Gary's day

It was a busy Sunday at Hall Farm's large lake with the good weather encouraging 10 of us to try and catch a few fish. With us split over the 2 banks I found myself on peg 22 in the middle of the high bank.

With lots of carp and F1s cruising around on the surface as we were setting up it looked like we should have a good day. Starting long on the pole on hard pellets gave me a great start with a bite and a carp in the net in the first 10 minutes. An hour later and it was still the one bite. Mark opposite on peg 2, which is one the best pegs on the lake, was also fishless. The only peaon who seemed to be catching was Phil in the far corner on peg 12.

A try on the feeder did not get me any signs. A go on a pellet waggler casting towards the odd cruising fish that came into range was also biteless.

Halfway through Rob and Fred to my left were carpless and only had a few silvers. Mark had finally had a carp but was now reduced to trying for silvers. Thankfully I caved at the tackle shop on Saturday and bought a pint of maggots. I was finally getting bites but only from small rudd.

A change to a shorter line I had been feeding a few maggots on was slow but the float then shot under and I was into my best fish of the day with a carp of about 5lbs. After that the peg filled with small rudd and roach and just 1 more F1 followed amongst the silvers.

Phil was still catching and by the end everyone seemed to have at least 1 carp with Mark catching another 5 with a couple of lumps. John Carter on peg 26 had been very quiet all day and, given the number of carp cruising around in the shallower water there, must have been busy.

It was a frustrating day with lots of fish showing at last but just not feeding as they seem to be gearing up for spawning.

Low bank 1st Phil Whitmill 42lbs 11oz and 2nd Mark Halverson 38lbs 9oz. High bank 1st John Carter 55lbs 13oz and 2nd Gary Pickard 15lbs 6oz. Picture today is John C.