I’ve had a club ticket for a beautiful 18-acre lake for years and I’m really not sure why I haven’t fished it for the carp. I’ve often had a day session for the massive Crusians and Tench, but not given the carp a second thought. Maybe its because I’ve done so well catching the Crusians to 3.08lbs and Tench to nearly 7lbs. Also with so many lakes to fish you often overlook what’s on your doorstep. As you can see from the pictures the location is stunning. So I really have had no excuse! This winter I’ve talked my good friend and fellow Wychwood consultant Tony Smeets into fishing it with me. It’s never a dull adventure when the two of us get together! Tony got to the lake mid morning for a walk round and talks to a couple of anglers on the railway bank. He also wants to check the lake out as it’s his first session on here. Unfortunately it looks like nothing has been out for a few days, but he does manage to see a few fish showing, so that’s something.

The lake has a number of swims that are thigh waders only, so he has lots of option to consider for a first time. I get to the lake around 2pm and Tony has managed to find a corner swim with 7ft of water (deep for here). I have a quick marker around in the swim next door and find 6.5ft. With a quick chat we have covered everything from 14 to 21 wraps and everything from a 12mm wafter to a 18mm boilie wrapped in paste. When fishing as a team you can cover not only a bigger area, but also more bait and rig options. Friday night saw temperatures drop to -4 for the first time and a super bright nearly full moon with a flat calm lake. Not the best conditions for an eventful session from past experiences. So when the night passed with not even a single bleep between it was left to some great food, banter and hot coffee to keep spirits high.

The next day saw a warm sun across the lake. This saw us try everything from pop ups to zigs as we tried everything to tempt a carp into a bite! Then as the afternoon session came into play we tried paste, oils, dips and glugs.. but alas the most excitement we had was bacon rolls with the bailiffs. With the promise of a warmer night and possibly a bite the baits go back out on the spots. Around 2:30am I start getting line bites on the right hand rod, followed by a one toner on Tony’s left hand rod at 3am! We both wade out as Tony battle a feisty adversary to the New C301 rods he’s trying for the first time. It’s only an upper double mirror, but in the shallow water it must have flat rodded him three times.

Tony wades out with the fish to release it in deeper water, but it’s having a strop and heads for some shallow reeds to his left. I chat to Tony about rigs and location for about 10 minutes before heading back to my swim. Standing on the platform in my swim I noticed the landing net handle has come out of the Net station, so as I still have my waders on I wade out to clip it back in.

I get about 20 yards and nearly walk into something just under the surface!! The moon is so bright and I can see the bottom of the lake in about 2ft of water. So when the shadow moves towards me and I pick it up! I shout across to Tony! Does it count if you catch carp with your hands? Tony replies with “is it my Mirror” it was, it was the Mirror he’d put back about 15 minutes ago! Unfortunately I’m told it doesn’t count, but after about 10 minutes making sure it was ok it finally swims off to deeper water. We woke the next morning to dark clouds and the possibility of rain, so quickly packed up and headed off to Willow Park Fishery for breakfast. We will both be back and I hope put some fish on the bank, without having to catch them by hand!

To everyone that follows and supports me in my fishing, I wish you a very Merry Christmas and an Awesome New Year. I’m sure I will be getting out over this festive period, so watch this space for MORE BLOGS. Stay warm and Tight Lines.