Bob Nudd - March 2015

David Lee Masterclass Day Tunnel Barn Farm

03.03.2015

brilliant catch Dave

This was a special 60th birthday present from Dave’s wife Anita and his family. The fantastic Tunnel Barn Farm, Shrewley in Warickshire was the chosen venue.

Dave with his first fish

It was a cold clear morning, only about 3 C. So I thought it might be a difficult day. I could not have been so wrong – it’s such a brilliant venue that within 10 minutes Dave was slipping his net under his 1st F1. Bait was some well soaked 2mm hard feed carp pellets with a 4mm Van den Eynde elite expander on the hook.

it was nonstop action

As it was so cold some caution was needed on feeding so 2 lines were selected one in the margins and the other in the deep water at about 7 mts, cupping in just a few pellets on each line and then topping up with about 12 pellets with a small pot on the pole. After the first 30 minutes the action was nonstop with a fish almost every put in.

a 1lb F1 in perfect condition

The cold wind finally drove us from the bank at about 4 pm, Dave having had a brilliant day catching close to 50lbs of fish, a great catch in adverse conditions.

Bob

Some more pictures:

an F1 just over 1lb

this feels like a good fish

another quality F1

even the small guggeon loved soft pellet

Chris Alcorn and Lee Steward Masterclass Day Decoy lakes

26.03.2015

great catch on a tough day

This was a special combined Christmas present from Chris’ and Lee’s family’s. Lee’s dad Kevin 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 both to use a keepnet.

brilliant catch Lee

It was a cold morning with a strong westerly wind, it might be spring already but it certainly didn’t feel like it. Elm lake offered some shelter but with water temperature’s well down I had an idea fishing would be tough.

Lee with his first fish

Both anglers love to fish method feeder, soaked 2mm Van Den Eynde carp pellets with fishmeal groundbait was the mix, with double red maggot on the hook. It took about 45 minutes for Lee to hook into the first fish and then 2 more followed. Chris meanwhile had not had a bite. A switch to sweetcorn resulted in a fish within 2 minutes. 3 more followed quickly. Lee was still catching really well on maggot, Chris was having a quiet spell and then some excitement as his hat was taken off his head by a strong gust, and went bobbing over to the far side of the lake – well it needed a wash!!!

We left the bank at about 4pm windblown but happy, Chris having caught about 20lbs and Lee with the help of 2 big koy carp about 50lbs.

Bob

Some more pictures:

Chris with his first fish

almost in the net

Chris with a 2lb mirror carp

a good fish swirls on the surface

a koy almost 4lbs

Kevin helps with the net

a common carp just over 2lbs

a beautiful koy almost 5lbs

Steve Rowbotham Masterclass Day Decoy Lakes

16.04.2015

brilliant catch Steve

This was a special 50th Birthday present from Steve’s best fishing friend Mark Horsley, who 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 both to use keepnets.

Steve with his first fish

It was a warm spring morning with a light easterly breeze. Beastie lake was available, normally it is always booked, so I took the opportunity to fish it.

Mark’s first fish

Pole was the chosen method. Steve was soon catching loose feeding 4mm hard feed carp pellets and maggots, with double maggot on the hook. After a slower start Mark also started to catch well. The roach were proving a nuisance on maggot. A switch to 4mm Van den Eynde expander pellets resulted in quality carp, F1’s and bream. At times there were too many fish in the swims, resulting in missed bites, a change in feeding from loose feed, to using a pot on the pole was much better.

concentration

We did the catch shots at about 4.30 pm both anglers having caught about 100lbs each.

Bob

Some more pictures:

almost in the net

a 2lb F1

a 5lb mirror carp

Yes, it’s mine!

biggest fish of the day an 8lb common carp

a 3lb tench

a 1lb bream in perfect condition

great catch Mark

Mark & Lee Stokes Masterclass Day Decoy Lakes

30.03.2015

great catch Lee

This was a special combined birthday present from Mark and Lee’s families. The wonderful Decoy lakes near Whittlesey in Cambridgeshire was the chosen venue. Diane the owner had kindly allowed them both to use a keepnet.

Mark with his first fish

It was a cool bright morning with a strong westerly wind. One corner of Beastie lake looked well sheltered so we decided to fish there. Both anglers opted to fish the method feeder after already having success from spending the previous 3 days fishing on the venue.

Lees first fish a small F1

Well soaked 2mm Van Den Eynde carp pellets and fishmeal groundbait was the mix with a cocktail of a banded 6mm pellet tipped with either double dead red maggots or sweetcorn. It was a slow start much expected as the water temperature was still very low. Mark was the first to catch. It was a skimmer about 1lb, then Lee hooked into a small F1. After midday the action speeded up and soon both of them were catching well. Lee caught the biggest fish of the day, but his technique is not to be recommended, when rushing to pick up his rod he tripped over his landing net handle, did a double summersault and ended up playing the fish flat on his back.

We left the bank at about 5 pm both of them having had a brilliant day, catching about 40lbs of fish each.

Bob

Some more pictures: