Ringing the changes (slight return)

As well as a go over a raked spot for bream I had wanted this weekend to have a go of the front of the island, where I had found a clearish spot with a reasonable bottom when out on the boat on Wednesday.So, having been instructed first to get the achofrol I ended up standing on the island  yesterday night, again after 7pm looking out at a bit more weed than I remembered on Wednesday...

Target area was the gap ahead of the left rod, one of a pair of old Sportex 11' 1.5lb tc rods, and Cardinal 4x's. I set up an open end feeder to fish meat and one with a bomb and corn closer in. The first cast found more weed than I hoped for. I recast with no bait or feed  to see if I could find a clearer spot and hooked a rudd fair and square in the mouth on a bare size 4 Drennan Specimen hook. No blank then. The alder tree above my head was a bit in the way and I was loosing patience. A quick look at the gap just  to my left below and I moved one of the rods in there, close in with corn, no feeder. By the time I had moved my chair the indicator was stuck up tight to the alarm and a reasonable roach was soon splashing in over the shallow margin.

They could not get on the corn quick enough, Both these two  seem to have a bit more than roach in them, mostly about the dorsal and anal in the first, and general shape of the second I think a trip back with a  pole, fished to hand is in order. Far more practical than two rods fishing about 10 yards out.

Ringing the changes (slightly)

Having raked a small area of the first jetty on Wednesday thought  I would have a session on Friday before the pond weed  grew over the spot. Warm evening, on the jetty by 7ish. Macca tucked away in Dead Man's Hole. Must be colder in that corner out of the sun as he  was well wrapped up.  Cast about around the raked patch, not much room for error as the pond weed was quite thick around. Spot is the second indent from the left of the swim.

Satisfied I had a target area catapulted in 10 pouches of hemp and a few handfuls of corn, to fish corn on the lift. Using Shanus' old 12' Kevin Ashurst blank with a Cardinal 154. Some what thicker than the  Drennan Waggler rod (and Mitchell 300) I was going to use to snatch a few roach and rudd whilst I waited for a bream or two to find the hemp and corn.

A lot of activity all round the pond with plenty of movement in the area over the weed to he left in the first frame. Well out of rake range. A couple of perchy fry raids in the lillies. A coconut every shy on the maggot on the drop. Some blade roach but mostly hand sized fish like these rudd and roach. Dropped the biggest as I didn't want to wield the 36 '' net in the background and couldn't quite swing it in without the hook pulling.

A few small bubbles, more so when hemp went in and missed the first unmissable bite on the corn, a lift and slide, tip hanging under the surface like a red beacon but in reality hung up on a frond of weed. Second time round and no mistake and  an enjoyable circuit round the swim from this bream of about 4 lb. A bit light on the lower lobe of it's tail but quite thick across the shoulders.

Several dithers, either liners or rudd knocking the red float rubber at the base of the waggler, and one more missed bite, and after a natter with Macca, despondent after 2 blanks, (are they off the bait now  he pondered) it was as he said wine o'clock and off the pond to rinse the net and unhooking mat of bream slime. I would have liked to fish a spot a bit further out and put in some crumb over a wider area but by this time of the summer, even with our climate warming cold spell un-rakeable from jetty at least weed would have made presentation other than a no shot down approach or a buoyant disc of bread just supporting a shot and that would have been mullered by the rudd and roach.

A different perspective

Just a hint of evening sun picking out the far bank detail.The island has been quite a busy spot of late for the bivvy boys and some of the weed has been cleared which opens up an opportunity to get the feeder rods out perhaps.

I took the boat out for a prod round last night. Found some surprisingly firm areas, and nearer the dam towards the jetty bank it was much siltier. This is a slightly different perspective of the pond from the boat

The pond weed is starting to respond to the sun,but fortunately is not present all round the pond. Cleared a couple of spots of the first jetty for a bash over the next couple of days perhaps. Need to balance a big enough rake to make a dent in the pond weed and being able to throw it with some accuracy. Was coming back with more silt than weed after a dozen throws.Plan to fish float fish corn over a lot of hemp.

The last of the sun  as seen from the boathouse

Call that a bait dropper?

Glorious weekend. Feel the heat of the sun in your bones again.

 Short trip on river  after tea on Saturday. Maggots seem to last a lot longer these days. Best fish this bristly sergeant, surprised sneaking past chub bloke "I didn't expect to see that".

Sunday evening even warmer. Planned to bait a few swims with hemp and corn. Found bait dropper in tackle bits. Seems to have shrunk. Put some black cap feeders in as well to see if hemp would wash out quickly enough.

 Walking through the first stile had a mill pool itch to scratch so that was as far as I got. That weir pool smell and the roar of the water. Decided to go with a 50grm Black cap. Lots of dacey knocks and one proper pull (missed).No snags though. I've scratched that itch for a while so it's further down stream next time and dropper several spots.