Chesh

agreed.. also please invest in an unhooking mat you can pick them up for a tenner :D nice fish though.. would say a low double

nah length of rod is imaterial really, i have been using a fox bansai for my floater work and thats only 6ft in length the rod might be the cause if it was damaged, but in what way was it damaged? cracks and splinters or just general wear and tear? also did you play the fish on a tight clutch? granted when fishing near to pads etc.. you shouldnt really let the fish get into the santuary of the snags, but sometimes you have no choice, the line will snap the hook will pull the rod will break! 15lb line straight through? blimey

i have just read through this thread with immense surprise granted we all want to go on holidya and catch a few fish but surely you all didnt think you were goign to bag up with 20lb carp 20lb cats 5lb tench and orfe etc.. guys come on be real? i can only assume you all know abit about angling, you can all catch fish etc.. granted! but fully expecting to go and haul before even getting there and actually knowing what your going to catch and how big its going to weigh prior to casting? guys and gals pleeeeeeeeease get serious if zyg didnt get it right with his stocks of fish, they how can you explain the expansion thats taken place? why is he literally booked full from March to October? all fisheries no matter how big or small will advertise big fish - whiteacres and their 50lb cats, Waveney and their impressive big commons, but how many times do these big fish actualy get caught? (unless they are Mug Fish) Zyg has got the holiday complex working like clockwork, not because of his wine, or because of his exentric lifestyle, why ? because holiday makers can go there relax, catch a few fish and soak up the Devon atmosphere. He even states in his brochure "the big fish can be difficult" you tell me a venue where big fish arent difficult? where you would class a big fish water a "runs water" i hazard a guess at you cant! It doesnt matter what water you fish there will be periods when the fish just simply arent having it, it happens all round the country (as you are all probably aware), so expecting a holiday venue to be always on the go with fish being caught every day at 25lb is totally far from it, white acres is probably exactly the same. it will produce fish and then it will go quiet. i think i hit the nail on the head its a HOLIDAY venue! what more do you want from a holiday? 15 fish all over 25lb in one day on the float fished in the margins? is it all about numbers and PB's or just about catching a fish? gotta ask yourself why you want to go to a holiday venue if all you are interested in is upping your PB, and getting a mug shot in the angling press (dont get me going on the angling press) i think its easy to say that i still hold a torch for Anglers Paradise, i regularly speak to the 5C's guys who continue to catch copious amounts of carp. and they are not unapproachable should they be fishing, they will more than likely invite you to fish next to them if they are on the fish anyway i think i better be quiet, there will be opinions differing from mine and i fully expect that, however can you cater for all eventualities in fishing? will leave it with you............ as for swims etc.. i can tell you which ones are the best, but you dont always catch the fish from the best swims do you? i can vouch for that on the main lake, spessi lake, easy access, koi and octopussy good evening to you all..........

tench lake = groundbait and worms ! would probably stay off the corn as they see tons of it ! you might just nail into some pukka blue orfe too you dont need to fish very far out either which is a bonus! As for the koi lake, then mixers and stalking! doesnt matter what weather sun or rain they will ave them off the top absolutely anywhere ! As for bait, then take as much as you can down with you. there is a small shop that sells g/bait, worms, maggots hemp, corn, meat , boilies ! and even the new Paradise Boilies my adive though is stick with what you know its boudn to catch down there ! Also if your on the beginners carp lake, fish right under your feet. dont worry about fishing to the island on there, bait two swims either side of your feet (usually by the reeds etc..) small float and meat or worms and bit of hemp or pellet ! my very first visit to AP resulted in roughly 350lb of carp to 7lb in a day ! was absolutely shattered but incredibly good fun! Butcherboy was that fish taken from the left point or right point? it looks like the right point with all them bushes behind you. Another little tip for you, if you get on the swims under the 5C hut the right hand swim this is, over by the right hand side of the island is a dead reed bed that is still there. Frank Warwick always fishes this swim and took the mighty Centurion a few years ago at i think 36lb from this very swim (sadly centurian has passed on but was a huge big common)

what i would say is dont be afraid to give them any bait spod the water to a foam if you have the time to ! they do like it in the main lake ! on a 5C weekend i nailed 12 fish in one weekend on the spot in the stream a guy went in after me and caught 19 in 3 days over the same spot on my spot ! granted 11 kilo of hemp went in during thre weekend but they loved it use a pukka boilie and your literally there. they have just brought out their own range of boilies which i know very little about sadly! i can only asume they are quality baits though as zyg wouldnt want to feed his babies on rubbish ! Theres a stunning 26lber in there thatsa fully sclaed warrior, Matt hayeshad it in the rod race at 22lb, i had it twice at 17lb and 21lb its a corker ! then you got The general at 28lb approx, Excote at roughly the same weight possibly 30lb loads of 20's 21's 22's even more high doubles, loads of big orfe and golden rudd, and of course the cats! what i might add aswell is there isnt any weed problems either so dont worry about using complicated chod rigs etc.. i did use as well double hook baits !! dare to be different and the rewards are there ! if your stalking the octopussy head for the coner with the monk ! few pellets and freeline the luncheon meator corn its deadly ! even on hot days they will be there rooting around the margins chaps if you can get on the spessi golden orfe lake ur in for a treat ! take a few pints of maggots with and keep them going in they will soon home in on them any one up for a potential record ? (even though its just about the fishing eh) chaps i cant think of much more to tell you apart from enjoy it, the accomodation is first class, the hospitaility is truly world class, the bar is somethign tobe seen, ask Zyg to see Big Dicks silver tankard hahaha (gotta brag) if your on a 5C weekend (first weekend of temonth) say hello the guys usually Maggot Mick, nev ponting, Tweedle dee and Tweedle dum, maybe beer monster (a true legend) and of course Zyg and Rose, the dogs are ace but dont let zyg catch you with them after hours he dont like them stopping in bivvies etc.. Rose's BBQ is stunning well worth the money, and watch out for Zyg after the BBQ and his shop, when the wine flows he wishes the wallets open hahahhaa the spiel never changes either 5lb orfe 5lb tench 20lb carp 20lb cat. if you catch a 30lber tell us and we will open abottle of bubbly on the bank zyg has the first swig but only a little one (oh how i miss that place) ! and trust me thats at any time of the day too whether it be 7am or midnightthe chaomerswill flow and a pic in the angling comics (if youlike that so rtof thing) if i get any more info i will pass it on have a top holiday chaps Chesh

right then the koi lake is full of fish to about 10lb nothing bigger im afraid or at least that i know of. good fun though when your stuggling on the main lakes etc.. Cats in the main lake have gone through the roof, gone arethe days when float fishing down the side and all you would catch are little 1 and 2lb kittens thers probably around 20 in there now (possibly more) up to mid 30. rumours of a 50 went around for a while but with no pics or witness's its difficult to see if he is telling ther truth. cats in the spessi will nudge 30 n easy access is where the lunkers are up to i think 44lb swims for the cats on the main lakes well its take your pic really, personally i would head round towards the dam wall and up behind the island in the corner, if its hot and the fry are in there then the cats wont be too far behind. suspend a huge ball of worms 2ft under the surface and wtach for the water erupting as a cat flies at it ! aweseome stuff! Atila never graced my net had her feeding like a demon with Aphrodite one afternoon in the extended bit on the side, my bro went on to nail Aphrodite that very night at 32lb. have caught i think 9 fish out of the spessi every one over 20lb. it was netted not so long ago as the pasties were takign over the lake so it should just behome to the lunkers now Chaucer came out at just over 35lb a few weeks ago have seen that fish 4 times on the bank sadly not for me though Zygs wine is great, a couple of glasses when you arrive in the bar, a bottle to go back to the villa with and 4-5 glasses at the bbq on sunday superb

and about time too !! guys i was once a syndicate member for 4 years in the 5C's let me pass on a few bits of advise say hello to Zyg from Big Dick hahah he will know who i am ! Right then the main lake, so many swims so so decisions are to be made. guaranteed the point swims aretaken and so are the bay swims. Opposite the left point swim by the 5C's hut is a swim called Rats that you fish alongside the isald, towards the end of the island is a deep spot about 8 foot (3ft off the island) off the Dam wall (bigdicks dam as they used to call it cuz that was my permanent home for literally 4 years) you want to aim for the small bush on the far bank, in line with the enf opf theisland on your tight (poss 50yards) here you will find the remains of the old stream that once ran through the field. The stream runs in, in zygs swim and ends at the dam. The stream is 8ft deep with 6ft either side ! i took probably 90% of my fish in this stream. All on active8 with 2kilo of hemp spodded in for them to sit on. then topped up every fish. sometimes i was catching 10-11 fish while everyone else was blanking you can reach this stream from a vairety of swims including the point, left of dam, the 'unfished' swims between the dam and rats. the quieter swims arethe ones behind the 5C's island and in all honesty i have only ever stalked the fish off the top in here when its baking hot. The swims next to zygs hut recieve an incredible amount of attention and in all honesty would stay away. Margins are no good really they do tend to hug the open water features. Spessi lake is a corker especially with the new bit thats opened (well not really new lol) if you can get a quiet day then prebait some swims in th new bit i had Atilla and Aphrodite feeding at the same time on hemp and pellets the same night my bro caught Aphroidite at 32lb from the same swim. bait either side of the lilly pads and watch for signs. i caught most of my fish (inlcuding gemini at 33lb 10) off the bootom of the island. good head of cats in there too! they do love there fishmeal baits and mainline is thrown in by the bucket loads the larger ctafish in the easy access lakes are tough to get into theres about 4 in there that are over 40lb now and one was out a few weeks ago, luncheon meat and fishy boilies will work ! theres rumours of a 590lber in the main lake but thats as they say rumours. IMO i would defo go on the main lake but for maybe 2-3 days, go stalking on octopussy bait the margins and float fish its superb nailing a 20lber on the float uin the margins there. if you go on the spessi make it the end of the week as the punters are usually fed up by thursday and wanta ctrack at the smaller lakes ! and for christ sake dont drink too much wine ! lol as if !! enjoy it and dont feel down hearted if you dont catch right away good things come to those who wait Rich

going back to the guy who said he uses 15lb snakebite and it snaps... matey throw it away its cream crackered if 15lb snaps and its not caused by snags !! granted zebra mussles etc.. will grate and cause line to snap but surely not just on playing the fish? i fish lakes with very very snaggy swims, pads and weed and trees and underwater stuff and 15lb has never done me before ! hook pulls? yes, and plenty of them to be expected but hooklink snaps on playing a fish? nope, if it did then its staright in the bin and anew spool brought ! sit on the rods and tighten up ! hit and hold ! no line given and slowly bring it back in ! under the rod tips would be the same, slack lines tight clutch hit and hold ! AND NO LEAD CORE IN SNAGS PLEASE !!! thats simply wrong !! and please if you have any reservations about fishing snags DONT FISH THEM ! go and chuck a hundred yards into open water first, fish welfare is 110% the most important aspect of any carp anglers armoury

would stay away from braid for surfasce fishing try something liek 10lb double strength ! we were using 8lb double strength for our zig rigs not so long ago (11ft i may add) and it was suoperb for fish up to 23lb ! nightmare to land but incredibly good fun on light gear !!

well said steve burke !!! Gibbo's article/books are master peices !! cant go far wrong taking advice from that !!

matey you gotta go with what youthinks best ! do your homewowrk on the venues you fish sopeak to the regulars, speak to the local tackle shops etc..itsno good buying 10 kilo of X bait when its never seen it before ! this question could rage on for ages, dont go overboard though thinking you gotta go armed with everybait under the sun ! few grains of fake corn and maize, bag of boilies and hemp !! the shelf life boilies will do you fine until yourconfident in using A.N Other bait company for custom mades etc.. persoanlly i have my good friend and angling buddy (and AN monkey) Julian to thank for my bait www.bigkipper.com proper good bait it is too and im also on the poacher for an alternative !! lastly dont get baffled if the people you ask go on about spodding in 15kilo of X bait and 10kilo of X bait, big beds can and will catch fish but single hook baits and small bags will often work just as good ! u dont have to spend £££'s of pound on bait when realy catching a fish is a bouns your out there to enjoy your fishing not worry about whether or not the nextfish is a 30lber etc.. enjoy it and the rewards will follow keep it real.... Chesh

GET ON THE CHICK PEAS !!!!! chick peas over particle with a bag of pellets ! the simmos luv'em !!! hahahah

embarassment of riches matey !! but its gonna be busy, the amount of fish in there is shocking but in a good way! feast your eyes on http://www.rmcangling.co.uk follow it to the Day Ticket Venue board on the forum and look for sandhurst ! theres hundreds of artciles and threads about that lake ! fished it a few times and been lucky enough to see a few of the 20's on the bank ! theres a few 30's and now a couple of 40's in their ! apart from dinton a certain french import fishery in Telford how many other day ticket waters give u a chance of a 40? not many waters give you a chance of a 40? dont be fooled though its a tough lake, lots of weed etc.. get onto the carp park bank, the middle teens swims, left island swim or the pipes. fidn out how much bait has gone in! if Sean is doing the rounds (thats funky the bayleaf) then he will give you some spot on advice (he is my mate too) you will have a good time matey no doubt about that ! are you down for the Stoney weekend/ as be afraid if you are there is going to be an almighty social on there with very little fisdhing going on hahahahaha have a good one matey Chesh

finally imanaged to break my blank !! 8 carp to 19lb 14oz and new pb bream of 8lb 4oz ! to say i was chuffed well is an understatement and if any of you southern boys want a pukka lake to go fish you cant go far with CEMEX/RMC Anglings Blue Pool at Burghfield ! its one mental lake i tell the

Of course its worth it Elton these articles are well worth it if say you want to try a new bait or want to try anew rig! might be worth it if maybe you had a few different sections entitled: So you want to be a carp angler... or So you want to try match fishing ... for the newbies to the sport and indeed the expereinced angler ( i say angler to cover all aspects of the sport) i would be chomping at the bit for articles like this