30th April Great Somerford Moor lake

I had promised Dave a session on the lake learning about some of the rigs and methods I use to catch the tench. From this he could practice this on the Frampton on Severn gravel pit he fishes.

We met early at 6.30am on the bridge over the Bristol Avon at Great Somerfords. The gravel pit we were going to fish was just a minutes drive away. I was apprehensive to say the least from the previous days results.

Soon we were fishing on the point half way up the causeway between the two lakes. It’s a favorite swim which normally produces for me. The cast is only 4 rod lengths out and is at the bottom of the shelf from the bank. I started by putting out about half a pint of hemp followed by about half the amount of dead maggots. We sat back and waited and waited, brew by brew passed away with nothing happening other than Dave tying up some rigs that we would try. Rubber maggots and casters on hair rigs. One of the things that he wanted to understand was the feature finding with a lead and float. So we moved the rods up the causeway to fish the small lake while he practiced the feature finding technique. Soon we were interrupted by the indicators telling us he had a take. Soon a lovely little tench of about 2lbs ended in the net. Then another, then another, and another. This very small lake  is full of smaller tench however we spotted 3 large carp swimming there all over 2olbs. The largest one is called Maid Marion and is about 25-27lbs.

At about 2pm we returned to the larger lake and cast out. Soon the rod roared off again and soon Dave was playing a nice tench of 3lbs plus which I think might have been a pb. He caught this on the rigs he tied so he was well chuffed.

The rigs were the method mix and two rubber maggots on the hair on a size 14 hook which was critically balanced. I think he was quite happy with this. Soon thought this was to change.

I had left him to talk to a friend Ivor who was fishing further up the lake. I heard a shout and returned to the swim to find Dave playing a much better fish. This fish had taken him around the swim and had him thinking it was a much better fish.

Dave I think this one is pulling your string!

The fight was exhilarating and had the clutch going as Dave took some line then the tench had a go! After good controlling and  playing of the fish by Dave we had her laying in the net. She was definitely a pb. I thought it was over 5lbs and as we slipped her into the weighing sling the scales registered 6lbs 3oz.

So this was his new pb almost double the size of his previous. I think he was just a bit happy.

As you can see we did the business with the camera work.

It didn’t stop there he had another later on in the day of 4lbs 14oz, so Dave was indeed a very happy man.

Dave had 7 tench with the largest going 6lbs 3oz and was well pleased with what he had learnt and the fact that his rigs had caught the fish.

As Dave left he said “Happy Days” which I thought was a great saying. Thanks Dave for a great day.

I stayed on for another hour and caught a 4lber which ended the day for me. Ivor and I packed up and said our goodbyes.