First trip of 2015

So I was talking to Mrs Clunk about fishing, and she said she would like to try it.
So I decided a date to my favourite haunt, the Kennet and Avon canal in near Devizes.
We decided on our spot near Marsh lane bridge. Now under the Devizes AA rules, we aren't supposed to fish on lock operation moorings. I did not realise what these were, as the no fishing sign is missing from my usual spot and it wasn't till a fellow fishing fellow pointed this out that I was aware I was technically breaking the rules. However, it does not say it on the current license, so this is something that I feel needs clearing up.
So my spot was chosen on the lock mouth of one of the pounds. it gave us loads of space without being obtrusive, and it gave us loads of features to fish to. I set up 2 float rods, and a Ledger. Opting to keep the carp rod in the bag for this trip.
We got there nice and early as well, to avoid boat traffic. And after teaching Mrs Clunk how to cast, off she went. She caught a couple of nice roach while I was setting everything else up.
I finally got set up and started on the waggler. We caught a few nice fish. Anything tiny was released. Medium fish put into the net.
My fish of the day was a nice size bream caught very quickly.
I managed to get a perfect cast up against the weed raft, and just lowered my rod tip, and flicked over the bail arm to sink the line when the float disappeared, and a 'V' was appearing in the water where the line was sinking quite rapidly. I struck into the first fish to put a bend in my rod. Reeled it in without too many issues, and landed a nice bream.

I had another couple of nice bream on the feeder, and we bagged up with about 25 mixed roach/rudd and a couple of perch. But the highlight was the police turning up after a pair of fishermen on a pound down from us had given abuse to some holidaymakers on a boat, when they drifted towards their Rods.
I consider this unacceptable behaviour from a fellow fisherman and canal user.

To-Do in 2015

As I have said before, I am a pleasure angler. I don't restrict myself to one type of fish or fishing style. I will go for whatever takes my fancy on the day. That being said, I will be setting out to get new PB's this year. This also involves me making a spreadsheet of what I catch. Because of this, I will be weighing fish in grams from now on. Just because there is no decent formula for dealing with lbs and oz in excel. This in mind, I have decide to erase all my pb's so far. Which isn't much to be fair, but converting lbs to kg's isn't accurate, and things can go astray. As it is, I only have 3 notable pb's
Carp: 15lbs
Pike: 3lbs (I know. I have never specifically set out to fish them, so have only caught strays)
Perch 2lbs 1oz

Objectives I have so far set myself are:

• Fish Calne canal and find out what is really in there. It is a small streach of canal about 200 yards long. Back when I started fishing in my teens, there was nothing in it except tiny minnows and sticklebacks. I've heard its been stocked, but I have never seen anyone fish it. No idea what is in there at all. So will be trying various tactics. It also has a lot of duck weed on the surface, so I will mostly be using ledger tactics. Might invest in a small pole to fish small openings in the weed. 
• Proper carp session: It has never really taken my fancy. Throwing out huge piles of bait and waiting for a fish to find the hook bait. It seems more like trapping than fishing. But I cannot criticise it till I do it. And I know some people will be thingking 'but you have caught carp', yes I have. But I cast to an area I saw activity, with a single boilie on the hair, and a string of half a dozen on pva. I didn't bomb the area with gallons of bait. 
• The area where the Marden meets the Avon. Looking at google earth, this looks like a good place to fish. Lets find out. 
• Different areas of the Kennet and Avon. I usually fish the same four pounds. Yet my permit gives me 10 miles to choose from. I need to explore. 

That is my todo list so far for the year. It will change as and when things happen. 

Review: Dunlop Biomimetic 13ft waggler rod.

I have used this rod three times now, and as stated I feel its time for a review.

Cost:
I bought the rod from Dragoncarp direct for £18. It arrived the following day.

Looks:
The rod looks nice. Made from a carbon blank with a cork and rubberised handle.

Build:
The rod is well made. The eyes are nice and straight and seem to be stuck to the blank with resin as opposed to being whipped. The eyes are lined with what feels like ceramic rings.

Performance:
The rod has a nice progressive bend to it when fighting a fish. The eyes seem perfectly spaced to perform with the bend of the blank. With the Shakespear Mach2xt reel, it is very well balanced at the end of the handle. Control of the rod is effortless, and holding it for prolonged periods is comfortable.
With the aforementioned reel loaded with 5lb line, casting is smooth and precise with little drag on the eyes.
The butt is of a nice length, and rests nicely along your forearm when fighting fish.

Buying:
Dragoncarp direct no longer seem to stock this rod, and I cannot find it online. But I would recommend it as a good budget rod if you can find it.

overall, I would give it 8/10.