A fire at one end and a fool at the other

While pondering my recent set of blanks and licking my wounds, I've been casting back through my year and starting to put in plans for next. It's been a good one for me despite the periods of long blanks, and thinking about this logically the extended blanks can only mean two things. I've fished more times this year (possible) and two, I've just been in the wrong place at the wrong time.

It does feel like there's been more 'wrong times' this year when they didn't appear to be around. Plus we've had a funny year weather wise, and a lot of recent dredging work has increased current strength by around a few knots in some places. This must have had an effect on their feeding habits, as apart from the occasional flurry of schoolies, the bigger girls never made any regular appearances.

So plans for next year? There is a local carp water that used to hold fish up to 40lbs but unfortunately, despite being run by a club it hasn't been looked after very well, and over time has almost become a public water where anyone can fish. Coupled with a water management policy that suggests its being used as a stock pond for other more private club waters, doesn't help.

But, I spent a lot of my youth there and it has many happy memories for me held deep within its banks, so my plan is to fish it during those leaner times, a few hours in the morning and evenings, stalking along the edges with just one rod, net and a bag.

But, if the bass are about, that fire will continue to ignite this fool to be out by the sea, quietly listening to the waves and the sounds, patiently waiting for the line to be drawn slowly across the finger.


Most bites...