Bob Nudd - July 2015

Steve O’Riordan Masterclass Day Decoy Lakes

04.07.2015

well done Steve

This was a special 50th birthday present from Steve’s wife Nicola. His son Jack had also come along for the day. The wonderful Decoy lakes near Whittlesey in Cambridgeshire was the chosen venue. Diane the owner had kindly allowed them to use keepnets.

Jack with his first carp

It was a warm morning with a moderate blustery westerly wind. Weekends are always busy but luckily we were able to get on pegs 30 and 31 on Beastie Lake.

Steve started on the bottom at 10mts cupping in 2 big pots of 4mm and 6mm hard feed carp pellets with a banded 6mm on the hook and he was soon catching carp and F1’s. Jack had borrowed my margin pole and was fishing at about 4mts loose feeding with 4mm hard feed carp pellets with a 6mm banded pellet on the hook. His start was much slower catching 2 tench and some skimmers. In the last hour his swim came alive and he was hooking carp, barbel and F1’s really quickly. Steve meanwhile was catching steadily despite losing 2 really big carp.

this feels like a big fish

We left the bank at about 4pm Steve had caught just over 60lbs and Jack thanks to a brilliant last hour close to 50lbs.

Bob

Here the pictures:

Steve with a big F1

Jack brings an F1 to the surface

the barbel started feeding in the last hour

great catch Jack

Neil Clayton Masterclass Day Decoy Lakes

06.07.2015

brilliant catch Neil

This was a special Christmas present from Neil’s wife Janet, the wonderful Decoy lakes near Whittlesey in Cambridgeshire was the chosen venue, Diane the owner had kindly allowed Neil to use keepnets.

Neil with his first fish

It was a warm morning with a moderate westerly wind. Most of the lakes were free today so I opted to fish on Elm.

The action was nonstop

Neil loves fishing the waggler. It can be a good method if you can manage to avoid the line bites. Hookbait was a banded 6mm hard feed carp pellet, loose feeding with 4mm pellets. After 3 missed bites which were probably liners the float dipped and the 12ft Drennan float rod arched round as a big carp was hooked. From then on it was almost nonstop as carp, F1’s and even barbel came to the net. One or two big fish were lost but I think they were foul hooked.

A beautiful 3lb barbel

We left the bank at about 4pm. Neil had caught about 120lbs of fish – one of the best waggler weights I have seen here.

Bob

Here the pictures:

A good carp comes to the net

An 8 lb mirror carp

Almost in the net

A 4lb common carp

The carp fight hard here

A 5lb mirror carp

Mark Smith Masterclass Day at Holly Farm

07.07.2015

great catch Mark

This was a special Christmas present from Mark’s family. His son Rob had also come along for the day. The beautiful Holly Farm in Ashby Magna Leicestershire was the chosen venue.

Mark with his first fish

It was a cool overcast morning with a blustery westerly wind. Sunshine and showers were the forecast for the day.

Rob with his first fish

Both anglers opted for the pole, feeding a combination of luncheon meat and 4mm pellets with a small pot. It was a slow start and the roach seemed to love the meat hookbait. A switch to a banded 4mm pellet seemed to help but the big carp were not in a feeding mood and it was really the F1’s that provided the action. The last hour was much better as the fish started to feed.

a 1lb F1

We left the bank at about 4.3 pm Mark had caught about 25lbs – lots of fish but mainly small. Rob had fished well as it was his first time fishing with a pole and he had caught just a little less than his dad with about 23lbs.

Bob

Here the pictures:

the rain did not stop the fish feeding

a big fish swirls on the surface

a 2lb mirror carp

a big F1 close to 2lbs

a quality f1

almost beat dad Rob

Kevin Andrews Masterclass Day Decoy lakes

22.07.2015

brilliant catch Kevin

This was a special 40th birthday present from Kevin’s mum Karen. His fishing friend Andy had also come along for the day. The wonderful Decoy Lakes near Whittlesey in Cambridgeshire was the chosen venue. Diane the owner had kindly allowed them to use keepnets.

Kevin with his first fish

It was a warm overcast morning with a moderate westerly wind with a threat of showers later in the day. Cedar lake was free so I decided we would fish there.

Andy’s swim was full of barbel

Pole was the chosen method starting at about 5 mts in the deep margins, loose feeding with 4mm hard feed carp pellets with a banded 4mm on a 16 hook. Both anglers were soon catching. It was just steady at first and then the catch rate increased. In the last hour it was a fish every put in. Andy’s swim was full of quality barbel and Kevin was catching mainly carp until the last hour when he also had a good run of big barbel.

a 3lb mirror carp

Both anglers had reached their 50lb net limit and were returning fish as they caught them. We left the bank at 4pm. Kevin had caught close to 150lbs and Andy about 140. A great result for anglers who very rarely fish with a pole. I think I may have converted them now.

Bob

Here the pictures:

Yes, it’s mine!

a 4lb barbel in perfect condition

a beautiful 13lb mirror carp

almost in the net

a big common carp about 7lbs

Andy with a 4lb barbel

the barbel were feeding well

a big F1 about 3lbs

a friendly kiss

brilliant catch Andy

Scott Fountain Masterclass Day Decoy lakes

23.07.2015

brilliant catch Scott

This was a special Valentines day present from Scott’s partner Jane. The wonderful Decoy Lakes near Whittlesey in Cambridgeshire was the chosen venue. Diane the owner had kindly allowed keepnets.

It was a warm overcast summer morning with a light westerly wind. Elm lake was free, so I decided we would fish there.

Scott with his first fish

Pole was the chosen method cupping in a big pot of hard feed carp pellets at 10 mts and then loose feeding some 4mm pellets over the top. It only took about 5 minutes and Scott was into his first fish, and that’s how the day continued with fish after fish coming to the net. It was an all action day. A short session up in the water and also in the margins was OK but never as good as the 10 mts line. By 2pm Scott had reached his net limit and was returning fish as he caught them.