[diamondlil]

Off yesterday, to the lake where I got my first ever carp last year and the warmer weather made up hopeful of a good day. There's a good head of nice rudd, roach and perch in there too, so we each had a rod out with maggots or worm plus I had my lovely Christmas present (12' Leeda carp attack power feeder and Carptek reel) and I was going to try floating crust as that worked before.
No interest at all in freebie bread floating on the surface and Mick's worm getting tanked off across the lake and smashing his line decided me to try different tactics. So in between firing up the barbecue and pinging out 4mm trout pellets I set up a hair-rigged boilie.......and waited...and waited....and waited. Although the sun was shining the wind was pretty relentless across the fields behind us, so to stave off hypothermia I went off for a mooch as we may be running the dogs here later in the year after bunnies. Suddenly I heard Mick shouting frantically and raced back to find my reel literally screaming!
A 15 minute fight got a beautiful mirror carp of about 10lbs to the bank, where it spooked at the net, flipped and shed the hook. In retrospect I should have let it run and tire out a bit more, but there are overhanging branches to one side and thick lily patches about halfway across the lake so I'd been worried about losing it in those.
So then I consoled myself watching buzzards wheeling over the woods and carried on pinging out the pellets...

 

[diamondlil]

Eventually, patience was rewarded, after a couple of missed takes, I was into a very lively fish that I let zip around the lake and this time it was in the net and out it came! A lovely common of 4 or 5 lbs, in beautiful condition. About an hour later Mick landed a common of about 2lbs, so slower fishing than we'd expected, but a great day all the same.

 

[petertheporter]

Was you wearing that hat when you spooked that fish ....most probably thought you were a bear ....good fishing there looks like a nice bit of water. Pete.

 

[diamondlil]

Was you wearing that hat when you spooked that fish ....most probably thought you were a bear ....good fishing there looks like a nice bit of water. Pete.

I was indeed, Pete, the wind was whistling around our backs, didn't think of the grizzly bear effect spooking the fish! It's absolutely stunning and virtually unfished. The landowner's old gamekeeper (RIP) used to fish it and in theory it can be fished by people staying in the luxury cottages but as there are no facilities it doesn't appeal to anyone who likes their comfort. The landowner has no interest at all in developing it and lets a few people he likes have free access as long as they ask first and respect it. Luckily we can drive right up to the lake so taking all the gear is no problem. There's a second lake with bigger fish in, but thick growth all the way 'round with no swims cut out so haven't cast a line in there yet.

 

[terrycarp8]

nice fishing i went 1st time for a few years last tues to lovelace farm had 1 carp 20lb
the other lake sounds interesting you should try it

 

[threeachuck]

Eventually, patience was rewarded, after a couple of missed takes, I was into a very lively fish that I let zip around the lake and this time it was in the net and out it came! A lovely common of 4 or 5 lbs, in beautiful condition. About an hour later Mick landed a common of about 2lbs, so slower fishing than we'd expected, but a great day all the same.

Nice fish well done ,not long now till the silly season is upon us ,and we will soon forget ,what a wet n windy winter we have had ,tho most of my carpadrones that I fish have been fishing had carp feeding all year ,I've done well this year on dobbing bread ,,,,is that a Kelly's kettle in that pic , I love mine to bits I mite even invest in a bigger one as currant one only hold water for too cups ,I think they do a 1.7 ltr model :wiggle::fishing:

 

[diamondlil]

Nice fish well done ,not long now till the silly season is upon us ,and we will soon forget ,what a wet n windy winter we have had ,tho most of my carpadrones that I fish have been fishing had carp feeding all year ,I've done well this year on dobbing bread ,,,,is that a Kelly's kettle in that pic , I love mine to bits I mite even invest in a bigger one as currant one only hold water for too cups ,I think they do a 1.7 ltr model :wiggle::fishing:

As my real passion involves the briney, and Mick is hooked on river fishing for barbel and pike, this was only my second ever carp fishing session, so I'm happy that I didn't blank! Not a bite from the roach or rudd though, which was disappointing.
The little blue fire bucket barbecue was a weird lucky find on the riverbank earlier in the year. It was washed up by the floods and hanging in a tree-branch, with the grill inside still wrapped in plastic!

 

[69943]

Well done on your carp session j9 I do a little bit of it now and then when the sea fishing is naff but couldn't do it all the time does make quite a change, now the owner of the fire bucket will be in contact with you. lol

 

[diamondlil]

Well done on your carp session j9 I do a little bit of it now and then when the sea fishing is naff but couldn't do it all the time does make quite a change, now the owner of the fire bucket will be in contact with you. lol

Finders keepers!