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I was away from West Stow by 10 am and after capturing a carp, I was in a great mood. I wish I could’ve stayed longer, you never know the carp could’ve switched on at any moment.
I was at home for a restock of water by 1 pm. Ian called about 11am to discuss our swim options, I was still really in two minds about where to fish and need a good look. The wind was going to be blowing from the south, pretty strongly, the entire time we were there, rain was also mixed into the equation. I also really wanted to be close to Ian, as this was the last trip of the year for him. Pike where calling.
Love this place
Ian had gone for the middle lake, on a spit that divides it from the main body of water. This gave me lots of options as well. I arrived just before 2 pm and dropped my bucket where I thought I was going to go. However, after a walkabout and a bite to eat, I headed to the end of the spit, also fishing into the middle lake, but there was always the option to fish the main lake behind me if the going wasn’t as straightforward as hoped. This was only the second year of fishing being allowed in October and completely different weather conditions to last year. You just never know. Not seeing any signs of carp is becoming the norm on here, which is no help.
On the spit
My swim has me quite a bit of water and plenty of features. I’d not fished the middle lake this year and it had produced some nice carp and maybe the bigger ones are held up in here.
The complex
I checked on my Fish Deeper page and found a lovely deeper area, which I really fancied.
The deepest area
It was going to be fun baiting up, the wind was really pushing hard into this bank. I’d tucked myself out of the direct blast of the wind, behind the trees. This will be a help. The temperature is pretty warm for this time of the year, the pressure is way down at 997/998 for the next few days and then rising up again by the middle of next week. I’m a little undecided about fishing into the wind, a few anglers have been getting good results recently on the back of the wind. Last year it was, most definitely, get yourself in a swim with the wind full-on in your face. Looking at the middle lake today, it’s extremely colored up as well. We shall see how the next 2 nights go and then take it from there.
Wild waters
The night was void of carp for both me and Ian. The stags are still rutting, which means listening to the stags giving it large all night long.
My swim
Not sure if I will stay here or move swim. It would be nice to see or even hear something carpy, but they don’t like showing themselves anymore.
Big open waters
Just love the vistas of this place. Just after 2pm, I topped up the swim with a few more spombs and changed to a bottom and wafter for tonight. The man who was in the gravel swim, popped down to say he was off and I really wasn’t sure what to do. But Ian and Steve (who was over for a chat from the bottom lake), said come on we will help you, you know you will regret it tomorrow morning, that was it, decision made.
2 hours later
Two hours later, I was all done and dusted and was very glad of the help. Thank you guys, if I bag a monster I certainly owe you a few drinks, even if I don’t, I still owe you as it would have been dark if I hadn’t had any help.
Both rods were blasted out towards Seagull Island and about 10 spombs on the spot, I was soon done for the night, I was fishing a drop-in, in front of the island.
Deeper Map
Unfortunately, just out of range for me and my Deeper at 360 ft, but with this strong southerly I’m going to have a go at extending it tomorrow, by drifting my Deeper out there. I know it will get there under the right conditions, it’s been out further before.
Bit windy
That was a very wet and windy night, last night and still lacking on the carp front. This definitely needs a bit of thought put into it today. I’m sure Ian will be thinking the same unless he’s had some joy in the night.
There are showers forecast on and off today, but the pressure is so low, these carp have to be on the munch.
The rain is heavy
As the day progressed, the weather got a bit calmer and I was going to move one of my long-range rods back to 18 wraps where I had spombed out in anticipation of moving that rod. However, after seeing a carp show off the corner of the island, I just had to leave both rods on the spot for another 24 hours. Hopefully, a carp would venture out of the sanitary and pick up my hook bait.
Islands everywhere
If I was still blanking tomorrow, maybe it was worth sticking a bit on to the normal areas where I’d put a few spombs earlier today.
Just after 4 am on a Saturday morning, the left rod had been put out as far as I could go, with the aid of a very strong southerly and a 4oz flat distance pear lead, finally rattled off over 48hrs after putting out there. If I hadn’t spotted a carp show off the side of the island a few times this afternoon, I was going to move that rod to my normal 18 wraps area that I had put six spombs on at lunchtime, in anticipation of moving it unless I spotted something out there
21lb 9oz Common
Glad I didn’t, after 2 and a half nights and a move later, it finally paid off.
The wind was still pushing hard and after a couple of goes, I finally hit the clip and the bait was back out on the spot.
After the storm
Just after the storm had passed, the phone rang and it was Ian saying he had a carp on that had snagged him in the tree to the left of the point he was fishing. Could I go around there with my waders and see if I could release it? As you could see, it was hooked up over a branch under the water.
The point
I headed off over there with my waders and a pole, I got in the lake and headed around the point towards where Ian’s line was pointing. As I got closer, I could see the Common was still attached. I ended up snapping a few branches off, then lifting up a larger one to get underneath it, to get next to the carp, and started quickly snapping off a load more to release the carp. Ian was in direct contact with the carp again and played it back to the waiting net.
13lb 1oz Common
He was well over the moon and we both hadn’t blanked now.
At about 2 pm, it was time to bait up for our final night on Airfield Lake. Let’s hope something comes along for both of us over the next 15 hours.
The last night was event-free, other than a bit of star gazing until the cloud front arrived. The wind and rain and yet more 50 mph winds arrived, these carp must have hidden away under the snags again and are staying out of open water. The bad weather is due to pass by 9 am and we will nicely be in the mid-morning feeding spell and hopefully bag another one. I’ve always thought they don’t like the heavy rain, let’s hope they feed once this has passed, and also with any luck we can dry some kit out, otherwise, it’s going to be strung up anywhere over the next few days!
The Airfield Lake season has come to another end. It’s also time to make a big decision about my other syndicate that I’ve clearly been nowhere near since August. You get the feeling that you may already know the answer, but now this month has passed, I can put a considerable amount of thought into this thought.
Stormy Conditions
I’m very happy with my results on The Airfield Lake, it has rewarded me very well for the small amount of time I’ve spent on here over 2021. At some point in time, I will no doubt have another play on Meadow Lake over the winter and not relive that one and only trip this year. There are certainly new nice lumps swimming around and it would be a bit silly not to have a go.
See you soon
The wind was due to abate around 9 am, it was picking up as the tail end of the front got closer. At this point, my bivvy started to rattle and shake a lot and it was a bit of a worry, at this point I thought I better check on Ian. I sent him a message and got a callback, his bivvy hadn’t survived that impact of the last gust and it had taken him out completely! I got the waders on as the rain was still pouring down, grabbed my fleece and headed over to see him.
Before After
That was a bit of a disaster, the wind managed to break a pole, he managed to sort it all out without anymore (probably) and I’m sure after a few days, he will be telling the story with a smile on his face.
Until next time
Richard
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With it being half term week and the family is away for a few days, I headed off to West Stow County Park, near Thetford for a few days fishing with Rob. I’ve not managed to see him for over 4 years, what with family stuff and covid19. The trip nearly finished before it began, my wife called when I was 3/4’s of the way here, saying the youngest had tested positive on a lateral flow test, but she and the eldest hadn’t. A quick call to Rob and he turned around and picked up a lateral flow test from his house. When I arrived this was my first job. Luckily, I tested negative as well, in hindsight, I probably should have done one before I left home.
We both arrived at the same time, after sorting out the test, I got the kit on the barrow and headed off to the area Rob had suggested we look at first. Which was at the far end of the lake, I have made my mind up, I need an electric barrow.
Rob kindly gave me the choice of swim and I went for the last swim on this side of the lake. It gave me the opportunity to fish the entrance to a bay area as well as an entrance to the channel. This leads into the back of the island in front of me, then into the open water on the far bank swim. The third rod was going to be positioned off the island and at the bottom of the marginal shelf.
My swim
I was fishing a mixture of SF hook baits on each rod, over a bed of pellets, Classic Corn and Catalyst boilies. I didn’t bait up too much, there’d been some fishing here over Friday/Saturday night and the coots were still picking up hook baits. But with the pressure steadily dropping and a change in the wind/weather conditions, it was certainly looking very promising.
Stunning Sunset
The day was drawing to a close and we sat eating chili and rice (that Rob’s wife had kindly made), chatting away.
Sometime in the night, the geese turned up and it felt like I had been up most of the night. The joy of wildlife, sometimes it does get a bit frustrating! On the plus side, the carp were also crashing about down here as well. As of 7 am, I’m still waiting for a pickup, this is frustrating as well. After getting up early yesterday, I’m feeling the effects and need my early morning coffee boost. All I need to work out today is, when its best to bait up and how much more bait to get out there?
Dawn
With the wind picking up and the real prospects of an afternoon or early evening bite, I put on new hook baits and had the rods back out by noon.
Stunning view
The day past and the only activity was me catching a Coot! Lucky it wasn’t hooked, just the line wrapped around its leg, it was soon sorted and set free, the rod was back out again, all set for the night.
Rod shot
The second morning arrived and still with no bites but definitely carp were in the swim or at least they are certainly very close. Unfortunately, with it being dark, I simply can’t tell if they are my side of the gap or down the channel more, but they are near. I’ve simply got to adjust something in the hope of tempting them
Looking over towards my swim
I walked to the other side and trickled a small amount of 12mm Catalyst boilies about in between the gap. When I got back, fresh rigs were put on, all this was done before noon and with any luck, tonight will be the one.
Unfortunately, Rob lost a nice carp about 4 pm today, off the side of the island. We had spotted carp along there earlier this morning.
Sunset
The conditions overnight were perfect – a nice wind pushing hard down into my corner. Another angler had set up in the opposite bay to me, so there was no real place for them to get pushed away from me or him. They were still clearly down here.
It’s a real headbang as to why I haven’t caught anything yet. I would love more time on here to crack this nut. With that in mind, I think I’m going to try and come back next February half term and have another go. It’s a shame it’s so far away, I would be tempted with another trip this year, it’s such lovely water, I would come back next week if I could.
Both Rob and I believe they are on naturals. There’s been a big hatch of Alder fly, they climb up the stems of the reeds when they hatch, and there are plenty of reeds around the lake. Especially around the corner of where I’m fishing. The carp have been moving in and out, not really interested in boilies.
I’m heading straight from here to do 4 nights on Mockbegger before it closes 5 days time (at the end of October). It will also, no doubt, be my last trip for the year with Ian, we have planned a social few nights on the bank.
I need to be gone from here by 10am to give me 3 hours to get home, an hour to restock, and have a shower. I’d better do another covid19 test. I can then get to the lake with plenty of time to set up before dark. Single hook baits and a few spombs the first night I feel. You will get the low down on my next blog.
Just after 8am, the left rod into the gap burst into life and a battle ensued. After a near-miss, with the middle rod, a nice mirror was in the net and boy was I over the moon.
21lb 9oz mirror
I’d worked extremely hard for the fish and was well happy. I think the hardest part was knowing they were here and the constant crashing at night. They simply wouldn’t pick baits up.
I’ve had a good time, we managed two takes between us and unfortunately, Rob lost a real lump. It would’ve been a real joy to see him land it. But these things happen. It’s been way too long since I have been here and I’m sure I will be back soon.
Until next time
Richard
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UK Carp & Coarse Fishing 