I settled in for a cold night and not surprisingly nothing happened

The first session down the Colne Valley pit started quite mild and I was well confident with the PVA bags of trout pellets and crushed boilies landing in perfect spots. However at around 7pm the sky cleared to reveal the stars and by 10pm a film of ice was on the car. I settled in for a cold night and not surprisingly nothing happened. When I emerged to make myself go to work I looked out on a strange looking lake. It then dawned on me it was totally frozen over. Fortunately where I was fishing a few trees had sheltered the water and I was able to force the rods tips into the water and wind quick so the leads came out through the thinnest ice. The night in between my sessions was less cold and a sunny day had made the water thaw a bit so I was able to fish again. However by 8pm I knew it was a mistake and this time in the morning there were no free spots to wind the line in from, so I had to resort to smashing the surprisingly thick ice and winding fast again. That night it was apparently 8 degrees below freezing, I have fished in colder but it was cold enough for me. Letís hope milder weather comes soon. The main reason I chanced my arm, and sanity I guess, by fishing was because the carp had started that strange winter behaviour of appearing, then drifting around in mid to high water during the day, especially on sunny days. I have seen this on many lakes in winter and it always fill me with confidence, this despite the fact I have never caught carp when they are in this mood! What they are doing I have no idea, but they seem to be uncatchable, despite me trying everything from popped up baits in mid water or even floaters. They always appear over deep water as well, next time your are bored in January or February, go and climb a tree at your favourite carp water and I expect you too will see this phenonium. At this time of year I start thinking ahead to summer and the waters I may wish to join for the following season. Now of course we can fish all year, and for the last couple of years I have fished right through the spring period. However this year I have found my intended water is going to shut from 1st April to 1st June. A lot of clubs have reversed their decision to open in the spring in the last couple of years and despite the fact it gives me lees options I actually applaud the reversal. Carp waters, and the carp in them, are pressured enough during the year and in the spring they are very vulnerable. The carp are just coming round and are eating everything in sight to catch up on their winter starvation, getting ready to build up for spawning. They are relatively easy to catch and some individual fish seem to throw all caution to the wind. At the lake in question, on the edge of Staines Moor, one poor carp was caught an incredible 12 times in three weeks, once three times in a day! Whilst that fish was the extreme, a lot of repeat captures occur. The result of course is damaged carp. Put this together with the undergrowth not recovering and you end up with a fishery in decline. No, spring fishing is fine but a lot of fisheries should retain a close season. After all I used to enjoy the odd social trip down to Cornwall or onto one of the waters that did stay open under the Ďany method trout fishingí banner: Reminiscing again, it must be the frost effecting my brain! Iíve been looking around for a new water and they are not as easy to find as you would think, even living in such a gravel pit rich area as the Colne Valley. Most of the pits in the valley I have fished before, belong to sewn up syndicates or are suited to full time anglers or anglers with plenty of opportunities to visit the waters each week. However I have found a nice one that contains big carp that is not pressured at all, and it’s open in spring so Iíll be there come 1st April. Further afield I have found a great group of lakes in Sussex that I will be putting some time in the summer, one of them even contains a 40lb mirror that has not been caught for five years, how can I refuse such a challenge! I have also winkled out some closely guarded secrets about some lakes in the Chichester area that have several uncaught carp in the high 30’s with no pressure at all, and is cheap to join, £35. Itís a bit far for me to go on a regular basis but if anyone fancies some pioneering and wants to know more then drop the website a line and Geoff will put you in touch with me. Anyway, here is to some warmer weather and a chance to get the lines wet rather than frozen. Otherwise the river Mole beckons!

Have fun!