Day 2 - 15th May 25

That's more like it

I decided to fish the very local canal confluence that I pre-baited last night. 

Just a heads up: I will not be posting actual locations/addresses of places that I pre-bait until my holiday is over. I will then edit the appropriate pages to add What3Words addresses retrospectively.

I was able to drop my gear off right next to my peg and then park my car about 50m away. It was so much easier not having to assemble and disassemble my trolley.

Here was the view for the morning: -

It was about 8am when I was ready for my first cast. I did not ball in any bait as I wanted to see if any fish were in the area that I pre-baited. I usually start with 2 rods. That allows me to try a different bait and different part of the swim. If one rod starts to get a lot of action then I put the other one aside and concentrate on that one.

So, I started with double maggot on one rod and a piece of corn on the other (whilst I chopped up some worm). The maggot rod went on the 1st cast, after about 2 mins and resulted in a Bream of 4 - 5lb. As I was landing it, the other rod went and resulted in a Roach of about 6oz. Things are looking good.

I cast in the maggot rod but didn't cast the other until the worms were ready. Whilst I was chopping the worms, I noticed what looked like a Tench rolling in the lillies opposite me. I got another Bream on maggot and then a couple on a worm/corn coctail on the other rod.

Then, about at hour in, the worm/corn rod went again and it was clear this wasn't a Bream. The result was a Tench of 5lb15oz and is actually my personal best Tench - result!

As the morning got brighter and hotter, the action started to slow. About 90 mins after after the Tench, I balled in a dozen or so big balls laced again with hemp, wheat, chopped sweetcorn and chopped worm to see if I could kick-start them again. Approx 20 mins later I got another Tench of 4lb 5oz but, alas, it was a lone bite - not much else occurred.

I decided to fish until 1pm and then go into Hattem to the Tourist Information office to but a key for the Zalk lakes. Thinking I would then have a look at Zalk and then the river Ijssel to plan my first session there.

I ended up with 5 Bream (all 5lb or just under), a small Roach and 2 Tench for 33lb 4oz. This was a real tonic after yesterday. 

Hattem and Zalk

I headed to Hattem but was disappointed when I got to the Tourist Office - they had just sold the last Key! More will be arriving in the next few days. Still that didn't stop me looking around Zalk lakes and the Ijssel. I must say, Hattem (like most towns in this area) really is pretty and well kept.

I had a quick peek at the Ijssel near Zalk lakes. It was a strong wind and would have made fishing difficult as it was right in my face. Still, it's a bendy river so I am sure many places would be sheltered.

Next I walked between Big Zalk and Little Zalk. As Chris saw (and filmed) the Bream were everywhere in the shallows on Big Zalk. Interestingly I didn't see any on Little Zalk. I wonder if that's because the exit back into the Ijssel is closer and more obvious whereras its a bit of a trek to get out of Big Zalk.

The Ijssel - Mad German stretch

On my way back I decided to stop off at the Mad German stretch. I hadn't seen any anglers around the Zalk Lakes or the Ijssel nearby but could see some vehicles riverside at the Mad German stretch so headed down the bumpy track.

There were 3 anglers, some had only recently arrived. I had a good chat with one of them. They hadn't caught much and were only baiting very lightly (in my opinion). I did see one catch an Ide. I had noticed that there weren't any Groynes near the Zalk lakes but there were some (albeit small) Groynes at Mad German. Also, the wind was much more tolerable here.

I think I will try here in the morning, as the wind looks similar. I'll give it a fair go but if there's nothing happening by the afternoon then I may have a break and fish the same canal confluence as today but into dusk.

A nice meal to celebrate

A new PB Tench is worth celebrating so I headed to a Chinese restaurant in Hattem called Kota Radja. They do an all you can eat Tapas type of meal where you can keep ordering tapas dish sized chinese meals e.g. 2 small duck pancakes being one example or a skewer of 3 satay prawns being another. Many dishes later I was done. Anyone that knows me is well aware of my love of gadgets. This is the first robotic server that I have seen - it was on its way to collect empties from a table of half a dozen guests.

Time to prepare for tomorrow.