Location – Meadow Lake

Hours Fished – 95 Hours

When I come home from my last session I always start to plan for my next.  With this in mind, I spotted a wet, warmer front was due to arrive over Saturday night (today is Monday).  I wanted to do my last long trip of the year, so was looking at arriving Sunday.  But first, I need to get all my gardening jobs done and get the car in the garage on Wednesday.  It was full on for the next 3 days – not very pleasant I must say, but I just knew I needed to be on the lake.  If the weather was going to continue (until Christmas) in this vein, I just had to be set up on Sunday to give me the best opportunity of a bite.  If I’m lucky then I may get a second bite of the apple.

I arrived down the lake just as the last of the weekend anglers were packing away.  I took a slow drive around the venue and looked in a couple of swims.  I then had a quick chat with the lads packing up and it was still sounding pretty bleak on the carp front, I just hope the weather does the trick.

I continued my look about and couldn’t make my mind up, but there is something about the Gap Swim and the amount of water that it commands which draws me back here time and again.  I believe it’s an area the carp love and is very well placed in the middle of the lake.

There is an area, I’ve yet to map with my Deeper.  In all honesty, I’m not bothered, as it would be silly putting a bait on that area anyway.  Too much of a chance of losing them.

With my choice made, I quickly set up the bivvy and got the kit mostly sorted on the dry.  I’d been studying the weather conditions and waiting for a gap in the rain, I’d made sure I left home to arrive just before it arrived.  I was pretty much spot on.  Luckily, the heavy rain wasn’t due back until dusk time, this did help a lot and gave me more time to look about and set up.

I was going to be putting out quite a bit of bait, but only chopped boilies and particle as before.

I just wanted to get a lot of attraction into the swim – in the way of small items of food.  This is in the hope of attracting their attention and hopefully holding them there.  Once I’d had a bite, I would introduce 12mm boilies to build the swim up and my catch rate.  That’s the plan, now I need to put it into action.

Night – 1

It was a lot more wet and windy than I anticipated!  Today’s forecast is a lot less rain than previous advised with only the odd shower.  The S/W wind will still be blowing strong, day temperatures of 11+c and night time 7+ c.  It’s certainly amazing for this time of the year and the pressure is still below 1000mbs, these fish are definitely due to get on the munch!

We had a bit of fun with a swan or 3 this morning.  I didn’t realise there were 3 swans on this lake!  One of them was feeding with its head down to the right of me, the other 2 appeared around the corner, the swan to my right charged off to the left and ploughed through both my lines regardless of the chaos left in it’s wake!  I rushed out and tried to pick one rod up, stick the tip under water asap (to get the line under the swan) and this was all still going on as the other 2 swans chased the other one.  Once the line was free, I grabbed the other rod that was still screaming off and stuck this tip under the water and the last line was free, so it was now time to sort the mess out.  I reeled both rods in and then sorted the pod out – so that the rod tips were under the water.

I now had two fresh baits on and was now planning on leaving the baits out until tomorrow morning – unless a take came my way.  I topped up the swim with another 10 large spombs, to keep a supply of bait going in, I’m sure the smaller items are being picked up by small fry, etc.

Night – 2

This started with a single bleep and just after 8pm, a fish crashed out on open water.  I was up at 3 am listening out for them and heard another 2 crashes out in the open water again.  This was definitely a good sign and I was wishing for a buzzer to burst into life.  That wasn’t to be, as the sun popped over the trees at first light this morning, we will have to see how the day goes.

If no plan of moving swim as I’m still convinced that I’m in the best area, with the best possibility of a carp.

Just after 0930, the bobbin on the right rod gave a few bleeps, pull up, then dropped down again and bleeps again when I’m on my way to the rods.  Yes, you guested it, it’s a bream, but a sign (of sorts) that something is feeding out there.

I recast the rod, just as Ian turned up to join me for the day with his pike rods.  No joy for him but it was a nice chance to catch up before Christmas.  I’d topped up the swim at just after 1300 and after seeing carp this morning, my confidence was building at the days progressed.  There was rain due tomorrow daytime, but the nights were pretty much rain free and a fair chance of a bite.

We shall see how the third night goes.  There are now 5 anglers on the lake, which I’m hoping will also get the carp moving about and away from there hideaways.

Night – 3

I was up early this morning and just in time to catch the sunrise.  This is before the rain arrived for most if the day.

I spotted a couple of carp topping extremely close to my spots and was sitting on the edge of my seat for the next few hours.

The rain arrived just after 0900 and continued all day long.  I was bivvy bound until just after 1530.  I spotted a couple more carp show at range, beyond my spot and I knew want I had to do.  I put on a 12 mm Catalyst white pop and wrapped out 30 on my sticks.  Once the rain completely stopped the lake, it was like a mill pond and it was time to get that rod out.

Night – 4

Bang on 2130 this rod belted off with a not so happy carp.  It found a dying weed bed for a few moments and then was off again, it felt like a life time but the fish was finally in my margins.  I just needed to play the carp out and slip it into the Nsr.  I was home dry and could breath a big sigh.

25 lb 7 oz Common

Perfect, after all my hard work over the past few days and with the rod back on the spot it was time to reflect, write my blog and look over the other photographs.

I awoke to a stunning sunny morning and feeling very happy with my result from last night.  Just before 0900, the same rod rattled off into the distance and another long battle ensued, with a close call with the left hand margin snags.

Safely in the Nsr50 and very happy with that.

22lb 11oz Common

Both caught on white 12mm Catalyst pop ups.

Simple but effective.  It fills me with a great deal of confidence for my last trip of 2020 next week.  I’ve picked up a small gardening job this afternoon, so it’s time to pack up and head home on a high note.

Until next time

Stay safe

Richard