UK Carp & Coarse Fishing

When the Wind Finally Changed

With the temperatures finally dropping to something a little more acceptable for me, along with a lovely wind pushing across the lake, my swim choice could finally be based more on where I’d seen carp showing over the last few weeks, rather than simply chasing the shade.

It’s amazing just how much the water level has dropped in the space of only a week. I’d pitched up with the wind blowing straight into my face after seeing a couple of nice carp show out in front of me. That was enough of an invitation for me.

Setting up the Frontier was certainly interesting! I’ve found the best way to do it in these conditions is to open it up with your back to the wind, get the middle back peg in first, and let the mallet do the talking. Then it’s a case of walking around the bivvy with both hands gripping everything as tightly as possible, before quickly getting the two front pegs in.

You really do need to have the pegs in position and ready to go, along with the mallet, because if you don’t like banging pegs in, then setting up a bivvy with a 30mph wind blowing straight into your face, combined with rock-solid ground, probably isn’t for you!

I’d be spombing out a few loads of Jurassic Particles once the wind subsided later in the evening, as I wanted them to be as accurate as possible. In the meantime, I’d catapulted a few 24mm Cream Cajouser boilies around both spots.

The traps were now set, so all that was left to do was sit back, enjoy the next few nights and hope they brought something a little bit special.

0216 hrs

The right-hand rod was away.

It wasn’t quite the 27lb Ian had caught earlier from the same swim last week. It seemed I’d followed the smaller carp rather than the bigger ones I’d been seeing since arriving. They were showing further out, but with the boulders between them and me, fishing that far out would simply have been a crazy option.

10lb Common

I was happy I hadn’t blanked. It was an August carp, and more importantly, it had proved that the spot was viable.

0626 hrs

The right-hand rod was away again, this time with a 5lb-plus Tench.

I simply sharpened the hook up and flicked the same 24mm Cream Cajouser hardened hookbait back out.

0800 hrs

I was out of my pit for the day, and I’d concluded that, both on here and at Airfield Lake, the carp seem much more inclined to show themselves after 0900 hrs. Before then, they generally seem to have their heads down feeding, with very little indication of where they are.

0930 hrs

Ian popped over for a few brews and a catch-up. We talked about his early success, having caught a 25lb and a 27lb Common, both from similar tactics to mine. It seemed it was only a matter of time before my rods started producing something a little better.

1041 hrs

After a single bleep around 15 minutes earlier, the right-hand rod suddenly screamed off.

This was clearly a big carp and definitely not another Tench. After a long, hard battle in the shallow water, I finally managed to get a lovely carp safely over the cord.

25lb 13oz Common

I was well happy with that one.

I’d seen them showing at range from the swim; I just needed to get them to come in and feed. I’d been slowly introducing a few more freebies throughout the morning, and the rod was soon back out there with a fresh hookbait.

1130 hrs

The same rod was away again, although it was clearly no carp this time. Another Tench, around 5½lb.

I really should weigh one properly at some point just to confirm their actual weight!

1300 hrs

After not having a single bleep or any action whatsoever on the left-hand rod, it was time to relocate it.

I had the option of putting it closer to the other rod, but that isn’t my favourite solution in here. Because the lake is so shallow, and I fish tight lines wherever possible to try and keep the carp away from the boulders, I’ve found that when the rods are too close together, you simply don’t get the bites.

So, out came the marker rod, and I started checking Maps+.

With the depth only being around 3ft to 3½ft, there was little point in flicking the Deeper sonar around. All the information I needed was already there on Maps+.

After checking a few areas, I finally found what looked like the perfect spot: around 3½ft of water with a lovely silty area.

I reduced the spombing to a minimum because of the noise, using a small Spomb purely for the particles. I was still catapulting the 24mm boilies out, which the black-headed variety of seagulls couldn’t pick up.

1420 hrs

The right-hand rod gave a single bleep.

The bobbin lifted and dropped a couple of times, and I was convinced it was yet another Tench.

Then an angry Airfield Lake carp woke up halfway through the fight and went absolutely crazy in the shallow water. It was an exhilarating battle, although I’m always nervous when they charge around in this depth, especially with the boulders waiting underneath.

Eventually, the carp finally calmed down, and I was able to get it safely into the net.

19lb 13oz Common

Another superb result.

I wrapped the rod back up and flicked it out into the lovely headwind, which was making sitting out there so much more bearable.

0600 hrs

I was up early, wondering where all the carp had disappeared to.

It was flat calm, not a breath of wind, the buzzers had been silent all night, and I was wondering what to do next.

The forecast was for a light north-westerly breeze, with the pressure sitting at 1023mb. I also knew I wouldn’t be able to fish the following week, so the question was whether I should stay for the third night or call it a day.

My head was full of questions.

0900 hrs

Ian popped over for his morning coffees, and we sat chatting.

He’d managed another 22lb Common at around 0500 hrs that morning, taking his tally to three 20s and, amazingly, no Tench!

1200 hrs

I reeled in, and we headed off for a walk and drive around the complex.

With the water levels so low, it was the perfect opportunity to pick up the reference points for the boulders and bars again. It never fails to amaze me just how big some of these boulders actually are when you can see them properly.

I’d decided to stay for the final night, especially as a lovely cool breeze had started blowing from the west, once again nicely into my face.

It was much lighter than the previous days, but actually stronger than I’d expected.

I was now looking for another spot for the left-hand rod, as it still hadn’t produced a single bleep. I’ve always struggled to find a consistently productive spot to my left in this swim. I catch randomly from different areas, but strangely, I never seem to catch from the same spot twice.

1900 hrs

It had finally cooled down.

It had certainly been a bit hot out there during the afternoon, and, as expected, there had been no action on any of the rods.

Hopefully, the hours of darkness would bring some more carpy action.

0649 hrs

I’d been fast asleep again after watching the misty dawn develop earlier that morning. I couldn’t believe I’d managed to fall asleep again, missing another beautiful, fresh morning.

Then the right-hand rod suddenly screamed off!

The carp were bolting around on the surface in the shallow water, making the fight even more exhilarating than normal. I’m always nervous when they do this, because they can so easily knock the hook out when they head towards the boulders. It’s happened to me numerous times before.

Thankfully, the carp finally calmed down, and I was able to get a lovely fish safely into the net.

18lb 8oz Common

A perfect end to the session.

I just needed to get everything dried off from the morning dew before packing away.

0803 hrs

And then, just when I thought the session was over, the right-hand rod was away again.

Another lovely Airfield Lake Common.

24lb 1oz Common

What a way to finish.

The cooler temperatures, the wind in my face and, most importantly, the carp finally feeding properly had made this a brilliant few days on the lake.

Four carp, including two 20s, plus a few Tench and plenty of things learned along the way.

Sometimes it’s not about forcing the fishing. It’s about watching, adapting and waiting for the conditions to come right.

Until next time,

Richard

P.s. Time for another family camping trip.

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Trailer – Trip 29 Carp Fishing – 2026

After weeks of battling excessive heat, it was a welcome relief to finally have some cooler temperatures and a decent wind pushing across the lake. For once, I wasn’t simply looking for shade; I could concentrate on where I’d actually seen carp showing. With the water level dropping rapidly, the shallow margins, exposed boulders and bars were becoming even more obvious, making careful watercraft and accurate positioning more important than ever. I’d seen a few good fish showing in front of the swim, so with the wind in my face and the traps finally set, I was quietly confident that the next few days could produce something special.

Richard

  My Ramblings

Fishing – It’s All About You

Do you remember when you first started fishing as a kid? What gave you that unmistakable buzz? Maybe it was the knock of a float, the subtle tap on a quiver tip, or—if you’re as old as I am—that magical moment when a swing tip gently moved. That was it. Pure excitement. No pressure, no expectations—just you, the water, and the thrill of a bite.

Over time, many anglers lose touch with that feeling. Some fall out of love with fishing completely or become disillusioned with modern methods. They get stuck in the past or distracted by what everyone else is doing—comparing catches, chasing social media likes, or feeling like they always have to “perform” on the bank. But here’s the truth: none of that really matters.

Remember why you really started fishing. It wasn’t about out-catching your mates or chasing monsters. It was about being outside, sharing laughs with a friend, and maybe catching a few along the way. And if you were lucky, you’d head home grinning, reliving those little moments for days after.

Too often now, anglers become obsessed with catching every time they go. They forget the simple joy—the anticipation, the peace, the connection to nature. Yes, times have changed. Maybe things were better back then. Fewer people, more respect on the bank. But the world has moved on, and we can’t change that. What we can change is how we respond to it.

Don’t let the noise ruin your fishing. Shut it out. Tune back into what made you fall in love with it in the first place. That buzz is still there. It hasn’t disappeared—it’s just buried under life’s pressures and the weight of unrealistic expectations. Dig a little, and you’ll find it again.

And when you do, that first knock of the day or a single bleep from your alarm will hit differently. It’ll feel like magic. Being outdoors, immersed in nature, does wonders for your health—mental and physical. For me, carp fishing is the therapy I never knew I needed. Spending a few days on the bank resets everything. Closing the lake gate behind me feels like leaving the world’s chaos behind. And let’s be honest, with the news as grim as it often is, we need that escape more than ever.

I’ll admit, I used to be obsessed with must catch thinking. I’d chase target carp around the country, get frustrated if it had been caught already, and jump from lake to lake. It took a toll. Eventually, I realised something had to change.

These days, I still have that fire to catch, but it’s no longer the be-all and end-all. Now it’s about being there—soaking in the moment, listening to the birds, watching the water, and appreciating the beauty around me. Funny thing is, the more I’ve let go of the pressure, the more I’ve actually caught. It’s like being in tune with nature makes me a better angler.

It’s been over twenty years since I made that shift, and I genuinely believe it’s made me a better fisherman. I still log all my catches and take plenty of photos—I’ve always loved documenting it all. That’s how my website came to life. It was easier than scribbling in a notebook (especially with my handwriting!) and gave me the chance to tell stories, share photos, and even add videos.

Whether I’m by a lake or a river, I go to enjoy myself. The fish are a bonus. Yes, you still need to work at it—tweak your rigs, read the water, observe fish behaviour—but when you’re truly connected to your surroundings, everything just clicks into place more naturally.

The key message is this: focus on your fishing. Not anyone else’s. You have no idea why the angler in the next swim is there. Maybe they’ve had a brutal week and just want some quiet time. Maybe they’re just there for a social. When I go on social trips, I don’t fish as hard either—because that’s not the point.

I even wrote a piece about this called Why Compare Yourself to Others? Because it’s true—comparison steals joy. And in fishing, your only competition should be with yourself.

This is your fishing. Your time. Only you know why you’re there and what you want to achieve. And that’s all that matters.

So remember—really remember—why you fell in love with fishing. The buzz, the peace, the laughs, the adventure. It’s all still there.

Until next time,
Richard

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