I so nearly headed to Airfield Lake, but decided to take a drive around Meadow Lake first. Much to my surprise, there were only two anglers fishing, so I thought I’d better take a closer look around.
My choice of swim was based largely on which way the wind was blowing. I hadn’t seen a thing, and generally, I prefer not to know how the other lakes on the syndicate are fishing. Otherwise, I’m too easily tempted, especially when I need to focus on one lake rather than two.
I like to make at least one trip to Meadow Lake in September and October, just to get an understanding of how it’s fishing before I spend the winter here. It’s all about building a picture, watching the water and getting a feel for what might be happening beneath the surface.
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 