Searching for stripeys

Usually I'd be sat behind motionless buzzers freezing my knackers off going to bed at 7pm wasting most of my weekend sleeping and eating.. But this year having Amie around i preferred  to be with her in the warm than on my own drinking tea but of course I needed to get my angling fix so I decided to have a go for some perch or stripeys as people like to call them. Fishing for perch in the winter was ideal! Spend the morning/day with the Mrs then down on the bank by 2pm in time for the bewitching hour. I decided to focus on one venue and try and see what mysterys swam in there! I heard lots of rumours regarding the venue and that was enough to warm my cockles whilst out on the bank! My first session was more of a recce to see what's going on over the venue and what features there are and if I could see any perch chasing silvers. Once on the lake all childhood memories came crashing back! I used to fish the venue for perch with my grandfather 15 years ago when I was 13. So I was familia with the lake. 

Not your standard fishing attire. But me at the ripe age of 13 with a brace of perch. 

After my recce I was gagging to head back to the venue! My first session ended up on Boxing Day! After a full English brekky I was bank side! I had a few hours to kill before I had to head back to enjoy the Christmas festivities! I flicked one rod into the margin on a running rig style and baited up and placed the rod onto the buzzer. The other rod I float fished on my light acolyte float rod coupled with my centre pin. It wasn't long before my bobber float started to disappear and I was into my perch of the session! After a short fight the perch was in the net! "Merryfishmas" 

And what a beautiful perch it was to! I was over the moon! Always nice to catch your intended species! 

I ended up having a few more perch before heading back to join the Christmas festivities! 

I returned back on New Year's Eve for another go! Me and Amie don't drink so we had no plans for New Years so I had some time on my hands this eve so planned to fish hard! The session started off slow producing roach but the classic bewitching hour was creeping up! As soon as that sun starts to creep behind the horizon the perch begin there onslaught on the prey! The float soon started bobbing away and I was soon into a perch. I ended up having lots of perch all around the 1.8lb mark. That session but not the monster I've heard rumours of! 

Luckily having a fair bit of time off over the festive period I wanted to make the most of my spare time! This time I returned with Amie. 

The temperature had risen that day and after speaking to my mate si about the conditions and how prime it was for perch I was even more confident! As usual bites were non existent until the sun started to disappear then the float started to twitch indicating the perch were around! The perch bobbed about for a few seconds before disappearing! I lifted into the fish and immediately it started taking line and started lunging about! Could this be the monster perch? A few moments later and the perch was in the net! Certainly not the monster but maybe the monsters little sister maybe? Amie took some lovely pictures and I returned the perch back into the cold depths to terrorise some roach. 

It wasn't long before it was dark now so time was running out for this session but I knew it wasn't over! And I was right! Another finicky bite and another perch was on the end! And eventually was in the net! And another one of the monsters siblings! 

Another session ended and every thing going to plan! Happy with my approach and baiting surely the monster perch had to make a appearance! 

I waited for the weather to be warmer and over cast before returning! Making sure that every thing was in my favour! A few weeks later and the weather improved and I was back! Instead of spending the whole day down the venue wasting time I just arrived at the venue just gone dusk! First cast the bite was almost instant! This fish was on a mission! After snagging me up on some pad roots and darting back to snag me a again I started to gain some line and I saw the fish roll on the surface! This perch was bigger than the previous perch I'd caught so it was special! Before I even had time to slip the net out the hook pulled... Gutting absolutely gutting! Not wasting anytime I flicked the rod straight back out to the same Zone and within a few minutes the float was away again! This time this perch wasn't getting away! And he lost his battle and ended up in the back of the net! Another decendent of the monster! But a new pb!!!!!! I didn't even have time to get the fish out of the net before my second rod on the buzzer melted off! And there was another perch in the net! I kept the perch in the net and angled on! Glad I did as I ended up catching another two perch! All lovely specimens! After a quick call Amie was down to take the photos! And another good job she done to! 

I returned the smaller fish out of the four and got a few special snaps of the new personal best! Before returning him to his home. 

Sadly I ended up breaking my foot and the perch Fishing and fishing in general grounded to hault! But there's always this autumn and winter to look forward to! And maybe I'll catch that monster? Thanks for taking your time to read! Be lucky... F

Gold rush

 After my season starting off reasonably well and making me buzz for angling again like never before I was up for travelling further a field to fish for Crucians. It was like being 13 and being allowed out to fish on my own all over again the feeling was electric! I did some research and spoke to mates and decided on a new venue not to far away only 50 mins up the motorway from mine. After a few weeks of busy work I finally got the all clear from the Mrs to head to the new venue and she wanted to come with me. A good mate of mine fished the venue a few days before my visit there and had some beautiful specimens out this fed my hunger even more and made me even more excited! Never have I  packed the car quick enough! Me and the Mrs were soon at the venue. After talking to a mate who worked in the on site tackle shop and grabbing a few bits of bait and fresh caster we set off in search of a swim. It was hot day with a light breeze. I opted to fish a swim at the back of the wind in some shade. I used my usual tactics of small balls of ground bait being introduced every now and again with a light sprinkling of caster. The first bite came to a lovely clean tench. 

First fish from a new venue is always a special one even if it is a rouge tench. I carried on fishing the swim with it producing more and more tench! I ended up having six tench from the swim before ringing my mate who was down a few days previous. He told me about a few likely areas and with the knowledge of Crucians hating disturbance it was time for a move! 

I looked around a few swims and dropped in one which had some pads close into the margin. I plumbed about and settled on a nice zone just off of the rod tip. It felt a lot better in this area and I was more confident knowing there could be a crucian or two about. A few hours went by and it was now 2pm and not a crucian in sight I was beginning to get fustrated and started to lose hope a bit so I re plumbed the swim and fished a shallow shelf. Almost instantly I was into a crucian! Crazy! After fishing for hours and having no bites and just re plumbing the depth and fishing a foot closer in I was in! These fish really are finicky! After a nice enjoyable fight on my acolyte rod and centre pin reel the crucian was in the net! I think my Mrs was happier than me as she knew she wouldn't have to hear me moan the whole way home! 

Amie took some beautiful photos and I slipped the crucian back. Not soon after another was in the net then another! Two in the net at once! This was a first for me! I was buzzing! A dream come true! And once again my lovely Amie took some

More special photos! Having a partner with you is a bonus as she knew how I like my photos and together we work good as a team! 

A lovely brace of Crucians! A dream come true! 

If I didn't catch anymore I'd still be returning home with a grin on my face! Three Crucians! Three! I carried on my technique of fishing the light pole float under the rod tip and the bites slowly dried up. I continued to bait and fish waiting anxiously for that finicky bite! And sure enough the float disappeared and I was into crucian number four! And another stunner was in the net! I quickly cast out knowing there could be a few more about and sure enough the float was away and I was into another! I couldn't believe my luck! From fishing a lake full of roach and tench and carp I'm fishing this special place were my Lucks come in! Maybe my patientce and finely tuned baiting and Acuracy paid off and it was just good angling for once and not just luck! 

I was over the moon again holding two lovelt Crucians in my hands whilst Amie snapped away capturing the memory's! I returned the beautiful specimens and carried on my angling! Sadly I faul Hooked what would of been a new pb but just slipped it back. Knowing what was in there now just made me want to get back there even more! 

Amie on the other hand didn't like her photo being taken! But what a gem for coming fishing with me. 

After a chippy tea we were off home and I was happy as Larry! Already thinking about my next trip down there! Which wasn't to far away! After getting a txt from my mate richie we both decided to head down to the venue and have a social. I dropped into the swim I fished before and richie dropped into the swim he'd caught from before. It was roasting that day and bites were few and far between! We both had caught tench but no Crucians so far. 

After a few more tench the bites dried up and time was running out as we both had to be back home. Luckily I ended up catching two lovely Crucians! Which made the session for me! Both me and richie had a lovely little social with some lovely fish caught! 

With my partner being heavily pregnant and work being manic my fishing slowed right down which was a burn as I was really enjoying myself! But me being me I managed to some how get out and get back down to the venue for some more crucian action! Fishing again was really slow I had one crucian from the off and lots and lots of tench. 

I ended up moving around and fishing four different swims that trip and just ended up catching tench after tench! I'm a stubborn bugger and stayed right to the bitter end but only tench to show that session for my efforts. 

I went home that session feeling a little wounded but still keen as ever to get back down there so once again I was off in search of gold! I decided this time to stick to the first swim I had the luck and fish close in the margin by the pads again! Once again I found myself waiting anxiously for that little pole float to dip under! After a couple of hours I hit into my first crucian and then another! Things were back on track again! Both fish were returned without any photos as I was on my own and after loosing my temper with the self take remote and nearly launching my camera in the pond I just carried on angling. Once again the bites dried up and I was sat waiting patiently playing cat and mouse with the Crucians. Just when all hope was nearly lossed the float dipped and I was in! Another good fish and out went the float! And again another good fish! A quick ring to my mate to come and do some shots for me and they were returned. 

The session was a fruitful one and I was happy with the four Crucians id landed! With my camera full of memory's I was once again happy and eagerly awaited for the all the clear to get out again! 

Luckily I didn't have to wait to long! My good mate Marcus wanted to catch a 2lb+ crucian so he was up for a trip! I was super excited this trip as I hadn't seen Marcus for a while or fished with him so it was thumbs up all round! Both of us arrived with big smiles on faces! We walked around the areas I'd been having luck and let Marcus decide where he wanted to fish before I made my decision. This time round I had my feeder rod with me so when the bites dried up on the float rod I could flick a small inline method about and find the fish. It was a good job I did that day as the swim I started off in produced nothing to the float so I chucked the feeder out into open water and wasn't long before the rod tip swung round and I was into a crucian! 

It made me think if I wasn't so stubborn and tried other methods maybe i would of caught some more Crucians? What's done is done though! I ended up moving to the swim to the right of Marcus. Again the swim had pads in the margin but the set of pads was a lot bigger which to me looked like a good holding spot for the Crucians!

So after plumbing about and settling on a nice shallow zone I was happy with in went the bait followed by my light pole float! It didn't take long before I had one in the net! I like this swim! 

With two Crucians under my belt I was happy! And it wasn't long before Marcus had a lovely crucian and a new pb for him to! It's epic seeing your mates catch special fish! The atmosphere was buzzing and we both carried on catching Crucians! 

We both wanted to stay as long as possible as bites were coming quick and fast! 

You really can't beat sitting back watching a float! Constantly on edge waiting patiently for the float to disappear! It's the most exciting fishing in my eyes! Especially when your angling for such a beautiful species! Marcus went on to catch a few more as did I! I decided to up my feed a bit to see what would happen as the tench hadn't paid me a visit so I thought maybe a bit more bait would encourage the bigger Crucians to turn up? And that they did! I hooked into a another crucian this one I knew was a special fish! My heart was beating so hard and I was so nervous I didn't want to loose this fish! After a short battle which felt like hours the special crucian was in the net! 

This crucian had a bigger frame than the others and looked much older so I knew it was special! 

And of course I caught one of his mates to share the photo with him! 

It was a special session with personal bests broken for me and Marcus. Size is ilevant where this species is concerned in my eyes there all special fish! 

Never have I enjoyed my angling so much! It's so much fun using a centre pin and a light float rod! Every pull from the crucian is intense! And if you do hook a rouge tench you hit and hold on for your life!

It wasn't long before Marcus was on the phone wanting to head back! A couple of days later we were back on the motorway on route for gold! I went straight into the swim I had the biggun from and fished the usual spot with the usual tactics! Today wasn't my day.. I ended up losing four Crucians! Blunt hook... Why oh why didn't I check the hook! Marcus suggested to put on a size 14 instead of my usual 16 as if bumped a few fish in previous sessions. I don't like change but a change was needed! Once again the tench were no where to be seen! So I decided to take the risk and put out more bait than usual with the previous sessions luck! The weather was more over cast and drizzly so conditions were prime for it! If a biggun was to slip up today would be the day! My confidence was shattered after the earlier losses but was regained when I landed re fish crucian of the trip! 

All faith was restored and I was away again! Bites slowed down again and the day was drawing to a close. Marcus hadn't had any action as of yet from the Crucians and the rain began to get heavier! Wasn't long before the float was away! This time the fish was taking line from my centre pin! Could it be a tench? I played this fish very carefully as I thought it could be a big crucian! My suspicions were correct and a big crucian was the the culprit! It was huge! My heart began to beat and my mouth began to dry! I slid the net out so carefully and edge the crucian towards it.. The crucian had other ideas as did my hook.. As quick as my confidence was on a high it was shattered again! A blink of an eye and the crucian was swimming back to his refuge! I was gutted! It was a fish of a life time! I took a breather and baited the swim and chilled out for a bit. Gutted I was! After licking my wounds I put the float back out. Bites were non existent. Rather than bait again I waited. Again the float dipped and I was into another hard fighting fish! Pulling line off the centre pin and pulling towards the pads I didn't wanna give this fish to much stick! I got the fish out the pads and saw a glimpse of it! It was another big crucian! It was make or break! The fight was intense! Knowing what had happened previously I upped my game and stayed focused and eventually the Crucian was in the back of the net! 

Another old big framed Crucian! I was buzzing! It nearly filled the net! Smile from ear to ear! 

I knew Marcus would do me proud on the camera and that he did! 

I was over the moon! It has been a wonderful years angling so far with the added bonus of my beautiful daughter being born. I was happy to leave my angling there for now. Until I return to the venue next year for a shot at the bigger Crucians on the pond next door! 

I couldn't leave my angling there though! I had to take my daughter river for a spot of fishing! So I visited the old estate lake where I grew up angling and where I'll be taking her to wet her first line! Of course I took a rod to! 

Sadly river didn't get to see her first crucian but I'm sure she will soon. Thanks again for taking your time to read my blog and I hope you've enjoyed it as much as I've enjoyed writing it. Be lucky out there... F

Estate lake Crucians

For years I've fished this historic estate lake and many anglers before me have written about the lakes. One of my fave anglers the late terry lampard wrote a chapter on the lakes to! I've never targeted the Crucians but just generally float fished for what ever came along. Early this year I decided to give it a go and target the finicky feeding Crucians. I did as much research as possible and learned as much about where the Crucians usually get caught from and what methods etc etc. the venue is match fished some times three times a week so these fish are very very pressured which has made the finicky species even more finicky to catch and locate! My first trip was a early one in the year in March time! And was a social with my cousin Connor we set out to have a bit of a laugh really and just fished to see what came along. After countless big bream Connor headed off and I stayed wading through the slabs of bream which were coming my way.. I thought to myself it's way to early for Crucians and thought I've done a wrong here but enjoyed being out so carried on! Getting to the end of my tethers and on my last stab of ground bait for the feeder I was on my final cast. Funny how things are meant to be! The tip of my feeder lightly twitched and I was into my first crucian of the year from the estate lake. After a heart in mouth fight the little golden beauty was in the net! I was chuffed and overwhelmed as this was the first crucian I'd caught in years!

 

Time went on and the weather improved and we were finally in May! This time on my return I was more serious and had a new approach. I was going to fish under the rod tip in the margins along side some pads! 

With a light pole float and a size 16 hook I was happy with my set up! Bite wise just used small amounts of ground bait and caster. The lake holds big carp and tench and other species so fishing next to the pads was going to be task! I was riddled by small roach before the bites simmered and I knew then something else had moved in to feed! All went quiet before my float tore off and a battle of to and thro began! It was either a small carp or big tench, after a few minute battle the small carp was in my net.. Along with a broken pole float! I re set up and put on a heavier float and fished the lift method. Another carp turned up causing more madness along with a few slimey green mates!

I started loosing all hope knowing the Crucians wouldn't be having any of it! But with my session coming to an end and time running out I stuck in the swim! I didn't put anymore bait in the swim and just sat it out. Minutes turned into hours and the sun was slowly disappearing and the Mrs was on the phone asking when I was ready to be picked up.. I thought all was lost that session when the float shot under I was into something different.. This was no tench or carp.. And I saw a glimpse of golden brown as the crucian rolled on the surface. She was mine! At last a crucian! And a beautiful high backed specimen it was to.

 

After weighing my prize and getting a Mate who was fishing the top lake to do a few photos I slipped the crucian back! I could go home that Eve satisfied and not grumpy. 

After arranging another social with my cousin he was up for challenge again hoping the bream might hold back this time! So after a trip to the local tackle shop bait and tackle and the guest ticket purchased we soon in the car park getting the gear sorted. 

It wasn't long before we were both fishing and we were started catching he small roach and perch. We both prevailed and Connor had the first crucian of the day. He couldn't stay for to long as he had to get back to London. I stayed for a few more hours knowing the best time was yet to come. And that it did. After a few more rouge tench the action dried up. 

and I knew when the bites dried up from the other species what that meant. So clutching onto my rod waiting in anxiously knowing that a crucian could be round the corner the float slowly dipped and pulled into a special fish! Playing it very gingerly and steering it away from the pads and weed I guided the crucian into the net! This one was special and nearly filled my net! 

After weighing the fish and taking a few dodgy self takes I returned the beautiful specimen and left that session with a grin from ear to ear! 

I carried my angling on at the estate lake but after getting pestered more and more by the rouge carp and big tench loosing lots of tackle In the pads and other snags my patientce wore more and more thin. If you angle for Crucians you will know how infuriating the fishing can be for them and often leave at times wanting to snap your rod over your knee! I had a fair few sessions with just big bream and tench to show for my efforts. 

As much as I loved the angling there I had a new water set in my targets which held less rouge fish which would spoil my crucian fishing. I hope you enjoyed reading my first blog and enjoyed the imagery. And maybe it's inspired you to have a go for Crucians your self! Be lucky on your adventures... F