UK Carp & Coarse Fishing

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Farewell to Airfield Lake

This trip didn’t get off to the best start. Before I’d even wet a line, one of the back wheels on my barrow had a puncture. Then, as I started unloading, I realised my bank sticks were still at home in the fishing cupboard — the very cupboard I’m meant to empty completely before every trip to avoid this exact situation. Clearly, a bit of fine-tuning is still needed in my system.

Thankfully, things soon took a turn for the better. Ian, ever the legend, brought down his pike pod to save the day, and to my relief, the swim I’d been baiting up all month was free. You guessed it — the same one as last week. History tells me this swim produces well at this time of year, and I’d have been daft not to fish it again.

The recent clock change threw me off slightly, though. Arriving an hour later than usual meant I’d missed my preferred baiting window — something I’ve found to be crucial in autumn when those early evening bites are often the difference between a quiet night and a memorable one. So, I wasted no time getting some bait in.

By the time darkness fell, rods were positioned perfectly, and I finally began to relax, music playing quietly as I lay back on the bedchair. Then, at 21:40, a single bleep from the left-hand rod turned into an absolute screamer. After a lively scrap, another beautiful common rolled into the net — my first fish of the trip. A cracking 22lb 14oz fish, and fittingly, it came to the Boilie Bites rod.

Just before midnight, at 23:31, the same rod tore off again. This one fought hard under the tip before slipping over the cord — a lovely 14lb 9oz common.

Then, in the early hours, 01:58, that rod was away yet again. This fish was far stronger, determined to bury itself in the snags to my left. I had to sink the tip and really lean into it, convinced a few times it had nicked a branch, but eventually I turned it and guided it over the net cord. Another solid 23lb 8oz common — a proper battle.

By 03:43, the left-hand rod was away again — another common, 18lb 1oz, safely landed after yet another tussle. Then, at 05:10, I was in again! Sleep was looking unlikely at this point, but I wasn’t complaining. Another muscular 21lb 14oz common made it five carp for the night.

By sunrise, I’d managed maybe two hours’ sleep between takes. I even had a small 12lb common around 07:40 before deciding to bait up early. I was shattered, but I wanted to see whether feeding at dawn would make a difference to the daytime activity. Ian arrived around nine, just as drizzle turned into a steady downpour. He pitched his brolly next to mine, and when the wind swung northerly, we were both grateful for the extra cover — it was bitterly cold. The carp had clearly moved off to the back of the wind, showing occasionally out in the calmer water.

It wasn’t until 15:31 that the right-hand rod finally burst into life, producing a lively 15lb 15oz common. After Ian headed home and darkness settled in, I crawled into the sleeping bag, thinking I might actually get some rest. No such luck — at 19:35, the right-hand rod screamed off. Another 21lb 14oz common, swiftly followed at 20:39 by a 19lb 1oz fish from the same spot. The carp were clearly on the feed again, despite the clear skies and dropping temperatures. Between bites, I took a moment to look up — the stars were dazzling, satellites sliding silently overhead, and I couldn’t help but smile.

At first light, around 06:30, a few bleeps turned out to be a small tench. As the sky glowed pink and gold over the tower and forest, I started to think about whether to stay another night or call it a trip. The barrow tyre needed fixing before next week, and with heavy rain and 40mph winds forecast, the idea of another sleepless, stormy night wasn’t exactly tempting.

Then, at 07:50, the left-hand rod was away again, only for the hook to pull in the margins — frustratingly close to double figures for the trip. Still, I stayed optimistic, and sure enough, at 08:53, another run began. This time I landed a solid 22lb 4oz common — my ninth carp and the perfect fish for a final water shot on Airfield Lake.

The results spoke for themselves. Across the session, I’d compared Boilie Bites to pellets in my solid PVA bags — the final tally was eleven takes (including the tench and lost fish), with nine of them coming to the Boilie Bites. A clear edge for the colder months ahead.

By mid-morning, I’d decided to call it a day. Time to say farewell to Airfield Lake until next March. The barrow issue meant a few extra trips to the car, but at 11:48, just as I was halfway through packing up, the left-hand rod tore off once more. After a strong fight in the calm water behind the wind, another pristine 23lb 10oz common slipped into the net — the perfect ending to an unforgettable session.

A fitting farewell indeed.

Until next time,
Richard

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My original plan was to spend a few nights up in Suffolk with my oldest friend, Rob, but unfortunately, things didn’t quite line up. Instead, I found myself with four nights on Airfield Lake. The conditions weren’t looking great, with heavy rain forecast — though apparently, we still need it. As far as I know, there’s still a hosepipe ban in place.

I’d been up in Rutland last week, visiting family, staying in one of the lodges at the Rutland Hotel — absolutely fabulous spot. The water levels there were low, but not quite as bad as I expected.

Regardless of the weather, I decided to get set up today. Getting the rods out early gives me an extra chance of nicking a carp or two.

I had a couple of swims in mind, but in truth, when I arrived, it was easiest to set up near the car park. As luck would have it, that spot turned out to be one of my planned options — the double gravel swim I fished last time. The other option was the swim I’d used previously when the wind was pushing hard onto that bank.

Lately, I’ve been thinking more about fishing on the back of the wind. With a strong south-westerly due to blow through all week, the double gravel swim felt like the better choice. The low pressure, however, had me slightly concerned — I’m convinced it’s been putting the carp off feeding. Oddly enough, the so-called perfect carp-catching conditions don’t always seem to be the best ones.

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15:52 hrs — Out of the blue, the right-hand buzzer burst into life. The carp tore off to the left, and I had to keep it away from the snags along the margins. It quickly became clear I’d need to get back into the swim and sink the tip to avoid any issues. After a tense few minutes, I had it under control and spent the next ten minutes in the rain, waiting for the fish to tire. These carp don’t give up easily — those large tails keep them powering on. Eventually, I slipped the net under it.

21lb 11oz Common

The perfect start to what I hoped would turn into a cracking session.

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05:07 hrs — I was already awake when the rod went off. It’s rutting season in the nearby forest, and the noise they make all night long is unreal — I wish they’d stick to daylight hours! I was deep into the fight and close to netting the fish when the other rod screamed off. I had to apply a little more pressure than usual to get the first one in the net, but I managed it safely and secured the net on the stand.

16lb 9oz Common

05:19 hrs — I picked up the second rod; the carp was heading left toward the snags. I moved down to the right-hand side of the swim to guide it away, and soon it was in the net too.

12lb Common

By the time I was sorted and back in the bivvy, the heavy rain had returned. Maybe that’s why I was awake in the first place. It was perfect timing to call the wife — she was off to Ireland for a few days — and I was hoping to catch up on the USA Grand Prix later, though I can’t watch it live from the lake. No social media for me until I’ve seen it.

Come on, Max — even if it finished 12 hours ago!

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08:29 hrs — The left-hand rod was away. As the carp belted out into open water, the other rod screamed off too. With the first fish fighting hard, I focused on landing it, hoping the second would stay on. After some effort, I safely netted the first, ran back, and picked up the other rod — it was still on! Unfortunately, halfway in, the hook pulled. It must’ve found something out there while I was busy.

23lb 9oz Common

That’ll do nicely — and I even avoided the rain.

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14:05 hrs — I was halfway through catching up on some much-needed sleep when a drop-back woke me. Nothing at that time, but the next take was definitely a carp. Another powerhouse with a big tail that just wouldn’t come off the bottom.

16lb 12oz Common

Lovely fish — those tails really do give them that extra punch.

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15:06 hrs — The right-hand rod was away again, the carp kiting hard left. I moved up the bank trying to turn it, but it wasn’t having any of it, heading straight for the snags. It went under or over my other lines — chaos — but I stayed focused on keeping it out of trouble. After a tense battle right under the branches, it finally turned and came up.

21lb 3oz Common

Another chunky one, all tail and power.

After sorting everything out, I made up a few fresh PVA bags. Around 17:00 hrs, after a few phone calls, the sun finally made an appearance — just long enough to start drying things before the next downpour arrived.

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21:42 hrs — The right-hand rod screamed off again. I was deep in a dream and woke up completely confused. This carp fought almost identically to the last one, and although it felt huge, I think that’s down to the half-tail — it’s not one I’ll name, but I’ll definitely remember it!

20lb 6oz Common

Both rods were reset with fresh bags.

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00:51 hrs — The same rod again. I was sure I’d dropped the big one earlier, as I’d had to tighten the line quite a bit, but once these carp move into the area, they keep mooching around in the silt for food.

23lb 12oz Common

Another solid fish — time for a fresh bag and some much-needed sleep.

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08:43 hrs — Woke to a calm, glassy lake and patchy clouds. It looked like I might finally get a chance to dry everything out — the rod and bivvy bags were still soaked after setup. I decided to rebait around 10:30 hrs, as it had been a while since the last bite.

09:21 hrs — Midway through my first coffee, the buzzer screamed again. A powerful fish that almost gained the upper hand, heading straight for the snags on my right. I held firm and eventually turned it. After a few more lunges, it slipped over the cord.

22lb 13oz Common

These fish fight like demons — once they’re over 25lb, they seem calmer, but these twenties are relentless.

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At 10:30 hrs, I baited up as planned — the best window on this lake, I reckon. The rest of the day was a mix of drying gear between showers.

15:17 hrs — As the drizzle returned, the rod was away again. Then the heavens opened. Despite the soaking, I wasn’t complaining — another solid twenty graced the net.

20lb 13oz Common

Once everything was sorted, I freshened up the other rod and finally got some sunshine around

15:57 hrs. Hoping for another fruitful night’s fishing, I started thinking about my next move. With another windy, wet front due Wednesday night, I wasn’t sure the extra night would be worth it. I’d review the forecast in the morning before making a decision.

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I got my head down early but was woken again by the deer — they’re unbelievably loud during rutting season.

After checking the latest weather, I decided I’d probably head home tomorrow. I don’t fancy sitting through another 12 hours of rain, and the chances of more carp in those conditions are slim. I’ll confirm in the morning after the forecasts update.

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I woke to a misty morning. By 09:00 hrs, the sun broke through, lighting up the far-bank trees and drying the bivvy fast. I was pretty sure that was my cue to wrap up — a heavy band of rain was due overnight, and the carp here don’t seem to like it. I reckon the shallow water and noise of the rain just put them off.

It’s been an enjoyable three nights out here on my own, surrounded by wildlife. This place really is special.

Until next time.

Richard

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The weather this week was completely different from last week—northerly winds, minus temperatures at night, and daytime highs of only six degrees. With that in mind, I really didn’t fancy being exposed to the full force of the wind. The tricky part was that the wind was blowing from the north and north-west, which affects a lot of the swims on this lake. Realistically, I needed to be up at the north end, but there’s only one proper swim there, and I already knew it was occupied. Another angler was set up on the south bank as well. You can definitely tell the weather is starting to put people off coming out.

Until next time,
Richard

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Sometimes, the best sessions happen when you least expect them. As luck would have it, I managed to squeeze in a couple of unexpected nights on the bank this week. After finishing my gardening jobs for the day — plenty of lawns cut and borders trimmed — I packed up the tools, swapped the mower for the rods, and made my way down to the lake.

I nearly drove to Meadow Lake out of interest, but deep down I knew I had to stick to my October plan: make the most of Airfield Lake before it closes for the winter. By 1:30 p.m., I was pulling into The Tower car park, which, to my delight, was completely empty. That sense of peace and opportunity you get when a lake lies still before you never gets old. I’d been on the same swim for my last few sessions, but I fancied a change of scenery — something to refresh my perspective before the gates shut until March.

Spotting Something Special

I made my way around to the second island, which had recently been strimmed — path and swims looking tidy. While scanning the water, a couple of weeks back, I noticed something special: a carp launched itself clear out of the lake not once, but twice. Even from over 300 yards away, it looked big. The sheer distance made me realise just how much presence that fish had. That was enough for me — I knew exactly where I wanted to be for the next couple of nights.

The middle swim looked perfect, though I was slightly concerned about the shallow gravel bar just a few yards out. A quick check with the marker rod showed around 1.5 feet of depth on top — shallow, but workable. Hopefully, it wouldn’t cause any problems… though, as always, time would tell.

After watching the water for a while longer, I picked out where the carp were showing most frequently. The fish here are notoriously cagey about giving themselves away, but I felt confident I’d read it right. I decided to keep the baiting light since I hadn’t fished this side for some time. No point in piling it in and spooking them before I’d even settled in.

Setting the Trap

My mix for this trip was my current favourite: Nutrabaits boilies and solubles, a good helping of Jurassic particles, hemp and buckwheat, and plenty of pellets. I also added the mix into my solid PVA bags, sticking with what had worked well on my recent sessions. The white Blank Saver wafters completed the setup.

At 17:42, while quietly watching the water, I noticed a twitch on the line. My buzzer was off — good thing I was paying attention! After a straightforward fight, I slipped the net under my first carp of the session.

23lb 12oz Common.
A perfect start — and a lovely sunset to match.

As darkness began to fall, the kettle went on, and dinner was cooking. By 20:08, Netflix was playing quietly in the bivvy when the left-hand rod tore off. The fish came in fairly easily at first, but then started charging around the margins. I couldn’t get its head up, and by the time I landed it, the kettle had boiled itself dry — oops.

22lb 8oz Common.
Two carp before dinner. That’ll do nicely. Time to reheat the tea and relax.

Then, at 21:51, just as I’d tidied up after eating, the left-hand rod screamed off again. This fish gave me a proper battle, twisting and turning in the shallows. Another one in the net — a stunning 26lb 4oz Common. I was buzzing now. The bait was clearly doing its job, though I started to wonder how long it would last; I’d only put out about eight big Spombs.

The Nightly Chaos

At 23:35, I was just dozing off when the rod was away again. It came in easily, and I thought it was just a small one, but under the rod tip, it suddenly powered off — three strong runs later, it finally went in the net.
21lb 14oz Common.

Then, just after midnight (00:15), the other rod finally joined in. The fish bolted left and tried to kite under my second line, but I managed to steer it clear and safely net a lively 10lb Common. What a start to the night — four takes before 1 a.m.

At 05:15, another take. This one felt heavier and made a determined run straight out into the pond, then kited left toward danger. Unfortunately, my fears were confirmed when the hook pinged free. Always frustrating, but that’s part of the game here.

By 07:10, it happened again — another hook pull, same area. In daylight, I could finally see what was going on. I’ve learned to stand on the highest part of the swim and hold my rod high to get the line up over any obstacles, but the lake’s low water level this autumn means less clearance. It’s possible the carp are reaching submerged boulders and using them to shake the hook.

Another thought crossed my mind — perhaps these were smaller fish or a different strain with softer mouths, making the hooks less secure. Either way, losing two on the bounce never feels good.

Adjusting the Plan

By 08:00, with my second brew of the morning in hand, I started rethinking my approach. The fish had fed hard through the night — surely there couldn’t be much bait left out there. I debated whether to bait one wrap shorter to avoid the snag zone or even move entirely, but given the success so far, I decided to stay put for now. I’d get the marker rod out later to check for another smooth area close by — just in case.

At 09:15, I remembered a weird take on the left-hand rod earlier and realised the right-hand rod had fallen short on the recast in the night. Definitely time to refresh everything and get more bait out. Light drizzle began to fall, but my bivvy was warm and cosy. By 10:30, it was the perfect time for a quick nap — I had a feeling the lunchtime bite might be worth being rested for.

Sure enough, at 10:42, while listening to the Korda Uncut Podcast (which I really enjoy, by the way), I drifted off slightly… only to be jolted awake by the sound of the alarm. After the frustration of the earlier hook pulls, I was relieved when this one went straight into the net — a 16lb Common. Not a monster, but a very welcome fish that lifted my confidence again.

Afternoon Reflections

As the day rolled on, I kept tweaking small details. The rig was working well, though I adjusted the hook length slightly and sharpened up the points. The last two fish had been nailed perfectly in the bottom lip — a good sign the tweaks were paying off.

By 17:31, just as the kettle started whistling again, the left-hand rod rattled off once more. This time, another 10lb Common — not the biggest of the trip, but proof the spot was still producing. As the sun set across the water, painting the sky in gold and orange, I couldn’t help but smile. The Airfield carp were on the move, and I’d made the most of it.

The Final Morning

The night passed quietly. I woke at 08:25 to bright sunshine and completely flat calm water — not a ripple, not a bleep. After such an active session, the stillness felt strange, almost too quiet. My gut told me the carp had drifted off somewhere else. They’re nomadic here, constantly moving with the conditions, and I reckon I’d simply been in the right place at the right time for that feeding window.

By 09:30, I began a slow, steady pack-up. The sun had warmed everything nicely, so it was a good opportunity to dry out the gear before heading home. I took a final look over the lake — the mirror-like surface, the distant trees reflected perfectly — and felt that quiet contentment only fishing can bring.

Over two nights, I’d landed seven carp to 26lb 4oz, lost two, and had one of those sessions that reminds you why you keep coming back. The mixture of unexpected opportunity, quick thinking, and just a touch of luck had come together beautifully.

October might be winding down, but Airfield Lake still has a few surprises left, and I’ll be making the most of them before the winter gates close.

Until next time,
Richard

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