After seeing the Carp in this area at the weekend and looking around other areas, I just didn’t feel the love for anywhere else.
As I knew there are a few hidden obstructions out in front of another swim. This would have given me better spots to fish but a 90% chance of losing the fish! I am not prepared to do as fish welfare is paramount to me. I fished this swim and baited across the entrance to the bay, placed my bait in the middle where the most boilies had been put. I then found a nice area along the drop off in front of me, I felt the fish could also access the bay along this bank. I was fishing just off the gravel shelf into the silt area. I also baited this spot with Catalyst Boilies and Betafin pellets.
About 3 am, the left hand rod burst into life and I was away with my first Carp on my new rod’s (I also christened the Fox Warrior landing net, which performed very well) and a nice 12 lb Common was in the net. No Photography’s as the mosquitoes where bugging me way too much. The fish was safety returned, flicked out a bag on to the same spot and tucked myself up in the bag.
That was the only action in the night and a quick pack up in the morning to avoid the on coming rain, I was all home safe and dry by 7 am.
I would like to give a brief snap shot of my life and introduce myself;
My name is Richard Handel and was born in 1965 in Suffolk. I have worked as a UK Operation & Intermodule Manager for a shipping company. I live in Hampshire now and am married with 2 young children, both girls so I am a bit outnumbered even the cat is a girl!
I have been fishing since I was about 7 years old. I started on small local rivers in Suffolk, then moved onto gravel pits and then carp fishing. My personal best is a 39.08 mirror, over recent years I have started river fishing again, on the Hampshire Avon, this is a nice break from the carp lakes.
My life has turned a big corner this year, the company I was working for relocated their Operation centre to Estonia. I was offered a job at the head office in London. This would have meant a 5 day commute and working in Stratford. As a family, we did not fancy this, as I would hardly spend any time with the children (and the Mrs). So after 22.5 years, I was given a nice redundancy package and with my wife is working full time. I became the house husband.
This has meant a complete turn around in my fishing, as I can pick and choose when I go. I have found a splendid new syndicate to fish this year, which includes 5 lakes and some 8 miles of river with only 150 members. It's an amazing change to the way I am able to fish.
I am now trying to start my own tackle business and make a bit of a name for myself in the world of fishing, as I have retired from real work.
Richard
UK Carp & Coarse Fishing 