The Bench & The Big Common

Arrived mid afternoon the weather was glorious set up the rods cast 1 to the gap between the island and one off the island to the left. I had purchased a load of new bait from The Bait Shed off a lad called Mick some more FFC PopUps some FFC glug and some FFC bottom bait. I air dried the bait and got to work on making PVA bags then the ducks and swans started nailing baits everything i cast everywhere i cast they were destroying bait after bait. I almost gave in but then they finally got full sort of it was getting dark and i put another bait out to the island on the right and one to the same island but came off it around 6ft not far from a coots nest. Gab had arrived and was setting up he had taken the spot to the left of the island i was fishing earlier and one rod off the back of Bootsies. Matthew was here as well and we bantered on late in to the night Gab managed his first ever Bream a huge fish estimated at around 10lb yet again no scales thanks Sean but a stunning fish nether the less. I turned my Fox MMX'S up nice and loud and got my head down praying for a fish and not a blank........  I wasn't fully asleep as my rod screamed off to the shout of a fish i jumped up lifted in and felt a very heavy lump on the other end after a 5 minute struggle it was in the net and it looked huge. I knew straight away it was the Big One and i was buzzing but was gutted that i never got its weight as yet again no scale never mind i no i have heard people say its 27lb and 28lb but i will never no unless i catch it again a load of pictures later and i was happy as larry back to bed with a big grin on my face and the big one under my belt so soon.....I was awoke again that night to another nice Bream that was pictured and sent back to bed. That was our lot for the night and i am still buzzing to this day..... Tight Lines......

Peg 1 First shot of 2015

I arrived late in the evening it was early spring and i was itching to cast a rod after 9 years out of crap fishing. I had all my old gear even old bait from back in 2006 that had seen better days. I had purchased 2 new rods in the mega sale from ID closing down pretty much the only thing that i had purchased along with some pellet for pva bags and one pot of FFC popups from The Bait Shed. I set up and put my first rod in the gap between two islands and was happy that it landed perfect. My next rod i cast just to the left of the island next to some overhanging trees i had my net ready and landing mat all setup. My friend Matthew arrived late to keep me company as i was staying over night we set the bivvy up and got things sorted then the wait was on for a bite. Nothing really happened we seen a few fish moving around the islands but nothing seemed interested i tried loads of different baits that evening and settled on a perfectly balanced bait of ffc and aromatic fish then got my head down for some shut eye.......... I was then awoken to a screaming alarm at around 2am i shot out of bed slipped on mud and nearly broke my coxis on a rock happy days.. I grabbed the rod and lifted in to a good weight i was lucky the fish had came out the snags and in to open water after a short fight left and right the fish graced the net. A lovely Common Carp of around 13lb i never had scales with me as my nephew had left them in scotland from out last fishing trip so i had to guess the weight. A few pictures later she was back in the water and off she went in to the darkness. Re-bait and back to sleep then awoke again by a few beeps of the alarm could only mean one thing a bream!!!! reeled in to find a decent bream around 7lb quick pic then off it went that was my lot for the night. I had forgot how good carp fishing was and i was well and truly bitten by the bug again!!!!!!