UK Carp & Coarse Fishing

I’m so lucky to have such an understanding wife and family. The change in weather conditions happened earlier than expected, I was very keen to get down the lake. We’d already agreed I could do Sunday night, but I was keen to do Saturday night as well, the conditions had changed dramatically since yesterday, 29 degrees no wind to 24 degrees and strong North East wind, rain and going down to 18 degrees tomorrow, with a pressure 1014mbs, I must be in with a chance of a few bites.

My swim choice was going to be based on being able to fish into the wind, which did limit my choice, however, with Meadow Lake and the river opening on the 16th of June (two days ago), I was very confident that the lake would be quiet. Sure enough, it was, two cars in the main car park and I was positive the two of them would be doubled up in the gravel swim. Sure enough, they were. I carried on walking to the end of the Tower point, which was free, and more or less instantly spotted a carp and then another one. “perfect, that will do me” I thought.

I wasn’t planning on fishing too close to the tree line, I’m getting slower at getting to the rod and these carp are pretty quick here getting to the snags (being such a shallow lake).

My rods have been positioned off the front of the island and some way off the left-hand margins, both in lovely silty spots and a few spombs around each area.

My first take happened just after 5 pm. I was surprised how fast this carp kited to the left along the tree line and nearly into the small bay behind the island.

It also did its best to get up the channel into the middle lake.

I finally got the fish in the net after a couple of attempts and you wouldn’t believe such a small carp could give you the runaround.

It’s a start and better than a blank. You can’t choose what you catch and it’s something we have to live with on here until they grow bigger one day.

The night was wet and windy, the thunderstorms kept away and were all out to sea, some 10 miles away as the crow flies. My bivvy was rattling around a lot, and not a great deal of sleep was had. My left-hand rod gave a couple of bleeps at one point. The right-hand rod ripped off at 5 am and quickly got into the snags of the island, which was a surprise as I’m quite a way off them. After a bit of persuasion and leaving the rod on the pod for a bit, the fish actually came out and promptly after that, I had a hook pull.

I recast that rod ever further off the island and hopefully no more snag issues, but will it produce me another bite – let’s hope so. I rebaited the other rod about 9 am and we shall see how the morning progresses, I may well have to find another spot for the right-hand rod later on before nightfall.

I made the decision to move the right-hand rod closer to where my other left hand was placed and top up the swim with the last of my bait.

Does anyone feed the wildlife to keep them out of your bivvy or is it just me?.

There was another thunderstorm tonight that got a bit closer, we only got heavy rain and wind again, just doesn’t seem to be stirring the carp up. I may just have to try the back of the wind next time, as that sometimes is the key.

I even got a sunset tonight. Unfortunately, it was a completely bleep-free night, I had to be home by 0930, I was up early and all packed up and on the road by 9am

Until next time

Richard

 

 

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This is what fishing about.

Richard

With a few hours to spare, I was off down the School Lake, only to find it was closed due to spawning. I’d been waiting for this to happen at some point. I had a couple of options that were close by, but with only smaller carp, and only 3 hours’ worth of fishing time – I was soon out of the car park. I had passed one lake on the way here with two cars in it, but it was worth checking the other lake, which was a bigger lake. The downside of this was that they only had small carp in it – up to 15lbers (if I was incredibly lucky).

On the third lake, I looked at the first swim and it was perfect. So, I headed for the dam wall end of the lake, hoping not to find the only other angler whose car was in the car park, he was halfway along the far bank and far way away from me.

I only had 20mm boilies with me, I was going to crush and put them in the margins. I set up in the middle of the dam wall first and intended to move along it to the most productive side. I simply dropped a bait in each corner, a few broken boilies and even before I had the chance to set up my chair, the right-hand rod was away.

Stunning Mirror, but a bit small, maybe I need to sort out my feeder kit if I intend to get out again on Thursday (the wife is away this week). I lost a couple over the next hours, probably due to the large hook size I was stuck with, the other option would’ve been to stay at home, but that clearly wasn’t going to happen. I may well come back down over the winter months better prepared.

These barbless hooks are doing my head in. I suppose I’m just not used to playing fish like that, one drop in pressure on the line and they are gone – practice makes perfect.

I finally managed to get another one and was pleased with 5 takes, two landed in just a couple of hours.

Sometimes anglers forget that it’s all a bit of pleasure sometimes and the enjoyment of sitting on the bank and just catching carp.

Until next time

Richard

Use my code for 10% discount

The discount code applies to the entire order when purchasing the Deeper Sonars PRO, PRO+, PRO+ 2, CHIRP, CHIRP+, CHIRP 2, CHIRP+ 2. The code is valid in all countries.

CODE = DEEPER-H-9OCSF