Monday 13th April seemed a good day for fishing and so over the previous week and the weekend my tackle was prepared for a foray at the Birmingham Angling Association pools at Nordley – the site was formerly known as ‘Nordley Pools’ but has been renamed ‘Marsh Pools’ in remembrance of Brian Marsh who passed away whilst still in his late 30’s in 2024 and who had been on the BAA’s Executive committee.

NOTE: BAA pools are strictly members only – but, some time back now, there were day tickets but due to poaching, littering and anti-social behaviour those were withdrawn. Night fishing is allowed on SOME pools and stretches of river waters subject to the acquisition of the necessary permit. BAA memberships are also only available from the AA itself these days whereas in the past they could be bought over the counter in local tackle shops.

At this fishery there are 6 pools known as Pool 1, Pool 2, etc… although Pool 6 is more a duckweed covered large garden pool sized one from memory (was few years ago).

As I’d heard some REALLY good news – that Pool 1 had been netted and ALL the carp (although I’ve been told 1 sizeable carp remains) had been transferred to Pool 2 – I, of course, headed to Pool 1!

So, out of bed at 0600, on the road at 0645 after breakfast (albeit I forgot my morning insulin and metformin tablets – survived to write this tale though) and arrived on the car park for Pools 1 and 2 at 0745 with one other car already there but nobody on my pool :). Walked 75% of the way around the pool settling on, what I would term to be peg 15 (I always count anti-clockwise if no permanent peg numbers exist as that is the way I walk a pool usually) although travelling the other way it would be peg 7, I think?

Pool looked very nice!..

So, in the peg, baited up and tackled up, and first cast made at 0830…

Tackle: a single 11’ 1.75lb Avon Plus rod, 8lb mainline + 6” 8lb braid hooklink to size 10 hook … baited with 3 dendro (as near dead as dead can be whilst still alive – but where ok 2-3 days previously) worms … legered with 1/2oz b0mb (21g) and fished this identical set up all session…. a change from my usual feeder as you may have noticed but this water is narrow’ish and feed was easily fed via my feeding spoon to where I needed it.

0845 … first burst of action from my alarm which I missed … and there followed a few more until ….

1015 … beeeeep! … a strike is met with a solid resistance …. and after the usual fight of a plastic bag a beautiful bream surfaces and is drawn into the net…

The rest of the day resulted in short beeps and tweaks (line bites) and a few better ‘beeeps!’ but all were missed … and in hindsight I know why I think …. 3 dendros on a size 10 hook??? Pretty well cover the hook … perhaps a hook upgrade to a 6 would have been a better option?

Anyway, I managed to get the Deeper Sonar out to scan the water, mainly to ascertain depths especially as beyond the bank at the ‘bottom’ end of the pool there is a drop down to Pool 2 and wondered if the pools bottom sloped down too… however seemingly not as it seemed a fairly flat and constant 2.5 metres either side of me… and a fair few fish in the picture … and mainly ‘up in the water’, perhaps have fared better on the float? Certainly some thoughts there for next visit! And I had thought of the float when planning but wasn’t sure of depths but now… ummmm!

Anyway, during the day one other angler arrived around 1100 and he headed down to Pool 2 … so it was Millionaires Day for me on Pool 1 :)

I called it a day at 1430 … the forecast had said rain at 1600 but a few black clouds, some with spotting rain had passed since midday and the sky seemed to be darkening on the horizon with an increasing breeze … but as usual it brightened up on the way home :)

PLANS

Next week thinking of a return – really enjoyed my outing this time, and already placed an order for more dendros with Willy Worms. Liz is at hairdressers on Tuesday so will have to be Monday weather permitting… :)

Also bought 4 new reels for pike fishing later in the year … NGT 60CR … £23 each … look excellent … and have ordered 40lb 8-strand to be loaded on them later.