Autumn on the Airfield lake Part 4


With the end of the Airfield Lake season and our baiting campaign, we were well pleased to get back into the double gravel swim. We had a long discussion about our other options last week and spoke about it yesterday.

I was well happy when my WhatsApp pinned me that Ian was setting up in double gravel as the conditions were very similar to last week. I arrived just before noon and instantly set about spombing my bait out, just as Ian was doing the same. We both put out about 4 kilos of Classic Corn Boilies, at very similar ranges, quite well spread out, we were going to be fishing 20mm Classic Corn wafters.

As always the first night can be a bit tricky, but recently we have both been catching, fingers crossed this will be the same.

Morning

For the first time in some time, the first night passed by carp free for both of us. It’s quite normal for this to happen, as we like to put out a lot of bait on the first night and only top it up as we feel the need. Over the years, the carp have been put off by too much spombing, but in the last couple of sessions, it’s been less of a problem.

The weather change is due to come in today – from the southwest, the wind is picking up and the pressure is dropping, along with a few rain showers. We are perfectly positioned to reap the rewards, once the carp get on the munch again.

Fingers crossed as always, it will be today.

Sometime around 1040, the left-hand rod was away and I was into what felt like a nice carp. It was on the surface and heading out to sea! I just had to let it go, until it was the right time to start gaining ground. It nearly picked up Ian’s lines, but with some knitting going on, it was all free and heading off down toward my margins. This is where I played it out until it was ready for the net.

Nice Start

24lb 2oz

It’s a perfect start, with a daylight fish, which is always nice to get. I soon had the rod out again, hoping for my next bite, not to be too far away.

My right hand rod ripped off about 1515 and unfortunately was bumped off on a boulder, something that’s not happened for quite some time.

Ian’s left-hand rod was away twice in an hour at 2130 & 2210 resulting in

22lber

24lber

Not bad going I must say, with any luck the carp have finally moved in on the baited area this afternoon and evening.

I got in a few action shots with the help of the moon and Ian’s green light, all looking very atmospheric.

Just before 0030, my left-hand rod was away, a pretty straightforward fight was played out and the carp was soon in the net.

17lb 13oz

Very happy with that after losing one earlier to that hook pull. It’s always nice to get the next one in the net and without any issues. A fresh 20mm Classic Corn wafter was put on and after sharpening the hook point, as I like to do, I was soon back in the bag, the temperature was really starting to drop at night now.

My next take was around 0330 to my left-hand rod again, a similar fight to my last carp, I did nearly hook up my other line, but quickly got the rod underneath the other one. I love to have my rod tips high, just makes life so simple.

Pukka

13lber

I didn’t weigh the carp this time and estimated it about 13lb, sometimes it is about getting them back in the water quickly.

That rod was soon sorted and I was in the bag again, warming up nicely.

Morning

That was the last of the action during the night, which wasn’t bad going. I have another 24 hours to go, fingers crossed that a few more come our way. The wind (with any luck) will actually finally pick up and a band of rain is due this morning, this should bring on the carp.

Raining

The wind has definitely picked up and the rain arrived for a few hours. Let’s hope this stirs them into life before the afternoon sunshine. I’m looking forward to some sunshine as we have steak, chips, mushrooms, and onions for lunchtime and I don’t really want to eat or cook it in the bivvy.

My next take was about 1130 to my right-hand rod. This one was like playing a torpedo and very nearly picked up Ian’s right-hand rod, but I managed to avoid it and turned the carp away, back along the margins and into the net.

Stunning colours

17lb 6oz

Some of these carp have huge tails, which give them an extra amount of power. It makes them fantastic carp to play, despite the size!

As this was possibly our last session for the year on here, plus Ian only fishes day’s over the winter months. So, Ian had sorted out some nice steak, I had brought the Weber and mushrooms, onions, and chips, so we could have a cracking lunch.

It did look good and tasted just as fabulous as well. We were lucky with the weather as it was forecast to rain but held off until after lunch. However, it eventually arrived and rained on and off over the following hours. This was a real shame because sitting out on possibly the last night would have been just perfect. By 1600 hours, it was feeling pretty cold outside and I was forever hopeful we would get the chance to get a couple more carp this afternoon/leading into the early evening. With our recent success over the dark hours, it would round things off nicely.

Instead of spombing, I sticked some 20mm Classic Corn Boilies over all the rods, as we didn’t really wish to spook anything out there feeding.

Just love rainbows over water, when you can get the reflection in the water, it’s even better

Morning! It was a bleep-free night for me, I’ve not slept so well on the bank for weeks. Ian on the other hand managed an 18lber around 11pm last night.

Mat shot

He was kind enough not to wake me, I was also surprised that I didn’t wake up because I generally do, I must have been very tired.

As it is very possible our last morning on here, I put two fresh baits out at first light this morning, just as something different to try, as you never know here.

The sun is up and it’s looking gorgeous, with the autumn colours.

That was it no more fish for me, I left Ian still packing up, as I need to get home, hopefully, he may bag just one more before home time. He certainly did get another one a 14lber, that was a nice finish 4 carp each.

Until next time

Richard

With the end of the Airfield Lake season and our baiting campaign, we were well pleased to get back into the double gravel swim. We had a long discussion about our other options last week and spoke about it yesterday.

I was well happy when my WhatsApp pinned me that Ian was setting up in double gravel as the conditions were very similar to last week. I arrived just before noon and instantly set about spombing my bait out, just as Ian was doing the same. We both put out about 4 kilos of Classic Corn Boilies, at very similar ranges, quite well spread out, we were going to be fishing 20mm Classic Corn wafters.

As always the first night can be a bit tricky, but recently we have both been catching, fingers crossed this will be the same.

Morning

For the first time in some time, the first night passed by carp free for both of us. It’s quite normal for this to happen, as we like to put out a lot of bait on the first night and only top it up as we feel the need. Over the years, the carp have been put off by too much spombing, but in the last couple of sessions, it’s been less of a problem.

The weather change is due to come in today – from the southwest, the wind is picking up and the pressure is dropping, along with a few rain showers. We are perfectly positioned to reap the rewards, once the carp get on the munch again.

Fingers crossed as always, it will be today.

Sometime around 1040, the left-hand rod was away and I was into what felt like a nice carp. It was on the surface and heading out to sea! I just had to let it go, until it was the right time to start gaining ground. It nearly picked up Ian’s lines, but with some knitting going on, it was all free and heading off down toward my margins. This is where I played it out until it was ready for the net.

Nice Start

24lb 2oz

It’s a perfect start, with a daylight fish, which is always nice to get. I soon had the rod out again, hoping for my next bite, not to be too far away.

My right hand rod ripped off about 1515 and unfortunately was bumped off on a boulder, something that’s not happened for quite some time.

Ian’s left-hand rod was away twice in an hour at 2130 & 2210 resulting in

22lber

24lber

Not bad going I must say, with any luck the carp have finally moved in on the baited area this afternoon and evening.

I got in a few action shots with the help of the moon and Ian’s green light, all looking very atmospheric.

Just before 0030, my left-hand rod was away, a pretty straightforward fight was played out and the carp was soon in the net.

17lb 13oz

Very happy with that after losing one earlier to that hook pull. It’s always nice to get the next one in the net and without any issues. A fresh 20mm Classic Corn wafter was put on and after sharpening the hook point, as I like to do, I was soon back in the bag, the temperature was really starting to drop at night now.

My next take was around 0330 to my left-hand rod again, a similar fight to my last carp, I did nearly hook up my other line, but quickly got the rod underneath the other one. I love to have my rod tips high, just makes life so simple.

Pukka

13lber

I didn’t weigh the carp this time and estimated it about 13lb, sometimes it is about getting them back in the water quickly.

That rod was soon sorted and I was in the bag again, warming up nicely.

Morning

That was the last of the action during the night, which wasn’t bad going. I have another 24 hours to go, fingers crossed that a few more come our way. The wind (with any luck) will actually finally pick up and a band of rain is due this morning, this should bring on the carp.

Raining

The wind has definitely picked up and the rain arrived for a few hours. Let’s hope this stirs them into life before the afternoon sunshine. I’m looking forward to some sunshine as we have steak, chips, mushrooms, and onions for lunchtime and I don’t really want to eat or cook it in the bivvy.

My next take was about 1130 to my right-hand rod. This one was like playing a torpedo and very nearly picked up Ian’s right-hand rod, but I managed to avoid it and turned the carp away, back along the margins and into the net.

Stunning colours

17lb 6oz

Some of these carp have huge tails, which give them an extra amount of power. It makes them fantastic carp to play, despite the size!

As this was possibly our last session for the year on here, plus Ian only fishes day’s over the winter months. So, Ian had sorted out some nice steak, I had brought the Weber and mushrooms, onions, and chips, so we could have a cracking lunch.

It did look good and tasted just as fabulous as well. We were lucky with the weather as it was forecast to rain but held off until after lunch. However, it eventually arrived and rained on and off over the following hours. This was a real shame because sitting out on possibly the last night would have been just perfect. By 1600 hours, it was feeling pretty cold outside and I was forever hopeful we would get the chance to get a couple more carp this afternoon/leading into the early evening. With our recent success over the dark hours, it would round things off nicely.

Instead of spombing, I sticked some 20mm Classic Corn Boilies over all the rods, as we didn’t really wish to spook anything out there feeding.

Just love rainbows over water, when you can get the reflection in the water, it’s even better

Morning! It was a bleep-free night for me, I’ve not slept so well on the bank for weeks. Ian on the other hand managed an 18lber around 11pm last night.

Mat shot

He was kind enough not to wake me, I was also surprised that I didn’t wake up because I generally do, I must have been very tired.

As it is very possible our last morning on here, I put two fresh baits out at first light this morning, just as something different to try, as you never know here.

The sun is up and it’s looking gorgeous, with the autumn colours.

That was it no more fish for me, I left Ian still packing up, as I need to get home, hopefully, he may bag just one more before home time. He certainly did get another one a 14lber, that was a nice finish 4 carp each.

Until next time

Richard

With the end of the Airfield Lake season and our baiting campaign, we were well pleased to get back into the double gravel swim. We had a long discussion about our other options last week and spoke about it yesterday.

I was well happy when my WhatsApp pinned me that Ian was setting up in double gravel as the conditions were very similar to last week. I arrived just before noon and instantly set about spombing my bait out, just as Ian was doing the same. We both put out about 4 kilos of Classic Corn Boilies, at very similar ranges, quite well spread out, we were going to be fishing 20mm Classic Corn wafters.

As always the first night can be a bit tricky, but recently we have both been catching, fingers crossed this will be the same.

Morning

For the first time in some time, the first night passed by carp free for both of us. It’s quite normal for this to happen, as we like to put out a lot of bait on the first night and only top it up as we feel the need. Over the years, the carp have been put off by too much spombing, but in the last couple of sessions, it’s been less of a problem.

The weather change is due to come in today – from the southwest, the wind is picking up and the pressure is dropping, along with a few rain showers. We are perfectly positioned to reap the rewards, once the carp get on the munch again.

Fingers crossed as always, it will be today.

Sometime around 1040, the left-hand rod was away and I was into what felt like a nice carp. It was on the surface and heading out to sea! I just had to let it go, until it was the right time to start gaining ground. It nearly picked up Ian’s lines, but with some knitting going on, it was all free and heading off down toward my margins. This is where I played it out until it was ready for the net.

Nice Start

24lb 2oz

It’s a perfect start, with a daylight fish, which is always nice to get. I soon had the rod out again, hoping for my next bite, not to be too far away.

My right hand rod ripped off about 1515 and unfortunately was bumped off on a boulder, something that’s not happened for quite some time.

Ian’s left-hand rod was away twice in an hour at 2130 & 2210 resulting in

22lber

24lber

Not bad going I must say, with any luck the carp have finally moved in on the baited area this afternoon and evening.

I got in a few action shots with the help of the moon and Ian’s green light, all looking very atmospheric.

Just before 0030, my left-hand rod was away, a pretty straightforward fight was played out and the carp was soon in the net.

17lb 13oz

Very happy with that after losing one earlier to that hook pull. It’s always nice to get the next one in the net and without any issues. A fresh 20mm Classic Corn wafter was put on and after sharpening the hook point, as I like to do, I was soon back in the bag, the temperature was really starting to drop at night now.

My next take was around 0330 to my left-hand rod again, a similar fight to my last carp, I did nearly hook up my other line, but quickly got the rod underneath the other one. I love to have my rod tips high, just makes life so simple.

Pukka

13lber

I didn’t weigh the carp this time and estimated it about 13lb, sometimes it is about getting them back in the water quickly.

That rod was soon sorted and I was in the bag again, warming up nicely.

Morning

That was the last of the action during the night, which wasn’t bad going. I have another 24 hours to go, fingers crossed that a few more come our way. The wind (with any luck) will actually finally pick up and a band of rain is due this morning, this should bring on the carp.

Raining

The wind has definitely picked up and the rain arrived for a few hours. Let’s hope this stirs them into life before the afternoon sunshine. I’m looking forward to some sunshine as we have steak, chips, mushrooms, and onions for lunchtime and I don’t really want to eat or cook it in the bivvy.

My next take was about 1130 to my right-hand rod. This one was like playing a torpedo and very nearly picked up Ian’s right-hand rod, but I managed to avoid it and turned the carp away, back along the margins and into the net.

Stunning colours

17lb 6oz

Some of these carp have huge tails, which give them an extra amount of power. It makes them fantastic carp to play, despite the size!

As this was possibly our last session for the year on here, plus Ian only fishes day’s over the winter months. So, Ian had sorted out some nice steak, I had brought the Weber and mushrooms, onions, and chips, so we could have a cracking lunch.

It did look good and tasted just as fabulous as well. We were lucky with the weather as it was forecast to rain but held off until after lunch. However, it eventually arrived and rained on and off over the following hours. This was a real shame because sitting out on possibly the last night would have been just perfect. By 1600 hours, it was feeling pretty cold outside and I was forever hopeful we would get the chance to get a couple more carp this afternoon/leading into the early evening. With our recent success over the dark hours, it would round things off nicely.

Instead of spombing, I sticked some 20mm Classic Corn Boilies over all the rods, as we didn’t really wish to spook anything out there feeding.

Just love rainbows over water, when you can get the reflection in the water, it’s even better

Morning! It was a bleep-free night for me, I’ve not slept so well on the bank for weeks. Ian on the other hand managed an 18lber around 11pm last night.

Mat shot

He was kind enough not to wake me, I was also surprised that I didn’t wake up because I generally do, I must have been very tired.

As it is very possible our last morning on here, I put two fresh baits out at first light this morning, just as something different to try, as you never know here.

The sun is up and it’s looking gorgeous, with the autumn colours.

That was it no more fish for me, I left Ian still packing up, as I need to get home, hopefully, he may bag just one more before home time. He certainly did get another one a 14lber, that was a nice finish 4 carp each.

Until next time

Richard

20170506_191655

asso
deeper_black_preview
wp-15839497464748573160201168129655.jpg

UK Fishing Blogs
Fish Deeper Premium Gift Card (Lake depth maps)

Use my code Richard10

Get 10% off at the Deeper Sonar checkout

See the source image
wp-1664202011420
Get 30% off WW5KFTK @checkout
Posted in Carp fishing | Leave a comment

Talking Carp Magazine


This month’s Talking Carp Magazine is available online NOW.

Come and read my latest ramblings.

It’s full of great articles from some very well respected angler’s. and me.

Until next months issue, enjoy this one.

Richard

Posted in Carp fishing | Leave a comment

Basic Guide To Leads


As part of my beginner’s guide to carp fishing, I will stick to the simple answers regarding leads.

Casting leads or distances leads –

20180806_13595920180806_140047

These are the pointed ones, which look like bullets and used to be known as Zipp leads.  They are perfected for casting great distances due to the shape and also make less noise when entering the water.  Regarding lead size and the heavier the lead, the further you can cast – this is true to a point but you need to match up the correct lead to your rod and your ability to cast.  You may well find that you can cast further out with a light lead than with a heavier one.  You have to remember, if you’re fishing silt the lead will go in very well, however, because of the shape can easily be pulled out.

Flat leads –

20180806_140232

These are perfect for slopes, where you don’t want your bait to roll down e.g margin shelf, sides of island and gravel bars.  They are very effective as bolt rigs, they sit flat on the lake bed. They will make more noise going into the water.  Anglers like to use these in PVA bags but I prefer the Zipp style, as it makes the job much easier due to the shape.  You can easily push them into the bag.  These are best fished on gravel or perfect for clear water as their profile is very slimline.

Pear leads –

Very good for casting but not up to the standard of the distance leads, as it’s all about aerodynamics.  The shape of the lead has most of the weight at one end, this helps the carp prick itself a lot quicker than distance leads and these leads do plug themselves in the silty bottomed lakes.  These leads can be used in most carp fishing situations and is a very universal lead if you had to pick one.

There are plenty more choices however, I don’t wish to over complicate things.

Hope this helps

Richard

eda291b5-9267-4faf-92d9-a59235da3622

Posted in Carp fishing | Leave a comment

Trip 28 Carp Fishing – 2023


Listen On Spotify

I did the same as my last trip, by taking a drive around Meadow Lake on the way to the Airfield Lake and ended up pitching up there again. There were only 2-night angler’s on, plus 2 day anglers, which turned out to be someone doing the night after the other day angler went home. I was sure another syndicate member who generally fishes Wednesday to Friday would be about. The fact that the Gap Swim was free and it simply took my fancy. My thought process is slowly drifting towards staying on here now. I’ve got the possibility of a trip to West Stow Lake in October with Rob again this year. After last year’s disaster with the old Covid, it would be really nice to get back there this year.

I can see myself doing the odd social with Ian. We shall have to see where I end up.

I set the bivvy up first, then got my first load on the barrow over from the car park.

I thought it best to check the swim out for weed before I 100% committed myself to this swim. I know other people have been fishing here over the past few weeks so there shouldn’t be any real issues, I just don’t fancy making things hard for myself just yet. There are a couple of very weedy areas I’ve taken a fancy to and will start baiting them every so often.

Once I had leaded about, it was time to get spombing out my gloppy mixture of all sorts.

That looks appetizing to me. Hopefully, the carp will feel the same way about it. I put out as much as I could before my back and arm started to hurt. I need to be mindful that I don’t cause myself more damage, so I’m restricting myself to a max of 18 wraps, preferably less.

My right-hand rod is in its normal spot, to the right of the swim, well within the wrap restriction, and the left rod is on the limit. I’m OK if I want to fish single hook bait or use a tiny spomb with less bait out there and limit the number of casts. I feel a big bed of bait, sitting there for a few days is the better option.

The weather is looking perfect, the pressure slowly rising, until after I’ve gone home, it then leaps up a lot. There’s a wet day ahead tomorrow and the wind is switching from NW to SW and then to NE on Saturday morning. This along with the full blue super moon that people are getting obsessed with, but that is a completely different blog post to explain my thoughts.

With the rigs all done and the rods perfectly positioned, it’s time to relax, watch the water, and wait for my first run.

Hopefully, this evening or overnight, something will happen.

It was soon tea time, and I certainly needed some food. Unfortunately, the eating part was interrupted by a bream bite, but my food was still piping hot by the time I got back to it (which was handy). I’m currently waiting for dusk, so I can stick some 20mm Boilies out with my throwing stick. If I do it now, the seagulls will have the lot.

Beautiful skies this evening, along with a rainbow.

Going straight down, there must be some moisture in the air, there certainly will be tomorrow.

The night passed without a single bleep, the rain arrived right on time and continued until around 1300 hours when there was a break. That was possibly the end of it, but there’s a slim chance of a bit more.

This was my view for most of the morning, but now there’s a brightness in the sky, plus I’ve spotted a couple of carp showing to my right. Unfortunately, out of my water, but not too far off. I’m hoping this is a good sign. The wind is now pretty much doing a 360 over the next 24 hours, this may also bring them out a bit more. I was hoping for more of a blow on the water, like yesterday, currently, that’s faded away.

The score at the moment is Bream 3 Carp 0, at least they like my spot. You can never tell if the carp are present and it’s just bad luck if you hook a bream.

I thought the weather was going to stay good, but we have had another hour’s worth of rain.

I’ve left the right-hand rod out, it’s had no action on it but I am always hopeful it may well trip up one of the older bigger residents.

Just before 1 a.m., the right-hand rod gave a couple of bleeps. I was out like a shot, as this is the margin rod, there was access to a couple of large weed beds. The bobbin was pulled up tight to the rod and the tip was pulled around a bit. I grabbed the rod and pulled straight into a solid lump of weed plus the carp I hopped for and not a tench or bream. “Great,” I thought. I had to keep the pressure on hopping the fish might kick itself free. No such luck. I got this giant lump moving slowly toward me and under the rod tip after about 10 minutes. I had a couple of kicks on the way in and felt there was a good chance that it could be a carp. I quickly got my waders on and got in the water, holding the line by the leader and not the braid. That could lead to a disaster. I had my Nsr50 net next to me and slowly started to remove chunks of weed from the lump. Being mindful I could find a fish any second and would need to let go of the line – just in case it bolted off. My rod was on the rest with a very loose clutch. I don’t think there’s a perfect way to do this process, you simply take it slowly and hope eventually after a good part of the weed bed was removed, a carp was spotted. At this point I let the line go, but the fish stayed there, I removed more weed, sunk the net, and pulled the leader line up through the weed until I felt the weed. I slipped the net underneath the carp and what was left of the weed bed. The carp sunk to the bottom of the Nsr50 and I continued to remove the weed until I was just left with a few bits. I then got sorting the weighing and camara kit out.

An absolute beast of a common, pulling the scales around to 30lb 10oz, Wow.

In my haste to get it back I only photographed one side, I was worried about the stress put on the fish and I was trying to get it back quickly.

The rod was back in the water and I sorted out a pile of weed. I wasn’t sure if I really wanted to put the bait back in that spot again. Realistically, I had no option at that time of the night and with any luck, there’s a lot less weed now!

I woke to yet again more rain. I was expecting sunshine. The weather forecast had completely changed for today. This is a bonus, cloudy most of the day, possibly more rain and then sunshine later in the day. Still, definitely sunshine on pack-up day, which is always a help these days.

At 1500 hours, it was time to get the last of my bait put there. I’d been lucky enough to get the last of the 20mm Classic Corn Boilies out there with no seagull issues. Probably due to the Osprey flying around the lake on its annual migration home. I made the decision not to move my rods as I was very happy with their position, despite the bream and now tench action I had received in the past 24 hours.

The spombing was all sorted and a quick tidy-up of the bivvy in preparation for an early departure tomorrow morning. I was all set for the night, relaxing watching the water, and a couple of glasses of wine to celebrate.

Traps set and a beautiful sunset this evening over the lake. With any luck, I may catch myself another lump this evening or over the dark hours.

It’s all a bit misty this morning, and my rods have not burst into action for nearly 24 hours, looks like the bream have moved out, and the carp didn’t bother moving in, which I was hoping for.

Think it’s a different swim on my next trip. Even if this one is available and others aren’t free, I need to be mindful of the fact that the hot swim will switch off and the carp will inevitably move. As they have done in the past. Hopefully, they will move in this direction and there will be a need to bait there to hold them. It’s a bit of a quandary – I need to put the bait out, but the swim isn’t productive currently and I don’t really like prebaiting when there are a lot of people fishing the lake, as there is currently. I feel it’s a bit unfair to bait a swim and not fish it, when you know full well someone will go in there and bait up over your bait and then no doubt blank. It’s not the same as following someone else into a swim, as you would be aware of how much bait has gone in or their ‘presents’. What I’m trying to say, is there’s enough bait going out with the current volume of anglers. Then add into the mix, me baiting in swims I’m not fishing with a lot of bait, this is something I’m not comfortable with. However, once the winter creeps ever closer those anglers hang their rods up or switch to day fishing. Less bait is going in, and then I feel I’m okay to do it.

With all that in mind, I may just have to sacrifice the odd trip to keep the bait flowing, if I feel the swim is being ignored by other anglers.

It’s time for me to get going and head home. Good luck if you’re on the bank, and I hope you catch the fish of your dreams.

Until next time

Richard

20170506_191655
asso
deeper_black_preview
wp-15839497464748573160201168129655.jpg

 

500x500-3-3
See the source image

 

Posted in Carp fishing | Leave a comment

Not Just Bait


Did you know we provide more than just top quality bait?

We also have a full range of top quality Spotted Fin terminal tackle. From hooks for all occasions, PVA products, coated hooklink material, hook alligners, swivels, tungsten tubing and putty, you name it!

Jump online and take a look for yourselves.

https://spottedfin.com/product-category/terminal-tackle/

#LeadDontFollow #JoinTheRevolution

Posted in Carp fishing | Leave a comment