What a fantastic season it’s been on Airfield Lake this year
Over 15 sessions, covering a total of 40 nights, I’ve really put the effort in — and it’s paid off. The year started strong, slowed down a bit through mid-season as it often does, then picked up beautifully again through the autumn period. During that time, I began adding particles into my usual mix and went back to using PVA solid bags, which proved to be a game changer.
In total, I landed 71 carp, including 38 twenties and a stunning 30lb 1oz common. Earlier in the year, I came close to another thirty with a cracking 29lb 7oz common.
Looking back, I believe switching over to Jurassic Particles hemp and buckwheat, along with returning to Castaway PVA solid bags, really boosted my results. Before August, I’d only managed 23 carp, so that change clearly made a difference. And, as always, my trusty Nutrabaits White Blank Saver boilies accounted for the majority of my bites — by the end, I wasn’t using anything else.
Now my focus turns to winter on Meadow Lake and my local club water. I’m genuinely looking forward to it. I do love winter fishing, even though winters have changed — these days it’s colder and grey than the crisp, sunny sessions I used to enjoy. Still, as long as I can get through another chilly season on the bank, I’ll be happy.
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
UK Carp & Coarse Fishing 