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The day we went to Ranskill...
We'd
all got Bank Holiday Good Friday off work... and we couldn't decide
where to go!
I must admit I fancied a trip to Billy Makins, the weather was warm
and reasonably settled - I thought we would definitely catch a carp
or two or three... but Dave thought it would be too busy (and a bit
too big for him) - when Damian said he would settle for anywhere that
had fish in, including my back garden pond, but we'd got to decide quickly...
the tackle shop closed in half-an-hour!
In the end we opted for Lakeside Fishery at Ranskill, where we'd fished
before, once on a fly-fishing expedition (in appalling conditions three
years ago) and lastly on a maggot-bash, one cold December day, about
two years ago.
That's it then - decision made! Ranskill it was. By this time Dave had
left for home - so Damian had to phone the route details to him later
in the evening... that phone call lasted an hour - Dave can chat for
England about fishing and maps, and routes, and bait, and 'did-you-sees'
and have 'I told you'...
'I'll pick you up at 6.00am' was the last I heard as I dashed to the
tackle shop clutching a shopping list for maggots, casters and 'anything
else you can think of' and 'oohh - get me some of those barbless 20's
we use'... it's a good job Leegem Angling is close to our offices.
True to his word - at 6am Damian reversed his Rover into my driveway
and helped me load my tackle into the back - by the amount of kit we're
taking it looked like we were off for a weeks fishing!
He'd also worked out a different route (with a little help from 'phonecall'
Dave) and it took us just over 30 minutes from the centre of Chesterfield
to the small lane outside the fishery.
The impressive entrance to an impressive fishery
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As
we drove towards Lakesides' main gates, there were already five cars
waiting, so it looked like it was going to be a busy day.
One of the rules at Lakeside states that anglers have to get a ticket
from the cabin, and dip all their nets before fishing, so while I went
in for the tickets, Damian dipped our nets in the disinfectant drums
- and Dave arrived - asking me to get him a ticket 'while I'm in there'...amazing
timing - considering Dave had to travel from the centre of Nottingham
and had never been to Ranskill before.
Two minutes in the cabin and a quick drive to the coarse lake got us
adjoining pegs 22, 23 and 24, the ones we fished before, so we knew
what to expect, but it was all new to Dave as he surveyed the water
wondering what he'd let himself in for.
From these pegs we could fish up to one of the islands and had virtually
the whole corner of the lake to ourselves, Damian had decided to use
a waggler first, close up to the island with red maggot on a 20 hook,
and as usual, he had the first fish, a little roach, even before Dave
had unloaded his car!
I went for a 'Puddle Chucker' to the right of the island, fishing a
size 20, 3ft deep on-the-drop for anything that was passing, while Dave
float fished into the corner with double white and corn.
Catapulting in a dozen maggots and casting into the freebies got me
bites all day, from the roach, rudd and bream and I even managed to
catch what I think was a Blue Orfe, one of the many ornamentals stocked
in the lake.
Damian had swapped to the feeder and was getting bites every cast -
landing lots of chub and roach, in fact every time I looked at him he
was either striking or unhooking a fish. Dave fishing in the corner
had a quieter time, but managed a nice tench and bream from the margins
on double white. He lost something big later in the afternoon - managing
to feel the heavy tug of a large fish only to have the hook pull out.
Mid-afternoon I took a break from the hectic fishing, as I gazed around
the coarse lake I saw every  peg
was taken, the excellent Bank Holiday weather had brought anglers out
in droves. The two strips were full and the carp lake was busy too,
I was glad we managed to get our three pegs together.
I saw lots of double figure carp being caught, mainly from the margins,
on cat meat or paste, a cracking 22lb Common came out of the carp lake
and a stunning 20lb rainbow was landed from the fly-fishing lake - what
a day! Blazing sun and lots of fish - what more could you ask for? Yep
- a full breakfast in the cabin helped make the day, and Dave even had
his breakfast delivered to his swim! Is he spoilt or what!
We
all had a great time, catching lots of fish, nothing big, but plenty
of bites - just what the doctor ordered, and Damian, right, managed
a PB bag of chub - which left him with a wide grin and an aching arm.
Lakeside Fishery is a tremendous place for the pleasure angler - with
match, carp and fly-fishers all well catered for. All the banks are
tidy and free of litter with easily accessible pegs and parking at the
back of your swim. High fish stocks ensure you won't blank - in fact
you may catch your own personal best - there's some monster-sized carp
- if you're good enough!
One of the very productive strips
Check
out the weekly reports on our Returns and Results pages... you'll soon
see what a consistently good fishery this is. The owners are very friendly
and will give you lots of information, just give them a visit - you
won't regret it!
Would we go again? Yes - without any hesitation! Decision made!
Good fishing to you all
Kevin Miles
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