All winter I fished and never encountered so much rain, yuk

I was full of hope on a new water that I had started to fish but after several sessions I still have to hook a carp, well in the mouth anyway. I had the horrid happening of foulhooking a big mirror in a pelvic fin as it browsed over my baits strategically placed on a gravel shelf. The fight was spectacular but one Iíd rather forget so I was relieved to see 30lb of prime carp swim off unharmed a few minutes later. Itís a shame as it was the first time I had found the carp on this lake feeding in the margins. The weather for once was sunny and warm, other sessions have been cold and very wet, I have not seen so much mud for ages. All winter I fished and never encountered so much rain, yuk!A carp was caught by one of the guys, a 33lb mirror, on a chuck to a leaping fish, good angling, but apart from that it has been dire. Even the weed has refused to grow, leaving the lake water clear and the bottom bare. Easter came at just the right time so I could retreat and lick my wounds ready for a May attack. Things can only get better.Realistically though itís not just been me who has been struggling, it seems to be the same across the country, itís been a bad spring so far. Still, I remember a spring just like it, there was the traditional close season then, but the summer was outstanding. I remember as a tench angler praying for cold springs so the tench would be heavy come 16th June and doubles were on the cards, I think it is going to be one of those so expect the tench record to go from somewhere from a big neglected gravel pit. Let’s hope it comes to an angler fishing for them and not a carp angler.As mentioned before I have just renewed some of my fishing tackle and obtained a couple of new rods, yet to see some action, apart from a foulhooked 30lb plus mirror! However I have, with some difficulty, also renewed the odds and sods that we all need to carry on our sport. Don’t some tackle shops realise that they need to have a stock of everything, even during the spring, or else they will go down the pan at the expense of the forward thinking Email/mail-order shops. All of our local tackle shops are under threat but they need to help themselves if they want to survive. Still, fully equipped I dived off to a day ticket water, Beaver Farm in Sussex, to get a bend in the rods, not the new ones unfortunately though. I fished one of their Ďeasierí waters and had a pleasant day catching tench and small carp in baits cast into the margins. They consisted of luncheon meat and worms mostly but what made it different was using a fly fishing bob-sight as indication. It was great fun seeing this little bob of fluorescent colour come to life as a fish found the otherwise free offering in the edge, the bob would start moving across the surface picking up pace faster and faster before finally disappearing under the surface. A quick strike would result in a splendid battle before a 10lb carp was safely netted, great fun; especially when using 5lb line on a centrepin reel. I read with interest two articles lately, one by Chris Tarrant about carping in Canada and one by John Bailey about barbel fishing in France. I have always hated the thought of carp fishing in France and have therefore resisted the offers that have come my way. However catching the same species in Canada does interest me and although the cost is not too much I personally need still to save up, not all angling writers get everything given to them! However I am determined to get there some time, the carp look magnificent, I love commons! Secondly I love France, not the French, just France. As a family we often go there but, as I say, I refuse to carp fish there but the thought of barbel fishing, or fishing for catfish, does interest me so thanks to John for penning that article for the site, I will be following up his leads very soon, maybe a little later this year. Back to the carp fishing. At least the sun has come out over the Easter break and those annoying frosts seem to have disappeared, all we need is dry weather and some sun. I was fortunate to look round a friendís pond the other day (he calls it a pond, I call it a small lake) where he has some nice commons and some koi carp stocked. It was noticeable on a sunny day that they were very active, some even leaping clear of the water. Now these are not tame fish as they have been fished for, and caught, in the past but they were behaving in a strange way. Just like a pet dog that knows dinner is coming. Imagine your dog not being fed for a while, when you walk in. It would go mad would it not? Well these carp were doing the same, as it was the first time he had got the trout pellets out for them since last autumn. They were going mad at the thought. I had seen this behaviour before, although not so animated, on natural lakes at this time of year before, no wonder I love spring fishing so much. Come on you mirrors! Finally as mentioned in previous weeks I get my boilies rolled now by a bait rolling firm called The Bait Company who really are the business, I can certainly recommend them. Competitive prices and a real Rolls Royce service. Have a look in the Review section of this site so find out more, you will not be disappointed. Which reminds me, time to order some bait!

Have fun!