UK Carp & Coarse Fishing

I wasn’t working today and next week I can’t get down the lake until Friday morning. So I was up and down the lake by first light and looking about. However, the wind is picking up to gusts of around 50mph, so I was mindful of the wind direction. To complicate matters, the wind was swinging around a lot over the next 48hrs. The water levels are still very low, so the swim option was still quite limited.

When I arrived (just after 7), I was the only one there, Ian was due down at 0930. We’d chatted yesterday about our options and I pitched up in our first choice of swim. This was based on the weather forecast, previous year’s captures, and recent information from other anglers.

The water levels are a real pain at the moment, along with the high winds. It rules out some of the very exposed swims, plus the real gravely one, as you can’t get your pegs in very well.

It was the only choice unless we split up completely and fish different lakes altogether and some distance apart. With Ian’s nights coming to an end at the end of October, it’s nice to pitch up and be social before the winter sets in. He just can’t do the long hours of darkness stuck in a bivvy in the cold, damp and possibly wet.

This swim also gave Ian a couple of options. All I’ve done is flicked a couple of bags out and will wait for his arrival before I set about getting the bait out.

At one point yesterday afternoon, I thought we were in for a big storm, but it passed us by and the early evening was fabulous.

The last light is fading through the trees, it’s amazing how warm the sunshine still is.

My first night was bleep free, which after the last two trips was a shock – 3 fish on the first night. The lake had returned to its normal form, which with the cold night and clear skies wasn’t a shock.

It was a very misty grey start, hopefully, the sun will burn off the mist and give us some sunshine before the storm arrives this afternoon. Heavy rain and strong winds peaking at 40mph, it should pass over by 10pm tonight. This should hopefully bring the fish on and we will have a few carp tonight.

My first take was just before 4pm in the middle of a downpour and luckily the fish was well-behaved and soon in the net.

Perfect start, plus a daylight fish, which is a real bonus lately for me. The rain had eased a bit, so I was able to get a new PVA bag back out without any fuss.

My second take was about an hour later, but clearly, from the off, a lot smaller carp were about.

You can never choose what you catch and should be grateful and thankful for another bite, I was over the moon. Unfortunately, it was raining heavily, so much for me using a PVA bag. I did try, but failed and just stuck with a single hook bait, which unbelievably rattled off again about quarter to six! This one was on a mission to go left and for lovely overhanging trees, I just managed to stop it and played the carp out under the rod tip.

I checked it twice, despite the lashing rain and yep it was 20lb on the noise.

I quickly flicked the rod back out, I hadn’t dried off from the first fish and was getting wetter, but just didn’t care. I was completely in the moment, at least I had finished my tea, which I was eating when the second carp came along.

The next take was well into darkness, around 1930, and was in the right-hand rod which had been sitting there since 8am Thursday morning. This fish headed off right, but with some gentle persuasion was soon in the net.

Forgot to take the head touch-off, but you can see the rain lashing down still. It’s due to finish around 2100 hrs and the winds will slowly die away and swing around to more westerly, giving me a lot more shelter, I hope. 

The next bite was back on the left-hand rod again, once I had pulled into the fish and gained some ground, it immediately ran towards me and was going for the left-hand margins. I held firm and it headed my way and was soon in the net.

It was about 12lb and I was glad the rain had more or less passed over now. With another single hook bait on, the rod was back out there once again.

My next take was about 2115 and on the right-hand rod. This carp kited left, and then as I was gaining ground, it absolutely ripped off back out into the darkness. I finally coaxed it towards the net and on my first attempt, it was straight in there. I don’t like to rush netting carp, as it can so easily go wrong, there’s no point in rushing the process.

Perfect and I can’t quite believe my luck at the moment. These fish have obviously switched on due to the weather and are really munching on my bait. I’m definitely going to be topping up the swim tomorrow morning.

My next take was just before 2330 and on that left rod again. This fish held its ground but slowly started coming towards me, with ever-increasing ease. I was wondering how big it was, in my mind, it was getting smaller by the minute. It headed towards the margins trees and was easily coaxed away, it didn’t take much to get it in the net, once I looked in the net, wow! I lifted it out of the water and onto the mat.

Absolutely fabulous and I’m over the moon with this result. The wind had died away, the lake was flat and calm and I couldn’t believe my luck.

The next two takes happened within minutes of each other and the first goes to show how you really can’t pick the size.

The second fish is a lot bigger and not your normal shape of carp for this lake.

Pretty and definitely had to weigh this one, mind you, I generally weigh most fish and definitely take a photo or a screenshot from the video footage. I did with a lot of these today, due to all of the rain and wind. Both rods are back out, and it was time to get back in my pit once more, I was finally drying out.

It wasn’t until 0305 when the right rod was away with another lovely Airfield Common, giving me a good run around the swim.

I’m not sure if I’m going to get any sleep tonight, but do I care? Not at all, it’s turning into another great session.

What an amazing night that was and with only 24 hours to go, who knows what was going to happen. I topped up the swim at about 0930 and did a fresh Pva bag, as I’d had to abandon that, with the heavy rain last night.

We head into the last night, wishing for more fish, but being humble about what we have achieved and really hoping that Ian managed to avoid a blank tonight. This was no way out of the question and has been done by us both on many an occasion, we will just have to see how it pans out.

Just before 6 pm, I heard a splash and looked out along Ian’s margins and he was into a carp. I quickly headed over to his swim.

Once on the net, I sorted out the camera kit and scales.

He was very happy, with his blank saver, it keeps the continuity of not blanking, and his confidence levels up, it makes all the difference.

The weather had turned again after a lovely sunny afternoon, it looks like it’s going to be a wet pack-up. This wasn’t on the forecast at all until early evening. There’s not a lot we can do and it’s certainly been a long time since I’ve packed up in the rain, I promised the wife and kids I would be home early as well.

Fingers crossed for a bite or two tonight.

My next take was just before 1 am on the right-hand rod and I was really feeling I had this carp under control until it found a boulder to my right. I walked down to where I had been netting the carp that go that way and put the rod on the floor. I loosened the clutch and within a couple of minutes, it was away. I picked the rod up and pulled back into the fish, which was now going hard right and after the overhanging trees between me and Ian. I was mindful of Ian’s lines and listened out for any bleeps, which was ok. The carp was clearly now very close in and my line was over one of the branches, I could see the end of the branch pulling underwater. I maintained the pressure and put the rod tip under the water, hoping the branch would sink down with the weight and pressure holding on the carp and it would flick off the end. Unfortunately, it was a lot further along than I thought and it was looking like it would be time for a wade. I ended along the margins, holding the rod tip out as far as possible, but the carp shed the hook.

I was now attached to the tree and needed to get the rig back. I managed to get the lead to slide down the line, I grabbed that, but it was clearly obvious it was quite deep under there and it would be necessary to pull for a break. The weakest point was the hook link material and which is where it parted company with the tree.

With a new hook link sorted and cast back out. It was time to reflect and see where or how I could have handled that situation better and got the carp to the net. It did feel quite a lump.

Sinking the rod tip early would have been an option, but would I have managed it before it clipped the branches? I was not really sure about it. I think due to the boulder and the angle of the line, even if I had walked back towards my rods and along the bank sinking the tip, it was probably a done deal in the carp’s favour.

You can only take this information on board and when my next fish tries that move on me, I will be a little more prepared.

I had a single bleep at 0630, which was actually perfect timing for me to pack up and avoid the rain. I’d promised my family I would be home early today, I was a bit damp, but most things were pretty dry.

Ian ended up with 3 takes, unfortunately losing one to a hook pull, but landed a 24 lber early this morning and was staying on until this afternoon to pack away in the sunshine, lucky man.

Until next time.

Richard

 

 

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After the success of my last trip, I was hoping to get back to that area. As the lake had been pretty quiet over the last few months, I was feeling very hopeful, until I had a phone call from Ian saying there were two people set up along the area we were heading for. At this point, I’d finished my gardening job and was just pulling up to the gate.

I met Ian in the car park and went for a walkabout. There was no point in looking on our normal island swims as the water levels were too low unless we fancied splitting up around the complex. I spend a lot of the winter by myself, it’s quite nice to be sociable these days.

We wandered down to the Bottom Lake car park and much to our surprise it was empty. We continued on and had a look around some swims and decided on one of the points and the first lawn swim. I’d not fished this part of the venue since before the first lockdown in 2020, late March I think, when I had a lovely 26lber

We call it the Bottom Lake or South Lake, but it’s all joined together with wide channels between each part, totaling about 64 acres.

I was set up on the Lawn Swim and Ian was in the First Point Swim, there’s in fact another point that no one actually fishes.

As I had not fished this lake for some years, I headed over to my Fish Deeper Page and refreshed my memory of the features that were out in front of this swim and the number of wraps needs to be cast. I always like to add on a couple in these situations as it helps to get a feel for the swim again. There was no point in getting the Deeper out of my bag as the wind was pushing hard on this bank.

This part of the complex is pretty big, unfortunately, the far bank is out of bounds, hence no Deeper readings.

This is my swim and I’m going to focus on the far bar. It is 7ft deep and 23 wraps out, this gives Ian a bit more water, as he is tucked up under the trees on the point.

7ft on the top of the bar and 10ft over the back, give or take a couple of feet, due to the drop in water levels this year.

I’ve baited this spot quite heavily with about 4 kilos of 15mm Catalyst and Classic Corn Boilies and I will be fishing a 20mm Wafter of each flavor over the top. There’s been plenty of carp showing at long range ever since we arrived today.

With a few light showers tonight, the wind swinging around to the north, and the pressure only slightly rising, I am feeling confident about this trip, it’s cloudy and overcast until Sunday morning.

Ian sat in my swim this afternoon, after getting everything sorted, with the exception of casting his rods out. He headed back around 6pm just as the sun was going behind the trees.

The rain arrived sometime in the night, not really sure when and once it had eased off around 5 am the carp came on the feed.

My first take was on my right-hand rod and it absolutely belted off into the distance. I had to walk back up my slippery slope to gain some height, as I could feel the carp knocking around on the boulders. Once it was over the bar, it just ran towards me, I struggled to keep up with it and was wondering where it was heading next. It’s been so long since I’ve fished down here, my lack of knowledge regarding the snags hiding under the water is showing.

Once in the margins, it just hugged the bottom. After a few minutes, it was slowing down and eventually in the net.

10 or 11lber, I wasn’t weighting it as there was still a lot of light drizzle about in the air. I quickly slipped it back, got the rod out, sat on my bed to tidy up my stuff and the other rod was away! I followed the same process of walking up the bank after picking up the rod and found it less problematic than the last fish. This also ran towards me after it was over the bar, there must be something out there that they are heading for and I look forward to finding it at some point.

This fish felt just like the previous one – up until the point it found the deep margins and took off, it suddenly felt heavy. It was hugging the bottom with a lot more power and weight than the last one. Once it was ready for the net. It was very kind and slipped in the first time.

I got the fish back in the water and walked back up to my bivvy to sort the rod out, but before I even got through the door, the other rod that I had just put out was away again. I couldn’t quite believe what was happening, nights like these on here are a thing of the past, or so I thought.

It was a complete repeat of the last capture, I’m starting to think they’re looking for the deeper water in front of me.

Wow, what an hour that’s been, at one point, I had no rods in the water! By now it was 0645 and I was well in need of a cup of coffee, this was the point I realized that I’d forgotten the milk, oh well black coffee for me then.

The rain faded away and the odd break in the clouds started to appear. The temperature started to change as the wind moved to the north. We are pretty sheltered here.

The day was spent chatting, topping up the swim, going for a walkabout and then back for some wine and food. After that, I did my evening video and headed over to Ian’s swim for a look at the sunset.

I walked into his swim chatting about the sunset and taking photographs as I went.

I didn’t notice that he had a rod on the floor and the net in the water. I captured part of this on a video dairy, which is definitely worth a look at! Head over to my channel on YouTube.

A happy Ian. We were still laughing about the footage that I recorded and for about 10 minutes thought I had accidentally deleted or pressed stop on the camera.

Isn’t nature absolutely amazing?

After a good laugh and plenty of jokes about the last 25 minutes, I headed back to swim to settle down for the night.

I had to wait until 0330 for my next take, sometimes I wish you could choose the fish you catch, but alas unless you floater fishing, this isn’t the case.

It’s still a carp and it counts in the numbers game, and at least I’ve not blanked tonight, I’m happy really. 

I tried to take some photographs of the stars, but the camera wasn’t playing ball and it was pretty nippy outside, plus very damp, time to tuck myself back in that bag.

This time it was the left-hand rod that rattled off, just after 0530. These carp certainly know where the boulders are situated in this lake as I could feel every knock and tap.

As beforeit charged towards me hoping to get under the overhanging branches of the trees either side of me, as far as I can make out.

That’s better, a bit of an ugly fish, may have a little bit of Koi carp in its genes.

I’m going to try and get my head down again.

I managed to get to about 9am before the heat of the sunshine warmed the bivvy up too much.

It was most definitely coffee time. It would be nice to catch something in daylight hours, but I don’t think it’s going to happen this trip.

The day passed with no action and it was soon tea time, I had Chill Carne from Parsley Box. These are perfect for long session anglers who don’t wish to carry a large cool box, as they are Shellife and can simply go on your bag, etc.

With the sun slowly going down, it was lovely sitting just watching the water and the tranquility of my surroundings.

I was on my bed watching Netflix and the right rod screamed into life (in daylight hours I might add). It was interesting to see where the carp went and how its behavior was in the fight. This was so I could learn what they’d been up to over the past 3 nights, as your never 100% sure in the darkness and this place is pitch blank.

I was extremely happy with my daylight capture, it makes things so much easier. The rod was perfectly positioned in the dusky light and time to work out where I was in the episode I was watching.

To my amazement, I don’t think that rod was out more than ten minutes and it was away again, It was quickly dispatched into the net.

Ian came over and was in my swim for less than 2 minutes and his sounder box screamed into life. I quickly did my photos and headed next door. He was still playing with the fish and it was fighting a lot harder than the last two I had. The rod was hooped over and he was pumping away but not gaining that much ground, but after about 10 minutes I slid the net under the fish for him

That will do nicely sir.

He was well chuffed with that and hopefully, there are a few more heading our way that size, fingers crossed.

Just after 2130, Ian was on the phone, asking if I could pop off to take some more photos!

This trip is turning into a fantastic one, unless the cold snap tonight puts them off, we should well be into a few more between us.

My next take was just after midnight and was on the left rod. I’m starting to wonder if there’s an issue with the right-hand rod, but not wishing to disturb the swim too much as I’m catching quite regularly, I’m opting to wait and see. The fight was similar to all the others and another lovely Airfield common slipped over the cord.

That’s perfect. It looks like this is the general stamp of the fish down here at the moment. With the rod on the spot, I’d better get my head down, as you never know.

What an absolutely gorgeous morning, this is certainly what fishing is all about.

I’m in no rush today, the family is away and not due back until later this afternoon. So, before the wind picked up, I’ve rebaited, put 5oz leads on and blasted the rod out even further. Due to not catching during the day, over the last few day’s. It would be completely pointless to not change something about in the hope of picking something up. My other option is to put a bag on and flick it off the front of the point to my left. I’ve not seen anything there over the past day, but once the wind is blowing, I’m not going to be able to get a single hook bait back out that far again. We shall see where we go and what happens.

Bit of a tricky slope to deal with on these damp mornings.

It’s coming to the end of my trip and rebaiting the rods hasn’t paid off. I didn’t see any signs of carp, like we did the previous morning. I think the change in pressure and the drop in the dry temperature last night had put them off for a bit. All the stuff is on the barrow and ready for the off.

Until next time

Richard

 

 

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Below are some more fishing ramblings and an insight into my passion.

We’ve all been there, and have had to adjust our fishing style to combat the issues that come with being a weekend angler or 1 night a week person.

I would class the everyday angler as someone who has a nine to five job, a family and can only spend one night a week out on the bank (if they’re lucky) and has a tight budget for fishing. They have a broad overview of all the everyday components that go together to enjoy your fishing.

I’ve been there and come out on the other side, and that’s what I would like to cover in this article.

It’s all fine when you’re in your twenties, it can be a bit tricky at times with girlfriends, work and money. It’s getting into that rhythm of life/work balance and doing a couple of nights (or more) each week on the bank in the mix.

When I first started working, it was for a shipping company; it was shift work, including weekends which was problematic, but I managed to get out most weekends and a few weekly sessions. As time moved on I was getting quite addicted to work and the shipping way of life, I moved up in the industry over the years and it certainly was hard work keeping the fishing/work balance at times and I really needed that drive to get me on the bank for a couple of nights a week for a quick overnighter. It meant arriving down the lake at 6 or 7 pm, packing up at a similar time, and going straight back to work. I’ve spent many years doing this and have had great success. It can be hard work over the winter months and you can find yourself being very selfish over the years in the name of carp fishing.

I remember one of my bosses saying after he realized that I fished nights during the week. He asked “whether that would affect my work”,

my reply was, “has it done yet?”

He said, “no and why”

“Simply because I’ve been doing it for the past 10 years since I started working here!”

“Oh” was his reply.

My plan was to retire at 45 years old, the same age my dad did, it was clearly the best thing he ever did, and in all honesty, it was a very unrealistic goal.

But, one piece of advance is getting into a routine of going, and this in turn will be the normal routine of life over the years. The family will become part of the relationship you have with fishing and the way of life that goes with this. Obsession can be another word associated with fishing, I’m feeling that I’m just driven to go every week, regardless.

You have to deal with other anglers, which can be problematic at times in my experience. I’ve written about this subject a lot, as this can cause you a lot of pain, and nearly stopped me fishing some years back.

Weather can play a part as well (you can only go when you can); I’d fish certain days of the week regardless of the weather, the same goes with moon phases and holidays. Over the years, I’ve blanked many times due to this. 

I am very lucky these days as I’m semi-retired after spending 34 years in the shipping industry, working 12 hours a day, on-call 24/7 & 365 days a year. I feel I probably worked enough hours in those 34 years to semi-retire. I also came to realize that I can’t fish 7 days a week and much prefer to do 2 or 3 nights these days, with the odd day fishing thrown into the mix.

I came to the conclusion that working part-time gardening was the perfect combination. I prefer fishing in the winter, there are fewer anglers on the bank. I can fish more over the winter, work more in the summer months and fish a little bit less. I don’t particularly like temperatures being over 25 degrees.

I realized at some point, that you need to go back to the side of fishing that first got you out onto the bank and focus on that aspect, rather than the obsessive side of fishing. Today, fishing is definitely my lifestyle and a way of life for me. My wife and family understand to some degree, I actually need to be outside more than inside.

My point is that you have to accept your fishing circumstances as they are and make the most of your fishing, without thing of others or comparing catch results otherwise you will get completely wrapped up in other people’s results and not focus on yourself. Enjoy the moment and get what you need from it, maybe a social with a friend, unwind after a hard we at work, or even focus on catching this time.

Until my next ramblings

Richard

 

 

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I’m out for a single night social with Ian, I have a few family things on this weekend. All I’ve done is pitch up in the nearest swim that I feel will give me a chance at a fish.

Which happens to be a swim well-known to me, as you may have noticed.

I’ve spombed out a small amount of bait and put on a couple of bottom bait, in conjunction with solid PVA bags filled with Catalyst pellets soaked in hemp oil and that’s it, folks.

It’s going to be a simple one this trip as we need to discuss our winter plans.

Just testing out my senor light, which I’ve been using for a couple of months – I will sort out a review and link asap.

Just before 2345, the left-hand rod was screaming out, I was in a deep sleep and was shocked into life. I grabbed the rod and walked backward slowly, with a very unhappy head-shaking carp at the other end of it! At times it was running towards me, not too dissimilar to the carp I lost last week, it even headed left off down towards the same trees. They generally do that anyway in this swim. It was very soon in the margins and I was playing it out under the rod tip. It finally rolled on the surface, which is when I discovered it was a lot bigger than it was behavior was telling me!

I was very pleased with this carp and also on the first night, which can be problematic on this lake. It’s as if the carp need to settle into you being on the bank sometimes.

With another bag done, the rod was back on the pod and I was soon in the sleeping bag again. The nights are cooling down a lot.

Just as I was about to get back in the sack the same rod was away again! The fight was much the same as before up until the margins and it just wouldn’t give up. It ran back out into the open water at least 3 times and me praying that it wouldn’t find something to bump the hook off on. It finally calmed down and I was able to get it.

Look at the tail! It’s a fighting machine and not willing to give up easily.

With another bag done, I was stunned by my results and extremely happy. 

The right-hand rod was finally away just after 0730, the sun was on the lake and flat calm. You could see the line pulling through the water towards the carp, as it kited right as hard as it could to gain ground, it was heading towards shallow waters and those nasty boulders. It found one and was locked solid. My first approach is to put the rod back on the pod and let a load of line out and hopefully, at some point, the fish would start moving again, which is what it did after about 5 minutes. I was starting to think that I may have to wade down the margins along to the other swim and try and pull from another angle, so glad I didn’t need to do that.

The carp was not kiting to the left and towards the overhanging trees to my left, luckily, it had gone under my left rod and I could get down lower and pump the fish gently along the margins towards me. This is one of the reasons I have my rod tips high up,

Once the carp was under the rod tip, it was still not giving up the fight and made a few attempts out into open water. It eventually gave up and slipped over the cord.

It had been a bit fresh in the night, I was quite chilly a couple of times, which surprised me, but my sleeping bag is broken, I have a new one on order and I can’t wait for it to arrive now.

The sun is creeping my way and I no doubt will be saying it’s too hot later.

It’s been a fantastic night, I’ve not had a result like that for some time. I must be doing something right and there’s a chance of another one before I go home at lunchtime. The conditions are completely on my side, however, the beauty of fishing is you just never know.

I tidied up and started to pack away at 10am, I was all sorted by 11am, and there were no more fish to be had for me.  I’m hoping that Ian lands a couple over the next few nights that he’s here for.

Hometime,

Until next time 

Richard

 

 

 

 

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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

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