I am out for a social with my friend Ian this weekend and we have decided to give the Airfield lake a break (it’s been fished particularly hard over the past few months).
Ian arrived first and had a look round, he then gave me a call about the choice of the swim. It sounded perfect and as I was just heading out the door, I would be there within the hours and by the time I arrived he had got his kit in the swim and bivvy up.
I got the Deeper out to show him the areas of interested in the swim. This covered a good area and we could double up very easily.
Once we were both happy, I got to work with the spomb rod and put just over the 3 kg of a mixture of Catalyst and Smokey Jack boilies out in my swim. I was fishing a 15mm wafter on a PVA bag filled with pellet and broken boilies.
At around 2330, Ian had the first take of the trip. It was a hard fighting 25lb 4oz Common which behaved very politely and only tried a couple of times to get in the snags! This was handy due to the time of night.
And within minutes of returning the fish to the water, I had the second take of the trip. Unfortunately, my fish was a bream, this was quickly returned and both rods were back on the spots.
The rest of the night passed peacefully until a swan gave me a run at 0630. Always nice to have an early morning alarm call, much better when it’s a carp.
As the morning passed by, we did a bit more on the mapping front with the Deeper and found some very interesting areas to fish in Winter.
As the afternoon progressed we discussed that the takes were at night only. Thi was until 5pm when my left-hand rod was off with a nice carp (I had changed this rod over to a miracle berry Wafters just after noon) after a short hard fight, a nice mirror was in the net.
With the pictures and video done, the fish was returned and I flicked another miracle berry Wafters out. Within the hour it was off again, with a nice low double figures mirror.
We sat back for the evening and ate homemade curry (thanks to Ian) and had a few glasses of wine. At more or less the same time as last night, Ian’s rod was off. After a very hard fight and a near miss with the overhanging trees. He had a new PB common in the net, he was (and probably still is) over the moon.
He recast his rod out and we set chatting about the capture for some time, it’s nice to be a witness to another person’s fishing achievement. The joy floods out and it overspills into you. The joy of fishing is truly amazing and we were both amazed at our weekend results and with still over 10 hrs to go, you just never know.
Just after 1am, my right-hand rod ripped off and I pulled into a nice fish, only to have it bump off – joy but can’t complain. I put the rod out, got my head down and awake to a lovely morning.
We both have to be off just before noon, so that was it for the weekend – not bad going I would say.
I love searching for the unknown carp, it has held me captive on the carp fishing side of fishing ever since I really started fishing. Over the year’s, I have fished lakes with the known named carp and enjoyed the challenge. However, there is no feeling like looking for the unknown carp on really unknown lakes. I haven’t fished as many as I would have liked, in the past 20 years after moving down South. After being told of the Syndicate where I am currently a member of some years back, it has rekindled my love for this type of carp fishing.
I had spent 5 years on the river before that, which was great fun and I think started me back in this direction. I had access to the river with my current Syndicate and the Airfield Lake. This is the part which draws most of my attention – and me away from the odd effort on the river. The real issue is that the lake is only open 6 months of the year. This gives the carp 6 months on natural food each year and you have to tackle this at the beginning of each new season. This is another great challenge. It was originally a fish farm for many years. it then closed down, netted and a few fish walked over the road to another lake (maybe)! There have also been a few fish moving in, so we don’t know really what is in there. We all spot the big carp every now and then, annoyingly in the out of bounds area. This keeps the spark alive and me going back each year. Hopefully, for many years to come.
For the first time I a very long time, I have a few hours spare today. I fancied having a go in one of my favorite margin spots on Meadow Lake, this has produced me a number of good fish over the past few years.
I only use one rod on here and I use the alarm to shock me into action! I’m fishing a very tight swim and need to be on the rod instantly.
I am fishing a purple Evo maggot cluster which has been sitting in a pot of catalyst food dip for many months. This is in conjunction with a large PVA mesh bag filled with finely chopped Smokey Jack boilies.
With the wife off all week, as the eldest starts senior school. I was able to fit another night in, without having to pack up at early o’clock. Which is nice! It gives me a chance of a carp or two, to be honest – one carp would be nice at the moment. If it’s not too much to ask something over twenty would also be nice.
I arrived just after 1pm and I was the only one here. This never helps in swim choice! I was looking for something different to fish this time. A swim or an area that doesn’t get fished or even a spot in a swim which is overlooked. This maybe where these bigger fish could be hiding out.
I armed myself with my deeper and headed off. Much to my surprise, the third swim I looked in produced a fantastic margin spot, the water level is down by nearly 2ft. This was going to be my choice today and I certainly must remember this for next season when the water is back up. It’s also on the north bank and very sheltered from the wind.
I set myself up about 20ft from my rods, which were just poking over the edge of the lake. I put a lot of bait along the margin shelf and at the bottom of the shelf. I was going to be fishing both rods, as it was quite a big area.
Once I was all done, I also mapped out the other side of the point as the wind was pushing from the south and I could flick the Deeper out and let it drift across the lake with no disturbance at all.
The pressure was up and the sun was out, it was going to be a warm night, not the best conditions but you have to be in it to win it.
Around midnight, I had a few liners and I was very confident I may well have a take but by 0830 with still no sign of a carp and a very peaceful night it was time to pack up and head home.
Sinah Warren – This is a lovely lake out on Hayling Island (right next to the sea), it has a good head of carp. Pete Springate has written about it in some of his books. I spent a few years on there and had some nice fish.
Bromwich Farm – This lake is situated out in the middle of nowhere, in the Titchfield area but you would never find it if you didn’t have the directions how to get there. It’s closer to the Solent than any road and holds some lovely fish.
Over the years I have been a member of this club – along with the thousands of other members, which is the big reason why I didn’t get stay too long. Over the years the club has lost a few waters. Oddly, I now have access too, via another club. However, they do have a few good lakes and access to the Avon River & Stour Section
For some reason, I never got round to joining this club, despite having a good few carp lakes. They now have Rockford Lake on their books and some great access to the Avon River & Stour Section
This is a great local club and close to my heart, despite not being a member of over 15 years. This is where it all started for me when I moved down all those years ago. I have fished all their waters but by far the best two are.
Nutsey- Still has some of the old original fish that where there when I was fishing. Unfortunately, the Big Mirror & Common past away some years ago. However, there are lovely looking fish still in there.
Embey Lake – This lake is very close to where I live and I do get the odd hankerings to fish there again. But for the cost of the club, it’s a bit high just for one lake. Winter is coming and you never know…..
This is another great local club and has certainly a good number of lakes with big carp and a bit of history behind it.
Lakeside – The lake is situated in the middle of a country park with a model railway by it. It can be very busy and 24/7 access to the public – not my cup of tea.
Winnal Lake – This lake is situated just on the edge of Winchester. It is complex of lakes ranging from easy to hard. There are still a few classic looking carp hidden in there, unfortunately, some years back the otters had their fill.
Wickham lake – Stunning looking lake but it’s not the same lake as when I fished it. But it will be back up there again, I am sure.
There are a few more hidden gems out there and I will leave you the pleasure of searching them out. This for me is a great part of carp fishing and is a great past time over the Winter months. When there are no leaves on the trees, you can drive around looking for that glint of water and then the endless days tracking down the owner or just ‘guesting’ it anyway.
This trip was a complete surprise, I had a few family things canceled, which gave me the opportunity to do a couple of nights on the lake. I am never going to complain about, as there is only 4 week’s left on here before it’s winter close down. I can’t believe 6 months have passed by and another winter is fast approaching, it will be time to get back on Meadow Lake.
I arrived about noon time, after a long look Around and a few stops for some markering, I finally made my mind up. In all honesty, it’s easy to find carp on here – its the location of the bigger fish that’s the issue and very hard work this year.
The downside of this swim was that I had not fished it for over a year and I also had not put the Deeper out before. This meant a bit of work has to be done.
I found a couple of nice areas, I baited up with some Smokey Jack boilies and fished a wafter of each spot.
We shall just have to see how the first night goes and then maybe move things about a bit.
The first night past without a bleep, despite plenty of carp being around. The following afternoon, I pop out for a look around and decided to pack up about 3pm. I felt it best to come back another day.
