tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32475292433354153882024-03-19T01:57:53.174-07:00The Maggot DanglerUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247529243335415388.post-37245561185199154792011-06-13T13:54:00.000-07:002011-06-13T15:02:52.225-07:00A catch up!!Sorry for my lack of postings but I have been fishing a few times and manage to fish one of my target venues, High Heyes.<br /><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div>I arrived at 10am and my friend had already set up on lake 2. There is three large lakes here and I liked the set up though there could be a few more lily pads (but I say that about most venues!!). I set up my feeder rod with a method feeder, I was using micro carp pellets with worm attractor mixed in and double red maggot on the hook.</div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 253px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 229px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617815113424928754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7nN2qmQYtCxfLjSYUojVvVNpNVHSyidOHIBpwbLXu-oyixB8BmOwYDQNMCKiuJ_4fyW5_mxkT_Gly1zI3SMRuo6-LTwdv4wQaGPoAx-v7GjvO2zMdPWM2q5gsMDK9i5_VFqYyEnc4J5PV/s200/27042011.jpg" />I was targeting this island which was about 15m outs. I had a few knocks within 20mins of being in but nothing solid. But by 10.50am I had my first fish of the day and my first ever Ide. I was giddy at first when I thought I'd landed a monster roach but still a nice fish.<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 216px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 170px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617815115604499826" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7bcIwcjRFdjLVcZbq-4ihluHwPDdulmMfoFqRz-ovr5YX1tIThmavu5tj0ixPlu1kOeCuKroh85Ve8fZA5bHWvi8NGBgXgKmUjXubhGDnZNU6Diw1tg1JLanj0vRE9e6f2JhgjRRh9Fwi/s200/27042011%2528002%2529.jpg" />This line went quiet and at around 12.30pm I switched to the pole and fished close in, a line I'd been feeding maggots since I started. First put in got me this massive perch!<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 249px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 179px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617816505065204242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDIZ3H7u1JPlMgUuckVJip_oLQlyRVLvzXD3QLal7TKk99t4CBmYd_4XTl7Zuwd-nEWx3tlDcP_i98CblR3SsYDXmeAFiyPUeKp55D1pF8s87GfICbNC07w36Cb5YcQp-gv3jzjJigb_Hd/s200/27042011%2528001%2529.jpg" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 251px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 209px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617816509371947634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgntqmOeSFglO7ncsEKm5yThPO1Mvz8dRydRJBGChXCoWDmyqMYWSD3F9GIOy_qv5dpMOidjfJhOwU369npySdhZvO0DRoTUJIaOfS3K7LhGXBvbbMZ8-fKnRDXGJv2-kPybSXnYWc-z-kp/s200/27042011%2528007%2529.jpg" />Soon after followed a nice perch and I was confident of more, but unfortunately I just had one more Ide back on the feeder late on.</div><br /><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 249px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617816511453824898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpfpJAAB23fEJyGoIwoane_wtylNootLApsHSBa9CDGVcyB7ztB9fynjoebH6e2Zv_23VbpZX2ghCi45X4z8Em7N8jVkJ3yNlHyb9iUj1DCXgzyVLxkJr4tCLyIjJ3jySAnsSDLYWZA2R8/s200/27042011%2528003%2529.jpg" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 250px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 199px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617816623208325282" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMABv5SFLeGaEdvabFvLcNBaUEHTucXauJnblLceDEmDakRx0-4Xo6Ojcqp2sUj3eq1EMVP4ETIom4ITA6jk7LxpFaIxymXrMdemQSm7aeQaIstiB0IoVpn4wtQA-bzRXg99oLPBLHrc4G/s200/27042011%2528004%2529.jpg" /></div><br /><div>While I enjoyed my day, the fishing wasn't great but I will try again.<br />I've also discovered a little gem called Stoats Hall. There is three small lakes and it seems to have a nice mix of fish. I've fished it twice both in the evening. The first time I fished paste and worm close in and had 2 tench(my first for the year), 3 small carp and a few chub and roach so I good evenings fishing. Especially pleased with my first tench and first ever fish on paste! I'm converted and will be experimenting with making my own paste very soon!!</div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 253px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 184px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617820917630410882" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixnXFYrKSxIwltZM-NAQFFWy449b_Fah_25HQfHSkGusBxJ-u-gDWd49lRavW8HzgsttObU6F2Oso7LVzCdUuhkoDIrEErDGqu8asGMjWy95tLAttyqJPBG7TKf5gZ-4bv3yoat5IWi9g7/s200/02052011%2528002%2529.jpg" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 253px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 186px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617820934594733266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVtV7zSTQgGtwWdY1J-b2ckC2Guj9q_Cz18EUYK7J0UczeJ9HB4xMQW4ygSbKC3a2tEWCXgwGQKSZeECCFl20meSSmvka201rpN5_Noz3Ryqvn_U9UmqP4q0Q1-WeWmPmXyZ0tDfGetEsq/s200/02052011.jpg" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 255px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 203px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617820927964420226" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9xXHISTnRqSUjF9dc-JtSJKL2HhglgzqZZ-1v891kp8xtJTCi8kBxiXUhObq0-yfbZW8IaH8klKvnfUZFFUacK7iRSMUpYijvTEKWWwE5YTuLMcy6ISA970mBPNvuKqNWhbTwZAUFHg1_/s200/02052011%2528005%2529.jpg" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 254px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 179px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617820934401171330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYItFWtXhxd99taNLx1kCxjQzYTEsmQ-acEW_4hKz9z9g6ZxWfkynraFnjWUaf3vDuhEI7NQ9nqt6PhqgfXb8_QK6V0QKaxlr6zox6wjXOBxOCFpfySwIRtEzZkw4LGsV4jSVRscYITfMn/s200/02052011%2528008%2529.jpg" />The next time I fished Stoats Hall a week later was in a small knock up of 4. I finished with 7lb which after spending about 30mins tangled in weed after trying to fish too close to a snag (twice) I was quite happy with. Our knock up was won with 11lb so another fish or two and I might have won!! Really enjoy fishing here and will certainly be back!</div><br /><div>Not sure when I'll be out next but have plenty of venues to try and fish to catch!!</div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247529243335415388.post-13024652172381554732011-04-25T02:57:00.000-07:002011-04-25T03:27:29.711-07:00A new venueFirstly an apology: I forgot to take my camera and notepad so this is a brief update with no pics and not much detail!!<br />I had hoped to fish at <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Fairhaven</span> last Wednesday evening but when I got there at 3pm it was full with only one peg left!! My friend was joining me so we had to think of somewhere else to go. After about 10 minutes and about 10 different venues discussed we decided on Martin Hall Farm near Much <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Hoole</span>. I'd never heard of it but my friend had fished it a lot a few years ago and said there was quite a few barbel and even sturgeon to have a go at!! So I was <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">intrigued</span> with what the day would bring!<br />There is two lake both are canal style with islands running down the middle the "new" top lake is probably around 13m wide and the old lake around 11m so with me in mind we set up on the old lake. As we walked around there where lots of carp swimming near the top and rustling around the margins.<br />I set up at 11m with worm on the hook and feed a margin swim. I threw a few floating pellets in to see if any carp fancied eating of the top, they didnt! My friend was quickly into a nice barbel about 3/4lb on paste. I was struggling on my peg and while I had a few small fish wasn't getting anything decent. I tried paste, corn, worm deep, shallow near and far but it wasn't happening for me! A few old chaps started fishing around the corner at 6pm and one started catching decent carp on floating bread so I threw a few pieces in but again just small fish where nibbling at it no big 'uns. We packed up around 9pm my mate finished with 2 carp, 1 barbel a decent skimmer and a few little silvers, I just had a few little roach and rudd.<br />I was pretty annoyed with myself I hadn't settled into a routine and didn't have a clear plan. I knew how I was going to fish at Fairhaven but just messed around trying all sorts today. I think I need to make a clear plan of attack and stick to it. I was also targeting bigger fish, maybe if I got the small fish feeding first the bigger fish would move in!? Oh well it was a glorious evening and was nice to try somewhere new. I'll certainly be back again this summer and hopefully I'll be a bit more switched on and catch a few more fish!!<br /><br />Babysitter depending I'm hoping to get out again on Wednesday, fingers crossed for a better session!<br /><br />The Maggot Dangler.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247529243335415388.post-27497298368261770602011-04-11T10:12:00.000-07:002011-04-11T16:32:47.500-07:00A new pole......<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Since I got back into fishing last year I have been using my Dad's old DAM 9m pole which was fit for purpose but I always wanted something longer (who doesn't hey fellas!!). The other week the DAM broke, it was is still fishable but I had to telescope the 2nd section and was worried that if I ever hooked into a decent fish the pole would just explode!!!</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I'd been keeping my eyes open for a bargain on ebay or on maggotdrowners classified for a while but nothing grabbed me. I didn't want to spend a fortune but wanted something at least 11m. I heard about Dragon Carp in the past, but a lot of people seem to slag them off. But I'm not sure if the people who do this have ever actually used their products? The people that had used their rods all seemed to be pleased and I knew they did a few 11m poles around the £50 mark so I head off to Manchester's Fishing Republic and the Dragon Carp tackle tour on the 2nd April, with £100 in my pocket and the idea of getting an 11m pole and some other bargains!!</span><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 461px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 259px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd450/Matt_Parkinson/Dragon%20carp%20pole/02042011.jpg" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">When I arrived at 9.30am it was quite busy as you can see from the picture the Dragon Carp table was set up at the back with the "man on the mike" knocking out deals left right and centre!!! Well to be honest most of the stuff was at website price so no massive savings, I had hoped to get a seatbox on the cheap but these were website price so I passed on these.</span> <br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I waited patiently for a pole to come up, but it was all rods and reels etc. So I pushed my way to the front and asked if they had any poles with them. They had two 11m poles the RDX with 2 tops at £50 and the Pantera 11m at £30. </span></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 243px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd450/Matt_Parkinson/Dragon%20carp%20pole/AV308__87349_zoom.png" /> <br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I went for the RDX as it had the two tops and from my little research seemed a much better pole than the Pantera. I'm not sure if it is carbon but I know for sure the Pantera isn't!!</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I also picked up this 6 tube holdall for £10 which retails at £25 on their website as my old rod holdall wouldn't be big enough for the pole and tops plus the strap broke a few weeks back.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 281px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 275px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd450/Matt_Parkinson/Dragon%20carp%20pole/PT65__22232_zoom.png" /> <br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">So I was happy with my purchases all I needed to do now was figure out how to elasticate the pole and then go fishing!!</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I visited Gone Fishing NW at the top of Bamber Bridge on the Tuesday and bought all my elastics and bungs for just under £20.</span> </div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 394px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 362px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd450/Matt_Parkinson/Dragon%20carp%20pole/05042011.jpg" /> <br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">After reading numerous "how to" articles and watching video's on youtube, I fitted all the tops with Middy Pulla bungs and used solid Middy Hi-viz elastic in ratings 6-8 for match/winter fishing, 10-12 for normal commercial fishing and 16-18 for margin/paste fishing. The first one took me some time but after the fear of cutting my new pole to bits subsided I rather enjoyed the process, and will definitely get some extra satisfaction when I land a big 'un knowing that I fitted the elastic and pulla bung myself!!</span> </div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 450px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 176px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd450/Matt_Parkinson/Dragon%20carp%20pole/06042011.jpg" /> <br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">So my pole was elasticated and my new holdall loaded and I was ready to head out. I decided to fish Turbary Garden Centre, which I'd been told was fishing well but I hadn't fished for a very long time so wasn't sure what to expect.</span></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 446px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 205px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd450/Matt_Parkinson/Dragon%20carp%20pole/06042011001.jpg" /> <br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">It was a glorious day and the sun was shining when I arrived at 9.30am. The lake is only small and had no features to fish to and as you can see from the picture below the water level seemed very low.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I did a quick loop of the lake but saw nothing that inspired me so decided to fish in the corner with the sun on my face, thinking that this area of the lake would get warm quickest. I'd brought red maggots, meat, corn and prawns for the hook and was using green soft feed pellets to feed. I set my pole up with all but the last section on and shipped out to around 10m. The pole felt good and was pretty sturdy. The wind was pretty blustery and when it blew the pole did bend round a fair amount but I had my match kit on so expected that. All I needed to do now was catch something to test the elastic!</span></div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 381px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 238px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd450/Matt_Parkinson/Dragon%20carp%20pole/06042011002.jpg" /> <br /><div></div><br /><div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">It was a very slow start with maggot on the hook I was feeding quite regularly with maggot and pellet at 10m and heavily in the margin for later in the day. But it was only when I switched to corn on the hook I started getting bites. The first came at 11.30am at about 6m a line I hadn't feed.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 362px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 335px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd450/Matt_Parkinson/Dragon%20carp%20pole/06042011006.jpg" /></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">I was alternating between my 10m and 6m swim but getting more positive bites from my 6m line. At 12.50pm I caught this skimmer that did it's best to get away by leaping out of the water as I was bringing it in! This was the best fish of the day.</span> </div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 361px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 247px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd450/Matt_Parkinson/Dragon%20carp%20pole/06042011005.jpg" /> <br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">As the day went on more fish where showing on the top so at around 2.30pm I spent an hour catching small roach with the odd bonus roach off the top. But there was no sign off a big fish coming along to test my elastic! As the day went on more carp started to roll and taunt me but none wanted to eat any of my bait so I packed up just after 4pm finishing the day with my first ever fish on prawn!<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 357px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 249px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd450/Matt_Parkinson/Dragon%20carp%20pole/06042011007.jpg" /></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">I used my pole again on Friday at Fairhaven but again I failed to hook into anything of any size to test it.</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> But in my two trips I've been pleasantly surprised with the Avanti RDX, I've found it pretty stiff and easy to use at 10m. Fingers crossed that next time out I can hook into something that will put up a bit of a fight and test my elastic fitting skills as well as the quality of the pole.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Tight lines,</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The Maggot Dangler</span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247529243335415388.post-74941781610714287382011-03-21T11:38:00.000-07:002011-03-22T16:36:37.138-07:00Byers Farm 19/03/11<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I managed to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">negotiate</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">few</span> hours fishing on Saturday and decided to go Byers Farm for a session. I'd wanted to try somewhere new but couldn't make my mind up where to try and was mindful of the fact I had to be home by 3pm. </span><br /><br /><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">A friend had fished the bottom lake a few weeks ago and had caught a few decent carp along with a bag full of roach so I set my alarm for 7.30am with the hope that I would be fishing by 8.30am at the latest. Unfortunately I slept through my alarm and its reminders and only got to the lake at 10am! I'd been told meat had worked well for my friend and in the past maggots had worked well for me. In my rush to get to the lake I didn't check my box and just presumed I had a tin of meat and decided I didn't have time for maggots.</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I got to the lake at 10am and discovered that I had no meat(!) never mind I thought I had corn, soft 4mm green fishmeal pellets, bread and that bag of halibut pellets that I used at Fairhaven. Went to pay with the £10 I thought I had but in fact it was only £5! So I could only fish one rod, I had hoped to use the pole and have a sleeper rod with a bigger bait on, today wasn't going well!!! But the sun was out and my favourite peg was free.<br /></div></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586640407157652530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj1ruA7K7FMRP8Nje8UBu_QFEPGOZ3z8B77-CBZmzerQBy0hinOAWutGmDJ6pVjgHuwfjWrNX9-5HdiaP3sokjHVXci7mIpUIuqHYX56QcpF1BIeIVRDSL6nUJj4ESjoPjfGVDXSEDtOU7/s400/19032011.jpg" border="0" /> </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I started by throwing two large handfuls of the green 4mm feeder pellet in by the dead tree along with a handful of corn. I set up a pre-made "margin float" rig with a size 12 hook, which I thought was a little large but as I was using corn(and I'd hoped meat) and aiming for the carp I thought it would be ok. Last year I had been snapped numerous times when I first fished here so didn't want to set up too light.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I was getting bites and nibbles on corn almost immediatly and within 15mins had my first fish.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586640385745819842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiowWcXnxkyTeKUhPP57ewi451G5_bFjJeQ26YAmaeJEidolLnb3uaRapVQIUZG7Q_2fM6ghos7OlKdOD6BGLVLtxhARYHy4oamgILWZkylh11WPPcoAYDBwnFFAl3pjF6j22K17ko_MQ_j/s400/19032011%2528002%2529.jpg" border="0" /></span> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">A small roach.</span></p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The bites/pestering of my bait continued throughout the day and although I fed quite heavily about 10-20 pellets most put ins with the odd bit of corn I was struggling to get into anything big. I tried double corn, paste, worm and even a large piece of my pork pie but only small fry! I was also struggling with the small fish actually taking the bait. So switched the size 12 hook for a 16. This seemed to help make the bites more positive and resulted in a nice skimmer.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587048204534699154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhllEoX1fBVQDuQai-WfUrE0nC_-gRC20tt057vhIRTcZRG4PX_Ha1eZ_LDzh4GqtfsXxcM0imZUVWGtXkIMK6skSLRwoTAOeomJ9Wv3BLRYDg9OFl5VExTUIV7hDiNdxbUDSPulrIgIWFZ/s400/skimmer.jpg" border="0" /> </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The sun had been obstructed by large grey clouds for the majority of the afternoon and with 3pm looming I was thinking that I was going to end the day cold and without a carp when the float went under and after a little resisitance this nice sized crucian came to the net.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586640391943519570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZx2sqvRzM6l0B6N9000aNFRvLWXIQV7Xk8-ZEsTh3NDkkW8OyjMCcGN0mXVmdkXxsJ9tcOfb0g5PLzUlbCzY_cNU3g-73_RiCGJpswbYoJYviyL041qe0mbd8vGBGLkxMdRcg6vzaDdNQ/s400/19032011%2528006%2529.jpg" border="0" />I unhooked the crucian put another piece of corn on the hook and threw it out under my feet while I put the disgorger back. I picked up my top 2 section to begin shipping out when my line went tight! I had hooked into this small carp. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586640395282831954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTGnCgBSLEso9RaK5wKYtiZvZz9pXokqN2JHztGcR0Q1NpeCJm-4zP4L6WCX7NCdm4ZlMQMwqUDiCf7H3CBb3xt-xeCOPpoVrSg3-FsLArqjwI0Khc9nUV3n0_3K-pkgkiYjno3o-KAdby/s400/19032011%2528007%2529.jpg" border="0" /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">It gave a nice little fight and finished the day off well. I finished with about 15 small roach, 2 skimmers the crucian and the small common. Not bad but I had hoped for better. The guy on the peg behind me had started to catch nice sized carp at around 2pm. When I left at 3.15pm he had 5 between 1-5lb all caught on prawn about a meter out next to some reeds. The pond has an island that you can fish from and I think they patrol this island, and appear to have a taste for prawn! Also at this time of the year I have noticed that the bigger fish seem to wake up around 2/3pm they did at German Lane and again today my biggest fish came near the end of my day. Lessons learnt include:</span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">1. Decide where you are going in advance so you can plan your baits and methods needed.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">2. Actually check your box for said baits, dont assume they are there!!</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">3. Take enough money so you can fish with 2 rods or buy meat/prawns off other anglers!!</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">4. Have a big lie in and go fishing in the afternoon once the bigger fish have also woke up.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Fingers crossed I can get out on Wednesday this week and put right some of Saturdays misakes?</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Until then, tight lines.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The Maggot Dangler</span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247529243335415388.post-41266503736086761272011-03-03T05:11:00.000-08:002011-03-03T13:04:00.857-08:00A Day of Firsts<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I was off work on Wednesday so after doing my jobs round the house (hoovering, ironing and tidy the yard!) I could go fishing with a clear conscious!<br /></span><div><div><div><div><div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I've wanted to go back to Fairhaven in Leyland for a while but have never got around to it. The first time I went was in September last year and I blanked! But for some reason I keep getting draw back to the place, I know there's a lot of carp in and have heard good reports about the place in the summer months. So off I went with a bag full of pellets, corn, half a pint of red maggots and some worms. I arrived about 11am it was a chilly morning but dry and the sun was starting to wake up. I went for a wander around the lake there was two other fellas fishing one was carp fishing and hadn't caught anything and the other was on his pole he'd had a few roach. I didn't see any signs of fish so decided to fish in between two islands.</span></div><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579878605402202498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEFMYKo7CqPwFoGfA7TvKCVTruZYSH2xRrI4nvVXRRIqtfaWmlO43PTLs7uDPrXSvyL2nQhOlJv6dJUE5yfm72cY_KEq3hAiVFQPCu14O-Ynw8mUdSiF6F7fQiEZD9xheZqXgAwzIWvte4/s400/02032011.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579878477735920754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcivDsWpocFLZFM9sNefXaJivlxprI5iHUy1NRbS1YEsOHov7s7pAtDSX0Lmr6NMDov9cvztGfmFXnHESyOCBaAgi7nFGkOXoJiZ53ydn2sUXn6djWJfSYA05laDRvGoHacoRChF4Ru0Ti/s400/02032011%2528001%2529.jpg" border="0" />The left island was about 13m out this was to be my first line of attack with the feeder rod and I decided to fish about 5 m away from the right hand island in case the fish were swimming between the two islands.<br /></span><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I set up an open ended 20g feeder with a 8" hook length and size 16 hook. In the feeder I had mixed up some black breadcrumb with a new worm liquid stimulator to plug the top and bottom and used some new white crab flavoured feeder pellets (from </span><a href="http://www.bagupbaits.co.uk/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">http://www.bagupbaits.co.uk/</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">) in between. On the hook I used double red maggot. First cast and its a cracker right up against the island but due to trees either side of me I was having to cast overhead and it made a fair old splash on entry. I was worried that it may have spooked any fish in the swim but hoped the smell of both the pellets and liquid attractor might draw them back in! It didn't!!</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">After a few more casts and no signs of a bite I tried my second line of attack towards the other island this time I had worm on the hook. I'd been fishing for over an hour now with no interest from either swim and trying corn, maggot & worm. But the fish were starting to wake up and there was a few splashes and definite signs of fish movement as the sun started to come out around 12pm.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I had been feeding a pole line as well about 5 meter out on this line I was feeding maggots and soft green fishmeal pellets. I've been told that green paste works well on here in the summer so was hopeful these green soft pellets might work. I brought the feeder line in and put my pole out along with a small ball of breadcrumb and maggot on the hook. Within a minute the first fish of the day was caught.</span></div><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579878481749468482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFeob57Bz1n2zTeClzYwLtQwY-acpCbvxYB7gEn_-9xwyRxdBFXSMmu-sIVK-gRr9bjA5XZvwbBAjRdnOwL80nFphG4N36IMYk6Q90OZNlEbgerE_6WdZVW3aUjNlNEikH23SLlk2EtCpL/s400/02032011%2528002%2529.jpg" border="0" />Not a record breaker but my FIRST fish from Fairhaven, hurray!<br /></span><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Bites on this line continued throughout the day and I probably ended the day with about 15 in total I gave corn ago as well as hooking a green pellet but only maggot caught all day. I changed depth as the sun heated the lake hoping a bigger fish maybe near the top basking in the sun but to no avail. Though I did get about 5 decent sized roach throughout the day.</span></div><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579878482174289122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW1doN0bBDNj5iZDlHM70fIL_uGmjn3IBgEwIHvyeuPRMQIuanc0N436SYPwOyEiBfiotKgB0zSaA87admfF0uwRUKz3bHK4gKCBtdXKgoCgzliPrjBsHOZSpCoG6L1cETvLVTMi6_rnAo/s400/02032011%2528006%2529.jpg" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579878483542062114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbQpeiRyjUu6_LHuRrMxE_HdE4c4B-f1jUiNLHtNN6koN8ARZA1SDOpiKErmz_MuD6JqFMYd6Yu6ze-9H0votMmRTamdshXzqEzsbqwW1zgLrEgLGM2AJqtaFDXWTsCz4Lxmmc6OaZN6Y8/s400/02032011%2528005%2529.jpg" border="0" />I switched the feeder to a small maggot feeder and took the bottom of so I could still use my breadcrumb/pellet mix. This was a lot better and didn't hit the water with such force! But I was still not getting any bites so out of desperation I switched to a hair rig I've never caught using a hair rig and I'm pretty dubious about it, I just don't get how they work?! I started with double corn but this wasn't working so again in desperation I turned to some 12mm halibut pellets I had bought a few months previously for barbel fishing on the river again never caught using pellet so wasn't too confident when I cast towards the left hand island, after about 15 mins the line starts to rise out of the water, I strike but out of excitement I think I strike too early and probably pull the pellet out of the fishes mouth before it can get on the hook!<br /></span><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">It was 2.45pm and even the roach had gone quite I cast the feeder rod out to the right lake and start packing up the pole rig, at 3pm the rod goes, fish on!! After a spirited fight with a few runs once it was close in and with some major fannying around with the front drag easing the tension and tighten up I landed this pretty little thing.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579878486652057234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjbNG25xF7aAqtlNGwKYy78SNkEhy8FCA2a6BuvVUBaK8-mAb5fp-1EiXh0LaynXyYu-xcxJB8ZFxfRhPAGpytzEk29ZEXdEDcmLfTGqNd185E2_-im59qrS7aZnqY-vQtPQ2l7GeD9cXy/s400/02032011%2528007%2529.jpg" border="0" />The last fish of the day but my FIRST ever fish caught on pellet, and my FIRST ever fish caught using a hair rig set up. I was proper chuffed and another first the FIRST time I used my new scales to weigh this little mirror in at 3lb!</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">This carp made a pretty average days fishing pretty special and while I wasn't blown away with Fairhaven, it's certainly somewhere I will visit again and hopefully catch a few more of these elusive carp!</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Tight lines,</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The Maggot Dangler</span></div></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247529243335415388.post-61725145268922378732011-02-23T09:29:00.000-08:002011-02-24T14:53:20.850-08:00German Lane 22/02/11<div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div>Today I visited one of the lakes on my 11 venues for 2011! German Lane is situated just through Euxton and has two lakes one a match lake canal style and the other a medium sized lake with two islands in it. I heard a lot about this place through maggotdrowners.com and was looking forward to my day.<br /><div>I arrived at 11am and decided to fish the main lake I'd heard this had lots of carp in and was a good all round lake, plus I knew the match lake was going to fill up later because there is a match on Sunday and a few Brig lads were coming down to practice.</div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577382574290461138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3sQV42o6kswNEqK55pnCj06h08kU4uOZRUxx_Uu1EXzdLzlZ4nSoeCnpTMCQSb29QWx2phf93WeI0y4YH6UgrR2c5Y2pTNT0BLMhXBjNqhv6E9D1SlYKY8xHSfT4muVhDNwXU_D93q9CI/s400/22022011%2528002%2529.jpg" border="0" />I decided to start with the feeder rod and set up a medium sized method feeder with a really short hooklength of about 3 inch. I was using black breadcrumb and 2mm carp pellets on the feeder and<em> </em>I had maggots and corn for the hook.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577384056172004242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidSLfWtnylzFh43O1RCu_mZc-Tv65HL7Afa63FiJTSSsY1d8ROYgvjW2BaZJzFindILvBXSIJh7vvCM2xr8GNHKBnVpg049_91MsFTuiJrd3ouadI4meT-e3f8teiy1cREnNs6IPudrfND/s400/22022011.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577384439653669650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqzLmh3wR6xwnQsaIbcSGFTnDWChVSv2V_J0hk3z5VvogGWSXxqilASm-p9JKf6nuGuTZlVFqxMigCboSVmc0tJS3fXSUM6w3Z_hI3h-cVa33JJSkV1YJpVjggyUk3Ftv_JU98ypJ-gReG/s400/22022011%2528004%2529.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>First cast to the island/jettee and I was getting knocks and twitches on the rod straight away but no solid bite to strike at. When I brought it in the red maggots had been sucked to death! This persisted for the first 30mins I then tried corn but to no avail.</div><div>While I had the feeder rod out I was also feeding a close in line for my pole. I set my pole up at 11.45am the rig I chose was too short to fish on the bottom I was about 6inches off the bottom but too lazy to change it. I was into a small roach first put in on maggot. I caught about 5 small roach in the next 15 mins and decided to give it a rest but continue to feed.<br /></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577384046229733874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcvRJwXIr_bAEPBQOz7qfrRXqQ0qGt_B9-3F5Y2JGldSJiM7FQo87ZT6WZuCvYcjjQLM409RF1W20-Oiyy1a_ZL7rv2T-jbXyn30ju3BxAOdHUT-xm6RGzJV1ieCR6NbspGVlzIay7Xapk/s400/22022011%2528003%2529.jpg" border="0" /></div><div>The feeder line had gone very quiet so with a bit of deep thinking I decided to try a longer hooklength thinking the weight of the feeder might be putting them off. I was right! I put a hooklength on that was about 8 inches long first cast with corn on and I was in to this bigger roach.<br /><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577385986407682626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGI0l5Xwo_QolZ64dvlwXFiihjOQxfnqBXfv0itMbxKfCiThIBtEOAXELKY2GB5MMmEkvSleOL-lpKpzZDFungnZs7roFDiup2fkXW1kOBV8G_rhMCPUkWvyI7fXF-7oXqOfsGJ5nP68yJ/s400/22022011%2528006%2529.jpg" border="0" /> Next cast same again. But then it went quiet. So back to the pole and I was getting a bite every put in but they seemed to be sucking the maggot and when I struck letting go but I still managed to catch steadily. I decided to come shallower to see if the bigger fish where up in the water and also started to throw in about 5-10 maggots with each put in. This seemed to work as the roach started taking the maggot rather than just sucking it and the size started to get better as you can see from these pics.</div><div><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577389244681484930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ28cK8IYymByqgUQGzdRfUwT3hbMUbSPtpIpy674uNWP-TMGeSN1vsjWToRGmMcr93TvMLuvQhmAlsmHW3poXk6VxVIEUAVY455VrnFrfeTjZN24kdcq0PuRkd74AcRjR1AkFUdVzHGcq/s400/22022011%2528011%2529.jpg" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577389239224069970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPG_VkmL0jPs6dgsveJB3QVu9eTcvEYBvOoqjHFbADAHGqoD75LWlWVtgMgncx9HWKH-qXwb7HTyJJCKQun2UZesE3EyO4ewdgYokUneGHAg3DtwW5q3kd67rLScJPjuXDdQnjV_3rLVTl/s400/22022011%2528009%2529.jpg" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577389233881539634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaihS5BJd8ApqNjmBBZ0uMY0jYb8kLdf4LNCgx5ZAaNCXWi7oQY3n_JmeIoMuUSkQYc2gOy7h5td7aj9_doZbHT-b8ll3ngMoy7znJpxhMUUBtGH1vBf-jgTcd6X_UnUSWt_4V3HMnORW-/s400/22022011%2528008%2529.jpg" border="0" /></div><div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577389226376805554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyB6HuP12GQ_-nKSW39qFNgYunc5yfrFed3c95mww7PGgnITXmPRBpVE_wMhP_sjL1iixQACAjYvjjQbp4_zhiVBT4z8oCmlvGqSE4ye-dRwDZcgyEugDVp7aarX6AMXE7G4TA3_rxyQVb/s400/22022011%2528007%2529.jpg" border="0" />I decided to pack up around 4.30pm I probably caught over 30 roach but didnt need the landing net all day (a few of the bigger roach may have justifed using the net but I was saving it for a bigger fish!). I could have caught more if I concentrated on the pole but thought the feeder to the island would definately have produced a carp or two? I'm told that in the summer off the same peg I was on today fishing about 9m out using pellet and paste you get loads of carp so maybe they were just sleeping today??<br /><div>I enjoyed my day and will definately give it another go in the summer but was a little underwhelmed just one carp or bream would have made it a great day but again at this time of year a decent days fishing I suppose.</div><div> </div><div>Regards,</div><div>The Maggot Dangler.</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247529243335415388.post-87698311274040540782011-02-19T01:17:00.000-08:002011-02-19T02:04:39.076-08:00A new venue visited<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">After last Sundays disaster on the canal and discovering the last match fished on that stretch of the L&L canal was won with 7lb, I bottled it and decided not to enter the match. I feel I need to get some more experience and maybe go watch a match before entering one.</span><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I recently got back in touch via <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Facebook</span> with an old friend that I used to go fishing with when I was around 13. He still fishes quite <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">a lot</span> and and is a member of a private lake in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Wymott</span> so we decided to meet up for the first time in many years and spend the morning fishing.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Wymott</span> is a small lake and the water levels where <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">apparently</span> quite high because last summer there was a few <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">lily</span> pads in the margins and running through the middle but today I couldn't see any. The only <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">features</span> to fish to were some over hanging trees so we set up either side of the tree below.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575330612489919986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixZd62PK0iw2izubVGqRCzYqRsF7Bo5d9Sp2zGnExqJABpywQaEGkzF-G2icJy-k9uKRoJrUN7DkLVqaLFisy4otfWINCLJb1zyb_WLsdi-beyASf_Xn32H3VcfkpbS0vsAG_p_8qFCIB6/s400/13022011%2528001%2529.jpg" border="0" /></span></div></div><br /><div>I set up a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">dibber</span> float and was going to fish under the tree about 2/3 metres out. The wind was blowing pretty hard at times and made it quite tough, I should have been using a float with a tip so I could see bites <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">a bit</span> better, but I still did <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">ok</span>.</div><div>I started off by feeding a couple handfuls of 2mm carp feeder pellets and was feeding maggots little and often. I had red and bronze maggots and within a minute I had my first fish.</div><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575332753887304514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVS-Rqis1c4YpJNNJFYwRq5jvpUjvC4hvK6MsqJgsYZFOUCiWdweREGSztLs9QM2ft1NPNoiCjwmm3jC5SdKgGO8E30xBkR1PZbswla7XS18YX4spBVq4vn9P1bD8r-_rgm-P2NNLqgWMl/s400/13022011%2528003%2529.jpg" border="0" />A tiny roach, I was catching pretty regularly for the next hour and half and by 10.00am I had about 12 fish all small but some nice mirror and common carp that in a few years will be very nice fish.</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575333995212069170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsMssdFKsngAqst5xUGc_WL8PJDrbFbFjm35QYrnG-gkLZ7N_rzSg9ZMTwv5ajIoBKzGsjmwK_a7PhAqFn4DANO1NqRDVcQfxuk_LMGz-rYHUHqt4vlDz5kW0PNAYI1njptQVXswGNQ1k0/s400/13022011%2528002%2529.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575338392201498418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgip084r0vtpBsNbssZNxTseRjFdl_4YQTPmU3ygLDsxtSbnFF0lT7kD0v2BJt8aqzTocRJszfy1JfErKVyS4_W80ebAJ5483n2idX1Wp2WkACIfr91VxButBNi6iAcDJHhuh-L3sDiMb13/s400/13022011%2528004%2529.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575333997717137154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnhLQwHwpxu1IjPFVnQOxEF3ItDOIkMgO0CetYEhMmC8JoIC7cR_QOatCeXPZJuZCONn8UiFbaQyKZick37VlPoG7pcO1Mc_d4rBJeY0lfv6DwyYuMtvhOpI-fB_S4x7HTCiJVjDx73zev/s400/13022011%2528008%2529.jpg" border="0" />A few skimmers of a better stamp to the carp had started to come out but by 10.30am the bites had dried up so I tried corn on the hook hoping for a bigger carp or bream maybe? But to no avail so I went back on the maggot and the bites started again, a better skimmer and a few more carp.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575335794055242418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4m7QmfKBFvln5KRidvNfvSTwoxkQOGjdlX0grbs3JDfLsmBg8jF4CEBg6vPJbK6SfSrVhH8nulIDEiqN92ElkPaOdv9wJwBMTRYlSgEZzR2vnU7Oj9zYgZPQ7hc74xzkGNQP1cuqdmqen/s400/13022011%2528011%2529.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575335784282572658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz2ouUBsGsaqh0Qn5eVYTQrbnNB4UmP3f5UXDaq-rdvvrTJyusUPI2Yvk8voRNwZHyizhyphenhyphenOWMH_ttaDdZPhnvj2vPhR77G7s0Ikq5J5ASKLBQ1SXZumP_rPDvCi_UftWceptrJ3f3NpzRy/s400/13022011%2528009%2529.jpg" border="0" />We packed up around 12.30pm we both had around 25 fish each with the biggest being this barbel that my friend caught, about 10minutes after telling me there was some barbel in the lake and me explaining how I'd love to catch one as I've never caught a barbel! The lucky bugger!</p></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575337278478735874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha6AaZLo0lddGVMbL725OeYKBXGgAdjINEnxDgEzwA2CqLtxohBHPq8nZSU3KSRjn34HSXmjm7m6X4TPjy4lDh6h0uR0LAV63pPFnlQY6htM9dq38meV8E0AMtSkrMUhdiJ_qHw2XwWJIo/s400/13022011%2528010%2529.jpg" border="0" />So a good days winter fishing with plenty caught shame we couldn't get anything bigger out but I'm told there is some bigger fish in but only tend to come out to play in the summer, so roll on summer when there might be some <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">lily</span> pads and bigger fish to see!<br /><br /><div></div><div>Regards,</div><div>The Maggot Dangler </div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247529243335415388.post-40274535868632309802011-02-06T11:53:00.000-08:002011-02-06T12:24:21.217-08:00What a 'orrible day!!<div><div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Managed to get out for a few hours this morning. Kind of wish I didn't! I went to the Leeds & Liverpool canal at Cowling Brow, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Chorley</span>. I'm thinking of entering a match on here next Sunday so thought I'd get some practice in.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">I arrived around 10am and it was windy VERY windy! I set up my feeder rod with a open end cage feeder with black breadcrumb and casters in. On the size 16 hook I was to alternate between worm and caster. I decided to fish to the far bank as there was a few features that I thought my hold some fish. As you can see from the picture below.</span></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570668984743352514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR5T67LZolqA7VPv7W0BoifDFa58LZsuSofGVYtwhsjnnKSrcBr0YrbZ56GsCJWTucVG0wITRNwjxGUiaD-tVBCJwwBf9etc4V25LTzFdNAz-nXUINpIFD8p8gzjIRm7PeaoCxVYkgHW0S/s400/06022011%2528002%2529.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">It was very quite and at 11am I set my pole up. I decided to fish straight out in front of me at about 8 metres. I was fishing on the bottom with punched white bread on the hook and white <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">liquidised</span> bread to feed. The wind made fishing very hard the tow on the water was silly at times and I was fighting against the wind just to hold my pole straight at times! As you can see it was almost tidal!!</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570668980279146930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJf_tWloF7PhyxRtumT30S0x9pspQOYvDLGpb5ma11vv3FjHiGpncPUGPALI0OTiNbZFqHTDHL0bFO2SNQZKyhjHJvopdBMHayRgZr3td6PLDEZTU-mK9u3Go89npv8TMaLJDxqi-KGeAL/s400/06022011%2528001%2529.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">As I was shipping out the line went heavy, I thought it was more drift wood as there was plenty! But no it was a nice sized skimmer and it came to the net around 11.45am.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570668987952349794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhskGb74ab6h7ME5AGHptibHVwwaSeQzs_mabV880rCDyrI9Zq4HdLEWa05pjKMUOn8ekJaD95avLNN611w22KzrFGsN12TZtwavkmAD_CnuNo2p-0ImLMyGE4tn1k1e-JNPXof_fVf7SyM/s400/06022011.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">I decided to fish closer in and shallow up to try and catch more skimmers but to no avail. I was struggling to keep the punch on the hook, I think maybe the hook was too big far the size of punch? Either way with the strong wind, no action on the feeder line and my punch not staying on the hook I was getting very fed up. So at 1.30pm I packed up wet, cold and fed up but at least I didn't blank! So as a trial for next Sunday's match it wasn't the best but you never know the skimmer was a nice size and with this cold weather and low weights coming out I might get lucky!!</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">I hope you managed to get out this weekend and did better than me!!</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Tight lines,</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">The Maggot Dangler.</span></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247529243335415388.post-29744890048524081522011-01-30T05:34:00.000-08:002011-01-30T06:20:43.188-08:00Targets for 2011<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Annoyingly I've not managed to get out this week so I've been thinking about what I'd like to achieve in 2011. As I've said previously I fished for years but never really taken it serious and would maybe get out once or twice a year but at the end of last year started get back into it and I'm really looking forward to getting out a lot more this year and catching a lot more fish! I've decided to set myself a few targets for this year to give me something to aim for and give some structure to my fishing. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">My first target for this year is to improve my basics I need to learn some new knots and start making my own pole rigs. This will save me some money and I will be able to make rigs up to fit the venue. I'm sure catching a nice fish on a rig I have made myself will only add to the enjoyment.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">I really want to become comfortable fishing knowing how to use all my equipment, different techniques and methods to catch fish. All this will help me in my next target to compete in a match. I've never match fished before but my competitive side thinks that this will be fun and a good way to meet other people that fish.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">I'm a big fan of a list and as its 2011 I thought it would be good to target 11 different <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">species</span> of fish, so here are the 11 fish I'd like to catch this year:</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">1: Chub</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">2: Roach</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">3: Skimmer</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">4: Ghost Carp</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">5: Barbel</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">6: Common Carp</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">7: Tench</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">8: Perch</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">9: <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Crucian</span> Carp</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">10: Bream</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">11: Mirror Carp</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">My final target for 2011 is to fish at 11 different venues, so here's my list of places I'd like to visit this year:</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">1: <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Whitmoor</span> Fisheries - <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Kirkham</span></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">2: <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Cunneries</span> - <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">Eccleston</span></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">3: German Lane - <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">Eccleston</span></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">4: <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">Birkache</span> Garden Centre - <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">Chorley</span></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">5: <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">Vernons</span> Lodge - <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error">Penwortham</span></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">6: <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-error">Barrat</span> & Jays - <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-error">Leyland</span></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">7: <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-error">Orcheton</span> House Farm - <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" class="blsp-spelling-error">Eccleston</span></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">8: High <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_15" class="blsp-spelling-error">Heys</span> Farm - <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_16" class="blsp-spelling-error">Eccleston</span></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">9: <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_17" class="blsp-spelling-error">Heskin</span> Old Farm - <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_18" class="blsp-spelling-error">Heskin</span></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">10: <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_19" class="blsp-spelling-error">Lindholme</span> - <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_20" class="blsp-spelling-error">Doncaster</span></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">11: <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_21" class="blsp-spelling-error">Cudmore</span> - Stafford</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">So that's my targets for this year and you can follow all my progress on here. If you've been to any of these places, or know somewhere that I might catch one of my target fish or maybe you can give me some advice on match fishing then feel free to leave a comment.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Thanks,</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">The Maggot Dangler</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247529243335415388.post-50868002479632270422011-01-24T10:04:00.000-08:002011-01-24T10:22:37.587-08:00How times have changed!<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">When<em> </em>I first started getting back into fishing I was using it almost as therapy the time on the bank was time away from money, work & woman worries. I could go to a local lake and completely let my mind go blank and just enjoy a few hours away from everyone and everything and if I caught a few fish then even better!</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">But then my competitive streak comes out and I don't just want to sit on the bank carefree I want to catch more fish and bigger fish! I started reading fishing forums to find out about new techniques, baits and venues. And before you know it I'm thinking about personal bests and entering matches! Instead of relaxing and being blank while fishing now I'm thinking about what bait to try next, should I try fishing shallower, maybe I should try the method feeder, its a full moon and the temperture is just right, should I fish into the wind etc etc etc etc the list could be endless!!!</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">When I first started back fishing I had my 6m whip, a disgorger, a couple pole rigs, slice of bread and some maggots. It all fit easily in the boot of my car along with a fold out chair, I could be fishing within 5mins of being at a venue. Now I have match rod, feeder rod, 9m pole and 2 whips in my rod bag. I have a big old heavy box that has 3 reels, over 25 pole rigs, feeder pellets, big drilled pellets, hooker pellets, paste, groundbait etc and weighs a ton. The last time I fished it took me about 30mins to get set up!!</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">How times have changed, but for the good I think. I was told on one of the fishing forums:</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">"Laziness doesnt catch fish, preparation and effort do" I think it adds to the day to do some research before hand, what pegs have fished well, what baits work I think in fishing you are always learning and trust me I have a lot to learn. But hopefully 2011 will be a big year for me I'm going to set some targets in my next blog, nothing to stretching but something to aim for. My main aim is to keep fishing as a pleasure but like any sport you don't want to turn up and get beat so its me verses the fish! Bring it on!!!</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Thanks for reading,</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">The Maggot Dangler</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247529243335415388.post-32671712166667150272011-01-22T10:22:00.000-08:002011-01-22T16:48:07.299-08:00First full session of 2011<div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Tuesday 18th January was my first chance this year to get out and have a full days fishing. So after a little lie in I set off to the tackle shop in Bamber Bridge at 9.30am for some pinkies and advice on where to go. I was considering Fairhaven in Leyland but had been told it didnt fish well in winter. Cunneries near Eccleston but I was told one lake was shut and not heard anything about it recently and finally German Lane which like Cunneries would be a new venue for me and was told its fishing ok for silvers. So decisions decisions but after a chat with the very friendly owner of the bait shop in Brig I decided on Byers Farm in Gregson Lane!! He said a few people had been and done ok and I had a score to settle after the last time I fished it a nice sized carp snapped the top section of my pole!</span><br /></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Arrived about 10.30am and the sun was peeking out from behind the clouds and the mist was lifting of the lake, as you can see from the picture it was looking good!!</span></div><div align="center"><br /></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565083233418099906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5c79jdWYf7Dii2FSM-DkzG5XAR-VY9bT0Rj9HmBWnxjgmIoZk4QoiujJl6_keQrw1s1n1iXmPNLzSti7ky1CJ1nUOBvOqniDNXIJEaHtI-rZ0ELmRNGZrjTRkNJ2K72jCOIZNVyZABJn7/s400/18012011%2528002%2529.jpg" border="0" /></span><br />As I said in my earlier post I have recently purchased a new feeder rod and reel and was excited to try them out. So I set the rod up with 6lb main line and elasticated method feeder and a pre-tied 5lb hair rig hook length of about 6 inch size 14. I decided to flick the feeder into the corner of the lake (so not really a great trial for casting distances etc!) the wind was blowing into the corner and I though any loose feed put in over the weekend may have ended up in this corner plus there is a few overhanging trees to keep the fish interested!<br /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565170643727711202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4c60Lug4hCTTslppPJYQMYU6NlMnqgsbEjVUjwryI5fg8D5YSmtiecleov17FbXKhrr8CmLtBE1ZCHuw9xAZh9n3ksu9K_wu81O4r3QlydIH3q_WWDWbQtxVsw6O4u4fNeO21HiXe0JRr/s400/18012011%2528007%2529.jpg" border="0" /><br />I pulled out all the baits I had just incase (!) but my main attack was to be soaked feeder pellets on the method feeder and corn on the hook as corn worked well the last time I fished here though I was on the bottom lake, this was my first time on the top lake. I also had pinkies to feed and put on the hook, some large marine pellets, some catfood hooker pellets which I think have passed there sell by date as they never seem to stay on the hook nor did they stay on the hair rig!!<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565084594658772610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRDd3ogsTJJDSgKk7RyqP1fP1Zj7d9fFPqh9LbbDQsB38gtN8PJ80_k-3A-lAoR1QyzaHhmtTglxG4q-7xURtj81GJL2Gia5dVP0xV_Pg2eqKy-gC0XLD-upaUjdqgH0iDK5vVaUT2jy1l/s400/18012011%2528004%2529.jpg" border="0" /><br />I was fishing by 11am and it was very quiet! I had a knock on the rod when I had pinkies on while I was soaking the pellets but not a full on bite. I have only recently started using the hair rig set-up and at the moment I don't trust it!! I'm just not confident I will catch using it, I'm sure as soon as I catch my first fish using the hair rig hooks I'll be fine but at the moment I just don't trust it! So at 12.30pm with no bites I cut the hair of my hook on just put the corn on the hook. I was despearate to set my pole up and try that, but had told myself I was there to use my feeder rod and nothing else! At 12.40pm my feeder rod was cast to the middle of the lake and my pole rig was lowered into the corner of the lake!! And instant success, I lost the first fish as I was bringing it in but caught instantly on putting the pinkie back in and at 12.45pm I had my first fish of the day.<br /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565087453119271378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJw3br0WIXmLBLhAR4aHDuf6I3QA9ezo0HByXHwbEkAuwI7Vbr20qUFMlVxTTm8nhZS5GbsqKqr9cVX8TC2N7pLCWD9FeivkXCZakkC-IwJ7fLfqVlomkPj88VZMUTqWkXYPKFROWnIcGC/s400/18012011%2528008%2529.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="left">A small but perfectly formed little roach. I could now relax, I hadn't blanked!<br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">It was while I was unhooking this fish and taking its picture that the tip of my feeder rod started to slowly go round!!! (Like buses hey!) </span></p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">So roach returned and I pick my rod up and strike, fish on! And its a decent one. I start to reel but there's a problem it's stuck? I look down and a massive knot has developed around the arm of the reel, I can't reel in!!!! OH MY GOD, panic, deep breath, pull the rod back again to check the fish is still there, it is. Ok think, can I pull the line in somehow urrm no (idiot!) pull the rod back again its still there, luckily its not doing a lot but is definately there. I tried undoing the knot but there was no chance, I had to cut the line above and below the knot and tie the two ends together!! That done I start to reel in eventually but its not moving, oh know its snagged me up I think? It was hard to tell where the line was but it could have been wrapped around one of the platform legs I thought, gutted so I start pulling on the rod thinking I was snagged expecting to snap my hook length and start again. But then all of a sudden it gets loose and the fish is still on!! It didn't give a big fight just seemed to sit there but about 20 minutes after the bite I finally land my first fish on my new feeder rod and reel.</span></p><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565090061828648082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifCcblN3c_LCMq96tCY2-mZ-pVu8Sa300HUg_8zNLUFMSe6daj4lmUzVJS43r7QZw1-OO9g9EWyvy6YQYn14xhluT_PqLUVzmep3CVrj1lVpkQeZ6MsJHKQodhHMQ5NOgzT2VVG6ReA19X/s400/18012011%2528006%2529.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="left"></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">A beautiful ghost carp of about 5lb. Mavellous! My biggest ever fish!</span></p><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The warmth and sun from earlier in the day had gone and the clouds and wind had arrived, it was bloody freezing! The feeder rod was very quiet but I was getting roach of a similar size to the one above quite regularly on the pole I tried corn, paste and meat on the pole rig but only pinkies were getting bites. I also tried pinkies on the feeder rod and landed this small skimmer.</span></div><br /><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565091448597520722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6zdWSRtaMOTU8zZqIKHdYbbwZyiso-2T74-LZ9KVPt3eyHL8zstpJVSajMWgvFWhd4WT4HeI3HiiNa_WMFgBwAiMccy9ErevUBWEZlW5wqqzszVT7wkOzr3oIpuHjvEV2dLZTvk9AATfB/s400/18012011%2528009%2529.jpg" border="0" /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I decided to pack up at 3.45pm as I was bloody freezing and had jobs to do around the house before my better half got home from work!! I was happy with my haul of 15 small roach on the pole, with one skimmer and a good carp on the rod but then as I was putting the pole into my holdall the feeder rod started to bend again! I quickly jump over the piles baits and equipment I was packing up and pick the rod up, strike to my left and fish on! A good one as well about at least the same weight as the one I had caught previously. I tried reeling in but it wasn't moving again it n'tfighting just sort of refusing to move, I slackened the drag on my reel to let it go on a run if it wanted and pulled back again but it wasn't moving! I pulled back again and snap!! Absolutely gutted my hooklength had snapped. I think I was being too keen with it. I need to learn to not get so excited and let the fish come in when its ready especially on the lighter gear that I use. I also missed a bite earlier when I struck too early so I need to learn from the fish I landed not to strike to early and give the fish time but without having a heart attack because I've got a massive knot just out of choice!!</span><br /><br /><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">But a great day all in all fish caught and really enjoyed using my new equipment. I can't wait to get out again!!</span></div><br /><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Tight lines,</span></div><br /><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The Maggot Dangler.</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247529243335415388.post-13101620477054691802011-01-15T02:18:00.000-08:002011-01-20T14:49:33.739-08:00The quest for a new rod & reel.<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I've fished for many years and up until recently I was all about the rod and float. You can't beat watching a bite develop with a knock and a nudge and slight dip willing the float to disappear its what makes fishing so special. I've had a 6m whip for many years and enjoyed that as well, but when I started get back into fishing last year I dug out my Dads old D.A.M 9m pole and I love it, I never use my match rod now! I will hopefully be up-grading this year but may need to win the lottery first!!</span> <div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Fishing techniques and styles have changed so much since I was a lad and I had heard a lot about the method feeder, so invested in one last year. I only used it once or twice last year and had to use my match rod as when I found my quiver rod in my Dads shed it was broken! I'm still not convinced that watching the end of a rod is REAL fishing but it does seem to be a popular why to fish and an important tool in match fishing. </span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">So I decided to treat myself at Christmas to a new feeder rod and reel. One website I really enjoy reading and always use for advice from fellow anglers is <a href="http://www.maggotdrowning.com/forum">www.maggotdrowning.com/forum</a><br />I found it a really tough decision to make I had set myself a budget of £40 maximum which isn't a great deal but also you can get really good quality tackle at a good price these days. Ebay is also a great place to look for good quality second hand equipment and clearance prices on new things.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I was stuck between the Maver Abyss and the Garbolino pickers both had great reviews on maggotdrowing. I was leaning more towards the Garbolino carp feeder as this could take line upto 8lb and I thought I might need this on a snaggy river like the Ribble and when fishing commercials, but on the day I went to Ted Carters they had sold out! So on my return put a bid on Ebay of £20 on a Maver Abyss 12ft feeder rod with 3 tips which is a lighter rod only taking upto 6lb line but at £25 including delivery was abit of a bargin! </span></div><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564403432480346050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV2vFG1MNy5nO-ZiMrwpTKH061m0MR5nx9GMzgaaeZCbRCtm2tMN8D9XQNziqeAqGulc0rBokEJ2IsCoS1Se8fbhyphenhyphenLVapHcBjUxnv7xpSqOLLaMAxZLWzOaSFOPnv3rScyPE4R7ky4v9qL/s400/115f_12.jpg" border="0" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">So rod purchased now for a reel!!</span><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Again the choice is endless(front drag, rear drag, bait runner etc etc) but to stick in my budget I only had £15! Go Outdoors had a great offer on where they had 50% off all fishing equipment, I popped into the Stockport branch on the way to collecting my son from his Nanna's but really didnt like the feel of the Shakespeare and Abu reels they had, I was stuck! Nothing on Ebay was catching my eye, Lostock Tackle Box was shut when I went to have a look. And then Mark from <a href="http://www.htsfishing.co.uk/">http://www.htsfishing.co.uk/</a> got intouch through maggotdrowning offering a few ideas that were for sale on Ebay and some he had on his website. While on his website I noticed he had the Shimano ST2500 FA Baby Baitrunner for sale in the used section though the reel had never been used. It looked like a great reel had brilliant reviews wherever I looked and so with a little negotiation blew my budget and bought it for £30.</span><br /></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562355974945332530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 302px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 205px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_iEnnqHCx_b8Sih83EkW9Eu-yeyG5ITMKO7ec7iXA9sCD7-TvG8kxQQGyEwiTuszgR9Z5QrpJeExdVxbreMzc_5p9bbzTwqOWlsh3aPhQRrZUQN1qdypXYJY2pefx0XU8LhAENP-eAJ78/s400/baitrunner_st_fa_image_-familyImage-Single-image_dash_512_384.jpg" border="0" /></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I spent £55 in total but I'm confident that I have a great rod and reel that will last me some time. Now I just need to get out and use them!!!<br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Thanks for reading,</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The Maggot Dangler.</span></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247529243335415388.post-26266842040298690432011-01-14T13:12:00.000-08:002011-01-14T14:11:25.641-08:00<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">So today was my first day back on the bank in 2011! I had a spare hour before I had to pick my lad up from nursery so headed to the small river I had success with at the end of last year.<br /></span><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">It was a relatively mild day (I only had 3 layers on!!) and was quite sunny but cloudy.<br /></span><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdeyyt8GOuA_3bO8XOPTwDJ_MyerYGt80B67kS3IyqBKryiBMu30lCzlCLeEJ-T8BZY0qm1-ogh2YIQ39r2MKfSJuHcfDtB6ygwIR3HQHgU2tvPVzKqFxrMnAde1ZGc8TD_9fPJ7cKdAp5/s1600/14012011.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562154690776498338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdeyyt8GOuA_3bO8XOPTwDJ_MyerYGt80B67kS3IyqBKryiBMu30lCzlCLeEJ-T8BZY0qm1-ogh2YIQ39r2MKfSJuHcfDtB6ygwIR3HQHgU2tvPVzKqFxrMnAde1ZGc8TD_9fPJ7cKdAp5/s400/14012011.jpg" border="0" /></a> As you can see from the picture above the "river" is only about 6 meter wide and is about 3/4 foot deep. Today is the deepest its been in the couple of times I've been and was pretty clear. I was fishing at the far bank beneth the tree branches. The flow was pretty quick and was swirling around a lot which made it pretty difficult.<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562154692558751490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjU-Y6dNRMM2pbgh4PBcl1D3GmVeqiS84WnvUIVL4p8pS0aqVJdwtBa17WutlW-5aNkuMaqZMNh_eHiq6qGfgXuB2puTJuP4E8GK9qIoGTSFsut3hU2ilWKRz5JeRsnhFEjRhnlRwOrepk/s400/14012011%2528001%2529.jpg" border="0" />I got there around 2pm and as the river is so narrow you can only really fish with a whip. So I pulled out my 15 year old Silstar red 6m whip. I didn't see much point in buying maggots to fish for an hour so nicked a slice of bread from home and a bit of corn to feed.</div><div>It was very quiet with no sign off bites in the first 30mins, I kept changing my depths and alternating between corn and bread on the hook but it wasn't looking good and I was starting to regret not get some maggots!</div><div>But then at 2.46pm the float went under and not because of the current this time! After a little fight this beauty came to the net, caught on breadflake.<br /><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562154699120580914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtmb02o4uzpTamof9mPhuX2dN1lpWeOze9Z3_KwQ6aO7JRRh0eFsXAg5xOuURD5u7BLtTuyL2RN-LkqcUPkzdubYsw3NZ3bUawP-4G6qCVk9Il13y0h-CNxBH9TNiiWQM5QOJ-CObXTmxe/s400/14012011%2528002%2529.jpg" border="0" />Not sure if it's a roach or chub, but I think as its so long its a chub? Either way a nice fish to start <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">2011 off and that was that! I ran the float through the swim a few more times but nothing so packed up and head to the pub for a swift half to celebrate the start of hopefully a good 2011!</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Hoping to get out on Tuesday for a full day and to use my new feeder rod and reel (more on that to come).</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Thanks for reading and good luck for the weekend if you're planning on wetting a line.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">All the best,</span></div><div>The Maggot Dangler.<br /><br /><br /></div><div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247529243335415388.post-82284761905412232402011-01-11T23:38:00.000-08:002011-01-13T08:06:17.405-08:002010 Round up.<div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">So as I've said previously I only started getting back into fishing at the end of 2010 and a lot had changed. Line is measured is diameter and not lbs, everyone uses pellets before this year I was strictly a maggot and bread man and hadn't really heard of pellets I still haven't caught with pellet on the hook but have used them for feeding, paste was used to hang your wallpaper not catch carp and the birth of commercials seem more apparant. I'm used to fishing small ponds for free or paying upto £2 to fish a farm lake but now there seems to be an abundance of commercial fisherys charging £5 and stuffing their small lakes full of carp.</span><br /><br /></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Today I thought I'd show you a few pictures from my trips out in 2010 to give you an idea of the places I fish and the fish I've caught.</span><br /></div><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">All these fish came right at the end of the year when most places where frozen over but I managed to find a small river/brook that was still flowing near Bamber Bridge. Its a small river and not very deep at all, I used to fish it when I was a young lad but never remember catching anything as big as these fish. I had to use my old whip as there was no space on the bank for my pole and its not big enough for a rod. I used pinkie and bread trotting along the far bank and was on a fish a chuck in the end</span>. </div><div align="center"><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561203759208232034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtQHz8fZcUDmA4g15XCp7QOz-Pj7wa_Bg7-5Hrz79KiWtDRe1km0pNAiHi8OfquBbBq3F12TT4CAlPWxRZrASsS8FAGBmb-JPPehjHUQdzFrOCMqlyB484iwxrt8x-iNtdhknwPB42kxXx/s400/07122010.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"> A bit of game fishing!!<br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561203750300172578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR3LECFCby_pmJecr8TTefDwtkadVthD4WXm4tt1KKh_gXrW2yzPYELHNDBJ_W82nlrzBOOWz48r9nc6eFNqZMB579Jpj3AB82zpQwOyWTrEodPq_DoVfvuOYnSRgm3KaGRftOHSSdyrl0/s400/10122010%2528001%2529.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center">A small chub(I think?)</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561203746227340386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU70OiqBkvvxCxPRY5Thor_77xSxmqjRUWLZsT8zXVRNom5aBLDuZYiY55HGurxCRoEx-lHMVNgsMyhXOeryyx5KLR-7K6HnPf_0IblcalmJLRepQ4XD5-xv-8R2TVQu92TNSFjnR4bAOv/s400/10122010%2528003%2529.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center">A nice sized roach.<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">In the hour or so I was there I must have caught over 10 roach, chub and the random trout!!</span></p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Another venue I fished a lot last year was Shruggs Wood in Leyland. This venue has abit of a bad reputation as it is near a rough estate and gets a lot of young kids fishing it. I've never had any problems and as long as you avoid it during summer holidays and leave around 3pm its a smashing little venue and at £2 a day or £12 a year a bargin! The first few times I fished it I used maggot and caught lots of skimmers and perch nothing massive but all a nice size. There was always people set up for carp but I never saw them catch anything! </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">'d decided to go fishing in Blackburn after dropping my son off at nursery and despite the fact that it was absolutley throwing it down nothing was stopping me! So I went to Newrads (?) in Darwen I didnt like the look of the venue and after an hour with no bites and strong winds I decided to go to Shruggs Wood as I was certain I'd catch and its surrounded by woods so quite sheltered. I was using corn as well as maggot on this day and as well as the usual haul of skimmers I caught my first ever bream. I didn't have scales with me but would guess it was around 3lbs.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561208104960863698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg794U0dgK1cZevubUvHfGg7Xf8OciflkhR4HQxbe1WLkI54xfUCt0ODEymamzBanwxUROUDFeHycBwzJD1QFA-5XtLPIpF75tRtKwbuo-fsWFY0P38b3Op3YIf-EmVXRFGMzRT2qqhkPZN/s400/01102010%2528003%2529.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center">Notice the rain bouncing of the lake!</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561208096044280994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaBrboqASmEO0K3b37u7bY60iWCXqXwTwbb6D278iVp7ZImbmX04mbe24dYZcMoq00hTfYvm_6qDZUVpd2YXONYO797OKCU5G247F2u1XIV2SpVU7s9RK4GD92QQEaaNe50k6Xafg8dtke/s400/01102010%2528002%2529.jpg" border="0" /><br />Another venue I fished a few times last year was Byers Farm in between Gregson Lane and Bamber Bridge. I fished here a couple of times as a child but don't remember catching much! It now has a second pond and is full of carp around the 1-2lb mark as well as bigger carp into double figures there's even a rumour of a catfish in the top lake as well! I hope I never catch it, ugly things!! </p><p>On my second visit just before it got all icy and snowy but still bloody cold I used pinkies and corn caught only caught 3 or 4 small carp before one around the 6-8lb mark snapped my pole! I'm currently using my dads old DAM pole which had a few repairs on the top section, I had a decent battle with this fish and was near to landing it when SNAP! my top section snapped in two places! Gutted PB fish lost and a trip to local tackle shop to see what he could do. Anyway here's a few pictures of the fish that didnt snap my pole from my two visits to Byers last year.<br /><br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561251714943094594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwnhSoVFQoDewmEXs1L0vKbHjImRvJtD2JBdRO5TtfTKIv7VrvlH7WdX29evofewDu5QmuMIV9Qd50CZDi_kr8uceLHExjAZvi75GJq8jXHGeinv8ryq4o_0fOxs1YBdd14Z8wIknLrpLu/s400/07102010%2528003%2529.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561251716128404050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaBi_LaI0fp_OQcT3sJO4rM8A5wR1fhykqN52QEA0_p9Mts5pKVSph0ry-sHB0QI03NQy5mNdOv4O0yzUlJyULY_Wc1RitrocAYaWyMidc2EZceRf7c97IhLydjxyCAfGMWDfIk7KPIxFB/s400/07102010%2528002%2529.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> A very nice goldfish<br /></span></p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561626174532131106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikYzIqSOKeDr8LMh2UjXVpLSaHcfJ9Oi6pnfG881THA-zX4AkyyrrhyMp93_CNixS-CfLQDeznLT4Jsl5qoCDRGCojqy0jgH7ECatT7SMDOSEMug1RmwonUFPsDnDo4jd_i4BGT1w9gaKv/s400/07102010.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center">A small common carp very pretty though, unlike its ugly sister below a chunky mirror.<br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561626172431379538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg53GDxg36INn2WVkhl9OKdnkV2ElGlNQ217bGb0cpujV6M-AXR3HoFbva_g87Fh_Rq8TC0L_Wb1O7JbmiG_eOD1b137dz8UjdJ1lx5pEFgOSkm3smNi9og767iwHM2lAjmZ0iYKI-Rw5KP/s400/07102010%2528004%2529.jpg" border="0" /><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">So that's a quick round up of my 2010, I hope to get out very soon and start telling you all about the fish I catch in 2011!<br /></span><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3247529243335415388.post-91571876676681895692011-01-11T07:35:00.000-08:002011-01-11T07:51:35.942-08:00The start of a new year.<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I've fished all my life, but I've never really taken it seriously or fished more than a few times a year. I used to fish a lot of small free ponds in and around the Hoghton and Bamber Bridge area when I was a kid and always enjoyed it but never caught anything big.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I started going quite regularly at the end of 2010 and seem to have got the bug back!</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I want to use this blog to document my return to fishing and hopefully progression from bumbling idiot who can't tie hooks on properly to a decent all around angler cumulating in me entering my first ever match at some point in 2011.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I work long hours during the week and have a 2yr old boy who I love spending time with at weekends as well playing cricket in the summer months so finding time to fish is one of my biggest obstacles. But I hope to get out quite regulary and will discuss the venues, set up, baits and fish caught or not as the case my be(!) on here after each session.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I hope my blog will entertain and inform you, but my biggest wish is to get some interaction from you guys so if I'm doing something wrong, or you've got advice on a venue etc I'd love to hear from you and I will be more than willing to share all my tips and venue info with you.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">But for now tight lines,</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The Maggot Dangler</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0