Well using the title track of a favorite song of mine by Marillion, "So Here I an Once More".
After a break from fishing for more than 25 years i have finally taken the bug back up again. All my tackle has been safely stored away for years and I'm glad to say its all still in perfect condition.
Three Michell 410A reels
One Diawa Jaguar Carbon Match Delux Rod 12ft.
Two cheapo Shakespear O Series Carp Rods (Which I'll probably never use again)
Two Avon 1-1/4lb Test curve rods.
One Whisker Kevlar 2lb Test Curve Carp Rod.
One Daiwa Jaguar Carbon Match Feeder Rod 10ft
And various other bits of tackle to complete my setup.
So i have decided to join a members only local fishing club called Broughton Angling Club (BAC). They own 4 waters, 1 in Walkden, 1 in Simister and 2 in Blackley.
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I don't proclaim to be a fishing expert or have years of experience, all i can go by is what i learnt over 25 years ago (And how it has changed since then is mind boggling) One of my angling hero's is Chris Yates whose opinons i like to echo, which is "Old is Better" or something to that way of thinking.
So for my first day fishing in over 25 years i opted for a back to basics approach. Basically start of where i left of, and "Fish for bites" using my Match rod, 4lb line, size 14 hook forged spade end hook (Barbless) for bait just Mixed maggots and Corn, For ground bait i used Home boiled Hemp, a bag of crushed Hemp and a worm mix type ground bait.
I started on Broughtons most well known water Ashenhurt in Higher Blackley, its well known for its Carp, but it also has Roach, Rudd, Tench, and other course fish. First thing i realised how surprisingly deep it is, 12ft at a rods length out and a fairly high bank behind me, which creates some difficulties with casting and playing any big fish on 12 foot of line between hook and float.
Ashenhurst.
So i baited up, set up, plumbed and opted for a lift type method with a waggler float with a thin insert at the top to use as the lift indicator should any fish pick the bate up. I fished hard on the bottom with a small shot to hold it there and again to help the float lift if the bait is picked up.
After 10 minutes i had my first roach on double maggot. "Yes" I'm of the mark.
After catch a few roach i thought i would try the sweetcorn in the hope that there maybe some bigger ones in the swim, but i started to catch a few skimmers. During the day i kept changing from corn to maggot and visa versa.
Things slowed down a little around midday, but then around 2pm bites started to pick up again and out came a few more Roach. Then came my surprise while using corn, A little lift bite came along and down the float went, i picked the rod up and right away i felt the thump of something decent. so i tighted up and the rod gave a very healthy 90 degree bend and the fish powered of away from me, then it turned and so began the fight, it was a very powerful fish that kept down in the water for a good 3 minutes, my first thought was Tench, but it was not giving up, so i decided to give it a bit of bullying to bring it to the surface and get an idea of what it was, and when it surfaced i was surprised to see a big Common Carp. So then i decided to let it have its a way a little and let it tired itself out a bit before bringing it to the net. It must have continued for another 2 minutes before it came to the surface again, and looked like it was ready, but i fluffed it when i tried to net it due to the float being right up to the rods first eye and 12 foot of line. I had to hold the rod up really high to get the net under the fish. So off it swam again for around another minute, by now my arm was really begging to ache and i was so relived to finally slip the fish into my landing net.
It was no monster of a fish and at a guess was around 4 n half lb to 5 lbs, but a very enjoyable and satisfying catch for my first session in 25 years.
I had a few small Roach again afterwards, but that was it for my first day back. It's gave me lots of food for thought for my next approach, which i think might be along the Carp fishing approach, i.e. two rods and bite alarms.
To Be Continued........
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