Avoiding the 27-degree heat this year is my goal. For fishing, unfortunately, it means getting roasted when gardening. Hopefully, I can start early some days.
I decided that doing a quick night on Monday would be a good start. This would avoid the beginning of the heatwave, and hopefully, the carp sense it coming and have a feed up. I’m hoping to get back Friday just as it turns cooler for the same reason.
I had my normal Monday gardening jobs done by noon and was soon home packing the car with just enough kit for the night. It didn’t look any different from normal.
I thought I would take a drive around Meadow Lake on the way and, if I fancied a swim, I would stay. This is part of my summer approach until September comes around, and then I will focus more on Airfield Lake.
I was extremely surprised to find only three other anglers fishing, two in day swims, not night swims, which a few love to spend the day in. This puts a spanner in the system.
I could go anywhere except for a swim called Siblings, which I didn’t fancy because of the heat factor.
Now, where to go? I don’t like looking at people across the lake, which is why I love Airfield Lake so much; they’re miles away even if they are opposite you.
I checked the forecast and looked around for about 45 minutes. The wind was due to blow a gentle breeze from the southwest. A couple of swims were baking hot. I didn’t fancy where I had spent most of the winter, which left me with three choices: one with absolutely no wind, another with the wind pushing away, and the final one with a nice gentle breeze on my face and plenty of shade. Yep, that had to be the one for me today.
I’d seen a few carp cruising around out in the middle and felt a bait put on the edge of a bar and one just off in the silty area would be a good bet. I set up my marker rod, and blasted it out in the direction of a perfect area, wondering how the weed would be this year. I’ve not heard much news on the grapevine so far this year. I was pleasantly surprised to find that gravel spot on the first cast – result! I got my Spomb rod out and leaded about either side of my marker rod. I was pleasantly surprised to only find a small amount of weed and a good amount of gravel. I would be fishing both rods out to this feature, one just on the gravel and the other just in the silty area. The rods would be about a rod length apart and about a wrap difference in distance. I baited quite heavily with 15mm Classic Corn boilies and would fish 20mm wafters over the top.
This gave me a good chance of a pickup sometime over the next 17 hours.
At 4:45, the right-hand rod rattled off into what I thought was a carp, then a tench, and then back to a carp in the margins when it looked up at me as well. As you can imagine, the fight was not that spectacular until under the rod tip. Even then, the fish went straight into the net, and at that time of the morning, I’m not going to complain.
22lb 1oz Common
With a newly done hook and bait, the rod was back out there. The carp were now showing about 20 feet to the left of my baited area. I’m thinking there’s a good chance of another bite before the sun burns this mist off and then the 27 degrees will arrive. Not my sort of day.
At 7:32, the misty morning had passed, and the clear skies had arrived. It’s slow pack-up time for me. I’d like to be off the lake by 9:00 and cutting grass by 11:00 today. I’ve seen a few carp topping this morning quite left of my spot now. They have clearly moved off that area. I don’t feel there’s much point in a recast at this late stage, as I’m about to start packing down.
That’s it. My kit is dry, and I’m off home. 27 degrees is way too hot for me.
“Embracing the Chill: A Guide to Winter Carp Fishing Preparation”
Introduction: As the temperature drops and the days shorten, Richard shares insights and tips on gearing up for winter carp fishing. In this comprehensive guide, he emphasizes the importance of motivation, venue selection, and smart preparation for a successful and enjoyable winter angling experience. Whether you’re a seasoned angler or a winter fishing enthusiast, Richard’s advice is geared to help you navigate the challenges of colder months while maximizing your chances of landing some impressive carp.
Chapter 1: “Choosing the Right Venue for Winter Campaigns” Richard emphasizes the significance of motivation when planning a winter campaign. He recommends selecting a venue that suits your needs and outlines the advantages of either short, single-night sessions or multi-night stays. With practical advice on streamlining setup and reducing kit for efficiency, Richard ensures that motivation remains high even during challenging winter conditions.
Chapter 2: “Navigating Dark Nights and Cold Waters” Offering insights gained from his extensive winter fishing experience, Richard addresses the challenges of setting up and packing away in the dark. He advises anglers to establish a routine and be organized to streamline processes. With tips on simplifying setups in unfamiliar waters and highlighting the convenience of fishing from a car park swim, Richard ensures anglers are well-prepared for the unique demands of winter nights.
Chapter 3: “Spotting Carp in the Winter Darkness” Richard delves into the practicalities of baiting up and casting out during winter nights. With a keen eye on horizon markers and shadows on the water, he guides anglers on effective casting strategies. Richard also underscores the importance of comfort, encouraging the use of modern bivvies, bivvy heaters, and strategic carpet placement to enhance the overall experience.
Chapter 4: “Winter Comfort Essentials” As comfort becomes a key consideration during winter sessions, Richard provides valuable advice on staying warm. From choosing appropriate clothing, base layers, and footwear to the benefits of overwraps and letterbox door openings, he ensures that anglers are well-equipped for the cold. The chapter also highlights the significance of entertainment options during long nights, suggesting movies or series on streaming platforms.
Chapter 5: “Staying Motivated and Enjoying the Winter Challenge” In the final chapter, Richard emphasizes the importance of maintaining motivation and enjoyment throughout the winter fishing season. Drawing on his four decades of experience, he encourages anglers to find the right balance between effort and enjoyment. By sharing his personal journey and lessons learned, Richard inspires fellow anglers to embrace the unique charm of winter fishing.
Conclusion: Richard’s guide provides a holistic approach to winter carp fishing, covering everything from venue selection and setup strategies to comfort essentials and motivational tips. Whether you’re a seasoned angler or a winter fishing enthusiast, this comprehensive guide is designed to enhance your winter angling experience, ensuring that you are well-prepared and primed for success.
Now that Meadow Lake and the river are open, Airfield Lake has become a ghost town. I’m planning a trip to Meadow Lake every month to stay connected with the place. When I get there in November, it’ll have been a bit of a headbanger in recent years. Airfield Lake used to close at the end of September, but now it’s October, which works well for here but not for Meadow Lake. I’m on the back foot before I even start, so this year I’m trying something different once the first week of the session is over. I arrived at the gates of Airfield Lake around 13:30. After checking the weather, I had no idea where to go. One thing was certain: I needed shade for the next three nights, with temperatures reaching the mid 20Cs. That’s cold for some, but too hot for others, especially in direct sunlight.
The pressure was much lower than expected, giving me some hope. The wind wouldn’t be as helpful as last week, as it was going to be all over the place. I headed to my favourite secret swim. My elbow was still not 100% better, limiting my casting distance.
My secret swim looked great, and a couple of carp cruised by in the margins. It seemed like the right time to try it again. I checked the weather and saw that I would be on the back of the wind 50% of the time, as it was coming from either the north or northeast. Though the wind wasn’t favourable, a couple of carp topped about 13/15 wraps out. I decided to give it a go. At least I would be in the shade 50% of the day. I could have chosen the same swim as last week, but my plan was to fish the margins here before the water levels dropped too much. With that, my swim choice was sorted, and I started organizing my kit.
By 16:15, everything was ready, and the kettle was on. The northerly wind, more like a northeasterly, was blowing nicely along this bank, giving me confidence. I cast the marker rod in the direction where the carp had topped and found a lovely silty patch just off a gravelly area. I baited heavily with 20mm Classic Corn Boilies and fished a 20mm Catalyst wafter over the top. This produced several carp last week, a good starting point for this session.
The evening was absolutely spectacular. Watching a fantastic sunset over the forest, I drifted off to sleep around 22:30. I woke a couple of times during the night to fish crashing close by, but that was all. At 07:00, I was up making a brew, thinking these conditions were better than expected, with a good chance of a morning bite. By 09:15, the margin rod was away. The carp ripped out into open water and into the nearest weed bed. I kept the pressure on, and the fish came through the weed beds. I played it out under the rod tip and slipped the carp into the net.
18lb 3oz Common
The rod was soon back on the spot, and the conditions still looked favourable. With the wind pushing nicely onto this bank until the sun arrived, I felt there was a good chance of another bite. At 16:15, as I was thinking about doing my evening piece with the camera, the margin rod belted off, mirroring the morning’s carp. By the time I got it into the margins, it was clearly a bigger fish.
24lb 14oz Common
There’s no point kidding yourself that it was a 25lber—the scales don’t lie. It didn’t matter to me; I was overjoyed. I’d escaped the 18lber loop I was in. I catapulted more 20mm Classic Corn Boilies and flicked the rod out again. It’s nice to see this spot producing bites; I always knew it would. Unfortunately, there was a huge tree in the way for years – well, a small tree at first.
At 19:15, the range rod finally burst into life like a screaming banshee. The carp charged out into the lake, heading right quickly, trying to find the small plateau or a boulder to bump the hook out. I knew exactly what it was up to and where it was heading, but sometimes there’s no way to avoid the outcome. Donk!, and it was gone. At least they’re feeding out there. I wondered how long it would be, as the wind had finally moved to the southwest. Unfortunately, it didn’t last long, but it seemed to make a difference to that rod. I hoped the wind would swing around again at some point tomorrow. The rod was soon back out, fingers crossed a few more headed my way.
At 19:35, the same rod was away yet again, and this time, the fish felt much bigger. It had kited far right and just wasn’t stopping. I thought my best option was to loosen the clutch on the rod, put it on the rests, and grab my waders. But by the time I had done that, the carp had shed the hook. I’m not a happy camper at the moment. From now on, it’s back to putting the waders on first before picking up the rod, just in case that situation arises again, which I’m 100% convinced it will. That carp felt much bigger than the others. The rod was soon back out there. I can only hope I get another chance.
At 23:10, the right-hand rod was away again. This time, the carp was going left, which was interesting because this was the direction they always used to go before the tree was removed. This carp was off way down the margins before I gained control. I also walked out into the lake to get a better angle and keep it away from the overhanging tree branches. I was trying to avoid the other one too. It was a close call at that point, but the near full moon helped me see along the bank. Once it was under the rod tip, it was under control and soon in the net.
18lb 8oz Common
The photos were taken, the carp was returned to its home, and the rod was back on the spot. At 23:45, the same rod was away again. This carp came straight in over the bar and passed the weed bed with no issues until the hook popped out just before I was ready with the net. There was no real reason at all. I checked the hook; it was perfectly fine, so I simply put the rod back out after wrapping it up yet again. The score was now 3-all.
That night was a disaster all around—four bites and only one carp landed. It happens. I woke to a day of clear skies and light winds, not ideal for another daytime take, but you never know. I need to figure out the best time to bait. I’m thinking around noon because of those late afternoon bites. Plus, that’s when the weather is due to turn back to a southwesterly for a few hours, which I’m sure was the cause of all the action yesterday. Fingers crossed the weather conditions are correct. The day passed without any activity. I opted to bait up around noontime and have a bit of a walkabout, then head back, and flick the rods out, hoping for an afternoon or early evening bite. If not, hopefully, it would happen during the dark hours. At 22:12, it nearly took me 24 hours to get the next bite, but we got there in the end. It was the right-hand rod, which seems to be for nighttime bites only, which is interesting. The carp was well-behaved and was soon in the net.
16lb 10oz Common
It was certainly nice to get another one in the net after last night’s disastrous events. The rod was soon back out, the bats flicking the line were driving me crazy again. At least it’s nearly the longest day. At 03:00, the margin rod burst into life. Waders on, out of the bivvy, pick up the rod, and pull into thin air. Just great. I call these “Spitfire takes” since this was an old airfield once, and they were based here at one point. It could be the ghosts of bygone times. Probably a heavy liner or the hook got bumped out on a boulder before I picked the rod up, but you never know. With the rod back on the spot, it was time to get some more shut-eye. At 06:50, I was dreaming away when the margin rod screamed to life. Waders on and out the door we go. What a beautiful morning, I thought, picking up the rod and pulling into a nice carp who was heading out to sea! I applied pressure, it turned and kited hard left. I was soon in the water, applying pressure to stop it from reaching the snags next to the other swim to my left, which I know can be extremely problematic at times. Being in the water makes it so much easier than from the bank. The carp was away from those snags but trying to get into any margin with overhanging trees it could find. I coaxed it past the last obstacle and gently played the carp out under the rod tip before sliding the net under a lovely-looking common.
20lb 00oz,
The scales locked in at. Scales don’t lie. That will do me, folks. I got that rod out, plus redid the other because it had bleeped a couple of times, and the line had slacked off. I’m hoping for one more to even the score out. I’ve lost 5 and landed 5 so far. A sixth would be nice without being greedy.
It was soon packing-up time. The clear blue sky and sunshine made it easy to sit out for another day.
UK Carp & Coarse Fishing 