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Lake Bolsena 2nd - 8th September 2012

It was mid afternoon and with two nice fish already landed that day it just got even better; the margin rod was away like a good run with the tip pulling right round. I was quickly on it and made the dash down the margin with the net.

The line was grating on something but it soon pinged off when I was above it, as the fish made a dash down the steep slopes of the lake. I wasn’t going to make the same mistake as before and I gave the fish plenty of stick as it felt decent.

Eventually I got it ready for netting and in it went first time; on lifting it I knew it was another 40. A lovely, chestnut mirror at 44.08, a right result and nailed on the mutants as well, photos done and back she went. This was turning out to be an excellent day, with the lack of crayfish, the carp were getting more of a chance to find the boilies and I wasn’t holding back. In previous years I reckon the crayfish were having 90% of the boilies and the carp 10%.  Now, though, it was the other way round and I was just hoping that the more that I put in the more it would build the swim up.

The night was cold and clear and temperatures must have gone close to producing a frost but, by morning, the sun was out and it looked like it would be another scorcher. I was laying on the bedchair looking at the two rods

which were right next to the bivvy when one indicator tightened up and it was off. A great start to the day as a 21 was landed. Could it be another great day of sun, swimming, sunbathing, beer and carp? I’ll let you know this evening.

Well I nearly got it right, the carp like a bit of wind on the lake and none appeared all day, so no carp either. I did manage a tench on the margin rod and may have had a carp on one of the rods out in front but it was snagged when I had the occurrence. Still, it was a nice day to chill out and I wasn’t complaining.

The wind got up big time during the night and if the previous day had none then this was quite the opposite with white horses rolling down the lake at dawn, now this was more like it and I was expecting action. I didn’t have to wait too long as the siren sounded its call just after 7 and a nice scaley 20 is landed and a quick shot on the mat before returning.

Looking at the conditions it means I have to give it to ‘em big time. I prepared a 10kg bucket of monster squid and iC1 together with some halibut pellets and deposit it on the 2 rods out in front and a few handfuls to the margin rod.

It is this rod that kicks off and a screaming take has me scrambling down the margin, it’s picked up the little margin stump and I can’t get it free. Eventually I take to the boat in the big winds to free it but the fish has by then found another snag, which I also manage to free it from. Then, after 30 minutes and close to the net, the line parts... oh great, just bloody great.

I’m feeling a bit down after that, but not to worry the afternoon perks me up with 3 takes producing cracking mirrors of 33, 40.08 and 41 - all on the little double mutant set up although, now, I’ve not got any left in the fluoro yellow which has been producing, so I hope the carp don’t mind the other colours. By evening it’s quietened down and there seems to be a distinct feeding pattern occurring with anearly morning take and then takes on the rods out front early afternoon. The margin rod seems to have one take a day, which can happen at any time. Still, averaging 3-4 takes a day is a lot better than in previous years when it was one a day, the nights, as usual, are very quiet. It’s the weekend now and I was expecting an influx of anglers, it being May, but no one has turned up, not that I’m complaining. It should be a quiet night but let’s see if there’s any action tomorrow.

The wind got up even more during the night and worsened throughout the day; the wind wasn’t the problem, it was the sand storms it threw up making life uncomfortable, in fact, the inside of the Titan looked more like a builders merchants, sand covering everything! Still, it was a good test for the Sirens and I was pleased that despite the gusty conditions not a single false bleep, the Titan also held up well - as I knew it would - even though it was only pegged into sand.