I’m back at Airfield Lake, determined to have a more successful outing than my last trip. While I did manage to land one carp on my previous visit, it felt somewhat underwhelming compared to the impressive results some of the other anglers achieved. I understand the importance of not constantly comparing oneself to others, as I’ve previously discussed. However, during our last trip, we were all on a level playing field, and I only had a single bite. As I set out on this trip, I’m hoping for a change of fortune, as there was a moment when I contemplated not coming at all. But considering that I won’t catch anything sitting at home, and time is running out both here and in the grand scheme of things, I knew I had to give it another shot.
I began my day bright and early, waking up before 7 am to load my car and ensure I had a substantial breakfast. Skipping breakfast is never advisable, especially when setting up can be physically demanding and time-consuming. Your body needs that fuel.
Upon arriving at the lake, I opted to head through the gate and turn left this time, parking my car in the Tower car park. I brought along my trusty bucket and binoculars to save time while scouting the area. Interestingly, as I was closing the gate and gazing toward the tower and the end of Tower Point, I caught sight of a carp crashing out. It seemed to be somewhere in front of the Double Gravel Swim, although it was a bit challenging to pinpoint from my current vantage point.
I climbed up to the elevated area near the tower to get a better view. I then spotted two more telltale signs of carp activity, this time at a distance in front of the swim Ian had fished the previous weekend. This definitely looked promising. I continued my walk, passing the Double Gravel Swim and heading all the way to the end of the lake. Along the way, I noticed yet another show in front of the first Badger Island swim, a spot I had fished a couple of trips ago. When I stood at the end, I had a sweeping view of a significant portion of the water. I was fairly certain I saw a couple of smaller shows in front of Ian’s swim or between that and the tower. As for the Middle Lake, it appeared devoid of fish activity. I even ventured up to the top behind Ian’s swim and spotted a couple more shows, solidifying my belief that this area held the most promise.
I dropped my trusty bucket in the swim I had chosen and then drove over to Badger Island for a closer look, but unfortunately, I couldn’t spot any signs of carp there. Returning to the Tower car park, I grabbed my T2 and headed back to where my bucket was placed. Later, I stood in both the Tower Swim and the Double Gravel Swim, but it was clear that the carp were active in front of Ian’s swim. Fortunately, he wasn’t fishing this week due to family commitments.
I have a strong sense of tradition and respect for other anglers’ swims whenever possible. I’m not particularly keen on intruding on other anglers who are doing well or baiting up an area. Sometimes, circumstances force such decisions because we can’t possibly know everything, and there might not always be enough space when we arrive.
Having spotted the carp, I decided to cast a single bait into the area where I had seen them and simply left the rod on the ground. Afterward, I set up the T2 and organized all my equipment. I chose to go back to using my Fox Warrior rods and TFG big pit reels. I plan to have my other reels serviced by Rob after my West Stow trip this year, a task I had intended to complete last year but had forgotten due to illness. This precaution is a good idea because I haven’t fished for quite some time, and now I have a backup water for the winter in case Meadow Lake isn’t productive. I can use three rods, but not braid, and since my Fox Horizon XT rods are paired with my Shimano Ultegra reels and braid, it will be more convenient to switch to the other set of rods when needed. Plus, a change in equipment once in a while can be refreshing.
I baited up both spots that I intended to fish, with a plan to use three rods later if necessary. However, just as I was getting set up, I couldn’t believe my eyes – a couple of carp started showing close in. Unfortunately, the lake has a two-rod limit, which can be a bit challenging when the carp are showing in three different areas, and you can only fish one.
This situation left me scratching my head.
To make the most of the opportunity, I spooled up my Cork Handle rods with new line, created fresh hooklinks, and cast them out onto the baited spot. I contemplated focusing on the close-range option during daylight hours tomorrow. For now, I felt that exercising patience was the right course of action.
I had already reeled in the single hook bait rod that I had hoped would produce some action. Instead, I picked up the marker rod to check the spots and assess the weed and the start of the silty area. It turned out that the weed was more extensive than I had initially thought. After marking the spot, I used a few spombs to distribute bait over the area before reeling in the other rod, which seemed perfectly fine. My plan was to leave the left-hand rod until around 2:00 PM and then spomb out and put on a fresh bait.
By 4:00 p.m., I decided it was time for a cup of tea. I enjoy eating during daylight hours, and if the weather allows, I prefer to dine outside the bivvy. I realize that it won’t be long before such outdoor dining becomes less comfortable, and I long for the classic winter days with sunshine, cold temperatures, and a heavy frost to start the day.
It’s 10:15 in the morning, and apart from some pike and perch activity in the margins, there have been a few carp crashing about between dawn and 9:00 AM. However, they have since disappeared, which is somewhat puzzling. It could be related to the unexpected sunshine today. I’m still considering dropping a rod short later in the day. Additionally, I plan on searching the areas where I spotted the carp showing earlier. There’s also an area known for producing massive pike strikes, and I’d love to flick a bait there. Unfortunately, we don’t have the option of a third rod.
I must admit that I contemplated packing up this morning and heading over to Meadow Lake. I haven’t been quite in tune with this lake this year. I intend to complete my last two trips here since Ian and I have a social trip planned. He’ll likely be putting away his carp rods soon, with winter days and cold nights drawing nearer.
Around 11:00 AM, the clouds returned, and I felt it was best to move my right-hand rod to the area where I had seen the carp showing. I cast out the marker rod to pinpoint the weed and the start of the silty patch, which turned out to be larger than I had expected. After setting up the marker rod, I used some spombs to distribute bait over the area and then reeled in the other rod, which seemed perfectly fine. My plan was to leave the left-hand rod in place until around 2:00 PM, at which point I would spomb out more bait and switch to a fresh hook bait.
Then, from about 11:30 onwards until just before 2:30 PM, all hell broke loose. I had the pleasure of landing four carp, the largest weighing in at 15 pounds and 9 ounces. All of them were commons, two on each rod. However, the right-hand rod posed a challenge as the carp kited hard to the right and passed dangerously close to overhanging trees. Fortunately, it was quite deep under the trees, but I had to keep the rod tip underwater to guide the carp past them. It got the adrenaline pumping, and I felt like I had found my rhythm again. It’s amazing how things turned around without making significant changes; I simply needed to persevere. Initially, it was discouraging, especially after witnessing everyone else’s success last weekend. However, I had to remind myself that not every night results in a catch. With the morning’s sunshine, I feared the worst, but the success of this afternoon washed away those doubts. In such conditions, the size of the carp doesn’t matter. It was a morale boost, confirming that I was on the right track. Let’s hope this streak continues over the next 48 hours.
By 4:45 PM, I had returned the fifth fish of the afternoon. I was running out of words to describe my excitement after all these catches. I decided to have dinner and take a moment to relax, allowing the events of the afternoon to sink in. It had been an incredible day.
While I was eating my dinner and watching the sunset on this fantastic day of fishing, I was content with catching just one or two fish. Catching five was beyond my expectations. You can’t choose the size of the carp that takes your bait, and I was incredibly happy to be catching again.
The night passed without any bleeps on the rods. However, I had anticipated this after the previous night. With a forecast of cloudy and windy weather for the day ahead, I was quite confident that the carp would become active again at some point today, resulting in a few more bites. Part of me questioned whether it was worth fishing the final night, given my recent lack of success. Nevertheless, I knew that the carp would start feeding at night eventually, and perhaps it would be the larger ones that initiated the winter feeding frenzy. It’s a pity that we can’t fish in November on this lake.
Today, I’ve decided to be patient, as there’s still plenty of bait in the swim after topping it up twice yesterday. If nothing happens by 2:00 PM, I’ll prepare the swim for the night and the late afternoon feeding.
I held out until 12:45 p.m. without any action. The weather was improving, with more wind and increased cloud cover, making it feel more like a carpy day than it had been in the morning. I hoped this would lead to some action in the afternoon and evening. Hopefully, the carp would switch on for nighttime bites, and maybe I’d even catch my target of a 30-pounder.
As of now, it’s a murky morning with overcast skies and a touch of mist. Unfortunately, there have been no additional signs of carp. It appears that these carp are primarily feeding during daylight hours. The conditions this morning seemed ideal for a bite, but I have other tasks and places to be today. The forecast indicates it will be around 20 degrees C, and I’d like to stick around, but my time is limited, and I need to head home. Fortunately, I can manage to do three nights a week, but once my time is up, I prioritize spending time with my family. On the bright side, the fishing has been productive, with five carp caught. This boosts my confidence for the upcoming weeks, as I aim to catch my 30-pounder target before the lake closes, along with the elusive monster known as “The Juggernaut.” It’s a name that fits, considering how these giants can disappear into the depths, seemingly unstoppable. Two unfortunate anglers have lost it at the net, and the pain of that loss must be immense. One of them has yet to return for another attempt, which shows how much it must hurt. I’ve experienced a few takes that felt like battling a Juggernaut, although I can’t be certain. These mid-twenties carp can certainly make you believe you’ve hooked the monster.
Until next time,
Richard
UK Carp & Coarse Fishing 