The winter results after dark had more than paid for it in my book

I fancied an easy option this session by fishing the swim nearest the car that also covered a large expanse of water that had already produced some good carp for me during December and January. However to my surprise the Secretary of the club was there on a day session. I was surprised but not disappointed to hear he had received no action all day. He was leaving before it got dark but I was eager to cast out and the far bank looked good with the mild wind blowing into and across it, so it was round there I went. However, before I left I had a good chat to him, the AGM was early this year and I did not want to miss it, as it was a definite option for a scarce night ticket, something that I thought I would not need but when I managed to secure one last autumn I vowed I would never relinquish it. The winter results after dark had more than paid for it in my book.The club also have another small lake that they have just started putting carp at a low weight into that is destined to be a cracking water when they grow. The lake already has produced massive perch and bream so the carp will not be ruining a good tench water; tench and carp do not mix well in a small water in my experience. Anyway, this other water is going to be open all spring from this year and when chatting we agreed it could be worth a go; some of the carp could make 15lb this spring. The last night of the season sounded as if it was going to be ‘a not to be missed’ social as well, with all the night syndicate showing an interest, so I made a mental note to wangle that one, it might be too busy for a carp but the beers would be flowing to toast a fantastic season, Iíll be there.So getting round to the far bank and setting up in the same swim as I had lost a carp in the week before, I put a PVA bag full of trout pellets and fishmeals on the edge of a small island. On the other rod, I punched out a stringer against the wind to the base of a bar, two thirds across the lake. Darkness fell and the skies cleared a bit but the wind kept blowing. At half past eight I had a short sharp line bite on the island rod that had me leaping from the bedchair. Crouching by the rod I could see the line was tight so I struck, connecting with ÖÖnothing! Oh well. I recast with a stringer, I had run out of PVA bags, so I was in with another chance, maybe! That was it though, the night remained mild, the wind kept blowing, the ducks kept fighting and my chance was gone. With the weather still mild, I returned a couple of days later. This time the lake was deserted so I set up in one of the main swims covering the main expanse of open water. After a bit of leading about, I found two clear areas and launched PVA bags full of goodies out to the respective spots. On one I kept a bottom bait but on the other I switched back to a white pop-up, the reason being that I was not convinced about the pulling power of the fishmeals in the cold water plus there was still a lot of weed on the bottom, in fact fresh bright green weed was already beginning to show. The evening remained mostly cloudy and looked really good. Therefore it was with some disappointment that after a short sleep I found it was already past midnight and I had not received any action. Sometime in the early hours the wind started to get up quite strong, fortunately it was a Southerly so the wind was behind me. The trees on the far bank, where I had fished last time, were getting a real battering though. Over the space of a few minutes I received a few single bleeps on the pop-up rod, putting this down to the gusty wind I ignored them, after all it is one of the problems when using slack lines but Iíd rather that than having tight lines spooking the carp. However a series of six bleeps had me at the rod, the line tight so I struck. Something kicked back, feebly, and before long a tench was in the margins. I lifted it out briefly by hand and unhooked it, a fish of about 5lb, a male in fact. Placing it back I thought, where there are tench there are carp, so they say! The wind got stronger and stronger, even the swans retreated into a calm corner, but I felt confidant something more would happen. Unfortunately feelings do not put carp on the bank and it was with no more action that I packed up as dawn showed her face, nice girl! So a bit of a disappointment really, a mild week and a liner and a tench to show, not what I was hoping for, next week maybe. I have been fortunate this week, or maybe not. I have had my name down on three syndicates for a few years and for some reason in the last week I have been offered spaces on all three for next season. I can hardly join them all, Iím not that wealthy, so I will have to do a deal and see if I can hold a place open for the following year on a couple, risky but worth a go. Iíve also got to replace the rod I snapped back in November. StillÖ I like Normarks rods, having used them for a few years and they have a cheap one called Black Medallion that comes in 12ft 2.5lb TC so Iíll buy a couple of those I think, they have the same action as the one I still have. My 3lb TC Harrison that I am using at the moment will be a poor tool when stalking in the margins next spring, that is for sure!Oh well, keep angling, see you next week.

Have Fun!