25th March. Spring is in the air…

Finally it seems Spring is here. The week had been getting gradually warmer and warmer and the forecast for Saturday was looking just peachy. Me, my bro Ricky and his mate Rob were all down for a Saturday session and had been keeping a close eye on the forecast. All was confirmed as I jumped on the train at silly ‘o’ clock in the morning – it was really mild. Perfect conditions really and the confidence was so high, I could’ve floated all the way to the lake from the station. As it happens I didn’t and I was sweating like a monkey by the time I reached the top of that bridge, and then like an overweight monkey by the time I got to the swim…

Ricky was due down later on, so I had a quick nose round the lake and could see that a few swims were taken already. Ricky’s mate Rob was already down there and we met up for a quick natter. He’d chosen a swim at the back end of the lake, near the out of bounds section, while I opted for a swim that faced the island but also had open water and margin options. This was my first session using three rods and it’s safe to say I was quite eager to get them all out! All three were made up and ready to go with three freshly tied rigs and as I was setting it all up, my mate Austin popped down after his night shift to see how things were going. We had a quick catch up whilst I cast my baits out and when the traps were set, going home to sleep all day was the last thing he wanted! But tiredness took over and off he went as I surveyed the lake. All three of us had picked up some new bait at the 5 Lakes show in Essex last week, so we were all trying new methods mixed in with some tried and tested classics. I opted for different bait on each rod at first, just to throw some differences out there. Maggots, halibut pellet and a chopped-up 15mm boilie were my choices. With three rods in three pukka spots – all nicely baited up and looking really promising, I started setting the STI up as the clouds were just starting to threaten a bit of rain.

Pit 2 hadn’t been so kind to me this year and I struggled a bit last year too, carp wise. I had plenty of big bream, tench and even some monster crucians but I was definitely looking for some big carp action now. Ricky did very well last year, with plenty of 20’s under his belt and had already opened his account with his fish a few sessions ago. I knew this was my last chance to go fishing for a couple of weeks as I was on my Stag Do the weekend after and busy after that. My luck had to change I thought as I watched my rod tips and the water. All was quiet though apart from the baliff coming round and then Ricky turning up mid-morning raring to go. He walked round the lake a few times and chatted to some of the others fishing. One guy right in the corner had an 18 out, which boosted our confidence – but also he said that nearly every swim was taken, which meant a lot of pressure on the lake. Something that Pit 2 doesn’t really get – especially with its famous brother number 3 just a stones throw away. Still with spring now taking root, the lake was always going to be more busy so we kind of expected it. Ricky chose his spot in the swim next to me and busied himself setting up and getting his baits out. By early afternoon we were all avidly waiting for signs of that first run. The silence was broken by my buzzer sounding. I had a strange take on one of my island rod – the line tightened up and the rod tip bent round a little – so I waited…. And waited…. And it stayed like that, taking no line. One final tweak and I was on it, expecting to lift into the weight of a fish – but there was nothing there. A complete fresh air strike. Gutted. I checked my rig, which was perfect, so I can only put it down to being one of those things. Despondent, I recast, rebaited and settled back down awaiting some more action.

The rest of the day was quiet on the Pit – no action from anyone as far as I could tell. Eventually the heavens did what they were threatening to do all day and opened up, which meant one thing. Packing up in the rain again – great. We held on for as long as we could and then called it a day. Once again, Pit 2’s scaly residents had eluded us, even in these good conditions. We packed up and trudged off through the mud plotting our next attempt.

19th March

The weekend started with a trip up to Essex for the 5 Lakes Carp Show. Me, Daz and my mate Rob got an early start in and got there for bang on 9 (When the doors were supposed to have opended!) I won't go into how we had to wait 30 odd minutes in the freezing cold, if you were there, you'd know how it felt! The highlight of 5 Lakes for us, was Rob Maylins talk about his phenominal 'Mag Aligner'. His results on Frimley Pit 3 alone simply blew us away. The sheer amount of fish he caught in 2 weeks or so (during daylight) was unbelieveable. We left essex with plans to head down to pit 2 the next day armed with plenty of maggots and plenty of confidence.

Daz couldn't make it on Sunday due to football, but me and Rob trecked down (despite a minor 'alarm clock' set back) for a 5 or so hour session. Not only did we have maggots, we managed to settle on some more bait at the 5 Lakes show, so we were all set for the imminent spring. With 2 rods each on the mag aligner set up, and my 3rd rod on single boilie, our expectations were pretty high. However the temperature we were promised on the forecast simply did't arrive and we sat staring at a very quiet lake. Still no fish showing whatsoever and we eventually decided to leave. Bring on the start of April...

8th March.

After a failed session last Saturday, I was once making my familiar way down to the Frimley complex. I’d gone down last Saturday, hyped up and ready to go with some new ideas – only to find the entire venue frozen up solid. I walked round most of all four lakes and could see via my eyes and a spot of tentative ‘testing the ice with my boot’, that it was a no go situation. A quick chat with a couple of bailiffs who had just woken up with their rods locked solid in the ice, and that was enough for me – I lumped the gear back to the train station feeling gutted that I couldn’t try out my new rigs, and was back in bed with the soon to be wife…. things weren’t all that bad then ;)

Anyway, the next session seemed far more promising from the outset. I’d been tracking the weather for a few days and could see that a spot of mild weather and low pressure was coming up – this was a chance not to be missed, so I set about planning the day session down there. Due to work commitments, Ricky couldn’t make the trip – but as always, we would be in close communication via the trusty old dog and bone! Must rack up a fortune when one of us is fishing and the other isn’t – constantly phoning and texting each other for updates and info!

I arrived at the complex via the ever reliable South West Trains – after hacking off all the commuters by wedging myself and my gear in the last available space on the train! The short walk from the station left me sweating like a horse as I got to Pit 2 – a sure sign that the temperature was on the up and up. I quick scout around and the swim was chosen and secured. I could sense impending rain in the air and so quickly stuck my Dave Lane STI shelter up – so quick and easy to do. Next up was the rods – already made up, so I got my set up ready. Doing a bit of research recently had thrown me into the path of Mr Maylin’s trust mag-aliner rig. Ive only ever used the Korda maggot clips before, so was quite keen to give this rig a go. He cleaned up on Pit 3 last year with it, so I just had to get it out there. Two rods were heaved out, both with chunky PVA stockings attached, chock-full of those little wriggly sods. One was cast to a known gravel spot about 40 yards out and the other was placed in an extremely juicy looking marginal spot. I couldn’t have felt more confident about the session and settled down to a cup of the black stuff. That’s coffee in case any of you think i’m an alcoholic!

One of the bailiffs popped in for a chat and was as friendly as always – he even recognised me from this site, which is always nice. He wished me luck and said the conditions were pukka – which just fuelled my anticipation of a run. And so I waited…. The morning came and went, without so much as a carp’s fart rippling the surface. Nothing moving anywhere on the parts of the lake I could see. I’d adopted the tactic of constantly trickling a small amount of maggots into the various areas of the swim to keep my options open. I had 4 spots baited up and on the hour I changed my non-marginal rod to each of these spots in the hope of catching the carp in the act of wolfing up my maggots. As predicted, just before midday, the heavens opened. And boy did they open – it chucked it down. I was warm and toasty however even though there was a small river running underneath my chair cos the swim was on a slight slope! As usual, my old Frimley friend Mr Robin came to play and after feeding him about half a pint of maggots, I’m sure he’ll be eligible for Celebrity Fat Club this year! That bird definitely likes his food!

But, following suit from my last few sessions, it wasn’t to be. I had a few knocks on my gravel spot rod over the course of the day and later on, had a slight pick-up on the same rod, but on a different spot, which didn’t amount to anything. I was getting concerned that it just wasn’t gonna come right for me again, and true to form, the session ended with no action. My good mate Austin came down for a chinwag and I had a good old natter with the Steven’s brothers over the course of the day – so although I’d not connected with any of the lakes specimens, I’d still enjoyed myself. I packed up in the heavy rain (always a pleasure – cheers Mother Nature!) and slinked home with my tail between my legs, ready and waiting for the next time. Just to ease the pain of not catching anything, the mighty Gooners managed to eek through in the Champions League – at least there were some winners out there that day.