Blind faith
After a full day on Rutland Water and less than fours hours sleep the night before I was ready to kick back and relax. It was dark by the time we had disembarked and loaded the cars. I made my way to the carpark exit where Andy and Dave were waiting for me. I already had the campsite cued up on my sat nav. It was apparently only eight minutes away. Andy wanted to lead the way though and as Dave leaned out of the passenger window he said with a reassuring degree of confidence something in his Measham twang that led me to believe they knew exactly where they were going. I turned my sat nav off and followed.......and followed......and followed. After a good twenty minutes blindly chasing them down increasingly remote country lanes it dawned on me they didn't have a bloody clue either where we were or where we were going.........
Apologies
I'll try and keep this brief and apologies to my regular reader for this is not aimed at you. For some insane reason a few in the lure angling world are incredibly narcissistic. The 'been doing it longest' or 'I can catch more than you' brigades. The ones that massively overvalue the act of fooling creatures with brains millions of times less powerful than their own with bits of rubber they neither designed or produced. Some of these poor souls may have wandered onto this post to have derogatory sneer. Hi guys (waves arms). It's mainly just a story about some blokes going fishing and having fun, for which we make no apologies..............
Rutland Water
We did the whole introduction to Rutland last year on our first visit, you can read that here-
In the weeks prior to our most recent visit the news coming through wasn't great. A guy that had caught nearly one hundred (yes, that's right) Zander in a day the previous year had been back and caught six. The Zandermaster competition was also a lot tougher than many anticipated. Leo and Phil fished it though and had a great time, Jamie less so thanks to an errant boat partner but all struggled to catch consistently. Despite this we were all very much looking forward to a couple of days afloat.........
The alarm went off at half past five. As is always the case when looking forward to a fishing session I was already awake. A couple of hours later I arrived at Rutland Water. Martin and Nate were already there, in the car park. If you hold up your hand you can probably count the number of anglers in history who have had both a genuine Lincolnshire 7lb Chub and a number of 10lb Tench from the county and still have some fingers left. Martin is one of them but had never done any jigging or dropshotting. Full credit to him for trying something new and he was both excited and a little reticent. Nate on the other hand had endured a rough night. He'd slept in his van in a remote layby somewhere, one eye constantly open for fear of being interfered with. Despite his overactive imagination he was quite chirpy. When Neil arrived we had a good old natter while we waited for Andy and Dave.
The dynamic duo soon arrived and we set about unloading all the gear near the lodge. Dr Paul Garner was there, waiting for the shutter to open. Always strange seeing someone you've seen in print so many times but a regular occurrence at the big waters. nice chap too. Anyway after a frustratingly long wait in a queue to purchase boat tickets (£31 each for the day) we were set to go.......
Being the most experienced, Andy was paired with beginner Martin, Dave and I were in the next boat with Nate and Neil bringing up the rear. We all headed into the North arm and we soon dropped the others off as we headed a good distance up to an area I had seen a truly giant Perch caught the year before. Sure enough almost first drop down in 35ft of water I had a Perch, albeit a small one. My tactics would be the much the same throughout the day. My favourite Gold Glitter mini fry attached to 0.08 Braid with jig heads varying from 30g to 10g depending on the wind and drift. In the really deep water or when it really blows 50g heads are needed. I always like to use the lightest head possible, I find it easier and more natural to work small shads with a lighter weight. Besides that, who wants to catch an eight ounce Zander on nearly two ounces of lead?
Despite our best efforts the next few drifts were disappointing with just a few plucks to each of us. Word came through from the others though and it seemed Martin under the guidance of Andy was having a good deal of success with some small Zander........
With Martin happily catching his mentor could get among some fish himself........
Dave and I headed over to them and added a couple of fish each. The fish were quite small though and we decided to try and find some bigger specimens. After a brief foray into deeper water (80ft +) we headed around to the south arm. Neither of us really wanted to bring fish up from such depths. I mentioned it last year and I still have the same opinion. If a fish is one of ten thousand when do they become precious? When there are a thousand left? A hundred? One? To me every fish counts and so they should to Anglian Water. Nobody knows how many fish have died at Rutland due to being winched up from extreme depths. To err on the side of caution is sensible.
Over in the south arm in thirty five feet of water I latched onto something quite spirited. In fact it had me wondering whether I had hooked a massive Perch for a few minutes. The fight was quite un-Zander like and I took my time bringing it up through the water column. Sadly it wasn't a Perch but a rather fine Zander........
After that the action was fairly steady. My small jigs ever so slightly outfished Dave's dropshot lures although we were both getting a massive amount of dropped takes and plucks. Had we employed stingers I'm sure we would have benefited. The fish were in very small pockets and the wind was making it tough to stay on the fish, even with a drogue. We were drifting forty yards with nothing and then for a few moments all hell would break loose before going dead again. We did however find a spot with a big depth change from forty feet down to nearly sixty feet that produced the most fish. With more boats booked for the next day, it would be one to head back to in the morning.
Andy and Martin had done really well and stayed more or less in the same area all day. Nate and Neil did less well but like Dave and I they were fishing on the hoof so to speak. Nate did take a rather lovely photo though and with everyone catching it was a fantastic day for all concerned.......
After waving goodbye to Neil who sadly had to work the next day the campsite debacle ensued. This must have been frustrating for Jamie who not fancying the morning rush-hour drive had already found the campsite long before those of us who had the shortest distance to travel. Eventually we got there though and I soon departed for the nearest town for the food and beer run. From what we could see in the dark the campsite was very nice with excellent facilities.....
http://www.winghall.co.uk/camping.html
On my return we eagerly devoured some pies and chips while the beer started to flow. The magnificently ebullient Carl joined us at around ten o'clock having found the campsite by pure fluke. Nate and Jamie had us all in stitches, fishing stories were told, the world was put to rights. It was a night you wish could freeze in time to revisit at will. I was massively tired but with such fantastic company I stayed up late, too late. I tried to tell the lads I normally sleep with a mask on which fell on deaf ears. Sleep apnoea is something you only suffer the effects from when you wake and the next day I felt terrible, really terrible. My car alarm going off in the middle of the night didn't help either. I can't think of a morning I less fancied a day afloat than that morning. We had people to meet though and boats to load.
There were ten of us that second day. Andy was paired with another reservoir novice in the shape of Lee. He was in safe hands though and looked remarkably at ease fishing happily away.......
Dave was first to strike though in the south arm. He had beaten me to the drop off and he and his boatie Martin were soon into fish including this five pounder on the very first drop down of the day. After a quick interrogation Dave swore blind he hadn't caught it on the lure I gave him the day before. A likely story. Whatever he caught it on it was a fabulous start...........
I was paired the Phil on that second day and to be honest I should have handed the motor duties over to him. With my lack of sleep I wasn't really on the ball. We also had no drogue which was a big disadvantage especially as the wind was quite strong. We had a few plucks and missed takes though to keep us interested. A short distance from us Nate and Leo were faring slightly better although with Leo's fish you can see why hook ups are so difficult without a stinger......
As ever Andy was finding consistent action. His boatie for the day Lee was catching a few too. One of Andy's fish........
Jamie and Carl had caught too but it was soon time for a get together mid-lake for lunch. I'm not sure if the Trout anglers approved but unlike Pitsford where we happily landed next to the picnic area we weren't allowed to at Rutland and had to stay afloat..........
We even had a little fish together, nothing serious, just for the hell of it............
After lunch we all went our separate ways again. I finally gave in and went to sleep curled up in front of the boat while Phil took over the controls. I wasn't the only one who needed a lie down. Nate stretching to his full height.........
When I finally awoke Phil had found some fish.........
After a few minutes of being awake I was feeling half normal and started fishing properly. Again we were getting lots of plucks and sitting here now I'm kicking myself that we didn't employ stinger hooks. Hindsight eh? I must have had nearly forty enquiries and Phil probably had the same. We both managed to land a few though. The main problem for us was the speed of our drift. Even those with a drogue were struggling. I tried to hold in areas using the trolling motor and while it was reasonably successful initially it was also incredibly hard to maintain. Despite the challenging fishing I was beginning to enjoy myself........
All too soon it was time to return the boats. Everyone had enjoyed a great day. Martin and Lee had caught well, in fact everyone had caught again. Dave had the biggest though and like Andy said, if we are right and Zander are suffering from being caught at depth then those that are left may just get bigger. In a few years it could be a real mecca. Whatever happens it's a thoroughly pleasant way to spend a day. The staff are great, the boats superb and if you have never tried it then why not give it a go? This could be you..........
Andy's Top Tips
Andy is a bit of an enigma. Incredibly modest and a far far better angler than he'll ever admit. He has very kindly put together a few tips for us. The first one shows how utterly selfless he is. Not easy to condense down but there is something here for everyone.........
1. The success or otherwise of a trip is achieved by the boat not the individuals in it, so, fish as a team. Communicate, work together, share the tasks required during a day afloat and feed off one another with a coherent plan of attack.
2. Use an echo sounder. Boat fishing a large body of water without this valuable aid simply becomes one big game of chance and guess work. I rely on the echo sounder for depth and feature finding primarily. Identifying target fish and even food fish with most 'fish finders' is not always accurate. Many is the time I have caught fish with nothing showing on the screen.
3. As with all types of angling 'location' is paramount. Look for signs of food fish visually or on your screen. Keep an eye open for fish eating birds, other anglers catching or if all else fails use historical catch reports as a starting point.
4. Keep on the move, use a drogue, or natural drift (if the wind is light) to fish the wind lanes, until bites are forthcoming. Then waypoint the spot if your finder has gps or use a physical marker such as an 'H' block and work the area thoroughly.
5. Until a winning method is achieved you and your boatie should be trying different lures and techniques of working them, and different depths in the water column. Once a combination of the above proves successful both get on it and work it.
6. This is going to sound a little Zen like, but the angler at the surface needs to become one with the lure. Know your lure and what a lift or twitch of the rod tip will impart on it, you need to be conscious of how every type of rod movement will be reflected in your chosen lure. This can be learnt by playing with it in the margins of a clear lake or large tub of water at home. Chance is once again introduced to the equation if you take a lure out of a packet without knowing its characteristics.
7. Be erratic. It's very easy during a long day afloat to let your mind drift and slip into what I call 'predictable mode' up down, up down, up down. Once it becomes rhythmical and predictable you can be sure that's how the fish will see it and soon become dismissive of it. Concentration is the watch word, even on slow days fish with the conviction that every twitch you make will be the one to trigger a take. Small, sometimes subtle, but unpredictable erratic movements, making it quiver on the spot before making it dart from the spot and then resting it motionless or even letting the lure drop to the deck for seconds at a time are all things which can wind a fish up. If you have been working your lure in an area with no response, suddenly lifting the lure many feet out of the zone before slowly returning it to an area can work. The above applies equally to jig fishing or dropshotting.
8. Fish as near vertical as conditions allow as this will make you efforts at the rod end more effective at the lure. I try and fish the lightest jig head I can get away with to achieve this.
9. Try and match the hatch with your lure if you can ascertain what is being predated, but above all fish confidently. A lure you have great confidence in that you know works, fished well, will always out fish the latest wonder wobbler fished with doubt.
10. If you experience a missed take, a nip of the lure or a fish quickly falls off, don't panic but return the lure to the spot as quick as you can and very often they will have a second go.
11. Always, always check your lure is sitting in its intended position on the hook/jig head. Check your hook point frequently and always carry and use a hook sharpener. Sharp hooks catch more fish.
12. The big reservoirs can be deep or have deep areas if you feel you must fish them, bring your fish up as slowly as possible and try and pause at least a couple of times as the fish comes up. Quite often doing this you will see bubbles coming to the surface above your fish, this is good news.
Other News
Carl had a great month elsewhere. First off he tempted a few bullheads on lures, great fun....
Other News
Carl had a great month elsewhere. First off he tempted a few bullheads on lures, great fun....
And then some magnificent Perch including this fabulous three pounder.....
Another fantastic fish to fall and new PB for Ash was this stunning Zander. Well done mate....
Finally we have the unassuming Jamie who has qualified for the British Lure Angling Championship final on Chew Valley. Best of luck Jamie........
Tackle Talk
Luring on a budget is fairly easy and I'll take you through a few money saving tricks. First up are the essentials. Martin acquired the same model of rod I first started with- the Shakespeare GX2 Ugly Stik. His must have been priced wrong because he only paid £10. Normally they are around £25. Not the most refined tool by any means but really tough and a perfectly usable rod. I've caught some really fabulous fish on mine and Martin more than held his own on Rutland with his.
My GX2's made way by chance for some Okuma Dead Ringers. They have full Carbon blanks which are super slim and some neat touches like the cork handles and hook retainer. Again aim to pay around £25 each. Absolutely lovely rods for the money. I really can't fault them.......
Next up are reels. I've learnt to live with my Okuma Trio. It is as smooth as the day I bought it and again I've caught some great fish with it. My initial problems with tangles has been cured by under filling the spool. After a year of usage everything still feels really positive. Aim to pay around £40. Forget the Fox Rage Ultron, that reel is seriously flawed. Mine went almost straight on eBay. A decent alternative to the Trio in the same price bracket would be the Quantum fire. Dave swears by his. My Trio..........
'Nice reel,' shouted Nate as they drifted by on day two. He was right, what he was looking at is a very nice reel indeed. The ABU C3 Was the smallest in the range and perfect for lure fishing. They are pretty rare and you can no longer buy them new. Mine is a good twenty years old and at around £25 they are better than any new reel in that price bracket. Superb engineering.......
An even cheaper second-hand alternative are the Mitchell lightweights. Again they aren't particularly common but if you do come across one aim to pay around £10-£15. A Mitchell made in France that are perfect for jigging.......
Ok now onto braid. It has its detractors and although strictly speaking it isn't a proper braid I like Nanofil, especially in 0.12. It casts really well and is pretty tough. At that diameter it is slightly thick for deep reservoir use. It does have a tendency to twist up, especially in the lower diameters so a good cast with a lead is helpful every now and again. Aim to pay around £12 for a 125m spool. A 'proper braid' alternative to Nanofil is Finezze Braid from Savage Gear. Again it is around £12 a spool. The yellow coating can wear off but mine has taken some abuse without any loss of strength or performance. Last up is the really cheap stuff from Fox- Torque braid. At just £7 a spool it is in line (get it?) with normal mono. I haven't used mine yet but some of the lads have. Reports range from 'ok' to 'I hate it, it's no good'. Maybe not a good investment then, despite the low price.
Lures are fairly cheap compared to hard baits but often have quite a short life. It's really tempting to fill boxes with the blooming things too. After a while you'll soon get to know what works for you and what doesn't. Andy's tip about watching them in use is really helpful though. The patterns I use most are Mini Fry. If they are pulled steadily up the water column they flutter enticingly. Lift too fast however and the action gets lost. It is often a fine line so watch your lures in action. The money saving tip I have is on the boxes themselves. No branding, in fact mine come from Wilkinson's. At between 90p and £3 each they are great value.......
Moving onto jig hooks and after trying all sorts I now only really use the Ultra Points from Mustad. They stay sharp and have a bit of flex in them which is handy should you ever get snagged. They come in a massive range of sizes and weights. Most of all though they are reasonably priced. Aim to pay around £1.50 for a pack of three......
If you are going on any Anglian Water reservoir then they will supply you with a life jacket. If like me you have a small boat of your own or intend to go afloat on a regular basis then you'll need your own life jacket. I wouldn't recommend anyone skimp on a piece of safety equipment but you can get a decent model for under £30. Try to avoid the really cheap ones (especially those on eBay) as they just aren't up to the job. I got this branded one for £25..........
Ok, over to the non-essentials now. Fishfinders can be a real help on big waters. If not to highlight fish then at least fish holding areas, depth and temperature etc. People tend to upgrade quite often so you'll find some great bargains on the auction sites. I however plumped for a new model. At just over £100 it didn't break the bank and is perfectly adequate for my needs.......
I also have a trolling motor. Again they are something you can find on auction or selling sites quite easily. I got a £200 model that some guy had bought a couple of years ago and only used twice for £75. Bargain. Andy kindly attached my finder transducer to the motor housing too which saved me around £40 on having a separate bracket.
You'll need a battery to run both a finder and motor and this is probably my best tip. If you have a motability shop in your area then pop in and ask if they have any second hand batteries. Often they'll get part exchange scooters and one battery will be faulty so they replace them both, leaving one perfectly good battery just lying around. Sounds unbelievable doesn't it? Well I got one one this way and it cost me precisely nothing. You can't get cheaper than free..........
Last but not least is a drogue which some may argue is essential. Phil and I certainly needed one. Neil and Nate had trouble with theirs too so getting a decent isn't as easy as it may seem. I won't pretend to know a lot about them but Dave rated this quite highly from Wychwood...............
As ever you can contact me here, your tips or questions are more than welcome-
Afterword
Since our group visit Phil and Leo returned to Rutland. They hit a spell of settled weather and although the conditions were warm and bright they had an absolutely fantastic day. With light winds they could stay on the fish and use light jig heads with great results. Well done guys.......
Till next time...........
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