UK Carp & Coarse Fishing

Looking Back Over 2015 Part 2 of 10

Posted on February 13, 2022 by richardhandel

Looking Back Over 2015 Part 2 of 10

With the success of the previse session of looking back over the year’s, I’ve decided to go back even more. This series off podcast will feature 2015 grouping multiple trips in one long podcast, from pike to carp fishing and easy lakes, to the big water I love to fish so much.

Trip No 11 Carp Fishing (2015)

This will be my last on this lake as it closes for the traditional Close Season.

I will be back on the big lake next week. They have been doing a lot of work on over the Winter months. I can’t wait to have a look.

I have picked a swim away from the prevailing wind, as there is still a bit of a chill in the air. A very friendly syndicate member has helped me out with a few spots in the swim.

After a good lead around, I picked a couple of likely ones and flicked a couple of pop ups out with 2 bait stringers on and after dark, baited up with the throwing stick. I did not wish to use the spomb, as it would make too much disturbance near the sanctury area.

My first fish turned out to be a bream and after quick recast I was back in the sack. At around 0245, I had a slow take on the same rod and this was most definately a carp and after good battle, I had a nice 18lb 2oz common in the net.

0630 The alarm was off again, unfortunatley, this was my phone and the call to work again.

Till next time

Richard

Trip No12 Carp Fishing (2015)

My first trip out on the big pit, as it only opened last Sunday (clever plan to open up on mother’s day lol).

The weather is not quite what I expected after 14 degrees and sunshine the last 3 day’s. Admittedly, there was a frost one night, however we are getting cold North East winds.

Anyway, I have picked the most shelterd area, this would have also warmed up nicely over the last couple of day’s.

With the kettle on I sat back to forget about all about work things I need to sort before I am off.

I have a few liners in the night, but that was that and off to work we go.

Till next time

Richard

Trip No 13 Carp Fishing (2015)

What a difference a day or two make. Since my last trip out, the N/E wind has been blowing and the temperature has been down during the day and night. This afternoon, the sun is shining and warming up the lake nicely and I have seen a couple of fish crash out on the back of the island.

Bit out of my range, however, a good sign that there are starting to move.

I had a good look round all the lakes and a chat to a couple of people. The only fish which have come out this weekend, have been on the bottom section. Unfortunately, there were still 4 anglers on the lake fishing and I don’t fancy the swims which were free. Also, other parts of the complex were completely free of anglers.

I finally settled for a swim, a small bay which was in full sun light all day and had been sheltered from the N/E wind. It had a good depth of water, well for here anyway, 5ft.

Both rod’s had small bags with pop up rigs. Cast 10ft off the islands to my right and left and the bottom of the margin shelve, with 6 pouches off boilles over the top.

With the sun going down it was getting very cold. I tucked myself up the the bag and watched the lake until I fell asleep.

I was woken up by a couple of beeps which turned out to be a coot. Joy.

Time for work

Till next time

Richard

Trip No 14 Carp Fishing (2015)

I am out for my Thursday night session and as work is winding down, I was able to leave work at 1400, which was fantastic news. I was driving around the lake, looking for suitable swims by 1430. This gave me a great opportunity for a proper good look about. Unfortunately, there were a few day anglers on the lakes. I already had got a bit of a plan in my head, I was going to use the strong wind to help get the lead out towards the island. After a conversation with a friend on the phone Sunday night, he reminded me of this tactic.

And after some practice and changing over to my 13ft marker rod, I made it. Think I may need a pair of 13ft rod’s now, ssh don’t tell the wife. (She is my editor anyway, so may find out!)

And with a bit more effort, I also managed to get the spomb out as well with a little bit of bait out. I was feeling happy with myself, even with arm ache! I also may need some casting lessons from Mr Rob Nunn, he is pretty awesome when is comes to getting baits past 200 yard’s.

At around 1630 a couple of fish rolled and one of them was a very nice mirror. Now this give me even more confidance, with the sun setting, the temperature was doing its normal thing of dropping fast.

At around 2230, I had a slow take on the right hand rod’s. As I pulled into the fish, I could tell it was a big lump as it plodded along. After about 1 minute the fish become firmly stuck behind a bar, there are still some large lumps of stone lying around the lake bed, I think the fish had found these. The only option was to loosen off the cluch and put the rod down, after what felt like a life time, the line was off again. I pulled into the fish again and could feel the fish, the line was still lodged round a boulder. I could feel the fish shaking it’s head, the line went slack, the rod tips pulled back and the fish had shed the hook. Oh drat and bother I said to myself (or words to that effect!)

And that was, for the rest of the night.

Till next time, better luck.

Richard

Trip No 15 Carp Fishing (2015)

Wow, the weather is just perfect this Sunday – a big storm is pushing though from the West, it has strong winds with it, hopefully it will stur up the Carp. There has also been a lot of rain, I am hoping that’s not going to put them off too much. The temperature is also up and it all feels a lot more like carp fishing weather.

I have picked a swim on the side of the wind, so that there is a nice blow on the water in front of me. I am also in casting distance of the east bank, this is taking the full force of the Westerly.

I am only using single hook baits and small bags until this evening as the clocks changed today I have an extra hour of day light before I need to settle in for the night.

I woke in the morning and couldn’t believe I blanked with these weather conditions. It may have been too cold in that wind for them, perhaps I should have been at the back of the wind?

With the barrow loaded, it was time for work again.

Till next time

Richard

Trip No 16 Carp Fishing (2015)

I am out for three nights this week (which is very nice indeed). I am fishing on the back of the wind, even with the warm weather we have been having. I still feel there is still a bit of a chill in the wind.

The swim I am in gives me access to the right margins, this is full of overhanging trees and the margins are very deep here, some are 8ft .

Two rod’s have been placed along here, my third rod is on a very nice clear bar, with weed on each side.

I have spomded out and catapulted out a smallish amount of bait over all areas I have chosen for the first night and I will see what happens.

Night/Day 1

The first night past with no activity, other than the odd beep. The temperature had dropped a lot and there was thick fog. It must have arrived at some time in the night and finally burnt off late morning.

In the afternoon (when the fog had burnt off), I had a walk around the lake and was very pleased to find a fair few fish sunning themselves. Also, the water temperature had risen from 8 degrees to a tiny bit under 10 degrees (c), not that the carp wouldn’t feed when the temperature is as low as 8 degrees, it just lifts the anglers confidence level up. I am hoping tonight should produce a fish or two, as the night temperature would not be dropping so much.

Night/Day 2

Now that was a big shock. I was hoping for some action last night and especially with all the movement in the day time. Last night was not what I expected…. I had a great night’s sleep with no so much as a bleep! There was less fog this morning, the sun was already out and by mid morning I had seen a fish move along the bar. This was a good sign and I was hopeful, this weather would turn them on a bit more.

Night/Day 3

Last night was my best chance of a fish, the night temperature did not drop below 8 degrees. Around 8 am the wind picked up and a strong S/W wind blew a big rain storm though. Dispute all this, I had a three night blank. I did have a very enjoyable trip out fishing and it was nice to relax and not think about work.

Till next time
Richard

Trip No 17 Carp Fishing (2015)

This is my first trip of 2015 on the inland sea. It is looking stunning as always, it’s still daunting though – I am fishing a tiny part of a vast water.

I have found two very nice humps to fish, which have some very smooth silty areas at the bottom of the drop off. One rod is at the bottom and the other is on the top of a bar on very clear gravel.

I have baited up with solar baits, MLX boilies and Bait-Tech ground bait mixed with chopped boilies all spomb out. With a mix Bait-Tech pellets and Polony oil.

Time to sit back and enjoy the view.

Unfortunately, it was a very quiet and cold night, the first frost for a long time.

Till next time

Richard

Trip No 18 Carp Fishing (2015)

The weather is absolutely fantastic at the moment, may be not for fishing, but I am not going to complain. The kid’s have been in the paddling pool after school every day this week, playing in the garden and that’s what Spring should be all about. After a long Winter, it’s nice to be able to sit around in the garden.

Any way, I am out fishing again. I am also hoping that the Carp like the sunshine, as it has been a few trips since a carp graced my net, it could get a bit embarrassing soon.

I had a good walk around and found some fish. They were moving up and down this margin and along the tree line.

I have got one rod in the middle of this small bay, with a load of chopped boilies and ground-bait all mixed up with a load of hemp oil.

The other rod is off the end of the island. This is a very popular patrol route, I lost a fish from here the other month.

I awoke first thing (around 6 ish) and was surprised not to have had any fish in the night. There were a few fish showing out by the island, I was still feeling confident that I may pick up a fish – before work time.

The conditions had chanced for the better as well. All was looking good and no sooner than I had thought this, the right hand rod was off. It was attached to a very unhappy mid double common, these fish fight very hard due to the shallow water, it fantastic fun.

Till next time

Richard

Trip No 19 Carp Fishing (2015)

Evening all, I am out for my normal Sunday night session. This time I am on the inland sea, it will be my last for a few weeks as I can’t get out on a Sunday due to a few family commitments.

I have picked a different swim this time as I felt much more at home in this one and the swim I was in on my last trip was looking very worn out by angler’s. That’s never a good thing in my book.

I have cast a single hook bait out by the entrance to this bay and spombed out two small loads. On my other rod I have found a very smooth silty area in between some very thick silt and put about a kilo of mixed size baits out, we will see what the night brings.

The sun is off for another day.

Unfortunately, I had no joy in the night and it was soon work time again.

Till next time

Richard

Trip No 20 Carp Fishing (2015)

I arrived at around 1500 hrs for my Sunday night fishing trip. I had a good drive around the complex, had a nice chat with a few of the members and in the end I settled for a swim in a small bay with the the wind pushing in. I had seen a couple of fish moving around the snags.

I baited up with a mix of boilies and ground bait, it had oil’s and other stuff mixed in, to complete the big attraction that I like to have.

My rod’s were placed to the right and left of me just at the bottom of the margin slope.

I settled down to watch the lake and read my book.

At about 2015 hrs the right hand rod was off, it was attached to a very unhappy common around the 14 lb mark, very pretty looking fish.

I recast the rod with another bait and a small bag of pellet, soaked in bait-tech Polony oil (boy that stuff smells great).

I turned in around 10 pm anticipating another take through the night and was rudely awoken by a half pound Roach. Now don’t get me wrong, that’s a nice fish and I do plan on fishing for them this year, however, on carp tackle it’s not really cricket, is it?

Anyway I redid the rod again (same rod as before in fact), did think the other rod would have gone off by now. Anyway, as it was only 0445, I thought it best to try and get my head down again. Well I had forgot how loud the bird’s are this time of the morning. So loud, I am typing this at 5 am. I was hoping to be asleep. I know some people say watch the lake, but when I am fishing the margins, I find if I am asleep and making no noise (as in making a brew and walking around looking for fish), I don’t disturb the swim. As I am no more than 10ft away from one bait and 20ft away from the other.

Till next time

Richard

Part 3 of 10 will follow in a couple of weeks

Until then Richard

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* Pink Pepper Squid *

Posted on February 12, 2022 by richardhandel

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Trip 5 Carp Fishing – 2022

Posted on February 11, 2022 by richardhandel

With no work this week and the wife is still working from home, this is an opportunity not to be missed. The weather is going to be about the same as last week – not brilliant. There’s a small drop in the pressure over the next 48 hours, which hopefully may help.

When I arrived just before 9 a.m., the lake was covered in a thick blanket of fog, which is absolutely a non-starter for spotting carp, and there was still frost on the ground as well. After last week’s trip, I’d put a bit of thought into where it may be best to head for and know where the carp had been hanging out. I felt that I was unable to fish the range I needed to without having to purchase a braided mainline. I’m still not 100 % convinced that braid is the way forward, or is it that I’m just old school?

I would also be casting in front of one of the day swims, plus over the top of a thick weed bed, and my presentation wouldn’t be great. With all that in mind, I’d come to the conclusion that the swim I was heading for last week, backed up by another couple of choices, could be the solution to catching these carp.

This time, I was going to be using is all ground-up food items and lots of liquid attractions. It’s quite a sloppy mixture of food items, which I had been preparing over the weekend. I don’t like to mix everything together until I get to the lake, just in case I end up in a swim that doesn’t warrant that type of fishing situation.

My swim for the next few nights. I’m not sure if it will be three nights this week, all depends on how much time I’m stuck in the bivvy. It’s not a pleasant start today, the sun only came out around 2 pm and it’s starting to lose its heat, as it’s lower in the sky.

I couldn’t cast anywhere near where the carp were showing the last few weeks. My best option was to fish their patrol routes and hope they are more on the move than previous trips. Basically, I am trying to intercept them.

It’s lovely when the sun is out, and we will see how the next 24 hours go.

The sunshine disappeared behind the clouds, and at one point, I thought there was some rain coming.

It didn’t materialize; it was all too calm out there and not a single sign of any carp. The area I was fishing was a silty spot between two higher points, like a small bay area.

This area will hold bloodworms and other crustaceans, with any luck, they will get visited by the carp over the time I’m here. My other rod was at the bottom of the drop-off in my margins, this is where the carp came around this point into the bay behind me.

I’ve never fished this spot before. However, I’ve often seen carp go by and I’d put it in my notebooks, but never got around to trying it out.

Both areas have been baited with my mixture and I’m fishing 12mn pink pepper squid pop-ups.

With no bleep all night long. I was hoping that the lack of frost last night, plus no mist or fog this morning and the prospects of a warmer day in the sunshine would bring on the carp today. Tomorrow was looking pretty Baltic and I would need to think hard about my options regarding staying the third night.

Once the rain finally finished and the sun came out again the afternoon was very nice and it gave an aura of positiveness to the coming 24 hours.

I took the decision to leave the bait out for the next 24 hours as I was feeling there was absolutely no need to alter anything or switch anything around. The rain drifted on and off, mixed with the sunshine.

My trusted JRC Tx 2G bivvy was the perfect solution to these cold conditions, in conjunction with the overwrap which is over 18 years old. It was given to me by Rob all those years ago and it’s still going strong. I have a bad tendency to hang on to things until they completely fall apart, the best things appear to be the good old products.

With clearing skies, it’s going to be another fresh one. I don’t think it will be as cold as previous nights.

I think it may have been a bit cold last night and still, with no action, I’m really not too sure quite what to do. There’ve been no signs of carp at all. I’m starting to think I’m wasting my time unless I’m using Zig rigs. My experience so far is limited and have had a lot of tangles. This is something I need to work on over the next couple of weeks. I’m convinced that this is why we all struggle on this lake in the deep winter months, by mid-February they are back on the bottom munching away.

I’m not sure yet, but I think I will head home to sort out that zig stuff, and as there’s tree feeling going on at the School Lakes, I may well go Perch fishing on Monday, and that all needs sorting. I could just take my jig rod, but I find the ledger prawns are way more effective on lakes around here.

My mind is now set on heading home and am going to putting some thought into my approach next week. I can’t believe February is getting even closer and spring as well – roll on March.

Until next time

Richard

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Fish icons are fun when you start using Deeper sonar

Posted on February 10, 2022 by richardhandel

Fish icons are fun when you start using Deeper sonar.

After getting better at reading sonar, anglers realize there is a whole world of information hiding beneath these icons.

Let’s switch them off and check out the arches – raw sonar readings which represent fish.

a) Full arches appear if fish move through the full sonar cone.

b) Half-arches or thick dashes appear if fish move partially through the cone.

c) If your sonar and fish are both stationary, you will see a straight line.

May be an image of fishing rod and text that says 'a b c'

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Masala Spice

Posted on February 9, 2022 by richardhandel

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