The Black Water session 6

It had been over a month since the last visit up here and to say i was keen to get up there was an understatement, with 2 fish on my want list, time is running out before my thoughts will have to turn to the new syndicate water I'm starting in January.
Arriving at 5.30 i was setting up and getting the rods into the margins till first light, by 6 the wind was howling and pushing into the shallows so a rod was walked down to the little bay and flicked out with half a dozen bacteria B1's in the vicinity and set onto the rod pod. By the time the bivvy was organised and the baits prepared for the other 2 rods in readiness for first light, the kettle was puffing away and the first cuppa of the morning was sliding down nicely.
As the dawn broke over the lake it was time to get the 2 rods into place, one rod was to be fished to the far side snag tree area and using a small once ounce lead a few trial casts had me clipped up at the correct range, being careful to stay to the left of the underwater debris, and once hte lines had been wound around the the marker poles, getting the rod back over there was not going to be an issue. The right hand rod was fished onto the plateau id previously fished and caught the big mirror from. Both rods went out on small bags of crushed B1 with 15 baits flicked out with the throwing stick in the general vicinity of the rigs, i would like to have concentrated the baits a bit tighter but in this wind it was going to be impossible.

Soon after proper daylight had broken through the wind started to pick up, it was howling through the support bars of the bivvy.  The short winter days really limit how much time you can spend trying to watch for fish but eyes were on the lake for signs but to no avail, in these gales and crashing waves, unless a fish rocked right out then sighting anything was not going to happen.
By lunchtime the gusts were getting ridiculous and i started to question my sanity, the lake is very exposed and the winds were screeching off the nearby hills and mountains. The bivvy was getting shaken around like a rag doll and kept threatening to rip the pegs from the ground. To leave the sanctuary of the bivvy was tough, all my body heat was wicked away and the gusting wind was nearly strong enough to take you off your feet.
With darkness coming on, the weather took a turn for the worse! The violent gusts were getting stronger, i nipped out and trod the pegs in even deeper. During the afternoon a friend had arrived and chosen to fish to my left so the bay rod had been moved to the margins to my left. It was now being fished in 5 ft of water with a half dozen pouches of 3mm pellets over it. With the waves crashing on the banks and driving rain joining in with the roaring of the wind, even listening to music was impossible and an early night was on the cards. I was woken by my mate not long before midnight to photograph a fish, it was a common and a new personal biggest for him.

Sleeping wasn't likely to happen with the noise of the winds and rain, but eventually i dropped off, waking at around 3am to silence, a flat calm lake and the most stunning dark night sky id seen for a while. Come morning the day broke with sun and clear sky's, with a light wind pushing from the northwest. Such a difference to the previous day. After a good breakfast it was time to keep a watch for fish. There was still a heavy chop on the surface and nothing was seen, although i did get to see a "Little Egret" which was a nice addition to the lovely sunny morning. The day looked perfect for a fish ! Leaving the rods in place, wanting to keep disturbance down to a minimum, sadly the day passed fish less and it was time to start the pack down and make the journey home, for once, with a lovely dry bivvy !