Mission accomplished - Sun-downer Pt 2

Even as I was packing away on Tuesday evening, plans to return to Sandwich Coarse Fishery were already on my mind. Even though I had caught a Carp, thus avoided a blank, I knew that I could have done so much more during my time on the bank. Short session angling has to be all about effort? There is no place for wait and see. If something is not right, or playing on your mind, then it must be addressed straight away. On Tuesday I hadn't done that, as I discovered to my cost at the end of the session, both rigs were masked with leaf debris. Today was a very different story! I was on site around 14.30 hrs and checked in with Kevin (the site manager) before doing a quick lap of Victory Lake. Quite a few folk bivvied up and enjoying themselves, by the sound of it. I couldn't get in the swim I had on Tuesday and opted for one on the opposite bank, which commanded a sheltered corner and also an island margin. 

My tackle and tactics were identical to those used on Tuesday. Two Duncan Kay rods, with Okuma CBBF 5000 bait-runner reels. A Mainline "Link" 15mm pop-up on a Ronnie rig on the left hander, a M/C 12mm wafter on a "D" rig being on the right hand set-up. The rod-pod, Siren R3's and associated nonsense was readied and I had two baits in the fishery bang on 15.00 hrs. The use of "The Bushwhacker" baiting pole system is a real game changer. Rigs can be positioned accurately and quietly with little disturbance. I'd started with both baits at twelve sections (18m) but because of what the fish were showing, I moved the right hand set-up in to eight sections (12m) after twenty five minutes. The first bite came just twenty minutes later and a scamp Common, of 7 lbs, had a look at my unhooking mat before being returned.  Less than forty minutes later, the same rod was away again and this time it got a bit serious. Fifteen minutes elapsed between the bite being registered and finally coaxing the, very angry, Carp into my net. If I'd had lost it I would have sworn it was a monster! !5 lbs 2 oz of long, lean, Common Carp was my reward.

The rig was shipped back out and within forty minutes the Siren R3 burst into life again as Carp number three charged off with my rig. Nowhere near as dramatic, this fish chugged about the fishery with plenty of power, but none of the speed and energy of the previous individual. In the net within five minutes, it was clear that this Mirror was in a different class entirely. The scales revealed a weight of 23 lbs 6 oz and, as such, just what I'd been hoping for. 

Once photographed, I decided to get the kit back in the van and head off home. I'd achieved what I wanted to do and have also gained an insight into the fishery which will be called into play later. Bev is going away with her daughter and the grand-kids, so I have a window of opportunity where some night fishing will be possible. Kevin has already penciled me in for a couple of sessions for next month, so watch this space.