stevetheangler

So it came to pass that at 0700 on Monday 12th August I arrived again, first and only arrival of the day, at the Mike Day Fishery again (AA-B) but with a different perspective as to my fishing style … I intended to leger … something I’ve not done on this water for some years … and, when I had done so it had been with the leger rod used as a sleeper in conjunction with my normal float rod … fishing my float out to the bank of the island (close, probably 3-4 rod lengths from my peg) whilst the leger rod was fished out to my right at an angle of about 60-75’, again close the edge of the then overgrown island.

This session I elected to fish a peg on the nearside bank about halfway along the pool as (a) I’d not fished there for a while, (b) one of the pegs looked perfect and (c) a major factor, my stomach didn’t feel too good at the time so I was able to set up my ‘emergency tent’ between the car and bushes…

As you can see I had a line between two lots of lily pads left and right and also pads along the margin of the far bank which made my swim exclusive to myself – not as it mattered as, as I said previously, I was the sole angler here all day.

The intention for the day was to leger large baits on large hooks something I’ve not done for far too long!.

Anyway, first job of the day as usual was to feed the area and to do so, being another move from my norm, I catapulted particle mix (wheat, hemp, barley, rice) and maggots all around the area, about 10 x 3” pouches worth.

Then the setting up of my ‘station’ and tackle followed…

Tackle for the day:

11’ Fladen ‘Collateral’ leger rod

8lb mono mainline

6” 8lb braid hooklength

Size 6 barbless hook (I would have preferred a 4 but I had none pre-tied)

And then I discovered my first problem of the day – I’d not got any leger weights – were in my river rucksack and had forgotten to put them back in my bag… but quick thinking (well, relatively quick given my age! LOL) saved the day and I created a loop line loaded with 5 swanshot (= 8g) – I would have normally have used a 1/2oz or even a 1oz lead (8g (1/4oz) is a bit light really as the lead will lift/move before any line movement reaches the rod tip, and, using a bite alarm like I do, adds extra friction as the line needs to be pulled through most of the rod’s rings. However, needs must when the devil drives…

Second problem occurred not too long after when lifting my ‘basics bag’ – an old canvas handbag of Liz’s that I carry my basic stuff in (so that if I want to roam I just need take this bag rather than my full rucksack) – the shoulder strap had unknowingly been caught under my maggot tub which then caused the entire tub to topple off my bait table. However not as bad as it could have been as it landed in my groundbait bowl with the particle mix. I managed to grab off a top layer of maggots to return to their container but my feed for the day was heavier in maggot content than I’d intended.

And now I could actually started to fish…

First casts were made with bread … and after an hour or so and several fresh baits applied … not a touch…

And over the day I tried (very smelly ie gone off) squid and prawn, cheese paste, sweetcorn and salted luncheon meat (salted really as a preservative as I find freezing leads to it becoming slimy on thawing). Of these I could only get any interest whatsoever in the luncheon meat. As I’d at other times had used fresh prawn and salted prawns on the same sessions and noted that the salted ones were more attractive I wondered if it was the saltiness that was making the difference I tried adding a coating of salt to cheesepaste and also sweetcorn baits but still not a touch although within two minutes of casting out the meat an indication would be seen …

However, of all those takes I only hooked into three fish … most of them being quick jerks and drops. Unlikely to be line bites as with other baits I was getting no signs of anything at all … but what I suspect is the low weight of the legers with the fish feeling the weight lift and bounce as they took the line whereas with a heavier, more stable lead the line would have flowed far more smoothly through the swivel through which they attached to the line and hence no bumping…

Of the three fish I escaped too due to the cover of quick change link being used having slid up, probably when the previous fish took me into the lilies (I hadn’t checked the link! :( ), allowing the loop of the hooklength to slide out. Something I need to sort before my next outing… add a tighter fitting silicone rubber cover … or even 2 half length covers? Oh well, experimentation to be done :)

And those two that I did land…

Steve – 2lb 4oz Tench

Steve – 3lb 10oz Tench

PLANS

Not sure but won’t be out next Monday (19th) as I have a dentist’s appointment at 1130 … Tuesday is forecast wet … so possibly the Thursday might be it! :)