Spring gold

 

This winter has been one of the coldest for a while so I was gagging for that spring warmth! Although this winter was a productive one fish wise I was glad to see the back of it. I'm not a big fan of the cold or the amount of darkness that comes with the winter.. it wasn't long and the trotting and perch gear was stored away and I began to think of the "bars of gold" the magnificent crucian. I only had a couple of sessions lined up for the crucians this spring due to family commitments but my first session came at the start of March. Early I know but there was a lovely warm weather front and I couldn't ignore the conditions and I fancied getting out for my first night since October the year before! I had a couple of days booked off so I headed to the venue. I didn't expect it to be busy and the it wasn't. People probable weren't as nuts as me! I knew where to head to as the previous spring the crucians held up in this particular area. I wheeled my gear round to the area and I was shocked to see another crucian angler. After a quick chat we found out we had mutual friends and got on rather well. I decided to plot up next to the fellow crucian angler. In front of me had some depth and the bottom was nice and clear so no real need to flick a lead about. I set up my two Feeder rods with inline method feeders with short hook links and small buoyant caster hook baits I fished both the rods at 25 yards range.

 

I then mixed up my trusty Spomb mix which consisted of various ground baits, dynamite Coconut and white chocolate f1 mix and some betaine green ground bait, I then added some red krill pellet and some hemp and dead maggot.

 

 I didn't want to over do the swim with heavy baiting as once you've put the bait in you can't take it back out. I like to build my swim up according to How the fish are feeding so I introduced four small Spomb over the area. With the rods out and bait over the rods I set up base camp. Once every thing was set up I had my first brew of the session and had a good old natter with the crucian angler next door. It didn't take long for one of my rods to leap into action... a tench was responsible for disrupting the social. 

 

I was happy though as it was a good Sign that fish were moving about and feeding! With the tench returned my rod was cast back out over the baited spot. The day was slow and the odd tench made an appearance. Sadly no crucians fell to my rods but the lad next door landed a 3lb+ crucian! Good signs of things to come! I decided to put some bait out prior to it getting dark so I did so. Darkness fell so all there was left to do was chat and drink tea. I received a bite on my left rod, a rather scatty take. I lifted into the fish and my rod bent double.. a Carp! With light rods and tackle it was good fun playing the beast putting my tackle to the test! But after a spirited fight and my arm falling a sleep the carp was in the net! A lovely old dink strain fish known as "Barry" we laughed about the name of the poor carp took some shots and returned him to his home. 

 

By now it was getting on and the other crucian angler had left. I sat in silence watching the water when I noticed a few fish rolling in close so I dropped a rod short. By now it was really getting on and the temp had dropped so I got into my bag and started to drift off.. my left rod let out a series of bleeps and I looked out to see the bobin pulled up tight to the blank. I ran out and lifted into the fish. At first I thought it could be a roach or a Rudd but after a few seconds it started to feel a lot heavier and made a better account of itself! I knew it was a crucian by this point by the standard fight under the rod tip un be known  I didn't know the size so I applied caution into the fight. It wasn't long and the crucian was in the net! I was buzzing! Always good to catch your target species on your first trip to the venue of the year! The needle spun round to 3.8! What a cracker! A friend took some lovely night shots and the cru was returned. 

 

I decided to drop both rods in short but sadly no other bites fell through the night. At first light I applied more bait to the longer zone and got both rods onto the spot. Again it didn't take long and one of my rods was away! Again to another hard fighting carp! Another spirited fight on the light gear but eventually the carp gave up and ended up in the back of my net. This fish was another lovely mirror so I was made up!

 

 The day dragged again with just the odd tench breaking the day up. Sadly no more crucians fell to me that trip but I knew they were on the move and feed so I was buzzing to get Back down! Sadly my partner fell ill so my fishing took a back seat understandably. Over the next few weeks the fishing for the crucians really picked up! As did the mild weather! I really was chomping at the bit to get back down! Luckily my other half slowly got better and I got the green light to get back out! My next session was after working eight days solid, two of which were spent working at the big one fishing show (great fun) I was gagging to get out! At first I had planned to arrive early Tuesday morning but I was to eager so I arrived at 11pm on the Monday eve! I dropped In an area I'd had big hits in the past from and knew the crucians were about in the area so I was hopeful. After having a chat with a couple of gents fishing the same bank I slowly set up and got the rods out. Again the same methods I always fish (inline methods with short hooklinks and small hook baits) I didn't put any bait out over the rods as I didn't want to make to much of a disturbance. With the rods out and my brolly etc all set up I got my head down. Just as I was drifting off my left rod churned off.. oh god.. another carp! This one felt huge! It battered me all about the margins and flat rodded me several times! I really didn't expect to land the carp! But luck was on my side and the carp finally graced my net! She was big! I left her in the net whilst I sorted every thing out allowing for maximum safety! The needle spun to just under 31lb I couldn't believe it! A epic capture on the crucian gear!

 

It took me a fair old while to get to sleep as I was buzzing and when I looked at my watch it was already 3am.. and I had my alarm set for 5am to get the rods and out prior to any morning feeding fish! It only seemed like five minutes sleep before my alarm awoke me but up I got and made a tea. With the morning light I mixed up my trusty Spomb mix and put out four Spomb at 25yards range. Accuracy is key! 

 

I then clipped up both rods and fished them at the same range to. 

 

The other lads had told me bites had been few and far between so I wasn't counting my chickens. But I still remained confident knowing what had been caught off of the bank the previous week or so. I was drinking tea and talking to other Angler's when my left rod leapt into life! I picked up the rod and reeled into a dead weight, a classic crucian tell tail sign! I guided the fish to the margin where it had started to dog about the bottom making me nervous.. my heart was in my mouth as I knew it could be a bloody big crucian! That it was! And my nerves nearly got the better of me but I landed the magnificent specimen! A new personal best and my forth 4lber from the venue! I was over the moon! Thankfully we got some cracking shots to! And the specimen was returned to its home. 

 

Only tench made an appearance that day making it a long day as the bites were very spread out. Before dusk I again put out a few spombs topping up the area for the nights fishing. Thankfully it was a quiet night with just a few roach waking me up now and again. Just like the day before id set my alarm for 5am in order to get me up and active. Again I topped the swim up with a few spombs of my trusty mix in hope of some more early morning feeding crucians. 

 

Unlike the previous day it was more overcast and slightly colder. Far better conditions in my eyes! And I was wrong as it wasn't long for one before one of my rods leapt out a series of bleeps and again I was into another big crucian! This one really put up a scrap! As soon as I had the crucian in the net the other rod was away! Another crucian! This one looked a little smaller than the other! The first crucian went over the magic 4lb mark and equaled my pb which I beat yesterday and the other crucian went 3.10lb!

 

 

 I was over the moon with the result! So much so I decided to pack up and head home early!! Seven sessions for twenty five crucians from the venue wasn't bad going at all! Five over 4lb+, sixteen over 3lb+ and four over 2lb+ what a fantastic tally and one I was over the moon about! My spring crucian target smashed my sights are now set on the tench! Here's hoping for some more good luck.. 

 

The five different 4lb crucians I've been lucky enough to catch 

Quest for a 4lb perch

The quest for a 4lb perch

 

After several blanks I finally got amongst the perch and found where they liked to feed at dusk, the prime time to catch a big old stripey! With minimal time I'd get the odd afternoon after work and the odd days holiday. I was lucky enough to catch a few different 3lb+ perch and lots of back up 2lb+ perch this winter with one recapture of a 3.8lb perch. 

 

 

 

I was happy and confident with my approach it was just a matter of getting to the lake when the conditions were right for a bite. Sadly some of the times I did have available to fish the lake it was either frozen or the conditions weren't the greatest but working five days a week and working in a busy machine shop I still fished on these occasions as it's nice to get out no matter what some times as I enjoy just being there. 

 

But with the warmer weather on the rise and the perch really on the munch I knew it was time to try and increase my efforts by getting to the lake! I'd been catching regularly from one particular water but my friend and I fancied a trip to another venue which we knew held big perch. Sadly after the long drive we were greeted by a closed lake due to a match being held on the venue! We were burnt to say the least! But maybe it was a sign? We agreed to drive back to mine and car swap and I'd drive to the usual spot! After dealing with traffic and feeling a little deflated we were both finally set up. I fished the usual area where I'd been targeting the perch, no real features other than a good bit of depth and some marginal rushes. I opted to fish all three rods on light link ledger set ups giving minimal resistance so if a perch would bite you'd have more chance of hooking the wary predators! I've made a few alterations to my set up along the way which paid dividends to my fishing! I removed the 1oz lead and attached a micro rig ring and tied on two shot making the rig even more lighter and gave the rig even less resistance. By doing this I went from getting twitchy bites to full on confident takes! Almost like carp Takes at times! So with my trusty rigs placed in three areas all with king prawns attached and a few chopped and whole king prawns chucked around the rigs I sat back and waited. 

 

I never get despondent if I don't have any takes up till dusk unless the weather is cloudy and dull! This particular session I was fishing on the end of a warm wind and there was a slight bit of cloud cover so I was fairly confident in receiving a bite before dusk. The time had now crept to 4.30pm and the light levels had just started to fade.. my first rod was away! Another confident take and I was into the first perch of the session. After a spirited fight a nice plump 2lb+ perch was in the net! Photos were taken and the perch was returned. 

 

By now my mate had received a few bites but had sadly lost them. My rods remained motionless but the light levels were dropping even more so I knew a bite could be any minute! The bobbin cracked the blank of the first rod again! Another savage bite! As soon as I lifted into this fish I knew it was a decent perch! For a few seconds I thought it even could of been a carp! But the big perch rolled on the surface quite soon into the fight! This wasn't such a good thing as now I was well aware of what was on the end! I played the perch in silence with the beat of my heart getting louder and louder! This perch really held on! The fight on my .75 test curve rods was immense! Eventually the perch graced my net! My mate immediately ran over and we both knew this perch was a monster! A monster indeed! A true dream come true and a massive relief that my quest for a 4lb perch was over for this winter! My mate took some lovely shots and I returned the perch with a big smile on my face! 

 

 

Sadly my friend lost a couple more fish and I landed another 2lb+ perch but I was over the moon! I brilliant end to a fruitful winters perch angling! Now where are those tench and crucians at?!? 

Autumn gold

 

Autumn Gold

I knew the crucians would be up for there pre winter feed up so I decided to have a dabble at the start of October for them. Temperatures had already dropped rapidly by now so I thought I may of missed the feeding spell but I was still keen to get out for a night to try my luck. Upon arrival I was greeted by a busy car park, before loading up my barrow I decided to have a wonder. I ended up dropping in a swim I hadn't fished before but the other Angler's weren't having much joy so I wasn't to phased and I remained optimistic. It didn't take me long to get both the feeders out onto an area I was confident in. Time went by and the rods remained motionless, as did the guys fishing down to my left. I noticed on the other bank the guys fishing there were getting into a few fish so I packed up and moved across to the other bank. This bank had deeper water out in front of it so I was a little more confident. Again my rods lay motionless and my confidence began to drop. My cousin dropped by for a social so it helped the time go by. Sadly my rods didn't kick into action! I sorted the rods and put out a bit of bait via a spomb for the evening. My mix consisted of hemp, maggot and caster and some fishmeal ground bait. I only put out a few spombs as the fishing was slow. With the rods set for the evening ahead I laid back and began to read a book. It didn't take long before I received an erratic bite! Certainly wasn't a crucian bite but I remained optimistic! I knew straight away by the feel of the fish it was either a Rudd or a roach and I was right it was a roach. As soon as the roach the other rod let out a few bleeps and again i was into another roach. This went on for a few hours and again the bites dried up. I couldn't sleep as I felt I needed to be on the other bank where I first set up. After tossing and turning for a few hours I packed up at 3am and by 4.30am I was set back up and fishing in the swim I stared in. I just cast out the feeders and waited for first light to get the rods spot on and to apply some bait around the area to. After a few teas the sun soon started rising over the trees. Keen and eager to get the rods bag on I didn't muck about and after an hour of fiddling about both rods were fishing perfectly. I put out about ten small spombs of  bait over the top and sat back and enjoyed the autumnal sunrise. It was a slow morning and again there were no bites! My Mrs wanted me home for 1pm ish and it was about 10am now so the clock was ticking. I remained hopeful until a group of hungry tufted ducks drifted over my spot and began to feed smashing my confidence. I watched a tufty drop right down over my spot and a second later my bobin cracked the blank of the rod! I let out a few swear words under my breath as the tufty rose to the surface and my bobin dropped back down.. but the bobin hit the blank of my rod again! A bite? It was indeed! I picked up the rod and reeled down and instantly felt a heavy dead weight on the end, this is the usual behaviour of a crucian they like to give you the run around under the rod tip! Knowing what could be on the end I played the fish in very gingerly! It felt like a really good fish! After an intense fight the fish rolled on the surface and it was indeed a massive crucian! I was nervous by this point and wanted this crucian netted! After a hairy fight in the margin she finally graced my net! A huge framed fish indeed! I gave a good friend a call and we got her on the scales and took some lovely shots! She went 4.1lb making

It my third 4lb crucian from the venue, I was over the moon as was my Mrs as I got home in time and I even treated her to some chocolate! 

 

Last minute social resulting in a red eyed monster!

It had been on the agenda for a long time for me and my best mate brad to have a social but having busy family schedules and working all the time it's hard to fit it all in! But we finally pencilled in a date and we stuck to it! The chosen venue was a private syndicate I'm a member of and brad would be fishing as guest. Brad wanted to have a go for the carp and I was undecided, carp or tench? Being later in the year I knew the tench would be empty but still on the feed! I decided to have a go for the tench. The night before the session I prepared a small bucket of fresh hemp. And got out a kilo of 12mm sticky baits krill boilies from the freezer to defrost, my tactics were to rake a couple of areas and fish open end feeders on the spot with krill Wafters as hook baits, usually I'd use maggot or caster but the eels in this venue are a nightmare so any maggot or caster would result in a very slimy session! I arrived at the venue at first light and secured two swims close to each other. My swim had a large set of pads in the left margin and that was were one of my rods would be positioned the other two further out in the lake. I began to rake the margin spot close to the pads but having done this previously on a work party it didn't take me long and the spot was nice and Clear ready to present a rig onto the area. 

I mixed some hemp in with some sticky baits krill active mix and added some whole and chopped krill boilie, i mixed this up and balled out 10 tennis ball sized ground bait balls onto the spot,my set up for my tench fishing on this paticular venue is three ESP 2 1/2 test curve carp rods. There old rods and I believe the test curve is probably around the 2lb mark now! Perfect for dealing with big tench and possible carp! The venue is berg weedy and snaggy so I don't want to be putting the fish at risk by being under gunned! I use three bait runner reels loaded with 10lb ESP synchro XT mono, again a line which can handle the heat if the push comes to the shuv. Tackle wise on all three rods I used a 2ft length of ESP lead corse and  I fished a open end Drennan 2.5oz feeders helicopter style  with a short 6" 10lb supple hook links with a size 10 super specialist barbel hooks, realible tackle which will help me land tench and maybe carp if I were to hook one. I opted to use krill Wafters on all three rods as the carp Angler's have been catching all there tench on boilie. I postioned the first rod in the margin beside the pads on the spot I raked. For the other two I fished a small gravel patch big enough for two rods, this spot was about 30 yards range so I spombed the bait out over this area. It was a very slow day with only a few fish moving about but I wasn't to fussed as I knew the bite times were around first light usually. Having boilies on I didn't opt to res cast regularly, something I would usually do when using maggot feeders. I simply re cast the rods before dark, replenishing hook baits and re filling the feeders. 

It was a beautiful evening and me and brad and my other mate had a good social! I fell a sleep thinking and hoping of  dawn and what suprises it could bring? I had a few liners through the night but nothing happened. It wasn't long and I was peeling my sleeping bag off of my face and I looked out over the water.. Usually I'd wake up for first light but with having a young daughter and working long hours I got lazy this time around and dozed back off which felt like a etinity before being awoken by an absolute churner! I was out and on the rod instantly! It was the margin rod! The rod I knew which would go off!! The fish kited rapidly out towards the main area of the lake! Peeling line and flat rodding me !! I thought it was a small carp at first! But the classic head shake gave the game away! But this was no small tench! The fight was intense and I didn't want to loose this tench! It fort so hard under the rod tip! Eventually I swooped the net under the fish like a mad man! And it was in the net! Brad heard all the comotion and came over to help with the weighing and photos! I was over the moon with the tench! And the epic photos Brad took for me! A true green monster! 

Catching this beautiful tench made me realise I'd neglected targeting the species this year, but my they'd be getting my full attention come spring and early summer that's for sure! Thanks for taking the time to read my blog I hope you've enjoyed it. Be lucky out there 

In search of summer gold

Summer is one of my favourite times of year to fish, as long as it's not to hot I'm in my element sat out In a pair of shorts and t shirt loving life, there's a few species I like to target in the summer months and crucians are one of them. My first summer crucian session was due to take place at the end of June just before my ticket run out on club lake I was going to target. Marked in the calander in bold writing so I could count down the days to my session! It wasn't long before I was finishing up at work and I was sorting my kit for the session. Having previously fished the water a few times before hand a had plan in my head on which tactics to use, swim choice would be dependant on the wind and availability. I was up early to arrive at the venue at first light. I wondered the banks and found an area on the end of the wind and it didn't take me long to see some crucians rolling amongst tench and Rudd to. I set up base camp and started to prepare my spomb mix. 

My spomb mix is a pretty simple one. It consists of a F1 groundbait mixed with sticky baits krill active mix, hemp, caster and maggot. I like to put small feed items in the mix to keep the fish rooting around the baited area which in turn also holds the fish in the swim for longer. I'm not bothered about the smaller fish which will be attracted by the maggot, caster and hemp I want the swim to be active attracting all sorts of species as I found this method works really well for me on this particular venue! Once the mix was mixed I began to have a lead about as this time of year the venue can be very weedy. I was suprised by the amount of weed this year, it took me quite a long time to find a spot I was confident on fishing on. But I'd rather take my time to find a fish able spot with good line lay then waste a session fishing a bad spot. With the spot noted down, I clipped up my spomb to mark and introduced several spombs to get the spot rocking whilst I fiddled around with the rods. My standard set up for this style of crucian angling consists of two 12ft 1.25TV Drennan series 7 specialist Avon rods, coupled with two small reels loaded with 6lb Drennan method and feeder mono. You want something to take the strain of the cast and something strong to withstand the strain from big fish also. The Buisness end consists of two Drennan 35g inline flat method feeders, short 3" 6lb Drennan micro braid hooklinks with size 16 Drennan super specialist wide gape hooks. For the hook bait I want something which withstand the nusance fish and will always be fishing after aborted takes maximising your chances for take. So I opt to use a single buoyant caster. With the rods all set up I clipped them up to the same mark and mixed up my ground bait mix to be moulded around the feeder. This is the same mix as the spomb mix just with no free offerings so they home in on your hook bait. 

Both rods went out smoothly and it didn't take me long to receive the first bite resulting in a tench! 

The tench were relentless at the start! I was getting double takes at times but I knew it wouldn't be long for the crucians to turn up so I persisted with the constant tench! It really is relentless angling but it has to be done, constantly recasting the feeders and topping the swim up with spombs to hold the fish in your swim. It's a full on approach but it works. After wading through the tench the bites stopped so I left the feeders out knowing that the crucians could be feeding next, the bobbin pulled up slower and I was into my first crucian of the session. After a short spirited fight under the rod tip the lovely crucian was in the net. And I didn't have time to unhook it as the other rod was away also! Another crucian, with both fish safely in the net my friend fishing next door did the honours and took the photos for me. Photo quality is paramount to me so I'm always careful on who I chose to take my photos for me on my camera as I always want the best out of my shots and my mate Alex is very handy behind the lens and did all the photos of that session more than justice so thanks Alex mate! After a few snaps the bars of gold were slipped back to there home. 

Knowing the crucians were in the area I topped the swim back up with a few more spombs to hold the fish in the area. Like I said its active fishing! Tight baiting and accuracy is my key to my specimen angling and it certainly works. The bites kept coming, by this time it was just after 1pm and I'd landed five crucians all over the 3lb mark! 

I was buzzing how the session was going! The fish just kept feeding with tench and Rudd being behind Many of the bites but the crucians moved in when the other fish had there fill! I had another savage take which I was dead certain it had to be a tench! But it was a crucian, this fish was holding deep and was fighting a lot harder than the previous crucians caught from this session! I was playing this one with my heart in my mouth knowing the potential the lake holds! I eased the crucian in the net and she looked big! The scales swung round to a couple of ounces short of the magical 4lb Mark! Overwhelmed with this magnifecent specimen! 

I didn't even have time to do the shots before the other rod was away and I was into another hard fighting crucian! This session was turning out to be a blinder!

Again my friend took some lovely photos for me and the pair of specimens were returned to there home! I carried on topping the swim up regularly with the odd spomb and continued to re cast my feeders every so often, again very accurate to the spot! Probably a rod length apart from each other. The tench moved in once again causing mayhem! Double takes the lot! One particular tench gave a really good account for itself weeding me up a few times and really putting a bend in the 1.25test curve rods! The fight seemed like it lasted forever and eventually the tench was in the net! And what a beauty she was to! 

 

It was my biggest tench from the venue so I was happy with that! I went on to catch more crucians and more tench that day before getting my head down to get up at first light and start fishing again! It was time for some well deserved rest! 

I awoke just before first light, I made some fresh spomb mix up to re introduce to the swim and rested the area before fishing again. 

It was a beautiful morning! After some breakfast and a few cups of tea to get some caffeine into my system it was time to get the rods back out onto the spot. Again it didn't take me long to getting bites! This time for soap bar sized tench, these were relentless for the first hour but it didn't take long for the crucians to turn up! I landed a further three crucians all weighing over 3lb! 

It brought my tally to twelve crucians landed ten being over 3lb to 3.14lb and two being over 2lb, and over forty tench landed. I decided to call it a day and I left the venue with a smile on my face! I'm still undecided whether to renew my ticket to the club lake, I expect I will as its to much fun angling there, and these magnifecent bars of gold won't be around forever. The venue always pulls some negative comments but to me personally true crucians are hard on the ground to find these days and I didn't want to miss out on the opptunity of sharing there time In this life with us! I'm grateful I've been lucky enough to hold some of these special specimens! I hope you've enjoyed reading my latest blog entry, thanks again for taking the time to read it. Be lucky out there... 

Spring tenching continued..

Whilst waiting for my syndicate ticket to start and with other venues shut due to the close season I was lost on what to fish for and where to fish. There's a lovely estate lake on my club ticket which held some tench. The tench stock is pretty un known as is there size. With 90% of anglers who fish there being carp anglers it's always hard to gauge the size of tench as you always get.. How big was the tench you had mate "easssyyy 10lb the thing was massive! I didn't weigh it but it was massive" classic carpy's always the way! Still I had no real plans or venues I wanted to fish so I decided to drop onto the venue for a couple of nights. I arrived at the lake and was amazed by its beauty! Only a few acres in size but so beautiful! Every swim closed in by pads so no one can cast over you! Just what I like! It didn't take me long to see some tench rolling in a corner bay away from all the pressure from the carp anglers. I dropped in the swim and set up base. 

I had a quick lead about to find the bottom pretty uniform. Mainly soft silt with a couple of harder areas. I chose my spots which were tight against the pads and introduced a few balls of my ground bait mix which consisted of sticky baits krill active mix, maggot, hemp and sticky baits pure krill liquid. As the bottom was silty and there were a lot of nusance fish I decided to fish two Drennan 2oz open end feeders. I fished these helicopter style with two 8" 15lb supple hook links with size 10 specimen barbel hooks. For the hook baits I used two sticky baits krill Wafters perfect for tench! With the rods deployed I could sit back and take it all in. Sadly nothing happened through the night but at first light the dawn chorus was interrupted by one of my alarms and I was into my first fish from the venue. It felt like a good sized tench and I wasn't half wrong. After steering the red eyed tinca clear from the pads she was soon in the back of my net! What a beautiful specimen to! 

I was soaking in the moment when the second rod disrupted the silence once again! I was on a roll here! Again the fish felt good and it felt like a tench, this time this tench put up a very good account of itself nearly snagging me up a few times! But luckily it wasn't long before I was sweeping the net under her! Another beautiful tench lay in the net awaiting pics! The other tench was still in the net resting up! It all happened so quick! After a few special shots both tench were released and I sat back with a tea with a cheeky grin on my face! 

I was buzzing! It's always good when a plan comes together especially a last minute one! My times very limited so it's always a extra bonus when I catch. The morning was slow with no signs of tench showing in my swim. I'm not one for sitting on my hands and waiting for a bite so I was looking to move, with it being a weekend and the lake being busy I didn't have to many options. I know that tench are classic first light feeders so I thought to myself I could just sit it out.. Before I had the chance to pack up and move another bite fell to the right rod and again I was playing a tench! And it felt a lot better to! At one point I thought it was a carp! After a hairy fight the tench was in the net! I unhooked the tench and got the rod straight back out onto the spot. 

I prepared the scales and the sling and had a quick tea before doing the shots. This tench was a lot bigger than the first two! 

I was over the moon! A lovely plump long female! Elated with the session so far! 

After a few shots I returned the lovely tench back to her home and got some more bait out onto the spots. With bait out and the rods re positioned I sat it out and waited. Sadly no more bites fell that session but I was over the moon with the three beauty's I caught! I hope you enjoyed reading my blog. Thank you 

Spring 2016 crucian fishing

As much as I enjoy my autumn and winter angling the spring and summer are equally as exciting with the transition of colours with every thing coming back to life as the days are longer and warmer and of course With it the lilly pads which means to a lot of us.. Sitting back eagerly watching a float hoping for it to disappear with a hopefully a bar of gold on the end! Yup spring and summer mean crucians to me! I try and mix up my angling and challenge myself by targeting different species keeping my angling exciting and keeping me on my toes! My first crucian session fell on the end of April, with the warm days firmly set in and the pads slowly on the rise it was time to target the crucians. I arrived at my chosen venue to find the water tap clear.. Which didn't bode well for the fishing as the crucians in this venue are finicky as it is! So fishing the float will cause the crucians to spoke off of the vertical lines. I had a small walk around the venue and decided to drop in a swim where i saw some crucians rolling out in the middle of the channel. I decided to set up two feeder rods. A method which has helped me to land lots and lots of crucians to 4.1lb

My set up consists of two Drennan 1.25 test curve Avon rods, two Drennan 25gram flat inline feeders, two 3" 7lb Drennan supper Specailist micro braid hook links with two size 16 super Specailist wide gape hooks. On the hair I like to fish white buoyant imatation casters as the rig is critically balanced improving bites and putting more fish in the bank. I mixed up my ever faithful mix which consisted of a sticky baits krill ground bait mixed with sticky baits krill micro pellets. With the fish being finicky feeders the only bait which i introduced to the swim was the feeders so I was just fishing a bite at a time. Also a method that proves very effective and which usually helps me avoid the numerous tench in the lake. I fished one rod in the centre of the channel where I saw the crucians rolling and I cast the other tight to the island which also has produced crucians in the past. With both rods out it was time to sit back and wait! 

It didn't take long for the bobbin on the left rod to crack the blank of the rod and I was into my first fish of the session! After a spirited fight a golden crucian rolled on the surface and it wasn't long before it was in the back of my net! No matter the size of crucians I just love angling for the species! There such a beautiful species! I didn't even have time to get the crucian out of the water to unhook it and the second rod was away, again to another crucian! It wasn't long and I was looking at two lovely crucians in the net! 

After a few shots the two beautiful crucians were slipped back to there gin clear home. 

I recast the rods to the same positions which the previous two bites came from. It took a while for the next bite to surface but eventually the left rod was away again. And another crucian was in the net! Another lovely specimen to! I re cast the rod back to the spot which was obviously a spot the crucians favoured and it wasn't long before the bobbin again was cracking the blank of the rod! 

This fish felt had some weight behind it and fort a lot harder than the previous three crucians landed so I didn't want to loose this fish so I played it very gingerly.. The crucian rolled on the surface and looked bigger than the previous crucians! Eventually the crucian was in the net! And what a big framed crucian it was to!

After carefully weighing the specimen a few shots were taken and I released the crucian back. I was very happy with how the session was going! 

Sadly no more bites materialised that session! But I was still happy with the four crucians landed! It was mid May before I had returned to the venue but the pads were well and truly established so I was hoping to catch a few on the float this session. With nothing to go by from my walk I droped in a swim I've had luck from in the past. I set up my Drennan 14ft match pro float rod coupled with my Bob James centre pin loaded with 4.1 Drennan float fish line. I fished a .8 gram delicate pole float with a size 18 Drennan super specialist wide gape hook. I like to fish dead bottom but if the crucians prove to be finicky I use the lift method. I plummeted a spot close to some pads. 

When fishing the float method I like to bait with small amounts of bait which consists of my usual ground bait mix. I like to introduce small golf ball sized balls of ground bait. I start off with one and go from there. As you can over feed the swim and attract the tench. I always fish a sleeper rod which is my ever faithful feeder method. I fished this rod out in open water. Fishing this rod as a sleeper allows me to concentrate on the float. Also if one of the method produces more than the other I'll switch both rods to the same tactics. 

It was very very slow going on the float but it didn't take long for the feeder rod to rip off and a crucian being the culprit. 

Bites were non existent on the float so i put out a second feeder rod. Frustrating as it is as there's nothing I love more than to catch the crucians on the float if there not having it close there's no point blanking. I cast this feeder tight to the island where I saw some crucians roll. Again it didn't take long and my left rod was away and a lovely crucian laid in my net. 

The crucians are really loving the middle of the lake at the moment with the clarity being gin clear I guess where the middle is the deepest it's where they feel safer. I positioned both rods out into the middle of the channel and kept just the bait on the feeders are they were feeding finicky I just wanted to fish for a bite at a time. Fishing the feeder method isn't at all traditional but it makes a finicky feeding fish easy to catch. And using the feeder method certainly puts more fish on the bank! My session was drawing to a close but one more 2lb+ crucian made an appearnce making it a enjoyable mornings fishing with a few crucians landed. 

I'm unsure as of when I'll return to fish for the crucians as I've got tench firmly in my mind so I'll try and target them for a few more weeks for sure! I hope you've enjoyed my latest blog entry. Thank you for reading, be lucky out there.