Sunday 23rd July - Stubpond LDAS
So, the first time out for a month, and it's back to Stubpond. The regular reader (singular) would sagely note that after so many trips there in the past few months, one would have made some key observations, learnt some insights into the moods of the venue and generally have a head start against much of the field. With that in mind I predicted mid week that in these hot conditions the feeder could play a key part, allowing you to pick off the odd feeding fish as opposed to all the ones cruising around. Naturally, this special insight made me a "muppet". You cant help some people eh ?
Especially when you draw their end peg. In all honesty, I'm not that keen on the end pegs at Stubpond. Its a long finger shaped lake, and the far end curves round with loads of vegetation, but it looks more inviting than it actually is. Regardless I decided to fish out in front of me on the deck with paste at 11 & 5 mtr, and pick the fish off as they came through, I also fed 10 mtr off to my right against the bushes, a nice flat spot about 3' deep and put a feeder up if they just werent having it on the pole, as per my wise insights.
After 90 mins on the deck with no bites, I decided to have a look on the feeder. There were plenty of fish swimming through, but hardly anyone fishing shallow had even had a bite, so I wasn't fussed about that, feeder it is, with a hair-rigged pellet wrapped in paste. First cast, 5 mins the tip yanks round and I'm into a fish, only to pull out as it attempted escape via a bush. Bank walkers are saying that most people have only 1 fish, so I'm not perturbed but after another 30 mins with no more signs on the tip I spot a blow on the paste line. Hmmmmm. Ok, lets have a quick look, the feeder is boring anyway.
What follows is an absorbing game of chess between carp and me, wherein I sit for 5 mins with no bite or signs on the pole line only to see a blow over the OTHER pole line. I quickly ship in and rebait, drop the paste on that line only to sit motionless. Meanwhile a set of bubbles comes up on the first line where I'd *previously* been fishing. Repeat. Ad nauseum. Yes I know - "you should've sat on it for longer." Tried that. Didnt work. The float finally buries after nearly 3 hours and a 5lb fish hits the pan. 30 mins later, its another, and I'm a fish ahead of my neightbour and Stubpond regular Les. The bubbly chess recommences, so I have a butchers in the edge, where at this quite late stage of the match I'm thinking a few big lumps might be hangimg about. At 10 - 15lb a throw, I'd only need 3 or 4 fish to get right back in it. A quick bite results in an angry lump which I manage to pull out of. Not great. 20 mins later a 5lb'r joins his chums, hmm bit small. 10 mins later....an 8oz tench comes in. Really not that great. And.... thats that. No more bites, nowt.
Well my 15lb has beaten the 3 to my left, so it's fair to say our end of the lake is shit. However as some bright spark wisely predicted midweek, the match is dominated by the feeder, the top 4 weights have all fished it, so quite why I had a bite first cast and then gave up on it I couldnt really say. The lure of the bubbles was too great I guess. I should really have tried a pellet too, it looks like they were having a munch but not on the paste, cos on occasions I would get a blow when the float was there, a big trail of bubbles would go round the float and it would just sit there.
The day ends brightly though with the sight of John 'Swanny' Swann doing widths, he's making out that he wants to retrive his pole from a bush where a fish has dragged it, I'm not sure, I think he wants us to see him in his thong, he must have been down the gym or something. Much heckling ensues : "john the fish are going belly up," " you cant use floaters in here John" "whale" etc. At least he hadn't gone commando; for that, we must be grateful.
And on that bombshell, as they say,
Tight Lines
So, the first time out for a month, and it's back to Stubpond. The regular reader (singular) would sagely note that after so many trips there in the past few months, one would have made some key observations, learnt some insights into the moods of the venue and generally have a head start against much of the field. With that in mind I predicted mid week that in these hot conditions the feeder could play a key part, allowing you to pick off the odd feeding fish as opposed to all the ones cruising around. Naturally, this special insight made me a "muppet". You cant help some people eh ?
Especially when you draw their end peg. In all honesty, I'm not that keen on the end pegs at Stubpond. Its a long finger shaped lake, and the far end curves round with loads of vegetation, but it looks more inviting than it actually is. Regardless I decided to fish out in front of me on the deck with paste at 11 & 5 mtr, and pick the fish off as they came through, I also fed 10 mtr off to my right against the bushes, a nice flat spot about 3' deep and put a feeder up if they just werent having it on the pole, as per my wise insights.
After 90 mins on the deck with no bites, I decided to have a look on the feeder. There were plenty of fish swimming through, but hardly anyone fishing shallow had even had a bite, so I wasn't fussed about that, feeder it is, with a hair-rigged pellet wrapped in paste. First cast, 5 mins the tip yanks round and I'm into a fish, only to pull out as it attempted escape via a bush. Bank walkers are saying that most people have only 1 fish, so I'm not perturbed but after another 30 mins with no more signs on the tip I spot a blow on the paste line. Hmmmmm. Ok, lets have a quick look, the feeder is boring anyway.
What follows is an absorbing game of chess between carp and me, wherein I sit for 5 mins with no bite or signs on the pole line only to see a blow over the OTHER pole line. I quickly ship in and rebait, drop the paste on that line only to sit motionless. Meanwhile a set of bubbles comes up on the first line where I'd *previously* been fishing. Repeat. Ad nauseum. Yes I know - "you should've sat on it for longer." Tried that. Didnt work. The float finally buries after nearly 3 hours and a 5lb fish hits the pan. 30 mins later, its another, and I'm a fish ahead of my neightbour and Stubpond regular Les. The bubbly chess recommences, so I have a butchers in the edge, where at this quite late stage of the match I'm thinking a few big lumps might be hangimg about. At 10 - 15lb a throw, I'd only need 3 or 4 fish to get right back in it. A quick bite results in an angry lump which I manage to pull out of. Not great. 20 mins later a 5lb'r joins his chums, hmm bit small. 10 mins later....an 8oz tench comes in. Really not that great. And.... thats that. No more bites, nowt.
Well my 15lb has beaten the 3 to my left, so it's fair to say our end of the lake is shit. However as some bright spark wisely predicted midweek, the match is dominated by the feeder, the top 4 weights have all fished it, so quite why I had a bite first cast and then gave up on it I couldnt really say. The lure of the bubbles was too great I guess. I should really have tried a pellet too, it looks like they were having a munch but not on the paste, cos on occasions I would get a blow when the float was there, a big trail of bubbles would go round the float and it would just sit there.
The day ends brightly though with the sight of John 'Swanny' Swann doing widths, he's making out that he wants to retrive his pole from a bush where a fish has dragged it, I'm not sure, I think he wants us to see him in his thong, he must have been down the gym or something. Much heckling ensues : "john the fish are going belly up," " you cant use floaters in here John" "whale" etc. At least he hadn't gone commando; for that, we must be grateful.
And on that bombshell, as they say,
Tight Lines
posted by The Northerner at
Monday, July 24, 2006
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