"A
season in the Life of Lee Fisher"
I
joined Wintons last year, and caught loads of Carp and Catfish from
Mallard but for this year I was determined to give it a go on Kingfisher
after the big Carp that live there. My personal bests at the start of
the year were 38lb Catfish, 37lb Mirror and 28lb 8oz Common. My target
was a 30lb Common and a 40lb Mirror, hopefully this would be the year
of PB's, read on.
On
only my 2nd trip of the year in April, to a new water, I managed to
catch
a couple of fish, 30lb Mirror and a 31lb Common, PB number one achieved
already, a good start.
I
then went to Kingfisher for the 1st of several 12 hour overnighter's.
As I do shift work this has been the best option for me to fit in a
mid week overnighter between shifts. I blanked, along with everyone
else but the next week, again for 12 hours, I had 6 takes and landed
5 fish, 3 big Tench, 14lb Common and 37lb Mirror, PB no 2.
Next
12 hour trip I hooked 2 Carp, lost a big 30lb Mirror at the net but
landed The Big Orange Koi at 29lb 12oz, PB no 3.
The
next trip to Kingfisher was a weekender and turned out to be a dream
session for me as I caught 2 more pb's, 44lb Mirror, 22lb 8oz Koi and
43lb 12oz Common. I'd now had 5 personal bests in 5 trips.
In
June I was away in Italy, not fishing, but on my return I found id not
missed much as the fish had been spawning. July was a hard month, the
record book showed it to be very poor, I think only 4 fish came out
that month. I managed to lose a good fish in the pads at the tail end
of the month. I did spend some time stalking other waters with chum
mixer, my favourite method, and had a number of fish to over 20lbs so
it wasn't a completely inactive month.
August
I did a weekender on Mallard and my first fish was a Common of 31lb,
ended up with 8 fish, 4 over 20lb, nice to get some action it was. Following
week it was back to Kingfisher for another 12 overnighter and I got
one, a Mirror of 38lb 12oz. I'd seen a photo of this fish from earlier
in the year at 42.5lb, but all the fish were down in weight after the
spawning, very pleased to get another of the big fella's. Did another
12 hours the next week and it was my most active trip yet. Set up by
6pm, 9pm a take already, playing the fish and the other rod goes. Landed
the first and somehow got the other out the pads and landed that one
too. Glad I carry 2 nets. The fish were 42lb Common and 27lb Koi (Red
Card). Recast and 2 hours later had a Mirror of 36lb, what a night.
Were
now into September and I started with a 48 hours on Mallard, a really
long session for me. Had 8 fish including 4 20's, best fish was a 28lb
8oz which I caught under the rod tip on a freelined chum mixer, PB no
6 that was the biggest ive ever caught off the surface. I also lost
2 big cats, mainline shredded on the island and hooklink shredded on
its pads. Decided next time to beef up the tackle.
Mid
Sept back on Kingfisher for 3 days as my shift pattern had changed at
work, I now do 12 hour shifts. Hooked 7 fish from Fat Finger but only
landed 3 because of the snags. New lake record and PB 7 in the shape
of a 20lb Grass Carp, 26lb Koi, and another of my target fish, 41lb
Common.Last
5 days of September I went back onto Mallard with 18lb mainline, 35lb
Quicksilver hooklinks and big strong hooks to see if I could land one
of the big cats. It seemed to work as I caught 4 cats and also 15 carp.
The first cat weighed 44lbs, PB no 8, and incidentally was caught on
my Birthday, even stranger was the fact it was my 44th Birthday. I had
a 32lb 8oz Mirror straight after so it was a happy birthday. Next night
I had 6 fish in the night, 40.4 Cat, 32.8 Cat, 20.8 Mirror, 19.4 Common,
33.0 Cat, 32.4 Common
for over 187lbs, wow.
So
thats the state of play so far this year, 35 x 20lb plus fish, with
16 x 30lb plus, including 6 x 40's, quite a year I think you'll agree
and definately the year of personal bests.
Regards
Lee Fisher
