Vintage 2011

From Straits Mill this year Neil and I had:

"76 Carp"
3 Twenties
65 Doubles
8 Singles

From Laundry Lake with only a hand full of short sessions:

"22 Carp"
3 Twenties
19 Doubles

Other Lakes:
2 Twenties
10 Doubles
?? (Can't remember) Singles

Autumn Glory

Fished Straits yesterday evening, the carp were rolling out in the middle but I managed to bag a "Two Tone" 19lb Common from the tree margin. I was lucky to land him after my line became snagged with some snagged line! Neil was dead baiting and managed a Jack Pike and was also getting plenty off action from the sneaky greedy eels. The temperate then dropped rapidly and the unhooking mat even began icing up.

Eleven o'clock

15.4lb

Meet to far away!

15.10lb The little Orange

Another big double

Went fishing in the birdcage yesterday evening, had a few feeding close in but it was a bait fished in the silt that produced a run that resulted in a cut off on a mystery snag but after retackling this old mirror of 19lb 4oz turned up. Graham was next door in the Alex swim and had a 4lb bream, apart from that we didn't get any more.

Stumpy common

Fished the birdcage swim this evening and had this short bodied 18lb common that fought for 20 minutes! Missed a run too, saw a huge mirror early on that looked about mid twenties.

On the move.

Arrived at Straits this morning for a session up to lunchtime.
Started by fishing the clear patches as usual but after a while it became obvious there were not any carp about so I had a look about. Saw a big fish in the birdcage swim then some a bit further down. There were loads hanging around near the gap swim so I stealthily set up close in. After a few fish had came in and fed without being caught I went up the steps for a better look. Just then a carp came in and started feeding over the left hand bait and I saw him suddenly shake his head like crazy before charging off ripping line off the baitrunner! After a really good scrap with the fish lunging around on the surface like a pike, I landed it, an immaculate mirror of 11lb.
The swim was now trashed so I moved again, right up to the end of the shallows. The water here was now only about a foot deep and carp were feeding in the dying weed. I cast one rod on to a gravel patch and set up a chod rig to fish across to the other side. After a couple of hours I was just getting ready to move again when the chod rig slowly moved off. I struck into the fish which plodded off along the far edge for a few yards before rolling on the surface, at that distance it looked like another low double but seemed to be wallowing a bit in the shallow water and I managed to draw it in without any fuss. I got it within about 15 yards away and saw that it was the fat fully scaled mirror! My nerves really started going as I knew she would be a good size and it didn't help that she was almost impossible to get really close because of her bulk. With the net pole and my left arm at full stretch I netted her, apart from a split in her tail she was in perfect condition and went 20lb 1oz. A fish I've always wanted to catch!
I had to take her halfway up the lake to find some deep margins for her to waddle off.
After that I moved for the third and last time to the birdcage swim. There were a few nice fish moving through from time to time including one of the big mirrors which looked a mid twenty. I set both rods up close in and after a couple of hours had a take right under the rod tip and after a good scrap in the deep water had a nice 13lb 6oz common th round the session off.

Junior!!!!!

Fished Straits this evening and had one off the stocky Mirrors at 11.4lb. In three season's this carp has put on maybe over 7lbs in weight, it may never have been caught before and in another three season's this maybe a twenty?

Two many 12lb "ers" and a Brace!

Fished Straits on late Monday afternoon, first fish was stalked out off the dead tree swim at 12.6lb (Stunning Common). Moved to the compass swim had another 12lb "er" from under the tree. Then while weighing a fish from the patch swim, the tree rod burned off for a brace shot of two carp both 12lb "ers"

Another Common

Fished yesterday from 12-8pm and had to wait until the last hour for this fantastic 18lb Common!

About time!!!

Sneaked off to Straits yesterday evening and was surprised to see just one car in the car park. Spoke to the guy fishing in swim no.1 (the dreaded chairmans cup blank for me!) and he had caught 4 fish and was the only person there all day!

I had a good look around and found a few milling about in the giant weedbed up in the corner and saw a couple roll in front of the point so plumped for the compass swim (as usual!).

I put one rod out near where a fish had rolled over the silt and a close in rod over the big clear patch to the left of the point. A few fish soon came in close and started feeding so I sat down well back and waited for some action. After an hour I had a twitchy take on the silt rod and reeled in a 1/2lb bream! Soon after a local guy came down for a chat (after making me jump out of my skin by suddenly appearing!) and I had another take on the silt rod that surged all over the place like a train, I thought it would be a good double. It turned out to be the parrot mouthed 12lb common I'd caught from the 'Alex' swim a couple of weeks ago!

I now recast this rod into the channel between the end of the point and the weedbed.

Soon after it was my turn to make him jump out of his skin as the clear patch rod which he was sitting near went off without warning! This fish hardly fought at all and after a fight of less than a minute the guy kindly netted it for me. It felt fairly heavy but we both agreed it looked around 16lb. I zeroed the scales with the sling and weighed it, 20lb absolutely on the nose! I couldn't believe it! After a few shots I put him back and as it swam off saw that the fish was unusually wide across the back. Graham arrived about a minute later so missed out on seeing it.

The guy knew Graham and we all chatted for a bit. As I lowered the bait back in the channel rod flew off and after a short fight I landed an old looking 14lb 2oz common. The guy went off home at about 9pm and around 9.30pm the channel rod screamed off but the hook pulled after a few seconds but I wasn't too bothered.

With a Straits twenty finally under my belt (had to catch 26 other carp first this year from there!) and the repeat captures I made the decision to make this the last season there. But still a few months left so maybe some more of the bigger ones will be caught?

Bank holiday weekend stragglers.

Graham and myself went down to Straits for 3 hours on monday evening, I had a couple of fish, an immaculate 14lb 6oz common from open water and a huge tailed 13lb 8oz common from under the rod tip. Not as many carp showing as recently, Graham blanked but he's had 5 twenties this year to my 1 twenty so it won't get him much sympathy!
Incidentally I have caught both these carp already this year.

"One whisker"

After a heavy night of showers the rain eased of about seven. After losing one fish to a hook pull and one in the pads, I was finally awarded with this 20.8lb Common carp! (Picture with little Emma)

A couple of nice doubles Graham caught when we fished in the torrential rain last thursday evening. He caught them from the 'Birdcage' swim, I was in the 'Alex' swim next door, blanked!

It's Stocky!!!

I had a really good second interview for a job today so decided that I ought to build on my good fortune and get another quick session down Straits!
I arrived at about 7.30pm and found a few carp in the weedy corner so put a bit of feed over the clear patch next to the compass swim on the left. After just a few seconds a huge common drifted over then spooked away, it was easily the longest fish I have seen in the water down there, the fish was easily mid twenty. A few fish were soon feeding over the patch including a big mirror of about 20lb. I stealthily lowered in my bait, a tiger wrapped in feed paste behind two of the feeding fish and waited for action. The second rod was fished round the other side of the bush with a plain tiger and much less bait to try and trick any fish lurking to the side of the patch. It was this rod that screamed off first and after a good scrap I landed a common of 15lb. Soon after recasting I had a knock on the patch rod, then a few minutes later it screamed off. I struck and the fish surged across the clear area towards the weed on the far side, I slowed it and it boiled on the surface and shot off towards the main part of the lake. I slowed it to prevent it going round the point bush and drew it back then played it out in the small clear area which was no mean feat as it was fighting like mad. As I netted it I knew it was a better one and it was an 18lb 6oz common with a two tone colour down one flank.
Then after a few minutes the other rod shot off and I hooked a fish that tore about 30 yards of line off in one go! As soon as it stoppped though I quickly had him in the net, it was one of the stocky mirrors which went in about 3 or 4 years ago, probably just finding out the dangers of eating tiger nuts!
Had another screamer on the same rod a few minutes later but after a big thump it came off, maybe it was that long common or the scaly mirror, who knows?

Back on track

Went back to Straits on wednesday evening and raked out a couple of patches near the compass swim, didn't get any takes over them but had a nice 14lb 8oz common at 9.20pm from under the trusty cave entrance bush on tigers! Tried and tested! I had to give it a bit of stick when it ran left round the point and somehow I got it back, plus the hook fell out in the net! Maybe my luck is changing!

Keeping it under your hat!

Fished Straits on Sunday afternoon, upon arriving the lake was packed! After a walk round I found large groups of carp down the carp park end and decided to fish tigers to the large clear patch four swims down. I didn't have to wait long for a fish with three within an hour and half(12.30 - 2pm?) 9lb ish, 12.4lb & 12.8lb all commons. But all this action had pushed the carp out off the swim area and with other anglers going home I moved further up the lake. I fished the area which is only a rod length out and a few foot deep, but this area had recently produced two stunning nice sized carp which looked to be uncaught this year! You can normally watch them feeding over your bait but the days angling pressure had made the carp a little more nervous, so I watched the rod a little further up the bank. After a couple of hours the rod took a couple off hard knocks and suddenly the line eased away. I could tell instantly the fish was a good size and she battled for a good ten minutes or so, with some strong runs. The fish went to 19lb on the scales and was maybe one off the original stocking, very dark colouring and a massive mouth.

Worse to come

What with all the time spent looking for work and looking after kids with chicken pox, it's not all lazing around when you're on the dole! Monday would be another job interview so with the 2 litte 'uns in bed and wife and eldest watching harry potter I met Graham down Straits on sunday evening.

He had fished well, taking 3 low doubles from the clear patches up the car park end while the rest of the lake was rammed with 12 other weekend anglers! As it quietened down in the evening he moved to the previously occupied compass swim and nicked an ancient 19lb common from a close in patch that I arrived just in time to witness.

He was leaving at 8.30pm and I had seen some more fish when I passed the clear patches so plumped for the 'gap' swim.

About 15 minutes after Graham had left I had a slow take and hooked a carp, somehow drawing it from the clear patch to the clear margins in front of me. I had just got the net out when it rushed to the left of me and transferred the hook to a marginal snag.

I was in a foul mood and was contemplating packing up when the other rod was away! It surged towards the snags to the right of the gap and I clamped down hard and suddenly it turned back toward the weedbed. I steered it round this and soon had it under the rod tip, there was a thump and the lead shot out of the water! The bloody hook had pulled. I bit off the rigs and went home rather than fish the last half hour.

Ever decreasing circles...

Popped back to the 'Alex' swim on friday morning at opening time and fished one under the bush and one on the back of the little island, had a slow take and after quite a good scrap landed a 9lb common! Then fished both rods close in and took a 3lb bream! Getting further away from my first twenty from here.

Margin screamer!

Went down to Strait Mill on friday for a couple of hours. Fished the mega deep 'Alex' swim close in, one right under the rod tip near the left hand bush and the other a couple of rod lengths out in the silt. Used tigers on both rods and fed with a mixture of tigers and 'feedcake'.
The silt rod started getting masses of bubbles coming up and a couple of knocks at about 8.30pm so I sat down next to it. All of a sudden the other rod had a ridiculously fast take, the rod was bouncing and shaking all over the place, with the baitrunner buzzing like a wasp! I struck into the fish and it swum straight back towards me, then just circled the rod tip for a few minutes until I netted it. Another old looking common at 12lb exactly.
About an hour later the same rod went off but a more sensible speed this time! This fish went on a long powerful run towards the middle of the lake and I wondered if I had got a bigger fish on. As I brought towards me it seemed to behave smaller in size until it was nodding around under the rod tip again, another common, 12lb 10oz!

Hide and seek down Straits!

Had two carp this evening both off the shallow clear patches. First one was this stunning old 15.8lb common, then another common at 12.10lb.

Quick session!

After Grahams excellent session yesterday I sneaked out at 7.45pm after the kids had gone to bed. I was going to try the Alex swim as the wind was blowing into that bank but someone was fishing the birdcage swim next door so I did the lazy thing and plumped for the compass swim! Fished tigers under the cave entrance bush and choddy special right on a clear patch on the left of the swim a rod length out. Had a 15lb 2oz common almost straight away from the bush that took about 45 seconds to land!
Then a few minutes later the close in rod went screaming off and after a furious scrap I landed 13lb 6oz of common in about 20lb of weed!
Finally at 9.30 as I was getting packed away I had a whizzer from the bush again and thought I'd hooked one of the bigguns which turned out to be a hard as nails 10lb 8oz common!

The curse is lifted!?

Fished Straits Mill late afternoon into late evening, the lake was busy and I found some carp in the cave swim. After losing a carp I decided to move into the compass swim(6pm) and after scattering some tigers into a clear spot two foot from the bank the carp begun feeding confidently. Within a few minutes a mid double common bolted off, the fight was made tricky by the weed but I was rewarded with a 16.14 oz common!

The other rod was placed under the magic tree with meat and half an hour later the rod screamed off! The fish took about forty yards of line which was followed by massive bow waves, I was defiantly into a special fish.. And after an epic fight I had a definite twenty in the net, which went to 21.15lb on the scales.

Neil turned up at eight and after collecting my wallet from Michelle I came back to the sight of Neil playing a common from my rod which weighed in at 14.2lb. Then after nine I had a 13lb, again from the magic tree. All four commons were dark and in fantastic condition and some looked uncaught this season.

Fly fishing craze!

Recently I have got into fly fishing and though I haven't trout fished yet I have got some practise by targeting the carp down at Armigers. This is probably the easiest carp lake on BDAC and has several swims that have enough room behind to allow back casting. I have had quite a bit of success on the surface but by far the most productive method is to fish a slowly sinking fake sweetcorn. I have got some sweetcorn flies now that should be easier to cast as the fake corn tends to drag on the cast due to its weight and shape. Best fish on the fly rod is a ten pound common yesterday evening that took 15 minutes to land!

Mr Angry Old Carp

Fished Straits this evening, the lake was quite busy and the weather wasn't helping either. Decided to fish the cave swim with tigers in the shallow area and meat to the deep opening. With very little interest being shown by the carp a blank was on the cards, but with half an hour to go the meat rod produced an old 14lb common. With the light fading and the carp acting very grumpy I was unable to get my picture. Seems the lake maybe getting a bit tougher as the season is moving on?

Mega session at Laundry lake!

I took thurdsay and friday off work and thursday afternoon Graham and I went down to Laundry lake. It was overcast and spitting with rain but very mild and we had a scout round the lake which was only being fished by 3 others. We found a few carp milling around at the deep end so set up a swim apart down there and were set up by 1.30pm.
We'd only been fishing about half an hour when I had a take on a bait dropped into the margin on my left. The fish slowly powered out into the lake and I knew it could be a good one. We netted after I finally got it to the bank and I had my first twenty of the year, a common at 20lb 9oz! What a start!
Just 10 minutes later Graham had a common of 14lb 12oz, then it went quiet for a bit.
At 3.45pm he had a 16lb 2oz common that put up a great fight.
Then just half an hour later he hooked what was obviously a good sized fish. As it came near I saw it was a long mirror and started joking that he had hooked 'Blackspot' which is probably the best known fish in the lake and usually comes out as a mid-twenty.
After a bit more leg pulling from me I netted the fish for him, and lo and behold it was Blackspot! What a monster it was, up in weight at 27lb exactly and a new PB for Graham.
After having a twenty each we were well pleased but more action followed after a quiet spell of 3 hours when Graham netted a 13lb 10oz common.
At 8pm I had a peach of a mirror at 18lb 8oz, then just 20 minutes later Graham had a mirror of 15lb 2oz that did most of it's fighting on the unhooking mat.
At 8.30pm I hooked one of the hardest fighting carp I've ever caught, a common of 17lb 6 oz that took 20 minutes of mad fighting to land.
Finally as we were packing up I had a 15lb 8oz mirror to end a great afternoon.

Second Again !!

2011 Chairman’s Carp Cup

"This year’s match saw all 18 contestants turn up to fish the 24 hour carp match at Straits Mill. Fish could be soon cruising at both ends and along the centre of the lake. Luckily the rain stopped in time for the draw and allowed the entrants to set up before we had four hours of continuous rain, some of it torrential. This was followed by intermittent showers that stopped in the early evening.

The weather didn’t interfere with the fishing and a total of 18 carp were caught. The winner was 17 year old Sam Yates who landed 5 fish for a total weight of 80lb 7oz including one of 22lb 9oz and won the holiday donated by Etang des Landes. Second was Graham Johnson with 5 fish for 63lb 10oz and third was Dave Twitchett with four fish for 57lb 10oz."

Maybe next year.....

Short Laundry session

Wednesday evening saw me down at Laundry lake for a short session. It was quite blustery and I headed to the far end of the lake next to the old irrigation outlet pipe. There was only a couple of others fishing by 8pm. At about 8.30 I had a fast run from the near margin and hooked a fish that immediately went under the old pipe! After a short grating sensation the hooklength parted. After re-tackling and casting out I soon had another take and after a short scrap landed a mirror of 12lb. 
I stayed right up to last knockings but no more action.

Super Margin

Fished Straits for four hours this afternoon had two carp on the meat in the margins. Both commons a 13.5lb and a smashing 16.5lb!

Evening session at Laundry lake

On tuesday evening I went down to Laundry lake for a 3 hour session. The lake was fairly busy and I walked to the opposite end of the lake to get a spot. There seemed to be a few fish milling about close in including two commons that looked like mid twenties. The low cloud soon gave a good downpour and people started packing up. I fished both rods close in the deep margins. At around 8.30 I had a belting run and hooked a good fish that ran right out into the middle of the lake! After a great scrap I netted an 18lb 8oz mirror, getting soaked in the process. As it got dark the rain eased up and at 9.30 I had a slow run and struck into a fish that came in like a bream but was a 16lb 8oz common. 
Still no twenties for me but still some decent sized fish.