23/09/2012 - Straiton Pond

Plump

Time - 1545-1900
Weather - Occasional Easterly, not bad otherwise
Water - 1-2ft visibility
Method - Float/Maggots & Float/Deadbait
Total - 14
Species - 7 Roach, 7 Perch to 6 inch approx

I made straight for the landslip mark today hoping to get right in amongst the fish and wasn't disappointed. Fishing about 30-35 inches under the surface, I was getting enough interest and soon had a Roach on the bank by the usual float/maggot combo.

Looking to escape

While bites were common enough, it wasn't exactly frenzied. I was trying to target Perch a bit more than on previous visits as the ratio of Roach to Perch so far is around 4:1. Ths entailed varying the maggots, often fishing with 2 or 3 red ones and it seemed to be working.

1540

I've been chatting to a dog-walker who's fished the pond in the past and provided me with a fair amount of information on the place. He turned up and advised I should try a bit deeper after a prolonged quiet spell and immediately I was under siege. Mostly from Perch, but the Roach were happy to get involved too. All fish were still more or less the same 6 inch-ish in size. Just shows how important the depth you are fishing at can be.

1830

As well as the maggot/float tactic, I chucked out a Pollock strip under a bubble float hoping for a passing Pike. However nothing happened at all on that rod. I suspect I may have to explore different depths on that front too and will surely do so next time I'm back.

Now a comparison between the last two photos. Both more or less show the same bank and are taken from the same place. The captions show the times taken. As you can see the light and conditions altered appreciably during the session.

02/03/2012 - Union Canal

West end of the basin

Time - 1615 - 1700
Water - OK, but visibility not great
Weather - Low bright sun, nice enough but chilly
Where - Wilkie's Basin
Method - Meat cube under a float & a jelly Perch
Total - 0

I had a quick session at Wilkies Basin. So far only one bite here in a few attempts, but you've got to be in it to win it and it looks as fishy as anywhere else on the canal.

Crazy Light

I chucked out some leftover meat cubes (from Eliburn) under a float on a wildly speculative rod and jigged a jelly Perch along the length of the stretch on the other.

No fish, bites or encouragement at all.

Normal Light

The sun was quite low in the west, so I took a few photos with and without it. The bottom two photos were taken no more than a minute or so apart, pointing in the same direction from only a few metres apart. Just shows the difference light can make with quite dramatic results.