It’s not such a long drive really unless you have a trailer and a tachograph. With the big vans being loaded for trips I had to take a trailer on the Transporter which would mean an extra couple of hours each way and so I finally arrived at the campsite at around 8pm. Not only was the barbecue not already on the go amongst those who’d already arrived but, even worse, there was no excuse as they hadn’t even been fishing and all regarded me with a look of shock when I suggested launching. Against my better judgement I decided to bow to peer pressure and drink instead...it was good to catch up with everyone again and consume too much.
Was it 7am when I awoke? It was probably around that. John would know, he was the person making all the racket after all! Still, it was time for bacon sarnies, jam sarnies and coffee anyway and I had pike to catch before our guests arrived.
I got down to the launchsite, dumped the trailer and chose a boat for the day. Surprise, I took the Ultra again. I must say that I enjoy fishing from it but have to confess that it isn’t a boat I want to own myself. That said it does seem to be my first choice when I have it to hand. It was ideal for the piking though as I’d brought loads of lures with me and they fit (fit, fitted, fat or fet?) in the cockpit hatch perfectly. Another feature that was really useful was the forward facing rod holders as I used them for the purpose they were designed for, that of holding the rod while I unhooked the fish. But that’s jumping ahead...I launched off the slip and paddled out trolling a Blue Rapala J13 on one rod and a Blue Shakespeare Big S on the other.
Quite a big lake this when you’re just paddling. It took a while but finally I had a fish hit the lure. A funny fight it came in having clearly hit the lure, bounced off because of the size and got itself caught ;D A foul-hooked perch to start the day off!
I carried on and came across an area where the weed thinned out a bit – there were plenty of roach here and I made a note to come back and try for them later. Especially when I spotted a few large ones, and I mean specimens. Now, I had a few 2lb roach or rudd (dunno which) back when I was nineteen but these were bigger. I thought they were possibly chub but there aren’t any in there apparently. Instead I contented myself with trolling back along the margins.
Zzzzzzzzzzzz!!!!!!!!!!!
I grabbed my rod and wound down...I had a fish on and it felt decent. It took line and dived, was brought up and thrashed about a bit.
A couple of minutes passed before I had it alongside. It had taken the J13 neatly in the mouth and was easily unhooked, returned and held while it gathered itself before swimming off...I’d got my first Llangorse pike of the weekend.
I paddled back up towards the slip. Axor was busy trying to tempt a pike on the fly but apart from little plucks from perch couldn’t connect. I met up with the others as they started to arrive in preparation for the four guys and two ladies from the British Disabled Angling Association. We brought a selection of kayaks off the trailer and by the time everything was ready to go they’d arrived and were rigging up. Terry mentioned my lucky Big S but with them now being discontinued nobody was getting their hands on it ;D
We all headed out again. I had lures out but apart from floating weed I didn’t manage anything all the way down to the bottom end. Of course once there things were a different matter and the J13 worked its magic again on a smaller pike...
I decided to carry on trolling over towards the spot I’d seen the roach in earlier and cast out a maggot on a float. I didn’t expect much because of the group of people who had been waterskiing around us were now shouting and jumping around in the shallows there. Sure enough the water was just clouded with mud and nothing was about any more. I did manage a roach nearby but alas the specimens were long gone. I trolled back towards the rest of the group.
Zzzzzzzzzzz! Oh yes, this was a good fish! From a similar spot to the 6lb’er in the morning this fish was going for it. I called John over to get a pic as I unhooked it after a decent scrap. I would estimate it at being around 8lb in weight; bigger than the first.
It was starting to get embarrassing now as no-one else had a pike yet but finally Starvin yelled out he’d got a fish on. I paddled over to get some pictures as he landed a 3lb’er with his very pretty gloves ;D
It was time for me to head back up to the slip. I’d been on the water for around eight hours now with just a short break while getting things ready for the BDAA guys. I paddled off but got sidetracked by some perch...
KeithyG was around by now so having had a bunch of perch from the bank I gave him the rod and within a short time he was in.
Off the water I headed to the camp shop to buy some water which was beautifully cold. I ended up walking out £21.47 lighter though as they had a couple of J13’s on the shelf ;D Fortunately there was a pub next door and I was treated to a nice cold pint by the BDAA guys which went down a treat – thanks again fellas!
Back at the campsite the barbecue was fired up, the beer fridge was opened and things started to go as most meet evenings go – smoothly and enjoyably ;D Of course it was starting to cool down as the sun sank and after a couple of hours I figured that it was a good time to fish...so Axor, KeithyG and I headed back to the water.
Trolling down we got through the shallow weeded area and with the others a couple of hundred yards behind me I dropped my lures down. Ten minutes later I had a hook up which came off after the first couple of tugs on the line. I cleared it and started again...a minute passed and then another hook up!
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz! I struck into the fish, it felt pretty good and with me pulling one way and it the other it jumped straight up and clear of the water, a good three feet above the surface, shaking its head while silhouetted against the sunset...it threw the hooks. We’d all had a good view of it and Axor, who was closest, estimated around 5lbs. I was quite pleased it had got off in all honesty as it would have otherwise become just another pike rather than a vivid memory.
We got down to the lily pads. As I paddled on Axor grabbed his rod and cast a home-tied fly. He tried it for a second cast and suddenly a pike surged up, took the fly and he hooked up, landing his own pike. Nothing else occurred as the sun sank and the moon rose and so we paddled back to the slip, walked back to the campsite (where the others were all in bed!) and got our heads down ready for the morning.
7am. Bacon. Coffee.
8 am. Down to the slip and the rest of the boats, paddles and seats along with the batteries for the Torque were got out and placed ready for use. A quick briefing and we were ready for business. Dorado pitched up and I hopped out of the Ultra to play with his boats for the day. I like to look outside the borders of our own brands and while I’ve paddled both Dorado and Dorado MKII in the past I’d not tried the Marlin or the Skua ARX. I spent the day mostly swapping between these while our own boats were out on the water and enjoyed the opportunity to spend that length of time in them while accompanying groups on the water.
I was mostly paired with Carpyken in his open canoe as we criss-crossed the lake all day long. The passengers were happy and so was Ken – I bet he’s got webbed feet ;D occasionally I paired off with someone else or went off to take photographs and videos or assist others. It was a busy day punctuated only with a barbecue and some tomfoolery...
I don’t know how it began but John’s Dorado was soon carrying him in the seat, Carpyken on the bow and myself in the tankwell. A pretty big load really. John paddled it around for a while in the proximity of the slip while Dorado got some photographs and video. It was interesting but I soon tired of this and decided to get off. I figured the best way to do this was just to roll over sideways ;D A huge cheer went up from the crowd as we emerged from the mud and weeds! A triple re-entry followed and we headed back in, cooled off from the scorching sun.
Later I had a go in Ken’s SINK – a plastic Valley Aquanaut. I loved it! Having spent the day practicing my edging and leaning I was doing the same in this and enjoying the responsiveness. It was all going so well until ken tried to get m to attempt a different method, ie leaning out of a turn. I was like a pendulum and went in ;D His passenger laughed his head off as I tried my first SINK re-entry. I went over the stern and hopped in). It was surprisingly easy. Hmm, I can see the attraction of SINKs now ;D I’m tempted. The short fella had a go too:
The day carried on until finally everyone had been out – some on multiple occasions – and people drifted off until we were the only ones left. We loaded up vehicles and trailers leaving only what was required for the morning’s session and headed off to the campsite. A supermarket run was carried out and much food and drink was consumed. It was going so well until Dizzyfish asked if I was still going fishing...I was persuaded and along with his son and KeithyG we headed once more for the lake.
Off we went and I had my first run. Missed it. The second had the same result. I weeded up constantly and while reeling in on one occasion number three hit the lure and weed but failed to hook itself. Then nothing. It started to get dark and I carried on up the lake back towards the slip. I was near the last part of the lake with any depth when suddenly:
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz! Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!
A double hook up! My first for a couple of years. I saw the left hand fish on the surface and felt the right hand one as I began to retrieve the line... it was too light and there was nothing but weed on the lure. It was my new J13 though and the first time it’d been hit. There were toothmarks on it ;) I grabbed the other rod and wound that in, again weed obscured the hooks...
I landed with 5 runs and no fish. Ludicrous! That’s a year’s worth or more. Luckily Keith had done better though and had landed his well-deserved first pike. Dizzy had also had one on a popper – a beauty too, at around 12lb. His son had also had one on that was even better but came off at the side.
Back at the campsite we drank some more, ate some more and got a fire going before everyone drifted off to bed.
I didn’t fish the morning. It was going to be warm again but I had to get back from Wales with enough time to sleep before heading to Wales the following day on a delivery! Such is life and I bade farewell to my mates.
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