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Shoot That Bird!!!

Posted: 5th May 2013

Sacre bleu!!! Is all I could say to John in Peg 3. After delivering his breakfast he turns round and comes out with " What is that bird singing all night, it needs shooting"

I reply "it's a nightingale you plonker", and I would not mind but he is a keen bird watcher!!! So that gives you and idea what was to come with his Mad brother (Crackoff Dave) in peg 4 who decided to do a bit of nature watching and star gazing for 3 days forgetting to but a boilie on the hair, then cannot work out why he has had nothing. I said "you better recast those rods and check all is good" while one of my Sons Reuben is pulling his lines just to inform Dave he has not even turned the optonics on!!!! It was like the blind leading the blind. Then after dinner he rebaits the rods and recasts but doesn't get chance to get the third rod in, and he is into his first fish of 42lb 6oz!!! I know you're good Dave but we all need bait on the rig to catch mate.

Joking aside they're just one of the best groups all year for a laugh, and each visit there is a story or disaster every time without fail.

The weather had been shocking once again and on the weekend changeover from the fantastic week before the water temp plummeted, pushing all the fish down into peg 1, and thats where most of them stayed all week. I have never seen the fish hold up in such a tight area with the fishing being such a stark contrast for a group, and it shows how the weather has played such a huge role this year. On the contrary Bod in peg 1 had the best fishing of his life, and Kevin the other brother in 3 picked odd fish off the shoal but had to play camera lad all week for  big brother.

Now picture Bod, a 6ft 3ft and as wide as a farmers wifes rear end, and by god can that lad eat. He brought his smack bag (Stoke-on-trent Saying) which when I lifted into the pick-up at the start of the week pulled my back out!! I thought he had been brain washed by the "Korma" DVD's about dropping leads on every fish, and decided to bring 300 hundred weight of lead, but Oh-no it was FOOD. This fella would rip your Jugular out if he caught you with your hand in his bag, and looked like every morning he was going to make love to his Belly Busting Breakfast Baguette, his face was a picture.

Anyway back to the fishing the lads landed 5 on the first night, then the weather changed, giving us 60 mm of rain in one day and nearly flooding the shower block out for the third time this season. Quiet for the Monday and then Bod just started bagging up leaving the others as spectators for most of the week. The lads ended on 33 fish but most coming to Bod, John in peg 5 had a brace of 40lb fish to just under 45lb, John in 4 only had a couple when he put bait on, to 42lb 6oz, Kevin in 3 had half a dozen to 38lb+ and Bod bagging the rest with 4 fish over 40lb+ to 45lb 10oz.  18x 30lb+ with no less than 8 over 36lb+ and 3x 39lb+, 2 grassies to 32lb+ and 6x 20lb fish to 28lb+. So many fish now are around 36lb-38lb so if I can strike the balance in the lake (never easy) they will move over the 40lb barrier we will be looking at 1 in 3 fish being 40lb+ for the start of next year!!!

Results really coming again to baiting 5 or 6 spots and keep the rods moving around, in turn resting each spot for a couple of days, this method combined with quiet heavy baiting has really produced this season so far by giving the fish chance to feed and build confidence, which has resulted in more times than I can count, fish picking the bait up within minutes of casting out on the rested spot. The Sanctuary pellet and C.C.Moore fishmeal doing the business this week. The 2 grassies once again came to The Cell and most of these are well into the 30lb+ barrier these days, the only down side is no weed left for them to eat!!! I cannot believe how much love these fish have been getting now they are bigger and Facebook blows up when I put a picture of 4ft+ of pure muscle on there.

The fish are starting to show spawning signs, so hopefully if all goes well the bigger fish will get rid of it sooner than later. With a lovely week of 22oc+ forcast all week it could be very soon, but I have given up guessing.

The roach spawned last week and the big lake fish have not started yet, the back bay drain down is half full again for the 3rd time this year so I have another millon plus gallons to drain out before it can even start to dry out for the work ahead. I will be collecting swan mussles off the lake bed once the water has subsided again, and transfer them over the spit, so I will take a picture when the job is done.

Pictured is Johns first fish of 41lb and sporting the new hoodie, fairplay.

Back soon with any news from the new group, or if the spawning kicks off?

That's All Folks.

Team Sanctuary