I love to know the history of lakes I am fishing.  I find it fascinating and it gives you a brief history of where you are fishing.  So I started to searching the internet and found some amazing stuff. ——————————- RAF Ibsley Situated on the western edge of the New Forest, between Ringwood and Fordingbridge, […]

The History Of The Airfield Lake

I’m sure you will all agree that fishing club lakes can be hard going in the Summer months.  This is due to the volume of anglers on the bank, which is why those who can join syndicate waters as they … Continue reading →

Winter Club Lake Fishing

Best one of the year On its way Spotted Fin – Catalyst New PB Common           New PB & First UK 40 6 x 20s in one Night             30lb 8oz 17lb 3oz … Continue reading →

2018 Fish Gallery

Things were certainly all coming together as they sometimes do with fishing, the momentum just keeps building. We both couldn’t make the second to last weekend, due to family stuff and weren’t sure if both of us could make the last weekend at the end of October. So, we just treated each trip as our last one.

I wasn’t due to arrive until Friday morning, but with the carp coming out mostly at night, it was worth setting up in the dark on Thursday evening. I couldn’t arrive any earlier due to family stuff going on this afternoon.

Ian had called earlier this morning and take the choice of the swim and after last week’s success, we felt it was worth another go in that area.

Just on dusk

My infrared light

My infrared light lights up the rods, but to be honest, it’s more about lightning up the steps down into the lake as I get older!

I was halfway through setting up and Ian’s left-hand rod was away with the first fish of the trip and hopefully not the last. The fight was slow and steady and a lovely Common slipped into the net.

21lber

He was pleased with that and it filled us both with hope for the coming few nights.

Just before 1am, I woke to a big splash in the margins. I poked my head out the bivvy door and yep sure enough Ian was into a nice carp, I did the netting.

30lber

I lovely 30 lber it was as well. He was over the moon, as  Airfield 30’s can be a bit hard to find some years.

I was sitting on his bucket chatting and sorting out the photography and my right-hand rod was away! I was very mindful of the overhanging branches that got me last week, along with the underwater snag. I soon had the carp in the margins, then all I had to do was simply played the carp out and slip it into the net when it was ready.

20lb 5oz

Perfect start, I was still buzzing from Ian having a 30 and I  had just landed my first trip of the session.

Another PVA bag was done, I flicked it back out there and thought I better try and get some sleep, as you never know.

I woke to a screaming run at 0845. I must have finally fallen asleep last night but it was gone past 3am I know that. The carp was on a real mission to my right and probably rolled on the surface in front of the swim Ian fished last week, I coaxed it along the margins and into the weighing net.

16lb 11oz

Perfect, two carp within the first 12 hours.

We both baited up around 11 o’clock with a few more kilos of Classic Corn and Catalyst boilies, and stuck new hook baits on for the coming afternoon and evening.

I’m using my normal Ronnie rig set up with a 20mm wafter, a short hooklink conjunction with a Pva bag filled with 6mm Catalyst pellets. These have been soaking in Spotted Fin food dip for a few weeks. I very much like to prep my boilies and pellets, a couple of weeks in advance and start the next batch going on the day I get back from each session.

Cloudy afternoon

The day passed by with a couple of glasses of wine and some brie on the Weber.

It was all very peaceful on the carp front, we were hoping for a later afternoon/early evening take.

As the sun was setting, it was looking like we were out of luck. I was out and about taking photographs of the moon rising.

Along with the fantastic cloud formations when Ian’s right-hand rod burst into life.

That will do, a nice 8pm take, when we are both up and about. The fish was definitely on a mission to the right and no doubt towards those overhanging trees to my right. We thought that it had avoided my lines, until it ran back towards Ian under my lines that it had gone over. Joy!

I loosened off my line and netted the carp. We quickly got it in the sling and put it in the lake, the last thing we needed was one of my rod’s going off. Once the tangled lines were sorted out, we got the carp on the scales.

22lb 12oz

That’s no bad going, 2 x 20s and a 30lber all before 8pm on the second night! Ian was well-chuffed.

Just after 1 am, Ian was on again. I arrived just in time to do the net duties and he slipped yet another stonking carp over the cord.

Weightlifting time!

26lb 8oz

He is having a fantastic session and I’m glad to be on the net and doing the photos. This to me is just as enjoyable as catching the fish yourself. Somehow the moment filters across.

17lber

Around 11pm Ian had this lovely Common on the repositioned left-hand rod.

I was up about doing some filming when Ian was away again! I was able to film him playing the carp and landing it. It very nearly got into the overhanging trees along his left margins, the ends of the branches where twitching away as he guided the carp under them. With his rod well under the water, it eventually slipped into the net.

18lber

His rod was out again and the coffee was made. We sat in the sunshine in Ian’s swim talking about the possibility of him catching fish no 7. This will be his best session with the number of carp and definitely with the size of fish he had been catching.

The same rod was away again, he was into fish no7.

In again!

This was brilliant. After a pretty straightforward battle, involving me picking up his other rod and holding it in the air until the carp was safely in the margins. I did joke that he didn’t need two rods as all the takes had come on the same rod.

Get in there

Fish no 7 is been landed and it’s a beauty.

Thank you

25lber

This is really turning into a red letter day trip for him and with another 24 hours to go, he could easily get 10 carp.

We had breakfast at around 11pm, along with another brew. The time was coming up to around 1230 and we were thinking about when to start spombing the last of the bait out (after Ian’s success last night), when my left-hand rod was away!

Into a fish

The fish was on the surface rolling about on the surface about 60 yards out and it continued to do this all the way in until it got closer to the net and then, just went down. It stayed there for some time, I was even hopeful this was going to be a nice lump, but you really can’t tell with the big tails these carp have.

Guiding it in

Once in the net, it did look good and after lifting out of the water and carrying it to the mat, I was feeling confident.

Peach

30lb 12oz

I was overjoyed with another 30-plus carp from the Airfield Lake. I generally aim for 1 a season, I now was on to number 3, I just can’t believe my luck this month.

As the sun was setting and in the fading light of the day, we are full of expectations for the coming 12 hours. It would be extremely nice if Ian can make the number 10 carp, plus if I can bag at least one more, this would also be nice. We shall just have to wait and see. We have topped up the swim, and redone the rigs, we can only hope. We are due another clear night and the pressure is slowly rising, but it’s mid-October and they need to feed.

The first take of the night, came to my left-hand rod, just before 10pm and this fish wasn’t giving up very easily. It was also extremely interested in my margins to my right, but slowly and surely I gained ground and it was in the net.

12lb

I didn’t weigh the carp but estimated it at about 12lber. You wouldn’t have thought that it could have that much power, it certainly goes to show you that you can’t always tell the size until you get them into the net.

The fish was soon back in the lake, with my rod cast back out with another fresh Classic Corn wafter on.

At 1130 pm, the same rod was away again. I was still wide awake and quickly out to grab the rod. This one was just running out, further into the open water. I was even considering slowing down, by now I normally have started to walk backward, gently coaxing them straight into my swim. I do my best to avoid them kitting right or left, but this fish was having none of that. Eventually, it started coming my way, once under the rod tip it made a few lunges and took a lot of line at one point, always heading back out into the lake and off to my right, but I gained control again and soon had it in the net.

Lovely

23lb 10oz

That will certainly do me. It was definitely getting colder tonight and Ian was quickly off to the warmth of his sleeping bag. I soon had the rod back out and was pleased to get back in my bag.

By 3 am, Ian had landed another 2 carp, 8lber, and a 16lber. Unfortunately, no photographs as he was feeling the cold from the northwest winds and the rolling mist. He now had had 9 carp and just 1 more to make double figures. After the last two nights, there’s a good chance that he would manage this, fingers crossed for the next bite.

It’s 0550 and Ian’s done it! He has landed fish No10 and it’s another 20lber to this list.

20lb 15oz

Perfect, what more could you ask for from this session? It’s truly been amazing on all counts. We have around 5 hours left to go and then it’s home time. After the last two years of disappointing October sessions, we can’t complain about it this year.

Morning

It’s another lovely misty morning and I am sure the sun will be poking its head above the trees very soon. I have a coffee on the go and I’m still in the bag, watching the water and just enjoying the moment. Fishing is such a magical experience.

I was halfway through packing up and the left-hand rod rattled off. The fight was just perfect, all under the rod tip in the margins, and slipped perfectly into the net.

Stunning

28lb 4oz

What a way to finish off this session! We both couldn’t have wanted for more – brilliant company, great food & drink and best of all, a good number of carp landed.

Until next time

Richard

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Why Compare Yourself to Others? A Deeper Dive Into the Angler’s Dilemma

As anglers, we often find ourselves in situations where we compare our success (or lack thereof) to others. Whether it’s carp fishing or any other type of angling, the sight of someone else consistently catching fish while we struggle can lead to frustration, self-doubt, and a sense of defeat. But why do we compare ourselves to others in the first place, and what can we learn from this instinct? More importantly, how can we break free from this counterproductive habit and enjoy fishing for the personal journey it provides?

This article will explore these questions and offer a more profound perspective on why comparing yourself to others in carp fishing—or life in general—is not only pointless but also detrimental to your mental well-being and overall enjoyment of the sport.

1. Time on the Water: The Most Significant Factor

One of the biggest reasons why some anglers consistently catch more fish is simple: they spend more time on the water. The more time you spend observing, walking around the lake, or simply being present, the more you learn about the habits of the fish, their favorite spots, and the best times to catch them.

For many anglers, especially those with full-time jobs, family commitments, and other responsibilities, this luxury of time is scarce. If you’re only able to fish once a week, or even less frequently, it’s unrealistic to expect the same results as someone who is able to spend hours on the bank every day. The angler who takes a quick 30-minute walk around the lake every other evening, particularly at dawn or dusk when carp are most active, gathers invaluable information over time. They might notice patterns in the fish’s behavior, such as where the fish tend to show themselves during feeding times, which areas of the lake are least disturbed by other anglers, and how the fish react to different weather conditions.

When we compare our single session to someone who’s effectively lived at the lake, we set ourselves up for disappointment. It’s essential to accept that the more time you invest, the more you’ll learn. For the angler with limited time, the key is to make the most of every session by staying observant and patient.

2. The Importance of Arriving Early and Choosing the Right Swim

Another critical factor is the time of arrival. If you’re the first one to arrive at the lake, you get the best chance to choose your swim after observing the water for signs of fish. Early birds can often spot feeding activity, subtle ripples, or even see fish breaking the surface, all of which give clues about where the carp are holding up. However, if you’re arriving late, especially when half the swims are already taken, your options become more limited.

It’s easy to feel defeated when the “hot swims” (the ones with the most activity) are taken, but this doesn’t mean you’re out of luck. Some of the best anglers have learned to master less popular areas of the lake. If you find yourself consistently relegated to the swims that other anglers overlook, view it as an opportunity. Spend time getting to know the quiet spots, bait them regularly, and fish them with confidence. Many times, fish will move into these less pressured areas, and by creating your own productive swim, you might end up having better results than those fishing the more popular spots.

Moreover, fish don’t always stick to the same areas; they move depending on conditions like water temperature, food availability, and angling pressure. By adopting an attitude of exploration and experimentation, you can turn what seems like a disadvantage into an advantage.

3. The Myth of “Hot Swims”

Hot swims are only hot because they’re consistently fished. When an area gets fished often, it’s baited frequently, and the fish start to associate that area with food. It’s no wonder that these swims tend to produce more catches over time. However, this doesn’t mean that the angler fishing in the hot swim is necessarily more skilled than you; they’re simply reaping the benefits of being in an area that has been conditioned by regular feeding.

If you’re constantly missing out on these so-called hot swims, don’t despair. Instead of comparing yourself to the anglers who always seem to catch in those areas, focus on creating your own hot spot. Choose a less fished area of the lake, start introducing small amounts of bait, and keep it consistent. Over time, fish will begin to visit this area, and you’ll have your very own productive swim. Most importantly, keep this under the radar. If everyone knows you’ve found a new hot spot, it will quickly become just as crowded as the others.

4. Knowledge vs. Skill: The True Measure of Success

It’s crucial to differentiate between knowledge and skill. The anglers who “live on the lake” and consistently catch more fish aren’t necessarily more skilled than you; they just have more knowledge about the specific body of water. Knowledge comes from observation and experience, which, as mentioned earlier, requires time on the water.

However, skill is something you can hone regardless of how often you fish. Skills like casting accuracy, rig presentation, and bait choice are all factors that you can control, regardless of how frequently you visit the lake. Even if you’re only able to fish once a month, you can use that time to refine your techniques and improve your overall abilities. Instead of comparing yourself to someone with more knowledge of the lake, focus on building your skills as an angler. Over time, this will pay off as you become more adaptable and able to succeed in a wider range of situations.

5. Fishing Is Not a Competition

One of the most important points to remember is that fishing isn’t a competition—unless you’re in an actual competition, of course! For the vast majority of anglers, fishing is about relaxation, connection with nature, and the personal challenge of catching fish. When you start comparing yourself to others, you lose sight of what makes fishing enjoyable in the first place.

Each angler has their own reasons for fishing, and each session should be a personal experience. Whether you’re fishing to unwind, to reconnect with nature, or to challenge yourself, the only person you should be comparing yourself to is yourself. Ask yourself: “Am I improving? Am I learning something new each time I fish? Am I enjoying my time on the water?” If the answer is yes, then you’re doing it right.

6. Embrace the Experience, Not Just the Catch

As someone who now primarily fishes syndicates or quiet club lakes in the winter, I’ve learned to appreciate the solitude and beauty of fishing more than ever before. While catching fish is always a thrill, the real reward comes from the experience of being out in nature, observing wildlife, and finding peace in the slow, methodical process of fishing.

It’s easy to get caught up in the pressure to catch, especially when others around you are landing fish left and right. But if you focus solely on the numbers, you miss out on everything else that fishing has to offer. Remember why you started fishing in the first place. Was it for the adrenaline rush of catching the biggest fish, or was it for the joy of spending time outdoors, away from the stress of daily life?

Many anglers, myself included, have found that fishing is as much about mental health as it is about sport. The act of being by the water, observing the world around you, and disconnecting from the fast-paced world can have profound effects on your well-being. If you’re constantly comparing yourself to others, you lose this sense of peace and relaxation. Fishing becomes a source of stress rather than a source of solace.

7. Effort Equals Reward—But Don’t Take It Too Seriously

There’s no denying that effort equals reward when it comes to fishing. The more time you put in, the more you observe, and the more you experiment, the better your results will be. However, it’s essential to strike a balance. Fishing should never feel like a chore or a burden. If you find yourself taking it too seriously, to the point where you’re no longer enjoying it, it’s time to take a step back and reassess your approach.

I used to think that fishing was all about catching as many fish as possible. While catching is certainly a big part of the enjoyment, it’s not the only part. There’s so much more to fishing than the end result. Whether it’s watching a kingfisher dart across the water, seeing a shooting star while sitting by your rods at night, or simply enjoying the quiet solitude of a misty morning on the bank, these are the moments that make fishing truly special.

8. Enjoy the Journey

At the end of the day, fishing is a personal journey. Each angler’s path is different, and there’s no one “right” way to fish. Some anglers thrive on the competitive aspect of catching the biggest or most fish, while others find joy in the simple act of casting a line and being outdoors.

The important thing is to fish for yourself and only for yourself. Don’t compare your catches, your gear, or your knowledge to others. Fishing is about the experience, the connection to nature, and the personal growth that comes from each session. By letting go of comparisons and focusing on your own journey, you’ll find greater fulfillment and satisfaction in your time on the water.

Conclusion

In a world that constantly pushes us to compare ourselves to others, fishing offers a rare opportunity to step back and focus on the things that truly matter. Whether you’re catching fish or not, the real reward of fishing lies in the time spent outdoors, the lessons learned along the way, and the moments of peace and reflection that come with each cast.

So the next time you find yourself comparing your success to others, remember that fishing is a personal journey. Fish for yourself, enjoy the process, and embrace the unique experience that every session brings. After all, it’s not.

Food For Thought

Richard