I was so nearly going to be fishing the Airfield lake for the last time this trip out.  However, I would have only been able to fish Thursday night and with a quick change of arrangements with the wife, I was able to fish the weekend.  Then came the hard choice; one night on the Airfield, then move to Meadow lake or just do both nights on the Meadow.  I would have to hope there would be a few on the Airfield, which would reduce the numbers on Meadow.

I arrived about 1830 and started to drive around the lake.  Much to my amazement, this swim was free.  The other three I had in mind had other angler’s in.  So without missing a heart beat, I parked up and unloaded the kit into the swim.  I proceeded to put out 3 kilos of Smokey Jack.  If I was going to be here for 48 hrs, I needed a good bed of bait.  If no fish came the first night, I hand made up some of my ground Bait mix, it was frozen krill & bloodworm with a mix of Spotted Fin groundbait, with a load of pellets soaked on CSL liquid.  I had made up very sloppy, to give a cloud effect.  I would be putting out this  tomorrow lunchtime, to get the fish moving into the area for the afternoon and evening feeding spell.

I was using a Smokey Jack wafter on one rod and a 18 mm bottom bait on the other rod.  Both were soaked in Smokey Jack dip and they where both being fished on the Ronnie rig.  I have found this to be absolutely brilliant for both bottom baits, Wafters and of course, pop ups.  Both rigs have been tied up with semi stuff fin skin and a size 6 Turning point hook.

Lets see what the first 12 hrs bring.

Well, that night was rubbish.  Only bream, a broken clip on my spoil and plenty of linners to keep me up and keen.  I was up at just after 7 am to get the baits perfectly back on the spots and hope this morning brings a fish or two.

My first take came around 1030 to the left hand round which had the 18 mm bottom bait on and after a quick battle (as it was daylight), oh this swim is so much easier in the day time.

Just over the 16lb mark, which will do me to start off with.  I had been playing with rigs in the week and the Go2 wafter range.  I thought it would an ideal time to test it out during the day on here, as I am thinking ahead for the winter.

I tried up a couple of Florocarbon-line rigs to a size 6 Sf straight point hook, with 3 of the Go2 Wafters on.  This sat very nicely in the water.

So after that fish, it was a perfect opportunity to give them a try.

The day passed, the wind and the rain picked up as forecast.  I had Spombed out a load of ground bait, I had mixed up and topped up the swim just before dark with about six Spombs of boilies.

I didn’t want to over do it due to the lack of takes so far.  However, I was very hopeful of tonight and sure enough at the normal take time, the right hand rod ripped off.  I was attached to a nice lump, well it felt like it.  Unfortunately, the hook pulled, which it very unusual for me, but these things happen.  Time for a new rig and some fun casting out in these strong winds.  Job done, it was time to warm up with a brew and get my head down again.

I was woken up by the next take at first light and proceeded to reel straight into what felt a bit like a bream, until it broke the surface some 3 rod lengths out and went crazy.  Up and down the margins, crashing around on the surface, it finally top the scales at 22 lb 2 oz.  I put it in the retaining sling, I felt it would be best of the carp.  It was certainly not happy on the mat.  However after about 10 minutes, when I had recast my rod back onto the spot, it was feeling a bit less stressed out.

The rain had past and the wind calmed down a lot.

A lot calmer than through the night.

With all but the bivvy down, the rods on the floor and all but the mat & net out.  I am sitting on my bucket reflecting on a nice weekends fishing.  We all have that last few minutes of hope.  That one last fish.  Would you believe it?  I heard the right hand rod reel whizz off and I was attached to another nice Meadow Lake carp.

As luck would have it another nice 20 lber, which is a nice end to the weekend.

Until next time

Richard

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