So with the limited time on the bank then I need to make certain choices. The first will be the venues I want to fish. I have decided to take on a few waters in my local area and try too bag a few carp from them if I can. All of the waters I intend on fishing hold some good fish in to the 20lb bracket and only one of them I would consider a runs water but they all hold other species which will be the challenge.
The runs water is a small lake which holds plenty of fish with carp present up to 21lb+. It is on the out skirts of York called Stillingfleet. I have had very good sessions here in the past and will be targeting carp and tench. This is a great water for PVA bag work as it is fairly short distance work and the bags allow me to present baits for both my target species.
My other water in York is called Shipton Lake and is on the Bradford AA book. This water has a much lower stocking of carp but they run up to 25lb and it will be a much, much trickier venue as the fish tend to feed on an evening and the lake is rammed with bream which will mean plenty of bait will be needed. This lake will most definitely test me to the limit but with correct bait application and perseverance then hopefully one or two of them will grace my net.
The third water I am looking at is another club water but is in the village I live in and is called Sherburn Bacon Pond. This is the hidden gem of my venues with a reported 25lb+ common and for a mere £20 a year is a real gem. Weedy, low stocked and heavily fished by match anglers after the big shoals of bream and roach make this a tricky water to get the carp feeding in such a short space of time.
I am by no means a big carp hunter but with the low stocking of the last two lakes I would love to bag a big girl. Realistically though I see plenty of blanks this year on the low stocked venues and a fair few smaller fish thrown up from the runs water but all in all a carp is a carp, be it 2lb or 22lb I love catching them and with the support I get from the DNA lads and my other angling friends then I really can see an enjoyable journey ahead with my day sessions.
The biggest hurdle I face, as many of us do with limited time, is the motivation to get out and fish!
I get my motivation from many sources. My daughter and the thought of taking her on a few trips. My angling hero Mr Julian Cundiff who gives me inspirational pep talks. This blog gives me a lot of motivation, it not only motivates me to get out fishing so I have something to write about but also inspires me to write my other things away from fishing.
Other than motivation and venues the next thing on the shopping list for my success has to be bait. Be it sweetcorn and pellet to 20mm boilies, what I use I use because I have confidence and faith in it. My two main feed baits come from the DNA stable, NuttaS and S7. I will be using them in different shapes and sizes, from 12mm rounds upto 18x21mm barrels. Along side my food bait I will be using various pop ups, wafters, balanced bottom baits and particles to my advantage.
One edge that was pointed out to me at the NAS was Batizones range of PVA friendly particles and pastes. I recently purchased a few tubs from their range. Crushed hemp with garlic, tiger nuts in juice and particle paste. I have a bucket of prepared PVA bag mix which I have boosted now with tiger nut juice, crushed hemp and when it comes to filling my bags I will add some crumbed up paste.
The paste is fantastic stuff. It moulds extremely well and sticks to virtually anything. I experimented with some of the paste on a recent session and even though the water temp was close to freezing it still broke down relatively quick. I rolled a thin layer around a Milky Malt wafter and watched it breakdown in a bucket. Every time I touched the bucket the paste would send a plume of attraction out from the bait, almost like a smoky haze, This bait will definitely feature heavily in my season this year.
Once on the bank I like to know that if needs be I can move at the drop of a hat! In a previous blog I scaled my gear right down and believe that this is without a doubt the best way to get the most from my sessions this year. A two rod set up, sticks and buzz bars, large padded unhooking mat come weigh sling, a bucket bag and PVA bucket is about all I will be taking to the bank on these sessions along with food and bait in a rucksack.
So that's about it for the first instalment of TLOADC, I will be getting out for a few 24hr sessions which I will cover separately so until the next session see you soon.
Matt.
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