The Complete Fisher Forum

[montanajoe]

First day out this year was at Willington.
12 March
Arrive late afternoon and 1 chap had a few near the car park. With a nice South wind I opted to try under the power lines as the wind was ideal for that corner.
Used a floater and chopped and changed with not so much as a sight of a fin.
Decided to move back near the car park for the last 30 minutes.

With a Montana and a BPM I saw the odd fish moving. The two other lads were picking up the odd fish and invited me into the spot near them. That was a good move as I picked up about 6 smallish rainbows and knocked a few more off. Obviously fresh stockies but who cares.

The first fish of 2011 were most welcome and made by day. It will get better as more flies start to hatch.

[BlankDay]

Photos perhaps?
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The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers.

[Chris]

Glad to see you in this section Iain, look forward to reading the ramblings
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[montanajoe]

27 March

Arranged to meet Seth (Offshorephysio) who informed me that this was his first time on a “big” water.
I said we WILL catch fish and hopefully show him why I consider Carsington to be the best waters in the UK.
Nothing like putting a bit of pressure on me.
The wind was from the East (where fish bite least), the positives were that it was cloudy and not too windy. Recent reports from yesterday showed that a number of anglers struggled a bit.

Setting up with my Di6 and an Intermediate on the other rod. Orange blob on dropper, BPM on the middle and Black WoolyB on the point we set up to drift round the S side of Fishtail Creek. Seth was first to get an offer on his black & green fritz. Around the point and I got a nice brownie, followed by a double header of brownies and rainbow. Seth held his own and we soon had a lot of fish coming to the boat at regular intervals as we drifted up the shore line. Around into Upperfields, the fish kept coming regularly. Nothing in Millfields but Seth picked up a fish off the dam.

We moved down to the N Side of Fishtail as a number of boats had anchored up where we were catching making another drift impossible. I changed to the Intermediate as we could see fish moving so they couldn’t be all that deep. Seth had a few offers and another fish and we picked up some more before deciding on another move to Tower Bank. One boat seemed to be picking up fish at anchor and we drifted around them picking up another couple before moving round into Shiinningford Creek. In the meantime, Seth’s new bass bag (a Christmas present from his beloved and packed full with his 6 fish limit) decided to part company at the webbing and sunk to the bottom of the lake. Seth was not a happy bunny, but what can you do!!!

Had a couple of offers and lost a couple of fish before finding a pod of fish moving along the trees. A few more fish came to us in there.

They went off and so did the wind. With the water now flat calm we decided to go round to the “No fly zone” near the bird hide where we saw some more movement and picked up some more fish.

It was now getting close to going home so we decided to have one last fling over near Fishtail where we had great sport early on. There was nothing there at all but did get another fish near the woods which took the dropper, then proceeded to catch on every fly below that when I shook it off, knackering my leader. That was the sign we needed to call it a day. I’m not good at keeping count but Seth had 12 and I had a few more.

A cracking start to Carsington’s season for me.
I think Seth was just a bit chuffed with his first day too.

Sorry no pics, too busy catching fish.

[Offshorephysio]

Cracking write up and a cracking day, I'll Post more tomorrow as rebuilding bridges after suffering the loss of the bass bag......

But a big thankyou to mr Montanajoe aka gillie aka Ian

Seth
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lifes to short, live a little, but not too much as you might be here a very long time.......

[Whistlekiller]

[Offshorephysio]

Wk learnt loads just chatting never mind watching, it was great to see Iain at work on his home water. And what a lovely water it is.

Carsington is pretty high up, water clarity is fantastic, it has a lovely blue colour , i beleive Iain said this was the lime stone beneath.

i travelled over from Notts to Carsington, taking a smalll detour round Derby after learning I can't follow sign posts, this lead to some Colin McCray ralley driving through the country roads so as not to be late. On arrival I stuggled to spot the fishing car park but eventually got in there. Whilst paying for the tickets I spotted some nice blobs for sale so bought a lovely little orange number and some green and black. I rigged up in the boat with top dropper orange blob, middle dropper green/black blob and a sparkly green/black fritz on the point all with either dumbell eyes or gold heads.i was fishing a Di 3 after the Di7 I ordered last week failed to turn up.....

As Iain said we started off on the far side, with a follow to the point fly, exciting to see the fish in the clear water and the bow wave as it gave chase before turning. Ian soon hooked up looking like a good fish, turned out to be a double hook up, he proceeded with another 1-2 double hooks and I joined in for good measure. I have to say the day proved to help me loose my viginity on several fronts- Big water, double hookup and landing, brown trout, and a blue trout for good measure, oh and the lost bass big full of my 6 trout limit sicking into the depths

Iain was telling me that no doubles (lb) trout have been caught, I have to say this can only be due to insufficient fishing as the place seems packed with food, plenty hatching off yesterday, there has to be some monsters in there, its just catching them.

A big thankyou to Iain for what I learnt and also great company, and the fishing wasn't bad

Looking forward to some more drift fishing and I will definately be visiting some more large waters, especially as I am not that far from rutland. Looking forward to Thornton for Royvs memorial match, I think Iain should produce a pink blob specially for the day...........
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lifes to short, live a little, but not too much as you might be here a very long time.......

[Offshorephysio]

none of any action but a few of the water, I'll make sure I take some more pics next time, especially at the social.......



_________________
lifes to short, live a little, but not too much as you might be here a very long time.......

[Offshorephysio]

forgot to say both blobs got christened, the black/green accounted for the brown, the orange for the rainbows, whilst the point fly got changed twice and accounted for half the fish at least.
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lifes to short, live a little, but not too much as you might be here a very long time.......

[montanajoe]

Went out about 3pm. Blowing a hooly from the SW and not too warm either.
Started on A bank and tried almost everywhere but no area was really fishable as it was being coloured up by the wave action.

Decided to move across to the Sailing Club where it was a fair bit calmer. Worked my way round and found a pod of fish feeding on the top. I had tackled up with a floating line with a BPM, Kate McLaren and Woolly B****r. A few cast and a trout took my WB and was just coming in to be released when it came off. Another fish moved and I covered it. He took the BPM and again came off. There were still fish moving but they wanted it fished slow, the faster retrieve wasn’t working well and they wouldn’t follow.

Off with the WB and on with a faithful Montana to keep the flies higher in the water. This worked well as I started to pick fish up at regular intervals on all the flies. At 5.30 I decided to pack in and go home for tea.

Finished releasing 5 nice rainbows and a few lost as well.


[img][/img]
Nice trout with the Kate Mclaren

[img][/img]

A hard fighting Ogston rainbow.

Can’t wait until the water warms up and the fish really start to feed.

Iain

[Allrounder]

[Whistlekiller]

I'm amazed that any fish got away from Iain. I'm no gambling man but if I were, that geezer would have a sizeable bet on his hide going out after rainbows.


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[montanajoe]

Took the opportunity to merge an ebay collection with an opportunity to go fishing. Widgeon lake is near Nottingham and can provide good sport on occasion.
Arrived about 3.30 pm. It was hot, sunny and calm. Not exactly the best conditions for trout fishing.
Still there were more than the odd fish showing, some heavy swirling rises amongst them. Floating line was the only option. I started with a Montana on the point, with a black skinny buzzer and a Cossack on the droppers.
Covered a few fish, including a largish double figure pike which was head and tailing on the surface. No real interest was shown. I had one on and lost it before I decided on a change of spot. Moved to the island where there were lots of fish showing. They were moving quickly with big splashy rises as opposed to a more leisurely motion. Covered a few fish and varied the retrieve with no luck or interest from the fish. Tried a few more options on the dropper with a Kate Mclaren and bibio. Still nothing doing, but the fish were still moving. Time to turn to the dark side. On with a Sunburst Blob. Three casts and had an offer. They were interested in something, but what. I had two good fish on but they shot off to the other side of the lake and threw the hook.
Then I hooked one on the Cossack on the bob, then it took a new lease of life and was being pulled around in the water. I had a double hook up. Just like buses, nothing for ages then two come along at once.

[img][/img]
Fish No. 1 on the bob.

[img][/img]
Second part of double header to the dark side.



[img][/img]
And another to the dark side

Safely released both fish, and now it was time to have some fun. The SB Blob was what they were really interested in, but they would now and again look at the other flies. I can’t understand why people don’t like the dark side. The thrill of a massive bow wave following your flies cannot be beaten in my book. A few more followed then takes dried up a bit. Off with the blob and on with a damsel, that’ll show them!!
Well no interest in that. A few more changes, dries and small nymphs, nothing so much as gave a look.
The fish were still very active and didn’t even look at static flies. They wanted it moving and would chase.
On with a fly designed by my lad, a Captain scarlet he calls it. Second cast and a fish was interested. Then another but still no takes. Then I covered a fish that decided it really wanted it., took it and shot off taking me to the backing. I thought that’s a monster, but no it turned out to be the same size as the rest, about 1½ lbs.

Ended up with 8 released and loads of offers before I decided to be a good guy and head off home at 6.00pm.
Pretty interesting day.

Can't wait till next time.

Iain

[Whistlekiller]

Iain, this fly selection business....I still can't understand it. I recently caught a rainbow at Walthamstow Number 5 on one of BlankDay's salmon double hook shrimp imitations (orange) which is not what you're supposed to do. It seems to me it's often the movement that does it regardless of pattern.

I still don't see the ****ing fish like you do. 6th sense. Are you sure you're not a product of Roswell? How the hell you spot them like you do is beyond me. There has to be an alien influence at work IMHO.

Best!!


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[BlankDay]

Those photographs confuse me.

If I hook a fish up here, its guesswork trying to net it. Certainly can't see the thing in the water. But then again, peaty water gives us all a nice wee liquid to look forward to at the and of the day.
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The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers.