After my day trip today, I put a lot of thought into where I should go fishing tonight. My original plan was to fish on the Airfield Lake, but this would mean a bit of a rush job on finding a suitable area to fish before darkness arrived. This is never ideal on a venue that I’ve not seen or fished for the past few week’s. Reports are that the lake is pretty hard going and I felt that a return trip to the Estate Lake would be more productive and informative as it would be my second night on there.
My swim choice was made more or less at home, I really needed to fish a different swim/area at night. After seeing all the fish out in the main part of the lake, it had to be that area. I knew from a previous day trip which area was clean from the weed and as I had the time at home to rebait my rods with free hook baits (as the kids were eating their tea), I was already prepared and I catapulted a few small pouches of 12mm Smokey & Catalyst boilies out. I soon had the camp set up and all sorted for the night.
I awoke in the night a couple of times as there where fish crashing. Due to the size of the lake, they could have been anywhere. I didn’t walk about, as this may have disturbed the carp.
It was not to be again! But I have certainly learned something more about the lake.
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
Hi Richard,
When I start on a new water I spend many hours first observing, finding the fish and putting in small amounts of bait to gauge reaction. Try looking under trees or in the gullies between islands is a good place to start. It’s a common novice mistake to choose your swim when you are at home. Next time have a really good look around before you bivvy up. Observation is key. Hope this helps, good luck. Pm me if you need any other tips.
Scrogsy
UK Carp & Coarse Fishing 
Hi Richard,
When I start on a new water I spend many hours first observing, finding the fish and putting in small amounts of bait to gauge reaction. Try looking under trees or in the gullies between islands is a good place to start. It’s a common novice mistake to choose your swim when you are at home. Next time have a really good look around before you bivvy up. Observation is key. Hope this helps, good luck. Pm me if you need any other tips.
Scrogsy
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Hi that’s for the help and will certainly bear that in mind, on my future trips over there.
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