UK Carp & Coarse Fishing

Despite the Heat… I’m Giving It a Go

Despite the heat, I’m out giving it another go. The conditions for catching carp are clearly not in my favour, but my chances of getting a decent night’s sleep are certainly better than staying at home in a house that’s been baking all day.

My swim choice today was based on one thing above everything else – shade. Catching fish comes second. I’ve opted for a big open-water swim that gives me a great view across the lake, along with the flexibility to move the rods around if I spot any showing fish.

The angling pressure is surprisingly low, which has to be a positive, and the full moon has finally passed, something I’m always pleased to see.

As soon as I arrived, I set the pod up and flicked out two Godman Angling 35mm PVA mesh bags filled with Nutrabaits pellets that have been soaking for the past few months. It wasn’t long before the left-hand rod rattled off, resulting in my first tench of the session. The tench population in this lake is definitely on the up, and I think in a few years there will be some impressive specimens swimming around.

Rather than rushing, I’ve taken my time getting everything sorted, keeping disturbance and unnecessary noise to an absolute minimum.

At some point today I’ll need to work out exactly where I want my baits positioned for the next couple of nights. There’s supposed to be a lovely 10mph breeze this afternoon, which should make both the fishing and the temperatures a little more comfortable.

11:30 hrs Tuesday

After spotting a few carp cruising along the right-hand margin, my suspicions were confirmed that they’d tucked themselves away in the snags. The left-hand rod was soon repositioned into the area. Unfortunately, I couldn’t quite reach the exact spot I wanted, as my shoulder isn’t too keen on long-distance casting these days.

Once I was happy with the placement, I catapulted around fifteen 15mm Nutrabaits boilies over the area. At the moment it really feels like we’re fishing for one bite at a time, so there’s no need to pile the bait in.

12:00 hrs Tuesday

Next, it was time to find something a little closer on the left-hand side. I’d been told there was a large weed bed out there, and it didn’t take long to locate it. The difficult part was finding the clean edges and deciding exactly where to present the hookbait.

Once I’d found a spot I was happy with, I introduced four large Dot Spombs filled with 15mm Nutrabaits EnerGize boilies before casting out an 18mm EnerGize Corkie Wafter.

With everything finally in position, it was time to sit back, relax and enjoy the cool breeze that had started to ripple across the lake.

18:15 hrs Tuesday

The right-hand rod was away again, but unfortunately it was another tench, around the 5lb mark. Fresh rig, fresh bait, and back out it went. Hopefully the next visitor would have whiskers replaced by scales.

01:07 hrs Wednesday

The right-hand rod was away yet again along the margin. Another tench. It made for a slightly awkward recast in the darkness, but everything went back exactly where it needed to be.

07:45 hrs Wednesday

The morning sunshine eventually woke me up. It actually felt quite nice on my aching back, although I’d only managed to get back to sleep after 2:00am.

12:30 hrs Wednesday

Both rods were reeled in for a quick check. Everything looked spot on, so I topped each area up with just a small amount of bait.

One spot received a mixture of Jurassic Particles hemp and buckwheat, while the other was kept simple with boilies and pellets. The PVA mesh bags were clearly attracting the tench, so I’ve moved away from using them for now in the hope that any passing carp get to the hookbaits before the tench do.

I took a drive around the opposite side of the lake and had a good chat with a couple of fellow syndicate members before returning to the sanctuary of the shade.

The forecast looks very similar again next week, which is great news for my gardening work. The following week I won’t be able to fish, and I can already see myself working all five days. Not my ideal plan, but probably the most sensible option while the weather is on my side.

I’ve pretty much decided that tomorrow will be home time. The forecast is showing very little wind, and for me that makes all the difference. Sitting under a tree all day in stagnant, humid conditions isn’t particularly enjoyable, and I don’t think it does the fishing any favours either.

The final night passed without a single bleep. Not one sign of a carp.

With that in mind, I think it’s time to switch my attention back to Airfield Lake and hopefully tick off my first July carp before the month slips away.

Until next time,

Richard

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July has undoubtedly been one of the toughest months of the year so far. The prolonged spell of high temperatures, coupled with bright sunshine and little consistency in the weather, made the fishing far from straightforward. More often than not, it felt like I was battling the elements as much as I was trying to outwit the carp.

The extreme heat dictated almost every decision I made. Swim choice became all about finding shade rather than following the fish, baiting had to be scaled back to conserve energy, and timing was everything. Early mornings, late evenings, and making the most of the cooler overnight temperatures became the key to giving myself any real chance.

Like many anglers, I had my fair share of blanks during the month. There were sessions where the carp simply didn’t want to play, and others where opportunities came and went all too quickly. That’s summer carp fishing, though—it can test both your patience and your confidence.

Despite those challenges, I still managed to get out on the bank whenever I could and finished the month with six carp, three of them being 20-pounders. Looking back, I’m really pleased with that return considering the conditions. More importantly, it reinforced something I’ve always believed: if you keep turning up, stay adaptable, and trust your instincts, eventually the rewards will come.

The month wasn’t just about the carp, either. Every session brought another lesson, whether it was refining baiting strategies in the heat, experimenting with different spots after seeing fish show, or learning a little more about how the lake behaves during prolonged hot weather. Even the lost fish and blank sessions will hopefully pay dividends later in the season.

Now it’s time to look ahead to August. The forecast is already looking much more promising, with cooler temperatures and more unsettled conditions. Hopefully, that will encourage the carp to feed more confidently and make life a little easier for us anglers.

I’m looking forward to spending more time on the bank, continuing to build on July’s results, and, with a bit of luck, banking a few more memorable carp along the way.

Thanks to everyone who has followed my adventures, commented on my posts, and shared your own experiences throughout the month. Your support is always appreciated.

Here’s hoping August brings cooler weather, more bites, and plenty more memorable moments.

Until next time,

Richard

Get 10% off Deeper with Code – RICHARD10