UK Carp & Coarse Fishing

20 Carp from Airfield Lake

There’s something particularly satisfying about reaching a milestone on a difficult water, and this season I’ve finally reached 20 carp from Airfield Lake — remarkably, all in just three nights’ fishing.

It’s been a season of constantly changing conditions, from cold winter weather through to the extreme heat of summer, and Airfield certainly hasn’t made it easy. The lake has its challenges, with its shallow areas, silty spots, bars, and, of course, the ever-present boulders that seem to find a way of complicating almost every session!

The 20 fish have come from a mixture of tactics and conditions, but one thing has remained constant — putting the time in and trying to understand where the carp wants to be. Using the Deeper CHIRP 3 and Maps+ has played a big part in that, particularly when the water levels have dropped and exposed so much of the lakebed.

The bait has also evolved throughout the season, with Nutrabaits playing a major part. EnerGize, the various activated boilies have all produced, alongside Jurassic Particles and carefully selected hookbait, with my own supercharged adaption.

Some of the captures have been particularly memorable, but for me it’s not simply about the numbers. Every carp from Airfield has had to be worked for, and each capture adds another small piece to the jigsaw.

Twenty carp from one of my favourite and most challenging waters, all in just three nights, feels like a pretty special milestone. It’s certainly been a productive run, but I’m under no illusion that it will always be this easy.

With autumn now just around the corner, the carp should be starting to get their heads down properly, and I’m looking forward to seeing what the next few months might bring.

Until next time

Richard

This week marked the last three nights of the year on Airfield Lake, and it had to be my destination.

I was a little concerned about the weather conditions, with high pressure, winds switching to the east, clear skies and, to add to the challenge, over 90% of the bars having been covered by water within the previous seven days.

There was certainly plenty going against me, but I had to give it a go.

I stuck with my usual approach, although starting with just half the usual amount of bait to see how things developed. The first 48 hours passed without me touching the rods. They simply sat out there, waiting. This approach has worked for me on numerous occasions in the past, but unfortunately, not this time.

On the final full day, I switched hookbaits a couple of times before settling on something I hoped might bring some success during the last night. Alas, the alarms remained silent.

The final morning greeted me with mist and a gentle easterly breeze, a lovely way to bring the session, and indeed the Airfield Lake season, to a close.

I’m not going to dwell on this one too much. I’ve been due a blank, and I genuinely felt this trip could go either way. But that’s fishing. I head out two or three nights every week, regardless of the weather, and sometimes you win, and sometimes you clearly lose.

That’s all part of the game, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Until next time,

Richard 🎣

Richard

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