I’ve finally made it into double figures on the number of trips I’ve done this year! I must be grateful for this, as there are some people unable to fish locally and are really keen to get on their syndicate water when travelling is allowed again (but we all play our part).
I arrived just after 9am to an empty car park. I took this opportunity to walk around the lake and scatter some Classic Corn boilies in a few swims. I will set up at the back of the island where I was last time, to keep an eye open for carp. Given the opportunity, I will move.
Just before 11am, the left rod was away and felt much better than any of my previous carp on here so far. I was very keen on keeping this fish away from the snags, within a few seconds, I was definitely in control and playing the carp towards the waiting net.
Wow! What a lovely mirror carp. It probably weighed between 11 and 12lb. I was very happy with that.
A fresh bait was put on and the hook touched up, so it was needle sharp. I then catapulted more Catalyst pellets out and sat back on my chair to take in the moment.
Just after noon, I had a heavy liner on the right hand rod and then lost one just before 1pm. There are carp feeding in the snags, so I’ve put some more pellet over them and a trail to my baited spot, in a hope of drawing them my way.
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
