I arrived down the lake at my normal time (just before 7pm), had a good look about and a chat with a couple of other anglers. I wasn’t really sure where to go and it was a hard choice, a couple of spots were taken that I fancied.
So I ended up in this swim, after seeing a couple of fish show. To be honest, it’s a very common sight and no real guide to what they’re up to – well certainly on this lake anyway. I just need to track down the bigger fish.
I stuck with the same tactic as my other trips as I was catching carp, just the baby ones! The only thing I changed was the size of my Smokey Jack wafter, I now had on a 22mm, instead of the 15mm, you never know.
We shall have to see what the night brings me.
I was awoken by low double figures common through the night, which saved a blank.
And with the sun starting to come up over the forest it was time to pack up and head home.
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 