The open matches have been becoming ever more popular, with attendances hitting the forties and fifties on a regular basis. Today is no exception with 50 booked on. The match today is split between 2 lakes Loco and Laurels. www.lindholmelakes.co.uk/
Both lakes have been fishing pretty well lately. The recent mild weather has had a positive effect, as the fish are spreading out and feeding freely. The only thing that was going to hinder things today was the wind. With this in mind I was secretly hoping to draw on Laurels, as it is much more sheltered than Loco. I was definitely not disappointed when I picked out peg 19 on Laurels. On arrival at my peg I was pleased as this peg has a fair bit to offer. It is situated on the first spit on the right hand side bank. It is the second peg in, on the right hand side of the spit. On offer is plenty of open water, a good left margin and to the right there is a reed bed on the flat bank which separates the spits. The only down side is the blustering head wind, but you can't have every thing!The Plan
My plan was to go with a 2 pronged pole attack, with a line at 11 meters directly in front of me and a line at 14.5 meters to the reed bed on the right hand side. As back up I have a number of bomb and feeder rods in my bag should things get difficult.
Bait
On the 11 meter line I plan to fish pellet, feeding fishery micro's and fishing a 4 mm pellet on the hook, on the 14.5 meter line I plan to feed micro's and alternate between pellet and corn on the hook.
Rigs
11 Meter Rig
- Pole - Browning Xitan Z12
- Elastic - Yellow Browning Cenex Reflex
- Main line - 0.12 Browning Hybrid Power
- Hook length - 0.10 Browning Cenex
- Hook - Size 18 Kamasan B911 F1
- Float - Alan Scotthorne 1 0.3gram
- Shotting - Spread bulk with 2 droppers
14.5 Meter Rig
- Pole - Browning Xitan Z12
- Elastic - Blue Browning Cenex Reflex
- Main line - 0.14 Browning Hybrid Power
- Hook length - 0.12 Browning Hybrid Power
- Hook - Size 16 Kamasan B911
- Float - Shep Special 4 x 14 http://www.carlshepherdsonstittletackle.com/
- Shotting - Spread bulk with 2 droppers
The Session
During plumbing up the 11 meter rig I had lined up with a tree on the far bank. I always line up with some form of marker whether its on the far bank or on the horizon as long as I know it won't move. This ensures accurate feeding and that the rig is in the exact spot every time.
I baited the hook with a 4 mm expander and filled the pole mounted pot with softened micros. I shipped out to the spot and tapped the pellets for the pot and lowered the rig over the top. After 2 minutes of lifting and dropping then leaving , the float twitched then buried. A steady stream of yellow elastic emitted from the pole, After a short battle, a pristine F1 was safely netted. It was a good start and in the next 10 minutes another 3 more joined it in the keep net.
Bites soon slowed down, but I was still picking up fish. After a couple of hours I decided to give the 11 meter line a rest and changed to the 14.5 meter line. I baited up with corn on the hook and micros in the pole mounted pot and shipped out to the reeds. I had a bite instantly, which I missed, after lowering back in, it went again. This time I hit the bite, another F1 was soon safely in the net. I shipped back out, and the wind started becoming blustery, making this line extremely hard to fish. I went back onto the 11 meter line, as this was directly in the wind, making it much easier to handle. I had a couple more fish before bites dried up.
A Change of Plan
I decided on a complete change, as the wind was becoming stronger and more blustery. I dug out my 8 ft Browning Commercial King F1 Wand from my bag and rigged up an in line Banjo method feeder, with a 0.14 Hybrid hooklength tied to a size 18 B911 with a hair rigged micro band.I had some fishery 6 mm hard pellets in my bag, this is what I decided to use as hook bait and the micro's I already had ready would be used as feed. I gave the feeder a quick cast with no feed to just under half way and clipped up. I reeled it in, baited up and re cast it out. Within 2 minutes the tip pulled round and a chunky F1 was soon netted.
The last part of the match flew by. as I was now catching extremely well. The main species I was catching was F1s. but I did also have a bonus Carp around 6lb. The end of the match came to quickly and I weighed in 48 lb 4 oz for around 7 th in the match.
I was really pleased I had gone with my instincts as this provided the bulk of my catch. Bring on next time :-)
