Monk Lakes (Match Lake 3) 25-09-2009

After a couple months off due to one thing or another it was time to get out and wet a line. I decided on a days practice at Monk lakes in Kent. On arrival I chose to fish Match lake 3 which is a 45 peg Match fishing lake Stocked with Carp, Barbel, Tench, Chub, Bream and Roach, it is a rectangular shaped lake with a central course way running up the middle. The lake fishes well all year round and is responsible for many 100lb bags during match's in the warmer months.

I arrived at the lakes around 11.00am the weather conditions where ok, air temperature was about 16 degrees and it was overcast with a breeze. The water temp felt ok. 

After a quick walk round I chose to fish peg 113, this peg is located at the end of the course way on the right hand side. This is a noted peg and regular features in the top positions during match's this time of year. Its features include an aerator to the left and the end of the lake margins, plus marginal reeds in front to both sides so all in all a nice fish holding peg. Today I was going to fish the pole and have a quick practice on the method feeder mainly because I wanted to try out a new hook pattern by GURU. I chose to fish at 7-8 meters out in front on the deck, shallowing up later also the margins tight to the reeds and the feeder tight to the bank on my left (end of the lake). After a quick plumb up I had around 6ft out in front of me and a couple of feet down the edges.

The rigs I chose for today where as follows, on the 7meter line a Preston innovations PB1 0.5g (due to the wind/tow was the reason for this size float) added to this was an a simple bulk of No8's and on 0.18mm Fox micron line straight thru to a Gamakatsu size 16 pellet hook. On the close line to my side a Milo Koi float (a short Diamond shape pattern with a very flexible glass stem. This rig featured 2 No8's pushed up close to the float, this was on 0.18 line and attached to that was a Fox Carp 2 hook size 16. My top kits featured Preston Blue hollo elastic as this would be perfect for both the carp and Barbel should they turn up. My Method feeder rig consisted of a 15g normal size Preston in-line feeder with a 3 inch hook length of 0.18 Fox micron, attached to this was a New Guru size 14 QM1 hook. My paste rig consisted of a Preston Durafloat 6 float with a simple bulk and a Maver MT5 size 12 hook on 0.18 line.

Bait Wise I planned to fish pellet corn and paste (Made from Yorkshire bait company Toffee ground bait). On the 7m line I chose to fish corn/pellet over pellet on the deck. Down the edge I selected a corn/paste approach fishing either on the hook over pellet. The feeder mix consisted of Sonu Method mix and 2mm pellets with corn as hook bait

I began by cupping in a good pot of pellets out in front on the 7m line, then I cupped in two large points down both edges with some corn and paste mixed in. I decided to give the feeder ago first so I baited up with a single grain on of corn on the hair and loaded the feeder using the Preston Method mould. Then cast out into the swim, the feeder was only in the swim for no more than 20 seconds before the tip of my rod ripped round in a promising arc. Fish on the first carp of the day was hooked, after a short scrap a nice 4lb plus mirror was in the net. On inspection of the hook fish I was pleased to see a super hook hold with the hook perfectly locked around the fishes mouth due to its circle bend. I could already see why these hooks have become a popular choose due to its perfect hook hold which is not only a bonus to the angler, but the fish to as there is less chance of the hook coming out and damaging the fish. I continued to cast to a group of reeds about 20 meters out up the left hand bank, and proceeded to land carp after carp and the odd 2lb+ Barbel. After an hour I had landed 20+ fish without losing a single one. So one thingI had learned and was extremely pleased with was the New guru hooks, I will certainly be keeping those on my box.

I decided it was time for a change and decided to give the 7m line ago, so out came the pole. I baited up with a 6mm expander pellet and shipped out. After a few minutes the float dipped then shot under followed by a stream of elastic, after a quick fight I had a lovely perfect condition Common carp of around 3lb in the net. Lovely result I thought so I quickly re-baited and shipped out again, this time literally when the float hit the deck the float buried and another carp followed the last to my net this time a mirror around the 3lb mark. On the next put in a had a carp take the bait on the drop and again after that, it seemed the fish wanted to be shallow?. I quickly changed rigs and attached a Garbolino DC1 float (dibber) on 0.18 with a Gamakatsu size 16 pellet hook to my top kit.

I started to ping (catapult) pellets over the 7m line in regular intervals to get the fish to come up which they where only to happy to do. I shipped out and began slapping my rig on the surface whilst continuing to catapult pellet over the top and it was long before the elastic flew out of my pole. Attached to the stream of blue elastic I found a pristine Mirror of around 5lb. This was followed by numerous carp including mirrors and F1, I did find that a change to a larger 10mm pellet and throwing in some sloppy ground bait over the top resulted in a better stamp of fish with numerous fish above 4-5lb gracing my net.

After another 3 hours I had over 50 fish in the net and had amassed a nice weight so far. It was time to attack down the edge, so in the last hour I changed to my margin rig and lowered in a lump of paste. straight away the float bobbed up and down and then was meet with a lightening fast pull under to which I struck, this was followed by my elastic being pulled out and fish heading for cover under the reeds. I managed to turn the fish and landed a cracking mirror around 8lb, once again the proof was there the bigger fish love the marginal cover. I alternated between paste and corn over the next hour with carp after carp falling for my trap. I found that by squeezing out the kernel of the corn which made it flutter down through the water resulted in greatly improved bite quality. The toffee paste had also worked really well on the day I was pleased on how easy it mixed up and its consistancy,colour and carp catching power. 

At the end of the session I had hooked and landed in excess of 80 fish for a total weight well over 200lb. I had learned that all  4 methods had there place and that the margins really can boost your weights especially if they are left un-disturbed for as long as possible. All in all it was nice to get back out again and I am now planning my next day out!

Tight Lines

Gary     

All tackled up