It's a start

 I was parked up just before 06.30 hrs and in my chosen swim less than twenty minutes later. Three baits in the fishery by 07.30 hrs and the waiting  game began. Nearly five hours passed before, eventually, my right hand alarm signalled a bite and I found myself attached to a fiesty Pike which I got right to the net before it tail walked and spat my bait (complete with hooks!). One - nil to the Pike. It wasn't a big fish, but might have scraped "double figures"?  Disappointed, yes, but certainly not beating myself up, the bait was cast back out and I put the kettle on for a brew. I didn't have time to drink half a cup before that same rod was away again. I'd just picked it out of the rests when my left hander also signalled a bite, bloody hell! Nothing I could do but deal with the first bite and hope that the other one stayed on. As it turned out, just the job as both Pike found their way into my awaiting landing nets! The first one tipped the scales at 11 lbs 12 oz whilst the second weighed 9 lbs 10 oz. I happily take that as a start to this new project.

As this was my first session down at the fishery, I'd agreed with Bev that I'd stay until dark just to see if there was any feeding spells which might have been missed during the PAC match on 4th Jan?  Between 16.05 and 16.45 hrs I had bites on all three rods and didn't land a fish! The first bite was an aborted take and my rig came back tangled? The other two were steady takes, yet I felt absolutely nothing when I attempted to set the hooks. Eels??? So the session ended with me having far more questions than answers. Luckily, Benno is down there on Saturday and will hopefully be able to provide a few more answers to the puzzle posed by these fish. 

The "red-head" Smew was still present but fishery rules, and
common sense, ensured I couldn't leave my rods to
get closer to it for a photo shoot.

As is always the case when I go fishing, the camera kit and binoculars were just as important as any other item of tackle. I had a very enjoyable days birding, seeing forty-six species whilst sat behind the rods and also my first butterfly of 2025 when a Peacock flew past. Two additions to the year list in the form of Grey Wagtail and (seventeen) Cattle Egret - happy days!