A quick chance of a fish?

free lined prawns were the winning
tactic for the carp today!

I had a couple of free hours this afternoon so I thought I'd go and have a try for one of the big Perch again at my local club water....I got down the pool around 2pm and set up 2 rods with freelined prawns dipped in CBS Krill and DMPT dip. I dropped the baits into a couple of likely spots and started to feed up the swims gently with a few handfuls of mixed maggots.

I fished these on one of our CBS Trident size 4 hooks. I sat for about 20 minutes before the first fish took the hook bait on the right hand rod. A good pull round and a quick fight saw a nice little half pound perch in the net. Send mummy or daddy back!

18lb 14oz of stonking mirror carp!

A few minutes later and the same rod was again torn around....I was really hoping it was a huge perch but to my surprise a large mirror had sucked up the bait meant for a stripey. I can't say I was disappointed with catching such a nice carp considering the cold weather. A really good scrap ensued as I was using only 6lb main line! A nice fish of 18lb 14oz ....I grabbed a few quick pics and put her back.

12lb 6oz bar of gold

Another take around half an hour later saw a 4lb bream in the net....It seemed that everything bar the perch liked my prawns! Amazing! I can almost imagine that had I gone out after the carp I probably wouldn't have caught one??? Typical! Next cast produced a missed take, but minutes later as the light was fading, a belting take on my left hand rod signaled.....yep, another carp!

This one a common, went 12lb 6oz. I couldn't believe my eyes. Everything other than perch! A few minutes later I was starting to pack away the odd and sods of kit ready to make a move home when the same rod belted off again. I knew it was a carp before I'd got hold of the rod. Off it went at silly miles an hour, leaving me hanging on for grim death! A few sharp lunges and a couple of minutes later and she was all mine. Another pristine common of 14lb 3oz.

It was starting to get quite dark and after a chat with another chap who was just leaving, I decided to call it a day. The perch hadn't showed like i'd hoped but the 3 carp, all doubles, had really made up for it! I went to pick up the left hand rod and as I grabbed the butt of the rod off she flew again with yet another chunky common on the end!

My final of the day at a tad over 16lbs!

This was really turning into a cracking little mini session, albeit not catching the intended species....but who cares when it goes off like this! A great scrap under the rod tip on lightweight kit and a feeder rod. The net was almost too small for the common. A brutish fish of 16lb 2oz!

Well, there you go.....Just goes to show that you don't need all the gear to catch some nice carp. You just need to be on the fish and use a bait they like....

Prawns wouldn't have been my first choice for catching winter carp by far, but it appears they rather like them.....A lot!

How Caple Court trip

Joel and I decided it was about time we met up again and did another one of our little adventures to pastures new! A quick decision was made on the phone on Thursday night and the next thing you know we're booked in on How Caple Court Fishery on the wonderful River Wye for Sunday!

The stunning Rock Pool Swim!

The days passed quickly and before you know it Sunday is upon us and Joel and I are making our way up the A48 towards Ross on Wye. We arrived there around 7am to find the river looking in perfect condition.

A little over 2 feet above it's summer levels, a touch of colour and relatively mild conditions. It looked spot on for a few chub and maybe even a barbel!

Keeping them peeled for a bite!

We settled for a large famous swim called the Rock Pool. A gorgeous old salmon pool that back eddies on itself at the tail end of a wide corner in the river.

All looked bang on but we sat there for a good 4 hours without so much as a tremble on the rod tips??? I scaled right down to a size 20 hook and lightweight fluorocarbon hook length but to no avail....The fish just didn't seem to be interested whatsoever...

We tried another swim at the opposite end of the beat from just after lunch time, but again 3 hours more of fruitless activity despite regular casts with the feeders. We felt the time was vast approaching to try out a new prototype oil we have been working on for our future predator range.

Joel's awesome PB Pike from the River Wye!

We placed the oil drenched dead baits into the swim and we sat back to await the results.....Joel decided he'd drop his rig out a little further into the flow and as he lifted the rig up in the water column, a big pike smashed the bait and came clear of the water! Joel looked so shocked that I thought he'd seen a ghost! After a spirited battle we netted the beauty and a few pics were taken. A new PB for Joel! Well done matey!

Even I managed s nice little snapper!

I was next to catch one and just as the day was coming to an end the float dropped away and I hung on feeling for the bite on my rod.....a couple of seconds passed and a few inches of line started to pull free of the spool. I struck and was met with a solid resistance! A good sized pike was netted and a fish each saved us from a very quiet day! Thank god the Pike took a liking to the new Oils!

This week should be fairly mild by the looks of it, so i'm going to try and grab a few hours at my local club water again in search of a big old stripey!