After struggling on a crucian session at Sutton Lake, Shropshire, Daniel Woolcott was keen to return and make things right. Knowing that the species loves to get on a new wind, he planned a few days fishing just as a fresh westerly was due to blow in and it paid off in style as he banked this stunning brace of 4lb 3oz, and 4lb 2oz crucians.
He told us “Arriving just before the wind, I set up in a swim that would be right in the teeth of it, and what followed was an incredible session. As soon as the wind came in, I started catching and picked up fish steadily over the two days. A total of 14 crucians came to the net, ten of which were over 3lb, with the biggest two weighing 4lb 3oz and 4lb 2oz. Both beat my previous PB and came less than 15 minutes apart, which allowed me to take a memorable brace shot.
In terms of my approach, I fished in the edge, using an old pole with a baiting spoon mounted to the end of it, which allowed me to position my rigs right into the cover with great accuracy. These included in-line Drennan Method feeders and a Dynamite Baits Wowser my hookbait. On my previous unsuccessful session, I had been using corn, but I knew I was being ‘done’ by the crucians as they were rolling in the swim, yet I wasn’t catching.
I knew that the semi-buoyant Wowsers would fly into the mouths of feeding fish, and over this session, they certainly did! I hair-rigged these below a size 12 hook on a short 5lb fluorocarbon hooklink. While this may seem slightly crude for crucians, with it being early in the spring and with few anglers targeting them yet at Sutton, I didn’t have to refine things too much and go down the popular route of fake casters and small hooks.
Feed wise, I introduced minimal amounts of hemp and Silver-X Roach groundbait which I mixed with molehill soil. Although not the usual fishmeal option, I wanted something that would complement my sweet wafter hookbait. All in all, it was a truly special session, and a great start to spring.”