Well I arrived down the snag pit mid-morning on Thursday as planned and made my way round to the point with kit. I couldn’t help but notice how could the conditions looked as I parked the barrow and slowly unloaded it. I sat down on the bedchair and rolled a smoke whilst trying to get a plan of action sorted in my head, 5 minutes later and I knew what to do, well I hoped I did!

It didn’t take me long to get things organised, 2 rods were positioned either side of the pre baited area as before and the 3rd was fished out towards an overhanging bush just off the island on the “naked chod”.

I sat down and fired up the Coleman for the first brew of the session, soon after one of the bailiff’s popped round for a chat, I gleaned all the information I could and as it turned out I was in the right spot for my target fish as the point I was on was the scene of its’ first capture of the year for the last few seasons on the bounce and with the mild s’westerly pushing right in here it couldn’t have looked any better!

I sat on the bedchair with my eyes fixed to the water all afternoon but didn’t see anything to note although my confidence was still high. Just before the light started to fade I thought I would get some grub on the go and before I knew it I had a spag bowl boiling up on the Coleman large enough to fill an army followed by a tin of your finest fruit cocktail!

As the sun slowly sank on the horizon I was met by a stunning sunset, the kind that takes your breath away, I’m sure some people take them for granted but I will never tire of them.

I decided to get into the bag a little after 11pm and just as I was beginning to nod off a few bleeps from the Neville brought me back to reality, I rolled over to look at the Neville and right before my eyes I could make out the glow of the right hand hanger crack the blank twice on the bounce then hanging there! I jumped straight out of the bag into my boots and ran towards the rods, it was pitch black so I quickly turned around and grabbed my head torch. Just as I got to the rod the bobbin fell back to the deck, I held on to the line willing for a pull but felt nothing, I lifted the rod hoping to be met with resistance but unfortunately wasn’t, turning around and grabbing the head torch had cost me a fish, I was absolutely gutted! I sent Pete a text venting my anger at my bad angling, I didn’t get a reply……he knows me too well!

I tied on a fresh bait and put it back out towards the bush on the island, pretty much pub chucked if I’m honest! , then got back in the bag in a huff!

Before I knew it my Blackberry was waking me from my slumber at 6am, I rolled over and fired up the Coleman before rolling a smoke. I only had a few hours before I had to be off but it still looked good for it. I drank countless coffees over the next few hours whilst willing my Neville to sing it’s merry tune but it never did. I had a slow pack up at about 9am leaving the rods until the last minute but by 10am I had to call it a day, I threw the rods on the barrow and made my way up the boggy path towards the van with a slight feeling of rejection.

It’s now the following Tuesday and I have just about got over it, but unfortunately due to making a trip down to Devon to see family on Thursday I can’t get back down the Pit until Monday at the very earliest, the kit is already sorted so it’s just a case of the loading the van and heading down there.

Until then,

Smithy

I arrived down the snag pit on Monday morning in what can only be described as monsoon like conditions! I grabbed the bivvy from the back of the van and made my way round to the prebaited spot. I got the bivvy up in double quick time then headed back to the van to load the barrow and get the rest of the gear back to the swim, my idea being that I could chuck the bedchair straight under the bivvy…….there is nothing worse than sleeping in a sodden bag!

I had a quick smoke and surveyed the area, the conditions looked promising although to be fair this quick overnighter was more of a baiting up trip in preparation for the good winds and mild temperatures that are due on Thursday……I had a free night so thought it would be rude not to get the rods out!

I waited a while for the rain to ease then set about getting the rods sorted. Two rods were placed either side of the baited area and the 3rd was put out in 12ft of water as a single hookbait and would be used as a roaming rod should I see anything show.

After getting the rods sorted, I fired up the coleman for the first brew of the session and sat on the edge of the bedchair scanning the water, not to mention sheltering from the ever increasing rain! Other than countless coffees and hours spent with my eyes fixed to the water not a lot happened that afternoon and it was late in the evening before the rain subsided. I eventually decided to get into the bag about 9pm and soon nodded off.

I awoke at 6am and as soon as I opened my eyes I was aware that something wasn’t right, my throat felt like it had swollen up to twice the size and I was swallowing sandpaper, combine that with the headache from hell and every bone in my bone aching and I had a problem! I needed to be back on the bank on Thursday and couldn’t have chosen a worse time to be ill!!!!

Nether the less as always I fired up the coleman for the first brew of the day and rolled a smoke, I sat scanning the water until 9am but with nothing showing I thought it would be a good idea to get home and do everything in my power to feel a bit more human ready for Thursday. So after a slow pack up I put out 2 lb of bait on my chosen spot, I was hoping that after 2 weeks of priming this area it may just do the business what with the conditions that were soon to follow.

So with that I got in the van and headed for home via the pharmacy so I could empty their shelves of the all the weird and wonderful pain killers and syrups!

Once home, I decided to have a quick sort out of the gear, tie up some fresh rigs before sending the wife out for food & coffee supplies!

As I type this, it’s Wednesday afternoon and I have done nothing for the last 24 hours other than lay on the sofa reading “Still Searching “ for the umpteenth time, whilst my good lady waits on me hand and foot, us carp anglers don’t know how lucky we are sometimes and the support that my good lady gives me is nothing short of amazing but she knows I appreciate it and try to show it as often as I can.

Anyway, all being well tomorrow morning shall see me back on the pit in search of that special fish, they have got to wake up soon and I intend on being there ready and waiting when they do!

Until next time,

Smithy

I arrived down the pit slightly later than planned but soon had my kit in the swim, I quickly got the bivvy up and then rolled a smoke and sat down to assess the situation…….I was due to have a telephone interview in 20 minutes so thought it was best to get my head together then get the rods out after.

At 12 on the dot my blackberry rang as promised and before I knew it the brief interview was over and actually went quite well, I think more interviews should be conducted on the bank!

I quickly got the rods set up, even the anti-tangle tubing threaded without a hitch and before I knew it I had 2 rods fishing either side of the pre baited area towards an island, the 3rd rod was fished as a single hook bait in open water.

After the positioning of the rods I fired up the coleman and sat back with the first brew of the session, I had the whole pit to myself apart from the odd bird letting out its calming chorus……I have found home!

The day past quickly without anything to note and an eerie mist and a deathly silence soon descended all around me as darkness fell. I climbed into the bag at about 8:30pm as I planned to be up early, very early! Before I knew it I was dreaming about fat carp and big women then a couple of bleeps woke me from my slumber, I sat up already wide awake staring at the right hand rod then looked at my phone…..it was 03:45am, I had planned on being up at 04:30 any way so fired up the coleman and rolled a smoke. I then sat with my eyes fixed on the water other than the countless times when I put the kettle back on.

I saw a few subtle shows over my baited area just as the sun started to appear over the horizon, but unfortunately a take wasn’t meant to be and I had a slow pack up at about 9am as I had promised to be home to do a few jobs.

Before I left I put out about 2lbs of bait on the spot towards the island where I had seen the shows as I planned on returning Monday.

I can’t really remember much of the Journey home, I spent most of it thinking about the Pit, it had really got into my blood, it was the first blank of the many I am sure that will follow……..but I enjoyed every minute of it!!

As soon as I got home, the kit was sorted with Military precision and is ready to head straight back down the pit bright and early Monday morning.

Until then,

Smithy