UK Carp & Coarse Fishing

Trip 10 Carp Fishing – 2021

Posted on March 12, 2021 by richardhandel

I’ve finally made it into double figures on the number of trips I’ve done this year! I must be grateful for this, as there are some people unable to fish locally and are really keen to get on their syndicate water when travelling is allowed again (but we all play our part).

I arrived just after 9am to an empty car park. I took this opportunity to walk around the lake and scatter some Classic Corn boilies in a few swims. I will set up at the back of the island where I was last time, to keep an eye open for carp. Given the opportunity, I will move.

Just before 11am, the left rod was away and felt much better than any of my previous carp on here so far. I was very keen on keeping this fish away from the snags, within a few seconds, I was definitely in control and playing the carp towards the waiting net.

Wow! What a lovely mirror carp. It probably weighed between 11 and 12lb. I was very happy with that.

A fresh bait was put on and the hook touched up, so it was needle sharp. I then catapulted more Catalyst pellets out and sat back on my chair to take in the moment.

Just after noon, I had a heavy liner on the right hand rod and then lost one just before 1pm. There are carp feeding in the snags, so I’ve put some more pellet over them and a trail to my baited spot, in a hope of drawing them my way.

Unfortunately, it was not to be today.

Until next time

Stay safe

Richard

–

Posted in Carp fishing | Leave a comment

Trip 9 Carp Fishing – 2021

Posted on March 10, 2021 by richardhandel

With yesterday bucketing it down for most of the day, today was certainly the better option after the rain had passed. It was forecast to be a lovely sunny day and the first for some weeks but there was still a bit of a blow.

I arrived just after 11:00, there was certainly no rush today and I planned on staying until 5ish, in the hope that I will finish my blank run. This is certainly not the same lake as last year, which must partly be due to the pandemic and the cold weather we’ve had, as last winter was very mild.

After looking about and not a hint of a carp but there were a couple of other anglers up by the island, I positioned myself with a good view of both ends. I dropped a couple of baits in the margins and will hopefully either spot some carp and move onto them or they will pick up a bite of one of these rods. Just after 1330, I decided it was time for a move and the back of the island looked ideal. It was at the back of the wind and in the sunshine, so would definitely be warmer than where I was. I had a great view down the lake, to spot any signs of carp showing and I would stay here for a couple of hours. If there were no signs of any fish I would then move again.

14:15, the right-hand rod was away and off around the corner of the island. I had to run down the bank, so I could get into direct contact, it was heading into the bay. I turned the carp and it was now running towards me and off to the left, it was only small, but it wasn’t giving up that quickly.

It was just after 14:30 and the other rod was away, attached to another hard fighting demon, that was also trying everything it could to find a snag.

They are both pretty small, but as this is the only lake I can fish at the moment, it’s certainly better than sitting it out at home on the sofa! Hopefully, things will start to return to normal soon, not sure what the new normal is at the moment though, just a little bit more freedom will be nice over the coming months.

Within the hour, the left rod was away again, but this one dropped the hook soon after the take. I checked the hook, which was still needle-sharp, and flicked it back on the spot, just as the heavens opened again. This shower didn’t last long and I was treated to a rainbow.

Which is always a good photo opportunity.

With 3 takes and 2 fish landed, I was very happy. I was only aiming for just one carp, after the last few trips, great results and I will be back soon.

Until next time

Stay safe

Richard

–

Posted in Asso Fishing Line, Carp Cogs, Carp fishing, Finskin, Grizzyman Clothing, Pink Pepper Squid, Ronnie Rig, SHIMANO ULTEGRA, Spotted Fin, Spotted Fin Coarse, Spotted Fin Match Range, Submerge Clothing, summit tackle, The Catalyst | Leave a comment

Trip 8 Carp Fishing – 2021

Posted on March 6, 2021 by richardhandel

The weather was particularly Baltic last week and there was no way I was going outside. So, by some small miracle I or I should say we, as the whole family was involved, we started to spring clean the house upstairs and moving furniture about. This also resulted in a bit of decorating which I quite like once I get going, but this can take years!

The forecast was looking rough as the week progressed and it being half term for the kids, we had a lovely 4 day break at home. I pencilled in a trip on what I hoped would be the better day of the week. There was no point in gardening this week and if I hadn’t lost my decorating bug, I would start another room over the next few days. I decided that I would start where I left off last week, as I’m sure that area is a bit of a hideaway for them. I scattered a few pellets and flicked my hook baits out and within 10 minutes, I’d had a heavy liner again. I adjusted that cast as I felt the carp must be closer to me and sat back, hopefully I’ve not pushed them to far away. I don’t plan on staying in this swim for more than 2 hours – probably not even that long.

I moved swim and was all set up by 1230, hopefully get some results down this end of the lake. My options have been reduced as there are now 2 other anglers on the lake and we are all very nicely spread out. There is probably only one other spot I could’ve moved to, which was right at the back of the island and has produced carp. But this swim just felt better. I can just about see that area and watch out for any carp showing themselves.

I’m now in my third swim of the day and this time I’ve seen carp showing. With only an hour and a bit to go, it’s certainly worth the effort. I got a good soaking on my travels, but with any luck the buzzers will rattle off, before I head home. I stuck with the same hook baits as they are pretty fresh and just catapulted a couple of pouches of Catalyst pellets over the top of each rod.

With time running out, it certainly looks like a blank again for me. It is going to be hard on here this winter and definitely not as straight forward as last year. I will definitely need to get my thinking cap on over the next few days. It would be nice if they stuck their head out more. Last winter you couldn’t fail to see plenty each day, giving you a fair crack of bagging a few.

Until next time

Stay safe

Richard

–

Posted in Carp fishing, Deeper Chirp, Grizzyman Clothing, Spotted Fin, Spotted Fin Coarse, Spotted Fin Match Range, The Catalyst | Leave a comment

Time to find your favourite!

Posted on February 26, 2021 by richardhandel

No photo description available.

Time to find your favourite! Perfectly prepared pellet filled with attractive liquids. Won’t turn to mush on the bottom like hard pellet and will explode out of a PVa Bag due to their springy liquid filled structure. Just take your tub to the bank, use as needed, pop the lid back on and stick in a cool place, like a shed or cupboard and they will be ready for the next time you go fishing. Whether in a week or the next month !

Posted in Carp fishing | Leave a comment

Trip 7 Carp Fishing – 2021

Posted on February 26, 2021 by richardhandel

With home-schooling for the next few days and the likely hood the lake will freeze over, this was my only opportunity realistically. Despite the freezing conditions and the fluttering’s of snow, I headed down the lake half expecting it to be frozen, hopefully the wind would stop that from happening. This turned out to be correct.

With the wind pushing hard up towards the island and there being another angler between me and there, my only real choice of area was between him and the shallows. I would be fishing over the dead pads, not too far off the margins.

I would be using solid pva bags filled with Catalyst pellets and a pop up on one rod and the other would be a wafter. I also threw a small handful of crushed boilies about in the margins. I sat back under my umbrella and hopefully a carp will come my way.

After spotting some carp way down to my left and would you believe? A lot closer to the shallows and just under the surface. I scattered some 3mm Catalyst pellets in the hope it wouldn’t spook them too much. I then set about getting around the other side of the lake and putting the rods out, with the least amount of disturbance and hopefully if I’ve pushed them away, they will drift back, find a small amount of food and fancy picking up a hook bait.

Fingers crossed for the next few hours.

15 minutes later, I had a massive liner, I pulled into thin air, as you do. I couldn’t ignore it as the tip was starting to pull down. At least it shows I’m in the right area, just hope I didn’t spook them this time, only time will tell.

It’s not going my way today, as I was having a wee, the same rod ripped off and the carp managed to shed the hook in a dead pad stork. I quickly got the rod back out and was really hoping I hadn’t completely blown away any chance of banking a fish.