With my gardening jobs done for this week and the weather conditions completely different from last week’s heatwave, I thought it best to head down to the lake early Tuesday evening, giving me three nights at my disposal, if I felt it was worth it. The forecast was pretty good, with low pressure and a southerly wind. There was still a lot of freshwater flowing in off the forest, especially after the recent 14 hours of heavy rain. The high today was 15C and will only rise to about 18C.

With the forecast, along with the freshwater pushing into the lake, The Swamp Swim was my top choice. Plus, my ongoing baiting progress was continuing and hopefully building the swim up nicely. I timed my arrival perfectly as a day angler was just leaving, having been there since the early hours, which could cause me an issue over the coming weeks. We shall see.

I was quite late down due to a dentist appointment, a check-up, unlike my previous issue over the winter. This was a pleasurable appointment, and I got away scot-free this time.

I pulled up to the gate around 18:20 and headed right along the track towards The North Bank, where the wind was pushing right into my face. I could see that the first, second, and third island swims were completely free. I crossed paths with the guy who had been fishing there on his way home.

I pulled into the car park and walked around to take a look at the swim. The first one did look particularly nice, but The Swamp Swim looked even better, and the levels were about the same as my first trip a few weeks back.

I wasn’t 100% sure how to approach this week’s trip, as when I left last week, they had just started spawning. As I’ve explained before, they switch on and off numerous times. They had pretty much stopped by Sunday morning with no further action noticed. But would they just sit back and wait for the conditions to be perfect for spawning, or go on the munch again? I’ve concluded that there are a few different strains of carp here that spawn at completely different times, and in some years the prolonged gap between spawnings produces some very special captures.

With this in mind, I’ve baited quite heavily, assuming I also stay the three nights available to me this week, as you never quite know what they will be up to next week. Plus, the following week is school holidays, and no fishing time for me as we are off on our annual camping trip in Wales with my dad.

I am using exactly the same approach as my previous trip in this swim, and hopefully, I may bag a monster this week.

My first take was at around 01:00 on the right-hand rod, which absolutely ripped off and immediately headed left as hard as it possibly could. I ended up with my tip under the water, pumping as quickly as I dared to gain ground as there was a large fallen tree between me and the next swim. I thought I felt it grating at one point, but that could have been the weed bed. I knew I was getting closer as it passed the tree near where my left-hand rod was. Luckily, I’m fishing very slack lines on that rod because it really tried to power back under there. I could tell it wasn’t that big because the carp up to about 18lb go absolutely crazy, especially the ones with big tails.

The carp was soon in the net, and yep, a pretty wild Airfield Lake common around the 10lb mark.

The wind was still pushing onto this bank, which gave me confidence that I stood a chance of another bite at some point. It was due to blow like this until Thursday at some point. I do hope it continues.

I had another take around 02:00, the carp bumped the hook out, but it wasn’t long before the next one arrived. This carp also tried going left, looking for that same snag. It was good to see this in the light of day and understand their tactics, which should help me avoid any issues in the future. It was a hard-fighting common around the 12lb mark.

With both rods redone, as this fish had picked up the margin rod for a moment, it is always worth making sure things are all perfect.

I had another couple of bleeps, and the rod tip knocked. I was hoping that the margin rod would go off at a similar time to the other week. I gave it until 08:20 and then reeled in, or tried to, as the rod was completely locked up on something. I ended up putting the waders on and going out to find a huge ball of weed, but no carp or tench attached. I was surprised by how thick the weed was getting, and I’m sure it will become more problematic over the summer months.

I waited until 14:00, hoping for another chance of a mid-morning bite, similar to the time Ian had those takes the other week, but not today. I used up the other half of my bait on the open water spot and hoped I’d get an early evening take. Sure enough, I did, but the carp only shed the hook in a weed bed. I can see this year being a lot of fun. I’ve had five bites and only landed two carp so far, not brilliant. I’ve adjusted my rig in the hope of fixing this issue. I can only hope this helps.

At 18:35, the margin rod was away, and at this point, I realized that I needed more pegs, etc., to hold the pod down. As I was putting my boots on, while laying on my bedchair, my pod was pulling over to the left, and the rod was trying to go forward. I’m fishing a 4oz lead on a slack line. The carp just bolted off out into open water. I gained control and got the fish under my rod tip. It now looked ready for netting. I wished it was, but it zoomed off back out into the pond. I had to slowly bring it back into my waiting net, bricking myself that the hook would pull out, as the last three did. Plus, one within the last 45 minutes or so, the pain was fresh in my mind. But the second time I felt it was ready for netting, it slipped into the net on the first go.

A lovely old-looking 18lb 3oz Airfield Lake Common.

I was so glad for that capture. It helps you forget the past easier. With the rod back out on the spot, it was time to enjoy the evening sunset.

After all the wind today, it fell completely flat calm over the lake this evening. I was hoping that it was just an evening lull, but no, it was like that all night. The carp had gone completely off the boil. I was woken just after 05:00 by a tench on the margin rod. I lay on my bedchair after I’d sorted the rod out and fell asleep again. I must have been knackered as I was woken by my right hand this time with yet another tench. It was 08:45 by now and definitely time for a brew. A friend had messaged me to see how I had gotten on overnight, plus informed me there was rain due. I had checked the forecast this morning as I thought it looked like it was going to be another flat, calm, warm day, which could encourage a dose of spawning. It wasn’t going to be that warm, plus overcast according to the 06:00 forecast. But by 09:30, it was going to rain all morning, and sure enough, it started not long after that. But it would pass over by midday if I was lucky. Plus, the great news was the wind was due to come back and be blowing from the southwest.

Just before 10:00, as I was doing a video update, the right-hand rod burst into life, just in a lull in the rain, which didn’t last, and I got soaked playing this carp. As with yesterday’s daytime bites, it bolted hard right towards the big weed beds. I was hoping my adjustment to my rig would help stop any more hook pulls. After a hard fight, convincing the carp it wasn’t going in any weed bed, I was now playing the fish out under my rod tip, and another one of the Airfield Lake mid-doubles was in the net. These carp can be a nightmare to land at this size, charging every which way they fancy.

I was very happy to get this one in and happy with the hook hold. The adjustment may have just worked. We shall see. I’d actually changed something at the beginning of my session to simplify putting a small PVA mesh bag on, but this change allowed the carp to dump the hooks once in the weed. You make a small change to help you, but the carp quickly use it to their advantage, clever things.

The rain was still falling, but the skies were looking much brighter by 11:00.

I’m heading into my last night now. The rain finally departed mid-afternoon, and a gentle southwest wind started to blow. We may get a sunset. It’s forecast to be 9 degrees tonight along with an easterly wind, with the pressure still pretty low around the 1003 mark and due to rise over the coming days along with the temperatures. I’m feeling there’s a small chance of them feeding tonight before slowing down again early next week. Let’s hope I’m right.

At 19:40, the right-hand rod was away again with another Airfield Lake torpedo, rocketing off to those weed beds. With the snaps done, it was brew time.

The night looked promising, but by the early hours, it wasn’t looking so good with the mist and fog rolling in. The lake was flat calm. The wind only started to pick up just before 09:00, which is the time set for packing up.

I’ve a lot to do next week, with sorting out the family camping equipment. I could fit in two nights, but I feel it’s either best to do one night only or have a two-week break. I will see what the weather is doing on Sunday evening before making my mind up to fish Monday night or not.

I think there’s a good chance the carp haven’t spawned well, or they will just wait around until the perfect conditions next week, making it not really worthwhile fishing until I’m back in early June.

Until then,

Richard

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