UK Carp & Coarse Fishing

Trip 78 Carp Fishing – 2017

Posted on September 18, 2017 by richardhandel

With the nights drawing in and Autumn well underway, I have returned to the Meadow Lake for a quick night. The first swim I stopped at, I instantly spotted a couple of fish roll – choice made. With no one opposite me, in fact other than) a day angler in the day bay behind me (about 4 swims down), I was the only one on here!

It was looking very moody and any minute it would rain. I quickly checked my notes for the number of wraps and got the Rod’s on the spots. I then spombed out 5 loads over each area, just of Catalyst boilies. I didn’t fancy any Bream, well not to many anyway.

The first take came around 22.15 (as I was dosing off), the right hand rod gave a couple of bleeps, paused, then a single bleep. I was up and by the rod’s in a flash. There was another single bleep and the bobbin pulled up tight to the buzzer. I pulled into a very heavy lump, which I needed to get past the overhanging tree to my right. Lucky the fish did not kite that much and I was easily able to get the fish under the rod tip and under control. Now the long battle to get the fish up off the bottom and into the net started. There were a couple of moments when I thought the fish was off around the point to my left. It was quite straight forward and the beast was in the net.

Now that will do me. 30 lb 5 oz of stunning Common and another fish on the Finamino bait soak.

The second take also came from this rod and there was no mucking around this time. This fish was flying across the lake and in the right direction – well away from the snag. With an all to quick fight, a Common around the 16 lb mark was in the net and quickly returned to its home.

The third take happened just like the one before, it absolutely ripped the line off the reel and I was onto another hard fighting Meadow Lake carp. It did have me in the tree for just one scary moment but I was way to quick. I had the rod tip under the water, the moment I felt it touch the branches and all was OK. The fish was under control again and safely under my rod tip for the next few minutes until a slipped it over the cord.

Just over the twenty pound Mark by 5 ozs.

This turned out to be my last fish of the night – pretty happy with that.

What a pleasant morning and time to head home.

Until next time

Richard

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Posted in Asso Fishing Line, big pits, carp, Carp fishing, Carp Tackle Supplies, Carp Talk Magazine, Catalyst pellet, Fishing, Fishing Video's, Fox Warror 12ft 3.25tc Rods, Spotted Fin, Tackle Fanatic, The Catalyst | Leave a comment

Trip 77 Barbel Fishing- 2017

Posted on September 13, 2017 by richardhandel

This evening I fancied a change. I was getting the itch to fish the river again and perhaps a Hampshire Avon Barbel may grace my net?

I do love the tranquillity of the river and it’s certainly a nice break from the lakes. I just don’t get on there enough, this in turns impacts my results. I would love to spend a few months on here but I just can’t get that Carp bug out of my head. I have to do a fair bit of walking and spotting the Carp. That side of thing will certainly get re-visited later on this year. I just need to dedicate more time to the Barbel. We shall see.

No joy by 10 pm, which is home time.

Until next time

Richard

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Posted in Barbel Fishing, Hampshire Avon, River Avon, river level, Spotted Fin, The Catalyst | Leave a comment

Trip 76 Carp Fishing- 2017

Posted on September 8, 2017 by richardhandel

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.

Which was a nice start back.

Until next time

Richard

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Trip 75 Carp Fishing- 2017

Posted on September 1, 2017 by richardhandel

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.

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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.

Until next time

Richard

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Trip 74 Carp Fishing- 2017

Posted on August 29, 2017 by richardhandel

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.