Winter Success - Andy Hull

Andy playing a fish in

First job before fishing the water was to sort out the bait, after a couple of seasons using frozen shop brought baits I wanted to go back to making my own. A few days later a large box arrived from C C Moores containing a number of milk proteins, birdfoods and other ingredients.

I had a rough idea of the base mix I wanted and an afternoon in the shed making up two or three test batches finalized the mix. I decided to go back to an all time favorite flavour/essential oil combination. Scopex and Eucalyptus Oil, one I’ve caught a good number of winter fish on in the past. I stocked up the freezer with enough 14mm baits for a few weeks angling.

Through the Autumn I’d been messing around with a PVA bag presentation for the winter, I wanted to maximize the attraction of the hookbait without putting too much bait in. Testing various bags in a large bucket I refined the choice down to tiny Korda boillie funnel web bags filled with pellet and boillie crumb. I decided to use Milkmin pellets from C C Moores, a 3mm milk protein based pellet, very different from the norm, they gave a good visual attractor. The bags were barely larger than the hookbait itself, in the water the pellet would explode out of the bag leaving a small patch of bait with the hookbait in the middle. Exactly what I wanted to achieve one very attractive mouth-full.

I find it’s very important to have confidence in your methods when the fishing is slow. Winter is usually one of those times, changing rigs, baits etc in an attempt to improve results usually means you end up chasing your tail when you should have the confidence and trust your end tackle to do it’s job should a fish decide to feed.

The first session of the campaign was in early November, I settled in the beach swim which gives a good spread of features and area to fish. The left hand rod was cast to a bar at a range of about 50 yards. A bottom bait presented with a PVA bag. The middle and right hand rods were fished with pop-ups and cast out into the middle, where in previous years the fish have congregated during the colder months.

From experience on several waters in the winter, the first couple of hours of light can be the most productive feeding times. Therefore I make sure I’m down well before it’s light. Setting up the bivvy in the dark becomes second nature after a while and I’m usually in place ready to cast out as soon as there is sufficient light.

With the rods in place it was time to get the kettle on and scan the water for signs of feeding fish.
The day passed with no action and strangely no carp showing either. After a very early morning and hours of watching the water I was shattered by the time the light started to disappear. Soon after cooking up some grub, I was in the bag and off to sleep.

I awoke with a start, the left hand buzzer had sounded, slowly the line continued to tighten. On with the shoes and out to the rods, I sweep back the rod and bend into a heavy fish. At first the fish comes easily but after a minute or two it seems to wake up and starts to put up a bit more resistance, kiteing to the right. I gain a little more line, not hurrying, happy to let the fish tire itself out at range. Slowly I gain more line and bring the fish to the net. After a few lunges it finally breaks the surface, obviously a big fish in the torch light. Safely in the net I remove the handle, collapse the net and carry the fish in it to the waiting mat. As soon as I’d lifted the fish I was fairly sure it would go past the 30 mark and sure enough the needle cleared it by 10 ounces.

Andy bags a big mirror

During the next week the temperatures stayed fairly mild, the fish were still likely to be on the move rather than holed up in the middle. On arrival one of the other members, John, was set up. He’d had three of fish to 24lb, all on his left hand rod. This was covering the entrance to the car park bay. He was only doing the night and said he would be off shortly. I therefore decided to fish the other side of the entrance, from here I could cover the entrance, a large group of pads just out in front and my left hand rod could cover the water out in the middle. By 10am John was off home, but not before catching another, one of the two double figure commons.

The rest of the day past quietly, quite the norm on the water the afternoon is usually a dead loss.
Shortly after dark however, the rod covering the pads is away, quite a spirited fish at such close range. On with the neoprene chesties, I wade through the weedbed that sits in front of the swim and bring the fish to the net. In first time, I reach back and place the rod and landing net handle on dry land. I carry the fish back and place it on the mat. On parting the mesh I recognize the fish as one that the previous year had been attacked by an otter. A large bite had been taken out of the tail root and at the time looked quite awful. A year on while the wound was still visible, it had healed up remarkably well.

A fantastic looking fish this one, a linear mirror taking the needle round to 28.11lbs. Another fish to the bottom bait/PVA bag presentation.

The following Saturday morning I was up early and all the gear was loaded into the car. However I wasn’t going early this week, a certain rugby match took priority! By the time Australia pegged us back to take us into extra time I was a quivering mess! I’m not sure how many text messages got sent that morning, but judging from the ones I was receiving there was a common state of nervous excitement. Then the ball was passed back to old reliable and the rest as they say was history. The country went mad.

The next message came from Paul, ’do you fancy a celebratory pint?’
Did I?! Fifteen minutes later I parked the car in the lake car park and walked back the pub.
I finally got back to the lake about 1pm, the beach was taken. I however fancied another go near the pads.

Again the afternoon was uneventful, but after dark I received a take from the entrance to the bay. The fish came straight towards me and so I had to wind down before striking. The rod took on a powerful curve then sprung back as the hook pulled.

O well, at least they’re still eating the bait. The only fish hooked that weekend, again no fish from the middle. Anyway who cares when you’re World Champions!!!! Little was I to know that that would be the last carp hooked for weeks.

The week before Christmas, I decided to try to get them feeding by fishing maggots. By threading maggots onto 3lb line, forming a loop then tying it to the hook via a small ring, a great presentation can be produced. The maggots will last at least 12 hours in the water. The main problem is casting them, I overcome this by putting the hook with maggots attached into a pva bag. This also filled with maggots protects the hook bait and can be cast long range.

The baited area was kept topped up with maggots via a spod every couple of hours or so. The feeding response was immediate, however only from the bream and tench. If the carp were in the area they should have got in on the act, but all I ended up with were 6 bream and 3 tench.

I had some holiday booked between Christmas and New Year. With a 4 day session ahead of me I felt I had a good chance of tracking down where the carp were. The carp though had other ideas, what’s more the weather turned colder and the lake froze over twice during the stay. This was turning out to be one of the worst winters on the water for years. And the UK was due some proper winter weather with heavy snow predicted for Norfolk.

On the Wednesday the snow arrived and plunged Norwich into gridlock. 3 hours to drive the 7 miles home from work! The snow was short lived and by the weekend the rivers were bursting their banks, the lake was under water. It was however very warm.

The following weekend 7 Feb, I was down at first light as usual. Back on the beach once again. First take came at 7.15am to the right hand rod which hooped over into a battle curve. We’re back in action. A spirited fight saw the fish taking line to start with, but finally succumbing. Into the net a big near leather. Up on the scales she goes 29.04 a lovely first fish of 2004.

24.08 Mirror

With the photos done and the kettle on to warm us up the right hand buzzer signals a take. On the rod in a flash I’m attached to a fish kiting right. All of a sudden everything goes solid, the fish has made what’s left of the lilies. I apply a steady pressure and after a minute or so I feel a kick on the end and slowing the fish comes free and the fights on again. I play the fish out in the margin before Richard slides the net under it. Another near leather, this one going 28.01

Shortly after the fish was returned my mate Mich turned up to join the action, he setting up to my right. The afternoon passed quietly but after dark the action started again. My middle rod was away first at 7.30pm, first take on a pop-up for ages. A heavy fish with plenty of power it kited first to the left then to right but I kept gaining line and soon had it wallowing in front of the swim. Mich made no mistake with the net and shone the torch down on a big mirror.

I lifted it up onto the mat and thought 30. The scales confirming a weight of 30.04 into the sack for photos at first light.

Next Mich is into a fish from the island, he keeps it from going round the back and forces it into open water. I ready the net as he brings it closer. He takes his time with the fish, holding the fish to stop it may have weakened the hook hold. Finally the fish is ready and Mich steers it into the waiting net.
Another near leather, and a new pb for Mich at 28.01 again sacked for the morning photo session.

At 9.30pm I’m into another, this fish kites right and I’m shouting for Mich to give me a hand. I’m expecting to hear his alarms sound as my fish ploughs through him lines. I can’t raise Mich so I pile on the pressure and stop the fish. It’s just the other side of the reeds which are between the two swims so I decide to clamber under a alder tree and net the fish in Mich’s swim rather than try to bring the fish through the reeds.

Mich is a little surprised when I wake him and announce I’ve just landed a fish of 23.06 in his net.What a day 4 20’s and a 30 and in February too. I’ll have to wait a long time for another winter day like that.
Richard and Paul were down in the morning to do the honours with the cameras. The following weekend I blanked, well I suppose it had to happen.

A day off the following Friday gave me 3 nights. The nights had drawn out just enough to get down after work. Though that meant rushing down, sticking hookbaits on and casting out as dark was descending and setting up the bivvy in the dark. I started off in the keyhole, a bay that comes off the main body of water. The carp get in here in number at times. At 11pm my left had rod is away. I strike and feel something on the end, probably a tench. I bring it to the net and switch on the torch. To my surprise it’s a mirror carp, which goes 20.10 It’s the only action so I decide to move in search of the big fish.

Andy bags a big mirror

That night I had another take in the early hours, this time a mirror of 25.07 came to the net. The following week the weather warnings were out again, heavy snow was forecast. I was going whatever, I just hoped it didn’t bring Norwich to a standstill once again. Work colleagues thought I was mad, no change there then! While there was snow on the ground on the Friday it only started to snow heavily again once I was on my way to the lake.

Pushing the barrow round to the beach was fun through 3 inches of snow. I parked the barrow in the shelter of a tree so I could sort the rods out without the rest of the gear getting soaked. I cast out the three rods and set about getting the bivvy up. I had just got it out of the bag when the middle rod is away, I can’t believe it, in the middle of a snow storm and a fish on within 15 minutes. I play this one quite hard, conscience that my bags getting filled with snow! In comes a mirror of 20.14.

By the time I’ve got the bivvy up and the gear in the dry Richard had answered my call for a photographer and we get some shots in the near dark. The next day proves just as productive.
I’ve had nothing from the bar to my left, so I decide to fish this rod further out on the same line. Within an hour I’m into one on the repositioned rod, a mirror which refuses to go 20lb the needle settling at 19.15

With this instant success on a bottom bait in the open water I switched the middle rod to a bottom bait also. I’m rewarded at 2pm with a take, this one does top the 20 mark going 22.02 I tie up a new rig, the hook point having been damaged. I rebait and cast it back out. I text out to my mates to keep them updated, Paul rings back, I talking to him when the middle rod rips off again.  The rod hoops over and even though the fish is 60 yards out it takes 20 yards of line before boiling on the surface. This is obviously a big fish.

It kites left, I’m gaining line but it’s getting near the snags, I pile on the pressure and turn her but now she’s off to the right. She makes the submerged pads and all goes solid. Try as I might I can’t get things moving so I decide to change the angle. I struggle under the branches of the alder and from the right hand swim I put the pressure on and after a moment or two the fight is back on. However now I’m in a swim without a landing net.

A winter 30 for Andy

The fish however settles the matter by swimming back out into open water the line pinging free of the snag. Lucky or what! The fish is now quite tired and I easily net her. I recognize her as one I’ve had before at just below 30, now though she looks a lot bigger.

I phone Richard before I’ve even lifted the net, he’s soon on the way. I set up the mat and get the scales and camera ready for his arrival. We lift the fish onto the mat and into the sling. The scales suspended from a storm pole to keep them steady, the needle rotates to show a weight of 32.08 Yes!

Another ambition achieved, a 30 in the snow.

Andy Hull

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