I was fortunate enough to discover a gravel pit that triggered an increased attraction for me. When I first came here, I fell under its charm despite having little information about its inhabitants. To approach a new playground, I don't stop at the knowledge of the livestock. It is part of the mystery of fishing and I find it rather exciting.
First of all, I have to feel good where I fish. I know several places where very big fish swim and yet I would never set foot there because for me fishing doesn't stop there. Far from it! To take pleasure, I must above all be in symbiosis with the place. Well, this gravel pit was going to become a challenge of the heart, a distant challenge! But when you love you don't count!
This gravel pit of about ten hectares has an extremely irregular bottom.
In a few meters, it is possible to go from 50 cm deep to more than 7 m. The water is very clear. From a bird's eye view but especially from an echo-sounder, it is possible to find dozens and dozens of hot spots. In addition to this, there is an abundance of herbariums and natural food of all kinds such as crayfish, anodonts, snails, corbicula ..
The presence of obstacles, consisting mainly of trunks and branches, adds complexity to this very chaotic place. The substratum is on the whole very hard with more or less wide stony areas. At the level of the undesirables, carassins, cats and crayfish are very present. On the carp side we are fully in the mystery ... On the other hand, by the observation, I am sure that there are some subjects, deceived by multiple jumps. On the other hand these fishes seem small sizes. I have no idea of the fishing pressure exerted on this water which seems rather wild and neglected. Well, that's a good thing..
Current weather conditions
Anticyclonic period with alternating seasonal temperatures and very high temperatures. During my session, it will be hot with a stable but not very sustained southeast wind. The maximum temperature will peak at 25°C with a good night cooling giving way to a morning mist.
Approach and technique
My choice of position was on a south-facing bank where I had a good overall view of the gravel pit. In addition to my regular trips by boat to probe, bait and place my lines, it seemed important to me to observe as much as possible the possible manifestations of the fish. This is very often the key to success all the more so on unknown water. This seems banal but nevertheless... Even if on this place it will not be enough since the places where the fish can feed are really numerous. With dozens of rods, we wouldn't be able to go around yet. The kind of confusing place. Before we understand it, we often have to spend a lot of time there.
I don't know the area well enough to allow me to try any risky strategies. Having no precise idea of the present livestock, I will drop the massive or zone baiting. For the first reason but also because of the marked irregularity of the bottom.
Baiting a large area on this site would be like casting bait at any depth, with significant variations in a few metres.
So I was going to opt for a spot fishing with a plate bait. On this gravel pit that looks like a roller coaster, I had to be precise. When it came to bait, the Feedz were in the game. This range of baits is made from seed. You'll never hear me talk about miracle bait. On the other hand, there are very good baits and especially elaborate ranges such as the Feedz, the Performance Concept or the Probiotic to answer to different fishing conditions and thus to set up different baiting strategies. These ranges can of course be complementary.
Then why did you choose the Feedz?
We are at a time when natural food is abundant. And on this kind of place, the carps really don't wait for our baits to eat. Out of question, in only a few days, to compete with the natural larder rich in proteins. Therefore, I wanted to foil the fishes' distrust by using carbohydrate-rich baits. By this choice, I had a bait that was sharply different from the usual food. They also have the benefit in these hot periods of not feeding the fish. Basically all the advantages of seeds without their disadvantages.
The indispensable boat
Here it's almost impossible to do without a boat. Not only to place the lines and to start precisely, but also to carry out serenely the fights. Indeed, between the grasses, obstacles and the "roller coaster", few fish would see the bank. A boat and an echo sounder are therefore essential to tackle fishing seriously. My Hélix 7 G3 was therefore going to be an essential ally.
To finish on my approach, I will use a 50mm Shadow bottom line. Discretion, solidity and rigidity are essential to approach fishing in the best conditions (undesirable, clear water, obstacles...). My bait will be systematically protected by Boilie Guard.
When I arrived at the gravel pit on Friday evening, I noticed that I was alone on the site. Despite the late hour, I pass the echo-sounder for a good while. The hot spots which are drawn under my eyes are numerous. It will however be necessary to make choices. And it won't be the easiest because the configuration necessarily pushes the fish to pass and feed in specific places. I had decided to move the unsuccessful lines after every 24 hours in order to try as many spots as possible. Each rod will be accompanied by Feedz Tiger and pellets of the same range.
Day 1
At the beginning of the night, my 4 rods are stretched in different areas and depths. My baiting strategy is the same for each rod as well as the assembly used. The night was very quiet.
Day 2
At dawn, I jump in my Partner 270 to go fight over the fish. First fight and first loss. The fish gains a submerged tree and I can't do anything. No idea how big the fish is. The rod is put back in the same place. It produces another start at about 9:00 a.m. This time I win. It's a long commune.
My other rods will be fishing their spot until evening. It doesn't matter. They remain unproductive. Change of spots.
Day 3
A cane goes wild at 4:00 in the morning. The fight aboard the zod is long and powerful. After a few minutes, I slip a fish which seems pretty. Bank regained I put it in the bag to carry out the photographs a little later. Note that it is always the same rod, located in 3 m of water which is productive. 6 am: my star rod is getting agitated. My D Tec Indicator does the yo-yo. I seize the cane and carry out the fight of the edge. What I thought I was, is good: it is a carassin. Around 9:00, I take a picture of the bagged fish. What a flake!
I'd barely put that beauty back in the water when it got excited again. It smelled like a carassin' pigeon in the nose. I take time for breakfast, lulled by a few widely spaced beeps. A further lowering of my D Tec indicator makes me take the rod in hand. I reel almost in a vacuum. At this point, I tell myself that this carassin has come a long way while leaving my line in the feet of grass beds arranged much further ... I still end up making direct contact with the fish that in the end does not seem to be a carassin! The fish, without me realising it, had simply gone back to the edge. That's when the fight really took place. It was an intense battle on board where the fish gave all its energy. After several minutes, I finally exhausted the fish. It's quite pretty. In fact, I'd only really realise how heavy it was when I lifted it up: almost impossible! At that moment, I understand that it's a big pig. I'm like a madman. Verdict of the scale: 28.2 kilos ! You can imagine how happy I am !
Note this incredible stroke of luck. I can start this fight 10 times from the edge without ever seeing the fish. But then again, luck is part of the game.
Day 4
After a quiet night, I'll check in again around 9:00. Well, a still very pretty mirror comes to close this magnificent session for which I absolutely did not expect such an outcome. It's close to 20 kilos.
Conclusion
A session where mystery dominates!
My results confirm my approach. Only a cane will be productive. The 3 others, in spite of the alternation of the spots, will remain silent !
With social networks and other means of communication we have almost no more surprises about the potential of a place, whether public or private. So catching beautiful fish in water we know little or nothing about brings us back to the essence of fishing: mystery! This is the key word that generates all the excitement of our passion. We often want to master everything, to know everything, to understand everything... so let's enjoy the mystery when it arises!
