For my first trip of the year I headed off to my local day ticket water, known as Lakeside. The venue was busy, but luckily I managed to set up next to my mate. As I was getting the rods sorted, I noticed a few fish just below the surface. I soon had a few zigs tied up and positioned close to where the fish had been showing. A few hours later I had a take, but unfortunately the fish came off soon after picking the rod up.

I got the rod back out with bottom bait rigs for the night tied D-Rig Style, using A short length of Plummet leadcore, A Covert Lead Clip system, 15lb Trip Wire and a size 6 Covert Incizor. Both went out to the same spot, followed by a good scattering of bait. I also trickled a bit of bait onto a deeper margin spot, that had produced fish in the past.

Unfortunately, I awoke at first light to motionless rods. The wind had picked up and I noticed a slick coming off the margin spot I had baited the previous evening. I quickly wound in one of the rods and flicked it towards where the fish had obviously been feeding. Within the hour I had a steady take, which resulted in a lovely 14lb 2oz common. The rest of the session was quiet, so I decided to pack up a few hours later.

A few weeks later I was on my half term break from school, so I planned to do a 48 hour session on my local syndicate lake. My Dad kindly dropped me down there and it was a nice mild day with a bit of sun. I took a walk around the lake before setting up and instantly noticed the fish were taking refuge by the ramps, where unfortunately you can’t fish. They seemed to be enjoying the sun as they bobbed around on the surface, so I knew I would have at least one rod on a zig, once I had decided on a swim. I decided to set up on the point, so I could cover the middle of the lake and an island margin where I had seen a few fish too.

I knew I was going to struggle getting my kit to the swim, as due to the recent bad weather several trees had had come down covering the paths. Luckily my Dad had a saw in the van, so we were able to clear a path. The first rod had a two foot zig on; tied with 10lb Zig Link, a size 12 Covert Mugga a small piece of Gardner Zig Rig Foam was threaded onto the hair. This was cast around one hundred yards range, just short of the island in front of me. Just as I was tying a couple of rigs, the rod with the zig I had just put out screamed off, and a low double mirror was soon being slid over the waiting net.

I quickly got the rod back out to the area, soon followed by two others. As it was getting dark I didn’t bother finding a spot, so they went out as singles.

I didn’t have a touch through the night, so I awoke at first light as I wanted to find a suitable spot and get a bit of bait out. I found a nice clear spot, which was around 6-7 feet deep at 21 and a half raps out. I clipped all three rods up at this range and concentrated on getting some bait out. I changed to a D-rig presentation on all three rods, consisting of a Covert Lead Clip arrangement, a Trick Link Boom section and a size 6 Covert Incizor hook.

Within half an hour I had my first take off the spot and I slipped the net under a nice 17lb 2oz mirror. After getting a few pics I carefully slipped her back. I had another take a couple of hours later, which resulted in a nice little common. As I was netting the fish I had a take on my other rod and found myself playing another common. I let the smaller one go and took a few pics of the other one, which was around 15lbs before slipping it back. I topped the swim up with a few more spods of bait, which consisted of corn, Mainline Cell and a mixture of 2mm and 4mm pellets.

I had my last fish of the session later that evening around 12lb, which was a nice scaly one. The rest of the session was quiet but I did lose one the next morning shortly before packing up and heading for home.