After having some work cancelled and with conditions looking superb, James Champkin set off on his first night of bream fishing this year.
“My destination was a low-stock pit that I’ve been targeting for the last three seasons, and with a warm and wet weather front rolling in that evening on a gentle southerly breeze, I hoped for a result. On arrival, I found a popular swim free, which gave me access to an area that I’d learned the bream frequented in the spring and summer.
“With just a few hours until darkness, I searched for an area to present my baits and found a shallow gravel plateau, on which I’d fish two of my rods. My third rod was cast to a slightly deeper area, which was also gravelly.
“Artificial corn hookbaits were cast out on helicopter set-ups, and just before the light faded entirely I managed to introduce a few spods of feed over both spots. This consisted of a mixture of halibut pellets, particles and corn, all laced with Dynamite Baits CSL and Sweet Tiger Liquid.
“At around 1am, the right-hand rod on the plateau was away, and I found myself playing my first bream of the season. Any bream is a result from there, so I was pleased when a fish of 12lb 3oz went into the landing net. I recast and drifted back off to sleep.
“I had to be away early that morning, and after waking I started to pack up slowly until I had just the rods and landing net remaining. A few minutes before I was due to wind in, the bobbin of the middle rod pulled up tight.
“ I thought it may have been a liner, so I pulled off a few inches of slack line to let the bobbin settle, but 20 seconds later it pulled up tight again. At this point, I picked up the rod and connected with what felt like a plodding breeze block!”
“Eventually, an enormous bream rose from the depths, and I slipped the net under it.
“I had no idea what it might weigh, and I was stunned to see the scales settle on 18lb exactly. It’s a new PB, and my reward for lots of effort and many blanks at the venue over the last few years.”
THE BEST FISHING BEDCHAIRS WILL HELP YOU GET SOME REST DURING NIGHT SESSIONS.
