Day 16 - 29th May 25

This is my kind of fishing

It's been an interesting day today. My plan was to fish Big Zalk this afternoon/evening and then pre-bait it before leaving and return tomorrow.

Firstly I needed to pickup some more worms from Fons Albert (https://w3w.co/absorption.undisputed.strain). I also needed a top-up of casters from Zunnebeld in Zwolle. I called Bertie to see where he was fishing today and told him my plans. He reminded me that it was a public holiday today and that Zunnebeld would be closed. Thankfully I have enough until tomorrow. I had messaged Fons so I knew he would be open for business today. The worm farm was open because it is all automated - no staff : -

Bagging is also automated but I asked for an extra 2Kg so Fons bagged them manually for me.

I got back and had a few household chores to do before heading to Zalk lakes. On the way I stopped off to see how Bertie was getting on so I arrived at Zalk for about 1pm. 

Best laid plans

The wind was not favourable as only the end of the lake opposite the gate (south-western end) had any shelter. I wouldn't mind fishing into the wind but it was also raining and that wasn't forecast. I got to a peg and started to unpack my car but then had 2nd thoughts. I was committing to this peg for today and tomorrow and I just wasn't feeling it. Add to that the fact that another guy was leaving when I arrived and he'd had nothing. I really didn't know what to do or where to go.

As I was driving out I noticed a car at a peg on the river behind the lakes so went over to see if he'd had anything. There were 2 anglers. One had fished the pole with a 30g flat float (he said he really needed 50g!). He'd had a few nice Bream and I saw his net when he weighed and released them. The other angler (I didn't get his name) was from Karpen (I think). He had fished the feeder and had a few Ide. He recognised me from the FB group and this blog. He was very helpful telling me what they had been doing. He even gave me some of his bait additive (I won't say what was in it). He also gave me 3 of the feeders that he made himself. He also suggested a peg for me - what a guy.

Having really wanted to catch big fish from the river and seeing them caught today, my mind was made up. The peg was also more sheltered from the wind.

So I started setting up my gear in the recommended peg and then heard an English voice from behind me. They had just arrived from the ferry and had also been reading the blog. We had a long chat before they went to look around the lake and I carried on setting up. Yet again I didn't get their names (I am useless at that). Anyway, I hope you have a great week and I hope to cross paths again before I leave.

On the Ijssel again

As advised I would feed with plenty of caster and fish caster on the hook. I also added some smashed corn in the feed. I did use the bait additive I had been given but did not use any of the feeders as the current did not demand it so I stuck with the 60g version made by Bertie.  I started getting bites fairly quickly but was not hitting them. I was using the same hooklink that I had been using at the lake for the past few days and catching all the Bream on. I did notice that it wasn't needle sharp as it was struggling the pierce the casters cleanly. Perhaps this was why I was missing bites. I therefore changed to a smaller hook with a finer gauge (a size 16, was previously a 14). The casters were now cleanly hooked.

First Ijssel Bream

As soon as I changed the hook I hit the next bite and had a Bream of 3lb 12oz - caught on caster. Not a monster by Ijssel standards but it felt great to finally get one. I then got a couple of skimmers. By now I was getting peckish so I did my usual trick - I put on a big bait whilst I eat. The theory being that if I get a bite and disturb my food break - it will probably be worth it. So I put on a full dendra tipped with a piece of corn.

After about 6 minutes the tip arched right over and I lifted the rod into a polaris missile (otherwise known as a Barbel). I did not have chance to get it under control before it broke my hooklink. I have caught many Barbel and know that this was definitely one of them. It's a shame I didn't land it.

Now I am on familiar ground

So, time for a stronger hooklink and bigger/stronger hook. I could also now focus on bigger baits, leaving it in for 5 mins per cast instead of the 2 - 3 mins I had started on.

I then got an Ide of about 2 pounds. Shortly after I got a couple of taps then a drop-back and hit into a solid fish. This felt like a good Bream and took a while to get it up from the bottom. I was much stronger and only given away by the customary head shake every now and again. The end result was this cracking fish of 7lb 7oz. It was another PB, my previous being 7lb 4oz : - 

7lb 7oz of fit river Bream

After a few more missed bites (still fishing worm tipped with corn), I got another drop back and this time it felt even bigger resulting in yet another PB, a fish of 7lb 11oz: -

7lb 11oz surprisingly light coloured for its size

I then got 2 more Bream, one of 5lb 8oz and another of 5lb 9oz. Just before packing up I hit into something that was strong but definitely not a Barbel or a Bream. I really wasn't sure what it was. Could it be a small catfish (never had one). It ended up being an Eel of 2lb 10oz and was lip hooked so I got my hook back - a miracle.

Summary

I had a total of 35lb 4oz and a really enjoyable afternoon/evening of fishing where I finally got big fish on the Ijssel and, yet again, set a PB. That's 3 species that I have had PBs for on this trip.