14/08/2024 - It was work - Then angling

The garden

Wednesday afternoon 17th July I arrived in Hove, the weather was warm and overcast, just as I wanted it. My first three days were spent in the garden, it certainly was very hard work, I had to strim a year’s growth of black berry bushes, various shrubs, then with a mower I had to clear a large area of long grass, bind weed etc etc. This was followed by giving the back wall two coats of paint. I would start around 0700 hrs and finish around 1600 hrs, I must admit it was hard going for this old man, in fact at one time I wanted to give up, but being obstinate, I carried on and finished the jobs.

A Small Sussex Pool On Sunday

I enjoyed my reward for all the hard work, my daughter dropped me off at a Sussex still water around 0700 hrs, it was an anglers morning, over cast sky, a light breeze, walking through the wood, I spotted two green woodpeckers, I had the sound of bird song all around me, it was so peaceful, later in the day a Hurricane appeared overhead, these war time fighters are always a welcome sight. The trees and shrubs this year look so magnificent, if this is caused by a lot of rain, then its welcome. Out of the wood, I got my first glimpse of the water, I spotted a Great crested grebe with a youngster, two herons were stalking the marshy ground on the far bank, probably looking for frogs or toads.

My first job as to walk the perimeter of the lake, with a bin liner looking for rubbish, also checking permits, I met two anglers, I’d not seen before, when I said “Can I see your permits please” I was told “We want a day ticket” often the excuse of poachers. “Sorry I said we don’t have day tickets, did you not read the notice board members only” I also quoted the new law “Theft of fishing rights, which is a criminal offence” then sent them on their way.

I ended up collecting nearly a full bin liner of rubbish, including a pair of socks a shirt two wine bottle three vodka bottles. As I walked around the lake I could see an area with bulrushes, immediately though “Perch”, within a minute or so, small fry were leaping out of the water, I then spotted a prickly dorsal. It was like reading Mr Crabtree Goes Fishing. Having arrived back to where I started, I hung the rubbish bag on the branch of a tree until I go home, collecting my gear, I walked to where I’d spotted the perch. Thankfully I’d got a box of lobs, also a loaf of bread for bait, my quarry were to be rudd and carp, but on seeing the perch, my plans changed.

Tackle Set Up

I put together my Edgar Sealey Rover I purchased at a very good price from Dave Burr, its an ideal rod both for ledgering and float fishing, though it not designed for carp and barbel, I’ve caught both species when fishing for chub and other fish. I can’t fault the rod, it does handle fish well. I matched the rod with a Richard Carter centre pin with 4lb bs line, perch as we all know have a habit of taking, the bait and hook well inside their mouth. I chose to use a small balsa float taking two AAA shot, I then tied on a size 6 barbless hook, one AAA shot was lightly pinched on the line three to four inches from the hook, the other shot two feet up the line, I hoped the shot close to the hook would help indicate a bite more quickly as the float would indicate a bite. So stopping the hook from going far back into the mouth of the fish.

Having put together my landing net, I then put my other gear where I could reach everything, I checked the depth, it was around five feet. In the swim I threw in about ten lobs, which I’d broken in half, then sat back enjoying the view, also the quiet surroundings. The only disturbance was seeing the small fry leaping out of the water, which was exciting. After fifteen minute break, I baited with a lob then attached a plastic gentle to stop the lob wriggling off the barbless hook.

Casting out I dropped the bait about two feet in front of the rushes, fifteen twenty minutes later, the float moved across the surface, I quickly set the hook into a fish that powered away fast forcing me to give line, “No perch this” I thought, “It’s got to be a carp” After several minutes I started to control the fish, eventually it was netted, a common I reckon it had more fight in the landing net, as it thrashed around in the water. Eventually it quietened down, after taking out the hook, I shot a photograph then released the fish some twenty yards along the bank.

Perch After Perch

Throwing in some more chopped worms I cast out again, close to the rushes, within ten minutes the float moved, I set the hook, immediately I was forced to give some line, but quickly realised I‘d a perch by the head shaking taking place the fish done its best to get in the rushes, I could see the prickly erect dorsal fin under the in the water as it tried to get in the reeds. Soon it was netted a good pound plus I thought. After a photograph, I walked about twenty yards along the bank before releasing my prize. In next five hour I had fourteen perch all similar in size as the first fish, they were like “Peas in a pod” I also had eight carp, most around the five pound mark, I reckon they were a nuisance, no doubt putting off the perch, also possibly the rudd, though I did lose one of the latter close to the net. At the end of the session I made the long walk back to meet Sharon with a smile on my face.

Job sorted

carp on light tackle

I had several like this one

Crested grebe with juvenile

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