About Us

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 This last weekend saw me pointing the Land Rover bonnet east for a change, well at least we travelled east for around 30 miles, before dropping south down the A1 and then a little further east before ending up at East Delph Lakes. It is always nice visiting venues for the first time, so much more to think about in planning the trip. This one was no exception as I had been asked to attend a Phoenix Heroes event.  Having now seen just a fraction of the great work they have done supporting veterans with P.T.S.D. as well as their families and those sadly left behind when the P.T.S.D. has become too much to cope with, I was more than willing to give up my time this weekend to help. 

It wasn’t until a couple of days before the trip that Gary Stockton the main man behind it all, pointed out that he actually wanted me to fish. So, it was a quick read of the rules, a look on You Tube for an idea of where I was going and a shuffle around of gear. 

 So, true to form, after setting up my shelter (rain seemed ominous), I went for a walk around the two lakes to introduce myself and get to meet these incredibly special guests on a one to one. We even had a 3-generation scenario going on with a grandfather, father and son (who was celebrating a birthday the following day) fishing adjacent to each other.
Well, suffice to say the first carp was landed whilst I was still on my walkabout, before I had even thought about getting back to finish setting up and cast out. I told you I’m not competitive.

 Eventually back in my swim I set up a couple of rods with my post spawning method that has been consistent for me on other venues these past few weeks and which I wrote about last month. 

 This basically utilises tiny mesh bags of around 16 - 20 mm containing a mix of my Quest Baits Microfeed with some added ‘Overcoat’. In this instance it was the Rock Pool Rahja one. The Rock Pool Rahja had formed the main base of the stick contents with others added to give differing flecks of colour. Once melted this looks simply like a small pile of spawn and remains that way until eaten. Hook bait was nothing more complicated than half a 15 mm Rock Pool Rahja pop-up and half a bottom bait. I then nibble the edges away to get away from the round shape and to allow the important bits of the bait that are usually sealed inside for the first few hours to start working straight away.
 

Rig wise I edged my bets with one on my normal combi rig and one on a reverse combi rig. I had decided as usual to start off close and then rely on what I saw before trying a longer line. I quite like the scenario of the quietest bit of water with no line through it being in front of me. Particularly on popular venues. 

 Saturday dawned, and my Shaun the Sheep indicators hung in the same position as they had been when I closed my eyes. I got up, had a brew and a chat to some of the others before putting a rod back out to the area I had caught the first fish from. Well, the next take came to that same rod again on a reverse combi rig with the stiff section at the hook end. 

I like my mesh bag offering to go in easily with one suck. I don’t want the carp digging away to get the hook bait. Why make it difficult for them? Even these tiny bags spread a fair way when the PVA pops.

Not too long after and my largest fish of the trip slipped into the net, this time on the other rod which I had now also changed to a reverse combi after my second fish.