Catch Reports

Hat-trick of thirties!

Having only been able to get the rods out twice in 5 months I'm trying to make the most of April before another long break to concentrate on more important issues (is there anything more important than fishing?) so you can imagine how keen I was to get back to the lake.

Well put it this way - I'm glad i did! The session started slowly and I moved twice within 24-hours as the wind switched around. Would you believe it, they then started to spawn!! I've never known that in early April!! It wasn't 'full on' but a few eggs were dropped and I knew it wouldn't be long before they would move back in to mop them up, so out went the B5 and it wasn't long before the first fish slipped into the net - a stunning 31lb 2oz mirror.

The following morning resulted in another cracking fish, one I'd caught many years ago but had now grown to 31lb 4oz. I was now buzzing but then suddenly realised I'd almost run out of bait, yet still had another night or two available! I knew Lee was on his way down after rolling another arctic full of bait, but he then informed me it had all gone out to customers!! (I need to get my priorities in order!)

Anyway, I knew I had 3kg of Black Snail tucked away in my personal freezer as a back up and with the lake heaving with natural food (including snails!) I knew this would be a good choice, even though the B5 has been well established and extremely successful on the lake.

Lee arrived with the bait and for the last night I decided to put all my eggs in one basket and put all 3 kilos of 'The Snail' over the rod where I'd seen most activity, closely followed by my baited rig. During the night I had a few liners so I knew they were in or around the area and it wasn't long before that rod was away. After a good scrap another sizeable fish graced my net, a lovely deep mahogany coloured common of 32lb to complete the hat-trick. I'm going to miss this fishing lark you know!!!

B-lucky

Mike Willmott