I’ve had to put a lot of effort into this trip.  I was supposed to be meeting up with a friend, but he was stuck working and I just did not fancy the long drive after spending five days away with the kid’s driving up and back to Wales.  If it was not for the wife going away for the weekend (with the kids) I would have stayed at home.  However, I have pushed myself a bit into this as it could be the last trip for two weeks.  As we are all away this time, for the annual family holiday in a cottage on our own beach, back in Wales!

I just made it, before darkness fell.

I had spent a good hour spombing out a good load of poloni boilies, as I planned to sit on a baited area for a couple of nights.

In front of me, I have a very large 3ft plateau, however at around 70 yards there is a drop off down to 5 ft of silt.  This is the area I have filled with bait.  This time, I am only using boilies, as there are an incredible number of roach and rudd in here.  They will hoover up the small pellets that I love to use, all too fast and probably disturb the hook bait.

The other rods are being fished on the opposite end of this large plateau in 4 ft of water, which is leading up to the margin itself.  This has also only been baited with poloni boilies.

The first night drew a blank on the carp front, I thought this may happen.  It is going to be a hot one today, so I may have to sit the day out as well.  But, as I have never really fished this middle lake before, you just never know with fish.

After a very uneventful day (other then a load of liners to keep me up – expecting a take at any minute), my first run of the trip happen at 0800 the following morning (after I had fallen asleep again).  I was wondering if my plan would pay off, as I have found that these fish will get on the bait,  but do need 24 hrs sometimes.

16-8 – Common

After a couple of heart stopping moments – when the line went slack, as it pinged off the small gravel boulders which litter this place and I thought the hook had pulled or the line had been cut.  I finally had the fish under control and slowly but surely, headed for the net.  These fish never give up and it amazing how hard they fight, which is why I just love this complex.

At this point I decided to put all my eggs in one basket, because if the fished had moved on the bait, it would be a good idea to have both rod’s in this area.  Which I have found in the past to be very effective.

17-2 – Common

Sometime later, the same rod was off again, attached to another very unhappy ‘Airfield Lake’ carp.  Luckily, no heart stopping moments this time and after another good fight another fish was in the net.

Around an hour later the other rod was off, so well worth the recast move to the large baited area and a quicker battle.  Well, apart from the fact, the fish nipped around the corner into the bay behind me and nearly got snagged up.  I was very happy to get my third fish in the net an nice 15-2 common.

My good future has been helped by the weather today as well.  A nice overcast day, with a good S/W breeze blowing.

At about 1315, the right hand was buzzed into life and whizzed of the spool, attached to a very unhappy 12 lb common.  This also tried to go into the bay and lose itself in the snags. Unfortunately, the fish were getting smaller (which was a shame), however, still feeding which was a plus.

The weather also staying perfect, with the wife and kids not home till later this evening,  I was looking forward to staying on for the afternoon.

I ended up staying till around 1730, unfortunately I had no more fish.

Till next time

Richard