The past few overnighters I have done have been on a local pit a stone’s throw away from my house, it means I can go down at 6 o’clock and be set up and sorted by about seven which is perfect really, I then wake up early the following morning, come home and have a shower and then go off to work from there. After all I am a bit of a tart and prefer feeling refreshed from a shower in the morning than going straight to work, but each to their own I guess.

I have been fishing similar spots that I have found from a friend of mine that have been productive after he had done a few bites, funnily enough catching a fish known as the big common not once but twice. He had it off the surface back when I first visited the lake and then he had it a second time a few days before Christmas. Another good friend had subsequently had a few bites in a week after a long string of blanks which was quite pleasing to witness and pop down and do some photos for him, but so far as it goes for myself, I have only had one bite in about 8 nights but that’s the way the cookie crumbles.

After my recent session on another club lake, I may be turning to doing quick overnighters on a more productive lake to work it out first before going onto a harder lake where you may get a bite every 8+ nights. So I am turning my attentions to another club lake with some stunning fish within its depths.

I had appeared up there one weekend as the pit had a few bank holiday anglers littering the banks so I had a walk around the complex and chose to set up in a swim that surprisingly to myself and a friend of mine that one of the most popular swims on the lake was free. We did the fair procedure of flipping a coin for it and of course I came up trumps! The right hander cast to a silt bar at about 25 yards and a short cast to a small deep reed bed to my left on the left rod were the choice of rig placement for me. I had a lead around as I haven’t fished this particular lake for around 6 years or so. Being able to find some nice shallow clear spots straight away was pleasing for me. I had both rods set on hinged stiff rigs with a mottled brown popup on the silt patch and a white chocolate on the reed bed with a Nash safety bold bead on both, with a 3.5oz lead to nail them straight away and 2.5-3ft of Nash Cling on Leader to compliment the arrangements.
After setting the traps and chilling out for a bit, getting fresh rigs sorted and tying up some bags, it gets round to about 11 o’clock which on this specific lake is deemed to be a dull period. I just got into the bag to get some sleep just as I was dropping off, the bobbin on the left hit the rod blank and

the tip buckled over, I was in! After a lengthy battle from a long lean common I was cradling a stunning golden brown fish for some trophy shots. The fish wasn’t the biggest but catching a fish from a lake I haven’t concentrated on gave me a massive buzz!

The day moved on and after going for a wonder to try and find some fish to stalk off the top, the chances were there but the ducks sussed out what we were doing so that one wasn’t worth a go, I got back to the rods and put the rods out on zigs for a couple of hours after spotting fish cruising on and just under the surface, so zigs were a good shout. Yet again after a few hours of trying, the rods were put back out on the deck on the same rigs which I used during the night.

After getting out on the bank that weekend I met up with good friend Rob whom was practicing for his match in the UK Carp Cup at the weekend, he was doing really well catching a fair few fish which was pleasing to see, I also managed to get among some fish alongside him on zigs and mixers – a preferred tactic on high stocked lake, after all they can’t resist a bit of black, red or brown foam that’s for sure. After a hectic week at work and busy weekends fishing it’s time to get back into work.

Thanks for reading, can’t wait to carry on my sessional blogs and a few other topics as well, it’s great to be part of the team.

Ross Tierney