Bailiff Comments

Week Commencing: Sat 04/05/2024

Jeff Goldblum

A fairly tricky week overall for many of the anglers on the Road Lake with only five swims actually producing fish, once again unsettled weather was definitely a key factor in this, however there was a couple of anglers especially who really managed to make the most of their swims.

First of all we have Darren Crossman who managed to get himself in Turtles Corner, a swim that of late hasn’t been producing numbers of fish but there were definitely fish in the area while on the walk round so it was always going to be a good bet for a bite or two. Darren arrived at Gigantica with a PB of around 51lb and the hope of smashing it, however I don’t think even he had dreamed of what might come. Darren’s main approach to the swim was focus his energy along the tree line in various spots as we are definitely in the lead up to spawning and he thought this is where he felt they may be looking to seek refuge. Darren began fishing one rod at14 wraps to the tree line closer to his swim and also had his other two rods at 21 wraps again along the treeline so he felt he had it all covered if the fish were patrolling that margin. Darren fished a slip D Combi Rig with a 5 inch boom and a size for Krank, always topped with a yellow wafter. Darren with rewarded early on in the week with a brand new PB of 54lb 4oz in the name of Frankie, a great start to the week and a prize that Darren was absolutely over the moon with, he mentioned to myself that he’d be happy with that even if nothing else turned up but that certainly wasn’t going to be the case. Darren finished his week with a total of twelve fish which included some real units, the biggest prize for the week was Troys Chunk, a fish that had been on the missing list for almost Three years and tipping the scales at 65lb 12oz roughly 10lb up on its last capture. Fortunately these two fish weren’t the only biggens to grace Darren’s net as he actually broke his PB four times during the week with each large fish increasing in weight in the order he caught them, Frankie being the first 50+ fish and Troys Chunk being the last, Darren also managed 2 Scale at 55lb 4oz, and Ron’s at 63lb 12oz, the bait of choice for Darren was a mix of Boilie, House Maize, House Pellet and various liquids to really boost attraction, he shifted his spots along the tree line throughout the week depending on where he was seeing and hearing fish. These four fish really stole the show but they aren’t all he managed, Darren kept bites coming regularly through the week and managed to land himself several other fish including a couple of low forties and a mix of twenties and thirties, a week Darren certainly won’t forget in a hurry.

The next swim which was really producing a lot of fish and some good fish at that aswell, was The Beach fished by Josh Edwards, Josh’s main approach was to fish across to the far bank where fish had been held up for quite a while, Josh fished at 25 wraps, Casting over a Baiting pole and then pulling his rig closer into the tree line without running the risk of getting caught up in the trees, he would then walk round to the bund and spoon in a healthy amount of Maize and Boilie which clearly kept the fish in his swim even when he was catching them regularly. Josh’s final total for the week was 47 fish landed, unfortunately he lost a few but that was bound to happen with the number of bites he was receiving. Josh managed three fifty pound Commons during his stay with the biggest being the Korda Social Common at a massive 57lb 10oz and a new PB for Josh, he also landed the Long Common at 51lb 5oz and then Blade at 50lb 14oz, an amazing week for the big Commons and Josh certainly made the most of his opportunities when they arose. With 47 fish banked for Josh he obviously had numerous fish of all sizes including several Forties and thirties with a few smaller fish thrown into the mix aswell, by sticking to his plan and baiting approach he certainly got it right and just pressed repeat after each fish with several occasions his rods ripping off minutes after entering the water, by the back end of the week Josh allowed his friend Jordan to come and join him in the hope to bank Jordan a few fish and also give Josh a break I think.

Unfortunately for the other anglers around the lake it was quite a tricky week, but there were still a few smaller fish banked around the lake, Josh who fished The Decoy managed 5 fish up to 29lb virtually all being caught from his right hand margin, Josh also fed a mix of boilie and Maize but just couldn’t manage to pick out any of the biggens hiding along that margin. Jon who fished Bacheliers only managed the one fish a lovely Common of around 29lb which saved the blank but that was all mainly down to the lack of fish in this area of the lake, and lastly we have another John who landed himself in Tea Party 2 and managed to nick two fish fishing to his far margin which were 21lb and 25lb unfortunately he just seemed to be off the back of the fish sitting in the tree line closer to Turtles therefore he couldn’t quite replicate the success of Darren even though they wasn’t fishing a million miles apart.

Once again a great week overall with everyone seemingly enjoying themselves regardless of the success of the fishing, spirits remained high and the jokes continued with no ones head dropping and the hope remaining of that single bite which could throw up a chunk.

Until next time 

Tight Lines 

Rob