After a phone call to Mr Power a plan was hatched to have a get together during the autumn at some point. The decision was made that we would try Manor Lake on the Linear complex as it was sort of central and there was a chance of a fish or two and a possible lump amongst them.  Lee could only manage 24hrs but as I was travelling up from Cornwall I decided that I would do a 72hr stint and bring a couple of mates to make the trip cheaper..; sorry I mean for some company after Lee left (lol).

We all arrived on the Thursday morning and after the meet and greets we set off to have the look around the lake and try and locate some carp. Unbelievably the whole of Manor was free of anglers and we couldn’t believe our luck as we could take our time on where we wanted to be. I must admit at the time we thought it a bit strange that a place as busy as Linear and the lake was angler free but after 72hrs we were discover the reason.

We spotted some carp pretty central to the lake and the decision was made that Lee and I would go in pegs 3&4 and Chris and Bob would set up directly opposite us so we could all get a line to the middles where the majority of the carp seemed to be. Looking out from my swim

I set up my marker rod with just a lead, as I wasn’t to worry about the depth as the carp had already shown me they were there and I just wanted to find some clear spots as quickly as possible with minimal disturbance. After about 8 casts I had found three areas in which I was happy with. Each distance was counted out around my marker sticks, which were a rod length apart.

My plan of attack was to mark the spod rod to each distance and get a small amount of boilie crumb on each spot and then I would build each spot individually and slightly different to see what would work best over the next three days.  The first spot which was at 96yrds had some crumb and a handful of boilies put out with the spomb, the second rod at 98yrds had some crumb, particles and maggots put over it and the third rod which was in the slightly heavier silt at 108yrds had some crumb and then about 50 boilies put out with a throwing stick. I would stick to this plan until one of the rods produced and then either move another rod to the area or adopt the same baiting plan to another spot if it entailed upping the amount of bait.

Once the rods were out and the bivvies were up Lee and I sat down with a coffee and had a bit of a social. A few other anglers had now turned up so we were glad to be settled for the evening and just watch proceedings going on in and around the lake. Nothing really happened for anyone during the night apart from Chris and Bob opposite us, between them they had managed to lose one each and Bob had managed to put his first Oxford carp on the bank in the shape of a 25.08lb mirror.

This was encouraging but it also had my brain racing as to why Lee and I hadn’t even had an indication let alone a pick up.  Just as I had convinced myself that I had to reel in and change things my right hand rod burst into life and a lovely little battle commenced, after 5 or so minutes this stunning double figured mirror sporting its winter colours was in the net.

Finally the rain was abating and Lee started to pack up as his 24hrs were coming to an end but we were both still hoping one of his rods would spring into life.

It wasn’t to be this time but at least the sun came out for the pack down. Hopefully we shall get out together again soon and have another go for some lumps at a different venue. Lee left and I got about sorting my rods out for the coming night and hopefully another fish. Well as I said at the beginning of this feature we were to find out why Manor was so quiet when we arrived and that was it was fishing very slow indeed. There were 14 anglers on the Friday night and 15 on the Saturday and not one more fish was put on the bank. I tried all the little tricks and changes I could think of (barring dynamite) but all to no avail.

It was a hard but very enjoyable 72hrs and I shall go back again soon to try and winkle out one of those elusive forty’s. I shall leave you with a photo of my two companions for the last 24hrs once they discovered that I was willing for them to have the maggots rather than me having to put the sweaty stinking things back in my van for the three and half hour journey home.

As you read this winter shall be upon us so keep trying, stay warm and tight lines.

Arron Fisher