My 2008 Season Start on Bolesworth Castle

For those who had completed work parties, first-light on June the 9th saw the start of the 2008 season on Bolesworth. 30 minuets later and I was driving up the lane to the car park, and having put the time and effort into the required work parties, I was really looking forward to few days of good sport.

The estate had held a county fair over the weekend and this was in the process of being dismantled at the Meadow end of the fishery. Now thinking that the fish, or me for that matter, would not relish any noise or commotion, I decided to start my season at the Bridge end, not a difficult decision, I chose the bridge swim itself and set about picking my spots and baiting up. I didn’t have to wait long before landing the first one of the new season, a lovely 11lb 2oz common coming out at 6:50am.

Just an hour and a quarter later and I was into number two; this time a 10lb 2oz linear mirror. The temperature was rising as fast as the sun and with it getting really hot I decided that a surface bait might do the trick, a move which paid of nicely with a 9lb 12oz common, followed by an 8lb mirror and a 10lb common. As l was now turning a bright shade of red due to some seriously sunny weather it was time to take cover and prepare for the evening. The first fish of the evening arrived at 6:45pm, this time a common of 10lb 10oz. this signalled the start of happy hour with things going a bit mad resulting in a 14lb mirror at 7:05, an 11lb 4oz mirror at 7:15 ending with a 7lb common at 7:35. Needing something to eat I managed to finish my dinner before landing the biggest fish of the day a beautiful mirror of 16lb 10oz.

Landing a further three fish, two at 9lb and a 12lb’er, I decided the swim along with me, needed a rest. So taking the rods out I settled down for some kip, setting the alarm for 3:30. As I awoke, not needing the alarm, I was greeted with the sound of fish spawning. I had seen a pair the day before and thought it was the end of it; this was after chatting with the bailiff who had confirmed that it had been “mad for days before”.

Not wishing to fish while they where spawning I set off for a walk. Arriving at the meadow end of the lake I noticed that there were no fish spawning here, I decided the fish at the bridge end should be left in peace and started to move my kit to the shallows. There was not much sign of fish activity to start with so baited some likely looking spots where I had noticed the water was cloudy. It wasn’t until late afternoon, ten past four, before I had a run. This resulted in a lovely13lb 12oz mirror.

Then, as the evening before, they kept coming. 6pm yielded a 7lb 12oz common, 7pm a 5lb common, 7:45 a 7lb mirror. I was starting to think that the move had led me to smaller fish, however, this changed at 8:20pm when I landed a 13lb 10oz mirror followed by an 8lb 12oz mirror at 8:40pm. It was few hours before the next fish but it was definetely worth the wait, with a lovely mirror of 16lb 8oz.

The final fish of the night was an 8lb mirror, with the next fish coming the following morning at 5am, a mirror of 11lb, and an hour after that I had another of 12lb. I then sat and watched fish feed on my baits for what seemed like an age before a common of 11lb 12oz finally got it wrong. This was the last fish of the session as I had to leave, good job really as I was now out of bait!

So what a session it was, a total of 24 fish with some beauties. A really rewarding start to my season and I was well pleased! All the fish came to MB Baits over particle bait mix with a little bit of my own voodoo thrown in for good measure!

Thanks for reading,

Darren McDonnell