After a fantastic week and a bit away with the family in Wales, my two girls walked up Pan y Fan, which is part of the Breacon Beacons.
They a fabulous few days on the beach.
It was all over far to soon and then it’s back to school. Time to head out after the Carp again.
And where better to start? More or less where I left off! With only September left on this lake before it closes for the Winter again, that’s also over way to quickly. I even put my light on the car on the way down here, Autumn is certainly rolling in fast. With both rod’s on the spots where I have fished before and a few Spombs over each rod. I just about got set up in day light.
It was around midnight, when my right hand rod was screaming away with this lovely Airfield Lake Common and yet another 16 lber. This was followed by another fish of a similar size at around 3 am.
Lucky me, as the wife has kindly let me out for a night and just before we go away on our holiday. The conditions look very variable, how could I refuse such an offer? I was planning on going on the Airfield lake, just for one last go in that swim. But I also fancied a drive around the Meadow lake on the way down for a look about. After a chat with one of the other syndicate member, this lake was still fishing OK but slower than when it first opened. The average weight was good coming out and after catching a load of small fish, it was time for a change. I settled on this swim as my other two options I fancied where full. The only trouble with this swim were that there were way to many options. As I didn’t want to maker around too much, I opted for the area I had fished before as a starting point. I marked around that area a bit more, I was looking to fish one rod on the drop off and the other on top over the plateau. I was going to have a load of catalyst pellets and Betafin Pellets soaked in CSL Liquid. This is something I am starting to play with for the Winter on this lake. I also Spombed out a kilo or so of Catalyst boilies.
All set up at the end of the point, the wind will be pushing down here soon.
I was happily watching the world go by, when the left hand rod pulled the bobbin up to the top, as I was using back lead, the rod tip was banging up and down. I quickly pulled into the fish which was kiteing hard left and was going to cause me a big problem if it got between me and the small island next to me or even behind it. I was pumping the fish towards me and finally got it under the rod tip, I was happy to let in plod about for sometime, until I slipped it over the cord.
Not a bad start a nice 20 lber
With rod re-baited and back on the same spot. I Spombed out a couple more times to keep the swim topped up. I needed to hold the fish there hopefully as there were plenty of angler’s fishing tonight.
I had to wait until 0330 before the next rod went off and this time it was the right hand one and this fish was determined to go around the left hand side of the point. I was forced to dip the rod under water and hopefully avoid the over hanging tree. With my back lead on the bottom, I just about did. After its’ second lunge off I got the fish in front of me, I clipped the branches of the tree but luckily it came out with no difficulties. It was now safely under the rod tip and trying its best to charge up and down the margins. Not a happy fish but soon in the net again.
Another low twenty, which is nice. I redid the rod, flicked it back onto the baited area and had a look at the pics and the video. On the video it had the mist and light rain blowing by. It looks great!
My next came at around 7 am and was also on the right hand rod. It also tried the same stunt as the previous fish. However, things are so much easier in the daylight and the tree was negotiated much better and a nice mirror slipped over the cord.
This one was just under 20 lb. It’s so nice to see a mirror, as the other lake is 95% commons.
That was a nice session and a good way to finish before my break.
I am back in the same swim as before. As you know, I am convinced that there are bigger fish to be had in this area than I have had. I will be away for a couple of weeks with the family soon, so I have come to the conclusion that I will stick with it. When I get back, have a rethink of my plan if it doesn’t come together. I just need to get passed the smaller fish.
It certainly looks the part, if that’s possible of a swim. Going with the same tactics as my previous trips on this swim and we shall see if I can avoid the smaller carp this time around. I am using 22 mm Catalyst bottom bait again.
The first take came around midnight and was followed by another about 2 am. Both fish were mid double again and as it was raining. I certainly was not mucking about with the camera. Not sure when the next take was but it was dark and dry, so managed a quick snap for the blog.
There were plenty of fish crashing about still but generally they were all over this area. With the wind pushing onto this bank and the way sound travels, they must have been a good distance away, as no more fish were banked.
Very pleasant morning and I was able to dry my kit off, which is always a bonus.
With my weekend success and still with the believe that there are lumps in this area. I am back in the same spot, however I have put both rods out onto the area which produced all the runs, with the exception of one.
Its certainly looking very moody and I am hoping for no rain, I only have my brolly with me, as my friend recently discovered a very good mosquito replant called Ex4 Life System .
It’s working wonders and it’s OK to spray on fabrics – in fact you don’t spray it on yourself at all but on your clothes. They can be washed and it last for 3 washes. So far the mosquitoes have kept away but as I don’t have the courage yet to spray my bivvy. I thought I would spray an old JRC one I have and see how it goes! I have also done my Air Shroud and that was OK as well.
I have also set up the video camera and recorded some footage of the Fox Warrior rods, I have been testing, as it’s time to write up a review.
Nice action shot
I quickly counted out the wraps, flicked the rods onto the spots and then set about spombing my normal mix of CatalystPellets and boilies.
I was still using the 22mm Catalyst bottom baits however I had opted for a snowman rig on one rod with a nice 12mm white Catalyst Pop Ups .
I also think that I am the only person on tonight, 56 acres to myself. Perfect.
Overnight, I managed a couple of low doubles but no signs of the larger fish that I am after.
It was a bit fresh this morning and a nice mist was blowing across the water as I was packing up.
Is it ever going to stop raining in August for more than two days? I do hope so, as part of the annual family two week holiday is in Wales and the wife not very keen on this camping game. We may just end up in a cottage, somewhere or even two week’s doing day trips around Hampshire & Dorset.
After looking at the forecast and the fish I had heard in the night the last time. I was extremely keen to get back into this swim. I am very confident that the fish are in this area and for some reason or another this swim has not been fished that much this year.
I had my girls with me for a few hour’s and they loved sitting on the bivvy with the door open at the top.
As I had put some bait out before I left the other morning. I simply clipped up a flicked the baits out onto those spots and Spombed some bait over the top. By the time I had done all this, the rain arrived. This was perfect timing and one of the reason the girls came with me was to avoid another wet set up. I ended up with an angler to my right, way out on the island and also one to my left on the other island, which I though could be a help to push the fish over my way.
My rainy view
After the wife had collected the kids, I settled down to a rainy night. watched a few things on Netflix and then dropped off to sleep. All that happened in the night was a load of liners, this kept me on edge for a take and the man on the island had a bad cough oh and the geese were behind me. This resulted in a very sleepy Richard in the morning.
I re-baited the left hand around at first light, as I had convinced myself that the bait must have gone. Nope, still on there, I was amazed that I had no fish at this point. I drifted off to sleep again, only to be woken by a take, this was a 11 lb ish Common who gave me the run around for its size. It’s the tails on these carp, they are little pocket rockets.
I re-baited around 11 am with a few Spombs of pellet and groundbait-mix, with a few broken catalyst boilies and fresh bottom baits. I wanted to let the swim settle down for the day and coming night with no more bait being put out unless I had a few more fish.
As the sun was setting on my last night, I had totalled 5 five all about 12 lb. I think I am trying out the Hutchy bait pyramid effect, trouble is I will be at home by the time the big fish arrive.
This little greedy pig, picked up a 22mm Catalyst bottom bait.
I managed to get a few action shots, a good few wildlife photos and I bit more video footage. I am getting on great with the Fox Warrior 22ft 3.25tc rod’s, that I have been sent by Tackle Fanatics and the warrior landing net is finally getting a good test as well.
The night was full of sleep and shooting stars, I think the fish were watching as well. Not a sniff until around 7 am, just after I had taken a few photos of a kingfisher sitting on the rods.
Another hard fighting airfield lake carp.
The biggest of the trip, think I may be back in this swim soon. I feel there is defiantly fish here and I am sure there will be a lump about amongst them.
It’s pack up time and a very pleasant day for a walk in the New Forest with the family.
I
