I had my first crack at a January kipper off the top yesterday. Conditions were overcast but pleasantly warm for January and no wind to speak off. It was tough - bloody tough! But hey, that’s why it’s called a challenge I guess!

I picked a water where I knew I would have it pretty much to myself as I thought a roving approach would work best. I started feeding three different areas of the pool for well over an hour but nothing. There was just one other angler on the lake who caught a small mirror at around 11am which at least gave me hope that they were still in there!

I persevered and at around midday saw the first carp swirl on top as a mixer disappeared - could not believe how the confidence suddenly lifted! The only problem was that it was a mixer well into a set of snags where it was impossible to get a bait. I kept dropping them into the snag and within about fifteen minutes had about five fish taking. I slowly drew them out but it was hard work. The rod was ready right at my side and then all of a sudden - with no warning - a lovely linear scaled mirror of about 14lb appeared no more than two feet from the bank to take a mixer that had fallen out of the catapult! I stayed completely motionless and fed it three more before slowly reaching for the rod - at which point it spooked on something (not me I don’t think) and dived headlong back into the depths of the snag taking all the other fish with it.

I moved to another spot I had been feeding (close to more snags) and after about half an hour managed to get a few feeding. I cast the bait perfectly and let it drift right past their noses - at which point I saw a set of lips engulf the hookbait at the first time of asking - before promptly spitting it back out before I had time to strike - Boo.

That was about it for the day. More fish took baits as the day went on, but only from well into the snags or from a bay that was well out of casting range. I left a little bit frustrated but definitely not disappointed - at least I got them feeding which gives me great confidence for the next session.

The sun never really broke through either so hopefully I’ll get a chance on a sunny day before the month is out, which should get a few more moving on top. Also, the session was made all the more difficult as idiot me forgot to take my Polarised Glasses so spotting them was a nightmare in the overcast conditions!

Next time, eh?

Julian Grattidge