As there isn’t a lot to write about at the moment and I don’t feel like posting future plans (as we just don’t really know when we are going to be released from lockdown at the moment). After posting lots of photographs on Instagram and Facebook, I thought it would be nice to break them down into 10 parts and add a few words to explain my adventures over the past 39 years of fishing. In doing this, I have discovered that unfortunately, I have lost or misplaced a large proportion of my carp captures.In The BeginingThis was my very first landed carp. I had hooked a few before but was ill-equipped to land them; between myself and the tackle! Back then, I was happy to catch anything that came along, if memory serves me correctly I had had a nice pike on that day as well. I had been fishing the river which was close by and riding there on my pushbike, I then progressed to doing nights on the lakes and have never stopped since 1981.
Then I moved on to Weybread Middle Pit for a year or two.
Then back to Barham Pits for a year, until they, unfortunately, had a fish kill over the closed season and that was it.
It was then I ended up on Weybread again and stuck there until I moved down south in 1996.
I did fish the odd place in between for a short period of time but it never gave me the searching for the ‘unknown’ feeling, I’d become accustomed to.
Bexford Lake
Thorpeness Mere
Brightlingsea
My old setups and how far we have moved on since the 80’s.
This was in the 90’s on Weybread Bottle Pit with a wave lock brolly and a nash overwrap. It also had a full-on double burner and grill, wooden bivvy table (not a modern invention!), the bedchair was one of the first comfortable adjustable Fox ones and the small screen in the middle is my TV. Even back then I would pass the time away by watching stuff and reading books
KJB rod pod and Shimano bait runners, optonics and Fox Swingers, which had made so they would light upon a take (again, not a modern invention).
Winter fishing was fun. Wave lock brolly, Nash canvas bivvy, which was an awesome bit of kit. If you are wondering where the rods are, they are down the bottom as per the photo above and you had to tun for your rods – well walk. If you fished any swims along the high bank opposite (unless it was the two with a walkway out into the lake), you bivvy up at the top and needed 20m extension leads for your sounder box.
Way back in the beginning – 1984 Weybread Pits, before I couldn’t afford much, I would sleep on the floor in a sail bag and a sheet over, the plastic held down by whatever I could find I used. Luckily no photographs of them. I never used a brolly unless it rained and you had to put a bin bag over the end, to stop yourself getting wet. You will note the non matching rods, which was the norm for the first few years.
Getting a bit more modern, matching rods, buzzer, and reels camped out for a week on Barham D pit – somethings never change. I even did week seasons; once I had a carp and I was Tench fishing! I’ve come to the conclusion that I love being outside as much as possible.
And my up to date set up Aqua M3 Compact, Fox flatline Bedcahire, and a 5 season sleeping bag, out in all weather over the Winter months. I must say, I have noticed that there are less times where the lakes freeze up. We have certainly moved on and for the better, I personally feel.
Then I moved down to the Southampton area and first started on Nutsey lake and then moved on to lots of other over the coming years.
These are a few carp captures from the first lake I fished when I moved down South.
Nutsey
Embley
Awbridge Broadlands Hatchets Pond Butlocks Peewit RookesburyThis was back in 1997 when DSLR ‘s where not available to me and would have clearly cost too much. It was always excellent to take the film into Boots and wait a few days before you could look at them. Hopefully, they turned out good but not always as I was still learning, practice makes perfect and in the end, I got there.Peewit Lake
I fished this lake twice over the years – with a large gap in between. I’ve no photos of the first time around, but the lake was absolutely stunning. It still was when I arrived back the second time – until the big cut back, which was quite dramatic and put a lot of anglers off. But not me! This was quite fortunate as the carp didn’t know any different, it was great fishing there. You could walk around, place your bait on the perfect spot and walk back to your rods.
T
The vegetation started to grow back and the anglers returned. I moved on to Kingham next door. Unfortunately, it got a bit silly with one angler arrive early and stick their bucket and chairs in swim to reserve swims for his mate’s, who would arrive 3 or 4 hrs later. This was the time that I headed off to fish a lovely syndicate on the Hampshire Avon for 6 years, where I hardly ever came across another angler.
The Ressy
I first joined here about 1999 and stayed a member until last year. I only ever fished it properly over a winter in between the interim syndicate starting and the full-on syndicate where I’m currently a member of. I only ever fished there as a place to get away from the crowds. It was situated up a 1/2 mile path through a wood, which could get very muddy, this put anglers off. It was very easy in the beginning but unfortunately, it had a fish kill and the restocked carp behaved completely differently.
I
It was full of lilly pads and a large reed bed at one end with a dam wall and was just so peaceful and tranquil fishing there.
Petersfield Heath Lake
This lake is situated on the edge of the town and is also a boating lake. It’s 4 ft deep most of the way out, in the middle on the depths of winter and as the levels drop, you have to stick your rod tips down and into the slit to completely avoid the boats and the swimmers, ducks, etc picking up your line as they go by.
Unfortunately, I don’t have a single photograph of any carp that I had, I’ve lost them.
As you can see, the water level could drop right down, and instead of bivvying up on the bank, you could set up in the margins. There where plenty of deeper channels about and I had 5 20s from where the furthest duck was in the below photo.
When I fished here, there was a good head of carp to the upper 30’s and plenty of bream to keep occupied. You could sit on the park benches and watch the world go by, get yourself an ice cream from the shop. Unfortunately, there was a fish kill some years ago, but I believe it’s getting back to its former glory.
Sinah WarrenThis lake is situated by the seaside and separates a golf course from the seashore. At night you can fall asleep listening to the waves crashing on the shore.
It became very hard going each Summer, the water level drops and numerous bars start to pop out the water. Range fishing becomes impossible. The Winter’s where rock hard, so this only left you a small opportunity to bag yourself a lump. It was open over the old closed season which drew anglers to the lake. It became extremely busy in this period, but I enjoyed my time a lot.Westhampnet LakeI had to wait a fair few years to get on this syndicate, the wait was good for me as I was fishing another lake whilst waiting. However, the years waiting was not good for the old syndicate as it was closed down when RMC took the lake back.
It was a odd lake to fish, it’s situated next to the A27. It has a long supporting wall, which had a few swims that were just about big enough for a brolly and your rods.
In the last few years I’ve been on a wonderful syndicate been Ringwood, with only 100 members and 3 carp lakes and 8 miles of the Hampshire Avon to fish.
So I thought I would nice to share some pictures of a few lumps I’ve caught over the past 5 years on these waters, and there are a few repeats captures. I don’t worry about these, these days, as I just love being on the bank and catching carp regardless. I’ve gone back to the reason why I started fishing, just to catch, have fun and be on the bank in the fresh air, which is very potent at the moment. At the back end of 2019, I started to fish the original club I joined back in 1997 and one of their lakes is about 10 mins away from my house and it’s brilliant fun over the Winter months. I’m looking forward to going after some carp with a float rod and a worm, just dropping off the pads.I feel I’ve come full circle now and am a lot happier in my fishing. There was a period of time where I only fished a section of the River Avon on a private syndicate for 7 years. This was because anglers were just not thoughtful towards each other anymore, but I can safely say that I was very lucky in finding my current water and will be there for as long as possible.
Until Next Time
With two jobs cancelled and the weather conditions looking bang on (another storm front is on its way with a big pressure drop), I fancied being ahead of the game. I’m convinced the carp are aware of the coming changes and move accordingly before it arrives. Hopefully, I could get ahead of them.
Perfect
Back into the same swim as last week and for 3 nights this time. After looking at the forecast and getting bait on to the spot was going to be extremely hard. So, I made a big choice of baiting very heavily on my arrival and only leaving a small amount to top up with. I didn’t think the carp would be here for another 24 hours and my bait would’ve started to break down nicely.
I had gone for 2 x 10mm wafter on one rod and a single 20mm on the other. There was a good likelihood that I would leave the 20mm out until I had a take and the other rod may well get moved to another spot for the day – we shall see how things pan out.
My first take was about 8 pm, unfortunately after being on for about 3 minutes, the fish found a boulder to my right and ping went the hook! I got the rod back out and hopefully something else will come along, the temperature was dropping quite a bit.
The next take happened at around 9 30 pm and was on the same rod again, it was holding ground, I was convinced it was stuck around another boulder. I couldn’t believe it had happened again and then suddenly, the carp started to rip line of the spool. I walked back onto the high spot in the swim and proceeded to gently pump the fish in towards the bank. I was still wondering if the line was ok. It came closer, slowly but surely, at this point I knew I was into a much bigger carp and I needed to go carefully, but still maintain ground and very mindful of that horrible snag to my right. It was just coming pretty much straight in, but very slowly, when it was more or less under my rod tip and definitely under my control (I was some 8ft from the bank at this point). There was still the possibility of it kiting right. I now had to walk backwards avoiding the tree’s with the rod and collect the landing net. That was quite simple. This swim is very dark, with the overhanging tree’s, you need to have your head torch on a dim setting, just to make things simple, this is something I don’t generally do, but needs must. I’ve found that this can spook the carp a lot more with a light on. All went well apart from the odd heavy lunges towards the gap which was between me and the small island. I’d seen the fish a couple of times and the tail was huge. It was certainly putting up a fantastic fight in the margins and was clearly not going to give up that easy, it finally gave in and a splendid Mockbegger Common was in the Nsr50.
31lb 5oz Common
Happy day’s! After the hook pull earlier, I was just over the moon and yet another 30 for the Airfield Lake. I missed out last year, by a few ounces, but not this year, I was really overjoyed.
With that rod back out there, it was time to get my head down, as it was just after 11pm, not an easy task after this evening events.
Dawn
All quiet overnight, just waiting for the wind to pick up and the rain to arrive over the course of today/ It arrived before 10 am, I heard a lump crash out, somewhere, but couldn’t locate where is was. I was planning on leaving the rods out, until after the midday feeding spell and would then go from there.
My next take was at just after noon time and on the right hand rod, which immediately kited to the right and was clearly off towards those snags to my right. I quickly got the rod tip under the other one and headed out into the lake, off to my left to get out into the lake parallel to the snags. With the length of the rod out into the lake and the tip was well under the water, I pumped the carp along the margins and underneath the snags into the open water in front of my swim. Once it was well under control, I grabbed the net, played the fish out and slipped one of those 10lber we all love some much.
10lber
You can’t pick what you catch but I was happy that the carp were down here and feeding. I just need one of those lone monster’s to find the bait again. Despite the strong winds, the bait hit the spot perfectly.
The next take was on the left hand rod again and was pretty straight forward to get in the net. This was after the initial take and getting that rod tip as high as possible, to avoid those boulders.
17lb 10oz
The carp are starting to show up a bit more which could mean the bigger fish will get pushed out again, but you never know.
The next take was on the left hand rod and this also tried to head off to my right. I had to go through the same process as I did for the fish before and this one made it to the net as well.
12lber
I’m starting to really hope that the bigger fish will push these smaller ones out before I get my head down tonight, otherwise I’m going to be pretty shattered. I better not complain too much, as they can easily vanish.
I’d had to put a thought into when to bait up, I was certain that the carp had been feeding on the spot after the 5 takes I had had and I definitely needed to get some more out there. I decided that about 1630 would be perfect, which was around when I got here yesterday and I felt there was a lull in when I’ve caught carp previously. I need some bait out there for the night and tomorrow morning, first thing was an option, but I’ve had carp recently at around 0730 and didn’t fancy mucking that feeding time up or even the noon time feeding. It just had to be now or never and as there was a bit of a lull in the wind, it was the perfect opportunity.
My next take was about 2100 hours, not 100% sure as it was another 10lber that came in pretty straight forward. With the exception of it picking up the other line and then having to re do both rods in the pouring rain, but we got there by 2200 hrs and another carp was banked.
Morning
With rain finally easing off and the wind dropping, the sunshine poked out from behind the clouds and tomorrow’s forecast is full of heavy rain. I have to be home quite early and in all honesty, I really don’t fancy a wet pack up especially after having my kit all dried out by the sunshine today. I think, I will be off this afternoon, once it all dried out and the midday feeding spell has past, then I’m away for a Social with SF on Embryo North Bank lake near Peterborough for a few night’s. This will be great fun, as long as we can all get fuel to get there and back! This is after the crazy people panic buying to keep their fuel tanks filled up. Strange times we live in, nothing like a bit of social media to twist the story about.
I’m hoping that I’m still in with a chance of a bite or two over the next few hours. Conditions are settling down, but I’m sure the carp are aware of the coming weather change again over the weekend.
Stormy Sky’s
After checking the weather for tomorrow morning, if I’m to get home in the dry, it’s an early pack up. As the bite times for me are mostly in daylight hours, with the exception of a couple this week, and a lot of prep to get sorted this week, I’m going to head home mid afternoon and be very happy with my 6 takes and 5 fish landed up to 31 LB 5oz.
You never know, I’ve still got the noontime feeding spell and the weather has gone cloudy again, this definitely gives me some hope for one last carp.
Last chance
The rods were on the ground for an hour and a heavy rain shower past over – with me doing my best to sheltered under a tree. It was definitely home time.
Until next time
Richard
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What’s the largest river system you ever fished? How did it go? Let us know in the comments below!
Then I moved on to Weybread Middle Pit for a year or two.
I did fish the odd place in between for a short period of time but it never gave me the searching for the ‘unknown’ feeling, I’d become accustomed to.
And my up to date set up Aqua M3 Compact, Fox flatline Bedcahire, and a 5 season sleeping bag, out in all weather over the Winter months. I must say, I have noticed that there are less times where the lakes freeze up. We have certainly moved on and for the better, I personally feel.
These are a few carp captures from the first lake I fished when I moved down South.
T
The vegetation started to grow back and the anglers returned. I moved on to Kingham next door. Unfortunately, it got a bit silly with one angler arrive early and stick their bucket and chairs in swim to reserve swims for his mate’s, who would arrive 3 or 4 hrs later. This was the time that I headed off to fish a lovely syndicate on the Hampshire Avon for 6 years, where I hardly ever came across another angler.
The Ressy
I first joined here about 1999 and stayed a member until last year. I only ever fished it properly over a winter in between the interim syndicate starting and the full-on syndicate where I’m currently a member of. I only ever fished there as a place to get away from the crowds. It was situated up a 1/2 mile path through a wood, which could get very muddy, this put anglers off. It was very easy in the beginning but unfortunately, it had a fish kill and the restocked carp behaved completely differently.
I
It was full of lilly pads and a large reed bed at one end with a dam wall and was just so peaceful and tranquil fishing there.
Petersfield Heath Lake
This lake is situated on the edge of the town and is also a boating lake. It’s 4 ft deep most of the way out, in the middle on the depths of winter and as the levels drop, you have to stick your rod tips down and into the slit to completely avoid the boats and the swimmers, ducks, etc picking up your line as they go by.
Unfortunately, I don’t have a single photograph of any carp that I had, I’ve lost them.
As you can see, the water level could drop right down, and instead of bivvying up on the bank, you could set up in the margins. There where plenty of deeper channels about and I had 5 20s from where the furthest duck was in the below photo.
When I fished here, there was a good head of carp to the upper 30’s and plenty of bream to keep occupied. You could sit on the park benches and watch the world go by, get yourself an ice cream from the shop. Unfortunately, there was a fish kill some years ago, but I believe it’s getting back to its former glory.
Sinah Warren
It became very hard going each Summer, the water level drops and numerous bars start to pop out the water. Range fishing becomes impossible. The Winter’s where rock hard, so this only left you a small opportunity to bag yourself a lump. It was open over the old closed season which drew anglers to the lake. It became extremely busy in this period, but I enjoyed my time a lot.
It was a odd lake to fish, it’s situated next to the A27. It has a long supporting wall, which had a few swims that were just about big enough for a brolly and your rods.
I feel I’ve come full circle now and am a lot happier in my fishing. There was a period of time where I only fished a section of the River Avon on a private syndicate for 7 years. This was because anglers were just not thoughtful towards each other anymore, but I can safely say that I was very lucky in finding my current water and will be there for as long as possible.
UK Carp & Coarse Fishing 