RIck Golder: My Fishing Year 2024 - Part One

I started 2024 on the local lake that I had been concentrating on since mid-November. This was my second winter on there, and the previous one had given me a number of fish from what is a low stocked water. I was lucky that two of the fish I’d already had were really two of the big three in there, one a stunning linear and the other a 50+ year old common, that was a tricky fish to catch. This winter all I really wanted was the lakes biggest resident, and I’d been introducing the Cold Water Green Beast every week without fail, both when I was fishing, and also popping down there between sessions. There was very little angling pressure on there, and I had always felt confident that this regular baiting, of a bait which I knew they loved, would prove its downfall. My main problem was the rising water levels, and for the entire winter one of its three banks was completely under water. Being close the Thames, although it ran off quickly, it also rose at an alarming rate, often 2 or 3 days after we had had any rain. Twice I had woken up in the mornings to find my stuff afloat under my bedchair! Even as I started I had my rods back up the bank where you’d usually have your bivvy, and as the winter went on I went from boots to waders, to having my rods on 4-foot storm sticks out in the water.

I had two bites before Christmas, landing both, a small common and a stunning 32 lb mirror that I had  never seen before, but come early January the lake froze, and I was forced to sit and wait for the thaw. It was late January and I was back down the day after the ice had gone, not with much expectation, as I’d not been able to get any bait in, but I need not have worried, as I had a 30 lb mirror and a recapture of the linear at just over 41 lbs, a fantastic result at that time. The weather stayed mild but constantly wet, and by mid-February I was only able to fish one swim, such was the height of the water level. I had one spot in this swim, one which I could squeeze two rods on, which made the baiting easy too. On small waters pressured fish can be very spotty, and this was definitely the case here, but as it was doing bites I knew I had more than a fair chance of getting the one I wanted from it. One week we had a massive pressure drop coming, and I changed my days to be there for this. It didn’t disappoint, as I had 4 bites, a repeat of one of the 30 mirrors, two stockies and an old warrior of a common at 33 lb. It was great too, as by now all the bites were coming in the day, between 1000 and 1400. I felt I was getting closer, but there’s always the doubt that its not meant to be. I was back the following week, slightly anxious that clumping 4 of the low stock the week before may have put them on edge, and I flicked the rods on the spot by first light, put the bivvy up and sat back hoping to see a sign. I also had the worry of the water level, as by now I had my bivvy as far back as I could put it, and my rods were thigh deep in the water, as I had to get the lines clear from the branches at the front of the swim, which were completely submerged. I saw nothing that day, but at 2 pm I had a ripping take on my left-hand rod that signalled the end of my winter campaign. At 47.10 it was all over, a two-winter project that I had greatly enjoyed. 

I had 3 that last 24 hours, nothing big but a good start, and it gave me some ideas of what to go with over the next few weeks. The following week I was in a different swim, but again fishing close to some snags. It was eventful, as I fell in straight away, snapped a rod, and then landed a 36 lb cold water mirror all by 11 am!

As the day wore on I spent a lot of time watching a shallow bay to my left. It was clear there were fish in there, as it was probably the first warm day of spring. I could see the water rock every now and then, and then heard a massive splash as a fish threw itself out. The difficulty was finding a spot for a single rod, as not only was it very shallow, it was clearly very weedy too. I rigged up a rod, with a little 1.5 oz lead on, and if I stood high up on the raised bank, I thought I could just make out a slightly lighter looking bit of bottom, which I hoped was clear enough to present on. Mindful the fish were already present, I wanted to make as little disturbance as possible, so I gently lowered the bait on to this lighter spot. It was only just off the rod tip, and sure enough I got a gentle but firm drop as the light lead hit the bottom. I threw out a handful of baits, one at a time and set the rod well back. It was tempting to keep looking, especially as I heard a couple more substantial rolls, but I stayed well back under the brolly. The night passed quietly and we had to be off by 11am. I did take a look about an hour after first light, and the fish were still there, in fact I saw a couple clearly swim right over my hook bait. It shows how pressured fish can react in shallow water, and it was approaching 24 hours that bait had been out amongst the fish, without a single bleep. With an hour to go I had a one noting take that had the clutch screaming, and as I ran down to the rod I could see a huge bow wave slicing across the bay. This fish really went for it, long powerful runs all on the top above the weed, and in the clear water I could see I was attached to a decent common. It didn’t want to give up though, and after an arm aching battle I finally drew it over the net cord. It was a stunner too, 34 lbs of dark angry common, all on film that really set me up for the spring months ahead. 

I’ll let you know how they went in part 2.

Rick Golder.