spacetench

Ok try this. Take a few days just to walk around the lake. Get a feel for it and watch for feeding fish. Take notes. At what time do you see any fish feed. Check for wind direction. Which way is it blowing from? Watch your water on the windward side. What is the natual feeding patterns of the fish. What is the natual bait in the lake that the fish feed on. Try to mimic it. Believe it or not, if you watch for long enough you will see those fish and their daily routines. Fish are pretty reliable when it comes to routines. And it's fun just to watch them. Gives you time to target paticular fish to try and catch. It's just a matter of time until you suss out the patterns the fish adhere to in your local lake. If I were you I'd wouldn't even fish it for a couple of sessions. Just watch the lake and breathe in the vibes. Believe me, it's worked for myself. No lake is impossible, be it a 100 acre lake with a few fish in or a 1acre venue which is rammed with them. You will find them. Try bvaiting up a few of their reqular feeding swims. Give it a week or two they will be coming back for more. Just ring that dinner bell. At the end of the day all you are trying to do is con the buggers into taking your bait. And if that bait looks like everything else that they feed on in the lake then you can't go wrong. Try to keep it asa simple as possible. No need to use these funky rigs that people seem to be using. Less is more. If the lake is relatively weed free thaen keep it nice and light. Good luck and keep us posted.

I was fishing with my fishing buddies. I think the oldest was about 14. The funny thing is we fished this lake for a few years. And we knew it wasn't easy. I think the biggest fish I had caught up until that time was an upper double. We knew the lake had monsters in, had seen them and had tried to tempt them off the surface with bread or a doggy. But to no avail. If I remember I caught it mid-november. I named it Charlie. The strange thing is that it was a bit of a pussy cat. Only took about ten minutes to bring in on a home made blackberry boilie blahdy blah.... I love fishing. I love the challenge. I love fishing lakes that no one knows about. The ones with unknown monsters in. The lake I fished when I fished as a kid now charges about 2 grand a year to fish. I've seen pictures of "big name carp anglers" holding that wonderful fish. But I know for a cert I broke it's cherry. I'd rather catch a big double or twenty that no one has ever caught before then ever catch a forty plus again. It is more exciting, the discovery of one of these beauties. I guess that is the true sprirt of carping. Although I would never say no to a fifty. Just to match Yatesy!!! Last year I caught a 5lb on the dot Perch from a river. That was more exciting and that so far is the fish of my life. Strange eh? God I'm gonna go gaga like Byron soon!!!

Yep indeed I do. Started fishing again about 2 years ago. Still to beat my best but getting closer. Strange how carp angling has changed since then. Some days I go fishing full on techno style with my 3 rods, 3 days in bivvied up. Other times if I find the right water I'll take me old cane rod and centre pin. I guess a strange thing is that I haVE started fishing for other species as well, like I did when I was a nipper. Went to my local river today (The Ise) fishing for chub and perch. Walton style. This little stretch is full of nice chub and the odd big perch. But I'm still after "that carp". I have found a couple of secret lakes that no one seems to fish in the middle of nowhere. They must be years old with an old stock of carp in. Big commons although if you were to see them they look like wildies. Torpedoes that put up a hell of a fight. I love to fish lakes that have not been fished in a while. The voyage of discovery hey? Love the forum. Happy fishing. ST

I just wanted to know if I hold the record for a Carp. I caught it from a lake which is now a syndicate but back in 1987 it was a free for all. The fish weighed 42lbs 3oz. At the time I had just turned 10. Now at the time I wasn't sure what the record was. Can anyone fill me in. Did any other youngsters then catch that size of carp? I'll try to find the photo and get it posted.

I can't remember the exact name of the lake but it is just outside the village of Walgrave. It is only about 1 1/2 acxres in size but boy is it an exciting lake. I have fished it only 10 times but during those sessions I've had carp to 31lbs (although I have seen a 34 come out although it is claimed there are bigger) Tench to 11lb, roach to 3lb, and bream to 11lbs. It is a crazy little place. Very relaxing, beautiful and fun. Depths to 9ft. And apparently theres a VERY VERY big eel lurking in the depths. If you are on the A43 between Northampton and Kettering take the turning towards Walgrave and the lake is on the left about a mile down. Best baits at the mo are meat, nutty boilies, corn and of course maggots. If you are going to gound bait down hemp pellets seem to bring them on. Fiver a day or Tenner for 24 hours.