Well after getting off the mark the 2nd weekend of the season you can well imagine I was ready and raring to get out again. I did get out for the last weekend of June, managed to leave work an hour early to try and beat the angling rush on Southlake at the weekends. I had been checking the weather over the previous week leading up to the day. A south westerly was on the cards and a strong one at that. The deeps had to be a goer.

 After pulling up at the lake and having a look my predictions were correct a nice wind blowing to the bottom end of the lake towards the deeps. I did look around and the hot swim the Bay was free, but it had seen untold pressure since the start and with the conditions as they were I felt the other end may produce.

So after getting the kit out of the car I headed to swim number 7. The wind was getting stronger and there were a few spots of rain in the air. I got the shelter up first, positioned with the back of the shelter facing the lake ( not good as it restricted the view of more or less the whole lake) I had no choice because the wind was beginning to turn into a proper hoolie! This was good and gave me more confidence.

Rods rigged up and ready to cast. No signs of fish but the conditions screamed carp. First rod was short 40 yards of off the near bar and the second rod around 80 yards into silt using the chod rig. First rig was just a standard lead clip set up as previously used last session. Out went 50 freebies over each (S&O) it was time to wait!

Wait well, that would be an understatement, conditions perfect, strong SW winds with light rain not a bloody bleep all night. Paul the bailiff who was 3 down from me had the same result. So by 8am he was ready for a move. I was of a different opinion though I think that it’s worth at least another few hours in number 7.

Paul had moved to the Bay and called me around 1pm for an update. “Nothing to report I said” His was the same nothing on the bank but he had seen fish in front of him and said If I wanted I could jump in with him. Very tempting but he had the left side of the Bay which is the spot to be in that swim. After talking to Paul the rain stopped which gave me chance to scan the lake for any signs of fish. When low and behold a good lump came clean out of the water up the other end but towards the duck pond, again another. That sealed it for me I was on the move. To the other end of the lake, a swim called the Cut Out. This is opposite the bay and gives you access either side of the Island in front of the duck pond.

Home up for the night and time to get my tackle out! The first rod was going to be placed where I saw the fish crash. As I was putting a boilie on the hair one came out right on the spot. Quickly I attached a 6 bait stringer to the hook and out it went on the rings it had left (about 30yards out). Second rod was put in what’s called the second gap (90 yards). This spot will see fish coming in and out of the ducky so are quite likely to pick up bait on there way through. A scattering of bait over each spot and I was pretty confident as another fish had crashed slightly further out from my left hand spot.

The rain was getting really heavy the wind had changed and was blowing more of a westerly rather that a SW. Out the right hand rod went again, although this time around 130-140 yards as near as I could get it to the edge of the pads which is on the far margins to the left of the second gap. I had seen fish crashing there and it gives you more of an angle when playing fish as you can wade out to a position where they can’t get around the island. More freebies were put out with the aid of the stick and I got back under the tent. It was really hammering it down and was bloody wet.
I suppose by the time everything was sorted it must have been around 7pm.  We had a bit of a social and I retired around 11pm knackered but happy. The night was pretty wet and a non eventful.

I put the rod on the same spot with a little more S&O offerings as it was to light to get some sleep I put the kettle on an had a brew and a smoke. I settled down on top of the bed chair with waders on just in case.

The Geeman