UK Carp & Coarse Fishing

Trip 142 Carp Fishing (2016)

Posted on December 27, 2016 by richardhandel

On my way home from my Pike trip I took a drive around the lake, to see if there were any signs of Carp. There was no sign, so I chucked some bait in some likely spots and headed home, to sort the kid’s out. I head back down here around 7pm.

When I arrived back, there was still someone angling on the lake – mostly due to the way it was fishing (which was pretty bad). I knew that it had to switch on and I just need to be here.

I headed to one of the swims that I fancied and made up a couple of small bags of chopped Catalyst boilies, with a natural pop up and then dipped them into the food dip. This gave them a bit of a turbo boost and then flicked them out onto the spots in had baited this afternoon. At around 1030 the righthand rod slowly bursts into life and after a good fight, a nice common was laying on the mat.

21lb 12oz

Not bad going and I was very happy with a bite so early on into the night. Once I had tidied up and got the fish back, I lay on my bed and there where the odd fish topping in the distance. Maybe they had woken up today. Time to get my head down as have an dark o’clock alarm call!

That fish turned out to be the only one but I was very happy with my results.

Until next time

Richard

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Spotted Fin

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Trip No 141 Pike Fishing (2016)

Posted on December 26, 2016 by richardhandel

I woke up this morning with the urge to go Pike fishing – which I have been planning to do for a while but have got sucked back into the Carp by the good weather. Unfortunately, Mr Carp had other plans!

This is my first area, I will give it 30 to 40 minutes and then move onto the next area.

After a couple of moves I ended up in this nice weir pool. This must be worth an hour or so, as there are plenty of options.

Moved again. This isn’t funny. Where are those Pike hiding?

Last swim of the day and lost one straight away – with head shaking and a hard fighting double. I will spend the last 40 minutes here and then need to make a trip around the lake, in order to check it out for tonights trip. Then off to collect the kid’s from school, sort out tea and back down the lake by 7pm. Dedicated or mad? Only mad if I blank, I would say.

Until next time

Richard

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Spotted Fin

Asso Fishing Line

Fishspy

Posted in Asso Fishing Line, Course Fishing, Fishing, Hampshire Avon, photography, pike, Pike fishing, Pike Floats, Spotted Fin | Leave a comment

Trip 140 Carp Fishing (2016)

Posted on December 22, 2016 by richardhandel

I arrived at about 6.50 this evening, there were a couple more angler’s on the lake now. Luckily, the area I was hoping to fish was still free. Before I went home this afternoon, I closed the line up on the spots, this paid off, I was all set up with 40 minutes of my return! No need for any bait, as I had dropped a few handfuls of Catalyst boilies out then as well. All that was need was a couple of small bags, a fresh pop up and a hook check – I was done.

The night past with only a couple of beeps. This gave me some confidence I was in the right area. Unfortunately, my phone alarm sounded, signalling it was home time.

Until next time

Richard

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Spotted Fin

Asso Fishing Line

Fishspy

Posted in Asso Fishing Line, Carp fishing, Fishing, photography, Pop Ups, Spotted Fin, The Catalyst | Leave a comment

Trip 139 Carp Fishing (2016)

Posted on December 21, 2016 by richardhandel

After having a look around the lake and a chat with a fellow Sydicate member, I fancied a change. So I set up on the (hopefully) easier lake for a few hours today and then I was going to have another look around and work out my swim for tonight.

The sun was finally starting to appear for a moment this morning, then the rain came back. I had picked an area where I had seen the larger fish showing in this lake, in an attempt to avoid the smaller fish, that are slowly being removed.

Unfortunately, no joy on the fish front.

Until next time

Richard

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2572

Spotted Fin

Asso Fishing Line

Fishspy

Posted in Carp fishing | Leave a comment

Trip No 138 Carp Fishing (2016)

Posted on December 20, 2016 by richardhandel

With the weather looking perfect over this week & into the weekend, Pike fishing was still off the menu. The temperature had reasonably up to nearly 15 degree – amazing as last week it was -7!

As it is now the lead up to Christmas and the weather being so nice, the lake was very busy with 8 people on. I realise that this is not that many, however more then the normal and I am sure the fish would have noticed. With that in mind, I headed down the other end of the lake and at the back of the wind. Even with the warm wind this area would be the warmer part of the lake and hopefully still have some fish around from my earlier night trip (when I was lucky enough to land two fish).

Got myself an early Christmas present. In the shape of this kettle, hand carved by Neane Valley Carving.

One rod was in the margins and one in the open water. I baited both spots with groundbait and 12mm Catalyst boilies, finished with natural Pop Ups over the top.

There was quite a lot of rain in the late afternoon and evening. I was hoping this wouldn’t put the carp off. I sat up until gone midnight in the hope of seeing any signs of fish, as the wind and rain had gone. The lake was like a millpond.

The night was very still, other then the party of mice who had that decided that my brolly was a good place to investigate! I even had on run past my face whilst I was in my bag. Boy, that gave me a shock. The dam things where investigating everything. I learnt many year’s ago, to zip up all my bags at night, as you never know what goes in and out of them at night. Rodents will release themselves when ever they feel the need.