dominant in here so I’m shocked my first in the net is a mirror.

Farriers first blood

Only 24lb but more than welcome. Ron next door is on hand for a few pics and I go to bed with smile. Two sessions’ three runs one landed isn’t a bad start this time of year so hopefully bigger and better to come through the season I will keep you posted.