Julian

Elton, Two that I know in Carlisle with Pike are; Lonsdale Country Park, Cotehill, Carisle – SSSI designated site. 10-acre water with pike to mid 20’s and plenty of doubles. Also have ghost carp to 25lb! Two rods allowed and live/dead baits seem to do the trick. Prices between £4.00-6.00 per day and I think you can also get a 24hr night ticket. All the usual facilities including food and bait. Unhooking mats required. The other is East View Fishery, Southwaite, Carlisle – Only about an acre (an old quarry I think) but it holds pike to high doubles. Night fishing allowed, and again has all the usual facilities. Think there may be a one rod limit though. Howzat… Julian

Although I’ve not fished them, I know there are quite a few waters in and around Lampeter, there are 10 or so waters to go at and also the River Teifi. Within Ceredigion there are maybe 50+ waters, so you’ll have plenty to get stuck into! I know someone who has fished Nine Oaks, just outside of Llanarth. A lovely little pool of around an acre. A Well secluded mixed fishery with carp to over 20, and some nice tench and roach. Two rods allowed, they also have four game waters on the same site. Cheers, Julian

Although I’ve not fished them, I know there are quite a few waters in and around Lampeter, there are 10 or so waters to go at and also the River Teifi. Within Ceredigion there are maybe 50+ waters, so you’ll have plenty to get stuck into! I know someone who has fished Nine Oaks, just outside of Llanarth. A lovely little pool of around an acre. A Well secluded mixed fishery with carp to over 20, and some nice tench and roach. Two rods allowed, they also have four game waters on the same site. Cheers, Julian

Hi Andy, I know what you mean. I too have been using activ-8 since it first hit the shelves. A top mix that always seems to produce whatever the water/conditions. A few of my friends are ‘bait-addicts’ constantly changing as each new ‘wonder-bait’ hits the shelves. I’ve stuck to Activ-8 right through, and I’d say seven times out of ten it has out-fished whatever bait they’re on. I did a full season on a ‘hard’ Cheshire estate lake a few years back, where all the big fish seemed to be coming out on it. I wanted to try and get a bit of an edge on the rest, so I started experimenting by adding just a ml of flavor to the standard recipe (6 egg mix) just to make it that bit different. The effect was amazing, and over the season I took most of the big fish including the lake record ,whilst those around me on standard activ-8 took only the odd fish here and there. The flavors I find work best, are Squid & Octopus, or Garlic Oil. I’ve used the same approach over the last couple of years and have continued to score well. Over the last 9 months my results on Activ-8 have started to drop-off, so I might look for something new this year, but nothing out there really excites me at the moment. I’ve tried Trigga, but I’ve been very disappointed with it so I won’t be buying anymore. I’m quite tempted by the Shellfish B5 from Essential, I’ve had a few good fish on it in the past so I might do a bit more with it this year. A few mates have had some success on Grange Red over the last season so I might have a look at that as well. One bait I’ll always have with me is Brazil nuts, for me they are one of the most underrated baits in carping, I’ll always have at least one rod with a Brazil on it, and more often than not it will be the first to roar off. Cheers Julian [ 27 March 2002, 01:58 PM: Message edited by: Julian ]

Chris, You spoilsport I think you can order custom-made ‘cruisers’ from Swan Hunter, any features you want; torpedoes, depth chargers, etc. Crew optional. I’ve heard some good reviews but they are a bit pricey I’d go for something like this: http://members.tripod.com/geordie_gen/edinburgh.htm Julian

Hi Dave, I think there are some decent carp in the River Monnow? I think it’s a membership stretch near Skenfrith run by Skenfrith Angling Club, and from memory a nice 27lb common was taken a while back on boilie. I think they have a 1500 metre stretch, around 30 metres wide with depths to around 12feet. If it’s of any interest I should be able to get you some more info. Cheers Julian

RCR Baitboats have recently been added to go-fishing links page, have a few nice looking boats: http://www.baitboats.com May be of use? Julian

I know what you mean, the cage's do look a little hard-core I would imagine someone does a mesh, though as you say it's probebly just as easy, if not a damn site cheaper, to use a stoking or a fine hessian of some sort. Air dried baits should do the trick for a while anyway, I tend do the same on Birch Grove to try and keep the Eel's of'em, although the most I dry them for is usually 4-5 weeks. Cheers Julian

I think you can get a mesh to fit over your hook bait, it's like a little plastic cage. Not sure who does them though Julian

Leigh, By the sounds of it, Mill Farm in Gilmorton (Lutterworth) could be worth a go. We first went down there for a four-day session at Easter four years ago, we’ve been down at least twice every year since! The bottom lake is an old sand quarry of about 6 acres with carp to mid-20. Boatloads of features from nearly every swim; bars, drop-offs, shelves, etc. It’s relatively easy to fish if the conditions are right. We’ve had some absolute blinding sessions on there. My best was a 4 night session the Easter before last, taking 68 carp, best to 23lb, I’d say over 90% of these were good doubles. Last time we went down was for a couple of nights last November, still managed to bag around 15 doubles in sub-zero temps (mainly during the night). Most swims seem to produce once you find the features (which you can’t miss with a quick plumb round) and they seem to take most baits they are offered. It’s a lovely place, tranquil and well established. You can use 4 rod’s and it’s cheap. Night fishing is also allowed, the owner is a really nice bloke, and tends to do discounts once he gets to know your face. The lads are going down on Friday for the Easter weekend, but I’m broke so won’t be going this time Let me know if you want any more info. Cheers Julian

Right, I had it completely wrong He was in fact fishing the East bank, i.e. with the River Trent behind you. The bottom is mainly sand so presentation is not much of a problem, and it’s pretty free of weed. In the main he fished out to the big island at the south end of the lake. There are plenty of bars and drop-offs towards the island that all produce well, although most are only ‘slights’. Depending on which swim you are in, it’s anywhere between 100-120 yards to the island, and the closer you can get the better. Apparently they found a bar very close to the island in shallow water running the length of the island which seemed to ‘grow’ during summer months, one theory was that the tow off the increased water sports in the summer had an effect on the bar as they used to go quite close in to the island. Baits anywhere near this bar would produce on a regular basis. My mate’s best result was fishing this bar on Bonfire Night! As the display went off at the gardens, he managed to take 15 fish during the night, all over 10lb best to 24lb. He also says not to be put off by the water sports, he had loads of takes whilst various skiers, etc were almost on top of the fish! The remaining islands (3) are clumped together pretty much in the middle of the lake about 100 yards to the right of the big island. Baits placed between the big island and the others would also produce on a regular basis. As it was a 100’plusser it was single hook baits on most occasions. Bait was homemade Birdseed with Scopex (all bottom baits), or naturals, particularly peanuts and brazils. He’s says a word of warning if you fish the East bank out to the island. They did a load of work on the bank to stop it subsiding into the Trent. Apparently they put a load of matting down on the bottom of the lake from the margin to about 10 yards out. A nightmare for getting hooked up in. Fish are good quality, mainly good doubles with a fair head of 20lb+ fish. My mate has not fished it for a few years so things may well have changed, but it’s probably worth giving the Islands a crack to start with, as the island swims always out-fished other areas of the lake, there are about 85acres to explore otherwise! From memory, I think they lost a few fish either last year or the year before, I could be wrong on that as well!! Hope it helps, Julian

I have a friend who used to fish Trentham Gardens religiously a few years back. From memory, I think he used to fish a swims on the west bank, chucking out to the island (although can’t remember which one, I think there are 4). It was single hookbaits and a big-chuck..!! He faired quite well taking good fish on a regular basis. I’ll bell him later to try and give you a better picture of the place. Cheers, Julian

Hi all, Can anybody help? I’m trying to find out details about a crystal weed killer called Keteron. We’ve been having problems over the last four or five years with our club water, whereby the weed/pad problem just keeps getting worse each year. We’ve tried one or two different approaches and sprayed it twice last year, but it’s already making an appearance again! Apparently, Keteron crystals just need to be scattered in amongst the weeds and take effect after a couple of weeks? Does anybody have experience with it, i.e. how it’s applied, how effective it is, what precautions need to be taken, how much it costs, and where it can be obtained from?? Many Thanks Julian

Hi all, Can anybody help? I’m trying to find out details about a crystal weed killer called Keteron. We’ve been having problems over the last four or five years with our club water, whereby the weed/pad problem just keeps getting worse each year. We’ve tried one or two different approaches and sprayed it twice last year, but it’s already making an appearance again! Apparently, Keteron crystals just need to be scattered in amongst the weeds and take effect after a couple of weeks? Does anybody have experience with it, i.e. how it’s applied, how effective it is, what precautions need to be taken, how much it costs, and where it can be obtained from?? Many Thanks Julian

krakemarsh, I've got details for around 20 clubs with carp waters in the staffs area I'll mail you. Julian

krakemarsh, I've got details for around 20 clubs with carp waters in the staffs area I'll mail you. Julian

I spoke to Andrew Maclean (proprietor) yesterday, a very friendly chap. As I understand it the website is still being developed, with more to come. The majority seems to be coarse related, but lots of new lines are being introduced on the game side. Cheers, Julian

I spoke to Andrew Maclean (proprietor) yesterday, a very friendly chap. As I understand it the website is still being developed, with more to come. The majority seems to be coarse related, but lots of new lines are being introduced on the game side. Cheers, Julian

Hi all, I'm trying to contact Barry Hemmings who makes the 'E Z Feeda' I think he's in the Kent area. Can anybody help me with a contact number? Cheers, Julian

Hi all, I'm trying to contact Barry Hemmings who makes the 'E Z Feeda' I think he's in the Kent area. Can anybody help me with a contact number? Cheers, Julian