This week’s trip nearly didn’t happen. The pressure had been extremely high, and a massive storm had swept across the UK over the weekend, causing power cuts in many areas. At home, we experienced an eight-hour outage on Saturday evening. The weather had remained harsh, with low temperatures, high pressure, and relentless winds combining to create a biting wind chill factor.

Despite these conditions, something nudged me to try the Estate Lake. Perhaps it was the sheer absurdity of being the only one willing to brave the weather for a few nights. The forecast called for 30 mph winds and temperatures around 8 degrees Celsius during the day—and that was before factoring in the wind chill. Nighttime temperatures were expected to drop to a brisk 5 degrees. But the thought of a possible reward was enough to convince me it was worth the effort.

I arrived at the lake around 9 a.m. and took a walk around. The far end, opposite the dam wall, was calm but showed no signs of carp activity. Battered by the cruel northeasterly wind, the field bank offered little shelter. But midway along that bank lay a promising swim I had checked out before. As I approached, three carp broke the surface in different spots. It was all the encouragement I needed to set up there. The memory of seeing carp in this area last winter solidified my decision. With the lily pads mostly withered, the spot offered a manageable challenge and a great feature to fish toward.

One of the perks of this venue is the allowance of three rods, and I decided to make full use of my new bait boat. I’d never been opposed to bait boats themselves, just the reckless way some people use them. But now, with aching arms and back from too much spombing, I had to admit that a bait boat made things much easier. It also caused less disturbance, which seemed crucial on this shallow lake where even slight noise could spook the carp.

Each rod had a snowman rig: a 15mm wafter paired with a 12mm pop-up. My bait of choice was a mix of Co-De, Cream Cajouser, and Trigga Ice boilies.  I used small mesh bag filled with 4mm pellets, generously infused with Co-De Sludge. The bait boat made precision placement easy, dropping the bait near the decayed lily pads.

As the day unfolded, the carp showed a fair amount of activity across the lake. It became clear that a handful of boilies over each spot might not suffice, but I was cautious not to overfeed. The water clarity was unusual for this lake, and the increased wildlife added another layer of complexity. When a heavy liner on the right-hand rod suggested interest, I seized the moment to add a few more handfuls of Trigga Ice boilies to that spot. I repeated the process on the left-hand rod but left the middle rod untouched, hedging against over-baiting.

At 11:29 p.m., the right-hand rod screamed to life. Startled from sleep, I scrambled to respond. The carp were making a determined effort to escape into the adjacent swim and under the overhanging trees. Keeping my rod tip submerged, I guided it away from danger, eventually bringing it into my swim. After a steady fight, the carp slid into my net. At 25lb 6oz, it was a stunning December catch and a satisfying reward for braving the elements.

Recasting in the dark with the bait boat proved challenging. Even with lights and my head torch, navigating the controls as a dyslexic was no small feat. Still, I managed to send out another 12mm Cream Cajouser pop-up, a handful of boilies, and a PVA bag soaked in Co-De Sludge.

Morning arrived with the hum of traffic from a nearby road. The sound of carp crashing out kept me optimistic, though none of the rods had gone off during the early hours. I lay in my sleeping bag, peeking out of the bivvy’s letterbox window, reluctant to disturb the quiet. By 10:30 am, I refreshed all three rods for the day, confident that the night would again bring activity.

As dusk fell, the chill deepened. The day had been quieter, with fewer carp sightings, but my hopes remained high. At 8:30 p.m., the carp’s activity began to pick up, bolstering my confidence. By 11:42 p.m., the right-hand rod was away again. This time, the carp was cooperative, weighing in at 16lb 5oz. Recasting was smoother; remembering to turn on the bait boat’s lights made a significant difference.

At 3:23 a.m., the same rod produced another common carp, weighing 17lb 8oz. The fish came straight into the net with minimal fuss. After redeploying the bait boat, I returned to my sleeping bag, but sleep was elusive. By 4:30 a.m., the middle rod signalled action. This time, I landed an 18lb 12oz common, completing a hat trick for the night. Despite the cold, it was turning into an exceptional session.

At dawn, the lake’s serenity was interrupted by a faint beep on the right-hand rod. It didn’t amount to anything, but it stirred me from my rest. I brewed a cup of tea and began packing up around 9 a.m., satisfied with the results. Four carp, especially under such challenging conditions, exceeded my expectations.

This trip reignited my appreciation for the Estate Lake. Its potential for winter carp is undeniable, and I’m already planning a return visit in the new year. For now, though, it’s back to Meadow Lake, where the rod tips have been frustratingly still. It’s nice to break the monotony with a productive session—especially in winter.

Until next time.

Richard

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