Introduction : First Day of the Year. Renny Lake. 03/04/2016

Welcome to the first Blog of my fishing year. This is a new project to track my year in fishing and hopefully share some great experiences.

This is my first true go at something like this so lets not waste any more time. My name is Alex, I'm 35 and have been fishing since my dad was convinced I could hold one of his rods without damaging it.

I caught my first fish (unassisted) so long ago it feels like a dream. A hot summers day fly fishing at around 10 years old I surprised myself and caught a Rainbow Trout of about 2lb from Jubilee Lakes. I had felt fish on a line prior to this on days I'd follow my dad around reservoirs and rivers in search for trout and salmon. However my first true catch was that Rainbow Trout and it changed my life.

From that day fishing stopped being about a day out with my dad. It changed from a day in which I explored the natural surroundings, entertained myself in among the tree's and faffed with the minnows and fry in the shallows while I watched my dad and others fish. It had become my one true passion in life. The only way to truly relax and be completely absorbed and happy in the moment. I honestly feel like I was born to fish. Such is the peace it gives me.

I have fished for pretty much every fresh water fish in Britain and yet can only really class myself as a pleasure angler. I prefer mostly course and carp fishing but also love Fly Fishing on reservoir's and still waters for Rainbow and Brown Trout. This year if possible I intend to target rivers for Barbel, Chub and Pike and Still waters for Carp,Tench and Trout using as many methods as possible. Over time I hope to share my trips through this blog and any ups or downs that occur.

Finally it's time. Time for the first trip of the fishing year. A month solid of fishing dreams and I'm demented each morning. Thankfully this morning it's different and sat at the bottom of my stairs near the front door at 5am is a long overdue and a welcome sight. My Tackle all ready to roll out.

Ready to go

I'm not due to set off till 7 am but I woke up with the birds and couldn't go back to sleep due to excitement. Every trip is the same for me. I doubt I'll ever get over the buzz I feel every morning before I set off fishing no matter where I'm going or for how long. It feels incredible to be getting out at long last.

Ahead of me today is a planned trip to a still water I last fished over 6 years ago. Mostly with the aim just to iron out the kinks after a long winter and hopefully lure a few out on what was looking to be a very cold and cloudy day at Renny Lakes. The  previous weekend a friend and I have had a drive around some local still waters looking for somewhere not too easy but not too taxing to break our duck for the year. We settled on Renny Lakes. A 3 lake complex that boast's of coarse fishing in beautiful surroundings sheltered by the Cleveland Hills. The lakes have a wide range of fish species from Carp up to 15lb, Chub up to 4lb, Tench up to 3lb, Roach to 2lb, and Rudd. Fishing from 7am to dusk for £7 a day.

My partner in crime for the day as always is Steve Wake, someone I have fished with since the early 90's and other than my dad the person I would call my true fishing partner and best friend. Amazingly he for the first time in 20 years has turned up on time. I was almost surprised to see him hes never ever on time. As always his music is thumping and the car is full of the aroma of early morning flatulence and well used tackle. After a brief chat about how as always he has failed at packing his gear, a few mins making room for my tackle and a brief thought if I should bring my wellies or not we pack up my stuff ( minus the wellies) and head down the A19 for what I hope is the first of many trips his year.

We arrive some 30 mins later at a very cold and bleak looking lake, Steve goes to check out the ticket box while I shiver my way into taking a quick picture of the lakes. You can see its still early in the season the place is still missing some greenery and looks barren at parts. Everywhere is sodden I wish I'd brought my bloody wellies. Bugger.

Steve checks the rules.

So off we pop around the lakes to look for a few pegs. The aim is to catch a few carp at least and find out the things I need on my yearly restock. I feel you need to actually fish to see what you need to restock or repair.

Surprisingly a few people are already fishing. 3 people already round the far side of the largest lake. A quick chat with them and Steve and I decide to set up close to each other on the same far bank with the cold wind blowing towards us, something we would later regret. Its hard to pick a swim to be honest as a lot of them look like they could hold fish. Eventually however we commit.

Far bank.

Amazingly it takes me almost 1 hour to get set up and fishing. I foolishly over soak my 2mm micro pellets twice while setting up a 11ft feeder rod with 6lb main line to a small Guru X-safe Method Feeder and banded size 14 hook on a 4lb hook length. I cast out fairly accuratley on my first attempt towards the tip of an island covered in overhanging branches. An 8mm hard pellet used as hookbait which is buried into the feeder laden with damp micro pellets. I start off without any additives but ill add some squid flavour if I struggle as the day progresses.

Small Guru X-Safe Method

I aim to recast every 15 mins to start with, a tip I picked up from Steve Ringer using the timer on my watch to time each cast and then increase the rate of casts slowly if I fail to catch. I don't want to over feed at this time of year and decide to leave my first cast where it landed while I try and recover the pellets from the over soaking and tidy up. To my surprise I get a bite within 2 minutes and not soon after have a small carp of around 1lb on the bank. The blank avoided, I'm over the moon. This my second year using the Guru Method Feeders and they so far have never let me down. Pressure off, I take a quick picture of the little Mirror Carp as he has a quick rest on my unhooking mat then release him back to the freezing cold water via the landing net.

First fish of the year.

Not long after this Steve lands a fish of roughly the same size. Both of us avoiding the blank I feel like today's already a partial success. I never set myself high targets on the first trip out as I usually fumble about for a few hours brushing off the rust. With us both catching now I can have a smoke, relax and get into the swing of things. With a smile on my face and a shiver I curse the cold wind and settle down in my seat. To say I'm happy to be bank side is an understatement. I start slowly introducing some pellets into the margin to my right on the off chance I can lure a few carp to come in close and continue fishing just off the island.

Peace at last.

As the day progresses its a struggle the wind is very cold and relentlessly blowing into our faces, cutting through. One very bad cast into the island almost costs me a feeder but I somehow manage to yank it all free by hand. The fishing is slow for everyone it seems yet we manage to keep up with those around us with a few more small carp coming our way. A father and son turn up on the opposite bank around 10 am and the lads incessant talking shatters our peace. He talks solid loudly for the remainder of the day covering everything from his love of American Truck Simulator to singing to the fish and if I'm honest it kinda takes the shine off the day. I appreciate that at least he's fishing and having a good time doing so. I'm a grumpy bastard at times and I'll hold my hand up ; I did consider throwing him in more than once. If I'd have been like that as a youngster my dad would have shut me up fast with and excuse about scaring the fish. Another guy sets up near the lad and soon moves away much to Steve and I's amusement.

After a quiet spell (fish wise not from the previously mentioned lad) the fish start biting again. I've tried a few hook baits from corn to fluro 8mm dumbell boilies without much success. Steve manages a good 5lb fish which is returned before I can even suggest a picture. After another slow hour I can tell due to the fact we have caught fish combined with the lad opposite and weather Steve is already getting tired. We have late lunch and a brew and a some chatter then get back to the fishing pulling out a couple more carp each, my biggest probably just under 2lb. I try and get a bite out of the margin swim I have spent the day feeding but nothing comes from it sadly.

Another Mirror 

Steve declares its time to start thinking about packing up at about 3pm just as the wind drops. I could probably have done a few more hours as the temperature has increased a little but I'm happy to go knowing we landed about half a dozen each. I'd have liked a few more, or more importantly a bigger fish, but for a first day out I'm content .We have both caught fish and it didn't rain a drop. I take one last picture of my swim for the day and start packing up. I manage to land one more small carp while I pack up then its slowly back to the car with tackle that feels twice as heavy as it did that morning.

Wind dropped at 3pm

We will almost certainly be back to Renny Lakes after a warm spell but the next trip will be to a different venue and probably on my Birthday. The water still maybe a bit cold but we proved with work today you can land a few if you persevere. The lakes are small but well stocked and the owner if not a bit eager to drive around the lakes in his car rather than walk around to check tickets seems a good guy. Worth 7 quid that's for sure.

It's been great to get out again and wet my lines. The next trip I'll try and focus more on the photography and will remember to get one of myself but at times in this trip I had forgot I even had a camera with me. As first days go I cant complain. May there be many more like it. Hope you are all having a great spring. Tight Lines.

Alex