Sixth Session

The week leading up to this session felt quite special, Id had a new air of confidence about me now I could fish well into dark. These busy little pools usually respond well to this move and I really was looking forward to making the most of this new edge. 

Sunday morning was quite sunny to begin with, id gotten myself setup on the back of the wind after seeing a few fish milling around. I was absolutely adamant to keep noise and any bankside disturbance to a minimum. One cast only per rod and a light scattering of pellets and boilies and that was it, leaving me to sit back in the quietness of this pool. I was determined not to recast or move a muscle, I even went to the extent of setting everything up right behind the bankside vegetation to obscure any sighting of me. It's a tactic which has paid dividends before and is always my starting point on such small waters.

I had seen the same oil slick coming up from my left hand spot a couple of times during the day, id even seen a few fish move in and out, checking out the area. I just knew, if I could keep out of sight and not disturb the spots I would be in with a good chance by night fall.

The first fish came from the right hand rod, not 10 yards from where I was sitting, just as the rain was in full flow, I just knew if I was to have anything it would be during the showers. 

Bizarrely the rod did register a pick up but nothing materialised and I was half way through tying a Hinged Stiff Rig when the rod bounced round.

Nevertheless I was soon coaxing the little fish to the back of the net, and now, at least I hadn't blanked.

The second fish came to the same rod about an hour later to the Hinged Stiff Rig, half way through playing the fish the left hand rod rawed off, but that soon came off, which left me questioning the rigs hooking potential. 

Another little Common of 7 to 8lbs was soon brought under control and quickly returned.

The fact that id lost the fish so quickly on the left hand rod irritated me a little, but thats just the way it is sometimes, but if it happened again I would need to take a look at the presentation.

The left hand rod did produce a fish for me a couple of hour's later, a little Mirror this time, which was a nice surprise, a lovely little Mirror.

It was now getting dark, the skies had cleared, the temperature dropped and the pool looked like a mirror, you could clearly see all of the detail of the moon in the reflection of the pool it was that calm, just a lovely sight.

It was now dark and I was starting to pack up slowly, when the left hand rod signalled a bite with one bleep, I froze and waited, then it bleeped again and again, gaining momentum all of the time. I could tell it was a bigger fish from the bite alone, but when I leant into the fish i was greeted with a slower moving heavier weight. 

I knew it was bigger, then all of a sudden the line went slack, the fish was off, which just left me standing there totally perplexed. 

Thats two fish in a day that had gotten rid of the bottom rig, so something needed changing.  I wasn't to disheartened though, id had a few and now I just needed to perfect the bottom rig and at least I knew my bait was starting to work.

Of course I baited a couple of handfuls of bait to a few chosen spots, and I left feeling maybe things were starting to come together at last.

As always thanks for reading, and until next time, good luck.