keiths Angling World

 
I had a very last minute decision to go to Llangorse Lake with Chris today as we were both off work....We arrived before dawn to get the boat set up after a 3.30am alarm and1hr 40 min drive! The weather was dry but exceptionally cold at -4C. 

The lake is still in flood but clear as tap water. We got to our first spot just after sunrise and settled in for what looked like a beautiful day afloat. 

All our kit including the clothes we were wearing were covered in a thick film of ice and the rods were frozen to the boat! 

We got ourselves tidy and proceeded to anchor up. 6 rods were then placed around the boat with a float paternoster rig on each and a mixture of sea fish hook baits. 

Things started off very slowly with nothing to show for our efforts in the first 2 hours despite trying a couple of my favourite spots for a bite. We started off in 16-20 feet of water and only managed a small jack before 10am on a Fox replicant lure. 

We decided around 11am to move a bit further out into the deeper area of the lake at 23 feet, the last part of the drop off shelf. 

Again 6 baits were placed in a line along the shelf and we sat back in anticipation of a nibble. Things continued to be very slow and to be honest both of us were feeling like that was going to be it for the day. I poured out a cuppa from my flask and rolled a smoke whilst we chatted endless shit as usual and laughed our heads off. 

Suddenly I spotted the 2nd rod on the left sides float start to act strangely and then sail away..... I gave it a couple of seconds and struck down into the fish. 

A rather sluggish pike made its way to the boat and Chris slipped the net under it for me. Finally a slightly better one. As the sun rose in the sky further, we thought that was almost certainly it for the day. 

About half an hour passed by before the same rod was yet again away with a slightly better mid double which put up a much better fight. 

After we put the fish back we tweaked a few rig components and made a recast into the deeper area. 

With a couple of hours of the day left and sun at its highest point, there was a slight increase in the surface water temperature and it was obviously enough to trigger a few bites. 

We sat back again to discuss this years holiday plans and Chris had a take on one of his rods only for the fish to drop the bait on the strike....I was gutted for him as he'd worked hard all day for nothing to show for his efforts. It wasn't long after that I had another bite on the same rod yet again. 

This fish felt much better again and after a spirited scarp we boated a nice upper double to end the day. 

It was a tough day all round but the slight increase in temperature seemed to trigger a few fish to bite and turned the day right around. I thoroughly enjoyed Chris's company as ever and we had lots of banter and giggles with just one other angler on the whole lake! 

Unfortunately Chris felt quite poorly as the day progressed and he's now full of a horrid head cold. Hope you feel better soon brother x