Your Basket

Your Basket is Empty

June 16th new season and new bait

20/06/2007

June 16th.

This for me should have been a very exciting time. We had gone to the lake the Friday before the start, for the usual draw of swims. Unfortunately for me I had injured my neck the week previously and subsequently signed off of work for the following 2 weeks. I thought I would draw anyway in the hope I would be well enough to fish. I drew the left hand point which would have been a good option. Bonnie on the other hand drew the jewel in the crown the Bay. He done well and so did Timbo. I was gutted as being stuck at home with almost no movement and watching the endless chat shows on the TV. It wasn’t what I wanted to be doing! After large amounts of painkillers and muscle relaxants I was OK to fish the 2nd weekend of the season.
Now I had a lot of catching up to do. Timbo, Bonnie, Doug and Ian had all caught fish. Tim did exceptionally well with 6 fish banked.

Anyway back to my first outing. I felt well enough to fish on the Saturday night staying till around 11am the next morning. I got to the lake at 10.30am. Had a look around to find most of the productive swims already were taken. 2 anglers were fishing the Bay and had been for the previous 3 nights managing 7 fish between them. It turned out they were packing up at 12 noon. I thought to myself, It’s got to be worth a tickle in the bay I mean it had done at least 20 fish since the start. I ended up setting up my kit while waiting for them to pack away, which they did as they said at 12 noon. The rain started as soon as I was putting my kit in the swim. Bothered I thought as I was gagging to get the rods out.

Out they went after setting the home up for the night, one off of the right of the island and the other long range as near as the pads on the far side as I could get it. I baited up with a good spread of the new Squid & Octopus baits I was fishing with. I was expecting a take or a least a few bleeps to let me know there were fish in the area, nothing I was beginning to worry. I shouldn’t of though. Timbo came down and fished the night on the right hand side of the Bay of my swim. It was good to have some company as for me this was like the opening night and that always an excuse for a bit of a social. Anyway Tim was setting up and off went my left hand rod, proper one toner, on it like a shot I was only to have the fish kite to the right behind the island. With some side strain it came out into open water. I say side strain but as Tim said he had never seen my rod compress as much as it did when I put the pressure on. The rest was pretty simple as once in open water it was just a case of taking my time and wearing it down. It came to the net without any hassle. On the bank and in the sling she weighed 24.4(mirror)

" Smile says it all. "

Nice start at least I hadn’t blanked. Rig baited and out it went bang on the money. It was about and hour later that the same rod went again, this one felt small and I wasn’t wrong just over 18lb (mirror)

I wasn’t complaining baits working rigs are doing as they should and I was getting used to the new reels I had just purchased. The next one was around 12pm a good 2 hours after the last take and on the long range rod. Tim was asleep (2 saucepans and mid weekers don’t help) so it was me and me only, lucky it didn’t put that up much of a fight and on the scales it went 24.12lb nice but no pictures I’m afraid. Back then I didn’t have a digital camera with a tripod and Tim was out like a light so I had no choice. I just slipped the fish back no worse for wear. I was chuffed that both rods had produced fish which means the bait is to there liking. Out the long range one goes again.

First light which I thought was about 7am(well that’s what it feels like when you are at home in your own bed). Off the long range one goes. Timbo was well and truly awake this time as he was up and ready to help with the landing of the fish.

" At 21.4lb(mirror) "

I wasn’t complaining, in fact! I was like a kid in a sweet shop.
For me this was my opening night as I missed the real night through injury. So to sum it all up I have had a night to remember.

My next article is going to show about the rigs I am using why I use them, interesting reading. Also need to update you on the the last weekend of June. WATCH THIS SPACE.

The GEEMAN

Back to List

More Info