Worth weighting for!

Excuse the pun, but I caught over 100lbs of fish today and does my right arm know it or what?! I really worked the feeder (didn’t try the method after all, stuck with a small cage) and I have to thank Des Taylor’s superb lobworm mix as it really brought them into my swim. It really didn’t matter where I cast – near, middle or off the point – I had a bite a chuck!

We returned to El Dorado (which I secretly dream of buying!!!), at first light and set up. It was a bit of a struggle getting the fully-loaded barrow through the boggy bits to the swim, but the conditions were pretty near perfect. It was dull, overcast and quite warm, with some annoying drizzle for about an hour. I used my trusty Shakespeare feeder (all-purpose, really) rod with a small cage feeder, which I set up wrong to start with… well, it’s been yonks since I feeder-fished! I attached a small cage and some maggots and practised casting.

I was under instructions to try and hit the same spot every time, so I tried really hard to. All was well – I was casting fine. My first take was on a worm while I waited for Nick to make up the groundbait – nothing spectacular, just a small carp. Then from about 7am till 8.30am, I was getting a bite a chuck on the maggots. Happy as Larry, too, I was, ‘cos hubby wasn’t getting as many bites as me on the black meat!!

It just continued like that all morning and I was starving – had to take my rod out of the water to grab a sandwich and even then, I was still landing fish! They averaged 2 – 3lb and I had several bigger, my best being a lovely 6lb common. Nick had the most beautiful orfe – 4lbs 14oz – just shy of the 5lb mark and a gorgeous orange colour (see photo on his blog!)

Claire, Julz and Michael (Reels on Wheels buddies) arrived at about 8.30am to fish with us before they could check into their accommodation at Angler’s Paradise where they’re staying for a week’s hols and we had a good ole gossip and a cuppa together as they set up. Claire was over the moon with a new Personal Best carp – 11.5lbs. However, it did snap the top section of her carp rod… Julz and Michael were happily catching too and I think they’ll have a super time at AP.

I owe a huge thanks to my mate Jo from Ebid, as she nominated Reels on Wheels as the chosen charity for this month’s YDC charity auctions. I sold 6 or 7 items and there were quite a few ebidders showing their support too. Cheers, everyone and thank you so much.