Consistency was the key
With a hectic work schedule, and young family my time on the bank can be limited, this coupled with the club lake becoming busier and busier I knew this year was never going to be easy.
I set about constructing a plan, by walking the lake, watching the water and talking to the regulars it gave me a good understanding of the popular zones, and patrol routes.
With being a Friday night angler I knew the first choice swims were completely out of the question, and even the ability to regularly get into a second choice swim rare I set about in an area that I’ve never seen about anyone in. Everything I knew about the lake told me this swim had all the attributes and potential to develop a spot. Deep marginal shelf, small gravel spots, snags and a gravel bar leading in.
With the zone selected, and spot located I went for a mixed baiting approach consisting of mixed particles, and bug bites / spice boilies all covered in the winter slick oil fished tight on a small gravel spot with 12mm pop ups presented low on the edges.
I kicked the area off late March, and got down as much as I could ensuring a good hit of bait on each session which although it didn’t lead to any quick bites (other than the odd tench) I noticed on arrival each visit that the spot was growing and hardening up with each trip.
I didn’t have to wait too long for the spot to start paying me back, with the first bite (and a new PB) coming early May….
It was a cloudy morning and I was up at first light contemplating the possibility of another blank when suddenly the left hand rod burst into life. I was on the rod in a flash, and instantly knew I was into a decent fish.
On the initial run, the line had tightened and caught the edge of the overhanging snag just enough to worry me. I knew I had to take action so instantly jumped in the waders and got out as far as I could to change the line angle and free the line.
This worked perfectly and the fish darted out into the open water, what then ensued was a slow dogged fight which saw me pulled all over the lake.
I kept patient, and let the rod do all the work. After a few minutes of intensity it was over and I had slipped the net under a lovely dark unknown common at 38lb 4oz.
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